Shelton council adopts Catalyst Park MOA, on-call A/E contracts, creative district and repeals for‑hire vehicle license

The Shelton City Council on Monday approved a set of resolutions and an ordinance covering city partnerships, consultant contracts, downtown arts planning and taxi licensing.

The council unanimously approved a memorandum of agreement with Washington State University Extension to govern operations of the Catalyst Park Demonstration Garden, authorized a slate of on‑call architecture and engineering consulting contracts, adopted a resolution establishing the Shelton Creative District boundaries, and repealed Chapter 5.32 of the Shelton Municipal Code that had required separate for‑hire vehicle licensing.

The MOA with WSU Extension formalizes operations at the Catalyst Park Demonstration Garden and clarifies roles between the university extension and the city. Jordan, a city staff member, told the council the updated memorandum contains "no major changes since last time" and answered procedural questions before the measure was moved and seconded and approved by voice vote.

Public Works Director Aaron Nicks told the council the on‑call contracting approach stems from a recent request‑for‑qualifications process. The RFQ identified multiple qualified firms across 15 subject areas so the city can call on prequalified consultants for design and engineering tasks. "All we're doing is we're entering into a contract that when you guys approve the budget and we want to go do design work, we can utilize that list," Nicks said. The council approved a resolution authorizing the city manager to execute those contracts.

The council also adopted a resolution supporting the city's creative district application and establishing the proposed downtown boundaries for the Shelton Creative District. City staff said the designation would support wayfinding and make the city eligible for arts and placemaking grants that accompany certification.

On a separate action, the council voted to repeal the local licensing requirement for for‑hire vehicles (ordinance 2028‑1224). Staff told the council the local licensing and fingerprinting checks for for‑hire companies appeared duplicative of other processes, and the repeal would remove that city requirement.

The council also advanced two appointments to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee: Diane Zoren for a full three‑year term and Ted Killenen to a partial term. Staff said both are city residents who applied through the city's advertised openings.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution 1357‑1124 (MOA with WSU Extension for Catalyst Park Demonstration Garden): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by voice vote (aye). - Resolution 1363‑1124 (award of contracts for on‑call architecture and engineering consulting services; authorization for city manager to execute contracts): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by voice vote (aye). - Resolution 1367‑1224 (establishing the Shelton Creative District): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved by voice vote (aye). - Ordinance 2028‑1224 (repeal of Chapter 5.32, licensing of for‑hire vehicles): motion moved and seconded; outcome: adopted by voice vote (aye). - Appointment: Diane Zoren (Parks & Rec Advisory Committee, full 3‑year term): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved. - Appointment: Ted Killenen (Parks & Rec Advisory Committee, partial term): motion moved and seconded; outcome: approved.

Mayor Nesco presided over the business agenda and each measure passed on unanimous voice votes recorded in the meeting transcript. No roll‑call tallies were entered in the minutes for these items.

City staff said the on‑call consultant list does not itself obligate spending; individual work orders and budget approvals will be required before contracts are executed. The creative district resolution supports an application process; staff noted certification from the state remains competitive and is not guaranteed.

The council meeting packet lists the formal titles and ordinance/resolution numbers; the city clerk read each measure into the record before votes.

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(Provenance: transcript excerpts of staff presentations and motions are recorded in the meeting transcript where the MOA, on‑call contracts, creative district and ordinance repeal were introduced and approved.)