Get Full Government Meeting Transcripts, Videos, & Alerts Forever!
Get email alerts on the Council Votes Roundup topic
No spam. Unsubscribe anytime.
Votes at a glance: appointments, ordinances and a bid rejection from March 3 council meeting
Summary
At the March 3 meeting the council approved an environmental commission appointment, advanced two ordinances on first reading (one amended), and rejected bids for a federally funded overlay project after WSDOT review.
The City Council took several formal actions on March 3 during its regular meeting. The decisions below summarize motions recorded on the meeting video and in the transcript.
Votes at a glance
- Environmental Commission appointment: Cameron Herman — Approved (motion to appoint carried on voice vote). The council moved and seconded the appointment and the motion passed with all present council members saying “aye.”
- Ordinance 4,957 — Banners, sidewalk flags and decorations in city rights of way — First reading conducted as amended. Council voted to remove section 3.44.0.11 (commemorative flags on city flagpoles) by amendment (passed 4–3), then advanced first reading of the ordinance as amended. Staff will return a revised ordinance for second reading after publishing permitted-location maps and setting public-works fee details.
- Ordinance 4,958 — 2025–2026 biennial budget amendments (supplemental/carry-forward items) — First reading conducted. The ordinance carries forward unspent 2024 budget authority into 2025 for previously approved projects and adjusts appropriations based on recently awarded grants and administrative corrections; council conducted first reading by voice vote.
- Resolution 2025-04 — Reject all bids for Bid Call 2024 Water Street overlay (Main Street to Bender Road) — Approved. Staff recommended rejection after the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) advised that an included supplemental bidder-qualification form could be interpreted as a prequalification and require rebidding under federal rules. Council approved the resolution and directed staff to re-advertise.
What happened in practice
The environmental commission appointment moved through the consent/appointment process with no public opposition during the meeting. The banner/flag ordinance followed a year-long stakeholder process and a staff legal review; council debated the commemorative-flag provision before removing it and advancing first reading of the remainder of the chapter. The budget ordinance is a routine supplemental budget to carry forward previously approved work and to reflect recent grant awards; staff emphasized that the proposed amendments maintain required fund balances. The Water Street overlay project will be re-bid following WSDOT guidance on bidder-qualification language in federally funded projects.
Council instructions to staff included publishing an application map and fee schedule for banner/flag permits, finalizing budget amendment tables and re-advertising the Water Street overlay bid.
