Change, change, change
Published on Wed, Jan 11, 2012 by Sarah ArneyRead More Local News
The city of Arlington has a different face.
Actually, four new faces: Debora Nelson, Randy Tendering, Ken Klein and Mayor Barbara Tolbert.
Mayor Margaret's final meeting on Dec. 19 was jam packed, as was Mayor Barbara Tolbert's first meeting on Jan. 3.
The Dec. 19 meeting provided the grand finale of the long and challenging budget process, with a balanced budget passing 4 - 3.
Steve Baker, Dick Butner and Marilyn Oertle voted against the budget, which was balanced after considerable compromise by many.
In order to compensate for a $2 million shortfall, all city staff were asked to take one day off each month, unpaid, which equals a 5 percent cut in pay according to city estimates.
Since police and firefighters can't just shut their doors and go home, they agreed to find the 5 percent in other ways, rather than take no-pay furlough days. They agreed to waive cost of living raise and other compromises, which are difficult to report since they are "personnel issues" negotiated with union representatives in closed executive sessions.
The crucial outcome: they will reduce their budgets by 5 percent.
But, they agreed to the reduction on the condition that councilmembers give up their city-paid health care benefits.
While it's difficult to say what happened behind closed doors, one of the newer council members shed a bit of light.
"I will vote for the memorandum of understanding (with the firefighters and police unions) but I don't appreciate being bulldogged," Debora Nelson said.
The balanced budget, which included $90,000 savings from the council's own sacrifice of health care benefits, was opposed by Baker, Butner and Oertle.
Council also passed a resolution to present to voters a half percent increase in sales tax to fund emergency medical services (EMS). The proposal was intended to be on the April ballot, although that date has changed again.
Finance director Jim Chase pointed out at the Jan. 9 workshop that any increase of sales tax must be on the primary or general election ballot. Which means that the EMS levy will not go to voters until the August primary ballot.
Also on Dec. 19, council voted to increase utility taxes on electricity, cable and garbage to balance the budget.
Amid all the excitement, council also agreed to lease airport property to the Arlington Food Bank for a new building at the former dog pound property.
A public hearing was held on a comprehensive plan amendment to create a manufacturing industrial center (MIC), an overlay impacting most of Arlington, south of downtown, to the urban growth boundary with Marysville, in the south. No one spoke for or against the proposal
In new business, the city is working on an agreement with Hank Graafstra and the Graafstra family to create an urban horticulture code to apply to the uplands of the former Country Charm farm, so they can continue to use the land for some agriculture operations within city limits. With the agreement, the annexation of the uplands of the former dairy farm will be completed. The low lands, along the Stillaguamish River, has already been named an official city park, the Country Charm Park.
On Jan. 3, after swearing in the new mayor and two new city council members and one incumbent, new business included approving the ordinance to adopt the new MIC zone in the city's comp plan.
And several appointments were made.
Mayor Barbara Tolbert was named delegate to the Snohomish County Tomorrow Steering Committee. Debora Nelson was selected to serve as the city's representative on the board of Community Transit, and Chris Raezer was named to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
At the Jan. 9 workshop, the new council discussed the proposed Star annexation, at the intersection of SR9 and SR531, and the Sapphire Partners final short plat, with dedications and easements, at 188th Street and 35th Avenue NE.
The 54-acre annexation will be working its way through the process over the next few months. To accommodate the annexation, an interlocal agreement with Snohomish County will also be presented to council next week.
The regularly scheduled meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
Council will be asked to approve two new works of art presented to the city: a photograph by Camelia Nahlik, "Foggy Morning on the Stillaguamish River," donated by the artist, and "Up the Valley" by Cheri O'Brien, donated to the city by the Downtown Arlington Business Association, and displayed in council chambers.
On Jan. 17, the council will name its mayor protem, a vice mayor, so to speak, to fill in when the mayor is not available, and also will be asked to accept a $43,000 federal grant for the Arlington Fire Department to acquire new nozzles and hoses.
Other city news
• The city department of community development held an open house on the West Arlington future plans Wednesday at the Stillaguamish Senior Center.
• A mini retreat will be held in the council chambers from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 21, an organizational retreat.
Actually, four new faces: Debora Nelson, Randy Tendering, Ken Klein and Mayor Barbara Tolbert.
Mayor Margaret's final meeting on Dec. 19 was jam packed, as was Mayor Barbara Tolbert's first meeting on Jan. 3.
The Dec. 19 meeting provided the grand finale of the long and challenging budget process, with a balanced budget passing 4 - 3.
Steve Baker, Dick Butner and Marilyn Oertle voted against the budget, which was balanced after considerable compromise by many.
In order to compensate for a $2 million shortfall, all city staff were asked to take one day off each month, unpaid, which equals a 5 percent cut in pay according to city estimates.
Since police and firefighters can't just shut their doors and go home, they agreed to find the 5 percent in other ways, rather than take no-pay furlough days. They agreed to waive cost of living raise and other compromises, which are difficult to report since they are "personnel issues" negotiated with union representatives in closed executive sessions.
The crucial outcome: they will reduce their budgets by 5 percent.
But, they agreed to the reduction on the condition that councilmembers give up their city-paid health care benefits.
While it's difficult to say what happened behind closed doors, one of the newer council members shed a bit of light.
"I will vote for the memorandum of understanding (with the firefighters and police unions) but I don't appreciate being bulldogged," Debora Nelson said.
The balanced budget, which included $90,000 savings from the council's own sacrifice of health care benefits, was opposed by Baker, Butner and Oertle.
Council also passed a resolution to present to voters a half percent increase in sales tax to fund emergency medical services (EMS). The proposal was intended to be on the April ballot, although that date has changed again.
Finance director Jim Chase pointed out at the Jan. 9 workshop that any increase of sales tax must be on the primary or general election ballot. Which means that the EMS levy will not go to voters until the August primary ballot.
Also on Dec. 19, council voted to increase utility taxes on electricity, cable and garbage to balance the budget.
Amid all the excitement, council also agreed to lease airport property to the Arlington Food Bank for a new building at the former dog pound property.
A public hearing was held on a comprehensive plan amendment to create a manufacturing industrial center (MIC), an overlay impacting most of Arlington, south of downtown, to the urban growth boundary with Marysville, in the south. No one spoke for or against the proposal
In new business, the city is working on an agreement with Hank Graafstra and the Graafstra family to create an urban horticulture code to apply to the uplands of the former Country Charm farm, so they can continue to use the land for some agriculture operations within city limits. With the agreement, the annexation of the uplands of the former dairy farm will be completed. The low lands, along the Stillaguamish River, has already been named an official city park, the Country Charm Park.
On Jan. 3, after swearing in the new mayor and two new city council members and one incumbent, new business included approving the ordinance to adopt the new MIC zone in the city's comp plan.
And several appointments were made.
Mayor Barbara Tolbert was named delegate to the Snohomish County Tomorrow Steering Committee. Debora Nelson was selected to serve as the city's representative on the board of Community Transit, and Chris Raezer was named to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.
At the Jan. 9 workshop, the new council discussed the proposed Star annexation, at the intersection of SR9 and SR531, and the Sapphire Partners final short plat, with dedications and easements, at 188th Street and 35th Avenue NE.
The 54-acre annexation will be working its way through the process over the next few months. To accommodate the annexation, an interlocal agreement with Snohomish County will also be presented to council next week.
The regularly scheduled meeting will be held Tuesday, Jan. 17, in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.
Council will be asked to approve two new works of art presented to the city: a photograph by Camelia Nahlik, "Foggy Morning on the Stillaguamish River," donated by the artist, and "Up the Valley" by Cheri O'Brien, donated to the city by the Downtown Arlington Business Association, and displayed in council chambers.
On Jan. 17, the council will name its mayor protem, a vice mayor, so to speak, to fill in when the mayor is not available, and also will be asked to accept a $43,000 federal grant for the Arlington Fire Department to acquire new nozzles and hoses.
Other city news
• The city department of community development held an open house on the West Arlington future plans Wednesday at the Stillaguamish Senior Center.
• A mini retreat will be held in the council chambers from 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 21, an organizational retreat.
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