Stillaguamish chairman Shawn Yanity (left) presented a check for $195,000 to the Arlington City Council Jan. 23, designated to supplement funding to the city's police and fire departments.

 

After the painful budget discussions of the past few months, a big crowd showed up to the City Council meeting Monday, Jan. 23, to celebrate. Word got out that Stillaguamish Tribal Chairman Shawn Yanity would be distributing funds from the tribal casino's 2 percent mitigation fund. Yanity presented a very big check in the amount of $195,000 to the city for its fire and police departments and the Arlington School District received $100,000 for its nutrition program.

"This is not only good for the kids. It's good for the local economy and for the local farmers," Yanity said. He added that Fire District 21 will receive $41,000.

The council was asked to accept a FEMA/Department of Homeland Security grant of $ 41,436 for the fire department to replace aging nozzles and hoses. The city's matching requirement is 5 percent of the overall project cost, or $2,180.

Another bit of good financial news came later, when Public Works Director James Kelly announced during the information session that there will be no water rate adjustment for 2012. Given the costs saving realized by increased production from the city-owned wells and less purchased water from the Snohomish County PUD, the 2012 Water Utility budget forecast does not necessitate a rate increase. The annual rate adjustment will likely be rescinded at the next official council meeting on Feb. 6.

The Jan. 16 regularly scheduled meeting was rescheduled to Jan. 17 in honor of Martin Luther King Jr.'s birthday, then the meeting was postponed again, due to snow, so the regularly scheduled meeting was merged with the workshop meeting on Jan. 23.

That was after councilmembers spent their Saturday morning in the council chambers in a mini-retreat to discuss strategy and communications. Councilmembers and staff were encouraged by Mayor Barbara Tolbert to ask questions and express their concerns. In a day that was part training for newly elected officials and part team building, council and staff discussed the procedure for agenda setting, the public meetings act and communications among the electeds and with staff.

When Councilman Steve Baker expressed concerns that residents are frustrated because they never get a chance to express their opinions, they decided to designate time at the workshops, for residents to share their ideas about issues on the agenda.

The first order of business Monday was the election of Marilyn Oertle as mayor protem, a.k.a. deputy mayor, to fill in when the mayor is out of town, and help set agendas.

Firefighter/Paramedic Hargroves reported on yet another successful 2011 Santa Run, that enjoyed good weather this year and gathered a lot of food for the food bank.

In the consent agenda, along with the minutes of two meetings and the accounts payable, council approved the acceptance of two pieces of art being donated to the city. "The Stilly in the Morning Fog," donated by Arlington artist Camelia Nahlik, is a large photograph that was a prizewinner at the Arlington Arts Council's Fall into Art Auction in October 2011. "Up the Valley" by Cheri O'Brien is a painting that was commissioned by the Downtown Arlington Business Association for a promotional billboard that is on display through the year 2012 on Meridian Highway, welcoming visitors from British Columbia to plan ahead for lunch in downtown Arlington and time to explore the Stillaguamish Valley.

NEW BUSINESS

• Six new business items were approved Monday. In the ongoing effort to prepare the intersection of SR 9 and SR 531 for future development, council approved an interlocal with Snohomish County and some right-of-way annexations that were missed in earlier annexations.

"These ordinances reflect corrected legal descriptions," said Todd Hall, planner. A

• Council approved moving forward on an annexation of 52 plus acres at the corner of 172nd Street NE/SR 531 and SR 9, of which approximately 30.80 acres are owned by the proponents and located within the City Urban Growth Area (UGA). The area is zoned both general commercial (GC) and high density residential (RHD).

• Council was also asked to approve a 12-foot right-of-way along 188th Street NE for the development of a 5-lot residential short plat at 3620 188th St. NE.

In a unique public exhibit of the law in action, city attorney Steve Peiffle sought approval from council to deny a convict's effort to settle a lawsuit for $500.

"While it may cost more to defend ourselves in court, it would set a bad precedent to respond to his demands," Peiffle said.

Workshop discussion items

Discussion items that would normally have been in a workshop setting included a 10-minute overview of the city's website, and a review of agreements with Snohomish County and its Coordinated Pollution Prevention Program and the amendment with a contract with Blue Marble Environmental, which provides recycling bins at events and free recycling programs for businesses, among other programs. Council will be asked on Feb. 6 to accept a grant from the Department of Ecology which is administered by Snohomish County Solid Waste Division for the amount of $19,347 to continue to fund the city's refuse and recycling program for 2012-2013.

• Staff is also seeking an amendment to the existing Blue Marble Environmental contract to provide refuse and recycling services through 2012-2013. This assistance includes education and outreach efforts for commercial recycling, multi-family recycling, and working with the school district for 2012-2013.

• And another art donation was presented for discussion. Dave Tremko, of Studio Tremko, 315 West Ave. applied to donate a 10-foot chainsaw carving of two eagles and a bear sculpture to the city of Arlington to be placed in the east round-about on Division Street.

• Finally, Finance Director Jim Chase gave an end of year financial report which explained the budget crunch.

No members of the public took advantage of the opportunity to speak at the end of the workshop, but it's nice to know it's available.

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