Council accepts $250,000 Commerce Brownfields grant and authorizes cleanup task order

The Stanwood City Council authorized acceptance of a $250,000 Brownfields grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to fund cleanup at the Twin City Plaza property and authorized the mayor to sign the grant agreement upon city-attorney review.

Staff described prior purchase of the property and negotiations with Chevron to secure a proportional share of cleanup costs. "The grant is $250,000, and then we're adding the Chevron dollar amount of a 190 or excuse me, a 190," staff said, and reported that the combination of the grant plus Chevron funding is intended to cover the cleanup budget. Council discussed timing and contingencies with the attorney-general's office contract and learned the formal contract will be returned to council for acceptance or rejection.

Council also authorized a consultant task order: a motion authorized the mayor to sign a task order with Ronald Foster and Alonky in the amount of $135,371 for contract management of cleanup action. Council members asked whether the project would start soon and staff said they expect the cleanup work to be completed by the end of September contingent on the contract and permitting timelines.

Councilors noted the previous Depot Park cleanup experience and that Commerce had provided additional funding when underground tanks were found. Staff said some underground tanks on the Twin City Plaza property may be decommissioned in place if removal would threaten stability, similar to prior work. The council approved the grant acceptance and the consultant task order by voice vote.