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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Signed Minutes 04-27-26_WorkshopMinutes of the Arlington City Council Workshop Council Chambers 110 East 3rd Street Monday, April 27, 2026 Councilmembers Present: Heather Watland, Rob Toyer, Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam, Michele Blythe, Nathan Senff, Tim Abrahamson, and Leisha Nobach. Council Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Mayor Don Vanney, Paul Ellis, Shelby Burke, Jim Kelly, Amy Rusko, Jonathan Ventura, Rory Butler, Kris Wallace and Chelsea Brewer. Also Known to be Present: Kathy Vanney, Randy Nobach, Dave Kraski, Steven Maisch, Holly Sloan -Buchanan, and Julie Winchell. Mayor Don Vanney called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm, and the Pledge of Allegiance and roll call followed. APPROVAL OF THE AGENDA Mayor Pro Tern Michele Blythe moved to approve the agenda as presented. Councilmember Nathan Senff seconded the motion, which passed with a unanimous vote. INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS None. WORKSHOP ITEMS - NO ACTION WAS TAKEN Condemnation Ordinance for the 180th Street and Smokey Pt. Boulevard Roundabout Project Public Works Director Jim Kelly reported that Arlington received a grant from Puget Sound Regional Council for the design and construction of a roundabout at 180th Street and Smokey Point Boulevard as part of the Smokey Point Boulevard Corridor improvement project. This project design is near completion and will be bid early summer. As part of the roundabout project, the City needed to obtain Right of Way (ROW) and Temporary Construction Easements (TCE) from several parcels; all parcels have been acquired except for a property located at the southwest corner of the intersection. The property owners have rejected fair, above market offers for the needed ROW and TCE. Construction of this intersection project will provide for mobility and safety, it is for the good of the public and community; as such, we are now moving to obtain the ROW and TCE through condemnation proceedings. Discussion followed with Mr. Kelly answering Council questions. Pagel of 3 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop April 13 2026 Position Request for Water Treatment Plant Operator Public Works Director Jim Kelly reported that the Public Works Water Department is requesting a new full-time employee Water Treatment Plant Operator I position to perform duties essential to the operation of the Water Treatment Plant (WTP). The WTP expansion project underway and nearing construction, getting an additional WTP operator hired and trained ahead of time is critical. The Department of Health will require the plant to be staffed with an additional operator once the WTP Expansion is completed; this would have been added in the 2027-2028 budget during the budget development process later this year. Staff is requesting the position be advertised early and approved by council in order to be fully staffed during construction of the expansion and to also be fully prepared with trained operators when the WTP Expansion goes on-line in 2027. Discussion followed with Mr. Kelly answering Council questions. Change Order No. 2 for Water Treatment Expansion Design Public Works Director Jim Kelly presented Scope of Work (SOW) and Fee Estimate from BHC for Amendment No 2 for design services for the Water Treatment Plant (WTP) Expansion Design for Phase 2. This scope of work and fee estimate from BHC is for additional fees necessary for completing the Water Treatment Plant Expansion design. To keep up with increasing water demand in the Water Utility's water service area, the Water Utility needs to expand capacity at the Haller Wellfield and to the Water Treatment Plant. In 2023 the City contracted with BHC for the WTP expansion design work (30%-100%), this included the final design to project bidding. Due to multiple unanticipated issues during design (liquifiable soils, numerous existing underground utilities, old 1924 WTP no records, extended filter train design/procurement with Canadian form, etc.), an amendment is being requested to bring the construction package to 100% and ready for bidding. With this scope and fee, BHC will generate final design and bidding documents for the WTP Expansion and provide project management and oversight up to public bid. This project is identified in the Water Comprehensive Plan and has been budgeted for 2024-2027. Utilities and Transportation Quarterly Report Public Works Director Jim Kelly presented the Public Works Quarterly Report and Project Update to Council. The report provided a review of current personnel, regulatory, maintenance and project issues affecting Public Works' Transportation, Utilities, Cemetery, Engineering, GIS and Administration departments for the first quarter of 2026 and start of second quarter 2026. Community and Economic Development Quarterly Report Community and Economic Director Amy Rusko presented the first quarter report for the Community and Economic Development Department (CED). The report addressed review work conducted by the CED Department and current development projects. Discussion followed with Ms. Rusko answering Council questions. Page 2 of 3 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop April 13, 2026 ADMINISTRATOR AND STAFF REPORTS MAYOR'S REPORT COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember Nathan Senff provided a report on the activities that he attended during the previous week. Councilmember Michele Blythe attended the Cemetery Board interviews and thanked Public Works staff for including her. She also thanked City Administrator Paul Ellis for hosting an informational Council Retreat. PUBLIC COMMENT Julie Winchell, Arlington, provided comments. REVIEW OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Councilmembers discussed and agreed to put the following items on the Consent Agenda for the May 4, 2026 Council meeting: 2. Position Request for Water Treatment Plant Operator 3. Change Order No. 2 for Water Treatment Expansion Design EXECUTIVE SESSION None. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:35 p.m. Don E. Vanney, Mayor Page 3 of 3