HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Signed Minutes 02-17-26 MeetingN
Council Chambers
110 East 3rd Street
Monday, February 17, 2026
Minutes of the Arlington
City Council Meeting
Councilmembers Present: Heather Watland, Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam, Michele Blythe,
Nathan Senff, Tim Abrahamson, and Leisha Nobach, and Rob Toyer who attended virtually
with Teams, after roll call.
Council Members Absent: None.
Staff Present: Mayor Don Vanney, Paul Ellis, Sarah Lopez, Shelby Burke, Raelynn Jones,
Peter Barrett, Thad Newport, Jim Kelly, City Attorney Oskar Rey, Chelsea Brewer, Rory
Bolter, and Wendy Van Der Meersche.
Also Known to be Present: Kathy Vanney, Kim Casteel, Denise Lester, Randy Nobach, Ellis
Nobach, Dave Kraski, Melissa Johnson, Savannah Lopez, Stephanie Abrahamson, Kristin Hall
and Joshua Kim.
Mayor Don Vanney called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m., and the Pledge of Allegiance and
roll call followed.
APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tern Michele Blythe moved to approve the agenda with the addition of an
executive session. Councilmember Nathan Senff seconded the motion, which passed with a
unanimous vote.
INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS
Snohomish County Conservation District's Natural Resources Director Kristin Hall and
Habitat Restoration Project Assistant Joshua Kim provided information about the Riparian
Habitat Project.
PROCLAMATIONS
None.
PUBLIC COMMENT
None.
CONSENT AGENDA
Mayor Pro Tern Michele Blythe moved, and Councilmember Leisha Nobach seconded the
motion to approve the Consent Agenda that was unanimously carried:
1. Minutes of the February 2 and February 9, 2026 Council meetings
2. Accounts Payable: Approval of EFT Payments and Claims Checks #115215 through
#115306, dated January 21 through February 2, 2026, in the amount of 519,651.56;
Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting February 17 2026
Approval of Payroll EFT Payments and Check #30483 through #30486 dated
January 1, 2026 through January 31, 2026, in the amount of $1,720,312.41.
3. Memorandum of Understanding with City of Marysville to Utilize Polygraph
Examination Services
4. Resolution Adopting Fee Schedule
S. Interlocal Agreement with Snohomish Conservation District
6. North County Recycle Transfer Station Mitigation Agreement with Snohomish
County
PUBLIC HEARING
None.
NEW BUSINESS
Change Order No. 2 for 188th Street Roundabout
Public Works Director Jim Kelly requested Council approve Change Order No. 2 for the
188th and Smokey Point Boulevard Roundabout Project.
Public Works publicly bid the 188th & Smokey Point Boulevard Project in fall 2025, the
contract was awarded to SRV Construction Inc. As part of this project, the existing 8-inch
sanitary sewer main was being upgraded to an 18-inch sewer main within the project
limits. After construction began, it was discovered that the new 18-inch sanitary sewer was
too close to a mis-marked gas main forcing the relocation of the sewer main east. In
addition, the flow in the existing 8-inch sewer main was past 80% full flow at peak hour;
reconnecting the new 18-inch sewer main to the existing 8-inch sewer main would cause
maintenance problems. The 18-inch sewer main would be extended to Lift Station 6 as
part of another phase of the Smokey Point Boulevard Corridor project,.
This change order proposes to cover the costs associated with the necessary construction
changes and will be covered by city sewer capital funds.
Councilmember Nathan Senff moved, and Councilmember Michele Blythe seconded the
motion to approve Contract Change Order No. 2 to the 188th & Smokey Point Boulevard
Project and authorized the mayor to sign it. The motion passed unanimously.
Resolution to Surplus Police K-9 dog Reece
City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council approve a resolution to Surplus K-9 Reece.
Reece has served the Police Department and Arlington's citizens for several years and is
now read,, to retire as a police dog. Although he is a member of the police farce lie is
t ,
considered personal property, and as such, the City must declare him as "surplus" for
purposes of retirement of him. The City wishes to make sure that Reece spends the rest of
his life with his handler, Devon Benner.
Councilmember Leisha Nobach moved, and Councilmember Heather Watland seconded the
motion to approve the resolution acknowledging the service of police K-9 dog Reece,
declaring him as surplus, and authorizing his retirement to his handler, Devon Benner, and
authorized the Mayor to sign the resolution. The motion passed unanimously.
Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting February 17, 2026
Appointment of Raelynn Jones as City Clerk
City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council confirm the appointment of Raelynn as City
Clerk.
AMC 2.06.020 authorizes the Mayor to make appointments for certain offices within the
City subject to City Council confirmation.
Wendy Van Der Meersche began serving as City Clerk on June 1, 2019. Wendy is scheduled
to retire on May 1, 2026. Wendy will remain in the role as City Clerk until her retirement as
Raelynn is trained to take the role.
Raelynn Jones served as the Executive Assistant in the Community and Economic
Development Department. Raelynn will begin training with the current City Clerk and will
take over the role when she retires. City Council is being asked to confirm the Mayor's
appointment of Raelynn Jones to City Clerk effective May 1, 2026.
Mayor Pro Tern Michele Blythe moved, and Councilmember Leisha Nobach seconded the
motion to confirm the appointment of Raelynn Jones as City Clerk effective May 1, 2026.
The motion passed unanimously.
COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS
Councilmember Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam thanked this evening's presenters and spoke
of her history with them.
Councilmember Michele Blythe thanked Sgt Kinney for the police ride along.
Councilmember Tim Abrahamson spoke about his first meeting with Snohomish County
Board of Health.
ADMINISTRATOR & STAFF REPORTS
None.
MAYOR'S REPORT
None.
EXECUTIVE SESSION
City Attorney Oskar Rey announced the need for an executive session to discuss pending or
potential litigation [RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)], with no action to be taken afterward, to begin at
6:23 p.m. and last 10 minutes until 6:33 p.m.
Council was dismissed at 6:23 p.m.
Council reconvened at 6:33 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
With no further business to come before the Council, the me� i was adjourned at 6:33 p.m.
LIZ Do - anney, Mayor