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Council amends purchasing policy, approves fireworks, parks equipment and social-worker agreement
Summary
Mount Vernon City Council on Jan. 28 amended purchasing delegation thresholds to $200,000, approved a fireworks contract, authorized parks equipment purchase and approved a recurring agreement to fund an embedded social worker.
Mount Vernon ' The Mount Vernon City Council on Jan. 28 passed several routine and policy items, including an amended ordinance changing delegated purchasing thresholds, a fireworks contract and contracts for parks equipment and behavioral-health services.
City Attorney Kevin Rogerson introduced ordinance 3935 to amend chapters of the municipal code covering purchasing, contracting and donations and said staff had held two public committee meetings on the issue. Council debated a proposed upper delegation of $350,000 and a motion was made and approved to set many delegation limits at $200,000 instead. Kevin said the amended language will be incorporated into the ordinance and circulated for signature.
On contracts and purchases, the council approved a contract with Western Display Fireworks for the July 4 show (the display will focus on the Riverwalk/Edgewater Park because of Division Street painting). Parks & Recreation staff also secured approval to purchase an ABI Force Z23 field-maintenance machine negotiated to fall just under $60,000 using levy funds; staff said the unit will reduce field-preparation time.
The council also approved a recurring agreement with Skagit County/North Sound Behavioral Health to fund two-thirds of an embedded social worker (not to exceed $77,000) and an additional $17,000 in incidental funds to support the program. These funds are intended to support embedded social services in joint response work with the police department.
Votes at a glance: - Consent agenda (minutes, payroll, claims, street closure for Illuminate): approved by voice vote. - Ordinance 3935 (purchasing policy) as amended to lower certain delegated thresholds to $200,000: approved by voice vote; final ordinance text to be prepared for mayoral signature. - Western Display Fireworks contract for July 4: approved by voice vote. - ABI Force Z23 parks equipment purchase (levy-funded, under $60,000): approved by voice vote. - North Sound Behavioral Health agreement (two-thirds funding for one embedded social worker, not to exceed $77,000 + $17,000 incidental): approved by voice vote.
The council scheduled no final action on a proposed use of opioid settlement funds for a police K-9 unit after a motion to strike that item from tonight's agenda for further study passed.
