[{"_1":2,"_123":-5,"_124":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99,111],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6271088,"mediaKeyId","3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15","parentId",3029460,"title","Votes at a glance: council approves FEMA generator grant, extends solid-waste contract and accepts commerce sewer grant","audioSeconds",166,"startMs",2915000,"endMs",3081000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15&start=2915&end=3081","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15/thumbnail_2915000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6271088/Medical-Lake/Spokane-County/Washington/Votes-at-a-glance-council-approves-FEMA-generator-grant-extends-solid-waste-contract-and-accepts-commerce-sewer-grant","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271088-d4d9e9764ea517201b7b37632b36b75e/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204563&Signature=RcQ8v5mb9PdM3GtQbxkzfXsVEfxWdhrPEKRomXjPtBhX6XvHJgtnp0RDnvW52Xy6zKUSPHdZ4smbaVf95NPY8VZ-dwXHK0z-EWcR3ET1s6EcTWC410Xo5jVgRo4Ro3lbGmNIBu0M9x03~4vv22u5fjt6tj91FeEtSqJHyMjrHYNP-KJT81ekEvIkkvG5nsJmuDOkOeMy9p8M1D1GytWTCjPqAQeqk-kW6hE1NOga~dsTXGJZtOT2tMIFu-IS4lNQnrJuOOhOXoI7j~r0dnvw3EoGoVOHWJowroqRq6t3Z4prcPzoDWPfg~VJ3Xvg25kXKuKRme21AMWXqoEfDMtltA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Medical Lake, WA","date","2025-04-17T01:05:30.153Z","article","The Medical Lake City Council approved several resolutions and routine items during its April 15 meeting. Key formal actions and outcomes are summarized below.

FEMA backup-generator grant (Resolution 25-732): Council approved a grant agreement to procure five backup generators for critical facilities and infrastructure. The grant is FEMA-funded at 75%, with a 12.5% state match and a 12.5% city match; staff said the city’s portions will come from various restricted and capital funds. The agreement implements a project approved in the city’s capital improvement plan.

Solid-waste agreement amendment (Resolution 25-736): Council approved an amendment extending the city’s existing solid-waste contract (with the current provider, Sunshine) and changing the contract end date to Dec. 31, 2027. Staff said the extension buys time to complete a planned RFP and procurement process for solid-waste services.

Commerce grant for collection-system engineering (Resolution 25-741): Council accepted a $300,000 appropriation from the 2024 legislative session administered through the Washington State Department of Commerce to fund engineering work on a new sewer trunk line and associated capacity upgrades (including a lift station) that will support West Shore, Silver Lake, and future growth.

Recreation assistance position (Resolution 25-747): Council approved a new part-time parks-and-recreation position designed to provide consistent, long-term program leadership while remaining structured to comply with state rules on hours and benefits for part-time staff.

Consent agenda and payroll: Council approved minutes (04/01/2025), payroll claims and payables as presented.

All listed motions were approved by council at the meeting; roll-call tallies were not specified in the meeting transcript. Specific motions and briefing excerpts are listed in the actions array for reference.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","April 15, 2025 City Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Council approved a FEMA-backed grant for emergency generators, extended the solid-waste contract to Dec. 31, 2027, and accepted a $300,000 Commerce grant for sewer engineering at its April 15 meeting.","taxTitle","Medical Lake, Spokane County, Washington","taxId",61153,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271094,"City seeks council volunteers for comprehensive-plan steering committee to lead 2026 periodic update",228,2930000,3158000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15&start=2930&end=3158","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15/thumbnail_2930000.jpg","/articles/6271094/Medical-Lake/Spokane-County/Washington/City-seeks-council-volunteers-for-comprehensive-plan-steering-committee-to-lead-2026-periodic-update","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271094-dc0e6ba7322e3082ff0a676a0fe99b75/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204563&Signature=NUsKS6vUM6umLmwcxkUe-AN3yMB3wb97zGQdnF3I~aqmNh273QpunxRFp4rtqC4zPORaedDNPW3Mb1Y0rQBdz-Ixm0-3pVC52DmNftNaxliMbWNf6ZnLTySHe6lJ-iIvaagjaqKeTY5fjCR47q4vMdyYm9iZKXnFjcBFAvfzoGhYnpTM8BS4q3NoTHh5QJ0KkAjgafnsg0muFNXI4QYYQHzx-H-WDfgGTW9TczVAOl58StSw6SmDHLK-0ms7fjCVVmOHa14inhekSSWhSm98T5XPpLhI8q24aUPeNis3adJN1Jk1ERPU6ibwSGHytRctbFoEX-k3Su01w-4ejaVogg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff asked the council to appoint one or two council representatives to an ad hoc steering committee that will guide the Medical Lake comprehensive-plan periodic update, the council heard on April 15.

Staff explained the committee’s purpose is oversight and guidance for public engagement and the comp-plan update process, which the state may extend to December 31, 2026. The steering committee will include elected officials, planning commissioners, parks-advisory members, staff and community champions to help shape outreach and draft goals that staff and consultants will refine.

The mayor said he will serve as the council’s representative, and a council member later volunteered to participate. Staff said steering-committee meetings would be quarterly at minimum and that planning decisions and any required ordinance actions would still go before the planning commission and council for formal adoption.

Ending: Staff will publish committee membership once confirmed and proceed with the public engagement timeline for the periodic update.","Council discussed forming a community-led steering committee to guide the comprehensive-plan periodic update due at the end of 2026; the mayor said he will serve and one council member volunteered to join the committee.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271099,"Council reviews updated leave policy; new ‘civic engagement’ leave proposed",96,3684000,3780000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15&start=3684&end=3780","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15/thumbnail_3684000.jpg","/articles/6271099/Medical-Lake/Spokane-County/Washington/Council-reviews-updated-leave-policy-new-civic-engagement-leave-proposed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271099-89254a641d78acfa5f981833e91a3aa1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204563&Signature=NnTtxOfCKA3mNmDFuCJoRT2oKDRcgSzX7iBRxdwNpXpmLUMjqq4aE4Yr4nrpogaL-NlUtgTtTxKZhFoYq7cS8g6dmpbOuhiVGU8LXYCn7MFwBP4nBenx~o7IGSBhZZHk2J-LNxUyEg1~g42px25Au8o70rKENJO53uayHll8GEWWumZiXmtJgRHYv4KZAcNf8G7KPStMtY7NocFhmmZWFyU9fJ56q-KvJE0qr74jzsoE17tzqeoMUZPXyCXRHS2R3vFWgKmGSQxh4ZBg5OwQU8qRESU2IaZHADqLj7mI4yXuI3~iq86Nl9bf2ndeYQm6Ffi-k3O3LfJ-8hMH-F027g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff led a workshop on a comprehensive rewrite of the personnel leave policy on April 15, proposing structural changes and one new leave category described as civic engagement leave.

Staff member Bonhoe told the council the personnel handbook (adopted in 2011) has been updated into a set of standalone policies and reviewed by legal counsel and the city’s labor representatives to avoid conflicts with the collective-bargaining agreement. He summarized the intent as “adding clarity so that anybody could pick these policies up and understand exactly how to use their leave.”

The most substantive addition is civic engagement leave. Bonhoe said the policy would permit employees to take up to “24 hours in a year” of paid leave to volunteer for nonprofit organizations, with preapproval and documentation requirements. Council discussion clarified the leave applies to time away from regular work hours (not to create paid overtime) and requires five days’ notice and supervisor approval when feasible.

The policy draft incorporates state-mandated family and medical leave language (PFML) and explains the city’s obligations and limits for job-holding (the city is exempt from the federal requirement to guarantee a job hold for employers with fewer than 50 employees). Bonhoe said comp-time rules and half-day holiday clarifications are consolidated into the leave policy for clarity.

Ending: Council discussed the draft and asked staff to continue legal review and coordination with the union; no final adoption vote was taken at the workshop.","Council held a workshop on a revised personnel leave policy that reorganizes the personnel handbook, clarifies comp time and family/medical leave language, and adds a new civic-engagement leave allowing up to 24 hours annually for approved nonprofit volunteer work.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271103,"City administrator outlines strategic progress, grants and waterfront park transfer plans",1114,2488000,3602000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15&start=2488&end=3602","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15/thumbnail_2488000.jpg","/articles/6271103/Medical-Lake/Spokane-County/Washington/City-administrator-outlines-strategic-progress-grants-and-waterfront-park-transfer-plans","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271103-e3f0fe2b7f7c60533c4959946a5e7d4b/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204563&Signature=YVQhn60iJFYCAoNPiKeaiMaJDCgQv6wckwMhMDsyHQfz8r8T0vpmWx~SmC-xUADgjL30rOLdKfs-xaQJ4kzkb5otTBzfFvHe4gPr3YV8EBRG5DEMtKuSZgoaPXTEeu2WNpQCXdg0BkFNEO5YXPRN4WdwfWobgO2fgSMGk4YVH3u1L1PNVJCWsesUOvr2GLZQwOh3kdWkz2lu5EWJZQTHPMyx9pC3Xj2LfaVfqZRgmbH6xDeTsPdGqEw-IZa~GRAOfXnB1FwfaqDu3KdtHbqk98XZl9XDf6J3smOnbvTINdf0jS226vK7yHS1iG9OS~ng3-bAaYKEYpbCsLX8vUIH9g__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City Administrator Paul delivered the administration’s annual self-assessment at the April 15 Medical Lake City Council meeting, summarizing strategic priorities, grant activity and planned capital work.

Paul told council the city completed more than $3 million in grant-funded projects and received an additional $4 million for planning, transportation and capital improvements. He said the city received a $100,000 climate-resiliency grant from the state for the hazard-mitigation plan (under review by the state and FEMA), and that Ecology awarded the city authority to manage a $450,000 groundwater study in partnership with Eastern Washington University.

Paul described investments in the central business district and several capital projects the administration is pursuing, including a utility-rate study, a wastewater treatment plant storage building and equipment garage, planned ball-field lights and a dock for Coney Island Park. He said the city will finalize and present the hazard-mitigation plan to council in June for adoption.

On Waterfront Park, Paul said the Legislature had offered to transfer the property and assist with closing costs; he described staff optimism the transfer will “take place” once remaining steps are completed.

Paul also described organizational steps: new employee-evaluation forms, weekly executive-team meetings, a Gantt chart to track city projects, and continuing work with Big Sky Public Relations on a communications plan. He said staff surveys reported a positive organizational culture focused on service, stewardship and teamwork.

Ending: Paul asked council for feedback on the self-assessment approach; staff said the reports will continue on a rotating schedule so council hears each department’s annual update.","City Administrator Paul presented an annual administrative self-assessment highlighting strategic-plan progress, grant wins (more than $3 million completed; $4 million received for future work), hazard mitigation and groundwater study grants, and ongoing work toward a legislative transfer of Waterfront Park property.",{"_33":112,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":113,"_41":114,"_43":115,"_45":116,"_47":117,"_49":118,"_51":119,"_53":120,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":121,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":122,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6271109,"Medical Lake finance director delivers first-quarter budget report; amendments eyed for train depot, public safety costs",807,1244000,2051000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15&start=1244&end=2051","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3029460-3680f778f4d08cb39851aad5201fff15/thumbnail_1244000.jpg","/articles/6271109/Medical-Lake/Spokane-County/Washington/Medical-Lake-finance-director-delivers-first-quarter-budget-report-amendments-eyed-for-train-depot-public-safety-costs","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6271109-d1a017f491d7bda8f664ea9d9182e4ce/orig.mp4?Expires=1771204563&Signature=PGYia5iugXhfyN7DH8P4GQc-Qs70PoatsCb4MFzilQ6Q591H2GzsQrbJG3PqLsW22iGgLGFqdLihnZrI4iFOHnNCVZ9V2YZbKx37eH4DsX5bldh8635MI4xzbnCWH3p4RWZndEMZ6kB~17bO3T1Og60c5Da3O208R0i4xWaNzfalSVrTnjJCIE3FoNvTPk0V3zRlEMSEkDTdUCwej7-l0R2itoDPFzA~FHhelPajAZ3nqxLPnUvRgnpY7stvZ0PfXK2sgoEBNC6CZMEj-~HM5OpZlPTJSo1Dpm1qPkepfrT5EDN2HNSW4ckO8pbqpOprsoWaYDLxG5OXCOLX70iphw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Finance Director Rontel presented the City of Medical Lake’s first-quarter 2025 financial report on April 15, reporting revenues at roughly 22% of annual expectations and expenditures at about 26%.

Rontel told the council the revenue shortfall is typical for April because the first half of property taxes generally arrive in May and several large expenses — notably citywide insurance — are paid up front each January. He said grants tied to project work were at 43% because “a lot of work is being done and completed,” citing the city’s PFOS groundwater study administered with Eastern Washington University.

The city’s administrative services account was at 90% of budget, Rontel said, “simply because of the train depot purchase,” and he recommended a budget amendment to cover that land purchase. He identified the train-depot purchase amount as $355,472 in later remarks when summarizing expected amendments.

Rontel also described strains in the public-safety fund that will require an amendment. He said a late county invoice and an unbudgeted contract escalator for the sheriff’s contract — a roughly 3% monthly increase — combined with a settlement adjustment related to county jail charges pushed public-safety expenses above expectations. He described a $22,000 settlement adjustment the city received tied to higher-than-anticipated jail days and said staff expect the county’s billing model (a two-year averaging system) to continue affecting future invoices.

On other funds, Rontel said streets preservation and seal projects are moving forward (about 8.5 miles of chip/seal work planned this year), water revenues remain seasonal and below target for spring, and wastewater revenues are running higher because of contract billing. He noted grants and ARPA-funded projects are on schedule and that ARPA obligations were timely, leaving the city until the 2026 deadline to spend allocated funds.

Council members asked staff to bring back formal budget amendment ordinances that reflect the depot purchase, the public-safety adjustments totaling about $115,023, and smaller adjustments (for example, a roughly $500 increase to animal control contract costs). Rontel said the quarterly transfers that normally appear at this stage will be processed by Quarter 2.

Ending: Rontel said staff will present the proposed amendments to council later this spring and will continue to monitor revenues and project billing as summer spending ramps up.","Finance director presented Q1 financials showing revenues at 22% and expenses at 26% of year-to-date expectations; council was told proposed budget amendments will cover a train-depot land purchase and unbudgeted public-safety costs including a jail settlement adjustment.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Votes at a glance: council approves FEMA generator grant, extends solid-waste contract and accepts commerce sewer grant

City seeks council volunteers for comprehensive-plan steering committee to lead 2026 periodic update

Council reviews updated leave policy; new ‘civic engagement’ leave proposed

City administrator outlines strategic progress, grants and waterfront park transfer plans

Medical Lake finance director delivers first-quarter budget report; amendments eyed for train depot, public safety costs