City Council - Regular Meeting

s make many people question the body's independence and its ability to effect change. And that's not what we want. That's not what anyone wants. And so I'm offering a couple of ideas for future councils that they could take or leave. Um I am thankful that after decades that tide began to turn a couple of years ago. I believe that there's now a consensus across your 8 elected representatives sitting up here today. That residential density needs to be increased in our urban core. and to a lesser degree within fill in our neighborhoods. that we need a full range of housing types. to meet the continuum of public needs. that commercial areas need residences to bring people and money for economic development. that we should remove conditional use permits for residential uses. and that our community will greatly benefit from connectedness of these areas provided by trails and parks. I honestly believe that that is, all those things are agreed to by everybody up here, and I'll let them speak for themselves if I mischaracterized that. Um, but that just makes me very hopeful and uh a little more sad that we didn't get a final vote on a housing policies of the Corey plan because there's so much great work to do. Um, future city councils have a choice to make They can sit back and rely on the process that will usually bring forward the status quo. or they can take more control of the policymaking role that they should be held accountable for by themselves and our constituents. An essential component of the latter is to determine your own committee chairpersons and your own agendas. Mount Vernon's citizens, not just its government, will benefit by a more independent and rigorous policymaking and

oversight body. I've shared these sentiments before with others on the dais and share them tonight with citizens of Mount Vernon in hopes that they'll help keep us all on point uh, to produce real results for this community. One that I love with all my heart. So thank you to all the electeds up here for all the great um work that you've put into this city and for all the city staff out there who are working so hard every day to provide city services um, all this earnest and hard work over many years. A lot of great work has been completed and more yet to come. So thank you for that prerogative, personal prerogative, but I appreciate it. Any other council member comment Rice, and you. You go ahead. Um, dear friends, colleagues, and neighbors. Today marks my final day serving as a member of the Mount Vernon City Council. For these past 8 years, I have had the honor and privilege. of representing this community that I love so deeply. I want to express my sincerities, gratitude. to the people of Mount Vernon for electing me and trusting me with this responsibility. Every decision we made here. is being guided by honor, pride, empathy, and compassion. especially for the most vulnerable among uh among us including the hardworking families in our agricultural fields. or infants and children and above all, the students or students who represent the

future in the city. To my colleagues in the city council, I extend my deepest appreciation. Together we have built a strong team and I am proud of the work we accomplished side by side. to the present mayor Donovan. and the past Gil Boudreau. Thank you for your endless support and confidence. throughout my service. Devin Man Vernon has been the greatest privilege of my life. I live this role with immense gratitude, knowing that our collective efforts have supported had been supportive for our to our community and uplifted to those who need it the most. I would like to ask to the new members of city council coming here. to continue advocating. in team with my other colleagues are staying to continue advocating for our families. for affordable housing is what the most need in the community. I hope you can do your best here. and be working in team side by side. and don't hesitate ever if you need my uh support and helping the community, you know where you can find me. Uh, with all my respect and so many things Irisquerias representing War one position 2. Thank you for all of you for the support you have provide us here to do our job in the community. Thank you Thank you.

Well, that's all we have time for. Yes, Gary, did you have something you wanted to say? Uh, I'd like the clock to go on it is 3 minutes. I would like that. You can't spit it out in 3. You get. Um, it, it really has been a pleasure for 16 years. I can't believe it. Um, been under three mayors, uh, all different qualities, different ways of governing governing, uh, our city, but they have, uh, I, I'm just looking back on Bud, you know, he's quite a bulldog. Um, but if it wasn't for Bud, we would not have had a flood wall that we were able to put up. uh this past week, and, um, I really thank him for the conserv a lot of times where he was not gonna people were not supportive of him going after our federal government. and Kevin, you did a, we did it, so, and when other people in the county didn't want it. So I, um, appreciate that. Uh, Jill with our parking garage comments. I mean, she was obviously very steadfast in getting that, um, we won't have redevelopment in downtown Mount Berta without that parking garage and that library. So, I look forward to seeing how that's gonna end up. Um, I really want I dealt with so many staffs over the years too. It's just been interesting again, you know, to see the ebb and flow. I mean, I could list everybody's names. Um, but I'll miss somebody. So I, I, I'm gonna kind of stay away from that a little bit. Uh, but I really do appreciate um Kevin as kept me out of a lot of trouble over the years and

Becky, um, her, her taking her notes, I mean, and listen to my gibberish up here and being able to put it somehow into notes that make it look good. I appreciate that. Um, Doug, for our budget, one of the toughest budgets we've ever had, uh deal with. You wouldn't wait till the last year of my term and do that. Um, anyway, uh, uh also, uh, I want to thank all the councils over the years, just, uh it's been a pleasure It doesn't mean that we didn't have uh hard work to do and tough votes and you know, long nights, uh, but I, I, it's been a, I've been, it's been great. knowing uh meeting you, and um uh, what else? Uh I did. I'm also deeply grateful to my family. Um, they, they, they've taken hits over the years, you know, I've, I've missed a lot of ball games. you know So I'm gonna be going to kindergarten soccer from here on out. And I can't figure it out if that's going to be better than a C. No, I, I, I'm not going to miss any of those anymore, so I, I look forward to that. And um one other thing, um, to Peter, I have the utmost um confidence in your leadership. I think you are going to take us in a great direction and uh looking forward to being able to watch across a different table with you, so. Thank you again Appreciate that Thank you.

All right. And we'll I promise another moment to clap for them in this meeting as well, um, with counsel's permission, I would like to jump back to community comments because I see we have an online commenter counsel OK with, with that? Jumping out of order. OK. All right Um, Kelly, I see that you're online. Would you like to unmute and address counsel for 3 minutes. Hi, thank you so much. Um, good evening. My name is Kelly Lowenstein. I'm a community member mom, uh, here in Mount Vernon. Um, I wanted to raise a couple of things as we're looking for ahead and finalizing the budget, um, moving forward, the first is, uh, to inquire about the status of our Flock contract here in Mount Vernon. I've been really proud and appreciative of the leadership of our police chief in drawing a clear line and saying we're not cooperating with ICE. However, there's evidence from across the country about the ways that Flock data can be used, um, uh, as a surveillance device against people in ways that really violate our privacy and are not aligned to our Mount Vernon values, um, and so I want to call for the immediate cancellation of that contract and the removal of those cameras and technology, uh, from our systems. Um, and the second is thinking about the levee lid lift, um, and a broader perspective on what public safety really means to us here in Mount Vernon. I've also been really proud, uh, to learn more about the work, uh, that we've been doing uh, to move away from traditional, uh, kind of narrow views of public safety with overinvestment in in policing coming out of the 80s. Um. and I would like to encourage us at city council to continue um really s thinking about the most cutting edge and the most research aligned uh, approaches to making sure that our community is safe, um, and specifically to allocate those funds not on officers and new vehicles, but on those more research

line and root cause focused approaches. Um so building on the work that's already been done, uh, to create a, a separate program outside of the police department focused on community safety with a direct call line, a support van modeling off of those proven programs in Eugene, Oregon, the cahoots program in Minneapolis in Minnesota, um, and, and other places across the country and around the world. Um, so I'd like to really encourage us to, to pause the investment in additional police officers and really think more holistically about public safety as a person who commutes on their bike and takes my child to daycare on their bike. I want to think specifically about public uh infrastructure for bike safety. Um, that's the time that I feel the least safe in Mount is when my child uh is behind me in her, in her little bike trailer, um, and we're being passed by major vehicles and we don't have uh protected lanes on any of the major thoroughfares in the city. So those are the places that I would like to see us taking that levee lid lift and really investing in what makes us all safe Thank you. Thank you. Thanks for taking the time to be with us tonight. Um, I hope I didn't cut off any council member comments or we, were we done? OK. All right. We will move on to item 5B, the mayor's report. For mayor's report, I want to turn the spotlight on a couple of people who deserve some recognition for their dedication to public service. Um, the Mount Vernon Library Foundation's mission is to foster community support for the library and for its board and for its staff. And the board has 8 members who believe strongly that a good library is an essential public service. Of course, we know that with the completion of the Mount Vernon Library Commons project. That was a task that should have been too massive for a city our size, um, and I will say that there's really no way to overemphasize the importance of the role that the library

Foundation played in rallying the community through a number of successful events to come together around the, the vital cause of making the vision for this library and this community center, a reality. We have two library foundation board members here with us tonight, um, who I want our community to know about. Um Suzanne Butler and Maria Anderson have served as executive members of the library Foundation Board and have led through all of these efforts over the past years, and both of them are now stepping back from executive leadership on, on the board to make way for new leadership, but um we're not going to forget the work that, that you have done over the past several years, and the legacy impact that it will have on on the city of Mount Vernon. Um, Aunt Suzanne, Suzanne in her role as board president and Maria is the board's longest standing member, uh, on the board. They have, they've seen a lot during their tenure, and they have raised a lot, literally hundreds of thousands of dollars for this community. They are a significant reason that the Library Commons facility was built without a tax impact to local residents, and they deserve to be recognized for their meaningful and tireless work. Susanna and Maria, could you come up so we can cheer for you? I'll meet you out front Yay. you It's These are uh block prints, uh, downtown Mount Vernon Block, Prince done by our one of our planning commissioners actually, Jim Ficker did these, there's a message for

you on the back of these. I wanted to. Yes and get a picture with you. It's over there. and you. Not I'm telling a story about you, about me. Maria's been here since the beginning of the foundation, which I think was 15 years ago. You were here, Gary, I guess at that time. Maria has accounted for every single penny that has come through. our hands. And that's, that's like a million bucks, and that's a lot of pennies. and I wanted to tell, oh, I I brought the wrong piece of paper. I want to tell a story about our cookie social last week. We had a donation box. and Maria cleared it out at the end, and there were checks and she always takes a picture or, you know, copies the check, copies the deposits. and there's a person that we know about who loves those um dollar coins. And he dropped one in there and this week when Maria brought me the checks. She brought me a copy of the coin and the deposits. And that's how careful

she is and how careful she has been with every single penny that's come through. Thank you You've both done an awesome. OK. All right, we're going to move on our agenda to new business. Item A is in agreement with the cities of Anacortes, Burlington, Mount Vernon, Cedar Woolley, and Skagitt County for the North Star Initiative and our city attorney Kevin Rogerson is going to go over this item with counsel tonight. Kevin, thank you, Mayor and members of the city council before he was and then our local agreement between Cities Saskatche County and Skagit County. This forming this formalizes what is currently ongoing, which is since 2022. your chief executive officer, the mayor, and our respective mayors of the other cities and county commissioners have been meeting informally. to collaborate on common issues that are faceless gadget. uh community, uh, namely your marginalized communities, your homelessness, your mental health. your issues with opioids, drugs, things that are um of common concern to anybody who lives, or resides or works in Skattt County. They call themselves the North Star Leadership team. and in our local, which formalizes the establishment of this joint cooperative undertaking is before you today. Uh, a lot of the cities, I don't have a tally have already approved of this. Uh, the county, I believe, has already executed this. We aren't the last, but we are one of the last. Um-hum. Um, it does not create a separate legal or administrative entity. It doesn't delegate any power or authority of the city or any party to the agreement to this team. We can't enter into contracts. We can't spend money. They can't obligate the city. but they are powerful political tool to brainstorm,

collaborate, and provide. ideas of common interests to provide opportunities where you can, as a city council can, uh, entertain them uh from Northern. refine them, reject them, or agree with them. So if you adopt this on our local agreement, this would, uh, formalize this current arrangement. Questions about the North Star Agreement. Yeah, Melissa. Um, I don't have any questions. I just have a comment, um, about this. I am so proud of our cities, um, and our county, um, that it, it just shows that we stand together, uh, and and, and we're aligned in our beliefs that housing instability doesn't stop at a city line. Homelessness doesn't stop. um, and, and we're stronger together and now we get to go to Olympia and we already have, um, well, we're not fighting for the same dollars. We're stronger for this, and so, um, I'm just really proud of us Mhm All right. I, I am going to just make a motion for the approval of this agreement or NorthSTAR. I know that Anacortes beat us, and that's a sore subject. But we're not the last, and that's a good thing, but it's just such a great, like Melissa said, it is a fantastic partnership, and we are very much stronger together in this partnership, and it is admired across the state. Um, we've been told that on, on several occasions that nobody can believe that a county can work together with its cities. So we, we've, we've set a model and um I'm very proud of it as well. I'll second that Motion by Marion and seconded

by Melissa, and I wanted to add that you all as council members have been leaders in this county around this. You have been among the first to step out and educate yourselves on what this whole thing is and to lead other city councils, literally, um in this effort. So just wanted to acknowledge that, um, and thank you uh for your leadership in that. Um, is there any other discussion on this around this? OK. All those in favor of proving this uh resolution, say., aye. All opposed say no. Motion passes Thank you. Item B is a resolution for the city to work with North Star cities to address impacts from the opioid crisis. Kevin, you want to intro this one? You bet. Thanks. Mayor, members of city council now that you're officially participants of the NorthSTAR. This resolution is directly linked. to this group. The Office of the Mayor has asked that, uh, the city attorney presented a resolution. This is an internal document. regarding budget It's not, again, obligating any third party. It's not creating a contract. What it is, it's directing staff not to expend certain opioid funds without counsel's explicit approval, as you know, in many cities, you delegate contracting authority to the executive, otherwise he would be frozen with having to approve every penny of a contract. Uh, this particular issue, um. you are receiving opioid settlement funds through various settlements of lawsuits that the city has. entered into against opioid. manufacturers, distributors uh, including, but not limited to Purdue Pharma, the sacklers, um, and other entities you have been receiving funds

that are restricted in use, basically and generally, although there is a nodulus, but it is to mitigate the impacts of the damages we receive as a community from the negligent or reckless in my opinion, distribution and manufacture of opioids that are present in your community. You have those funds, you can spend them. as you wish, so long as they're within those purposes. However, this resolution would direct staff to hold back about 80% of those. so we can reserve these funds to see if we have an opportunity to collaborate, collaborate regionally with these other members of NorthStar, um, for a greater opportunities. They wouldn't commit you to collaboration. It's not a contract and it's not a promise. uh, that you're always keep these 80% back. It's an internal direction to staff. to do so Questions on this one It's resolution 1088 So they can who made it there quick tonight by him for a second tonight by him for a second. Uh, discussion I would just like to say that these are this is an appropriate use of these funds, and they aren't money that the taxpayers paid us. These are what I'm just to say are bad guys having Pay us for the damage that they've done. And so, um it's not, I think it's just we're stronger together. This makes us stronger together. It just reemphasizes that the point of the whole North Star collaboration. So that's what I've got to say. Yeah, stretches those resources a little bit further by pooling, which is great. Yeah, and I do that. I just like to say thank you for this response because there is something major need in the community because we know how much um is going on here, not even just in the homeless, and the young, uh generation

too and thank you because of this is going to keep us stronger in the community. Thank you. Yeah, Richard, yeah, and I wanted to add to those as well, this, um, I appreciate the extra effort that's gone in to kind of create this sort of framework and aspirational plus, um, goal, um, that of working together and having these funds set aside and the certainty that, um, all future proposals are going to be, um, you know, looked at and get their due diligence and every dollar will be decided by future city councils. So we really, um, you know, this is a, a great um, approach, I think, to working together and maintaining uh local responsibilities, so. and that. Mhm OK, so there's motion 2 for resolution, I believe it's 1088. Uh, all in favor, say I say no. The motion passes Item C is an ordinance related to fireworks in the city of Mount Vernon, City Attorney Kevin Rogerson is already up there, so you might as well talk about fireworks too. The Last one for the city attorney. Uh, before you was ordinance that's been identified by city clerk as 3928 disordinates relates to prohibiting the sale and discharge of fireworks within the city of Mount Vernon. If you recall back in 2023, the city adopted an ordinance banning with limited exceptions the Salem discharge of fireworks, largely championed, thou would say, by a councilmember Beaton. Uh, but definitely adopted by the entirety of the city council. Um, that ordinance was a temporary ordinance which would sunset November 15, 2027. You adopt this ordinance tonight that band would become permanent. In addition, the only other thing that of note that this ordinance

would do is add an additional civil liability to property owners who knowingly permit such discharge of fireworks. It would be subject to the same civil penalties as somebody who actually discharged it on the property. If the ordinance is not adopted uh the sunset. of the band would be effective. November 15, 2027 Also, it takes one year for these ordinances to become effective pursuant to state law. So if you adopt it tonight, then you could apply it New Year's uh, next year Questions for Kevin on this one Yeah, Councilman sir What are the, the penalties for right for this. It is set forth, I believe. $1000 per offence Pretty stiff. If I might, I thought you might. He'll be, I would just like to say that um as I am wrapping up my 8th year on council Not once, ever while I have been on council, have I received um a compliment at how fantastic our neighborhoods were on the 4th of July, um how everyone enjoyed uh the noise, uh, the, the fog, the smell, um, not once. Now keep in mind that, that the fireworks that we're really talking about are the fireworks that go up and blow up. Those were already illegal. They are illegal the moment you leave tribal land. Um, but, but we had a messaging problem, I think, because we did allow

certain fireworks that the, the state deems, if you will, safe and sane, such as sparklers. Um, we allowed those in the city and so therefore people thought that all of the ones that go up and blow up the the M80s, you know what they are, they really, really loud ones. They thought that we were allowing them. when in fact we weren't. Um, we do offer a very organized, safe public display, um, every year, unless there's a chance of a fire hazard. Um, and so we do offer that, um, and I think our fire chief is really happy that we might actually pass this. Anyway, um, I'll get off this, and I'll just say, um which, what's the resolution? It's ordinance 3928. I would just like to make a motion that we adopt ordinance 3928. Second, most of my Melissa in a second by Mary. Any more discussion on this one? All in favor say aye, aye, all opposed say no. No. motion passes. Thank you, Kevin. Item D is an inner fund adjustment and our city finance director and hero of 2025. budget. It does the going to tell us all about it. Thank you, Mary. Good evening, counsel. Um so I'm here tonight to, to present 5 ordinances for you guys to approve. Um, I wanna just briefly talk about the 1st 4 cause they're all kind of related, and I thought it would make a little sense on, on what, what I'm doing here. or what we're doing here Um, as you know, there was, uh, the ladder truck, um, came early. Um, we were planning on that coming in 2026, but it came in 2025, and it was not budgeted, um, so that is one of the things that's included in our um budget amendment

that I have tonight for that. Um, so we have the, so we can have the authority in the budget to pay for that ladder truck. Now that is bladder truck is being funded through Fund 306, which currently does not have the fund reserve in it to pay for that, so I did go out for financing for um a lower interest state. It's a state local program. It's a um financing tool that they have and was just notified earlier this month that it was approved, so, um I'm asking for an ordinance here that I for approval of that contract for that, um financing. But the financing is not gonna be available till February, so I need, we need a short term inner entity loan that I'm requesting through with our ERNR fund for 2 months, um, just from now until we get that funding and then I'll reverse and then we'll reverse that. I'll make that payment back. So, um it's first, 4 that I'm talking about here, they're all kind of interrelated and I just wanted to make sure you guys had an understanding of what what I'm talking about here, so. um, so with that, um, that recommends that council approve an ordinance authorizing a short-term inner fund loan from the um equipment rental fund to the fire Capital Projects Fund in the amount of $975,621 and appropriating said sum for the purpose of providing temporary financing for the fire capital projects Fund. The fire capital Projects Fund was created to fund capital expenditures for the fire department, including the bond payment for the fire station remodel projects, and all capital equipment and vehicles, including fire engines and ambulances. This fund is funded mainly by GEMT revenues and starting in 2025, it was also a direct contributions from the EMS levy. The fire

department received a new ladder truck ahead of schedule in 2025 that was not expected until 2026. The fire capital fund does not have the authority or reserves to pay for this slidder truck in 2025. The city was also approved for financing of the of this final um payment in the amount of $975,621 to the state's Department of Treasury local program, but funding will not be released until February of 2026. So staff recommends that council establish a short-term 2-month interfund loan from the equipment rental fund with the proceeds going to the fire capital Projects Fund in the amount of $975,621 and appropriating the set sum for the purpose of providing temporary financing for the fire truck in the fire capital projects Fund. The equipment rental fund will have sufficient cash balances remaining after the loan funds are transferred to the, to the buyer capital projects fund to accommodate all future vehicle equipment replacements during the two month long period. The equipment rental fund, cash and investment balance on December 31, 2025 is estimated to be $7.74 million. Interest rate, which will be 2.81% per annum, to be charged on the Interfund loan is consistent, excuse me, with the city's current earnings rate, uh, are, are way to yield average of its investment portfolio and reflective of what the equipment rental fund would otherwise earn. The ordinance states that the loan will be repaid in full by February 27th, 2026, with further further directs the finance director to make that payment from the fire capital Projects Fund with the proceeds from the funding from the state's local program. With that staff is recommending that council approve ordinance 3929 authorizing a short term innerfund loan from the equipment rental

fund to the fire capital Projects fun in an amount of $975,621 inappropriated sets up. All right, everyone tracking on ordinance 3929 questions for the. some of second question by Andrew and a second by Gary, more discussion on this one. Yeah, really quick. Yeah. Um, how many how many more of these do we have to do? 3 more? 3 more. Are they gonna be quicker I just tease him. The overview was so that they could be quicker, so yeah. All right, so, um, we should, that's great. Might help. All in favor, say I, I, I opposed say no. motion passes. All right, on to item. E. So the next one I have is the 2025 budget amendment, um anybody have any questions How was that? Perfect. That was pretty good. I had some of second. Thank you. discussion, uh, a motion by Andrew and a second by. is in Navor Any, any questions on this? Well, just for the public, um, these are amendments that uh reconcile all the decisions that we've made throughout 2025 to go back and make sure that the original budget we adopted in December 2024 or 2025 is, is to the penny aligning with all those expenses that we've done over the last year. Um, so, um, this is an easy one for us. Thanks, Richard. That's what Doug was gonna say. Exactly. All in favor, say I. All opposed say no. Motion passes. Uh, item F is financing contract for the city's new ladder truck, Doug. All right, so staff is requesting the approval of ordinance 3931 approving a local agency

financing contract with the state of Washington to finance the latter fire truck. Um so the local program offers Washington municipalities a cost-effective mechanism for financing essential equipment, participation provides access to favorable credit ratings, including the program's current Moody Moody's 281 rating Low fees um, and expenses, technical support and the tax exempt bond market. On December 2, 2025, the city was notified that its financing request had been approved, the financing an amount not to exceed $975,621.30 and with the final maturity turn up to up to 10 years. will be included in the upcoming State of Washington's equipment series, um, certificate of participation and that the proceeds are expected to be released to the city in February of 2026. So the city must complete and return several required documents to the uh state by January 9th in order to secure the funding. Among these requirements is council's approval of the financing contract and adoption of an ordinance formally authorizing the council's designated representative to execute the agreement on behalf of the city. So at that steps requesting approval of ordinance 3931 approving a local agency financing contract with the state of Washington to finance the latter fire truck. It is good for the public to have those notes so they know where their money is going. Um, some of it's OK motioned by Andrew, seconded by Devore. Oh, I think. And we've got discussion. Yes, Council member this is uh, this particular one is a short term bridge loan that uh or is it the permanent financing? It's a permanent financing. OK. 1010 year, 10 year loan. OK Thank you. Mhm You, you know what? I have

a question. How does a fire truck show up early? Is there like a gestation period? Oh, that's unpredictable. Sort of, yeah. There's a the backlog and the production of fire blas across the country. Um, what do you order these, they give you a time, I projected due date. se se, and uh sometimes they come early. Oh, thank you. I make sure that the next one is going to be due on time though. Just in time for Christmas though. It's a Christmas miracle Chief, thanks for addressing that question Um all in favor say ay ay aye, all opposed say no. She passes and we are on item G. It is a resolution for local program funding for the ladder truck, Doug. All right, so the city received approval for financing of the ladder truck to the state local program, a required document needed for acceptance of the of the funding is for council to approve a resolution stating that the financing proceeds will be used to reimburse the expenditure of the latter truck, since the payment has already been made to the vendor. So, um, city staff is requesting counsel to approve reimbursement resolution number 1089. Questions here? So moved. Second motion by Mary, second by Richard. I don't think you've had a second sight. Uh, discussion on this one. All in favor say aye. Aye. All opposed say no Motion passes You got another one? Yeah, I'm getting I H I'm kind of getting faint though from lack of oxygen here talking to you about. Deep breath. It's an ordinance for the 2026 Business license model. Doug, all right, so the State Department of Revenue has notified the city that there has been a new business license model ordinance

update. Ethni is at the state level. So the update requires changes to all the city ordinances to increase business license thresholds for out of city businesses that conduct commerce within the city. So the main change in this update would make a one-time increase to a higher higher threshold to $4000 for out of city businesses from the current 2000 threshold, effective January 1, 2026. There's other changes um that mainly just reflect, um that 4 years after that the threshold would have an automatic periodic increase based on cumulative inflation using CP CPI. Um, once the ordinance is passed, the city will also need to complete and return a partner change request form to the Department of Revenue before January 1st, 2026. So at that city staff is requesting council approval ordinance number 3932 to modify the 2026 City Business License model threshold to $4000 for out of city businesses for the current 2000 threshold effective January 1 2026. Questions, uh, what, what does that threat, what happens when that threshold is met? Then they're required to um get a city, a business license. but we don't have a BNO, um, note text, correct? These are, these are, um, um city, city business license, everybody who has um and but this is just pertaining to those that live out of the city that are doing business here. Council member Van der Sue, do you, um, sorry, this is kind of an awful question, but do you understand the intent behind this? Like, what was the state trying to accomplish? What were they addressing with this? I think just from there's a model

advisory committee, so the state's regulating how cities do business licenses We started doing that. 10 years ago Thereabout And originally they wanted you, if you, if you work out a out of the city but do business in the city. Um, if you're doing business for uh the amounts of 2000 or less gross proceeds. Uh, you can, you, if you, if you get a license, you don't have to pay a fee. You just have to register online. The bump that up to 4000, uh presumably because of inflation and equity, um, and then the just put in a, a writer. every 48 months EPI triggers and the threshold goes up. So presumably after 48 months of CPI says you calculated 5000, then if you do business and it's 5000 or less. register, but don't pay a fee. I guess the, the intent being that you're trying to help small businesses. Yeah. Oh, yeah. But, but kind of having like an exclusionary amount. That seems like the rational relationship, yeah, the policy, yeah. I, I think that's something I could generally be supportive of. Fantastic. Thank you. Yeah It's ordinance 3932. Uh, sum up thicken by Andrew and the second by Edis. More discussion. Questions all in favor, say I. I and all opposing it. motion passes Thanks, Doug. Thank you Item I is regarding city council's regularly scheduled meeting on Christmas Eve, December 24th, 2025. Counsel, I'm happy to report that staff was able to get all of the uh fire engine and other details and business items in on tonight's uh agenda, which means that we don't have items for you on your December 24th meeting, um,

which means that tonight is our last meeting of the year, um, if you approve or make a motion to cancel. uh your next regularly scheduled meeting, uh, on Christmas Eve. I would like to move to approve. motion by Idis and a second by Gerry, uh, discussion. Best time of the year. All in favor, say I. I, I. all opposed, say no which passes All right, well, um we're at the end of our new business items. Uh, of course, we know on January 1st we're going to have three new council members up here um and as much as we are looking forward to welcoming them. It also means that we have 3 of you who did not run for office for re-election, who will not be up here in January, and we are going to miss you all in the incredible amount of of knowledge and and hard work that you've brought to this legislative body. So, um, just I want to address each of you, Councilmember Richard Brocksmith, uh, has served the residents of this city for the past 8 years. He has been, uh, you heard, uh, a strong and early proponent of affordable housing development. When I say early, I mean, he's, he's like the friend that you had that said they were listening to Led Zeppelin and Radiohead way before those were cool bands. Um, uh, he was in on the ground floor of affordable housing. Um, he had all the albums before any of you guys. Um, he's also pushed for, for Parks trail improvements and help counsel and the mayor to keep an eye on the city's environmental impacts and footprint. Um, I appreciate his willingness to question the status quo, to challenge counsel and staff

to try to see things in a different light. Uh, Richard, you have a great mind, and we've all benefited in in some way from your ideas and, and your contributions here. Uh, so thank you for your service. I want, can we do a photo op? I got a gift for you too. All right. We have to do this independently? Oh, yeah. Oh, yeah. And then, and then, well, I have a photographer. that a plain recognition of your service and uh yeah find the generous words. Thank you, Richard. Council member Ires Corrias has also served the city as a council member for 8 years. In that time, I have personally observed um the tremendous impact that, that she has had on this community, specifically a segment of our community that had not previously engaged all that much with city government Idis was a bridge that connected so many members of this community to their government. She gave them a voice in City Hall that many of those folks didn't even know that they had. She empowered our community. She represented, she connected, and she led with a deep passion for that Mount Vernon residence. It, it was a honor truly to uh to observe as this when I was

on staff and, and to work with you, council. Come on. come on You got She's got That's all of our business tonight. Um I, I can say with 100% certainty that council member Molinar, uh, loves the city of Mount Vernon. This city has grown 425% larger and Tristan Gary's lifetime. He's, he's been here that long. He has lived here through all of that growth. and he has helped the city recover from the Great Recession. He led through mayoral administrations, a bridge collapse and a pandemic. He made the city better than it was when he got here and he did it without AI. Actually, he did it without any technology. Yeah yeah at all. So that was impressive. Um, he did it all. He led and he represented uh from a place of love for the city of Mount Vernon and for the people who live here. So the amount of institutional knowledge and just deep concern for the city that we are losing up here when, when Gary steps down as the council member is going to be um difficult to replace and it won't be replaced for

for a very long time, but we will all be standing on a very firm foundation that, that Gary was an instrumental part of building here for us. So thank you for that. Come take a picture with me, OK. Why why do we let such an Oh my God, have a little podium on it I can I can I can I can, thanks. For item 7, I will ask our city attorney if there's a name for an executive session tonight. Peter, can I? And before I adjourn, Councilmember Marica Ben. Thank you. I just, I didn't know when the time would be to make a comment or two but um I had been asked to say a few words about Iris, um, at this Saturday's Colon community meeting and something about floods and things like that. The meeting got canceled. So, if you will indulge me, I would like to say those here. I first met Iris, uh, when we came on to council together in 2018, and I was quickly struck by her presence. Iris may be small in stature, but she carries a heart big enough to power half this city. She became a strong voice for our Latino community, igniting engagement, reminding people they matter and doing it all with her signature mix of dogged determination and fierceness I can't help but smile when I think of her on the dais she's quiet, but when she

speaks, I have told her I sit up and I listen. She often laughed it off when I have said this to her, but she has that kind of impact. Her voice may be soft, but her message never is. We often texted and her replies usually came in the middle of the night, and by the middle of the night, I mean the middle of the night, like 12:30 1 o'clock in the morning, um, or sometimes at 4 in the morning. Um, I'm not entirely sure when she slept. I am convinced that she runs on sheer determination and maybe a few hours of rest. Um, yet somehow from remains a force of nature. I will miss you deeply and wish you nothing but the very best. Thank you for showing up with such a heart and conviction, for everything you've taught me and for your friendship. the council and our community are better because you served. Thank you. Thank you, Melissa, for your work. Thank you very much. make sure the same about you too, but in, you have been a very good foundation for me to follow steps in the community. Thank you very much for your support. and where you are at and helping me every single day with every single family. I show up there. I always been grateful for what you do and for what you accomplish with in our team. Thank you Thank you And with that we will adjourn the city of Mount Vernon City Council meeting for Wednesday, December 17, 2025, and we will stay adjourned through the rest of 2025, and there's now 750.