CITY OF UNIVERSITY PLACE
MINUTES
Regular Meeting of the City Council
Monday, November 16, 2020
(Remote Participation)
1. CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER
Mayor Belleci called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
Roll call was taken by the City Clerk as follows:
|
Councilmember Figueroa |
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Excused |
|
Councilmember Keel |
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Present |
|
Councilmember Pro Tem Lee |
|
Present |
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Councilmember McCluskey |
|
Present |
|
Councilmember Flemming |
|
Present |
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Mayor Pro Tem Worthington |
|
Present |
|
Mayor Belleci |
|
Present |
Staff Present: City Manager Sugg, City Attorney Kaser, Finance Director Blaisdell, Public Works, Parks & Facilities Director Cooper, Planning and Development Services Director Swindale, Executive Director/ACM Craig, Engineering and Capital Projects Director Ecklund, Public Safety Administrator Hales and City Clerk Genetia.
Guests: Planning Commission Chair Quisenberry; Public Safety Advisory Commission Chair Wood; and Economic Development Advisory Commission Chair Kent.
MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Worthington, seconded by Councilmember Keel, to excuse the absence of Councilmember Figueroa.
The motion carried.
3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Councilmember Keel led Council in the Pledge of Allegiance.
4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Worthington, seconded by Councilmember Keel to approve the agenda.
The motion carried unanimously.
5. PUBLIC COMMENTS – None.
6. CONSENT AGENDA
MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Worthington, seconded by Councilmember Keel, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows:
A. Approve the minutes of the November 2, 2020 Council meeting as submitted.
B. Receive and File: Payroll for period ending 10/31/20; Claims dated 10/15/20 and 10/30/20.
The motion carried unanimously.
PUBLIC HEARING
7. PROPOSED 2021-2022 BIENNIAL BUDGET
Staff Report – Finance Director Blaisdell reported that the 2021-2022 Proposed Biennial Budget is a balanced and conservative budget that assumes a continuation of the 2020 level of service to the community, meeting all contractual, legal and debt obligations while exercising prudent cash management and maintaining the strategic reserves. She added that the City continues to be conservative with revenue projections for the biennium. The proposed budget includes the statutorily allowed increase in the City’s ad valorem property tax in each biennial budget. Expenditure budget is a status quo and continues the 2020 service level, including a modest level of inflation assumed for expenditures.
Director Blaisdell noted that any changes to the 2021-2022 proposed budget during the previous study sessions will be included in the final document that will be provided to Council for approval on December 7, 2020.
COUNCIL CONSIDERATION
8. 2021 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA
Staff Report – City Manager Sugg presented a resolution listing the City’s legislative priorities for 2021. As reflected in the resolution, the list is supportive of the Association of Washington Cities’ (AWC) priorities on police reform; adoption of a comprehensive set of transportation policies that provide robust new resources and local options; financial flexibility with currently restricted revenues; and strengthening the city-state partnership. It also includes a request for infrastructure improvements with a request for funding in conjunction with a study to improve unsewered areas of the City.
Public Comment – None.
Council Consideration – MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Worthington, seconded by Councilmember Keel, to adopt a resolution establishing the City’s legislative priorities for 2021.
The motion carried. (RESOLUTION NO. 937)
9. CARES ACT RELIEF FUNDS PROGRAM
Staff Report – City Attorney Kaser presented a request for update on a component of the CARES Act funding program that Council approved several weeks ago. The change being requested is for the City to have the ability to distribute unexpected funds that may be made available to this program.
Public Comment – None.
Council Consideration – MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Worthington, seconded by Councilmember Keel, to adopt a resolution approving an amendment to the Supplemental Guidelines for the distribution of Coronavirus Relief Funds to the University Place community.
The motion carried. (RESOLUTION NO. 938)
10. LARSON LANE PHASE 2 PROJECT BID AWARD
Staff Report – Engineering and Capital Projects Director Ecklund recommended awarding the bid for the Larson Lane Phase 2 project to Strickland & Sons Excavation who submitted the lowest responsive, responsible bid of the fifteen (15) received by the City in the amount of $705,966.00.
This project is funded through a combination of Traffic Impact Fee and LRF funds, and the provided bid is within the budgeted amount.
Public Comment – None.
Council Consideration – MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Worthington, seconded by Councilmember Keel, to authorize the City Manager to award the Larson Lane Phase 2 project to Strickland & Sons Excavation in the amount of $705,966.00 and execute all necessary contract documents.
The motion carried.
11. CITY MANAGER & COUNCIL COMMENTS/REPORTS
City Manager Sugg updated Council on the CARES Relief fund distribution to the community. He also informed them that the City has allocated $9,000 for Thanksgiving dinners for families in need through Our Church Foundation. The meals will be delivered to addresses provided by the school district.
Councilmember Keel reported that, in his role as an AWC Board member, he met with State legislators to talk about topics of discussion in the upcoming legislative session. He also provided an update on Sound Transit’s realignment of projects impacted by COVID-19; Pierce Transit’s Board of Commissioners realignment; and AWC’s budget process.
Councilmember McCluskey reported that she attended the Zoo Trek Authority meeting and shared information on its operations and programming as a result of COVID-19.
STUDY SESSION
12. ADVISORY COMMISSIONS 2021 WORK PLANS
Economic Development Advisory Commission Chair Kent, Planning Commission Chair Quisenberry, Public Safety Advisory Commission Chair Wood, and Public Works, Parks & Facilities Director Cooper (on behalf of the Park Advisory Commission) presented their respective Commission’s 2021 work plan for approval by Council. The Commissions’ work plans are a continuation of their ongoing 2020 work plans with minor adjustments and some additional new undertakings.
Councilmembers expressed their gratitude to the Commissions and their members for their selfless service and the significance of the work they provide.
13. PURCHASING POLICY
Finance Director Blaisdell reported that the update to the purchasing policy was prompted by a Council request to include language related to local preference. She indicated that when Council made the request, Finance staff had already been working on revamping the format of the purchasing policy to make it on-line friendly. The City’s purchasing policy has had little change since it was created when the City incorporated. In addition to the new format, Director Blaisdell presented the proposed changes which include the addition of a section on Sustainable Purchasing to address local preference, environmental factors and social equity factors; adjustment of limits for Public Works Single-Craft and Multi-Craft projects to match the recent RCW updates; and new language to Section 1.10 relating to City Council approval. She also discussed additional changes not yet included in the document – adjustments to the City’s solicitation limits related to competitive bidding requirements and the City Manager and Council approval requirements. These changes will ensure that the City is getting quotes and safeguarding the monies entrusted by its citizens while allowing staff to continue to perform services efficiently. If Council approves, these adjustments will be included in the policy document that will be presented to Council for approval. Lastly, there will need to be conforming changes to the municipal code (as reflected on the proposed ordinance).
Discussion followed with regard to how the social equity and local preference will be valued on the application for goods and services; exception to the competitive process; spending authority for the City Manager; and informal bid process.
An additional study will be scheduled later to provide the legislative proponent an opportunity to comment on the proposal.
14. EXECUTIVE SESSION
The City Council recessed to Executive Session for approximately one hour, per RCW 42.30.110(1)(g), to review the performance of a public employee.
At 9:20 p.m. and 9:48 p.m., the Executive Session was extended for thirty minutes and up to 10:00 p.m. respectively.
15. ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 9:57 p.m. No other action was taken.
Submitted by,
Emy Genetia
City Clerk