City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. It is uh Monday, February 2nd, and I call this regular city council meeting to order. I want to thank everyone for joining us this evening. Would you please join me in the flag salute? And council member Cedar, will you lead us, please? I aliance 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.

Uh for the record, all council is here with the exception of uh seat number five, which we will be filling later this evening. Um, for staff we have we have in interim finance director Robe Beck, uh, public works director Madden, assistant police chief champagne, and, uh, planning manager Stalnicker. Um, next item on the agenda is citizen participation. Uh, the purpose of public comment period at this meeting is for those wishing to address the council on any matter. It is not intended for debate and 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. Do we have the signup sheet?

Oh, thank you. Uh the first uh public commenter this uh this evening is Chad Atwater.

Hello, my name is Chad Atwater. I live in Milton. I've been here since 1976. Um so there was a few people that I didn't see in the city that I was going to send uh this email. I was curious if everybody got that email and uh I tried to send one to Chief Hernandez. he said to reach out to the assistant chief, but there was no email for him. And that email incidentally bounced back. So, um I know there's I don't know if uh the staff or the planning manager, the finance director, or anybody else needs that email. And I just I brought in some maps and some copies of it in case anybody wanted to see it.

Yeah, you can bring them up. Okay. Thank you.

Okay. Thank you, sir. Um the next uh speaker is Philip Jenkins.

Good afternoon uh Mr. Mayor and esteemed members of the city council. The reason I'm here, I think that you all received my uh email is about the pigeons and the 200 pigeons that the lady across the street from me has the flock that she's cultivated. Um I [clears throat] my wife and I uh Laura are building a new house at um 414 Comet Street and we're going to build two others uh adjacent to that. And over the course of about 20 years, cuz we built three other houses there, I've watched her flock grow from about uh 12 birds up to about 200 now. And I have a real concern that her um that the flock is going to um intimidate potential buyers of the new home. Sometimes I see them on our roof, the full flock. Um she feeds them. But when you feed birds, you you're not only feeding the birds, you're feeding rats and mice. And I can see the trail as it goes through our neighborhood. I mean, through our lots. And so, um, I had approached Josephine because we have a really good relationship other than the birds. And I actually approached her husband and talked to him about it. And he talked to her and said, you know, he said he was going to ask her about my concerns. So they stopped feeding the pigeons for a while and then they continued to uh feed the pigeons. So when you pull up and there were 200 pigeons and they all take off at the same time, it's really intimidating. And um so what I would uh desire, the desired action I would like uh would be to uh apply an applicable city code to stop feeding uh this flock of birds, the mice, and the rats. uh if there is not a city code or law then to make one to address our problem. Um to consider the

health issues with the bird flu um sanitary issues uh getting bird droppings on you on your skin on your cars uh on the street that your shoes are going to be walking on and taken into the house. um uh just the unsightly um flock of birds and what they leave on the ground. And um I would like for her to not feed I would like to see a no bird feeding policy similar to what they have at parks and other public places. And um she doesn't feed her birds on her property. It's usually on for years it was on our property that was vacant at 412 and 416 Comet Street but um since we started and I asked her not to do that then she's started feeding on the property that's next to her. She doesn't feed the birds at her actual lot. So those are my main concerns. Thank you.

Thank you sir. Most welcome sir. Uh the next speaker tonight is Jacqueline Whan.

Jacqueline Whan, Milton, Washington. Thank you for the opportunity to address staff, council, and esteemed guests. The reason for my coming to the podium, I've sent a more detailed email to council and staff uh to give you a uh visual experience of what it is like when fiber optic cable is in installed on the property or the right of way in front of your property. I understand you're not in charge of quote the project, but the reason you may value those pictures and some of my comments has to do with the fact that there are ramifications to those documents that you empower the executive branch of the government to implement. I've have to thank city staff for their responsiveness as I announced concerns uh regarding what amounts to trespass on my property, damaging my property, and leaving behind an unsafe condition in front of my property. And I'm not alone. As I speak to people, I hear of far worse things. So, I'm thankful for that. I wasn't in that category. But it's distressing to know the amount of time this has taken city staff. I know I wasn't the only one to call and I know staff invested quality time to address my concerns. That's a burden on the city. So I'm asking you as legislators when future agreements come before you, you ask questions like what's the reputation of this contractor? What are what are the ways the city is protected when they damage city infrastructure? What are the things that happen when

they trespass on private property? You can see from the pictures they had no problem [laughter] they had no problem making use of private property to facilitate the installation of the conduit. They left a mess. As I mentioned, they're illequipped. It's stunning to me to know that these people must have been installing thousands of miles of conduit and not have the tools they need to do the job properly. So, the ask of you is think about catch as catch can. that phrase that just means hit or miss using any available method. There'll be another contractor who goes by that methodology and asking staff to do their best to find out in advance what other cities experiences and getting a better agreement written to protect us. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Bole. Um, that was everyone that signed up on the list. Is there anyone else that wishes to address the council this evening? All right, seeing none, we shall move on to additions and deletions. Are there uh any requested additions or deletions to the agenda this evening? Seeing none, we will go 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? Yes. Council member

Mount I move that we um accept the consent agenda. Second. It's been moved by council member Mounts and seconded by council member Whan to pass the consent agenda agenda. All in favor?

Any opposed? Passes 6. On to the regular agenda. item 6A which is on page 21 of your packet and Assistant Chief Champagne will be will be uh telling us about sorry oh Michelle uh whomever whichever of you would like to start sorry chief uh assistant chief your name was first. So,

um this is for the uh purchase of the three police vehicles following the two-year amorization schedule that we have in place. There's an additional third vehicle that we're asking to be approved for the traffic officer position which was approved last year. last year for the for the 2026 budget and the the total with the upfitting comes to 240,000 is estimated because there's labor in there and I can answer any questions about that but those are the three vehicles.

Uh any questions for assistant chief? Yes, Council Member Turnis. Oh. Um, I just I'm sorry, just a point of order. I think we need a motion to open the floor for discussion. That is true. Would someone like to make a motion? I motion to open the floor for discussion. No. The motion in your packet. Oh, on page 21. I move to Oh, I'm not moving for that. Sorry, I just wanted to open it up for discussion. Okay, we need a motion first. Okay, if if you don't want to make the motion, someone else can. Okay, you can make

Anyone else like to make the motion? Yes. I move to approve the purchase of three police vehicles not to exceed $240,000 and authorize the mayor to sign all documents necessary to ex execute three purchases. Any second? I'll second it. Thank you. It's been moved and seconded. Any discussion? Yes. Council member Tennis.

Well, first of all, I was wondering why we were looking at a dealership in Pasco for one. Um, I actually reached out. I know somebody that works down at the Ford dealership down here in Milton and got a quote as well. And so I was just wondering why it is that we are going to Pasco to purchase our vehicles. So, what we're using is the state bid website and that normally if we do the RFP, we go to three different dealers or more. Um, that with the state bid, they find the they're basically doing the RFP for us. They're getting the prices. And

these vehicles, they have police equipment already in them. So, a dealership, if you just got a straight quote for just a normal vehicle, that's not what these are. They have additional electronics, uh, spotlights, things like that that are coming already equipped. And then after we get those vehicles, we upfit them more.

I would just ask because I did um address those issues when I was submitting to get a quote from them and they did offer um estimates that do have the spotlights and the other equipment on it. And so I was just wanting to just submit them just for something to weigh it against the cost versus cost to just run, you know, five miles down the hill to be doing community with our community partners here in the local area. I mean, as a small business owner, as a business owner, I just feel like it's important to create these these um connections and and actually give our business to local people is my thought. So, I don't know who I submit these to the I'm

okay.

I might be able to add on to that. Um, as part of our purchasing policy and our annual audit, the state the state bid contract automatically basically fulfills all audit requirements and purchasing requirements. Um, so by purchasing off the state contract, we know um that if those purchases are audited that that they'll check out on uh they'll they'll pass the audit on every level because this contract has gone through all of the state requirements as well. Um so it it ensures that we're that we're following um kind of purchasing guidelines by purchasing off the state contract.

Okay. So, it's my understanding that because the state purchases all of their vehicles through this particular dealership that that's why we're following suit.

Um, yes. Um, and and uh it's um this the state actually goes through a contracting and bidding process with with different dealers. I I believe for different vehicles as well. They're like some of our public works vehicles. um if we were to buy them off the state contract wouldn't necessarily come from this dealer. Um just these um these particular police vehicles are coming from this dealer as part of the state contract which um has has kind of gone through all of the all of the state requirements. So it's an added level of protection that

um we're we're following all those requirements. And so is [clears throat] this a non-negotiable for them to even look at another resource? Um, no, it it's it's it's not. We, as um Chief uh Assistant Chief Champagne um alluded to, we we could we could get three bids um and and fulfill those requirements as well. Okay. Um I would just like to submit this bid for at least to have you look over and Yeah. Council member Mounts, just council member Whan. Sure.

No, no, go ahead. But please speak it directly into the microphone. It makes it so much easier for somebody that's hearing it. Okay. To hear it. Okay. How's going to say to anybody else at the microphone? I don't want to be I don't want to be left out. Thank you, Bob. So, point of clarification just because I'm gaining familiar. Excuse me. Let's do a point of order here. Yes. Um, generally once Somebody says they're they're voting for it and then you second it. Then that person speaks first and then the next person speaks and then it goes out to others. It's really hard because you're new. [cough]

But it's just we just want to make sure that we do it the same way every time. Is that correct? Yes, that that is correct. And respectfully and I apologize. Let's let's uh let's step back and do it that way. Uh, [laughter] Council Member Roberts, would you like to speak to your motion?

Um, yes, I'll speak to my motion. Um, I know that this is necessary for having the uh, new officer on board. I did have a question, however, regarding the additional amount, the estimate of 20,000 per vehicle for the additional fitting. Do we have any kind of itemization to uh, indicate what that additional 20,000 is towards very specifically? Um, I don't have it. Our fleet manager could certainly get that, but there every vehicle is different. Um, one of these vehicles is a traffic car, so it'll have different equipment. Um, one is an admin car and then another one is a standard patrol car, which has the most equipment in it. Um, he could provide a list like that, but it it's It's something we could get if that's what you wanted. Yes, we can get that from the

If you could. Yeah, that'd be good. Um, I yield back. Okay. Council member Hall, would you like to speak to your second? So, that includes the lights, that includes all of the inside interior where you have to take out the back seat, put in the new seat. Um, all the computer, all the lights, that's everything. Yes. Seen it happen. I mean, they come in bare bones. Um, And then you also pull out those back seats and you keep them and then when we go to use it for another um department or it gets sold then those get put back in. Correct.

Yes. It's it's um it's a there's a lot that goes on when it goes to the builder like you said. They pull out the seats but they're doing electronics. They're Yes. Um putting in all kinds of different all kinds of different pieces of equipment. But we could we could get a list um for each vehicle. I wouldn't have that right now, but we could. Okay, that's And then I have one more question. Um so, are you going to um phase out three vehicles or are you going to have to keep one because you have a new employee starting? How is that going to work?

So, we're going to phase out the Charger. It's no longer got any police use out of it. We're not going to get any more out of it. Yeah. Um the truck we'll probably use for operations that are not patrol. Oh, okay. And then um there is no third one because the third one is the traffic car that's being an addition. That was my question. Thank you. Thank you, Council Member Whan. [clears throat]

Thank you very much and thank you for your presentation. Generally, every police department who purchases cars tries to have kind of a standard cab. I don't mean by model, but equipment in them. These don't all come with that equipment. So, it's up to us to signify what it is. We want added to the vehicle to make it standard. You I'll use that word close to standard so that everybody in the department knows where everything is in that field. It's consistent. It's continu consistent equipment that everybody could utilize rather readily and we have to outfit it that way.

Yes. The like one of the the patrol car will be just like every other patrol car. Exactly. The traffic car will be different because it only has spotlight on one side. It is a traffic car. Um he'll have to have the radar put in. So that's going to have a cost. Um, and then the admin car is a lot cheaper because it doesn't have all the same equipment as a standard patrol car. It just has lights and a radio. It doesn't have a cage, which is expensive. So, all three of these cars have a different build because they all serve a different purpose. Standard close to standard or familiarization of what people in the department are used to and expect. Yes.

That's how they come to us. That's how they're will come to us, but we modify it as consistent with the rest of the the rest of the equipment in the police department as close as we can. Yes, they're specialized and that's be known, but that's something every department has to do when you purchase new vehicles. Right. Yes.

Council member MZ. So, what impact would it be to the city to go ahead and go out for bid on your own versus piggybacking on a state bid contract? Is is that one of the considerations? Do we have a contracting officer in a core? And do we have the capability of purchasing these vehicles ourselves and managing the contract?

Yeah.

Yep. Yeah, that would be the that RFP processor we're talking about where we go out and get the different bids and our fleet manager already looks at these prices. And I'm looking at this one that was handed to me today and that price is very similar to what we have on here. But when he goes through the state bid, like she was saying, there's a lot more that goes into that cuz everything is vetted that way. Um, and there was even a time where we bought um a car that wasn't new and then it we had it had all kinds of it had been an accident. Nobody knew. So, we try to go through trusted verify sources and we know with the state bid that that RFP process. We don't have to go through that because they're already doing that for us. So, that's why we've been using them.

Any further discussion? Council member Cedar. Yeah, thanks. Uh, were you the one that talked to the dealer and got these or was this from a different person? Um, looks like there's a sergeant that was involved. Yeah, it's our fleet manager. Sergeant Zimmer. Okay. Why does the email have a link to the utility hybrid in the email saying, "Here's some specs of these vehicles, but then the quotes are all for what looks like a 3 liter V6 non-hybrid motor or maybe a 3.3." Yeah, it's not a hybrid. What which page are you looking at?

Sure. I'm looking at page 30 of 33 in the packet. says, "Here is a website that has a little info on the vehicles and it links to a description of Ford's three different models, one of which is the hybrid utility." That was just an email to me. He was trying to show me pictures. This actually has nothing to do with the quotes. We I asked him for pictures for this meeting today. And he was trying to link that to show basically pictures because they look the same, but the quotes are not hybrids. Why not?

Because the hybrids, we we actually explored a bunch of different cars. the Durango, the Blazer. Um, and they have a lot of issues and with the hybrids he was talking about, there was transmission issues like Tacoma had them. Um, I think maybe New York, but there was a lot of issues with the transmissions. And when you go to like electric, which was another thing we were looking at, they were talking about you need a separate battery. There's power issues because all the power that's drawn for the equipment. So, it is something that we were looking at different models and he was like, it's just not there yet. um as far as like the reliability where we know that the gas models and the pursuit rated gas models, they're they're reliable. So, we just didn't feel comfortable getting into those because the repairs.

Who was it that that opinion was coming from? What's that? Who where did that opinion come from? That was me discussing it with the fleet manager. Where did the opinion on reliability come from? Just you and the fleet manager. Yes.

Okay. Well, I've been asking about hybrid vehicles for five years now. I've driven a hybrid for about five years as well, and I know they've been on the road for a long time. Ford's been making them for a long time. The annual savings is approximately $17,000, assuming you have normal usage and you're filling up regularly um because you have a much better fuel economy. I just don't understand why we have this discussion every year. And yet, I appreciate, you know, you assistant chief champagne. And I would be saying the same thing to Chief Hernandez if you were sitting there. No one is going out and getting us actual data here. And I don't understand why not when we have this discussion every year about where it comes from. Like I I appreciate your opinions about hybrids,

but I don't think that's true based on my own personal experience.

Well, I um I I will tell you I didn't look into it in depth. No, I did not because I trust him. He knows way more cars than I do. But for even for this meeting, I was looking it up and the hybrids had transmission issues. This is like just 2024 and 23 drive shaft bolt. Uh the bolts were recalled and caused issues on these cars like at 15,000 miles. And this is just stuff I found from online. So there were there were issues. I knew that Tacoma had had these issues in the past. I don't know for what year. And we do discuss these like even the admin car we talked about even electric and he was looking at the Ford Lightning, but then the Lightning got discontinued. So, we're having these discussions, but I I can't speak a lot on car mechanics because I'm not really the car guy, but he was explaining them to me.

Yeah. I I mean, I turn a lot of wrenches on cars. I probably don't look like it, but I've worked on cars my whole life. Um, and you know, that conflicts with my understanding of cars. It also conflicts with my understanding of Ford reliability in general. Um, I also don't appreciate that this this refers to other vehicles considered in the selection process, but due to Milton's terrain, power outputs from emergency equipment, and above mentioned considerations, the specific vehicle was selected. What about Milton's terrain dictated these choices? Um, that's not something that I discussed with him. So, how about the power outputs from emergency equipment? Was there some specific consideration there

for the emergency equipment? Um he did tell me there was issues when he talked to the upfitter that we were using um up in Isiqua, our Northbend area. Um that there was a separate battery and that there was issues with the power draw and that there was another issue with the vehicle when it stops and takes off the acceleration. There's some kind of delay there that had caused an accident. This is a story that he was telling me about uh where these were being used and there was a delay. Um, so again, this is the opinion of the fleet manager, but and I I appreciate that. Thanks for answering my questions. I won't support this until I can speak to someone either the fleet manager who has actual data or someone else who can justify not moving to a hybrid platform.

I have one. Yes, Council Member Hall. Do you know if the batteries have improved enough to support the police vehicles? because I did speak to somebody that was or is a head of Ford and also um supplies all the fleets for the uh state of Washington and this was a couple of years ago and he was saying that it just wasn't there yet. Do you know if that's still true? Um I'd like an update on that as well. Kind of like what you I mean I'm sorry to interrupt if I may. I would just note that the link provided Ford specifically addresses that issue. So, you know, I'm just looking at Ford's data. I know that's a marketing ploy, but

they specifically have batteries set up for that. So, I defer to you, assistant chief, and that's why I asked the question and I don't know the specifics on the battery. I the what I've expressed to you guys is the discussion I have with the fleet manager. I don't know exactly. So,

any further discussion or questions? Uh this is a action item. Are there any comments from the public? Seeing none, uh there is a motion on the table to approve the purchase of three police vehicles not to exceed $240,000 and authorize the mayor to sign all documents necessary to execute these purchases. All in favor? I. All opposed? No. He can't nay because he said yes when you did the opening but I just moved it.

Yeah. Okay. Let's let's uh let's do a recorded vote. Uh council member uh Whan I. Council member Hall I. Council member Cedar. No. Council member Mounts. No. Council member Turnis. No. Council member Roberts. No. Okay. as a as a point of order. Um, if you bring a mo motion forward to pass, u you're obligated to vote I on such a motion under Robert's rules border. Um, understanding that, I believe the vote would be three to three, in which case it wouldn't pass. Anyway, okay. Council member Whan,

I'm sorry. It's probably worth discussing the point of order. Yeah, I I just had a discussion regarding that. I was under the impression even if you moved the motion, you could still vote how you wanted to vote. This the second may the the mover of the motion um if it's not amended in some way is is obligated to vote I understood. Thank you. Okay, Council Member Whan,

I'm [clears throat] a little confused because there's things about it we don't understand and we voiced them today. I think we should just delay this until those questions that were asked have answers and not just move away from approving this. The approval process should be with all the questions that were asked and the answers so that we can intelligently continue. Otherwise, this this thing going to almost disappear if we if we don't have adequate information to understand it completely. That's what we're looking for. Okay.

I believe in what I'm hearing and I've bought enough police cars over my term as councilman that each one has a little bit differently. Each one has a little bit more tweaking that has to be done and so forth. But I would just like to see this deferred for another time and not a no to purchasing this but defer it for an appropriate time. I believe we can bring which may be the end of this month. Okay. What was that? I do believe we can bring this back with uh some additional information and perhaps uh we can talk about it in our upcoming uh uh council workshops.

If if that's the clarity that's needed, that's fine. Just wanted to state it. If I may, mayor. Of course. The motion has failed at this point. So it can come back anytime just as any normal council agenda item can. But the motion has failed. Yes, it has. Yes. Okay. All right.

Uh the next item uh on the agenda is item 6B on page 31. uh appointment to the park board. Uh Daniel Hodson has applied for one of the vacant positions on the park board. Mr. Hodson has lived in Milton for eight years and is looking to lend his help to the board. I recommend appointing Daniel Hodson to the park board. Is is there anyone here that uh would like to make a motion? Council member Cedar. I move to approve the mayor's appointment of Daniel Hodson to the park board for a term to expire December 31st of 2026. Second.

It's been moved uh by Council Member Cedar and seconded by Council Member Roberts uh to Is there any discussion? I'm sorry. Let's let's start there. I I don't have any specific discussion. Um I appreciate this coming forward. I don't know, Mr. Uh um I don't know Daniel personally, but uh my understanding is that he wants to be on the park board and I've heard good things. Daniel, are you here? Yes. Why don't you come up and introduce yourself? There we go.

Hi, I'm Daniel Hudson and I applied for the park board and um I have a long safety uh career in Boeing, so I have a lot of that to add to the park board. Yes. Council member Turnis. Well, is this open for discussion for questions or anything? I mean, not for him in particular. No. Yes or no? No. Okay. No. No. Thank you, sir. Okay. Thanks.

All right. Um, uh, Council Member Roberts, would you like to speak to your second? No. [laughter] All right. It's, uh, been moved, uh, by Council Member Cedar and, uh, seconded by Council Member Roberts to approve the mayor's appointment of Daniel Hodson to the I believe now would be appropriate time for a discussion on on the motion for if anyone else has something to say. I'm doing great today. [laughter] We got you frazzled early. It's all right. Okay. All right. Yeah. Any discussion on the motion? Yes. Council member Turnis,

I was just curious, how's this comes about um to be or is there a an ad put out for park position opening parkboard position or how was this even address? Yes, there they are advertised on the website. There are current there are currently two positions open on the park board. Okay. Um and uh Mr. Hodson had came to the last PAR board meeting and um having gone uh through one of those he continued to uh wish to be on the board. So um he's here today and so there were no other candidates just No, there's still and there's still one opening. Oh, okay. Yeah.

All right, great. Thank you for clarifying. Yeah. Should you should you appoint him, there will be an additional opening. So anyone else that's interested, please apply. Okay. Thank you, Council Member Whan. Uh, thank you for an opportunity just to speak briefly about this. I know Daniel. I've known Daniel for quite a while. He's a very precise individual, very straightforward, very informed, very studious individual. So, I think he'd be a great advantage for the park board as our as a nominee for the open position.

Thank you, Bob. Any further comments? All right. Okay. So, it's been moved by Council Member Cedar and seconded by Council Member Roberts to approve the mayor's appointment of Daniel Hodson to the parks board for a term to expire December 31st, 2026. All in favor? I. Any opposed?

Motion passes six to zero. All right. The next item on the agenda is interviews and appointment uh to council position five. Um it's on page 33. Uh council position five is vacant as of December 31st, 2025 due to the person elected moving before filling it. Council has the option of appointing an eligible citizen to the position or failing to do so within 90 days of the vacation. Pierce County may make the appointment. Council opted to open the position up to the citizens for an application in process. The application period ended 9:00 am on Tuesday, January 27th, 2026. There are six eligible applicants. The applicants are Barbara Buck, Olaf Girtz, Adam Ibanis, uh John Poor, Rachel Shin, and Bruce Turnis. The applicants are scheduled for interview during this meeting of the city council. Based on those interviews, council may adjourn to an executive session to discuss and then come back into regular session and make a motion to appoint the candidate. Um, we will draw names to see who is first. Uh, when all names are drawn, the clerk the clerk will escort all applicants to the room across the hall. Once the first interview is concluded, clerk will go get the next applicant and so on until all interviews are complete. Council will then retire to executive session to discuss the applicants and will come back into regular session to make their nominations. There is no second needed. A roundroin vote will be done for each nomination and the candidate with the majority of votes will receive the appointment. The council member will be sworn in before uh the council reports and we'll take the seat at the dis. So

So just so I will draw the first name and if your name is drawn, you will be staying Bruce Turnis. Everybody else comes with So everyone else please follow the clerk.

[clears throat]

Okay. Um the uh the council members uh created their questions uh beforehand and you have uh the question sheet in front of you and we're going to go in uh seat order. So we'll start with uh council member Roberts.

Uh thank you sir. Uh quick question very simple. Why do you want to be on city council? Um just been in uh the city most of my life and uh was uh been very involved in a lot of different activities. Um through the years I was uh with teen late night down on Piala. probably did six or seven years and uh down there and was with um church up in Federal Way on on 356 and and seen some of those go from elementary school to you know the youth group seen some actually a couple get married that that so just longevity and just felt like you know um having that stability ability for those kids was just such an important virtue for them to just I mean because I don't know youth pastors don't last that long but you know and I used to as a young young boy here in town um always wanted that draw me every Tuesday night when we used to have the old windup sirens on the poles here and that was drill night you know you knew those guys were all meeting down at the firehouse and training and and it took me a long time but I finally got the courage to come down and and uh put in almost 10 years here with Milton Fire as well and miss that camaraderie and but you know just um I believe uh you know it's our duty to be actively involved in in in the cities and not only to be actively involved but to pray for and you know all of our elected officials and and just do what we can to um you know be a blessing on other Great. Thank you.

Council member Turnis, so what do you view as the most important thing that we can be doing now in the city of Milton to benefit the next generation?

Wow, that's tough. Um, you know, I I just am so it's so so difficult for a young couple now, even if they're both wage earners to afford to um and and location, location, location, right? Everybody wants to be in Milton. It's just a that small community town. And uh yeah, I I would like to see uh you know, affordability being uh would be a big number one for me. um and just so we could have, you know, the the young families come here and but um you know, but on on the other hand, I I like the improvements that the city is going towards, you know, at least on the main roads with sidewalks and and public safe walking uh areas for people to um get out and actually meet your neighbors and know your neighbor and love your neighbor like we're supposed to. Council member Mounts,

what unique qualifications, interests, or backgrounds do you bring to the city?

Um, just as a young man really enjoyed the outdoors and and uh I like our green spaces here in in in town that we do have and uh and the and just uh for my whole life, I don't know. I like I said, I like to have that. I think I have a spirit of of that volunteering thing going on and and like to participate and help. Like anybody has a has a problem, I don't mind going and and just, you know, no money involved. Just I'm just going to come and help you as a as an individual. But um um for me, it's uh I'm sorry. I'm just that's that's the difficult one for me. Thank you.

And I just noticed I have a question too. So [laughter] uh uh what in your view is the purpose of government at the city level um to um show the citizens that that you know are under us that that there's you know an open window to how we're how we're governing. and and if you want to um come in and and see the books or whatever that you know you're doing it legit, you know, accountability, I guess. Yeah. Okay. Council member Cedar.

Thank you. Uh Milton's comprehensive plan seeks to make Milton safer for walking and biking. Other than building more sidewalks, how do you think Milton can achieve this long-term goal? Yeah, that's that's a tough one. I mean, it's uh like I said, affordability is an issue and and uh you know, just I I I think we need to almost have a to designate it to like bike lanes or whatever for um just certain limit it to certain roads. You can't do that citywide, I don't think, and and make this an affordable town. It would just be so expensive for all the, you know, the labor of easements and setbacks and curbon gutters. And not only that, but I mean, we already are having water issues in this in this city. So, um, with, you know, all the infrastructure that has to be put in to in order to do that because I mean, when you when you start putting up curb and gutter, um, you've got to have catch basins and then that's a lot of you think people are complaining about having fiber put in, wait till you put in some storm lines because you have to dig that in. Yeah. So, I mean, that's a tough challenge. I I I would reach out to communities that have done that and see how I mean, you know, why didn't we start this back in the in the 60s when but it was an inconvenience, you know, even back then. But I mean, they committed to sewers, right? You know, they had at some point they said, you know, we got to get rid of all the septic tanks that and and they committed to running sewers all through the town. But I mean, yeah, it's just you got to bite the bullet, but who wants to bite the bullet when you see the price tag attached to it these days?

Council member Hall. Hi. What previous community involvement have you had within the city of Milton? I'm I'm sorry. Say that again. What previous community involvement have you had with the city of Milton? Within the [clears throat] city of Milton?

Within the city of Milton? Um, other than the um volunteering for um the fire department, I mean, I just came and enjoy like the civic events um the the Milton days and at Christmas time bringing bringing my grandchildren down and just um enjoying the the you know, even a pancake breakfast. I remember doing that with them as well. But um yeah, just uh you know, just getting out and meeting other local people that you don't you may may not be your neighbors, you know, going to a public event and just Yeah. enjoying that.

Council member Whan. Well, thank you. Thank you very much. I've got to I've got to ask a question first. We're not in order with our paperwork and I didn't hear your name. Would you please Bruce Bruce Turnis? Sorry, we we we randomly drew names. So, well, yeah, I want to keep these I want to keep these in order so that I can do it. Yes. Yeah, he's on the bottom. Yeah, you first but on the bottom. Yes. You know, makes life easier if it's done the other way.

Sorry. The psychic friends network has gone out of business. Otherwise, we would have them in the correct order. This this helps me and your understanding and helping me helps all of us. Yes.

Okay. On the list of questions so forth, what priorities within our city vision plans and schedule development within the city would you like to focus on? Now, I'm going to preface that a little bit. I don't know if you had the uh the chance or if you read all of that information that may be applicable to that question, but tell me what your priorities within the city's vision plan would be related to related to the position you're vying for.

Um, you know, I would really like to see I don't know the to me it's the big picture. you know, you got you got Meridian up there, but with all of you know, eventually the improvements to uh this lower section of of town as well. I mean, eventually, isn't I mean, once they get done with the 167 vioaduct, isn't that going to improve some of the the property down here? And I'm not sure what the end result is. I've seen so many different um proposals of what what the state is doing down there. And uh I'm still not clear what the finished product is really going to be, but I mean I And then isn't the light rail going to come through here as well? And

it's been the wish for 20 years.

Yeah. Yeah. So anyway, I mean just to for me it's like that to utilize um every inch of property that that for a tax base or whatever to make improvements in for the city. I mean, I don't know if that this is going to be like a hot bed for people because of new infrastructure down here or whatever or you I don't know when the light rail are they going to have a stop pretty close or who knows they're probably just going to bypass Milton. But anyway, you know, but I mean, you could you could actually maybe create some a little bit of a a boost for the city for the tax base. And whether that's improvements on on Meridian or down here on 99, I am not sure, but I think would be something to to study and look into and make sure that we're taking advantage of every opportunity that's available for us.

Very appreciative. I want to add something to it. That's moved four different PL places and over the course of 20 years, you may be on council for 20 years and still not have it finished. [laughter] State of Washington is a little bit hard to work with. Yeah. Definitive. Thank you for your answers. Yeah. Thank you. Thank [clears throat] you. Yes. Thank you. And he can stay, right? He can stay. Okay. All right. Who's next? Uh, Olaf Girtz,

Bob, he's the second one down. Welcome. All right. Uh you are going to be asked uh one question from each of the council members and we're going to start with Council Member Roberts.

Thank you for your time, sir. Appreciate it. Uh so question for you. Why do you want to be on city council? Um, I've lived here a long time and I really enjoy the community and the stuff that's given to me over the years, my family, and I want to give back. Thank you. Uh, Council Member Turnis,

what do you view as the most important thing that we can be doing now in the city of Milton to benefit the next generation? Um supporting our schools is a long best thing for long term and uh keeping our parks clean and safe and um accessible to all people. Thank you. Council member Mounts,

what unique qualification interests or background do you bring to the city? Um, I have a background of IT and programming and I troubleshoot a lot of complex issues and you have to get them right or things shut down. Um, I look at things objectively from different areas and how to save money. Uh, make things expedited but also reliable so you don't have to go back and fix them again. I even get one for you. It's uh what in your view is the purpose of government at the city level?

Um to support its residents and staff um of the city to maintain the roads, water, um traffic, the environment, making sure construction doesn't cause problems down the hill.

All right, Council Member Cedar. Milton's comprehensive plan seeks to make Milton safer for walking and biking. Other than building more sidewalks, how do you think Milton can achieve this long-term goal? Um, I'm not sure on that one. Like I walking paths type thing, but that's kind of goes along with what you already said. So, yeah, I don't really have an answer to that one. Sorry. Well, I mean, that's different than sidewalks. I appreciate that. Okay. So, all good. Council member Hall.

Hi. What previous community involvement have you had with the city of Milton?

Um, not a lot of volunteer work. Um, I have been to almost every Milton day, I think, except for one. Um, I engage on Facebook a lot with people about community issues and people's concerns. And, you know, we discussed ways to we could fix them. um maybe calm down some people's fears where they might not be informed very well, things like that. Um I also do other stuff, not necessarily for Milton, but I make websites and stuff and apps for people, local businesses in Milton and for free and just so people can enjoy them and not have to pay for stuff that they can afford.

Council member Wher, thank you. What priorities within our within our city vision plans and scheduled development within the city would you like to focus on? I'm not really familiar with the current plans of the city has. You know, I do watch bits and pieces of what's on the council meetings and stuff, but I don't know what's 10 years down the road. Like, you know, the reason is why isn't 11th Avenue paved yet? You know, I I kind of know the gist of it that it takes time. we have more pressing things. But if I do become on the council, I would pay close attention to that and learn all of that so that I can help make good decisions on what things need to be done.

So you may like an opportunity to to participate in our vision planning so that you Yeah. So my vision is like improve the water, the road quality, traffic um in the parks, make sure the toys are kept clean and refreshed like Hill tower parks being worked on. Good. Thank you. Thank you, sir. Thank you. You can have a seat. Uh, next is John Poor.

John Poor. Rachel. Mr. Poor, welcome.

Thank you. Each uh each council member is going to ask you a question and starting with council member Roberts. Uh thank you for your time, Mr. Poor. Uh quick question for you. Why do you want to be on city council?

Yeah. Um so I've lived in Milton since 2018 and then prior to that I lived in Edgewood for eight years. Um, I'm a father of two going on three and I'm a husband and uh I'm a Christian and I'd like to help um preserve our community. It's a beautiful community. Um, I love how it's got the small town charm, but you're kind of in the middle, sorry, in the middle of everything. And, um, my kids are very important to me, as I'm sure all of ours are. And I just want to make the best future I can for them and contribute to our community. And, uh, I feel that my education and experience uh, could could be valuable to city council.

Thank you. Council member Turnis, what do you view as the most important thing that we can be doing now in the city of Milton to benefit the next generation?

I think that being good stewards of our city would would be really helpful. I think promoting safety is a very big issue for us. I know we just had a terrible uh issue where the lady died and was stabbed and then uh in previous years we had the issue at um Surprise Lake Apartments. But those don't really define our community. Our community is is a lot safer than I think people might realize. And I think that if city council and our police department can kind of um partner as well as other areas of our community, we could look at things that we could make a little bit safer. Um, and we could also try to um promote programs that would uh enrich our families and promote u better futures for our kids and try and help um people who maybe have had issues in the past to try and uh do better and reaclimate in society. Um and my experience as a probation officer for five years would help with that. Um, I also went to University of Washington Tacoma. Um, got a BA in criminal justice, but it's within a social justice program. And so I'm familiar with kind of the having a therapeutic app approach to crime while also having done it and realizing that, you know, you don't want to be soft on crime. But you want to also try and uh go on a case- by case basis with people and try and approach them where they're at and try and help them um however you can, whether it's with substance abuse, mental health issues, uh employment, um education, and getting a roof over their head. A lot of

times when you when you can help people make those reasons not to commit crime, then it it helps uh helps them not go that direction. Great. Thank you, Council Member Mouse. [clears throat] Thank you. So, my question is a little bit redundant, so you might have a chance to expand on your answer, but what unique qualifications, interests, or background do you bring to the city?

Yeah, I think that's a good question. Um, I also, uh, prior to being a probation officer, while I was at UDub, Tacoma, I was director of student technology. And so what I did is I um I was chair of a funding committee and I had to populate the committee um recruit people, try and uh have have have uh them be approved to the positions and then the basically the position is um a facilitator for all of the students. They pay part of their tuition goes to student technology and all of that goes into a big pool and then all the students can do what's called requests for proposals. I'm sure you guys are all very familiar with that. um even better than I am. [laughter] But basically, we go through a process of finding out what what they're looking to do and we go through all the, you know, we we do Robert's rules, although I'm not uh necessarily as familiar some as of you guys with with that. It was a little more informal, but um we went through the procedural uh things to approve those um things. So, one of the things that we're really proud of is uh the students didn't have a way to print their assignments on campus and so we bought printers for all the buildings so that they could uh print their assignments if they didn't have the ability to do that at home or if they you know just need the convenience. Another thing was we brought kind of 3D printing to the the campus and the library so all the students could use that. Um, and we tried to um be inclusive in a lot of things, but we also wanted to be good stewards of the money and realize that uh it's it's every student's uh fees that are are in this and so we want to be responsible

with the money and not just approve everything.

All right. And for me, what is what in your view is the purpose of government at the city level? Um, I think that it's to try and enrich your community as much as possible. Um, you want to make things as safe as you can. You want to make, um, resources for your citizens to, um, be as successful as possible in society. Um, you want to try and provide a voice for people maybe that don't have a voice. um and and maybe can't uh do it in other ways. And I think it's also to listen to the community and see what's going on. Um, I think city council part of uh their responsibility is just being kind of eyes and ears of the community and coming together and trying to use that uh experience that they have and also gather their own research and talk to their community members and see what the main concerns are in the community and try to help push those issues forward in a responsible way and and gather the information and then deliberate and and make the best decisions possible.

Thanks, Council Member Cedar. Um, Milton's comprehensive plan seeks to make Milton safer for walking and biking other than building more sidewalks. How do you think Milton can achieve this long-term goal?

That's a good question. I think for biking, we could probably do bike lanes in areas where they may not be uh especially in the smaller streets. Um that could be pretty expensive though. So we could also look at other options. Um, I think uh probably promoting education and statistics on when people jaywalk or when they, you know, aren't aren't using the crosswalks, how much more likely they are to have a big accident or be killed or injured. Um, educating our citizens, maybe doing a mailer or at least putting something on on uh the city hall website just to try and help promote education and awareness of issues like that. Um, you know, I've myself I've seen people jaywalking and I think they don't mean to do anything bad with it, but they put themsel at a big risk as well as the drivers. You know, somebody swerves and hits somebody else and now you got a big issue. So, I think uh also improving visibility would be helpful um for the drivers and the pedestrians. Um, and so putting putting that education out maybe on the website or mailers could also help the drivers too. And so we want to as drivers make the pedestrians as safe as possible. Um, but it's a kind of a team effort.

Council member Hall. Hey, what previous community involvement have you had with the city of Milton?

Thank you. Um, so currently I go my my family goes to um Faith Family Church and I volunteer there. I'm uh doing children's ministry and I'm on the the kind of the audio video support team. Um, as far as uh community service, uh, prior to that, I had gotten an award uh, while I was working with uh, the Department of Corrections for um, this is like an annual agency award and it was uh, is a service award for basically trying to help um, serve my fellow officers but also our incarcerated individuals that we're working with. So, a lot of that was trying to facilitate them going to treatment to make sure that they're going to make it there and to be as supportive of as I can people cuz in law enforcement it can be kind of a grind sometimes. And so trying to just encourage each other to um try to treat these people in a way as if we haven't met them before and that they're norm like not incarcerated people. So, um, just trying to give them a clean slate, basically. And, uh, by doing that, you don't get as jaded. So, the reason I bring that up is just because I know it can be really hard in in, uh, the public service sector. I think it's important to try and keep yourself refreshed and uh do the best you can to try and remember that you're a servant of the community and uh promote promote that kind of attitude and environment.

Thank you, Council Member Whan. No, thank you and thank you for applying. What priorities within our city's vision plans and schedule development within the city would you like to focus on?

Thank you. Uh I think my main thing would be trying to help promote safety wherever possible. Um that would be the biggest one for my kids. Um trying to pro promote family values. Um, I think it'd be cool if we maybe either uh go bigger with some of our community events to try and promote everybody coming together or maybe have them a little more frequently. Maybe having some resources for people um like small businesses and stuff like that. Um I I have a a handyman business that I I do on the side. My wife's a nurse, so she's the bread winner and we're planning on uh homeschooling our kids. And uh so just more resources for education. Um I know we have the library. I think we do a really good job um of trying to give give people as much resources as we can already, but maybe looking at things that we haven't already implemented and uh different opportunities.

Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you, sir. You can have a seat. Thank you guys for your time. Barbara Buck is next.

No, you can stay here.

[clears throat]

Welcome. Hello. Each council member is going to ask you a question. Okay. Are we going right to left or left? We're going to start with council member Roberts. Okay. Hello, Miss Buck. Thank you for your time. Hello. Uh, why would you like to be a council member?

Why would I like to be a council member? So, um, growing up in Milton, I've pretty much, you know, grown up here my whole life. I did move away for a few years, you know, with my career. Um, and when I came back, I chose to live in Milton. So, um, as many of you may know, I did run for mayor, um, a few years back. Um, and it was just a really enlightening experience for me. um I got to know kind of a lot about the ins and outs and you know I didn't get elected so I did pivot with my career and kind of took on some new things in my career and spent some time you know traveling the country a lot just in different regions of the country and really got to know um some small towns out there across the country but coming back it's like dang I really think that Milton has a great opportunity here and I want to lean in and I want to be a part of the future growth of Milton but I also though want to really be a part of making sure that we don't lose that small town feel because I think that's what draws many people to Milton but it keeps many people in Milton.

Thank you. Council member Turnis. What do you view as the most important thing that we can be doing now in the city of Milton to benefit the next generation? Well, I think one of the one of the main things that I think that we can do to benefit, you know, the future of Milton and the next generations is to really look hard at some of our policies and our codes that would protect the nuances and the um charm of Milton. I think that that's a really important task that I think the whole of Milton needs to start looking at. I don't want us to get sucked up by the federal ways of the world, the palops of the world, Tacomaomas of the world, F. I think that that would be one of the things that I would really want to put a focus on.

Thank you. Yeah, council member mounts. Thank you. What unique qualifications, interests, or backgrounds do you bring to the city? Oh my goodness. So, we'll take that in a in a few different parts here. So, will you read the question for me one more time? I'm going to take a couple notes. What unique qualifications, interests, or background do you bring to the city?

So, we'll start with qualifications. So, I feel like um I could share lots of insight from just what I've done my whole career. I have a great background in retail, you know, which entails budgeting it, logistics, um project planning, uh problem solving. It it's a lot of different things that I've done in my career. And I feel like that I could be a really good like voice of reason or a different perspective to many whether it's a problem or it's um an idea or it's a way to move forward with any sort of project. So, that's a qualification answer for you. Um, interests. I have a lot of great interest in community outreach. I spent a lot of time in my career within the organizations I've worked for um being in um associate resource groups, you know, specifically a co-chared um the ESG resource group for the company of Albertson's. Um, and prior to that, I when I was with Kroger, I was um with their women's excellence resource group. So, and I always held like a chair position. Um, and when I would fall back, I would just be a member at large. So, I think that with that experience, it could bring some, you know, abilities to work with the community. Um, and then background, again, back to just what I've done in my whole career in retail. I bring a lot of experience like I said in the budgeting process, problem solving, logistics and just simply um running projects. So

thank you. And the one for me is what is what in your view is the purpose of uh of government at the city level? What is my view of purpose? What is what in your view is the purpose of government at the city level? So my view of government at the city level is really specifically to serve the community in which you've been elected. Okay. Council member Cedar.

Milton's comprehensive plan seeks to make Milton safer for walking and biking. Other than building more sidewalks, how do you think Milton can achieve its this long-term goal? Will you repeat the question? The first part of the question? Absolutely. Thank you.

Milton's comprehensive plan seeks to make Milton safer for walking and biking. Other than building more sidewalks, how do you think Milton can achieve this long-term goal? So, I think if Milton could actually put a which they I'm not saying there's no comprehensive plan here for Milton when it comes to cut through traffic, but I think that we have an opportunity to take a look at what's happening to us when it comes to cut through traffic, which I can speak to where I live and I get blasted by people just flooring it going down my street, right? So, I feel like there could be better um traffic, you know, um patrols, but then when it comes to walking, biking, which I am a huge supporter of, I think we could look at on some of our main roads through the city. Are we looking at bike lanes? You know, I know sidewalks are quite costly, but could we, you know, make sure that we have really prominent um uh speed limit signs or lighted speed limit signs so that we can actually get people to slow down because that is a great concern for me. Um I see it all the time where I live. I mean, I can stand from my house and see the corner of trailer and 15th. One week, two summers ago, I witnessed two accidents in the same week, right? And people cross that street all the time, you know? So, right there, maybe a traffic circle. You know, I know that over on I believe it's Emerald, there's a test going on with the little speed bumps. Why don't we have those in more locations across city of the city, you know, because I think that um this is such a great community for walking um and biking that any sort of those kind of testing tests and trials would be Council member Hall.

Hi. What previous comm community involvement have you had within the city of Milton? Um so I have not in the last several years been a part of really any community um involvement in the city of Melton. Um, I've and like I stated with my career, I've spent a lot of time um traveling and working within the organizations that I work for, working in their associate resource groups, doing community outreach, but not specifically in Milton. Council member Whan, thank you. Thank you for being here.

Yeah. What priorities within our city vision plans and scheduled development within the city would you like to focus on? Repeat the question please. I'm sorry. Can you repeat the question please? Sure. What priorities within our city's vision plans and scheduled development within the city? Would you like to focus on the scheduled development plan? Pardon?

The scheduled development plan. I think that would be the place that I'd like to focus and really understand what that plan looks like. and understand how it's being driven, what the projects involved in that scheduled development plan are, and who owns those projects within that plan. Thank you. Yeah, thank you very much. Yeah, you can have a seat. Thank you.

Um, next is Adam Ebanis. Mr. Welcome. Could Could you pronounce your last name for me? Ivanz. Ivanz. Okay. Yes.

They didn't put the N on there. Yeah, [laughter] exactly. Okay. Um, we're gonna each council member is going to ask you one question. We're going to start with Council Member Roberts. Great. Thank you, Mr. Banz. Uh, question for you. Why would you like to be a city council member?

Well, council, I um I want to get to know my neighbors better and be more involved in our community here. Um, did everybody get a copy of my cover letter and resume? I mean, as I outlined there, um we moved to Milton roughly two and a half years ago, and um we just love it here. And I want to see the city continue to um grow in a way that is beneficial to um the rest of our community. And I want to be part of that discussion and part of the input. I also want to be a good role model for my children and um all of their friends. Um I just kind of want to make participating in our democracy, even at the city level, more of a fun thing um that young people can be involved in.

Thank you. Yeah. Thank you, Council Member Turtis. What do you view as the most important thing that we can be doing now in the city of Milton to benefit the next generation?

Well, um, council, my, as a father of four, um, very young children, two of them. Um, I think we need to encourage more reading and more exercise. Um, I know that my kids um have grown adept in a culture of screens. Um, and we need to grow with the technology in a way that is going to still um instill the value of reading, of books um and of exercise. Otherwise, we're going to find ourselves um in a society of um children that remain children in my opinion.

Thank you. Yeah, that's mess. What unique qualifications, interests, or backgrounds do you bring with you to the city? [cough]

So I um have lived in multiple places of Washington and I've lived in multiple states. Um so I bring that perspective to the council um of places that um aren't functioning necessarily quite as well as our city has. Um can be improved on. Uh I also as a business operator and small business owner um I bring the advantage of knowing how to read budgets. Um I'd say that yeah

all right you get one for me too. uh right what in your view is the purpose of government at at the city level? So at the city level I believe um making sure that our stop lights, stop signs are working right. Um that we have concrete on the sidewalks that isn't cracked. Um that we don't have potholes. um that we have public safety in general. Um that would be the priority of the government at the city level.

All right. Thank you. Um Council Member Cedar. Milton's comprehensive plan seeks to make Milton safer for walking and biking. Other than building more sidewalks, how do you think Milton can achieve this long-term goal? So, council, I uh I have an idea that maybe we can um set aside some funds for um our citizens of Milton to purchase um bicycles. Um maybe walking clubs and biking clubs as well.

Thank you. Yeah.

Council member Hall. What previous community involvement have you had within the city of Milton? So, um, when I first came here, um, I was assigned to work at Safeway, um, down the road in Milton, and I was the third in charge of that store, and I oversaw it during the period of its, um, construction for a remodel and grand reopening. So, I was there at the ribbon cutting. Um, I oversaw it, shift management teams two times. I remained part of it. So I mean that was the extent of my main um service to the community is providing food for the our community there in that regard, keeping the store well stocked and clean. Um but also my children being uh students at Surprise Lake Middle School and at Discovery Primary School, we volunteer um in the PI uh PTA.

Thank you. Yeah, Council Member Whan. Well, thank you and thank you for being here. Yeah. Thank you. What priorities within our city vision plans development within the city would you like to focus on? Um priorities. Can you repeat what that last bit there Councilman Whan? I'm sorry. Sorry. Yeah. Say it again. Repeat. What priorities?

Yeah. within our city's vision plans and scheduled development within the city would you like to focus on? Oh, definitely the more sidewalks. Good response. Thank you. Yes. Thank you, sir. You can have a seat. All right. Thank you, Mayor.

We have one more person, Rachel Shin. Welcome. Thank you. Good evening, mayor and city council members. My name is Rachel Shim. Hold on a second. Each council member is going to ask you a question. Okay. And we're going to start with uh Council Member Roberts.

Thank you, Miss Shim. Uh quick question for you. Why would you like to be on city council? I would like to be on city council um for many reasons. Uh I'm a long-term resident here. I've lived here 30 years. I moved here from Oregon with my three young boys. Um I'd always lived in a small town and when my husband got transferred up here to Seattle, I envisioned myself living in a city and I said, "Can't do that." So this was back before the internet. I went from school district to school district and asked for their performance reports and then from there I looked at communities and I came across Milton had the best school scores their office the office manager just welcomed me and told me a lot about the community. Um, I've been involved in volunteering um at every every level of um the schools. I worked in Surprise Lake Middle School for 18 years as attendance secretary and then a few more as the office manager. And I just my heart is into this community. I've always I retired eight years ago and uh I've been coming to the meetings recently and I just um the world is changing. Milton's growing and I think together all of us have the ability to protect that hometown feel and and just thoughtful direction.

Great. Thank you, Council Member Turnis. What do you view is as the most important thing that we can be doing now in the city of Milton to benefit the next generation?

I think I think there are many parts to that. Uh safety is a big one. Um, and also planning how our community is going to grow, how it's going to the infrastructure and the for me, one of the the very important things are sidewalks and the trail. And I moved here long before the trail was paved. And my boys used to ride their horse down to Surprise Lake on the side of the road. But, uh, you know, this community has amazing community members in it. And, uh, I think together we can all, um, you know, help just make Milton be the best it can be. But, you know, just hold on to that history that we have. And that's that's the beauty of uh, Milton. We have so many people of the generation that have been here for years that hold that knowledge. that doesn't happen very often in a community

and uh so you know directly to the most important thing I think it dovtales with things for opportunities for seniors providing walking paths uh just it's many many different working parts thank you council member mounts

thank you what unique qualifications interests and backgrounds do you bring to the city. [gasps] So, my background that I bring is um we moved here in '95. Prior to that, I was living in the Dallas, Oregon, where I was a school board member at a private school there. And uh we managed the budget, uh the fundraisers, all of that. And then we got moved here. And I um the first thing I got involved in was uh my kids were doing a summer theater camp here and I walked in with the kids and you know a lot of people they're they're working, they're busy, they're dropping their kids off and things [snorts] and I looked at these kids that were on the stage and so many of them they didn't have access to costumes. they were wearing their street clothes and then there were a handful whose parents, you know, could afford it and rented costumes and I thought, "No, that's not okay. Every single one of these kids need to have that." So, I started making costumes, donating them every year to the school district. Um, I have viewed my, you know, how I live my life as it's not just about my kids. It's about everybody's kids and our future generations and what it's going to look like. And then from there, I um started when my youngest was in school, I uh started working at Surprise Lake Middle School and I was there for uh almost 20 years and I was the attendance secretary. I could probably tell you every kid's name over the last 30 years. Um but I uh um and then the last few years I worked as the office manager and I was the ASB secretary which the ASB kids the student body kids um they raise

money and they have to manage that money and I attended um several over the years um Oregon uh sponsored uh workshops that I was required to go to to for recordkeeping and for what's appropriate to even how even tonight even how uh meetings are ran and these kids did an amazing job but this was also back in the day before you know we had computers but most uh you know so in the in the school room they sent me a picture before they took Surprise Lake down there were binders from 95 to you know 2010 of every meeting, the minutes, the budget, where the money was spent, how it was spent. So, um I have a lot of experience in schools, but I also have a lot of experience. I've been on many, many uh boards and collaborating with other staff members or other community members because I feel like we all can bring something different to the table. And that's what I worked with the kids at the school was trying to, you know, people would say, "You work at a middle school? Are you crazy?" And it's like to to help these young minds kind of problem solve. And I I do have good problem solving skills, but I never approach anything as it's just me. How do I figure this out? I look at it from different perspectives. And so that's that's my background.

Thanks. And you get one from me. Oh. Um, what in your view is the purpose of government at the city level? Purpose of government at at the city level.

At the city level. Um, I believe uh it is to be accountable and to not necessarily like we have to make laws. We have we're here to get the information, guide the city, what make the hard decisions, but not only making the decisions like say, "Okay, we want this building." Well, how is that going to affect our city long term down the road? I've seen this with the schools because by the time we had uh uh Colombia built, we'd already over outgrew it because we didn't anticipate the amount of people coming in and and Milton became a very soughtafter community. So, um and I also believe the the job of the city government would be to transparency and to also I think In my opinion, I think there could be more community involvement and and just uh but I I really feel like you guys are steering the ship, but we're all in it together. And it's kind of like Bob said to me when Mr. Whan said to me one time when uh we couldn't hear anything and I'm back there and there's only two of us and I was kind of timid, you know, and he spoke up and later I came up and I thanked him and he said, "You're a citizen. Our job is to be there for you. If you can't hear, you need to tell us, you know, and that's just on a very small level." Um, but yeah, I think uh just a cohesive structure that's going to be solid, have integrity, and be transparent.

Thank you, Council Member Cedar. Milton's comprehensive plan seeks to make Milton safer for walking and biking. Other than building more sidewalks, how do you think Milton can achieve this long-term goal?

Well, I will tell you this. Uh there's a lot of ways we could do that. And I ran into one just the other day. I told uh Chief Hernandez, you look on uh social media, EMF Cooler, everybody's complaining about these kids on scooters. And I do see that that's getting a little bit less. Um but so many people just look at it as not the big picture of how they can help, but oh, that's that kid. Where's this parent? Well, I was stepping out of the UPS store, which by the way, that's another new asset to our community. They love being there. They're so kind and um and for us to have a business like that is is really a good thing. But I was stepping out, a woman opened the door. She was I was holding it for her. She started to open and a kid [snorts] right between us with this much room came whizzing by on a scooter. I mean literally. And so she said, "That's happened to me before." And she went inside and I walked out and I just kind of stood there for a minute before getting into my truck and I saw the kid turn around. Well, he was probably about 12 or 13 and he was flying and he started moving slowly. I thought he's scared. And so I went up to him. He's not my child, but I said, you know, I just want to check and make sure you're okay. And first off, I'd like to thank you for wearing your helmet because he was wearing a helmet. And he was like, "Oh, okay." And then we talked about, you know, when you're on sidewalks, maybe, you know, turn off the motor or, you know, because you don't know how these doors are going to open. So, I think all of us working and and working with the schools with how to handle some of these things. Um, but I just goes back to when I thought of what Chief Hernandez says, you see something,

you say something. Um, I, you know, even, uh, we did, uh, in Oregon, we did a safety fair for kids riding bikes. We provided the helmets. Um, they had them fitted, you know, we kind of gave them and and they loved kind of messing around with the crash dummy, but we gave them some things of what would happen if you weren't wearing your helmet. So, I think community awareness, uh, the yeah, the sidewalks. Um, but also just people watching out for each other. Um, I think these traffic cameras are really good. It's making people aware, but um, there's a lot more that we could do. And just like with coming to the meeting about 23rd Street, I never really thought of of that because it didn't particularly pertain to me because I don't live there. But so that's where I feel like I probably am not aware of, you know, many things that are safety issues. But I think if there's more community involvement and that comes on both sides.

Council member Hall, I know you touched on this, but I have to ask, what previous community involvement have you had within the city of Milton? In what? In the city of Milton.

Um, so, uh, I I did all the, um, well, for 20 years made the costumes for the kids going through the play. Um, I've been kind of the go-to person that if they need something and they're in a pickle, they call if it has anything to do with uh costumes or so, for example, I was working full-time at the school and they and at that year the uh F high school had uh done their uh uh they were in the daffodil parade. They'd done their float and they'd done an amazing job and they won and they were going to go to the next level. Well, there was a lady that was supposed to be making the costumes and these girls were kind of timid about checking. Well, long story short, she was in over her head. So, there were no outfits for those girls for that next competition. So, they called me and they all knew me from the middle school. I said, "Okay, let's troubleshoot this. Here it is Friday. We've got Saturday. Um, let's call," and this was again before social media and cell phone. Let's call everybody and see who has prom dresses that maybe we can put you together that way. Then you get to the next point. I'll figure out the dresses. So, they won that competition and they won the final competition at the end and I had I went and got the pile of fabric and I just kept putting them together. So it a lot of times it's not um a structured committee as such but um and like there was a little boy and he's just amazing now because I see him on the FME I've been involved with FME but see him on the FME field and um his mom and dad when he was only four he had to have some sort of surgery where he had his kidneys operated on and had a nef bag and the bag was hanging down and She really wanted him to get back to

school. And this little boy is like, "Uh, I can't, mom. I can't." Well, a good friend of hers knew me and knew I sewed. And she says, "Rachel, there's a situation here." I said, "Okay, I got it." So, I went down and got superhero fabric and made the little bag, made pants for them. They were sending me pictures, you know. So, it's more kind of I see a need, that's where we go and do it. Thank you,

Council Member Whan. Oh, thank you. What priorities within our city's vision plans and scheduled development within the city would you like to focus on? you know, I feel like [sighs and gasps] you have a great team here and I know there's I, you know, learning more about if we're talking infrastructure and things, I'd really have to study up on that. But as far as what we can do for our seniors or our kids or even young parents or like like I would love to see um maybe a a town hall every now and then where and I know this would mean extra time on your part but where an hour before or half hour before the meeting we provide refreshments and we personally get out there invite people to come and Uh last last spring I did uh my neighbor and I did a a Easter egg hunt for all the kids in the neighborhood and there's lots of different things. I think community involvement and then sharing that knowledge of what's going on and um you know I think and I think all that's going to happen from that is more and more people with talents coming forward and working together.

All right. Thank you so much. Um now u we are uh per RCW42.30.110 30.110 uh1H. We are uh adjourning to executive session to evaluate the qualifications of a candidate for appointment to elective office. How long should we say we're going to go at least 15 minutes? Uh we'll we'll be back. If uh we need more time, I'll be back to extend that. So and once we come back uh we will uh there will be action to choose.

Oh. Oh, we need to extend the meeting. Can I get a motion to extend the meeting for an additional? Should we? Okay. All right.

We're still waiting for Terry. And oh, here's Bob. Okay, we're back from executive session. Um, and since it's past 9, I need a a motion to extend our regular meeting. Council member Cedar.

Uh, I move to extend tonight's session by 20 minutes. Second. It's been moved and seconded. All in favor? Yes. I Yes. Okay.

Thank you, Bob. All right. Uh Okay. So, uh before we go to the nominations, I just wanted to uh thank everyone who has applied. Um this is I've been uh I've been through uh six of these either on your side or on this side. And uh the most people in the last uh the last six times that this has happened, the the most people that have applied has been three. So this is double what is typically normal. So thank you um to everyone that applied and obviously with with this type of a procedure uh one person is going to be happy and five are going to be disappointed. So, I just wanted to offer to the people that um that don't uh don't win the uh that win the vote to please consider uh volunteering on some of the boards that we have vacancies on. Uh right now we have vacancies on the park board and we also have a couple vacancies on the planning commission. So um please do uh consider uh joining those. So with that u I will take uh nominations for um for the council candidate. Council member Hall.

I'd like to nominate John Por for council position. Five. Five. [laughter] Thank you. Any uh any further nominations? I move to uh nominate Bruce Turnis to council position number five. Any further council member Cedar? I move to appoint Adam to fill the council position number five to begin immediately with the expiration general election of November 2027.

Okay. Any further nominations? All right, we'll we'll start with um with John Poor. Council member Hall, would you like to make the motion? No. Oh, vote first. Vote vote first. Okay. All right. So, all in favor of appointing uh John Poor to fill the vacancy in uh council position five. Mayor, I'd ask for a roll call vote on this one by one. Okay, so we'll have a roll call vote. Um, agreed. John Poor,

I'm sorry, Council Member Wayland, how do you vote? I'm sorry. How do you vote? I agree with the statement for John Port to be okay. The next council member position number five. All right. Yes. Okay. Council member Hall. John Port. Council member Cedar, this is to the motion for John. Yes. My vote is no. Council member Mouse. Yes. Council member Turnis. My vote's no. Council member Roberts. Yes. Okay. Um, there being a majority, that means that John Poor is our new council member for position number five. Congratulations, sir. [applause]

Right. They're signing the paper. Mr. Poor, you come. You need a picture. You got one.

I'm citizution. Constitution law United States. duties. [applause]

You can now take your seat off. All right. Now you're Now you hold me. All right. Well, welcome. Okay. We're now moving to council reports and uh we'll start with council member Hall this time. Me?

Yes. Oh. Oh shoot. Um thank you everybody for coming and um please um get on a committee. Um if you guys have any questions or any ideas, please come to council meetings. I think it's really important. Um, it helps us u lead the city and we can't do it without you. Council member Pull, do you mind if I yours?

I just wanted to say it was an honor um interviewing with all you guys and to me best of my ability, I'll um honor the issues that we talked about and that you guys uh brought forward in in your interviews and uh thank you everybody for your time. Council member Cedar,

I just want to echo. Yeah, I really appreciate all the the thoughtful applicants and answers. This is a pleasure. Um it's great to see uh that you know I appreciate the issues that have been brought forth by citizens lately too including the fiber optic issue which I think is a great lesson learned for the city. Um you know I've had my own personal discussions with them I would say discussions um and the staff has been quick to respond. So I also want to praise the staff in staying on top of things. Um and I would also like to praise the police who have been just an absolute beacon of light um in recent weeks and months. uh you know, waving to people, being a present in the community. It's been an absolute joy to to see them out. So, it's it's Milton's doing great and it's great to see.

Thanks, Council Member MS. I want to echo what's already been said about the turnout for this vacant position and thank you all for applying and for your participation in the community. It's great. And I hope um at the next meeting to have a report from a committee meeting that I'm attending tomorrow night. So, nothing yet, but stay tuned. Council member Turnis.

Yes. I also would like to just thank everybody coming out here tonight. We heard some great candidates. We heard some great information that we're filing in the back of our heads just from your thoughts and ideas as well. Um, I also would like to comment on the fiber optic. I appreciate Mrs. Whan coming forward. Uh we actually had a situation on our personal property which they have left it in um not the issue the the state that it was when it was there and we have just said we've talked to people on the phone and and they said oh we're going to get to it but they haven't got to it. So just taking note of the fact that we need to be more proactive in when we're we are getting these people involved. I actually was walking down Milton Way and they had one of their manhole covers that was totally open. They had their fiber optic bag sitting right there. There was no cone set up. There was nobody there. And I was just like, "What is going on?" So, obviously, our safety is at risk by these companies coming in and not being up to standards. My husband said that we should actually have hired uh Milton city worker to follow them around and make sure that they were maintaining the rules that we should have been enforcing. But, thank you for that. Council member Roberts,

like just to reiterate the other council member sentiment. Thank you all for applying. Um it's good to see so much turn out as uh Mayor White was indicating. Um I do have some lengthy reports I want to discuss, so please bear with me. I know it's kind of late in the uh evening here. So a followup from the uh po point in time homeless count for Pierce County um which happened last week. So, I volunteered down there last week at the city of F with other volunteers, city staff and the Pierce County Health Department and also with an organization called Nin Lines, uh, which helps homeless veterans. So, we were able to match up many people with needed services sub such as job training, affordable housing resources, medical services, etc. Um the F community center also distributed quite a bit of clothing, shoes, backpacks with toiletries and other useful items. And it was encouraging to see all the programs the city of F had in place. So the data for the census should be available by April um at the pierce countywah.gov website. Another reminder, unrelated topic. So, we have a vote coming up for the five public schools educational program and observation levy um on the 10th. So, do not forget to vote. Um also, I would like to add an agenda item for the upcoming study session or regular council meeting. So, I've been approached by some members in our community voicing their concerns about what policies or practices our Milton law enforcement adheres to if federal agents come to our community and are observed having uh unlawful exchanges with the residents. So, a discussion needs to be had about how Milton can reassure the community and public safety as a top concern and that our force adheres to the keep Washington working

act, the KKW act, which came into effect on May of 2019. Chief Hernandez already expressed expressed to me that the force does adhere to the KKW or excuse me, KWW Act, but this information should be reiterated to the public. Other surrounding cities already have made public uh decrees either by their city website, social media, or public commenting. Cities have expressed this soon after Governor Ferguson and AG Nick Brown have urged cities to be unified in the efforts to ease public concern. A candid conversation needs to be had with Chief Hernandez, Mayor White, and rest of city council and also the public. And that's it. Thank you.

All right, Council Member Whan. Well, uh, I've got a few things just to say. I appreciate everybody who has come and applied for the council position. It is not I think it's the first time I've ever seen so many people willing to dedicate time in their lives to the sitting in this position and everybody who has applied. It's not an easy thing to take one person and not everybody. It would be great to have several more council members, but we'd probably be sitting here until midnight. But thank you all for applying. Thank you for showing your dedication to the city of Milton. Thank you for sitting through this whole thing. We suffer a little bit here trying to make the right decision and I think we I wish I had more seats on the council. That's what I can say. Thank you very much very much for applying and that's all.

All right, and I'll just reiterate again, thank you very much for uh for applying and thank you for coming and being part of the process. Um, right. Well, I'll say it again later, but director reports. [laughter] Uh, planning manager Stalicker. Uh, just to say, um, as has been mentioned, we have some committee openings. So, if anyone wants to know more about the planning commission, I'd be happy to talk with you.

You public works director Madden. Uh just wanted to reassure council that we have been working with Easy Fiber. Uh their uh West Coast CEO of development was forwarded the email from Mrs. Whan was forwarded to them tonight and I'm fully anticipating a conversation with them in the morning. Um also we uh the flooding issue that occurred during that uh FEMA event um the atmospheric river. We're also continuing to research that and scope it uh for uh potential improvements u moving into 2026. So that is a a very uh seasonal uh sensitive job. So June is when we're scoping those improvements.

Thank you. Thanks. Interim finance director Rob. No additional nothing. Okay. And assistant chief champagne. No. Okay. and you already heard mine. [laughter] So, uh seeing as the all agenda items have been um dealt with, I hereby adjourn the meeting. Next question.