11-08-16 MinutesYELM CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING
TUESDAY, NOVEMBERS, 2016 MINUTES
Mayor Foster called the meeting to order at 6:00 pm.
2. Roll Call Present: EJ Curry, Molly Carmody, Jennifer Littlefield, Tad Stillwell,
Tracey Wood and Joe DePinto.
16-127 MOTION BY TRACEY WOOD EXCUSING COUNCILMEMBER RUSS
HENDRICKSON FROM THE MEETING. SECONDED BY MOLLY CARMODY.
MOTION CARRIED.
3. Agenda Approval
16-128 MOTION BY TRACEY WOOD TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS PRESENTED.
SECONDED BY MOLLY CARMODY. MOTION CARRIED.
4. Special Presentations -
Student of the Month - Bridget Davila
Bridget is absolutely indispensable in both Advanced Drama and Stagecraft at
YHS, she often leads the charge. As Drama Club President, she is a leader not
only in name but also in spirit. She is an excellent example for the younger
students, always jumping in with enthusiasm. Bridget can be counted on to help
pull in students who are not participating (without even urging her to!) and she
can be trusted to lead groups within Stagecraft. She is frequently seen going out
of her way to make others laugh and keep her classes and rehearsals light
hearted. PLUS she just earned the title role in the first ever YHS Drama Club
winter play "The Curious Savage", in which she will be playing Ethel Savage. She
is going to be a major asset to whatever college is lucky enough to get her next
yea r.
5. Public Comment -no comment
6. Consent Agenda
Minutes - Regular Meeting October 25, 2016 & Study Session October 26, 2016
Payables - Checks #67853 - #67976 Totaling $1,902,838.04
16-129 MOTION BY TRACEY WOOD APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA AS
PRESENTED. SECONDED BY JENNIFER LITTLEFIELD. MOTION CARRIED.
7.
Public Hearing -
a. Ordinance No. 1015, Ad Valorem Tax Rate Budget Year 2017
Mayor Foster opened the public hearing at 6:06.
Finance Director Noah Crocker stated property is periodically assessed by the
Thurston County Assessor's Office. The assessed value of the property is then
used to compute an annual tax, which is levied on the owner by his or her
municipality. The legislative body must hold a public hearing and discuss any
increases in property tax revenues. In order to set the property tax rates they
must be identified in the adopting ordinance both by the dollar and percentage
increase amounts and certified with the county by November 30, 2016. Cities with
a population of less than 10,000 can increase their levy amount by one percent
without a vote. Normally, taxes on new construction are exempt from the lid/limit
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factor and may be added to the tax levy that is being requested. However, this is
only if the statutory maximum levy rate times the assessed value of the city
exceeds that highest lawful maximum. The city has not exceeded this for several
years due to the economic recession. The City of Yelm is held by the statutory
dollar, which is $3.60 minus the Fire District at $1.50, minus the Library District at
approximately $0.409468, leaving a new levy rate at approximately $1.7105321
per $1,000 of assessed valuation. Councilmember Wood asked for clarification on
the rate and what it was previously. Councilmember Littlefield stated that in the
past, the Council has chosen not to take the full 1% allowed by law.
No public comments or questions.
Mayor Foster closed the Public Hearing at 6:08.
b. Ordinance No. 1016, 2017 Preliminary Budget
Mayor Foster opened the Public Hearing at 6:09.
Noah Crocker, Finance Director gave a detailed powerpoint presentation on the
proposed 2017 budget. The $7.390 million dollar general fund budget reflects a
moderately aggressive approach to revenue projections ($5.190 million), as well
as a thorough analysis of planned expenditures. It maintains current programs,
contracts and levels of service provided to the community. Some highlights of the
2017 Budget include: fills necessary staffing positions in City Hall, Public Works
and the Police Department; replaces failing equipment and adds needed
equipment; SR507 Sidewalk Project; AC water line replacement projects;
Cochrane Park Control System and SCADA repairs; Spray Park; completion of the
Sewer Capital Facilities Plan and the completion of the Water Comprehensive Plan.
Tami Merriman asked what new staff would be added in the 2017 Budget. Noah
replied that the Police Department would get an additional Officer, Community
Development's 3/4 time IT position would go to full time and an additional IT
position would be added, Finance Department would add an additional Accountant
position and Public Works would add 4 seasonal employees.
No other public comment.
8. New Business —
a. Ordinance No. 1015, Setting Ad Valorem Tax for 2017 (7.a.)
16-130 MOTION BY TRACEY WOOD TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO. 1015 SETTING
THE AMOUNT FIXED AS AD VALOREM FOR THE REGULAR LEVY OF
PROPERTY TAX NECESSARY TO RAISE REVENUES FOR ESSENTIAL
EXPENDITURES FOR THE CITY OF YELM FOR THE FISCAL YEAR 2017.
SECONDED BY EJ CURRY. MOTION CARRIED.
b. Ordinance No. 1016, 2017 Preliminary Budget (7.b.)
There was discussion on the budget amongst Councilmember's and staff.
Councilmember DePinto would like to see a better breakdown of the new proposed
staff. Mayor Foster is working with Chief Stancil to explore other avenues for
funding additional requested Officers and Police vehicles.
16-131 MOTION BY TRACEY WOOD TO OPEN THE PUBLIC HEARING ON THE 2017
CITY OF YELM BUDGET AND AFTER THE STAFF REPORT AND PUBLIC
COMMENT, CONTINUE THE HEARING TO THE NOVEMBER 22, 2016 CITY
COUNCIL MEETING. AT THIS MEETING, ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT
WILL BE HEARD AND THE BUDGET WILL BE SCHEDULED FOR ADOPTION.
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SECONDED BY MOLLY CARMODY. COUNCILMEMBER DEPINTO — OPPOSED.
MOTION CARRIED.
C. Contract for Services — Yelm Community Service
Grant Beck stated that the City of Yelm has provided funding support to Yelm
Community Services since at least the mid-1990s (when the organization was
known as United Citizens Betterment Organization) to assist in their mission of
providing assistance to the poor and infirm of Yelm. This contribution was never
memorialized in a written agreement and Yelm Community Services did not
invoice the City for the contribution. In 2015, with significant changeover in City
staff (including the loss of the City Administrator and a new Finance Director), the
monthly contribution was discontinued, although not through a deliberate
decision. Yelm Community Services provides many needed services to those
citizens of Yelm and the surrounding community. They operate a food bank,
children's programs, and educational programs. The City has had an excellent
working relationship with Yelm Community Services, with the City acting as
financial agent for several CBDG grants. Yelm Community Services also manages
for the City, the Neighborhood Stabilization Grant by Housing and Urban
Development in which three single family homes are available in Yelm for low to
moderate income families. Historically, the City has contributed $200 per month
to the Yelm Community Services, which has been authorized, but not spent by the
adopted 2016 Budget. Mayor Foster is proposing to increase the contribution to
$250 starting in 2017 and will be including this appropriation in his proposed 2017
Budget. Council consensus is to have Cindy Marchand -Cecil attend an upcoming
meeting and give a presentation on the services provided at Yelm Community
Services. Mayor Foster will contact Cindy to see when she would be available to
attend either a Council meeting or a Study Session.
16-132 MOTION BY JOE DEPINTO TO TABLE THIS MATTER UNTIL AFTER CINDY
HAS ATTENDED A MEETING AND PROVIDED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
ON THE SERVICES AVAILABLE AT YELM COMMUNITY SERVICES.
SECONDED BY TRACEY WOOD. MOTION CARRIED.
d. Pavement Rating Professional Services Agreement and Port of Olympia
Grant Acceptance
Grant Beck explained that in May of 2016, City of Yelm staff was notified of a
$10,000 Economic Development Grant opportunity made available from the Port
of Olympia (Port). This is a grant that the City has received every year for several
years to help promote Economic Development opportunities. In the past, the City
has utilized this funding to augment transportation project costs. The grant
requires a 1 to 1 in-kind match from the City of up to $10,000. City staff, with the
guidance of then Mayor Harding, elected to pursue an application to rate City's
streetS to plan for improved transportation mobility and positioning for future
grant opportunities through a comprehensive inspection of our infrastructure. On
June 29, 2016, the Port approved our grant application for this project. City staff
reviewed prospective consultants utilizing the MRSC Professional Services Roster
to select qualified consultants to consider for the work. City Staff selected SCJ
Alliance to assist with this project. The grant funding is required to be expended
before December 31, 2016. Adequate City matching funds are available from the
City Street Fund (fund 101).
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16-133 MOTION BY TAD STILLWELL AUTHORIZING MAYOR FOSTER TO ACCEPT
THE UP TO THE $10,000 GRANT OFFER FROM THE PORT OF OLYMPIA AND
ENTER INTO A CONTRACT IN THE AMOUNT OF $18,760 WITH SCJ
ALLIANCE FOR SERVICES TO COMPLETE PAVEMENT RATING AND
INSPECTION OF CITY STREETS. SECONDED BY JENNIFER LITTLEFIELD.
MOTION CARRIED.
e. Interlocal Agreement Creating the Thurston County Regional Health and
Human Services Council
Mayor Foster stated the cities of Tumwater, Lacey, and Olympia joined the
Thurston County in 2012 to manage cooperative efforts to fund basic health and
human service needs within the region. It then became clear that inclusion of the
other municipalities within the County would further those efforts and provide
opportunity for those cities to provide services for their residents as well as
support efforts to provide those services regionally. This contract provides that
opportunity by making our city part of that coalition. Our contribution to the fund
comes from a Community Development Block Grant (CDBG). There was much
discussion on the process of receiving funds from the coalition. The only way that
the City is eligible to receive funds from this group is if they are part of the
coalition.
16-134 MOTION BY MOLLY CARMODY AUTHORIZING MAYOR FOSTER TO SIGN
THE CONTRACT WITH THE HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES COUNCIL.
SECONDED BY EJ CURRY. OPPOSED — JENNIFER LITTLEFIELD AND
TRACEY WOOD. MOTION CARRIED.
9. Old Business — none scheduled
10. Mayor and Council Initiatives
Councilmember Curry attended the Finance Committee meeting along with
Councilmember's Carmody and Stillwell.
Councilmember Carmody attended the Community Development Department
meeting with Councilmember's DePinto and Littlefield.
Councilmember Littlefield attended the Community Development Department
meeting with Councilmember's Carmody and DePinto. Councilmember Littlefield
also attended the Public Forum on Friday, November 4 and thought it went well.
Councilmember Stillwell met with Noah along with Councilmember's Curry and
Carmody. Councilmember Stillwell also attended the Public Forum on Friday,
November 4 and reported it went good.
Councilmember Wood attended the Public Works Committee meeting with
Councilmember Hendrickson and Parametrix to go over the facility needs at the
Wastewater Treatment Facility. It was very interesting.
Councilmember DePinto attended the Thurston County Law and Justice
Committee meeting. Councilmember DePinto clarified his opposed vote to the
budget because he received the Agenda Packet at 5:05 on Friday, November 4 and
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did not have enough time to fully review the 2017 Budget. In the future, he would
like to have the Agenda Packet with the Budget information at least two weeks in
advance before the first public hearing.
Mayor Foster attended the "International Council of Shopping Centers" meeting in
Tukwila. Met with Cynthia Schmier and discussed the naming of the Community
Center. Mayor Foster reported that the Public Forum on November 4 was well
received by the community. We will be scheduling more Public meetings in the
future. The Department Heads for the City of Yelm along with the Mayor attended
the Yelm Chamber Luncheon and each one introduced themselves and explained
what they do for the City of Yelm. Mayor Foster will be attending a Veteran's Day
Celebration at JBLM. Mayor Foster also met with the Teamsters Union today and
reached an agreement on an update to the Public Works Contract. This will be
coming before Council before the end of the year.
Councilmember Littlefield invited everyone to the Veteran's Day Assembly at the
school in Rochester. She has additional information if you would like to attend.
11. Executive Session - none scheduled
12.. Correspondence included -
Yelm Chamber of Commerce - What's Happening Newsletter -November 2016;
Thurston County Auditor Mary Hall reminds voters to vote by November 8, 2016,
16-135 MOTION BY TRACEY WOOD TO ADJOURN, SECONDED BY EJ CURRY.
MOTION CARRIED.
13. Adjourned at 7:15 pm.
on
-,. Attest:
JW aster, May6r Lori Mossman, City Clerk
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