Forks council approves Riverside lease, EDC matching agreement, OMWBE MOU and 10% sewer increase

The City of Forks City Council on Dec. 8 approved a series of routine but consequential items: a lease with Riverside Forest Products USA Inc. for Industrial Park lots 11–14, a matching-funds agreement tied to a $320,000 U.S. Economic Development Administration grant, a Memorandum of Understanding with the Washington State Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises (OMWBE), and a 10% increase in sewer service rates under Ordinance No. 687.

Attorney/Planner Fleck introduced the lease for property at 143 Sitkum–Sol Duc Rd and outlined recent edits to the agreement. Council approved the lease by voice vote (motion by Soha, second by Wood). Fleck also explained the EDA grant arrangement requiring an $80,000 local match, to be apportioned between Clallam County and the City; the Council approved the City of Forks matching-funds agreement with the Clallam Economic Development Council (motion by Gingell, second by Wood).

Council approved a Memorandum of Understanding with the Washington State Office of Minority and Women's Business Enterprises after Fleck presented the proposed terms (motion by Wood, second by Soha).

On utilities, Council adopted Ordinance No. 687 to raise sewer service rates by 10 percent (motion by Wood, second by Gingell). Council member Gingell left the meeting after the sewer-rate item.

Votes at a glance: Riverside lease — approved (motion carried); EDC matching agreement — approved (motion carried); OMWBE MOU — approved (motion carried); Ordinance No. 687 (10% sewer increase) — approved (motion carried). Where the minutes record specific roll-call tallies, those are noted; otherwise the minutes record motions as carried.

Implementation notes: Fleck identified next steps for RFPs and meetings tied to economic development and park planning; Public Works Director Hampton will follow up on required repairs to wastewater equipment noted later in the meeting.