City Council - Regular Meeting

Hello everybody. Thank you for coming tonight. My name is Mayor Morton and this is Wednesday, December 10th, 2025 at 6:30. I'd like to call this council meeting to order. Can I get the roll call, please? Sorry. Um Ellis

here. Here

Morrison here. here. Fredo here. Taylor and Marilyn here. Um if you'd like and you are able to stand for the pledge of allegiance, please. I aliance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which standing us one nation under God indivisible with liberty and justice for all.

All right. Thank you. Can I give council president's floor? Motion to approve tonight's agenda. Second. Is there any discussion president? I'll say two things. First, I need to make a motion that we amend the agenda to add the sound offenders indigenous defense contract. Second, it's sound defenders

indigent defense contract. defense contract. Okay. Um, so there have been a first and a second to add sound effects indigenous. I can't say it either. I should have done both at once, but I was um trying to give you a minute to write it down. We also need to remove the presentation on community development housing.

Okay. Um well, you want to vote on that community development housing removing that? Oh, there's no Okay. Okay, we'll do. All right. All in favor? Oppos. Thank you. All right. Oh, that's the amendment. Okay. So, now we're approving the agenda. Let it first. Thank you. Motion to approve the agenda as amended. Yes. Thank you. Is there any discussion?

And just by um seeing none. All in favor? I public. Thank you. And now we'll move into public comments. And this gives each opport uh citizen an opportunity three minutes. And please start off with your names and your board member if you'd like to come up to you in a few minutes.

Start off with your name and your board. My name is Sally Sheldon and I know I prein 19. Is that two? I mean number two. I think it is outside. Was that two? One and two. Yeah, it was in my mind. Okay, that's fine. Thank you.

Okay, so 3 minutes. Um I am here, this is my first time here and I'm here because of my water bill and um I am a senior citizen and I am um I'm totally on um you know I'm nervous. It's income. Yes. Um, social security.

Social Security. Thank you. Okay. So, um, I'm on a fixed income and I have a tiny pinchion for Boston, which closed in 2006 at Boom. And, um, so I live in a very tiny house. It's 888 square feet. Come March 2000 um, March 2nd, I'll be have been there 24 years. and I've watched my water bill climb. Well, I came in I turned 65 in I think 2019. I'm 71 right now. And I um um got the 20% discount that you have for seniors. And but the thing is is um I was showing this lady here, Karen Hubard. Um she's in the same boat. Um, I don't use 399 cubs of water because it goes from zero to to 39.99 a cubic feet and then you go into 400 near the the branches that I'm talking about. I only use like a hundred. So, I feel like if I I was buying say a jacket and the cost was um $100, I paid $400. I'm paying way too much. Even with the discount, I pay 157 and some change 51 cents and I don't use that water. Now, I could go turn on the spot and get up to um 3.99 and just run the water on the street, but that's not me. And I've been very faithful in paying my bills always. And um I just think that's not right. If I'm not using 3.99, why do I pay 3.99? It's like I said, if I bought a jacket for 100, why are every month are you charging 400? Actually, 3.99 400 rounding up. You see what I'm saying? I just I I don't actually when I went to the hospital, I didn't even go to

doctors. Didn't go for almost eight years. And my sister said, "Sally, you can get a um what do you call it? Um physical every year for free." So I went to Summit Pacific and I got a doctor. The one I had before um didn't take I was now I went over 90. You see what I'm saying? I don't know what you want me to sit down if you have any discussion with me. Yes. Yeah. We have another comment period at the end and you can come back. Okay. Thank you. Thank you. And just so you know in the future that um so public comment is where you direct comments to the council. We're not really allowed to respond back to you.

Oh, I should not respond to No. Yes. So that um if there is any time when we um when there is something that we can talk about, we usually do it after the meeting. We just said I can tell you somebody will meet after meeting. Okay.

My name is Connie Parson. I'm a volunteer for the friends of the African history museum history 95 road. I'm here to talk to you about the project that we have undertaken of decorating windows in the empty buildings downtown. Are all of you aware of that project that we're undertaking? Can you talk more into the microphone shortly?

Yeah, I don't talk about nothing. Um anyway, our plan is to decorate several of the buildings downtown windows. Um we have already received permission from the owners. Um we already have volunteers who would help us get this project done. Two things should come out of this. One is our downtown will look much better. And number two, we will share history with people as they come into our town. As we all know, we have a lot of a lot of traffic here that is through traffic. We have a lot of people who come here and spend weekends. Uh our hope is that the history will tell itself just with the pictures and what's in the windows. Um I don't know if anybody has any questions. I'm I apologize. I was elected to do this tonight and I haven't been on a committee so I don't know all the details but I'd be happy to find out for you get back to me later. Any questions?

Thank you. Thank you. Is there anybody else with public comment? My name is I've never been here before either.

Yeah. Okay. Um I lived where I'm at for about 22 years now and I'm like the first gun I could speak. I've seen my water continue to fly and fly and I used to have family for living in the house with me now. Um, and now it's just me alone and my disability and my water at home knowing about 37 more dollars is really frightening because I choose between medicine, food and finally buying stuff where I'm feeling better. I have multiple scerosis. I've had three mouth surgeries, three foot surgeries, hand surgery. I've had surgery on everything pretty much. And so I'm just trying to get myself out there. Um, but it's very discouraging. It's almost like some of these things seem to be set up to where you can't win at all. Um, cuz I use way less water. It's just me now. And I may hit like 250, I believe on my cubics, but before it was on a tier system when I first moved there 22 years ago. And I came in several years after Walmart. What can I do to reduce my water? And they're like, "Well, we're on a tear system." I said, "I was told then the line came back." I was told you we've never been on a cheer system. And I know for the guys, which is probably irrelevant right now, it just makes me kind of feel like it's kind of the system set up almost to make us not be able sometimes to to make it because I can't even like use less water to make my situation better. Is that my time? Anyway, so I was just hoping that we'd have some kind of program disability to lessen the cost and electric combine that my water's more than both of them. Anyway, thank you.

Any other comments? Seeing none, I'll close the public comment and we'll go to the council president's work for the consent agenda. Motion to approve tonight's consent agenda which approve minutes from the November 12th meeting announc. Is there any discussion on this? All in favor? I right now we're going to do the um vote the box for our new council folks here.

Yes. to hold off on it for that fear of being. Can we hold off for a few more minutes? I'm waiting on Oh, yeah. Okay. I'll do I'll do my report first. Okay. Thank you. Okay.

Um I have a letter here that just a quick note that came from somebody addressed to the council. City of Aberdine and Aberine Police Department should stop the use of block cameras. Flock cameras are absolutely an invasion of citizens privacy. Uh the city of Olympia stopped flock camera use. Citizens do not want their cars, license plates photographed. Uh I can't read the rest. Work plates. Something that's hard to read anyway. Uh it's against America's freedoms.

Okay. Um and then moving on from that, I just was at the um transit council meeting or the transit board meeting last night and everything seems to be going along as normal. I didn't know I just wanted to pass on that we had voted at the last meeting. I just wanted to continue offering free transit for the rest of this year. I just wanted to pass that on to everybody. Um, and then I wanted to take this opportunity since it's the last meeting of the year to uh thank all of our council folks who have worked um so hard for us in the last two years. I believe we've had a spicy two years at times, but I think in all it's been a very productive two years and we still managed to get quite a lot done. So, um we should all be very proud of working together to finish out this last two years. Um you've all taught me so much and for that I am going to be eternally grateful. To all the citizens who stepped up um over the past two years to volunteer on committees or volunteer in organizations that do good for our community. I wish to send you all the best of the holiday blessings. Abine is the heart of Grace Harwood because so many wonderful citizens who constantly share their positive moments and comments about our community and who always step up to do the little things that really need to be done and who really do it all without bear without expectations of personal gain. Our city population isn't enough for us to be called a big city. So, we miss out on many programs that offer funding for uh to help us out with our problems and it can be very frustrating at times. But even with all that, um there is a plus to being a small community. We're small enough that our neighbors know us, that our neighbors say hello to us when we go to the grocery store. They know our names. We're small enough that when

someone is in need, we all step up to help that person. And I wish everyone in this room and in fact everybody in our community the very best for this new year and a merry Christmas all of you um yeah we'll move on to these um I have these wonderful council people who worked hard the last u two years with me and probably two years before that and um we all finally worked um that we could work well together. But anyway, um I want to give everybody um a little certificate of their service um and recognize the time and effort that you've all volunteered and put into this. Um so I'll just I'll just yell really loud. So David Lawrence, thank you very much. Thank you for Thank you very much. So I guess while we're waiting for families

so they were down at Burger King. Okay. Hopefully they'll be here soon. So how about we go into uh council reports? Are there any reports for region council books? Hey, that went fast. All right, we'll do presentations next. And we have um third quarter performance metrics by administrator Clemens. Mayor,

good evening. Um, I'd like to deliver the third quarter performance measures for 2025. Um, we've had a very busy quarter as you know. Um, that these cover the months of um July, August, and September, which are our driest months. So, we've had a lot of public works uh projects um that were accomplished and a lot of activity happening around the city. Again, um this is a report that I deliver to all of you um each quarter. Um, it is tied to our budget. It's to help people connect how money is being spent and how your tax dollars are being put to work around the city. There are some uh measurements that are given on a monthly basis that are taken on a monthly basis and some that are only done once a year. So um this report for the third quarter doesn't have all of um the measurements because some of them are needed at the end of the actual um calendar year to be tallied. So um again I uh this is driven by the mission statement um and uh the mission statement that all of you have created as well as the vision of Aberdine um which is the met metropolitan hub for the coastal region um Aberdine is a happy safe healthy thriving community with clean air and beautiful spaces where people want to live, work, play and visit. The council's priorities that were identified and um and simplified here on this slide are workforce engagement um and development, vibrant sa safe and healthy community, fiscal responsibility, economic um development, infrastructure investment, community community outreach. So starting with community uh workforce engagement and outreach um we measure this through collaboration and professional development. Each quarter HR has been um

taking HR and our safety committee has been taking these um these measurements and we have been meeting the goals with new and current employees. Our next measurement was um vibrant, safe and healthy communities. So these are the four areas in which we measure those for vibrant safe and healthy community. Um our economic we were able to conduct um complete uh sorry I have this thing um 300 business inspections per year. We were so far able to create um to complete eight. These are conducted um these particular inspections are conducted by our fire department. Um, for neighborhood connections, our goal was to increase the number of residents served through parks and recreation programming. This quarter, we did not receive any data, but we will by the end of the year. Okay. Okay. Um for public safety um maintaining the highest uh offense clearance rate in the harbor, we're holding steady at 56.8. That is higher. Um the average for the county is 38%. So we clear off fences at a much higher rate. Um increase our DUI and drug enforcement. Since May, we've had 92 um DUI arrests and we've had 122 drug arrests. Um we are meeting the goal for speed. um speed radar signs reducing the average um vehicle speed. We are replacing some of them, namely out on B Street near Robert Grey Elementary. We also have um another one that's coming out that I think I believe Chief Green stated would be located I'm sorry, Chief, can you remind me?

Oak Street.

Oak Street. Yes. Coming down from the hospital. We've heard complaints about people speeding down coming down from the hospital. And um and then the third location since we will be taking over police services for the city of Cosmopoulos may be placed over in Cosmopolis since we won't be planting an officer there. And since that's not that wouldn't be a good use of our resources to plant one officer out there. Um UCR crime type A crimes are down 9.6% as well as type A offenses which are down 2.1%. for the fire department. Um, our goal was to meet um to to dispatch and to be in route within 80 seconds. We are currently at 133 seconds. Our training hours per month, we are exceeding that. Our goal was 10 hours and we are meeting that exceeding that at 13.2 hours per month. Um, our turnout time for EMS incidences is 60 seconds and we have not met that goal yet, but we're working towards it and we are currently at 132 seconds to dispatch dispatch and to be in route. Um, public safety um, community satisfaction according to Facebook has gone up 2% and is currently at 74%. We will be launching a survey, a community satisfaction survey in 2026 to learn more. For fiscal responsibility, these are the four areas that all of you have identified that you want our um metrics to focus on. For employee accountability, we're meeting the goals as far as um AP accuracy, which is um accounts payable accuracy, our time sheets, as well as um um paying our uh making payments within 30 days. We are meeting all three of those those goals. Um, our quarterly tax compliance, we have 311 businesses not in compliance out of 2,18.

Still pretty those are pretty good numbers. Um, we had uh in the last three months or in the LA in the third quarter, we had 75 new business applications with 65 of those applications being approved. We have five business licenses closed and five business licenses that are currently pending. As far as utility bill, customer payment goes, we are meeting our uh efficiency goal. Um strengthening our finances is one of our metrics. Processing EMS billing within 3 weeks of an um of of the of an incident. We are exceeding that goal and billing folks with within 14 days. Um we've also increased our leverage leverage funding per year uh from the parks department. The parks department received $30,000 from the Grace Harbor Community Foundation as match for an RCO grant and I believe that that grant was for the um Pioneer Turf project. Okay. Um we've also increased the number of grant applications. Our parks department applied for a T-Mobile grant for the North End park improve for North End Park improvements. Economic development. This is how well do we support our businesses and their development. Um in the third quarter we issued 502 permits with 19 of them ready for payment. Um we have issued um we have issued eight different types of excuse me I I believe that that is eight issued need to figure it out on excuse me that's from the fire department. eight issued um permits through the fire department. Two of them were delayed. One's a sub permit that was issued. Um projects that were delayed with the review are at at 5 and 15 are ready for payment. So that means that they have

been reviewed and they're waiting on customers to pay for them. Um 100% completion of all inspections. 364 um inspections have been conducted by our loan code uh excuse me building officer, a building official. 158 building um inspections were conducted by our building specialist with and 48 rental inspections were conducted by that specialist as well. and our electrical team comprised of two electricians completed 374 inspections in in in that in that third quarter. As far as infrastructure investment goes, uh we're meeting our goal of 100% um data submitted for GIS data. Um catch basins inspected, we are currently not meeting that goal. Our vector truck was broken down for a period of time, but we do anticipate catching up before the end of the year. That also goes with our uh cleaning our catch basins outfall inspections. We are meeting that goal as well as well as our elicit discharge detection and elimination. We have completed the goal of exercising all of our hydrants within the city. Um we completed that in the second quarter. That was 640 hydrants. We completed the goal of exercising all of our documented valves around the city. That was quite a feat that they undertook. Um and then um we are meeting the goal of updating our sewer system um onto GIS. Um we are within compliance. We're are meeting the goal of MPDES discharge permit during normal average flow as well as um uh 98% compliance for uh NP excuse me for the discharge permit during high average flow periods. When it comes to investing in replacing or repairing street related

infrastructure, um our goal for uh street sweeper hours, uh we wanted the average hours to be um we we aren't meeting that goal. Again, our street sweeper was down, so we were delayed, but we are progressing towards that goal. We exceeded the goal of replacing 750 lineal feet of pipes. um we exceeded that goal and we replaced 2,280 lineal feet of uh pipes, water leak repairs. We met that goal. We're meeting that goal and we'll continue to meet that goal as well. But our hydrant replacements, we have not met that goal. Our goal was 15 annually and so far we've replaced 10. Um hydrant vegetation maintenance, we we've completed that goal as well as our domestic um water main lines. um the vegetation uh maintenance on the on on on those rider waves. So that goal was complete as well. Valve we've replaced our goal was to replace 25 valves. We are at about 13 at this point for the third quarter. We replaced uh meeting the goal for sewer line main blockages repairing broken sewer lines. Um and then replacing our goal was to replace 200 lineal feet of sewer pipe. We've exceeded that goal and um we've replaced over a thousand lineal feet of sewer line. Um sewer manhole inspections, we've we've met that goal. And um moving on to communications and outreach. These were the five six areas that you had identified that you wanted um staff to focus on. Excuse me. Employee accountability, our citizen action requests. We are meeting the goal of responding 100% um of and sending and sending letters or responding to customers within 5 days. We're meeting that goal and we're doing

so by phone or by email and logging and documenting all of those um community or community action requests. We are meeting that goal as well. Um increase youth participation in Aberdine government. We met that goal um earlier this year, but then we started up a new goal with the new school year. And so we have candidate interviews which are underway and that will begin in 2026. Um we still need data for um participation in adult sports programs. Um provide community education on how to hold an event in Aberdeen. Um will be this also will be included in the civics academy. Um last quarter we included information in the newsletter um increase programming for teens and seniors. The council deliver the council authorized discretionary funds to the senior center meeting that goal. Um and then uh we are still needing uh data for the last three things here which I will bring back in fourth quarter. Third quarter events, we had the farmers market through the summer, lame community shred day, multiple musical and theatrical performances, splash festival, pub pub crawl, national night out, summer fest goes west and grace tribal pride festival were just some of the events that were held in Aberdine. Um, and so I would like to open it up for any questions that you might have.

We bought a new string sweeper, but we don't have it yet. Probably we do have it. Um the street sweeper unfortunately uh there was a line that had disconnected from some I'm sorry I'm not a mechanic but something had happened and there was a period of time where they had to kind of figure out what where the issue was and yes and that was with the new street super but they fixed it and it's back online currently. Any other questions? Okay. Thank you. Are there any director reports?

Do you want to go back to the morning? Yeah, you you're here. Okay. Go back to Thank you. All right. So, we like to Is Josh here? Josh. Very sorry. No worries. The county auditor, he's going to do our swearing in our new council. My question to you is, would you like me to do them as a group or as individuals? I believe we have six or seven group.

I think it's sounded hand. All in favor individually, two, three, four. All in favor of together. One, two, three, four, five. Okay. All three. All righty. So, if I could get John Shaw, Joshua Francie, um Michelle Nipper. Did I say that correctly? Okay.

Uh Gary Hubard, Kevin. Say that correctly. Uh Jerry Rakovich or no. Well, there's a Rakovich in Elman and Deb Wilson. All right. So, if I could get you all to please raise your right hand and repeat after me. All right. I state your name. I do solemnly swear or affirm solemnly swear or affirm that I will support the laws

I will support the laws of Washington state of Washington state the Constitution of the United States the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of the State of Washington the Constitution of the State of Washington and that I will faithfully that I will faithfully and impartially performed and impartially performed and discharge the duties of discharge the duties of the office of Aberdine Council Board insert number position and number

according to law to the best of my ability. Law to the best of my ability. Congratulations. Thank you.

First and then I will notoriize those and be on my way and they'll be reported tomorrow and available online. something like get your signatures before he needs your signature out of the hall.

Can I step up to do that? How about You probably Professional get There it is. talking.

to community development house. That was the one. Okay. Sorry. All right. Then we're back to director's reports. if there are any directors. Director Smith.

Uh my name is Danny Smith. I'm the human resources director. I um most of you know that director Barnum is retiring at the end of the year and so I wanted to present her with her slack for her uh dedicated service. So, um, there's an appreciation for your 37 years of service to the citizens of the city of Robert and Stacy. Well, this all became a reality. I think it was last week because I was a bingo caller. Just kidding. While I'm doing that, I'm like I'm like the old people now. But seriously, um 37 years. It's hard to believe since I'm only 29 doing the math. It went by fast. And I loved my service to the parks department and to the city. And while I will be retiring, I will still be around. Um I look forward to volunteering my time in the community. So you'll see me out and about in Aberdine. And hopefully I won't be coming to city council meetings and complaining about things at the microphone. Hopefully I'll be coming to um talk about great things that are happening in Aberdine. So thank you very much to our city. Thank you for service. Let's see here. Request for council action from finance prison. Um requested is it requesting the city

council to open a public hearing regarding the updated B. Yes, that's it. tax bill 25-3.

Second. Thank you. Is there any discussion on this? Right in the public hearing. I'm sorry. Say hi. Always we're in public hearing. Is there anybody would like to comment on this? No. Motion to close public hearing.

Just been moved and seconded. All in favor? I oppose. 12 minutes meeting is now closed. And now requesting the city council open a public hearing regarding adjusting the current low income senior rate income threshold from 300% of the poverty poverty guidelines to 200% of the poverty guidelines bill under number 25-16. Second move in second. Is there any discussion on this? All in favor?

I oppose. Public hearing is now open. There any discussion now? I'll accept a motion to to close public hearing. Second. Thank you. Any discussion? All in favor?

I post public hearing now. Ordinance. We have a second read. say so. Go ahead. Uh, we've got the second reading requesting city council to adopt the updated AWC BO tax model ordinance bill number 25-3. I make a motion we accept this report. Second. Is there any discussion now?

All in favor? Would you like to make a motion that we count the second reading as a third reading? Suspend what? Suspend the rules. Suspend the rules and uh make the second reading count as the third reading. Move in second. Is there any discussion on this? Right. All in favor of suspending the rules and making the second reading the third reading of AWC tax model ordinance bill number 25-13 say I need to be sorry

yes Yes. Yes. Yes. No. Yes. Freedom. Yes. Yes.

Yeah. Thank you. And now we have the second reading requesting the city council to adjust the current low-inccome senior rate income threshold from 300% of the poverty line to 200% of the poverty lines guidelines bill number 25-16 moved and second. Is there any discussion on this? All in favor? I

I would like to suspend the and make a motion accepting the second reading as a third reading move. Is there any discussion? All in favor? I roll call. Yes. Aan. Yes. Yes. Yes. Morrison. Noini. Yes. Yes.

Yes. And we have the G of it with 10. Thank you. Motion is adopted. Right. Now we'll go to public safety with chairperson requesting city council to authorize the mayor to sign the 2025 agreement for emergency medical services between the city of Aberdine and Grace Harbor Fire District 10. I move that we adopt this request. Second move and second there discussion on this. All in favor?

I oppose. It passes. Thank you. Next, we request the city council approve the fire chief to sign the forest land response agreement amendment number three between the Aberine Fire Department and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources. I move that we adopt this request. Sorry. Seconded. Is there any discussion on this? All in favor? I oppose. Thank you.

Next, we have a request for the city council to approve for the interlocal agreement with the city of Cosmopoulos for law enforcement services. And I move that we adopt this request. Second. Is there any discussion on this? All in favor? I to u works with sharpers in Brans.

All right. First, I want to mention that uh the trees are placed on Market Street and we seem to be taken and we're in the midst of a huge storm. So, we haven't had any huge problems here in Avenue. I just want to thank the public works for all that they do. Uh um this first one I want to defer to council member Lawrence since it is time has a problem. Yes. Thank you. Um reflect on the city council to authorize the mayor to execute the grant agreement with the federal revenue when received. I move adopt this report.

Second favor. Thank you Mr. Okay. Uh, our second item is requesting the city council to award the electrical equipment bid to Advanced Electric Technologies out of Aberdine, Washington for the Erica pump station. I move that we accept this. Second. Second. Right. Moved to second. Is there any discussion on this? All in favor? I post question.

All right. Our third item is requesting city council to award the pump equipment bid to Absu LLC out of Redmond, Washington to return pump station and move that we accept. Second move and second comments. All in favor? Oppose. adopted.

All right. And our fourth item is requesting city council adopt the Americans with Disabilities Act, the ABA self-evaluation and transition plan by resolution. I move that we sorry. Is there any discussion on this? All in favor? I resolution accepted.

Okay. And our fifth item on public works is requesting the city council authorize the public works director to execute task order number two of quality controls corporation that we accept this report. Is there any discussion on this?

All in favor? Good. Thank you. That's all for Thank you very much. All right. Now we'll go to special agenda items. Councor to make a motion to open the public hearing regarding the adoption of the revised voluntary separation incentive program ordinance number 6722 bill number 25-15.

Second to open a public hearing. All in favor? Oppose. We are now in public hearing. Is there any discussion on this motion to close the public hearing? Sorry. All in favor? I hear is now close. Motion to adopt the ask me 2026 and 2028 collective bargaining agreements. Second.

Move to second. Is there any discussion on this? Yes, mayor. Yes. I would like to thank um the efforts of HR director Dan Smith for all of her work on the following union contracts that'll be coming before you. She's worked very hard along with um Dave Luxenberg, our um contract attorney that helped us through this process. This was the faster processes. So, thanks to Danny again for her hard work. Thank you, D.

All right. All in favor? oppose. Thank you. Council has accepted the AFSC MD union 2026 28 collective bargaining agreement. Thank to adopt the Ay police administrators union or team 2026 2028 collective bargaining agreement. Second. Is there any discussion on this? All in favor? I oppose.

Right. Your request has been accepted to adopt the Aubbering Police Administration Union Teamsters 2026 28 collective bargaining agreement. Thank you. Have a motion to adopt the Aubbering Police Offices Guild Team 2026 and 2028 collective bargaining agreement. Second. Any discussion on this? All in favor? I

I oppose. The motion has been adopted to accept the reading this police department guilt teachers 2026 2028 collected bargaining agreement. Thank you. Motion to adopt the IFF local 315 2026 to 2028 collective bargaining agreement. been first and seconded to adopt the IAB local 315 S 202628 collective bargaining agreement. All in favor?

I post adopted. Thank you. And a motion to adopt the sound defenders indigent defense contract. The motion first and second. this area discussion. Yes, I just have one quick question. I didn't have a whole lot of time to read through this because we just got this today. Um, but under term, I noted that it said the contract could be extended an additional two years at the end of the term by agreement by the parties in writing. And I just wanted to clarify if that is extended, would that come back to council to review that or would that just automatically be extended by like the mayor signing it?

It will come back to you for great. Thank you.

All in favor? Thank you. And under ordinances, I'd like to move to accept. Move to adopt the revised voluntary separation incentive program ordinance number 6722, bill number 25. Second. Motion seconded. Is there a discussion on this?

Oh, it's a second. Sorry. All right. All in favor? Thank you. Want to make a motion to suspend the rules and accept the second reading is the third. Second. Is there any discussion on this? Enough. Roll call.

Ramsey. Yes. Aken. Yes. Yes. Yes. Orson. Yes. Yes. Fredo. Yes. Yes. And the 35. Um, thank you. This has been adopted. All right. Um, now we'll go back left. Miss Sally Sheldon, could you come back into council chambers, please?

Thank you. Talking up. Thank you. Thank you, Dale. Thank you. This is our last public comment for the evening. Okay. Can you hear me? Okay. Yeah.

Um Ly said it's my first time here. I'm trying to get all of you what we're saying. think there was something this guy was saying in the brown sweatshirt about were you talking about people on poverty level getting um their water bill you talk about that we have we have we can explain this to you afterwards well the thing is is um um I'm just going to tell you the truth

I in 2024 had my tax return done and I only made $20,000 now you try and than $20,000 for a whole year and paying price even paying. I just found out I got a senior discount just this month that I as a senior I can not pay the big deal for the lame I can pay $30 and I was paying double that and it's like I'm getting squeezed everywhere. Do you know what I mean? I forget to tell them I'm a senior and some people don't believe me but I am. And so anyway, um, what about the water thing is is you call it a tiered system. Is that what you're saying? How what if people don't even use 399 cubics of water? Now, I told you earlier I could just let the water run until my meter shows me there's no I've had leaks in my home. Like I said, I've been there 23 years going to 24 come March. Um, I've never had a what do you call that? recycle bump ever, but they tell me I'm paying for one. One garbage guy said, "You know, I've never seen" I said, "No, I never got a recycle bumpet." And I don't know. I um um I run out of money, then I have to live in my car. At least I own it. I'm serious, you know. And um not like I haven't worked. I started working at 13 years old and I retired from warehouser. I think I was uh 55 closed technically in 2007 and then I tried to work after that but I had I lost my son in 2009. He's on your monument down there under Fairberry and my son's Timothy Davis and so um it's been hard and but you know I tried to work and I just couldn't do I worked at the H&R blog. That's what I was getting. I was getting I was in um what

do you call it? Grace Harbor College trying to get my second certificate, my two-year degree in, you know, in accounting when I signed up in February. And I I tried to go back. I couldn't go back. So, it's been a hard time. And everywhere for seniors, you get scammed. Get scammed all the time. I got scammed on my car. I mentioned the place, but you know, they didn't put all the parts back on my car. And as a senior, I don't know what to do because like I said, um I don't know who to talk to be honestly. So I'm just here because I need water bill. I shouldn't have to pay 300 extra dollars when I'm not even using those 300. I mean, you know, cuz I'm around 100. If you average it out for 12 months, I'm at 100. A little up, a little below. Some down by 80. And um I don't have a dishwasher. I don't have my washer and dryer put out in the garage because I couldn't afford Roger Rooer and so I have to go to the laundromat that the bills are making it I think that one lady that had all the things going on um you know medical bills other lady that spoke about her will her bill and I'm at the place where I was just told by the doctor I hadn't gone I haven't told you in 8 years that I believe I have colon cancer and that's okay I've lived a good life if it's my time go. I'm okay with it. But it's just like and I don't know who to talk to. And then time went off. I came down to see Nick Baby. He's an officer at the police station about drug enforcement because my neighborhood. And then two days after I, you know, he said I had to call and I don't have a computer online. I don't have a TV. I don't have I live simply. And so anyway, what I'm trying to finish off with is I don't I I don't know what to do because two days after that up in

Seattle, Tacoma, they had on the news the biggest, you know, drugs, fentanyl, cocaine, all that up there in Seattle, Tacoma, all the way down to Lacy. But it's here in our town, too. We can't just pretend everything's hunky dory because it's not. And that's all I have to say. I don't know what to say except the part. And I know I'm not the only one. You know, I know I'm not the only person. I have a hoop over my head right now. If you want to wait and I'll talk to you after. Okay. I appreciate that. Thank you. Any other public comment?

Is there Okay. Thank you. Thomas. Um, I would like the council members up there u to recognize I want to know when we went over the EMS fees we were talking about I can't remember how much the increase is $4ome a month on EMS. That's for 2026. It's going up again in 2027 and it's going up again in 2028. that's already been been written out and told to us. Okay. Everybody thought that it would be okay that everybody could just adjust to the increase that you know it isn't that bad. It's not that much money. Oh no, there isn't that. We'll do something. We'll do something special for the poor people. But if you just listen to that woman's story, and there's a lot of people out there like that, and you did everything you could to manipulate and get that thing over the finish line, you had your special little committee and the council members that ran for council got seated on that special committee and they decided that it was okay for they pay $4ome dollars more a month every month.

I'm I'm sorry. You're addressing the council, not the audience, please. I'm addressing everyone here. They're at the meeting. They're at the meeting also, mayor. They're at the meeting also. This is a public meeting. We have to hold it in public, but it's not public. No, it's not. Okay. No. Well, that that's that's that's true. I I know the meetings are for the meetings are for the mayor and his um city administrator, and they decide who's going to be on. Now you're having this new committee or academy and you're going to pick 20 people that you decide can lock step to your demands. You can join that committee

and they can Oh yeah, I'm sure if I submitted my name I would be selected. I can see that now. So So they're going to be the ones that we're going to groom them and kind of pat them and fix everything else and then we'll have more control. We've got pretty much control now and we've got a city administrator that spends all of our time doing this stuff we saw earlier when we have what about getting uh development money into the community? What about uh business development, economic development, different things like that? No, we're too busy and now you guys are going to place college professors and going to teach select people what the city does and everything. you are and the and the directors the same thing to take their time to do that stuff. They have enough on their plates doing their jobs. Why they should they have to spend special classes so you can glorify yourself and make up reports? And I think did anybody vote no on the EMA increase? Please raise your hand. There you have it people. There you have it. That's that's who cares about you. the rest. We'll just go in lock step because we want to be part of the good old boys group.

Thank you. Is there a public comment? Um, looks like we're going into executive session. Can I get a No, I mean Oh, we haven't been in the order first. All right. Um,

okay. Mayor or uh I would like to uh ask the council for a motion um to repeal the EMS resolution 25-10. Um the it was brought to our attention that the municipal code that was drafted in 2006 does not reflect state law and needs to be brought back in order to comply with state law which includes three readings um and a public hearing. Um, I also will need to uh update the utility rate municipal code and then scour the municipal forward to see if there are any other um things that have to be updated as well regarding utilities. So I what I'm asking the council is um to consider a motion to repeal EMS resolution 2025- 10. some second

and I would bring that back um in January.

I have questions here. Sorry. Sure. Um okay. So if we've been out of Okay. Out of compliance since 2006. Um I talked to you a little bit about that. Um an answer on whether or not we need to go back to 2006 rates would be good. My additional question is um if we've been doing this out of compliance since 2006, everyone that has paid that fee, do we need to give them credits on their bills for being over charge or charge wrong? Um the answers to those I will be working with our attorney to figure out there is a statute of limitations that we will have to follow. Um, I'll also have to do research to figure out when other um things have been passed if they've had a rate hearing. And so I have a lot of research to do. Again, this was brought to my attention yesterday and I want to get it remediated as soon as positive.

Another question. Oh, yes. I'm sorry. I just wanted to thank you for bringing this up and I mean this is a problem that clearly goes back many years. I'm not going to do math in my head right now. Um, and I just wanted to thank you for being very transparent about it, bringing it to us, bringing it up in front of the citizens that are here and making sure that we can fix this and do what we need to do to to be in compliance and to take care of of the people that that have been paying these bills. Thank you. Thank you. Question. All in favor of rebuilding EMS bill 2025-10.

I post.

Thank you.

Francancy. Yes. Dent. Yes. Yes. Hover. Yes. Lawrence. Yes. Mackey. Yes. Morrison. Yes. Perchini. Yes. Fredo. Yes. Spore. Yes. Yes. So motions carried.

Okay. Motion carries. Thank you very much. Anything else for the good of you? Motion addressing to executive session under RCW4230.1 litigations or legal risks of a proposed action of current practice of the result or financial consequence to the second discussion. All in favor? Hi

how long do we need 30 minutes and no business is expected after 30 minutes. All right, we'll be back for the center.

You know, I thought you know Yep.

Yeah. I'll accept a motion to adjourn that we reconvene. Second. All right. All in favor? I motion. I move that we adjourn. Okay. All in favor of All right. Thank you guys. Have a wonderful holiday.

Pick somebody up. No. Yeah.