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HomeMy WebLinkAboutSigned Minutes 12-08-25Minutes of the Arlington City Council Workshop Council Chambers 110 East 3rd Street Monday, December 8, 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, Shelby Burke, Sheri Amundson, Peter Barrett, Amy Rusko, Monroe Whitman, and Chelsea Brewer. Also Known to be Present: Kathy Vanney, Nathan Senff, Randy Nobach, and Tim Abrahamson, 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 Leisha Nobach seconded the motion, which passed with a unanimous vote. INTRODUCTION OF SPECIAL GUESTS AND PRESENTATIONS None. WORKSHOP ITEMS - NO ACTION WAS TAKEN Memorandum of Understanding with Department of Commerce for the Encampment Resolution Program City Administrator Paul Ellis reviewed the Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with WA State Dept of Commerce regarding the encampment resolution program. Staff is requesting the City enter into a memorandum of understanding with Department of Commerce to participate in the Encampment Resolution Program (ERP). The program will provide social services through the Volunteers of America, paired with the City Embedded Social Worker Team to provide services to unhouse people camping on public property. The program was established in 2024 and used by Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to provide social services to encampments located on WSDOT properties. The program has been extended to the City of Arlington and Everett for 2026. Discussion followed with Mr. Ellis answering Council questions. Pagel of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Workshop December 8 2025 Ordinance Amending the 2025 Budget and Modifying the 2026 Budget City Administrator Paul Ellis reviewed the ordinance amending the 2025 budget and modifying the 2026 budget. A public hearing on the proposed 2025 budget amendments and 2026 budget modifications will be held December 15, 2025. Council will be asked to take action on the ordinance following the public hearing. Most of the proposed amendments have been approved and/or discussed with council throughout the year. Discussion followed with Mr. Ellis answering Council questions. Interlocal Agreement with the City of Lake Stevens Regarding Grant for Professional Services Agreement with Feldman and Lee City Administrator Paul Ellis reviewed the interlocal agreement with the City of Lake Stevens. Both parties have obtained a grant from the Office of Public Defense and both parties have entered into a professional services agreement (PSA) with Feldman & Lee, P.S. for public defense services. Grant funds shall be used to supplement local funding to hire additional attorneys to reduce caseloads according to public defense standards. The grant amount is $20,000 over two years requiring a $13,800 match currently budgeted. The City of Lake Stevens and City of Arlington use the same law firm for public defense services. We have received this grant in prior years, and this will be the third update. Discussion followed with Mr. Ellis answering Council questions. Memorandum of Understanding for the Staging Area Use Between the Airport and Washington State Military Department Airport Operations Manager Monroe Whitman reviewed the memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between the airport and WA State military department. The MOU is made and entered into by and between the State of Washington through the Washington State Military Department Emergency Management Division and Arlington Municipal Airport to use the property as necessary for a state staging area for emergency or disaster preparation, response, and recovery activities. The current MOU was renewed in 2022 and is good for a term of five years from the start date January 27, 2023. Historically the airport has offered the staging area to the military department to use in the event of a serious emergency or natural disaster and allows the storage and staging of emergency supplies and equipment on airport property to support the relief and response. Discussion followed with Mr. Whitman answering Council questions. Ordinance Amending Parks and Recreation Master Plan Community and Economic Development Director Amy Rusko reviewed the ordinance amending the parks and recreation master plan. Page 2 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington City Council Worl<shop December 8. 202S Staff has proposed a Comprehensive Plan Amendment to Appendix G - Parks and Recreation Master Plan to revise the Cover Page, Chapter 3 Program Elements, Chapter 5 Plan Elements, Chapter 6 Park Plan Exhibits, Appendix B Existing Lands and Facilities, Appendix E Land and Facility Demand, and Appendix F Finances. The updates to these chapters and appendices include the addition of Smokey Point Community Park, project lists, financial calculations, and community park impact fees. The Parks and Recreation Master Plan was adopted in 2024 without the implementation of community park impact fees. The proposed amendment will implement new community park impact fees for new development in the city. Discussion followed with Ms. Rusko answering Council questions. Ordinance Adopting Arlington Municipal Code Chapter 20.90 Community and Economic Development Director Amy Rusko reviewed the ordinance adopting Arlington Municipal Code (AMC) Chapter 20.90. The amendments to AMC Chapter 20.90 Zoning Code Amendment includes updates to Part III of the concurrency and impact fees chapter of the code. The city updated the concurrency and impact fees for community parks to ensure compliance with the amended Parks and Recreation Master Plan. The AMC Chapter 20.90 Zoning Code Amendments were proposed with the 2024 Docket. The proposed zoning code amendment is required to comply with the updated Parks, Recreation and Open Space Master Plan. The code amendment was placed on hold at the July 15, 2024 City Council meeting and again after the November 19, 2024 Planning Commission meeting to allow time for city staff to amend the Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Master Plan and provide additional information regarding the proposed fee and to verify the nexus between the facility improvements/costs and the proposed impact fee. Discussion followed with Ms. Rusko answering Council questions. Ordinance Adopting Arlington Municipal Code Chapter 20.93 Community and Economic Development Director Amy Rusko reviewed the ordinance adopting Arlington Municipal Code (AMC) Chapter 20.93. The amendments to AMC Chapter 20.93 Critical Area Ordinance Zoning Code Amendment includes a complete rewrite of the entire chapter to ensure compliance with updated state regulations and guidance. The AMC Chapter 20.93 Critical Area Ordinance Zoning Code Amendments were necessary per the Growth Management Act and Comprehensive Plan requirements. This chapter was not included in the 2024 Comprehensive Plan Update. Future comprehensive plan updates will budget for updates to the Critical Area Ordinance. Discussion followed with Ms. Rusko answering Council questions. ADMINISTRATOR AND STAFF REPORTS City Administrator Paul Ellis announced that flooding may occur due to heavy rainfall. Page 3 of 4 Minutes of the City of Arlington Cit Council Workshop December 8 2025 MAYOR'S REPORT Mayor Vanney spoke about the Santa Parade and Hometown Holiday events Saturday. COMMENTS FROM COUNCILMEMBERS None. COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS Councilmember Blythe provided a brief update, while Councilmembers Nelson, Logan, Toyer, Gallardo-Van Ornam, Nobach and Schuette had nothing to report this evening. PUBLIC COMMENT None. REVIEW OF CONSENT AGENDA ITEMS FOR NEXT MEETING Councilmembers discussed and agreed to place the following items on Consent Agenda for the December 15 Council meeting: 1. Memorandum of Understanding with Department of Commerce for the Encampment Resolution Program 3. Interlocal Agreement with the City of Lake Stevens Regarding Grant for Professional Services Agreement with Feldman and Lee 4. Memorandum of Understanding for the Staging Area Use Between the Airport and Washington State Military Department EXECUTIVE SESSION None. ADJOURNMENT With no further business to come before the Council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m. Don E. ey, Mayor Page 4 of 4