November 21, 2024 Regular Council Meeting 11/21/2024 06:00 PM

1. CALL TO ORDER/PRESENTATION TO THE FLAG: Mayor to call the meeting to order, lead the group in reciting the pledge of allegiance and conduct roll call.

2. PUBLIC COMMENTS: [This is an opportunity for members of the audience to address the Council. If you wish to address the Council, please sign in to be recognized by the Mayor. Comments are limited to three minutes per speaker. The Mayor may extend or further limit these time periods at his discretion. The Mayor may allow citizens to comment on individual agenda items outside of the public comment period at his discretion. Please submit written comments to City Hall in person at 7121 E. Loop Rd, via mail to PO Box 371, Stevenson, WA 98648 or via email to anders@ci.stevenson.wa.us by noon the day of the meeting for inclusion in the council packet.]

• a)*Comments - Stafford 11/20/2024.

• StaffordEmail_WaterMeterforADU.pdf (2.06 MB)

3. CHANGES TO THE AGENDA: [The Mayor may add agenda items or take agenda items out of order with the concurrence of the majority of the Council].

4. CONSENT AGENDA: The following items are presented for Council approval. [Consent agenda items are intended to be passed by a single motion to approve all listed actions. If discussion of an individual item is requested by a Council member, that item should be removed from the consent agenda and considered separately after approval of the remaining consent agenda items.]

• a)*Approve 2025 Tourism Funding Awards in the amount of $575,035 - Clerk/Treasurer will present the Tourism Advisory Committee's 2025 funding recommendations for council approval in the total amount of $575,035.

• 2025 Tourism Funding Summary.pdf (0.05 MB)

• b)Christmas Eve Office Closure Request - Clerk/Treasurer Anders Sorestad will present a request from City staff to close City Hall on Tuesday, December 24th prior to the December 25th holiday. Staff taking the day off would use vacation time, comp time, personal time or leave without pay.

• Christmas Eve Closure Request.pdf (0.26 MB)

• c)Minutes of October 17th 2024 Regular Council Meeting and November 13th 2024 Special Council Meeting.

• 2024.10.17 Regular Council Meeting Minutes.pdf (0.03 MB)
• 2024.11.13 Special Council Meeting Minutes.pdf (0.02 MB)

• d)*Approve Contract with WA Department of Commerce for Periodic Update Grant - Interim Administrator Ben Shumaker presents the grant contract with Washington Department of Commerce for Periodic Update Grant (critical areas ordinance) in the amount of $10,000.

  MOTION: To approve consent agenda items a-d.

• 220241119_PUG_Draft_ Contract_StevensonPUG25-63335-136.pdf (0.82 MB)

5. SHERIFF'S OFFICE REPORT:

• a)Sheriff's Report - The Skamania County Sheriff's report for activity within Stevenson city limits for the prior month is presented for council review.

• Stevenson October 2024.pdf (0.52 MB)

6. PUBLIC HEARINGS:

• a)Public Hearing 2025 Proposed Property Tax Levy - Clerk/Treasurer Anders Sorestad presents resolution 2024-445 and ordinance 2024-1222 proposing the maximum 1% property tax increase for public comment and council consideration. These are both time sensitive and must be approved by November 30th to take effect in 2024.

  MOTION: To approve resolution 2024-445 authorizing an increase in property taxes for fiscal year 2025.

  MOTION: To approve ordinance 2024-1222 fixing the amount to be raised by ad valorem taxes and levied for fiscal year 2025.

• Ordinance 2024-1222 Ad Valorem Tax 2025.pdf (0.02 MB)
• Resolution 2024-445 Ad Valorem Tax Levy 2025.pdf (0.01 MB)

• b)*Second Hearing 2025 Proposed Budget - Clerk/Treasurer will present the 2025 proposed budget and associated documents. Major changes include updating Tourism Fund for approved grant awards. The 2025 budget needs to be approved by the end of 2024.

  MOTION: To approve ordinance 2024-1223 adopting the 2025 budget as presented.

• Ordinance 2024-XXXX - 2025 Initial Budget.pdf (0.17 MB)

7. SITUATION UPDATES:

• a)*Lower Public Works Shop, Asbestos Remediation- Public Works Director Carolyn Sourek presents a situation update related to the September 19th reroofing authority. Asbestos containing materials have been discovered which require remediation prior to reroofing.

  No motion is expected.

8. COUNCIL BUSINESS:

• a)*Transportation Benefit District -Tax Proposition, For/Against Committees - Interim Administrator Ben Shumaker presents the staff memo regarding the appointment of committees related to the Stevenson Utility Rate Reduction, Street Repair, Infrastructure Investment Proposition which will appear on the February 2025 ballot.

  MOTION: To create For and Against Committees related to Proposition 1 and appoint members as discussed.

• CouncilReport(ForAgainstCommittees).pdf (0.11 MB)

• b)*Preparing for Joint Meeting with Fire District II - Interim Administrator Ben Shumaker initiates discussion of the December 10th joint meeting location and City Council expectations for the draft Interlocal Agreement to be reviewed at the meeting.

  No motion is expected.

9. INFORMATION ITEMS:

• a)Financial Report - The Treasurer's Report and year-to-date revenues and expenses through the prior month is presented for council review.

• 10.31.24 - FInancial Report for council.pdf (0.09 MB)

• b)Planning Commission Minutes - Minutes are attached from the Planning Commission meeting for the prior month.

• 10_14_24PCMeetinMinutes_DRAFT.pdf (0.02 MB)

• c)*Contracts Awarded Administratively - A contract for Asbestos Abatement within the Lower Public Works Shop has been approved. The contract is with Abatement Services Inc in the amount of .

10. CITY ADMINISTRATOR AND STAFF REPORTS:

• a)Ben Shumaker, Community Development Director

• b)Carolyn Sourek, Public Works Director

• c)* Ben Shumaker, Interim City Administrator

11. VOUCHER APPROVAL: Vouchers will be presented prior to the meeting for council review.

• a)*October 2024 payroll and November 2024 AP checks have been audited and are presented for approval. October payroll totals $133,225.49 which includes EFT payments. November 2024 AP checks 18168 thru 18243 total $895,405.87, which includes EFT payments. The AP check register with fund transaction summary is attached for review.

  MOTION: To approve the vouchers as presented.

• 10.31.24 - Payroll Register.pdf (0.01 MB)
• November 2024 Vouchers.pdf (0.03 MB)

12. MAYOR AND COUNCIL REPORTS:

13. ISSUES FOR THE NEXT MEETING: [This provides Council Members an opportunity to focus the Mayor and Staff’s attention on issues they would like to have addressed at the next council meeting.]

14. ADDITIONAL PUBLIC COMMENT: [This is an opportunity for members of the audience to address the Council for items discussed at the meeting.]

15. ADJOURNMENT - Mayor will adjourn the meeting.

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UPCOMING MEETINGS AND EVENTS:

 -Monday, December 9th, 6pm, Regular Planning Commission Meeting

 -Tuesday, December 10th, 6pm, Special Joint City Council and Fire District 2 Meeting

 -Tuesday, December 19th, 6pm, Regular City Council Meeting