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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSigned Minutes 12-01-25Minutes of the Arlington City Council Meeting Council Chambers 110 East 3rd Street Monday, December 1, 2025 Councilmembers Present: Heather Logan, Rob Toyer, Debora Nelson, Michele Blythe Yvonne Gallardo-Van Ornam, Leisha Nobach, and Jan Schuette. Council Members Absent: None. Staff Present: Mayor Don Vanney, Paul Ellis, Sarah Lopez, Shelby Burke, Amy Rusko, Jim Kelly, Peter Barrett, Thad Newport, Rory Bolter, Deputy City Attorney Emily Romanenko, Chelsea Brewer, and Wendy Van Der Meersche. Also Known to be Present: Kathy Vanney, Randy Nobach, Ellis Nobach, Heather Watland, Tim Abrahamson, Nathan Senff, Kim Casteel, Jay Lindberg and others. 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 Tem Michele Blythe moved to approve the agenda as presented. Councilmember Leisha Nobach seconded the motion, which passed with a unanimous vote. INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS None. PROCLAMATIONS None. PUBLIC COMMENT Jay Lindberg, Stanwood, provided comments. CONSENT AGENDA Mayor Pro Tem Michele Blythe moved and Councilmember Leisha Nobach seconded the motion to approve the Consent Agenda that was unanimously carried: 1. Minutes of the November 17 and November 24, 2025 Council meetings 2. Accounts Payable: Approval of EFT Payments and Claims Checks #114624 through #114711, dated November 4, 2025, through November 17, 2025 in the amount of $2,764,688.84. 3. Interlocal Agreement with Snohomish County for Technology Services Page 1 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting December 1 2025 PUBLIC HEARING Development Agreement with MJS Investors Acquisition, LLC for Lindsay Subarea Plan Community and Economic Development Director Amy Rusko requested Council approve the development agreement with MIS Investors Acquisition, LLC for Lindsay Subarea Plan. The public hearing opened at 6:05 p.m. With no members of the public wishing to speak, the public comment portion was closed, and Council comments were opened at 6:06 p.m. Councilmember Rob Toyer made a comment. The public hearing was closed at 6:07 p.m. Councilmember Debora Nelson moved, and Councilmember Heather Logan seconded the motion to approve the development agreement with MIS Investors Acquisition, LLC and authorize the Mayor to sign it. The motion passed unanimously. NEW BUSINESS Settlement Agreement City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council approve a settlement agreement for $27,000 that would resolve the legal claims of Jose Rodriguez, regarding public records requests about flock cameras. Mayor Pro Tem Michele Blythe moved, and Councilmember Leisha Nobach seconded the motion to approve the settlement agreement with Jose Rodriguez in the amount of $27,000 and authorize the Mayor or City Administrator to sign the settlement agreement. The motion passed unanimously. Memorandum of Understanding with Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians City Administrator Paul Ellis requested Council approve a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the City of Arlington and Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians to study the feasibility of utility service to the tribal property. The City and the Tribe have a mutual interest and intent to collaborate on exploring the potential for the Tribe to connect to the City's water and sewer system. Both the City and the Tribe agree this MOU will be in place until such time that both parties determine that the purpose of the MOU has been fulfilled or that further collaboration is no longer necessary. The parties agree to jointly work in conducting an engineering evaluation of how bring water and sewer services to the Tribe's property on 236th St, including evaluation potential costs, time frames, and legal or regulatory requirements for establishing a connection. The parties agree to share information and technical data relevant to the infrastructure evaluation, and to work cooperatively to ensure transparency and communication between both parties. Councilmember Heather Logan moved, and Councilmember Debora Nelson seconded the motion to approve the Memorandum of Understanding with the Stillaguamish Tribe of Indians and authorize the Mayor to sign. The motion passed unanimously. Page 2 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting December 1. 2025 Authorization to Apply for Snohomish County Hotel -Motel Grant Round 2 for 2026 Community Engagement Director Sarah Lopez requested Council authorize application for Snohomish County Hotel -Motel Grant Round 2 for the following projects: 1. Arlington Score & Explore promotion, May - July 2026, work with consultant to attract World Cup visitors. Request is $13,000, cash match $400, in -kind match $4,000. 2. Outdoor Recreation Visitor guide (5000 brochures and online). Request is $4,500, cash match $500, in -kind match $1,250 3. Downtown Arlington Speaker System. Request is $20,000, cash match $10,000 (2026 community engagement fund). Applying for funding for tourism projects positions Arlington to bring in outside dollars for visitor generating events and infrastructure, reduce General Fund pressure, leverage County marketing, and be ready for major 2026-2027 tourism opportunities —all within . the allowable uses of Washington's lodging tax (tourism marketing, events/festivals, and tourism related facilities. Councilmember Debora Nelson moved, and Councilmember Rob Toyer seconded the motion to authorize Sarah Lopez to submit Hotel -Motel Grant applications to Snohomish County for tourism project funding in 2026. The motion passed unanimously. Request for Permit Fee Waiver Community Engagement Director Sarah Lopez requested Council approve a waiver for fees for a city operating permit for Hometown Holiday rides and tenting. The permit fee and processing fee is $175.00. Historically, permit fees have been waived for City projects. Councilmember Rob Toyer moved, and Councilmember Debora Nelson seconded the motion to authorize the Mayor to waive permit fees for the Hometown Holidays operating permit. The motion passed unanimously. Department of Ecology Stormwater Grant Acceptance Public Works Director Jim Kelly requested Council approve the Department of Ecology Stormwater grant acceptance. The Stormwater Capacity Grant for July 2025 to March 2027 for $120,000 is to fund Stormwater NPDES Phase I1 activities. The Stormwater Capacity Grant Program provides funding to municipalities for work and projects associated directly with the implementation of Phase II National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permits. The Department of Ecology's Municipal Stormwater Capacity Grants Program has again increased the award amount, for biennium 2025-2027 the City will receive $120,000.00. Due to delay by Ecology, the contract is late being sent for signatures, however the City will be reimbursed for eligible expenses incurred from July 2025 if it so chooses. There is no City match required for this grant. A budget amendment will be added to the 2026 stormwater budget if necessary. Page 3 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Meeting December 1 2025 Councilmember Leisha Nobach moved, and Councilmember Michele Blythe seconded the motion to accept the Municipal Stormwater Capacity Grant in the amount of $120,000 and authorize the Mayor to sign the grant agreement. The motion passed unanimously. COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS Councilmember Leisha Nobach stated what a great turnout there was for Saturday's Hometown Holidays kickoff event. ADMINISTRATOR & STAFF REPORTS City Administrator Paul Ellis stated that the rest of City business for the year will be completed at the December 8 Council workshop and December 18 Council meeting. MAYOR'SEPORT Mayor Vanney thanked everyone involved with the outstanding Hometown Holidays kickoff. EXECUTIVE SESSION None. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:21 p.m. Don . ��neyy,ayor Page 4 of 4