Mount Vernon council approves series of contracts, budget amendments and labor agreement

The Mount Vernon City Council on Feb. 12 approved a package of contracts, a budget amendment and a three-year collective bargaining agreement for the fire department's battalion chiefs.

Council accepted final work on the wastewater treatment plant influent pump station header replacement and approved agreements for park restroom engineering, temporary construction easement extensions, virtual garage security monitoring for the Library Commons and an active-transportation plan update. The council also approved amendments to the 2025 budget and raised the finance department change fund.

The council accepted the pump-station work completed by Strider Construction. Gary Duranzo, wastewater division manager, told the council the replacement of the influent header reduced flow velocity to a “safe operating range” and that the completed work “has exceeded our expectations.” Duranzo said the pump station, originally designed in 1988 for a 6,000,000-gallon capacity, handled just under 30,000,000 gallons during the single large rain event since completion. Staff reported the final adjusted project amount was $2,839,821.73 and that the project is fully funded in the wastewater treatment plant’s 2024 budget.

Council approved an agreement with Kauffman Engineers for engineering, architectural design and cost estimating for renovation of the Bakerview Park restroom; the engineering contract is for about $62,000. Jennifer Burner, director of Parks and Enrichment Services, said the contract will produce bid-ready documents so the city can go out to construction bidders; the work follows a July 2024 restroom fire and will be submitted to the city’s insurer for payment beyond the city’s deductible.

The council also authorized an extension of a temporary construction easement that allows Leidig Construction to stage materials for the Library Commons project on county-owned gravel property adjacent to 108 West Broadway; the amendment continues the easement under the original terms through April 1.

For the Library Commons parking garage, the council approved a 36-month contract with Castle Systems for virtual security monitoring beginning March 1, 2025, at a monthly cost of $4,456.70 (including tax). City staff presented a business-case comparison showing a staffed option would cost about $271,750 annually, while the virtual option would be about $53,480.40 annually. The contract includes termination provisions; city legal staff noted termination for convenience would carry a buyout cost equal to remaining months under certain calculations.

The council ratified a three-year collective bargaining agreement with the International Association of Fire Fighters (IAFF) covering battalion chiefs. Human Resources staff said highlights include increased life-insurance coverage from $20,000 to $50,000, employer-paid health-premium support for spouses and dependents raised from 86% to 90%, an adjustment in how longevity pay is calculated (now based on battalion chief wages) and an estimated implementation cost of about $11,000 for the four-person unit covered by the agreement.

On finance items, the council approved Ordinance 3906 to amend the 2025 budget to add $22,320 for design of the Colson Trail Safety Lighting Project (partially funded by a Federal Aid grant with local match) and $32,000 to replace a vehicle used for encampment mitigation (funded from equipment reserves). The council also approved Resolution 1068 to increase the finance department cashier change fund from $600 to $1,200 to accommodate day-to-day cash needs for sewer and garbage payments.

Finally, the council authorized a $129,000 contract with Transpo Group to complete an Active Transportation and Safety Plan; the work will be funded from a $500,000 grant the city received from the Washington State Department of Commerce to support new climate-element requirements in local comprehensive plans.

Votes at a glance: the transcript records voice votes on each item and indicates each motion passed. Where specific roll-call tallies were not recorded in the meeting minutes, the council recorded passage by voice vote; the meeting transcript does not list per-member yea/nay tallies for these items.

The council adjourned at about 8:00 p.m.