12-03-2019YELM CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 3, 2019 6:00 P.M.
CITY HALL BUILDING
106 SECOND STREET SE
YELM, WA
1. Mayor JW Foster called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
2. Present: Councilmembers: EJ Curry, Molly Carmody, Cody Colt, Tad Stillwell, Tracey
Wood, Joe DePinto and Terry Kaminski.
Staff present: City Administrator Michael Grayum, Interim Finance Director Heidi
MacDonald, Associate Planner Tami Merriman, Civil Engineer Derek McCoy and City Clerk &
HR Manager Lori Lucas.
3. a. Safety and Justice Commission Presentation
Thurston County Judge Brent Buckley along with Thurston County Commissioner John
Hutchings presented information about the upcoming bond proposal to build new
administrative buildings and a new courthouse in downtown Olympia. The $250 million bond
measure will construct a facility to better serve Thurston County's growing population. The
bond will be on the ballot for a vote of the people in February 2020.
3. b. Unified Development Code Updates
Associate Planner Tami Merriman and Civil Engineer Derek McCoy presented updates to the
Unified Development Code (UDC), proposed by the Planning Commission. The proposed
updates encourage the development of a housing mix and provide more affordable, multi-
family units within the city. The proposed update also Includes regulations to ensure the city
sets design standards, while remaining within compliance of recent Federal Communication
Commission regulations.
3. c. 2019-2020 Mid -Biennial Amendment
Interim Finance Director Heidi MacDonald gave a brief overview of the presentation that was
given to Council on November 26 and asked if Councilmembers had any questions. This will
come before Council at the last meeting of the year on December 10, 2019 for adoption.
4. Mayors Report —
City Administrator Michael Grayum updated Council on the following items —
• We have received 4 applications for the Arts Commission. A minimum of 5 members
are needed to form the Arts Commission.
• There Is 1 vacancy on the Historic Preservation Commission.
• There are 4 vacancies on the Yelm Tree Advisory Commission.
• Yelm Police Reserve Officer Joe Rivera is doing well after being hit head-on by a high
speed chase suspect.
• Yelm University Is this Thursday at the Yelm Community Center starting at 6:00 pm.
• Christmas in the Park is December 7'h.
• Michael will be out next week on vacation.
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S. Council Initiatives
Councilmember Carmody Inquired about the process to approve contracts and the
threshold that would make it necessary for the contracts to be approved by Council.
Councilmember Stillwell inquired about the Homelessness Task Force recommendations
and when they will be presented to Council. City Administrator Grayum stated the
recommendations will be received by city staff in December and come to Council in January.
Councilmember Wood has seen a lot of abandoned shopping carts around town and would
like to know what kind of enforcement can be done. Mayor Foster stated that the owners of
the shopping carts would need to report them stolen before the police can take any action.
Councilmember DePinto has encountered the same thing as Councilmember Wood and
has talked with the Manager at the Dollar Tree.
Councilmember Kaminski attended the meet and greet with the Interim Public Works
Director Steve Clark.
6. -Yelm 101"
No discussion.
Mayor Foster reminded everyone of Yelm University on Thursday and Christmas In the Park
on Saturday morning starting with the Parade at 9:30 am and the Key Ceremony for
Sergeant Boyle's family is Saturday in the afternoon.
Adjourn: 8:00 p.m.
Attest: (l K eACa.-I
JW Foster, Mayor Lori Lucas, City Clerk
These minutes record the official actions of the Yelm City Council. Complete recordings are
available on the city website at www.yelmwa.gov.
12-3-19