Mount Vernon City Council on Aug. 13 authorized the mayor to sign a memorandum of understanding allowing First United Methodist Church of Mount Vernon to host up to five pallet homes on church property for people experiencing homelessness. The shelters will be operated by Welcome Home Skagit and the agreement uses state RCWs that permit renewable one‑year hosting arrangements.

The MOU authorizes the encampment for an initial one‑year period with the prospect of annual renewals; city staff said the state RCWs allow hosting for up to four renewals for a potential total of five years. The permit decision that accompanied the MOU requires on‑site management and included conditions such as prohibitions on drugs and alcohol, weekly cleaning schedules for shared spaces and access to regular meals for shelter residents.

Stacy Prashner, the city’s development services director, outlined the permit and MOU in a council presentation and told council that the city had required public notice and a community meeting before approving the permit. "The city has issued a permit for the church to place five pallet homes on the site, and Welcome Home Skagit will operate the shelters with their goal of providing their clients pathways to both permanent housing and employment," Prashner said.

Lynette Gerhard, chair of the church council at First United Methodist, spoke at the public comment portion in support of the project and said the congregation had worked with Welcome Home Skagit on previous projects. The transcript records public commenters and congregation representatives expressing confidence in screening and supervision plans and support for the project as temporary housing.

A council member identified themself as too close to the project and abstained from the vote; council member Mary Hudson moved to approve and a second by Melissa carried the motion. The mayor was authorized to sign the MOU.

Why it matters: the agreement creates a locally permitted, temporary shelter option and spells out operational standards and a renewal process tied to state hosting statutes. Follow‑up steps outlined in staff materials include continued monitoring of compliance with on‑site management requirements and any public comment received as part of potential ordinance or permit changes.

Meeting context: staff presented the draft MOU after prior review by the council committee of the whole; the item received public comment in favor and at least one council abstention owing to a conflict of interest.