City Council - Regular Meeting

I didn't see it. I didn't see it. I will look again. It's 7 p.m. on Tuesday, February 17th, and I call this regular city council meeting to order. And I want to thank everyone for joining us this evening. Would you please join me in the flag salute? And council member Turnis will be leading us today. To the flag of the United States of America and to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

All right. And for the record, um, Council Member Cedar is, uh, absent this evening and, uh, Council Member Roberts, uh, would like everyone to know that he's going to be about 15 minutes late this evening, so but he will be here. Um, can I get a motion to excuse Council Member Cedar? Motion Motion to excuse Council Member Cedar. Second. It's been moved and seconded to, uh, excuse Council Member Cedar. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. Um, also, uh, staff present this evening. I see, uh, planning manager Stalenecker, uh, police chief Fernandez, public works director Madden, and interim finance director, uh, Robec is here. All right. The next item on the agenda, citizen participation. U, only the, uh, the purpose of of the public comment period at this meeting is for those wishing to address the council on any matter. It is not intended for debate and discussion with the public. Please state your name and city for the record. Lastly, we kindly remind you to limit your comments to three minutes.

And one moment while we grab our list, just one. Okay. Thank you. All right. We have one person signed up today. Frank uh Karuchi.

Thank you. My name is Frank Karuchi. I live up on 23rd. And uh uh first of all, I want to say thank you very much. They went up there and they filled that hole in down on the end of the 300 block where people were running into that guy's front yard and they painted a line in there which seems to have done a pretty good job of keeping people away from that particular part of the property. So, good job. And uh also, I've seen a a bit of an increased uh police presence uh sitting over there on the other side of Alder Street waiting for numerous people running that stop sign and speeding down that street. So, thank you very much for that police presence there. I really appreciate that. It helps everybody. Um I wanted to say again, I'm this I'm always going to say this. I want that street to be one way going north. I want you people want the city to save their money. Give us our land. Don't take anything away. Put the sidewalk in. I'm good with that. I don't have a problem with that at all. I think if they have probably have an easement there where they can use that land to put that sidewalk curb and gutter in, they don't have to pay anybody anything. You save 100 grand right there. And uh one of the other things I want to say is this appraisal that we're all been given that live along that side of 23rd on the east side that they're going to they want to do the partial sidewalk partial taking which doesn't say anything about putting in another lane, but that's what they want to do. I'm not happy with that. So the it says here partial taking of the land for the purpose of constructing a sideway along 23rd Avenue. Period. That's the end of it. down here just a little lower. It says extraordinary assumptions. And the last sentence in there, it is an extraordinary assumption of this appraisal that the information is accurate and was not misrepresented.

I contend that we actually were misrepresented because they want to widen that thing. They want to bring more traffic in. I just sat for five or six minutes on 23rd trying to get on Milton Way because of all the traffic that's going down there. They've already put cameras in on that street, speed cameras, and there's a greater police presence up there. I know that. So that they can catch people because it's just a thoroughfare. Well, the second thoroughare is 23rd A right by my house. And now they want to add another lane and bring more traffic in there. So, thank you very much for letting me speak tonight. I appreciate it. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you, sir. Uh Mr. Kuruchi was the only uh person that was signed up on the list. Is there anyone else in the audience that would like to speak to the council this evening? Seeing none, we will um move on to item number four, additions and deletions. And I will be adding a 10-minute presentation from Easy Fiber. Um although is the they have not arrived yet. They've not arrived yet. Okay. All right. We can move it at the end. Uh should we just make it

F 6F? Okay. Okay. Are there any uh requested additions or deletions from council? Seeing none, uh, we move on to the consent agenda. Does anyone want to pull an item off the consent agenda for discussion? Seeing none, may I have a motion to accept the consent agenda, please? Motion to accept agenda. Second. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor? I.

Any opposed? Motion carries. All right. All right. Now, on to the regular agenda. Item uh 6A is the CERB grant resolution 26-193. It's an action item. It's on page 17. And looks like planning manager Stalenecker will be presenting this item. Good evening, Mayor and Council. Um, so before you tonight is a resolution that would be a commitment letter for a SERB grant. Um, SERB is, sorry, I was going to find exactly what it is. It's the Community Economic Revitalization Board, which is a kind of a subboard under the Department of Commerce. So, um, a little background for everybody. The city's comprehensive plan, which was, um, adopted in January of 2024 after um, several years of outreach and, um, it was the major update that's required by the growth management act in the state. three West Milton sub areas. One um is uptown which is um along um meridian. The kind of uh downtown which is um where the park is and everything. And then we had the area along Highway 99 we had identified as the wet west Milton sub area. Part of that is um at the time that we did the

comprehensive plan the um all the other areas we looked at we sort of um revise some of the zoning areas um but in these areas it just there's basically when that area was annexed into the Milton um it really hasn't had a lot of focus by the city or the community um and so this is an area that is a mix of commercial light industrial residential uses, wetlands, West Highos Creek. There's a tra uh a trailer park and an RV park that have um kind of permanent low-income housing. There's inadequate infrastructure, sound transit planning to come down that as well as there's been quite a bit of tribal trust land. um the this vital economic corp bar does not have a clear vision and it sort of is just even our there's parts of our code that kind of say well what'sever over there we just don't worry about. Um and yet it's been a constant conversation for safety issues. Um it's one of our probably highest um potential for economic and job growth. And so um it was one of the areas that we had identified like you said for what's called a sub area plan where you just sort of um get a much more indepth plan for that area. Um and it starts with getting to know everybody. So um rock PM services is the grant writing services that we had um contracted with year two years ago um last year. And so they had found this grant for us. Um it's spec specifically designed for any an area that has job

growth economic development type potential. So they have prepared an application to request the planning grant funding. Um the grant will fund up to about 75,000 and does require a matching fund of up to it's 25% which would be 18,750. The matching funds would come from our light and item professional services which is the funding land use uses right now to contract with consultants for land use services. Um the professional services has a budget line item of 100,000. So taking 18,750 is well within that. We do anticipate hiring a consultant to do the majority of the work. Um my first choice will be our on call services that we have with framework but um if we receive the grant we will um look at that time what makes the most sense. So in essence what we would be doing and and I will say that SERB has two different types of grants. They have grants for the planning services which is what we're going to be requesting. They also have larger grants. If we identify that there are certain infrastructure requirements that would help businesses grow in an area and if there's certain businesses that would be supportive of that, maybe teaming up with us, there is up to like I think a million or $2 million that we might be able to apply for in the future to actually help with infrastructure improvements. So this is the first step with that. So the scope of work we were looking back if you look on page 18 is um the areas sort of highlighted in purple. I have both the aerial and just the map kind of gives you a feel of the area we would be looking at. Um what we would be doing is starting with an outreach program to meet with businesses and property owners and other stakeholders. Um like I said there's a lot of tribal trust land. So we would reach out to see if the tribe would want to be involved with some of our conversations. but really hearing from those members that are in that area as well as residents as a whole to get a feel of what challenges and

opportunities are there for that area. We would draft an existing conditions report. Um and that's going to be anything from um development potential infrastructure needs. We know that there's some coverts that are probably not up to what needs to be. It would include um again if the funding comes through and we can when we lay out the budget um I know it would be beneficial to have all of the highos wetlands areas outlined with buffers so that everybody's aware of where those are when people go to develop those properties. So those are all things that we can do. Um again figuring out what is there and then we would draft the actual plan which includes a vision statement that would have all that community input um the city objectives, goals, policies. It would recommend um what should you know what businesses should go in that area. It would identify what infrastructure improvements are needed. Do we need zoning changes? Are there any estimated costs? Potential funding sources. So, um, in order to apply for this grant, it does require that the city council, um, basically acknowledge that we are applying for the grant, um, and are committing to that if we receive the funding that the city that that I have presented you and the council is committed to, um, the required matching funds. So, um, with that, if there are any or however, that's the end of my presentation.

Thank you, Council Member Whan. Thank you for the presentation and I appreciate it greatly. Council member Whan, we need to get a motion on the table first. Would you like to make a motion? Well, I was trying to follow through with this with with this sheet so forth and I was hoping to hear everything that was on this sheet and how it was uh responded to the city and I didn't quite hear that. So, I had a few questions about the presentation but Okay, go ahead. I will I will make a motion to reconsider. Okay. Would someone like to make a motion?

Uh, council member Ronz. I move to approve the SERB grant application and if approved, authorize the mayor to sign the funding agreement and commit the required matching funds. Second. Had a question. Yes. We wait for questions.

Yes. We we've got a motion on the table. So, Council Member Turnis Oh, I'm sorry. Um, it's been moved by Council Member Matt Amounts and seconded by Council Member Hall uh to approve the CB grant application and if approved, authorize the mayor to sign the funding agreement and commit the required matching funds. Council member MS, would you like to speak to your motion?

Yes, thank you. Um, I do have some questions, but I understand that this motion is just to apply for the grant and and commit to the matching funds, and it doesn't necessarily um determine the outcome of what that land will be used for. That's the planning, the grant to hire the planner, right?

Yeah. So the the the the desire is to get a much better feel of what is out there. Um what do those property owners owners and businesses see? What does the city see um of what that land should be? We know, like I said, we know that there's safety issues. We know that sound transit is coming through. We know that right now there's a mix of things. So the the whole intent is to go in with first just saying what is here? What are people thinking is challenging to have a business there? What would they like to see there? What are the staff? So, you're going in with a lot of questions um with the intent and this would probably be a um kind of a year-long process where we we have public meetings with stakeholders open to the public encouraging people so that we can figure out does it make sense? You know, I can look at it and say, well, it seems to me we should maybe make this section, you know, my guess is it'll end up being different things for different sections of it. But this lets us go in and start figuring out how much of his wetlands, how much is infrastructure, do we have the roads, what would need to be approved if we're letting warehouses or we're letting light manufacturing. So yes, it's kind of like we have all these questions. This is the money that helps us do that. And then as we go through towards the end, we would come up with goals and policies that say this is what we want it to be. and then we'd come back and start moving through changing the comp plan, changing the zoning to meet those um visions and policies and goals.

Council member Hall, would you like to speak to your second? Yes. Um so right now, what is the comp plan? Is it very is it businesses? Is it What's the current area? Yeah. What's because I tried to look that no and it is it's it's so if you drive down it's basically if you drive down 99 it's in essence both sides of the street there is one section that is houses but that is actually all zoned commercial and those people

want it to be commercial that was an interesting when we went through the planning commission we had actually um sent you we had reached out in that particular area we' sort of it's kind of like the backs between 70th in 99 we had kind of said hey would you want to be residential cuz you're mostly residential and actually they all were like no we have we we want that value we think it's valuable to stay but it would be looking at that area a little bit more um it you know there's car dealerships there's some warehouses there's a lot of just truck parking some of it legal some of it not um we have the creek on the one side with wetlands we have some hillsides on the other um like I said we do have there is an RV park and a manufactured home park that are permanent kind of low income. So, we want to look at making sure we don't displace. So, it's just a real kind of hodgepodge of stuff. And that's why it just felt like when we were doing the full comprehensive plan, there was too much there to, you know, it's very easy to go, oh, we know what's on uptown, we know what's downtown, we know what's in residential, but there is such a mix there that this would give us the time and the opportunity to dig in a lot better with the people over there. um and also provide them hopefully connections with each other, build relationships with the city so that when they do need to do stuff, we also have a high level of compliance issues out there because they sort of don't think about talking to us before they do stuff.

And how would that money be used exactly? So, um a lot of it would be um probably hiring con uh consultant and sub, you know, and specialist subconultants. Um, like I said, ideally we have an on call already with framework who already did our full comprehensive plan. Yeah.

So, um, that would probably be my first preference to sort of head up the project. Um, funding and then the funding would be used. Like I said, I I really would love to see um what get a biologist, wetland specialist, and see if maybe we can figure out exactly what those wetlands are categorized. Do all that work for these property owners. So then when they go to sell, there's a lot more um security in that. Um there's also, like I said, there's also we're going to probably need to hire a lot of specialists to evaluate things. Some of the work we might, if we do any of the work in house, we can build towards that. My work, we'll be able to build um if operations are able to do some of the evaluations of streets and and different and sidewalks and stuff, we'll be able to build that time. So it would be spread over those kind of ideas.

I like this. Um, I like we're creating a plan for an area that's not well defined, um, and could be integrated into how we visualize melting to be. So, I appreciate that, Council Member Whan.

Well, thank you very much. and u I was trying to follow your presentation which usually we read through with you as you go and that wasn't executed tonight and that would be more beneficial for a lot of us to understand the documentation you've given us. I've read it. I understand it. My concern is there on 99. We don't know what it's going to what the hell it's going to look like because rapid transit and so forth hasn't given us a final design to work to. Are we going to spend money for somebody to come and advise us where, how, when, why, and where the businesses are going to go when we don't even know where the hell they're going to go. How is this how is this representative of the future when we don't know because the state's been very remiss in identifying and committing to what that's going to look like. I don't want to have somebody come and say, "Well, you can put in a this type business here and so forth and then have the rapid transit take over that portion of the land." We don't know. So, is this premature that we're spending money on things we don't even know if we're going to be able to accomplish because the state has been remissed in totally identifying what the net result of their changes on 99 will be. We're in the fog. We don't know. So with that, I'm going to have a very hard time with even considering spending money on things that may be designed that may never be able to be there because the state is is governing over us as to what should what they're going to do with that property.

So this is this is very confusing. And again, let me start again. Generally at council, we read through the entire page and it gives us a little bit more understanding of what the ver verbiage in this in this paper is and that wasn't executed with this representative representation to the council. Um I guess I would I guess just to let you know when I'm finished it's frustrating now. Thank you for whatever you can enlighten us on this.

I understand and I appreciate your questions. Um it actually from um I we are both um director Matt and I meet with Sound Transit um multiple times a month. Um we've actually been in quite a few conversations and meetings where we're working with department of transportation um sound transit king uh federal way ourselves looking at this corridor and have been working on things like frontage possibilities and different things. So, in some ways, I um my feeling is that this is perfect timing because one, Sound Transit needs to know what some of our desires are for frontage improvements and different things. Um so that when if they are required to build those, we have those in plan. Um I would also say that this is a a much more high level. Um we're we are roughly aware of how trans self-transit is coming down. And what we would be looking at is not dictating specifically what business goes where, but we would be looking at what types of businesses does it make sense goes in this area. Should we be more light manufacturing? Should we allow warehouses? Should we not allow big trucks? All of this is really good timing from my perspective because we have all these changes coming to that area. I know um Director Madden wanted to add to that. Yeah, I just wanted to echo uh plating manager stalenecker's point of view on that. I also see this as perfect timing as Sound Transit uh moves into that corridor. You know, right now, as we've discussed, we've got a hodgepodge of different entities out there. We need a common vision and we need it shared with the residents out there. Uh in 2025, the end of 2025 last year, the board of Sound Transit, uh they defined their preferred alternative as going down 99. Now, where exactly on what side of the road is, uh I think

we're about 95% there. There's not a lot of room to to make changes to the design layout uh because of how far in advance those curves need to be directed uh for high-speed transit. So, we know approximately where that guide rail is going to go. It's going to go right down 99. So now from my perspective and working with Angelie, we feel it's a perfect timing to really get in there, define what we want that corridor to be 5 years from now because Sound Transit is going to start construction in 2028. And by 2028, if we go through this process, we could have a very uh thorough understanding of what that corridor will be to the city of Milton moving forward. And that's why I feel like the two align. I just wanted to give my perspective.

So what what you've just spoken to and about we've not been privileged to as to where how exactly. We've been talked to but we haven't been privileged to how that's going to play out. Can you provide that to us? We we Why wouldn't he why would we not be able to see that?

I I understand what you're saying. Sound Transit is is very, you know, somewhat protective of that on a staffto staff level. That's where the design and planning is. They're not projecting out to city councils until they have the exact corridor, um, all the land acquired if any of that needs to take place. And so, they're not coming and they're not going to roll out speculative plans or things that are not 100%. And that's why you haven't seen those layouts that Angelie and I have seen. And we saw, you know, last month. We're not talking about we've been privy to this for six months. It's it's really starting to come together. We've gone through a series of workshops with the interested parties and we've come uh we've come up with a preferred street design and that really was our first kind of concrete uh piece of collaboration that we've come to with Sound Transit and WashDOT. Now we know what that street is going to look like. We want sidewalks on both sides. We want shared use path. Now it's time to start looking at what businesses are going to surround that corridor and that's what this plan would do.

Greatly appreciate that. But I've heard the same language for the last 20 years on what's happening on 99 with no confirmed vision. No confirmed vision for the city, for the council, for the citizens to see. It's just been a it's been a fog. And the hope of this plan would be to provide that vision. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Turnis.

So, it is my understanding that part of this um that we're asking for the grant to develop is tribal land and as an enrolled tribal member, I know that we wouldn't be able to do anything unless that was approved. Has anybody spoken to the tribe regarding this?

So, you're correct. any um any tribal trust land that is within the city of Milton um we don't they don't go through us for planning or permits they go through the tribe and so my my hope would be that we would as part of this was we would reach out and say hey we would like to um as we're planning our portions we would like to see if they want to be involved in that I have not done that at that at this time we did reach out to them during our full comp plan and we have it for specific sites because um we provide the water and and different in electric and different services to those properties but on this particular thing I have not but that would be part of they would be a stakeholder that I would hope would participate that um to see what their vision is and if that can I I what things have gone in are very similar to what because it's such a great corridor but yes it is uh the plan would be to reach out and hope that they are able to participate in that

so would you have to reshift the whole plans if they say that they so if we approve the money for the grant and then they come in and say they don't want to partner with us is that just throw everything out then no because we would be planning for the properties that are non-tribal trust properties so um and we would be planning for the roads and the infrastructure and all of that is all under the purview of Milton the only time it isn't is if it's you know there are certain uh parcels that are tribal trust and um I I know that there is a comprehensive plan. I um I haven't seen the final one, but I know the tribe works on one similar to what we do. And so um the hope is that you know if they want to partner, we would be happy to. Either way, we need to plan for our stuff. So that would be the

and then I also had a concern with um environmental impact between the wetlands and that Hilabos Creek how that would impact impact that. I mean, if they're going to go in and just put a bunch of concrete in there, or are they going to actually design it to be able to maintain that that environmental safekeeping place to keep the river or the the creek flowing and that, you know, the natural habitat that's there where it's not interrupted or or displaced? Are you in reference to this the plan as the whole or Sound Trait specifically? Uh the plan here where it says the area contains wetlands and the west Hilabos Creek.

So so part of what I'm hoping to do is um with the funding is to help identify um where those wetlands are, what the buffers are. Um we are we have a critical areas plan that is approved by the state. So yes, we um we protect wetlands, we we protect the creek. Um there's buffers that's required depending on the level. Um they have to go through you know the same mitigation as everyone else. So the priority is to protect the wetlands. Um the priority is to and on and like I said there's a whole section of our code that dictates that. There's also um a separate document that protects um both the creeks and um shorelines and stuff. So, no, the idea would be to identify where those are from so that we're ensuring that they are protected and that um like I said, there's culverts I know that need to be improved and and so that sometimes we have businesses who keep trying to sell property that when they come talk to us, we say, "We're pretty sure you're not going to be able to do very much because there's wetlands there." But they have to go hire people and sometimes that it's not a value to them. or if we can have maybe a consistent plan that says, "Hey, we have identified. This is the areas that are protected and maybe even a plan of how we're, you know, again, that's that it it's the idea of to take a holistic look at that hold area both from an economic standpoint, protection standpoint, um making sure we're not displacing the few residents that are there. So that's in the infrastructure. So the hope is to instead of peace meal, which is what we're doing right now, is to come up with that holistic for every and and best we can for everybody.

Thank you, Council Member Poor.

Thank you, Mayor. I was wondering, so this is this is to submit the application for the 75,000 and then if that was to happen, we would have to commit the matching 18,750. Is it possible that we could submit the application and then revisit whether we want to for sure do it later? Um because I know that timelines can be uh hard with grants and whatnot. So you kind of have to submit probably before you want to do it. Is it possible to do the first two sections but then table that for later whether we actually commit to it? Um I mean theoretically if we get issued a grant and we decide that at the last minute we don't want it then we just don't do the final paperwork. Um but in this case you know you are the idea is that they want to say if you're going to apply for this they want to know that you have um committed the funds to it so that they're not going through all of their effort to grant it to us and they want to make sure that we've gone through our effort to to make this plan. So, um, and I guess in this case, um, I'm not sure why we wouldn't take it. Um, the the amount that we have to pay, um, is already I don't have to, you know, we already have a line that has that amount of money budgeted. Um, it's something that, um, is in our overall policies to do. So, um, like I said, you know, there if there's always if you don't most grants if you choose not to do it, if something comes up, I don't know, somebody gives us something else, then I, you know, you don't necessarily have to take it. But, um, I do believe at this point. The the point of this is to say yes, we've we've looked through it. We like the idea of the grant and we're committing to it and the funds.

Thank you. Any further questions? Council member Whan.

Uh, thank you. Does this also include the roundabout that was that has been discussed at council somewhere along 99? And I'm not talking about the roundabout north of the city, but within the city. Does that encompass this? Um not specifically but um our meetings with the department of com or sorry with the department of transportation um our workshops that we've done with department of transportation and with sound transit um department of transportation's um they have outlined certain areas that may have roundabouts at some point in the future. Um, so we would probably consider that based on their um direction of what they're what they're planning. So again, it would make sense to incorporate what they're thinking there might be. And there are two or three spots within Milton that um if they so if those intersections need to be updated to a certain point, a roundabout would be required.

But just to consider that, where and how do we develop? You you can't develop without not knowing where you're going to put a large roundabout. Yeah. And like I said, you need to know that. And yes, we would Go ahead.

We would acknowledge that. And the department our workshops with Sound Transit and the Department of um transportation, DOT has specifically identified where they are. So, we're aware of where they want those roundabouts to be. And yes, we would incorporate those in our plan. And I ask all these questions because originally this transit was to ride alongside of 99 highway 23 years ago. That's where the vision showed. It didn't show visual impact or impact within the city the grounds in the city of Melbourne other than I. Now we're considering all other certain things. We don't even know where the transit's going to come down 99. Is it going to be on the west side? Is it going to be on the east side? Where does it transit from if from Federal Way into Milton? And how does it even get off of mil off of 99 back to I5 back down to five? There's so many things that are involved with that and what lands are going to be affected and so forth. So developing a development plan for the particular area is just wishful thinking. I I don't see hiring somebody to advise us where things could go, how we should live in this on this and so forth when we don't even know where that roads where that rapid transit going to go. I think we're just a little bit early. And again, 23 years ago, this was discussed. And 23 years later, we don't even know what the hell it's going to look like. Excuse my language, but it's appropriate.

The the other side.

Yeah, sure. I I understand that. So, we've we've identified we've sat in those meetings with Wash, the city of Milton. Um, wash has three roundabouts identified on that 99 corridor. What they have asked Sound Transit to do and what we would also do as part of this process, we would just acknowledge where WASHDOT would like those roundabouts and the terminology that WashDOT enjoys is that we would not preclude them from building those roundabouts in the future. And you're right, a roundabout will absolutely impact business. And so that would be one of the things that would be uh you know um analyzed in this process. What communities are good arounds? Are any good? Uh what type of businesses farewell? And so those are that's how we would consider the roundabout. But none of this funding would go to I guess design or promote a roundabout. It would just acknowledge that one may come in the future.

The basic line the basic bottom line is wherever they want it, they're going to put it. It's not going to be up to us to say this is more advantageous for the city or not. They're going to tell us what's more advantageous for this rapid transit that my opinion is 23 years behind times. It should have been done. It should have been finished. But so many the U tribal lands is sacred. They didn't account for that in the beginning. I don't know what they're going to try to account for now.

I just want to be sure that we're not spending money on dreams that we're going to find out from other entities who's involved with this that we can't do it. Right. I don't want to spend money on wish it was like this, but we can't do it. I'm going to I'm going to be very reluctant to approve this. All right. Any further questions? Okay. All right. This is Oh, I'm sorry. Sorry, Council Member Terren.

So, there's definitely a lot of branches on this this as well, but so I just want to clarify. So, we as the city of Milton would be spending $18,000 in some sense and and they would be um contributing the um 75,000 and it's just far as you know, you can't even buy a car for 18,000. So, in the big picture thing, even if they were to develop a little area or parcel on some of this big picture blueprint, I feel like 18,000 actually is a really good deal in order to be able to get the other um 75,000. Um, I think that me personally, I would just want to know like we need just need to address each piece of the different parcels of the land. But like I said, I think an $18,750 investment to get a $75,000, you know, match is really that's huge. That's a gift. So there is a lot of undevelopment down there that um I just know as property owners that it would be advantageous to them to have something worthwhile as far as resale to

more than what there is now with just what is there. So thank you. All right. Um this is an action item. Are there any comments from the public? Seeing none. Um, it's been uh moved by council member Mounts and seconded by council member Hall to approve the CRB grant application and if approved, authorize the mayor to sign the funding agreement and commit the required matching funds. All in favor? I I Any opposed? Opposed? Opposed. Okay. Motion passes four to two. Four to two.

Four to two. Uh the next item on the agenda is item 6B on page 21 of your packet. It's the Forged Fiber 37 LLC franchise agreement discussion. Um and also we have um one of Forge Fiverr's representatives here in the event that anyone has questions. Uh Greg Bush and looks like uh public works director Madden is going to tell us about this item. Thank you, Mayor Council. The item before you tonight is a discussion item. It will be coming back to you uh during the first meeting in March. Uh the document and the agreement that uh you will be reviewing has been uh vetted through our legal department and the public works contracting department um and meets uh all of the the state statutes. Uh so the issue and before us tonight for discussion is Forge Fiber 37 LLC is an indirect AT&T subsidiary acquiring Lumen technology fiber internet cables and facilities currently in the rightway. So Forge will be coming in. They'll be acquiring uh Lumen's uh infrastructure. Previously was Century Link. So Forge Fiber will be taking those on. They intend to build additional fiber optic cable facilities and large-scale expansion uh integration and infrastructure. Forge Fiber has submitted the franchise application uh required under section 12.05.070 the Milton Municipal Code and pursuant to RCW35A 47.040 city council has the authority to grant franchise agreements for the use of its public streets and other rideways. The agreement does not grant Forge Fiber uh the right to start working in our

rightaways. They will still need to go through the street work permit process. Are there is there are there any questions? This is a discussion item. Yeah. Any questions for Yes. Council member Mounts. Do you want me to address those to you or to the

uh Yes. I'll I will also say that we have an individual here from Forge Fiber 37, uh, Greg Bush. And if we have any technical questions, uh, I'd be happy to bring Greg up. If I if I keep it general, when I when I went through the packet, I I kept reading terms that seemed very vague like um, related facilities. I don't know what a related facility is. I I wonder if there might be any wireless towers. Would that be a related facility? What all would this encompass? What kind of things would we realistically be opening ourselves up for? Would there be any um permanent structures? There was some mention of okay if they have to build a concrete something and I'm like okay is that going to be on private property that's within the right ofway. I I saw that there was 24-hour notice to be given maybe a door hanger if they want to be on our private property and I'm like 24 hours that doesn't even give us time to react and respond. Um I know that we just went through this with Easy Fiber, right? And and so

we've learned a lot of lessons.

And what is the relationship, you know, between the two? I understand that Forged Fiber 37 LLC is a wholesaler. So if they're selling access to are they laying new fiber optic cables and then selling the use of that cable to multiple other companies. Um, I I guess maybe a little bit more on the impact that it would have on private residents and what does it look like when it's when it's construction time?

Yes, wonderful questions. Uh the answer to majority of them at this time is I don't know the details outside of nothing in this contract grants them the right to work on private property nor does easy have the right to work on private property. Right away is a certain area outside of the street um paving area that is uh for public infrastructure. Many times people will landscape that as if it's private property. Um and when uh a franchisees encounters that during construction, they are required to restore back to existing condition. And so um I you know the way I picture uh this particular franchise agreement is that they are changing their name in in some ways. We have a franchise agreement with Lumen. Forge Fiber is now taking over them just like Lumen took over Century Link. uh they are a reputable company and um you know I don't believe they have any direct relationship with easy outside of being a competitor but I'd be happy to if there's more detail on that. Um but yes I this contract only provides them the right to work within our rightways. uh they still have to go through all the street work permits. We look at we we've got uh a precon with easy tomorrow. I've got another one with another utility on Monday. We walk the sites. We look at any type of potential issue during construction at that time and we work through them as a group. So,

and just to follow up, I I read through the hierarchy of the company and there is AT&T and wireless communications mentioned in that. So, would this involve any wireless or any there's a whole section on EMF radiation and hold harmless if somebody gets um radiated, right? I and I I saw that clause in there and I'm like, what is the potential impact of having that in there? Why is it in the contract? Is there going to be towers? I'll just say I don't want a tower in my neighborhood. Right. And when I read that in the contract or in the proposal,

yes. So, this would just be within the rightway. And no, there's no uh option for them to build a tower within the rightway. Uh everything has to be underground. So not even new telephone poles. Thank you. There there was something where there is existing overhead cables. Those would still be allowed if they're pre-existing. They'd be grandfathered in because they're purchasing an existing company. Correct. So but no new new poles. And our goal overall is to continue to push utilities underground just for resiliency. Thank you. Any further questions? Council member Hall,

I have to tie Easy into this because first of all, we need to know where Easy is in this. How far are they into finishing this project? Are they in the middle of it? Are they in of it? because I feel like our hands are full right now with easy um city time. If I'm wrong, correct me. I mean, you got city time that you're you're working on. They have really went through the city, but haven't completed a lot. A lot was a weather. Um but I have many concerns about that. have concerns about the rightway not being cleaned up as well as what I think we should demand. Really?

Um, so can you speak to where we are there before we can even get to this? Absolutely. One more. Yeah. Are they going to run new wire through all of the city like easy did?

We would have to look at their buildout plan which is not part of this franchise agreement. It's not required for them uh to bring that forward. Um so easy. Where are they? It's a little hard to determine. They have almost 20 miles that they're looking to install and I would say that they're in that between 5 to 10% uh complete. So, we've got a meeting with their directors tomorrow which they are pitching an idea to expedite that um that we're open to reviewing. Um, but you know, I would say that Easy has a very aggressive, they're new to the region. They're very aggressive with their installation schedules. Um, and there's room for error. I Forge Fiber and Lumen are established company and I have not seen anything that would indicate that they want a 20 mile buildout within the city of Milton. So, we do have I I just want to point council because there's no decision tonight. Uh but, you know, for discussion, council can deny a franchise request and that language um is in section 12.05.080 of our municipal code. And so there are approximately nine different uh reasons that the city could reject that. Um we don't my team public works contracting and legal do not see that uh forge fiber would um would not uh would not be able to beat this criteria. We feel like they'll um there's nothing to that council currently has or that the city has that would uh encourage me to deny the request.

I I have to put it out there. Our streets are old. We are going ripping them up, going under. Um, we I saw what happened to 13th. Um, 10th has got some very questionable issues. Um, I just want to make sure that we're doing what the residents want to. I know legally, yes. Is it possible we could finish easy and then go to this one? Is is it h how much um time do does your department have to watch easy and the new company? I've seen you guys out there. I know you're working with them. I know you're physically there. Um so that's my concern is we want and and we want to have others because that's going to create um

competition. competition. It's going to create competition. So, we do want to have them. I think this is just a very difficult time right now. Understood. Yeah. Uh Angelie brings up a good point because these are existing lines, you know, currently under Lumen. Um that may I don't know how that would impact customers if if council determined not to grant a franchise agreement to Forge. Um but that is something I can follow up with legal and when I bring it back in March we can discuss that.

I appreciate you listening to me. I just want to make sure we're doing right for the city and right for our citizens because I've heard a lot of push back on what's happening. So, are there any other questions that the council would like uh my team to follow up on? Council member Roberts.

So, I was Thank you, Mayor. I was looking at the uh application. So, one of the questions asked, please provide a brief description of the services that are or will be offered or provided by the applicant over its facilities. So the second paragraph says the applicant intends to build additional fiber optic cable facilities in the city after acquisition has been completed and they're therefore asking the citywide rights under the agreement. The applicant does not have a scope or schedule for the future construction project at this time. So uh what's concerning to me is just the fact that there's no scope or schedule for the future uh construction at that time. So, kind of based on the concerns that Council Member Hall had, there's really no way to understand what the effect, I guess, will be, what the the roads and the the city in general, cuz based on the wording here, it says um asking for citywide rights. And excuse my ignorance here, but I don't know typically how it would be worded cuz more or less based on how I'm reading it, it states that it's just kind of free-for-all anywhere they want. and based on the the lack of scope to me that's kind of uh contradictory there. So I was just curious if there was like a projected specific area that they'll be working on the through fairs. We have not been provided that yet and typically we are not when I bring these franchise agreements forward. This is kind of the first step um in the city choosing who they would like to grant a franchise with. And after that uh is when the the vendor will start working with the city to look at routes where they want to go. Um and then I would just say that all of our franchise agreements are citywide.

So is this wording very similar to what Easy Fiber more or less stated? Is is everything fairly Yes. All of the wording in the contract are almost identical. Okay. Thank you. Yeah. Council member Turtles. Um, so when we say yes to this, does that mean that they're going to be going in and taking out the old cable that is under there and putting in new fiber cables down there? Is that my understanding is correct? Go ahead. Yeah, please.

Good evening. Um, I'm Greg Bush. I'm outside legal counsel for Forge Fiber37 LLC. I'm with Bush Law Firm and our offices are in Isiqua, Washington. So, that I can answer specifically. So, when AT&T created Forged Fiber 37, it's a subsidiary of AT&T. What AT&T purchased from Lumen was a specific portion of Lumen's assets in the right of way, which deals specifically with fiber optic cables. So existing Lumen customers, if you have voice over internet services, VoIP, or if you have copper telephone cables, a regular telephone service, you'll continue to stay with Lumen because that was left behind. So, I hesitate to commit to specific cables you're looking at because odds are if it's copper telephone cable or if it's services for VoIP then that'll remain. We wouldn't actually own that.

Thank you, Council Member MS. Go ahead. I'm not sure you answered the question. Um, she asked if you would be pulling Lumen's fiber optic cables and replacing them with new cables.

The specifically fiber optic cables that AT&T purchased and with Forge Fiber 37 LLC, those were the F2 portions of the fiber, which are the connection between where the fiber box is and the ride ofway and where it would go to the customer's house. So we would be intending to keep those and potentially add on to that particular scope. There are still some lumen fiber assets in the right of way that connect to Lumen's facilities, but those are F1. It's a specific demarcation point that we bought it after.

So are the old cables outdated and you'd be replacing them with a an updated fiber optic cable? I mean, if you're purchasing them, are you planning to replace them with something more current, more or is fiber optic cable hasn't changed in 20 years or and it's still the same as

this is going to my personal experience having attended a fiber splicing class? It has not changed. What might change is the technology being utilized through that fiber optic cables. Um, so I I can confirm I'm not aware of any plans to tear out the existing fiber optic facilities that we purchased. So I can confirm there's no plans for that that I'm aware of. Thank you, Council Member Poor. Did I see you uh asking? Okay, Council Member Roberts.

So I don't think it's been established yet exactly what additional facilities there'll be. Um, I understand there won't be any cell towers, but the vernacular of facilities specifically, what does that uh entail? So, I helped write that language so I can speak specifically to it. Uh, facilities is a defined term and it's enabling the function of the well, we don't have a network. We're just building the fiber. So, it's anything that enables the signal to travel over the fiber. So, it could be a repeater. It could be energizing the signal. It could be a vault cover. It's a I hesitate to call it a catchall, but if it enables the functioning of the fiber optic facilities, then those are related facilities.

Thank you. Any further questions? Yes, council member Terrence.

So, we have this company, we have Easy Fiber that has already started their um uh fiber optics in here. How many companies can come in and do this? Is there an amount that the city approves or is it just each time a a business applies for it, it comes through this process? But is there an end cap to it that like like uh Council Member Hall stated, our our our roads aren't are what they're digging up isn't very it's not Yeah. I just worry about, you know, there again the um what's going to happen to the land if it keeps getting dug up and re dug up and redone.

So, so one of the items that uh the council needs to consider um and one of the reasons that we can decline a franchise agreement is D under those those nine given terms and that's the capacity of the rightway to accommodate additional facilities if the applicant if the application is granted. So are our rightaways saturated with other utilities um at this time they we feel that there's still room in the rightway. Yeah. And they would be you know adding on to existing infrastructure which is an added benefit also.

Thank you. Okay. Any further questions? All right. This uh this item will be coming back on the first meeting in March. Is that correct? Correct.

All right. All right. Moving on to item 6C, the confirmation of finance directory uh director Roe uh which is on page 71 of uh of your packet. U this one is for me. Uh tonight I am asking for your confirmation of Michelle Robeck as the city of Milton's finance director. She has served in this role uh on an interimm basis and I am requesting that we remove the interimm title and make her appointment official as our permanent fi permanent finance director. Uh this will also support my decision to make Michelle a permanent member of my leadership team going forward. Uh the finance director position is one of the most essential roles in our organization. Uh this role is responsible for safeguarding the financial health of the city, ensuring transparency and accountability in our budgeting process, managing audits, and helping guide Milton's long-term financial plan. Uh it is my honor this evening to recommend Michelle Robeck for this appointment. Michelle brings an exceptional background in municipal finance and accounting. She earned her bachelor's degree in business administration with the accounting uh with an accounting concentration from the University of Washington and she has been certified uh public accountant for over 20 years. Early in her career, uh Michelle served as an accountant and controller for multiple nonprofit organizations before becoming her public service uh be before beginning her public service career with the city of Puallup in 2004. She served the city of Puualup for 15 years as an accountant and financial analyst. During that time, she was also the annual audit leaison and was responsible for preparing the

city's annual financial statements uh for a a decade work that requires precision precision expertise and an extraordinary level of trust. Michelle joined the city of Milton in 2019 as finance director serving through 2023. Even after that period, she continued supporting Milton as an independent contractor from 2023 to 2024. Most recently, she has served as our interim finance director from 2024 to present, providing steady leadership and continuity during an important time for our city. In making this recommendation, I want to share that I have spoken with members of our senior leadership team and they fully support this appointment. Uh there is a strong sense of confidence across the organization in Michelle's ability to continue leading our finance department with professionalism and competence. On a personal level, I have had the opportunity to work closely with Michelle and observe her professionalism over the past four years while serving as a council member. I have seen firsthand her dedication, her attention to detail, and her steady leadership. As mayor, I would be very pleased to have Michelle as a permanent member of our of my leadership team. The city of Milton would be fortunate to have someone of her experience, integrity, and capability serving in this role long term. Therefore, council, I am uh respectfully requesting your approval of my appointment of Michelle Roach as finance director for the city of Milton. Thank you, and I would be happy to answer any questions. Uh, Council Member Wayan,

my only question is, can I make a motion now to move on this? Yes. Yes, you may. The reason being, um, we we've worked together a long time. Admire you greatly and I've seen the positive things you do for the city of Mil. So, I move to approve Mayor White's recommendation to confirm Michelle Rebecci as finance director for the city of Melbourne. Second. I heard I heard Council Member Hall first. All right. Um, Council Member Whan, would you like to speak to your motion?

I encapsulated it slightly when I mentioned it, but you've done amazing things with the city. You're also a very approachable, comfortable, and direct conversationalist, and that's very important, especially in the finance side. In every side, it's very important. So, I admire you greatly. Thank you, Council Member Hall, would you like to speak to your second?

You are amazing. Um I was here in the audience before you came and um couldn't read the budget, didn't make sense. Um you came in, you have the patience, you can explain it in terminology um that just makes sense. Um you're an honest um and I've appreciated everything you've done and what you will do. Thank you. Any further comments? Council member MS.

I also just want to say thank you for teaching us as we come in as new council members and taking the time to walk us through. You definitely are approachable, very knowledgeable, and I thank you for your service. Any further comments? Council member Roberts, just want to express everybody else's sentiment. Thank you for all you do. the short time I've been here, you've been extremely helpful and uh I know you've done amazing things while you've been here and that interim definitely needed to be removed. So, thank you. Any further comments?

Seeing none, it's been moved by uh Council Member Whan and seconded by Council Member Hall to approve uh my recommendation to confirm Michelle Robec as finance director for the city of Milton. All in favor? I. Any opposed? Seeing none, unanimous approval.

All right. Fortunately for us, Michelle is uh introducing the next item, which is uh item 6D on page uh 73, which is the exempt policy uh exempt uh employee policy.

Thank you, Mayor and Council. Um, the exempt the exempt employees personnel policy was discussed at the regular city council meeting on January 20th, the finance committee meeting on January 28th, and the and the study session on February 9th. No changes have been made to this policy since the last presentation on February 9th. The previous modifications to the policy included updating some language, adding a longevity pay tier, revising the vacation leave acrual schedule to match the IBW agreement, and adding sick leave compensation equivalent to the police skilled agreement with a service requirement of 10 years.

I'd entertain a motion. Council member Mounts, I move to approve the 2026 exempt employees personnel policy as presented. Second. Um, it's been moved and uh and seconded. Uh, Council Member Mounts, would you like to speak to your motion?

Again, I just want to say thank you for taking the time to walk us through this line by line. You addressed all of our concerns during the finance committee meeting. and you came back with um suggestions and things that we had talked about. You followed up in a very timely manner and I'm happy to be the one to make the move to bring it forward. Thanks, Council Member Whan. Would you like to speak to your second?

Well, thank you. Yes, and I would like to. what you bring to us and always have is easy to understand, respectful to our conversation or our questions and so forth. And you've been a great assess. You will continue to be a great asset to the city. All right. Is there uh any discussion on this item? Wonderful. Uh this is a um this is an action item. or anyone in the audience. Yes, please. Let me get the

I was on council and before with planning and and the events committee and other activities, it was like somebody didn't know Excel. Well, you shouldn't know Excel. It should be in the system that's put out by the state to do it because Excel columns don't always add up if they don't do the right formulas. Oh, we saw that, didn't we? I didn't say that, did I? Thank you for coming and being here always. Thank you for reappointing her in a right way for her. It's not interim anymore. Thank you. Uh, anyone else from the audience want to speak on this item? Yes.

Jaclyn Whan, Milton, Washington. Just wanted to thank staff and council for their willingness to dive into this a little more deeply and work through a process based on more data and working to make a more fair overall approach to the process of a finance package for our exempt employees. Thank you. Thank you. All right. It has been moved by Council Member Mounts and seconded by Council Member Whan to approve the 2026 exempt employee personnel policy as presented. All in favor? I. Any opposed?

Passes unanimously. All right. The last item on the agenda this evening is item 6E. Oh

yeah, they never came. So there won't be six um which is on page 91 of your packet and it is going to be a discussion about the study session meeting time. Uh, Council Member Cedar um had requested that we look into this item uh since uh he has taken on a new position that has uh required him to be in court um during working hours and so uh or at least it has been the case uh this year so far. So, um just wanted to open this up for discussion to see when uh when any of you what time would work well uh with each of you to see if we could come up with a a new time that uh that would be after working hours. Probably the the earliest being 5:30. Yes, council.

I'm sorry. I'm When you sit back, I can't hear you all the time. Oh, I'm sorry. Um, working uh study sessions in the uh earlier in the day have been very successful for everybody in in the confines of the council and the staff and so forth.

Yeah. And if council wants to keep it where it is, they can. But I just wanted to to bring it to the forefront so that we could uh so that you could discuss it and and see if there might be a better time that would work for others because I know that there is another council member that also has a conflict. I and um I appreciate that and I don't want any council member to miss anything but I don't want to impact the staff more than like we used to here till you know on the study session till 9:00 at night or 8 8:00 in the morning and they they have to take other time off to do it. So I'm open for either but my preference is to remain as we do with the mid midafter afternoon study session.

Council member Roberts, I'm not going to make a suggestion for a time per se, but rather how would that affect staff with a later time? What would be a a preference for staff? So, for example, say we had a 5:30. How's that impacting you guys?

Originally, they were at 7. So, um 4 was nice, but you know, obviously, um we're here to help the council. Um if it was 5:30, it still would be better than 7, but you know, so we're we we are all comfortable with whatever um council feels would be appropriate obviously because it's a study session. Um yeah. Yes. C. Do you want to continue? Go ahead.

Yeah. I wanted to uh follow up. Um so uh council members Cedar and whatever other individual brought this up. I I feel Tim Cedar should be present just for this conversation based on the fact that it seems like he's the uh one of the driving factors behind this. Um and and unfortunately uh he was planning to be here tonight until work intervened and so he's unfortunately out of uh out of the area today returning tomorrow. So um what do you know what the latest he could make it? Um 5:30 uh he said would be a good time for him as well.

How about six? Could we do six? That's up to you. I mean I A little later would be good because if I do have to commute from work to here, I couldn't do it. I have to take time off from work to get here. So, and I literally get off at 3:30 and I'm down here at 4. So, it it it's sometimes hard to convert from my my my job during the day to this one. Um, but how about would six work for everybody? We know it'll work for Tim. Will it work for staff? or would 5:30 even 5:30?

Council member Turnis. So, I'm in school in Kirkland until 400 p.m. And so, you never know how long it's going to take to get from Kirkland to Milton. Um, so 6 o'clock would definitely be great, but I know that that's a long day for the staff to have to wait, but I could probably be here by 5:30. How about you? 5:30, Council Member W. 5:30, 6:00, 11:00. It's all good for me. Not 11:00, please. Yeah. How about you? Uh uh

yeah, how about we just uh we start with Council Member Whan. And what uh what time would you like to suggest? 6 o'clock. Okay. Council member, I'm good with 5:30 or 6, whatever you want. Council member four, I probably prefer the 5:30. Okay. Council member Mounts, 5:30. Council member Turnis, 5:30 or 6 is great. Okay. Council member Roberts, um, more towards six o'clock. Okay, great.

5:45. Well, how about we have staff break the tie? Um, any uh any feedback from from staff about whether 5:30 or or six o'clock makes a difference to any of you? I don't think it makes a difference. If it creates some reassurance and additional time for people to get down here, I think six is fine. I don't want to get in too much trouble by my counterparts, but yes. Yes, Council Member Mos. Are you guys able to adjust your hours so you can come in later in the morning to be here? Yes. And Oh, so we're not forc

We're not forcing overtime on you. Okay. Thank you. Six o'clock. So, how about six o'clock then? Do we so do we Okay. So, we'll we'll update the council rules and then the council will vote to approve of those rules at the next meeting.

All right. Okay. All right. Next uh item on the agenda is council reports. Um Council Member Roberts, let's start with you today. Thank you, mayor. Um, so last Thursday I attended the uh the PIK meeting, which is the public issues committee. So, it's part of the uh sound cities association. Um, so I have a packet here that they've been uh that they're going to start distributing after every meeting after the uh the month. So, this gives a quick synopsis kind of a explanation of things that happened and what was on the agenda. So, I do uh urge everybody to take a look at it. Um, there's some links to presentations. All you need to do is go to the actual website and then uh select the links because you're able to look up the hot sheet as well on the uh SCA website. So again, I do urge everybody to take a look at that information and uh that is it.

All right, Council Member Turnis, I attended the 31st LDPCO meeting up in Bonnie Lake on Thursday night and it was just great to have connection. Sharon Hannik who's uh kind of was stewarding it. David Bryant wasn't there, but it's just great to see so many people coming together in unity and just discussing what's going on in the different cities.

Thank you, Council Member Mounts. and council member Turnis drug strugg with her and that was fun. And then um prior to the PIC meeting there was a presentation um regarding the presence of federal agents in our area and that was very interesting and informative. So there's I'm learning so being new to the council I'm learning that there is like no end to meetings that are available

for people with nothing else to do or keen interest. So I'm I'm happy to learn that there's a lot of information out there. Council

member poor. Yeah, I just wanted to thank everybody for their presentations, taking the time and uh also for the presentations on the last study session. Um I just had a I thought of you know when we're making some of these decisions it would be helpful um if you guys when you're presenting could maybe say what are some reasons why we wouldn't do it. uh just kind of because I know a lot of times we're we're considering why to do it to do it, but what maybe are some issues that we would be against it would be a little bit helpful too. Thank you,

Council Member Hall. Um I see this uh postcard. Yes. And how does this talk? So this is for Milton only. The businesses for Milton only, right? Yes. That that was something that the events committee put together.

Okay. And the events committee is this to get donations? Is this how how's the events committee marrying into this? I believe they are wanting to use this event to um uh get feedback from the business community on uh on what the city is doing right and wrong. And also uh they want uh the representatives from the events committee want to uh also let business owners know what sponsorship opportunities are available uh and how uh they can uh better participate in in the things that happen in our city.

How is the Okay. Um, and then we also have the five Milton Edgewood chamber that's for businesses. So, we're are we trying to pull from that or is this like I don't believe so. I different. I I just think that they are wanting to and again I'm new to this too and I've been roped into it. So, um I'll I'll tell you um how it goes. Uh,

well, I I have a couple concerns. Is events normally doesn't do this. I've never seen it happen. And I I I had to look in the code really quick when I got this tonight and I don't see where that's in their agenda to do. Um, I knew I know they do get sponsorships, but do they not? I think the mayor does. I don't think the events committee does. And I believe because I just I just quickly looked um that all donations go through the mayor. They don't go through the events committee.

And I I believe that would continue to be the case, but I think they're just reaching out to see what kind of support they can find within the community to know what additional things they could do. Gotcha. So, all right. Thank you. I have a comment. Well, we'll be back to Did you have a question for No, go ahead. Yeah, council member Wh.

I like this. I got I got to get used to it, but I like it because I think every business in the city of Milton should know what our events are because every a lot of their clientele are citizens in Melbourne and so forth. It's kind of a bold step forward and I I think it's worth a try. I think it's worth to see what can come from this. It's valuable. I I have to apologize for um little trepidation in my life and so forth. I look at I look at agenda items and I've looked at them for many years and generally u the sponsor or whoever is from generally looks at this and pulls the first connection with it to the issue discussion and so forth. So we clarify what a lot of this is in the in the packet and so forth. And I like that and I'd like to see us continue with that. process, you know, not just to go talk about something on three pages away and so forth, but just to start. It kind of breaks the ice. It makes it more cordial and especially for no folks new folks to understand. It's better to hear the issue discussion from the um creator and have and open there. Um, beyond that, I don't think I can add anything more other than we're not changing any of our committee meeting times like like the public safety committee.

Not that not that I'm aware of. We're good. Unless you want to have that discussion. Uh, no. No. I I I I actually think it's been the best uh time for that to happen and the most productive time that I've seen having been on that committee for well since it was reinstated. I I had heard somebody saying it might change, but it didn't come from anybody on the council. Council member Turnis, did I see that you wanted to say something else? Yes, I did. Well, were you finished?

Um, yes. Go ahead. Oh, well, I think that it's a great uh conversation starter and I'm just wondering why the city council wasn't invited to attend to be part of this. Um well, I I suppose if if you wanted to, you could you could come as well. Um we we would need to know uh to create a public meeting out of it if more than more than three of you wanted to go. Did is this connected to the business meetings that's on the website? The the meetings there's going to be like two or three meetings. They're on the calendar. They're on the calendar. Two of them are at city hall.

Two. Yeah. Once it's Are they public? Yes. Public. Okay. Okay. Thank you. If if the council wanted to come, would we need to advertise a meeting, public meeting? There's more than three. Okay. Well, we can we can discuss that offline. Yeah, there's three of them. So, just don't all go to the same one. Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I'm having a hard time when you two are talking towards one another and I don't hear all of I don't hear. I need to attach this to my chest.

Yeah. We'd be better off with lapel pins than we would be with something like this. Perhaps. Perhaps. Just trying to keep it trying to keep up with everybody.

No, I was just making an off-hand remark that uh uh there are three meetings. So if as long as if the council wanted to come, if uh you could decide uh only no more than three go to any any any given time, then we wouldn't have to we wouldn't have to uh declare a a special meeting. So something to consider. I thought meetings the BFW council and sometimes I've seen four five council members at that meeting. They're not managing it. They're just there to participate. I don't know if that's a state requirement that we can't have more at a meeting like this more than three council members.

Is it if you're not making decisions? I mean, if you are making decisions. Well, we're not. No, we're not making decisions there. No, no, it's just information kind of a meeting. I think it I don't know if it's going to I'm not learned enough to I'd have to check with that. Yeah. Um Well, that's also because you don't vote in that meeting. it you can't vote, you know, the the three at a particular meeting. I'm pretty sure it also has to do with the ability to discuss issues

that public public's not invited to those meetings because there's only three council members. There's no need to or requirement to do that. But I don't think there's a a pro pro it's prohibited that all council members go to a somebody else's meeting. I think we could all go down to fight if they had a meeting that but just look look into it. I don't want anybody to get in trouble by doing the wrong thing. Yeah, we will and we'll get back to you. Council member Roberts, did did I see something from you?

Yeah, I was going to say um if there's a quorum, my understanding is if you're speaking about town business in general, you need to have the uh public invited. So, you don't have to vote on anything. just discussing town business.

Yeah, that's sort of what I thought as well. All right. Um I don't really have uh much this evening other than to um recognize the fact that we have uh been designated a well city again this year. Uh and what that does is uh uh AWC Trust provides our health insurance. Is that correct? Um so AWC trust members that earned the uh 2026 well city award receive a 2% premium discount on all medical premiums. So uh and we've we've been design given this designation for the last three years. Is that is that true? So this

a few years. Okay. So, we've uh uh this the discount will be applied to 2027 premiums for active employees, spouses, and dependents as well. So, um thank you to all of the employees that uh uh do their wellness uh activities and uh and give us uh give us all a discount. So, with that, uh, if you do Oh, yes.

I thought I was going to get through this meeting with Yes. Anyway, uh, director reports, uh, planning manager Stalnicker.

Sorry, I jumped the gun there. Um, I just wanted to comment real quick. Um you when we were having the discussion about franchise there was some questions about wireless and towers and stuff that is um very regulated by the federal government. In 2023 we adopted new regulations. Um it's very um strict of what we can and can't allow. Um the idea being that because everyone is using cell towers and wireless and internet and it's such a thing. Um there's limits of what we can do on that. But just to let you know that um we do cover it. It's just in a different section. The federal government treats um cable and lines in the ground different than they do wireless. We do have codes. If um somebody wanted to do it, there's a whole process they would have to go through. Um and I would say too that it they're they're doing less towers. They're doing more small stuff. That's the 5G and stuff. So if you have more questions on some of that, happy to explain it. But um it is its own little entity.

Public works director Madden. I I just appreciate council's feedback tonight and the discussion regarding franchise agreements and we'll bring it forth uh again in March with some more information and finance director Roc. Thank you for your kind thoughts and words tonight. Um but I don't have any other additional questions or comments. All right. And uh Police Chief Hernandez, business as usual. If you see something, say something. Okay. Oh, and now it's time for the mayor's report, but I guess we'll skip that tonight, unless you want the same one again.

Oh. So, all right. Uh seeing as uh all the agenda items have been concluded, I adjourn this meeting at 2:38 at 8:36 p.m. on next. Let's go.