City Council - Regular Meeting

All right, everybody. I'd like to call this meeting to order. My name is Douglas. It's Wednesday, March 25th, 2026. Now it's 6:31 p.m. and um director coming here. here. Here Shaw here. Swore here. Taylor here. Wilson here. Boore

here. Thank you. Yes. Motion. Second. Person second. Any discussion? All in favor of the pledge of

allegiance. Please stand al to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Thank you for motion to approve the second. Is there any discussion on this?

Favor opposed. Thank you. Movement of the comments now. So please limit your comments to three minutes. Start with your name, your ward or your city and be respectful. Thank you. I'll try. Thanks.

I'm Terry Schles from W one and and Ruth, I'm doing public comments because Nancy is here to do the other presentation. So, we have a couple of things from the museum. So, what I wanted to uh I have an invitation for you. I hope you've been able to see the posters that have been put up in the buildings downtown. It's been done by museum volunteers, including a couple students from A High School. last and next we hope to do the Becker building and then hopefully 1:18. So we want to invite you to a ribbon cutting on May 7th at noon. Uh Ruth, would you get that down because I don't know if Mr. Mer will get in his calendar we talked about before meetings. We'd like as many council members as can make it there. We're doing this with Greater Grace Harbor. Uh we hope to have some uh uh media coverage of the event, but I think this is a significant event. Although it it may seem like a a small activity, you know, Aberine is is rising again and we need to show all the ways that we're doing that to make this an attractive city for for people to come to. We have a lot of empty storefronts, but we hope to be able to fill those windows with with the history of Aberdine as we go along until we can find people to occupy those. So remember, May 7th, noon in front of the Moore building and I hope to see you all there. Thank you.

Thank you. Those look great, by the way. Is there any other public comment?

I'm Nancy Kyle and I'm representing the Grace Harper Museum Association and we are uh really excited to announce this passport uh which uh Humanities Washington gives the grant to produce. It will be sold at all the museums. It'll be sold at all the museums in the county uh for $3 a piece and uh we're also getting some other places we hope to be selling and uh and we are partnering with all the real estate well with many of the real estate companies and we hope that anybody who buys a home in Grace Arbor County will get one of these so they can learn about the history of their new community. Hope you buy one.

Right. Thank you. Is there any other public comment?

Good evening. Happy Earth Day. Uh I'm Ralph Oboom from Ward 4. Uh some friends of mine and I are doing a cleanup on this Saturday from 11 to 2 down at the 9inth Avenue Reservoir. And I just wanted to invite anybody who wants to come. also let city council know we're doing another cleanup. We had uh 15 people that came on Black Friday last year. I I announced that, but I never actually gave the council an update. Um we picked up I keep wanting to say a ton of garbage, but we didn't weigh it. And a ton is an actual unit of weight, so I can't can't honestly say that. Uh we picked up a heck of a lot of garbage. Pardon my language. I don't usually say heck unless I'm really emotionally fired up. Um so I I want to invite everybody to come and join us. Um, if you don't know how to pick up litter, you are in luck. It is a skill, but you pick it up as you go along.

Tough crowd. Okay. Well, there is a Facebook group for that. Again, it's you can park at 500 9th Avenue. Uh, we provide bags, bring some gardening gloves, and make sure you're wearing uh shoes that are not open to. And then come hang out with us, and we'll pick up some trash. Thanks. Thank you. Anybody comments? All right. Council president for consent. Motion to approve tonight's consent agenda which includes minutes from the April 8th meeting payable in favor.

Second been moved and second. Is there any comments? All in favor? I Laughing. Yeah.

So we did have a few changes. We reset that to the attorney. So they're internally still looking at that. We hope to bring that back. Um also uh meeting next week for that still anticipate bringing that forward. The reason for starting this class is to teach people about people whe These people

What's going on? Congratulations.

So, from this experience, Lisa Scott's going to be coming over here uh this month and and in June, meeting with our freshman Washington uh yeah, freshman Washington State history class and our senior civics classes to do a similar presentation and get them involved in what's possible in our community and do the same activities we did about the map. What can we do in Southside? What can we do in our parks? Um, I worked with Dave Bowling. We just did a a video you'll hear about later on the history of the paramedics and uh EMS program here in Aberdine and Dave helped me put that together. We did that Rick Moyer film that Monday. So, um, my whole mission right now since I sort of retired, I'm still studying school is to bring our kids back in the community and our community back to our kids and all of us just going in a more positive direction. So, thank you for doing this. That was really I I encourage every citizen to take advantage of this.

Thank you. Yeah, that I just wanted to second Jerry's uh thoughts or comments. I had an outstanding time during the class. Um I feel like it's very important uh for our community to come together and have experiences like this and talking with my work peers from around the Seattle metro and other places that work remotely. there's a large desire in the state um for the community to give back and be part of roundt experiences. I feel like that course allowed us to do some of that and um I just want to congratulate you guys for taking a step to do that and give the community an experience to be part of the roundt and look forward to more of it in the future.

Thank you. All right, we'll move on to the next is Nancy K with history 985ation. This time I'll try to remember to speak in a microphone. Okay. Um yes. Um I want to talk to you about uh the Washington State Historical Society's um America 250 projects. And one of them um is that I'm going to talk about tonight is called out of many one. And this program asks us to look at uh the many cultures that came together to make our communities what they are today. And in order to do that, they're asking us to couple more couple slides. Yeah. Anyway, uh this will be a joint project between the city of Aberdine and history 98520. What we will do is take um objects from the uh Museum of History's collection and we will ask the community to vote on those to vote on the one out of the five that we selected uh that will kind of reflect to them something about their community history and maybe it's what they want to remember or maybe it's what they think is fun. Um so um each after we get the word out on these five items, people will be asked to vote on them. We're hoping to collect the votes um over the next month or so and have a display up of their selected item um hopefully in June and certainly before July 4th. So first of all, I want to talk to you about item number one, which

I think is truly exciting. This is it's a very large piece and it is three-dimensional. Um it is made entirely um out of Union button. And if you look at that kind of little hand down there, that little yellow button that's in that hand says Union products. And the whole rest of it is made out of Union buttons. So many different unions. And um sometimes to make it 3D the buttons are 12 ft herself. I mean it's it's really kind of a remarkable piece. Abine was at the center of the western uh union movement and uh people died for it. Um one man was shot in the back of the head attacking a mill. Um Laura Law's murder was never solved but a lot of people felt that that was uh because of her and her husband's activity through the union. Even Billy uh was it convicted of one murder but um a lot of people felt that most of the notic no note to I can't even say it anyway the reason people thought about him was because he was the head of the city union and they were after him. So let's look at the next one. The next one is number two is a beautiful drawing. It is the original architect's proposal for the Mar Hotel which was of course the center of culture in our community for a very long time. Number three will be a portrait of Sam Ben. Uh this was when he was in his 80s and was commissioned by the city of Aberdine because he was the city's founder. Number four. Um this is a painting by um one of the city's better known artists.

Um Elsie Miner and this painting is in the collection. Um she saw a wrecking ball and she ran home, got her paints and came back and painted this picture called the pink door. The pink door is actually you you went up the stair. This building is still there. that building was there and you you walk up these stairs and you see this kind of plain brown door but when you open it it's pink on the other side and you step into you would have stepped into course now it's gone Nelly Curtis's brothel which was our most famous brothel building and uh we have in our in the museum collection uh you uh the pink door and also the the transom glass that says Curtis all over it. So, it's kind of fun. Uh the last item, the fifth item, um I'm showing you this picture here of these loggers with a mis with a misery whip. They're standing on uh I can't think of and springboards. Thank you. They're standing on springboards and there's an axe there. Uh so what we're proposing is if this is selected that we actually take the artifacts from the museum and build a giant collage with these things. We'll probably add a uh log branding hammer and wedges and some other things. So that's the So we just wanted you to know what's going to be going on before and we hope that all get out there and vote and uh make this an exciting project. Thank you.

Thank you. finance and chair person. Okay. Nothing to report. Uh got a request recommending the city council to approve the policy establish establishing the customer assistant program. I made a motion accept this report. Second. Is there any discussion on that? All in favor? I I

Okay. Next, we have a request recommending the city council to approve the contract with CNB sign and electric incorporated. I make motion we accept this report. Yeah. Second. Yeah. Yeah.

Okay. We have a first and a second. Is there any discussion on this? Uh this is uh cost of the sign is about $17,000 and we only have budget in for 15 or $5,000. Last year, uh, we had a $15,000 grant from the Eltech to pay for this, but it wasn't renewed for this year. So, this would be an extra budget item. So, there sound like two minutes.

Okay. Uh Ramsey, yes.

Yes. Yes. Nipper. Yes. Fredo, yes. Rick, yes. Shaw, no. Swore, yes. Taylor, yes. Wilson, no. David Gage, your vote. Yes. Can you hear me now? Thanks. Yes.

10. Oh, yeah. Nine. I'm sorry. All right.

Oh, yeah. Yeah. Sorry. Um, ordinance resolutions request recommending city council authorize a surplus of three influent pumps from the WWTP by resolution. Make motion we accept this to close. Second. Second. by Francis. All right. Any discussion on this? Amen. All in favor?

I. Last we have the third reading of bill 26-01 request recommending the city council approve the ordinance creating the customer assistance program fund and establishing chapter 3.124 amc is there any discussion on for reading one discussion.

We we did discuss in finance, you know, different ways that we're going to look into getting, you know, funds and contributions. So that's for the words.

Yeah.

Okay. Morning. Yes. Nipper. Yes. Fredo. Yes. Rajic. Yes. Shaw. Yes. Swarf. Yes, Taylor. Yes, Wilson. Yes. Motion passes. Thank you. Public safety person. Actually, mayor, it's going to be me tonight. Oh, yeah. Sorry.

There are no agenda items tonight. Uh the fire department is currently working through their firefighter paramedic candidates for their current vacancy. And the police department has one candidate and background check for the police service officer for the ship and then they will be currently fully sound. Okay. Thank you. Right now we'll move on to public works with chers and friends.

Yeah. Public works met today and we have discussion things. We've got three items on this tonight's agenda. The first is a request city council authorization to award the project and authorize the mayor to execute it from the sorting services agreement with laws for conflicted. We accept this report. Second. Is there any discussion on this? All in favor? Hi. Hi.

All right. Our second item is requesting the city council to authorize the mayor to execute the hazard mitigation grant agreement. Second. Any discussion on this? Um, it's the beginning of the letter.

Yeah. Thank you. All in favor? I I All right. Our third item is requesting the city council to authorize the mayor to execute the flood damage protection control. Department is there any discussion on this?

This is to do with the pumps. All in favor this request by the city council to authorize an area execute the flood and damage reduction grant with the department of ecology. Say I

thank you. Okay, that's all. Thank you. Now we go on schedule items. I'd like to make a motion to open a public hearing to receive public testimony on the amendments to AMC 8.08. 08.0840 regulations religion of shopping cart for bill 26-13. Second and second. Is there any discussion on this?

All right. Um all in favor of the request by the council to host a public hearing to receive public testimony on the amendments to AMC 810. 08104 regulations related to shopping carts bill 26-3 say I post public hearing does anybody have any comments they'd like to make see that I move we close the public hearing second all in favor of closing public here

I close public hearing complex Next, we have the second reading for bill 26-03 requesting city council approve the amendments to 8.08.040 regulations related to shopping carts and we accept this reading. Is there any discussion on this accepting the second reading of bill 26-3 requesting city council approve the amendments to the AMC.0804 08.040 regulations related to shopping carts. Say I I

oppos. It's adopted. And next we have the third reading of bill 26-02 requesting city council approve the ordinance amending AMC 2.20.0 and then we accept this third meeting. Second. Is there any discussion on this? of the law, please for all in favor of the third reading of bill 26-02 requesting city council approve the ordinance amending AMC 2.20.04 04 code.

Francy, yes. Aken, yes. Yes. Moingham, yes. Nipper, yes. Fredo, yes. Rick, yes. Shaw, yes. Swore, yes. Taylor, yes. Wilson,

yes. Thank you. Thank you. this room recognizing and celebrating the month of May as building safety month so bear with me. Whereas our city Oh, proclamation building safety month for May 2026. Whereas our city is committed to recognizing that our growth and strength depends on the safety and essential role of homes, buildings, and infrastructure play both in everyday life and when disasters strike. And whereas our confidence in the resilience of these buildings that make up our communities achieved through the devotion and of diligent guardians, building safety and fire prevention officials, architects, engineers, builders, trades people, design professionals, laborers, plumbers, and others in the construction industries who work year round to ensure the safe construction of buildings. And whereas these guardians are dedicated members of the International Code Council, ICC, a nonprofit that brings together local, state, territorial, tribal, and federal officials who are experts in the in the built environment to create and implement the highest quality codes and standards to protect us in the buildings where we live, learn, work, and play. And whereas these modern building codes and standards include safeguards to protect the public from hazards such as hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes,

wildland fires, floods, and earthquakes. And whereas building safety month is sponsored by ICC to remind the public about the critical role of our community's largely unknown protectors of public safety. our code officials

who assure us of safe, sustainable and affordable buildings that are essential to our property and whereas built to last. The theme of the theme for building safety month 2026 encourages us all to get involved and raise awareness about building safety on a personal, local, and global scale. And whereas each year in observance of building safety month, people all over the world are asked to consider the commitment to improve building safety, resilience, and economic investment at home community and to acknowledge the extens the essential service provided to all of us by local, state, tribal, territorial, and federal building safety and fire prevention departments in protecting lives and property. And now therefore, I Douglas or mayor of the city of Abene to hereby proclaim the month of May 2026 as building safety month accordingly. I encourage our citizens to join us as we participate in building safety activities of the proclamation of celebrating the month of May's building safety month. Is there any discussion on this

here? Here. Thank you. All in favor of proclamation recognizing and celebrating the month of May as building safety month say I. I thank you. Just pass second. All right. Now we move on to number two. This is a proclamation recognizing and celebrating May 3 to May 9, 2026 as public employee service recognition month the city. Oh, I mean I'm sorry. Well, should be enough.

The office of the mayor, city of Aberdine proclamation. Whereas a residents are served every day by local employees at the federal, state, county, and city levels. And these unsung heroes do the work that keeps our nation working. And whereas public employees embody the spirit of service and through their work provide protection and care, keep our community orderly and continuously strive to improve in the community the quality of life for others. And whereas public employees do in and day out provide the diverse services demanded by the public by the people of the government with vision and integrity. And whereas this week serves to highlight the accomplishments of the dedicated employees who work tirelessly on behalf of all citizenry and who rarely get the credit they deserve. And whereas the city of Aberdine values the commitment of public employees working for the betterment of our community. Now therefore, I Doug sword, mayor of the city of Aberdine, and the state of Washington hereby recognize May 3 to May 9, 2026 as public employee service recognition week in the city of Aberdine. encourage all Aberdonians to join in recognizing and expressing appreciation for the important contributions of public employees, essentially City of Aberdine employees, and witness whereof I hear to have set my hand and cause the seal of the city of Aberdine to be fixed this 22nd day of April 2026. Mayor Dot to accept the proclamation recommend celebrating May 3, 2026 public employee service.

Second and second. All in favor? I

I it passes and thank you all that are public employees because we they really do a lot behind the scene that we don't give them credit enough credit for. All right. Now, we're going to move on to public comments. And if you have anything to say, please walk up to the mic, state your name, your board, or your city, and be kind. You have three minutes. Don't crowd all up there at the same time. Okay, seeing none, then we'll go on to the good of the order. Do we have anything for the good of the order, Council President? Um, yes, just a reminder to everyone that the town hall meetings are coming up. One of them is on May 6th. The other is on May 20th. Wards four, five, and 6 will be on May 6th at Robert Gay Elementary from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. And ws 1, 2, and 3 will be on May 20th at Miller Junior High from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. close to close session. motion.

Motion to move into a close session for 20 minutes. No action is inspected after the meeting. Second. All in favor? I I be back at 7:36. Would you like to read?

No, I hope you're writing favor. Recon motion to second. Thank you guys for coming. Appreciate that.