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HomeMy WebLinkAbout3/11/2021 - City Council - City Council Meeting Minutes - Jerrilea Crawford, Mayor (2)3/11/2021 Council Workshop Minutes Page 1 of 3 CITY OF EAST WENATCHEE 271 9th Street NE * East Wenatchee, WA 98802 Phone (509) 884-9515 * Fax (509) 886-6233 City Council Workshop Zoom East Wenatchee City Hall 271 9th St. NE East Wenatchee, WA 98802 Minutes Thursday, March 11, 2021 In attendance: Staff in attendance: Mayor Crawford Josh DeLay, Finance Director Councilmember Sterk Lori Barnett, Community Development Director Councilmember Raab Rick Johnson, Police Chief Councilmember Tidd Mary Beth Phillips, Court Administrator Councilmember Magdoff Devin Poulson, City Attorney Councilmember Johnson Josh Toftness, Streets Manager Councilmember Hepner Trina Elmes, Events Director / PIO Councilmember Sleiman Maria Holman, City Clerk 5:30 p.m. Council Workshop. Mayor Crawford opened the meeting. 1. Mayor Crawford asked City Attorney Devin Poulson to explain to the Council why the City will be holding meetings via Zoom only for today and the next Council meeting. City Attorney Devin Poulson explained that MRSC has provided Cities with clarification on open public meetings during the pandemic. Meetings must be either electronic only with access to the public, if any part of the meeting is in person, or the Council must allow the public to attend in person. 2. Police pass down – Police Chief Rick Johnson Police Chief Johnson provided information regarding a new pass down program being implemented by the East Wenatchee Police Department to share information with City Administration and the City Council. The pass down program will provide a brief summary of police activity during shifts twice a day to share information of what police is responding to and the nature of the calls. The Chief requested that any questions generated by the information provided be directed to him or Assistant Chief Hampton and not to Police Staff. Chief Johnson said this is something AC Hampton brings with him from his employment with the Yakima Police Department. 3/11/2021 Council Workshop Minutes Page 2 of 3 Comments provided by Mayor Crawford, Chief of Police Johnson, Councilmember Tidd, Councilmember Magdoff, and Councilmember Sleiman. No action was taken by the Council. 2. Administrative non-union staff COLA – Mayor Jerrilea Crawford. Mayor Crawford informed the Council that she would bring a recommendation at the next City Council Meeting for council consideration of a 2% COLA increase for administrative non-union staff. The 2021 budget did not include a COLA increase for department heads due to the financial uncertainty with COVID-19. Finance Director Josh DeLay shared that the total overall cost to the City for the increase will be approximately $16,000. Comments provided by Mayor Crawford, Councilmember Magdoff, and Finance Director Josh DeLay. 3. Library information – Mayor Jerrilea Crawford. Mayor Crawford presented information regarding the City facility master plan that Project Development Manager Tom Wachholder has been working on, the Mayor presented on his behalf. ARC Architect group who is working with the City on this project has requested the Council to provide guidance and possible ranking amongst options for the Library. The Library’s current square footage is approximately 1000 sq ft and located within the City Hall building. ARC Architects asked the City Council if the Library should remain on campus with its current size, build a separate Library building on campus and what size, or build a new Library building off site and what size. Based on the Library’s calculations, the minimum standard size is approximately 7,000 sq ft for a community our size. Mayor Crawford shared that 6,000 people with a 98802 zip code have an active card with the East Wenatchee Library. A card is considered active if it has been used in the last two years and 3,200 people have borrowed an item from the library in the last two years (COVID-19 years). The Mayor also commented that there are twice as many people with a 98802 zip code who borrow from the Wenatchee Library. The Mayor said that it is hard to say if they would come to East Wenatchee if we had a larger Library facility. Community Development Director Lori Barnett shared that in 2018 the East Wenatchee Library had 31,908 visitors. Mayor Crawford stated that the Library may partner with the City, if we build the foundation, the structure, and the Library would be in charge of the interior design and cost. Councilmember Magdoff commented that she prefers keeping the Library on campus and making it larger approximately 6,000 to 7,000 sq. ft., Councilmember Sleiman spoke in support of a larger Library and did not have a preference if it is on site or not. Councilmember Tidd agreed. No action was taken by the Council.