City Council Regular Meeting · Monday, January 5, 2026 · City Council Digest

3. SPECIAL BUSINESS

Swearing in of Mayor & City Council Position Nos. 1, 3, 5 & 7 ID 1935

Carried 6-0

20 min · packet pp.5

▶ Watch from 17:16 Open packet at p.5 ↗

Staff report:

Mayor's Office 130 E. Sunset Way Issaquah, WA 98027 425-837-3000 issaquahwa.gov

Roll call:

Moved by Councilmember Nichols · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

In favor: de Michele, Joe, Jiang, Marts, Nichols, Walsh

National Law Enforcement Appreciation Day (LEAD) Proclamation ID 1955

Receive Report · 5 min · packet pp.7–8

Topics: Public Safety

▶ Watch from 20:39 Open packet at p.7 ↗

Staff report:

The Issaquah Municipal Code provides for a Council President and Deputy Council President to be elected annually. The role of the Council President as listed in Section 3.03 of the Council Rules of Procedure includes, but is not limited to:  Serving as the Mayor pro tem in the absence of the Mayor.  Approving agendas for Regular and Special Council meetings in coordination with the Mayor (IMC 2.06.090).  Approving agendas and Chairing Committee of the Whole meetings.  Making appointments to the City Council's standing committees and dedicated seats as described in Section 2.04 of the City Council Rules of Procedure.  Coordinating with the Mayor and applying Councilmembers to facilitate the application process for optional seats on regional boards and commissions.  Setting the accounts payables and payroll review schedule.  Signing certain official documents, such as resolutions.…

Election of Council President and Deputy Council President for 2026 AB 9103

Conduct Election · 15 min

Topics: Elections

▶ Watch from 21:30

5. CONSENT CALENDAR

Accounts: Payables and Payroll of Jan. 5, 2026, $15,168,288.55 ID 1932

Approve · packet pp.9–36

Topics: Budget

▶ Watch from 34:25 Open packet at p.9 ↗

Staff report:

Finance Department P.O. Box 1307 Issaquah, WA 98027 PH: 425-837-3050 www.issaquahwa.gov

Minutes: City Council Regular Meeting, Dec. 1, 2025

Approve · packet pp.37–42

▶ Watch from 34:28 Open packet at p.37 ↗

Staff report:

CONSENT CALENDAR b) 12-01-25 City Council Regular Meeting Minutes Page (0000) CITY OF ISSAQUAH City Council Regular Meeting 7:00 PM Council Chambers, 135 E. December 1, 2025 MINUTES Sunset Way, Issaquah WA

Minutes: City Council Special Meeting, Dec. 13, 2025

Approve · packet pp.43

Previously discussed: City Council Regular Meeting · Dec 31, 2021

▶ Watch from 34:30 Open packet at p.43 ↗

Staff report:

CONSENT CALENDAR c) 12-13-25 City Council Special Meeting Minutes Page (0000) CITY OF ISSAQUAH City Council Special Meeting 11:00 AM Gibson Hall December 13, 2025 MINUTES 105 Newport Way SW

Informational Update: Environmental Board Report ID 1942

Receive Report · packet pp.45–63

Previously discussed: City Council Regular Meeting · Dec 31, 2021

▶ Watch from 34:33 Open packet at p.45 ↗

Staff report:

Per City code, the City of Issaquah’s Environmental Board is required to:

T-Mobile Lease Amendment No AB 9107

Authorize · packet pp.65–95

Topics: Housing

▶ Watch from 34:36 Open packet at p.65 ↗

Staff report:

The City entered into a lease agreement in May 2008 with T-Mobile for their infrastructure at this site at 21282 NE Park Drive, also known as "Tract D;" see attached Exhibit B.

Issaquah Senior Center Solar & Battery Storage Project Contract Award AB 9108

Award Bid · packet pp.97–166

Topics: Climate

Previously discussed: City Council Regular Meeting · Jun 9, 2025

▶ Watch from 34:39 Open packet at p.97 ↗

Staff report:

The Issaquah Senior Center Solar and Battery Storage project was initially designed using a Washington State Department of Commerce Solar and Battery Storage Grant, awarded in 2023. This grant was used to create a microgrid design for the Issaquah Senior Center which was then leveraged to secure implementation grant funding.

Issaquah Police Officers Association (IPOA) Collective Bargaining Agreement & Memorandum of Understanding re: Field Training Officers AB 9114

Approve; Ratify · packet pp.167–204

Topics: Public Safety

▶ Watch from 34:42 Open packet at p.167 ↗

Staff report:

The City’s current collective bargaining agreement with IPOA expired on December 31, 2025. The City and IPOA have entered into a successor 3-year agreement. This unit is comprised of 26 Police Officers and 6 Police Corporals.

Issaquah Police Support Services Association (IPSSA) Collective Bargaining Agreement AB 9115

Approve · packet pp.205–238

Topics: Public Safety

▶ Watch from 34:45 Open packet at p.205 ↗

Staff report:

The City’s current CBA with IPSSA expired on December 31, 2025. IPSSA has had unique challenges obtaining representation for their bargaining group and requested a 1-year contract while they are working through those challenges. The City and IPSSA have entered into an agreement for a 1-year contract. This group consists of 4 Corrections Sergeants, 12 Corrections Officers, 1 Corrections Transport Officer, 4 Police Records staff, 1 Evidence Technician and 1 Crime Prevention Analyst.

Amendment to Jail Services Contract with Sunnyside AB 9118

Authorize · packet pp.239–253

▶ Watch from 34:48 Open packet at p.239 ↗

Staff report:

The City has a jail which holds inmates with misdemeanor offenses. However, at times an individual may exceed the City's facility needs.

6. REGULAR BUSINESS

Public Defender Contract AB 9117

Authorize · 20 min · packet pp.255–267

▶ Watch from 34:51 Open packet at p.255 ↗

Staff report:

Valley Defenders, PLLC, has provided public defense services for the City of Issaquah since 2013. The services they provide ensure that every resident has the right to legal representation, ensuring fairness in the justice system and protecting the rights of all residents regardless of income.

2026 City Council Calendar AB 9096

Carried 6-0

Approve Resolution · 20 min · packet pp.269–298

▶ Watch from 49:27 Open packet at p.269 ↗

Staff report:

Following a 1.5 year pilot program, in February 2024 the City Council adopted a cultural and religious holiday calendar (Resolution No. 2024-07). As part of this calendar adoption, the City committed to avoid scheduling City meetings on religious or cultural holidays with significant work restrictions. This has added a certain level of complexity to scheduling as some standing City Council meetings conflict with those holidays and must be rescheduled. Additionally, the City Council shares meeting space with two advisory boards (Planning Policy Commission and Development Commission), requiring coordination when regular meeting dates are shifted.

Roll call:

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

In favor: Marts, de Michele, Joe, Jiang, Nichols, Walsh

9. GOOD OF THE ORDER

Upcoming Council Meetings

▶ Watch from 1:04:08

1673 segments .txt ↗

0:02 ↗ Got to be good for pictures. Raise your

0:05 ↗ right hand. Repeat after me. I state

0:08 ↗ your name.

0:08 ↗ >> I Mark Mullen,

0:09 ↗ >> having been duly elected to the city of

0:11 ↗ Isqua Mayor.

0:12 ↗ >> Having been duly elected to the city of

0:13 ↗ Isqua Mayor four-year term beginning

0:15 ↗ January 1st, 2026.

0:17 ↗ >> A four-year term beginning January 1st,

0:19 ↗ 2026. to solemnly swear or affirm to

0:22 ↗ solemnly swear or affirm that I will

0:24 ↗ faithfully and impartially I will

0:25 ↗ faithfully and impartially discharge the

0:27 ↗ duties of this office

0:28 ↗ >> discharge the duties of this office

0:30 ↗ >> according to the law

0:31 ↗ >> according to the law

0:32 ↗ >> and to the best of my ability

0:33 ↗ >> to the best of my abilities

0:34 ↗ >> I will support

0:35 ↗ >> I will support

0:36 ↗ >> the constitution of the United States

0:37 ↗ >> the constitution of the United States

0:38 ↗ >> and the constitutional laws of the state

0:40 ↗ of Washington

0:41 ↗ >> constitutional laws of the state of

0:42 ↗ Washington

0:42 ↗ >> all local ordinances

0:44 ↗ >> and all local ordinances

0:45 ↗ >> sheets you very

0:47 ↗ >> [applause]

0:48 ↗ [cheering]

0:53 ↗ [applause]

0:56 ↗ >> So,

0:58 ↗ okay,

1:00 ↗ we've got a few of these to go through.

1:01 ↗ We're going to give every council member

1:02 ↗ the same opportunity. You can introduce

1:04 ↗ anybody you want in the audience. So,

1:06 ↗ I'm going to introduce my family in the

1:08 ↗ audience tonight. And so, yes, there's a

1:10 ↗ lot of mullets.

1:12 ↗ We're going to start with my children in

1:15 ↗ starting with oldest to youngest. So,

1:17 ↗ first we have Isabelle Mullet who just

1:19 ↗ graduated from Western. Isabelle, you

1:20 ↗ have to stand up and kind of wave.

1:23 ↗ [applause and cheering]

1:24 ↗ Down here we have Davis Strier, just

1:26 ↗ graduated from Montana State.

1:29 ↗ [applause]

1:30 ↗ We have Eloise Mullet, just attending

1:33 ↗ Colorado State, about to study abroad in

1:35 ↗ Barcelona.

1:36 ↗ We have Riley Strier at TCU as a

1:39 ↗ sophomore.

1:40 ↗ >> [applause]

1:42 ↗ >> We have Caroline Mullet, our junior at

1:44 ↗ his school high school.

1:46 ↗ And our youngest, the family, Penelopey

1:48 ↗ Mullet, the sophomore at school high

1:49 ↗ school. [applause]

1:51 ↗ And then we have the definition of a

1:53 ↗ better half, my wife, Kelly Mullet.

1:56 ↗ [applause]

1:58 ↗ While we're here, we do have we have my

1:59 ↗ older brother, Scott Mullet, along with

2:01 ↗ his wife, Janelle, and their three

2:03 ↗ daughters. And we have Miranda and Amry

2:06 ↗ and McKenna. So, yes, we call this when

2:08 ↗ we get all together, it's a Mullet

2:09 ↗ Palooa. It's good. And uh and just I

2:13 ↗ guess my remarks. Well, first I'd like

2:16 ↗ to say there's one member of our family

2:18 ↗ who's not here tonight I do want to

2:19 ↗ thank and that's our dad Steve Mullet

2:22 ↗ who was the mayor of Tug of the Town

2:24 ↗ where I was born and raised from 9907.

2:26 ↗ [snorts]

2:28 ↗ And it was his example that showed me

2:30 ↗ the amazing things you can accomplish in

2:32 ↗ this world through local public service.

2:35 ↗ And I will say that I've had the

2:37 ↗ privilege during my life based on

2:39 ↗ college, my career in finance to live in

2:42 ↗ a lot of places in this world. I lived

2:44 ↗ in Southern California, in the Midwest,

2:46 ↗ on the East Coast. I spent 5 years in

2:48 ↗ Europe. And it was that experience that

2:51 ↗ taught me that the Pacific Northwest is

2:53 ↗ not just the best part of the United

2:55 ↗ States. It is literally one of the most

2:57 ↗ beautiful scenic places that you can

2:59 ↗ live this entire earth. And I think in

3:02 ↗ Isiqua we have the additional luxury

3:04 ↗ because within the Pacific Northwest

3:07 ↗ there's no better city to live than

3:08 ↗ right here in Isiqua. And I was having

3:11 ↗ lunch with former mayor Rowan Hines last

3:13 ↗ month and he reminded me of the Isqua

3:16 ↗ motto which is that Isiziqua is a

3:19 ↗ special place where people care. And I

3:22 ↗ can't think of a better way to describe

3:23 ↗ this community that I've fallen in love

3:25 ↗ with for these past 20 years. And I give

3:28 ↗ you my promise to the citizens of Vizqua

3:30 ↗ and the esteemed city council that I

3:33 ↗ will always listen. I will always work

3:36 ↗ hard. I will always tell the truth and I

3:38 ↗ will help whenever I can so this amazing

3:42 ↗ city we call Isiqua can achieve its full

3:44 ↗ potential in the years ahead.

3:48 ↗ [applause]

4:02 ↗ blue.

4:05 ↗ >> Now he's mayor.

4:09 ↗ You're right.

4:21 ↗ I think we are going to start with

4:22 ↗ council position number one, which is

4:24 ↗ Kelly J.

4:30 ↗ Check.

4:37 ↗ >> Hello.

4:38 ↗ >> And to raise your right hand.

4:41 ↗ >> Repeat after me. I state your name.

4:43 ↗ >> I. Kelly Jing.

4:44 ↗ >> Having been duly elected to the city of

4:46 ↗ Isiqua Council position number one.

4:48 ↗ >> Having having been duly elected to the

4:50 ↗ city of Isiqua Council position number

4:51 ↗ one.

4:52 ↗ >> 4-year term beginning January 1st, 2026.

4:54 ↗ a four-year term beginning January 1st,

4:56 ↗ 2026.

4:57 ↗ >> Do solemnly swear or affirm

4:59 ↗ >> do solemnly swear or affirm

5:00 ↗ >> that

5:00 ↗ >> I will faithfully and impartially

5:02 ↗ >> that I will faithfully and impartially

5:03 ↗ >> discharge the duties of this office

5:05 ↗ >> discharge the duties of this office

5:06 ↗ >> according to the law

5:07 ↗ >> according to the law

5:08 ↗ >> and to the best of my ability

5:10 ↗ >> and to the best of my ability

5:11 ↗ >> I will support

5:12 ↗ >> that I will support

5:13 ↗ >> the Constitution of the United States

5:15 ↗ >> the Constitution of the United States

5:16 ↗ >> and the Constitutional Laws of the State

5:18 ↗ of Washington

5:18 ↗ >> and the constitutional laws of the state

5:20 ↗ of Washington

5:20 ↗ >> and all local ordinances

5:21 ↗ >> and all local ordinances

5:22 ↗ >> congratulations. Thank you. [applause]

5:30 ↗ >> Say anything. You want to sign it?

5:31 ↗ >> Um, well, I'll sign I'll I I'll sign it,

5:33 ↗ I guess.

5:34 ↗ >> Okay.

5:34 ↗ >> Um, I didn't really know we were

5:35 ↗ supposed to prepare a speech for this.

5:38 ↗ Um, but I will sign this.

5:40 ↗ >> Any second one, too?

5:42 ↗ >> Okay.

5:45 ↗ >> Neil,

5:46 ↗ >> um, I don't really have any I don't

5:48 ↗ really have any super prepared remarks,

5:50 ↗ but I'll guess I'll just riff for a

5:51 ↗ minute or so. Um, you know, I was

5:54 ↗ appointed to the Isiqua City Council

5:56 ↗ just under a year ago. And in the last

5:58 ↗ year, I mean, it's been basically like

6:00 ↗ drinking from a fire hose, learning

6:01 ↗ about everything in our amazing city and

6:04 ↗ learning about, you know, all the things

6:06 ↗ that have made Isiqua and gotten us to

6:08 ↗ where we are today. And also thinking

6:09 ↗ about, you know, where can we get to and

6:12 ↗ as our mayor Mullet said, you know, how

6:14 ↗ can we help Isiqua reach our true

6:16 ↗ potential in the years to come. So, I'm

6:18 ↗ really excited to get to work with all

6:19 ↗ of my colleagues, both old and new, and

6:21 ↗ especially excited to uh, you know, kind

6:23 ↗ of be on the other side of the table

6:24 ↗ when we're doing another appointment

6:26 ↗ coming up shortly, starting next week.

6:28 ↗ So, um, thank you all for being here

6:30 ↗ tonight, and, uh, I think I'll hand it

6:32 ↗ off to whoever's next.

6:34 ↗ [applause]

6:44 ↗ Okay. Next, we'd like to invite for

6:46 ↗ council position number three, Barbara

6:48 ↗ D. Michelle.

7:00 ↗ >> We both.

7:01 ↗ >> Okay. Please uh raise your right hand.

7:03 ↗ Repeat after me. I state your name.

7:06 ↗ >> I Barbara D. Michelle. Having been duly

7:08 ↗ elected to the city of Isiqua Council

7:09 ↗ position number three.

7:11 ↗ >> Having been duly elected to the city

7:12 ↗ council position number three.

7:14 ↗ >> Four-year term beginning January 1st,

7:16 ↗ 2026.

7:17 ↗ >> A four-year term starting January 1st,

7:19 ↗ 2026.

7:20 ↗ >> Do you solemnly swear or affirm

7:22 ↗ >> do solemnly swear or affirm

7:24 ↗ >> I will faithfully and impartially

7:25 ↗ >> that I will faithfully and impartially

7:27 ↗ >> discharge the duties of this office

7:29 ↗ >> discharge the duties of this office

7:31 ↗ >> according to the law

7:32 ↗ >> according to the law

7:33 ↗ >> and to the best of my ability. and to

7:35 ↗ the best of my ability that I will

7:37 ↗ support

7:37 ↗ >> and that I will support

7:38 ↗ >> the Constitution of the United States

7:41 ↗ the Constitution of the United States

7:43 ↗ >> and the Constitution and laws of the

7:45 ↗ state of Washington

7:45 ↗ >> and the Constitution and laws of the

7:47 ↗ state of Washington and all local

7:48 ↗ ordinances and all local ordinances.

7:51 ↗ CONGRATULATIONS.

7:52 ↗ [applause]

7:59 ↗ >> Thank you,

8:01 ↗ Kelly. I did get the memo. So,

8:04 ↗ [laughter]

8:05 ↗ uh, so thank you first to the voters of

8:07 ↗ Isiqua for providing me with the

8:09 ↗ privilege of serving you for the next

8:11 ↗ four years. Even though I ran unopposed,

8:14 ↗ I am honored by your affirmation of

8:16 ↗ support and I look forward to working

8:18 ↗ with all the residents of Isiqua,

8:20 ↗ whether you voted for me or not, as we

8:22 ↗ focus on the best solutions for our

8:24 ↗ beautiful community. I do have family,

8:27 ↗ but they are all remote. And so I want

8:29 ↗ to acknowledge that uh I do have family

8:32 ↗ in attendance. First of all, my sister

8:33 ↗ Joanne Wright who's joining us from

8:36 ↗ Spokane. They're all up there.

8:39 ↗ Uh my son John, daughter-in-law Diane,

8:41 ↗ granddaughter Iiko, and grandson Robbie.

8:43 ↗ They're all from Cington. Uh my nephew

8:46 ↗ Dan and wife Christy of Kent along with

8:48 ↗ grand nephews Connor and Skyler. and

8:50 ↗ grand niece Sarah who's a member of the

8:53 ↗ University of Arizona Wildcat softball

8:55 ↗ team and who might just be listening in

8:57 ↗ from Tucson. And then finally my nephew

9:00 ↗ Mark, wife Nicola and grand nephew

9:02 ↗ Harrison who live in South Cove and are

9:05 ↗ three of our constituents. I also want

9:07 ↗ to thank Kaylee Jake who ran my

9:10 ↗ reelection campaign. I know it was

9:12 ↗ tough. Thanks. Thanks Kaylee

9:15 ↗ and John Writtenhouse and Trish Blur who

9:18 ↗ worked on my campaign as well. And I

9:20 ↗ also have a friend in Vashon who just

9:23 ↗ notified me that she's listening in. So

9:25 ↗ I feel extremely blessed and grateful

9:29 ↗ tonight. Thank you to everybody. Thank

9:31 ↗ you. [applause]

9:36 ↗ Okay, [applause] keep safe.

9:46 ↗ me.

9:50 ↗ Yes. Oh, I have to sign twice. Okay.

10:00 ↗ But you're going to take this with you.

10:02 ↗ Okay.

10:05 ↗ There you go. Take care.

10:10 ↗ Hey kid,

10:12 ↗ I would

10:16 ↗ see when you do your job well, council

10:18 ↗ member D Michelle, nobody wants to run

10:19 ↗ against you. I think that uh you you

10:22 ↗ deserve that campaign you had. I'd next

10:24 ↗ like to invite for council position

10:26 ↗ number five, Russell Joe

10:36 ↗ Bman.

10:37 ↗ >> Your honor, may I please the court

10:38 ↗ Russell Joe pairing up half of myself

10:43 ↗ very hard about taking holding contempt.

10:44 ↗ So we'll be up.

10:45 ↗ >> You always did.

10:46 ↗ >> There you go.

10:47 ↗ >> If you raise your right hand, repeat

10:48 ↗ after me. I state your name. I, Russell

10:51 ↗ Joe,

10:51 ↗ >> having been duly elected to the city of

10:53 ↗ Isiqua Council position number five.

10:55 ↗ >> Having been duly elected to the city of

10:57 ↗ Isiqua position number five, a

10:58 ↗ >> four-year term beginning January 1st,

11:00 ↗ 2026,

11:01 ↗ >> a four-year term beginning January 1st,

11:03 ↗ 2026.

11:04 ↗ >> Do solemnly swear or affirm

11:06 ↗ >> do solemnly swear

11:07 ↗ >> that I will faithfully and impartially

11:09 ↗ >> that I will faithfully and impartially

11:11 ↗ >> discharge the duties of this office

11:12 ↗ >> discharge the duties of this office

11:14 ↗ >> according to the law

11:15 ↗ >> according to the law

11:16 ↗ >> and to the best of my ability

11:17 ↗ >> and the best of my ability. and that I

11:19 ↗ will support

11:20 ↗ >> and I will support

11:21 ↗ >> the Constitution of the United States

11:23 ↗ >> the Constitution of the United States

11:24 ↗ >> and the Constitutional Laws of the State

11:26 ↗ of Washington

11:26 ↗ >> and the Constitutional Laws of the State

11:28 ↗ of Washington

11:28 ↗ >> and all local ordinances

11:29 ↗ >> and all local ordinances.

11:30 ↗ >> Congratulations. Thank you. [applause]

11:38 ↗ >> As many of you know, I'm starting my

11:40 ↗ 13th year, the lucky 13. So, I'm very

11:43 ↗ excited to continue to have the

11:44 ↗ privilege and honor of serving all of

11:46 ↗ you. Um, it's uh really wonderful when

11:51 ↗ you wake up in the morning and you say,

11:53 ↗ "What can I do to help make the city a

11:54 ↗ little bit better today?" And then you

11:56 ↗ go out and you meet people and you talk

11:58 ↗ with people and you find out what we can

12:00 ↗ do together to make the city better. And

12:03 ↗ I hope to continue to do that for the

12:04 ↗ next four years. Uh, as your council

12:06 ↗ member, thank you.

12:09 ↗ [applause]

12:12 ↗ Same down the top.

12:39 ↗ Thank you. Thanks.

12:48 ↗ >> All right. And last and definitely not

12:50 ↗ least, cuz this is the person who was on

12:51 ↗ the council when I was on the council 15

12:52 ↗ years ago. I'd like to invite Tom.

12:54 ↗ Council position number seven. [snorts]

13:03 ↗ >> Raise your right hand. Repeat after me.

13:05 ↗ I state your name.

13:06 ↗ >> I stole Marts.

13:08 ↗ >> Having been duly elected to the city of

13:09 ↗ Isiqua Council position number seven.

13:11 ↗ Having been duly elected to the city of

13:13 ↗ Isiqua Council position number seven. A

13:15 ↗ four-year term beginning January 1st,

13:17 ↗ 2026. A four-year term beginning January

13:20 ↗ 1st, 2026. Do solemnly swear or affirm.

13:22 ↗ do solemnly swear

13:24 ↗ >> that I will faithfully and impartially

13:25 ↗ >> That I will faithfully and impartially

13:27 ↗ >> discharge the duties of this office

13:29 ↗ >> discharge the duties of this office

13:31 ↗ >> according to the law

13:32 ↗ >> according to the law

13:33 ↗ >> and to the best of my ability

13:34 ↗ >> and to the best of my ability I will

13:36 ↗ support and that I will support

13:38 ↗ Constitution of the United States

13:39 ↗ >> the constitution

13:40 ↗ >> of the United States

13:41 ↗ >> and the Constitution and the laws of the

13:42 ↗ state of Washington

13:43 ↗ >> and the Constitution and the laws of the

13:45 ↗ state of Washington

13:46 ↗ >> and all local ordinances and all local

13:47 ↗ ordinances. Congratulations

13:50 ↗ [applause]

13:56 ↗ Well, one of the advantages of going

13:57 ↗ last is it gives me time to write a

13:59 ↗ short little speech that I didn't know

14:01 ↗ that I was going to be giving, but I

14:02 ↗ will be brief. Uh, this is my fifth time

14:06 ↗ um with Judge Stewart. Um, and so I

14:08 ↗ don't have any family here tonight,

14:09 ↗ unfortunately. Um, but uh everything

14:12 ↗ that I do uh uh I have the support of my

14:16 ↗ wife Tracy who is just amazing and

14:19 ↗ allows me to do all the all the all the

14:21 ↗ cool stuff that I do. Um I have two

14:23 ↗ wonderful children. My and they are both

14:25 ↗ in public service. Um my daughter Sophie

14:28 ↗ lives in New York City and she is in

14:30 ↗ public health and she does evaluation of

14:32 ↗ public health systems and my son Aiden

14:35 ↗ is actually working right now at the

14:36 ↗ King County Sheriff's Office on the 911.

14:39 ↗ So, if you live in unincorporated King

14:41 ↗ County or you live in Smamish or one of

14:43 ↗ the other cities that's served by the

14:44 ↗ sheriff's office, you could possibly get

14:46 ↗ him on the phone. But, um, it thrills me

14:48 ↗ that they have both taken up public

14:51 ↗ service. This is a hard job. What we do

14:54 ↗ here can be a hard job. And uh you know,

14:58 ↗ I've been lucky enough to do rocket

15:00 ↗ science and quantum computing and none

15:02 ↗ of it is is as hard as this because it

15:05 ↗ touches people's lives in a way that

15:06 ↗ none of that business stuff really does.

15:09 ↗ Um but fortunately, we have an amazing

15:12 ↗ staff in the city of Isiqua. We have

15:14 ↗ amazing electeds. We've seen it this

15:16 ↗ year how hard people um sought out the

15:20 ↗ issues that were important to all of you

15:22 ↗ and had it feed their campaigns. We're

15:24 ↗ going to do that again when we do an

15:26 ↗ appointment here in the next month. Um,

15:28 ↗ and we have amazing constituents, the

15:30 ↗ voters and the business people of

15:32 ↗ Isiqua. It's hard challenges. We don't

15:35 ↗ have, we're lucky enough we don't have

15:37 ↗ some of the division and strife that

15:40 ↗ some communities have. We work hard. You

15:43 ↗ all appreciate it. You come here, you

15:45 ↗ tell us what matters to you, and then we

15:46 ↗ make the tough decisions. So, thank you.

15:50 ↗ [applause]

15:56 ↗ So,

16:16 ↗ congratulations.

16:28 ↗ Okay, if there is no objection, we will

16:30 ↗ now take a 10-minute recess to take

16:32 ↗ photos and everyone can congratulate

16:35 ↗ their and chat with whoever they want in

16:36 ↗ the audience. And our plan is to be back

16:39 ↗ at roughly 7:28.

16:42 ↗ So, we are now in recess.

16:52 ↗ We will now call the meeting back to

16:54 ↗ order.

16:57 ↗ I think we're missing uh Council Member

17:00 ↗ Jen who's getting a beverage, but I see

17:02 ↗ Council Member Jen is on her way.

17:06 ↗ And then Council Member Joe.

17:11 ↗ Um, the next item of business is ID1955

17:14 ↗ National Law Enforcement Appreciation

17:16 ↗ Proclamation. I'd like to invite police

17:19 ↗ chief Paul Schwan to lecture

17:37 ↗ is dedicated to protecting the lives,

17:39 ↗ safety, and property of the Isqua

17:41 ↗ community through professional, ethical,

17:43 ↗ and compassionate service. And whereas

17:45 ↗ law enforcement officers serve with a

17:47 ↗ courage and integrity, often placing

17:49 ↗ themselves in harm's way to maintain

17:50 ↗ public safety, uphold the law, and

17:53 ↗ respond to emergencies at all hours. And

17:55 ↗ whereas members of the Esqua Police

17:57 ↗ Department work collaboratively with

17:58 ↗ residents, businesses, schools, and

18:00 ↗ community partners to build trust,

18:02 ↗ strengthen relationships, and promote a

18:04 ↗ safe and welcoming city for all. Whereas

18:07 ↗ law enforcement professionals face

18:08 ↗ increasing challenges and

18:09 ↗ responsibilities that require

18:11 ↗ resilience, sound judgment, and a deep

18:13 ↗ commitment to public service. And

18:15 ↗ whereas National Law Enforcement

18:16 ↗ Appreciation Day provides an opportunity

18:18 ↗ to recognize and express gratitude for

18:21 ↗ the dedication, sacrifice, and service

18:23 ↗ of law enforcement officers and

18:25 ↗ professional staff. Now, therefore, I

18:27 ↗ Mark Mullet, mayor of the city of Isqua,

18:28 ↗ do recognize January 9th, 2026 to be

18:32 ↗ National Law Enforcement Appreciation

18:34 ↗ Day in the city of Isiqua. encourage all

18:36 ↗ residents to join me in recognizing and

18:38 ↗ thanking the Isqua Police Department for

18:39 ↗ their commitment to our community and

18:41 ↗ witness whereab I have signed my hand

18:43 ↗ and seal the city of Isqua this 5th day

18:45 ↗ of January 2026.

18:50 ↗ >> You want your photo op? [laughter]

19:04 ↗ Sure.

19:08 ↗ Thank you, mayor and council members and

19:10 ↗ the community. Um, it's my honor to We

19:14 ↗ have a lot of dedicated people in our

19:16 ↗ organization that work very hard, long

19:18 ↗ hours, lots of different hours to

19:20 ↗ protect. Um, we are one of the very few

19:23 ↗ law enforcement agencies in the state

19:25 ↗ that still respond to all calls for

19:27 ↗ service that are requested. We do have

19:29 ↗ afford the opportunity for people to

19:31 ↗ report online for those who want more

19:34 ↗ anonymity or want um don't have time in

19:36 ↗ everybody's busy lives. But we do still

19:39 ↗ respond if someone does call. We do not

19:41 ↗ put it aside and that's a huge part of

19:43 ↗ our community and the service that we do

19:44 ↗ provide that is unique to Washington um

19:47 ↗ in this time and day and age. And so I

19:49 ↗ appreciate this and the recognition of

19:52 ↗ our staff and how hard they work every

19:54 ↗ day, day and night, when people are

19:55 ↗ sleeping, when they're awake, whether

19:57 ↗ they live, work, or play here. So, thank

19:59 ↗ you very much.

20:01 ↗ [applause]

20:05 ↗ [applause]

20:07 ↗ >> Thank you very much, Chief Schwan. The

20:09 ↗ next item of business is gender bill

20:11 ↗ 9103, election of council president and

20:13 ↗ deputy council president for 2026. The

20:15 ↗ Isqua Municipal Code provides that a

20:18 ↗ council president and deputy council

20:19 ↗ president be elected at the first

20:20 ↗ meeting in January for a one-year term.

20:23 ↗ A summary of the responsibilities were

20:24 ↗ provided in tonight's agenda packet. The

20:26 ↗ following process will be used to elect

20:28 ↗ the officers. First, I will call for

20:30 ↗ nominations. When all nominations have

20:32 ↗ been made, I will close the nominations.

20:34 ↗ Council members will then be provided an

20:36 ↗ opportunity to discuss nominees. I will

20:38 ↗ then ask council me council members to

20:39 ↗ cast votes on the nominees in the order

20:41 ↗ they were nominated. Council members may

20:43 ↗ vote for themselves and may vote for

20:44 ↗ only one nominee. The first council

20:46 ↗ member receiving the majority of the

20:48 ↗ votes is declared the council president.

20:50 ↗ The process will then be repeated for

20:52 ↗ the deputy council president. [snorts]

20:53 ↗ Begin with the nominations for council

20:55 ↗ president. Are there any nominations?

20:58 ↗ Council member Joe.

20:59 ↗ >> Mr. Mayor, thank you. I would like to

21:02 ↗ nominate uh Barb D. Michelle for council

21:05 ↗ president.

21:07 ↗ >> Are there any other nominations?

21:10 ↗ Hearing none, the nominations are

21:12 ↗ closed. Is there any discussion of the

21:14 ↗ nominees?

21:20 ↗ There is no further discussion. The

21:21 ↗ council will now vote on whether to

21:23 ↗ elect Barb D. Michelle as 2026 council

21:26 ↗ president. [snorts] All those in favor

21:28 ↗ signify by saying I and raise your hand.

21:30 ↗ >> I

21:31 ↗ >> I

21:33 ↗ say no.

21:34 ↗ >> That's all I say.

21:36 ↗ >> Those opposed say no. And the election

21:39 ↗ is unanimous. Congratulations, Council

21:42 ↗ President Harvey Michelle. [applause]

21:47 ↗ >> Can I speak?

21:49 ↗ >> You may.

21:51 ↗ >> Well, thank you very much. I really

21:52 ↗ appreciate the vote of support and I

21:54 ↗ know we're going to have a challenging

21:56 ↗ year. Uh but I will be doing the best I

21:59 ↗ can to uh serve as your president and

22:02 ↗ hopefully make things easier or as easy

22:04 ↗ as we can uh among a lot of hard

22:06 ↗ decisions facing us. The person I want

22:08 ↗ to thank the most is our departing

22:11 ↗ council president Lindseay Walsh. Uh

22:14 ↗ we've been working together for two

22:15 ↗ years and it's been an absolute delight

22:17 ↗ and she's a wonderful leader and I've

22:20 ↗ learned a lot from her and I can only

22:22 ↗ hope that I can do half the job that you

22:24 ↗ did. uh she's just been great for three

22:26 ↗ years, which I think is a historic

22:28 ↗ record as well for our council. So,

22:31 ↗ thank you so much, Lindsay.

22:33 ↗ [applause]

22:38 ↗ >> Okay, we will now open nominations for

22:40 ↗ deputy council president. Are there any

22:42 ↗ nominations? Council member Joe.

22:45 ↗ >> Mr. Mayor, I would nominate total Mars

22:47 ↗ for deputy council president.

22:50 ↗ >> Are there any other nominations?

22:53 ↗ Hearing none, the nominations are now

22:54 ↗ closed. Is there any discussions on the

22:56 ↗ nominee?

22:58 ↗ And if there's no further discussion,

22:59 ↗ the council will now vote on whether to

23:01 ↗ elect to marks as a 2026 deputy council

23:04 ↗ president. All those in favor signify by

23:05 ↗ saying I and raise your hand.

23:08 ↗ >> I I

23:12 ↗ >> I'm learning. All those opposed. And it

23:14 ↗ is unanimous that council member to Mars

23:17 ↗ is elected deputy council president.

23:19 ↗ CONGRATULATIONS. [applause]

23:24 ↗ THANK YOU, MR. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I

23:26 ↗ appreciate it. Um, it's the greatest

23:28 ↗ job. You get to be at all the important

23:30 ↗ meetings, but you don't have to answer

23:32 ↗ all the letters. That's Barb's job.

23:34 ↗ [laughter] So, I am very, very much

23:35 ↗ looking forward to being deputy council

23:37 ↗ president. Even though people will say

23:38 ↗ council, deputy president, and they'll

23:40 ↗ stay wrong. Thank you.

23:42 ↗ >> Okay, we're going to take a very, very

23:44 ↗ brief at ease so people can rearrange

23:46 ↗ chairs.

23:59 ↗ Okay, we are back to order. It is now

24:02 ↗ time for public comments. Comments can

24:04 ↗ be made in person or virtually. Those of

24:06 ↗ you who signed up in advance will be

24:07 ↗ called on first. If you're joining us

24:09 ↗ virtually and would like to make

24:10 ↗ comments, please raise your virtual hand

24:12 ↗ or send the host a chat message. And if

24:14 ↗ you're on the phone, press star three.

24:16 ↗ If you joined by computer or smartphone,

24:17 ↗ there should be a hand icon. And if

24:19 ↗ you're in the room and did not sign up,

24:20 ↗ there will be an opportunity for you to

24:22 ↗ raise your hand if you'd like to speak

24:23 ↗ before I close this portion of the

24:24 ↗ meeting. Clerk, has anyone signed up to

24:26 ↗ speak for general audience comments or

24:27 ↗ indicate desire to speak this evening?

24:29 ↗ >> Yes.

24:36 ↗ >> As a reminder, written comments may be

24:38 ↗ sub can be submitted anytime at city

24:41 ↗ councilwa.gov.

24:44 ↗ For those of you here to make comments,

24:46 ↗ we welcome comments related to Isqua's

24:47 ↗ programs, projects, services, or events.

24:49 ↗ Comments related to political campaigns

24:51 ↗ are not permitted, and we ask you to be

24:53 ↗ respectful. This is not a back and forth

24:55 ↗ dialogue, but we do want to hear what

24:56 ↗ you have to say. For virtual attendees,

24:58 ↗ please unmute your microphone. For

25:00 ↗ inerson attendees, step up to the left

25:01 ↗ turn, turn on the button on the

25:03 ↗ microphone in which we'll display a red

25:04 ↗ light. You can state your name and

25:06 ↗ address in relationship to the city. And

25:08 ↗ we ask you to speak clearly and limit

25:10 ↗ your comments to five minutes. Um,

25:13 ↗ thank

25:17 ↗ >> All right. The first person signed up to

25:19 ↗ speak is a virtual attendee, Paul Quinn.

25:21 ↗ Paul, I'm making you a panelist now. You

25:24 ↗ should be able to unmute and can choose

25:26 ↗ to turn your video on.

25:37 ↗ We are waiting for Paul to

25:41 ↗ magically appear.

25:44 ↗ >> Paul, I'm going to try.

25:46 ↗ >> Okay, I think I think it works now.

25:48 ↗ >> We can hear you.

25:50 ↗ >> Okay, great. Okay, so

25:51 ↗ >> I can see you.

25:53 ↗ >> Great. Good evening and council members.

25:56 ↗ My name is Paul Quinn. I live in Samish.

25:58 ↗ I'm speaking to you as an individual who

26:00 ↗ cares about fairness and how is thequa

26:02 ↗ solid waste customers are charged for

26:04 ↗ disposal right now. We charge our

26:06 ↗ residents and businesses for disposal

26:08 ↗ based on the size of container being

26:10 ↗ picked up. The effect of this message is

26:13 ↗ to say that we don't really care how

26:14 ↗ much you put in or divert from the

26:16 ↗ landfill. And this approach is unfair as

26:19 ↗ it charges all people based on the size

26:21 ↗ of the container rather than what's in

26:23 ↗ the container. And we know this is wrong

26:25 ↗ as our water, gas, and electricity

26:27 ↗ charges are based on what we use rather

26:30 ↗ than on the sides of the wires and pipes

26:31 ↗ connecting us to service. I've emailed

26:34 ↗ you today a few handouts. Handout number

26:37 ↗ one shows both updated diversion rates

26:40 ↗ for city of Visiqua through October 2025

26:44 ↗ and also a graphic of the trend of the

26:46 ↗ monthly cost for garbage disposal for

26:48 ↗ your single family residences. It

26:50 ↗ continues to go higher and higher. And

26:53 ↗ last year, King County told us their

26:54 ↗ disposal charges passed on to the city's

26:57 ↗ residences and businesses is likely

27:00 ↗ going to double in coming years. What is

27:03 ↗ worse than this trend line is the city

27:04 ↗ doesn't really allow residences or

27:06 ↗ businesses to reduce their cost for

27:08 ↗ disposal by properly diverting materials

27:10 ↗ for recycling and compost. In fact, your

27:13 ↗ current approach increases cost to folks

27:15 ↗ who work hard sorting recyclables and

27:17 ↗ composting food scraps by charging them

27:19 ↗ the very same as others who are

27:21 ↗ indifferent to this.

27:23 ↗ This unfair and it can and should be

27:25 ↗ changed by weighing the refugees that

27:28 ↗ each customer creates. And to begin this

27:31 ↗ change, you recommend a pilot program

27:32 ↗ called Smart Disposal, which will help

27:34 ↗ significantly improve the city's

27:36 ↗ diversion rates. And in note, Smart

27:38 ↗ Disposal is an innovative initiative. is

27:41 ↗ not a company. Handout number three

27:43 ↗ outlines how smart disposal works in

27:45 ↗ some detail and I'll briefly describe

27:48 ↗ it. Smart disposal weighs each container

27:50 ↗ picked up by the hauler at each single

27:52 ↗ family home. This system uses postcards

27:55 ↗ then mailed to each resident which

27:57 ↗ provides data specific to the resident,

27:59 ↗ including a landfill diversion rate per

28:01 ↗ pickup and how their use of the utility

28:04 ↗ compares to others in their community. I

28:06 ↗ provided hand at number four to show an

28:08 ↗ example postcard report that residents

28:11 ↗ will receive and this helps us move from

28:14 ↗ a toss and forget mindset towards making

28:16 ↗ better choices. We all know that

28:18 ↗ feedback through measurement works

28:19 ↗ because water, electricity and gas are

28:21 ↗ metered and it helps us to moderate our

28:23 ↗ use. Smart disposal provides the meters

28:27 ↗ our disposal utility needs.

28:30 ↗ The city's current initiatives are good

28:32 ↗ uh but they do not provide sufficient

28:34 ↗ impact to improve trends needed to reach

28:36 ↗ the city's 2030 divergent goals and

28:40 ↗ notably 2030 is significant for all of

28:42 ↗ you as that's your term the next four

28:46 ↗ years but this council can spend time I

28:49 ↗ don't expect it but this council could

28:50 ↗ spend time explaining why is did not hit

28:53 ↗ the diversion goal by 2030 or we can

28:56 ↗ take the needed actions to get us there

28:58 ↗ in time. We need this council to provide

29:01 ↗ the urgency and leadership to drive

29:03 ↗ smart disposal forward. And what I

29:05 ↗ recommend to you today is that the city

29:07 ↗ implement smart disposal or conduct a

29:09 ↗ proof of concept project to demonstrate

29:11 ↗ for about $50,000 that smart disposal

29:14 ↗ works.

29:16 ↗ Metering and reporting to residents what

29:18 ↗ we dispose of the curb provides fairness

29:20 ↗ to help us obey increasing cost of

29:23 ↗ disposal. This council should support

29:25 ↗ fair pricing for our disposal utility.

29:27 ↗ Thanks for listening to that.

29:29 ↗ >> Thank you very much, Paul.

29:34 ↗ >> The next person signed up to speak is

29:36 ↗ Cersei Allen here in the council

29:37 ↗ chambers.

29:46 ↗ >> All right, go ahead.

29:47 ↗ >> Hi there. Uh my name is Matthew Fischer

29:49 ↗ and I'm a recent graduate from Isqua

29:51 ↗ High School. I'm joined here by Cersei

29:53 ↗ and Cam. Um and I'm also a 15-year uh

29:55 ↗ citizen here in Isqua. Um during my time

29:57 ↗ in high school, I had the privilege of

29:59 ↗ serving as student body president and as

30:00 ↗ a sustainability ambassador, working

30:02 ↗ closely with the city of Isqua's

30:03 ↗ sustainability department. Uh today,

30:06 ↗ members of the Isqua sustainability

30:07 ↗ ambassador team and I wanted to share

30:08 ↗ some more work uh in 2025 toward

30:11 ↗ advancing the current ISQA climate

30:12 ↗ action plan. One of the agenda items for

30:14 ↗ this city council meeting is the

30:15 ↗ environmental board annual report

30:17 ↗ submitted by Stacy McKinstry, and we

30:19 ↗ wanted to link her emphasis on more

30:21 ↗ engagement with the Isco School District

30:23 ↗ with some of our school-based actions

30:24 ↗ and initiatives. The first thing I

30:26 ↗ wanted to highlight was how the Iscoa

30:28 ↗ team successfully advocated for a

30:29 ↗ district-wide sustainability policy in

30:31 ↗ the Esqua school district operational

30:33 ↗ expectation 17 that was officially

30:35 ↗ passed on May 8th, 2025. As a team, we

30:38 ↗ su we successfully advocated for and

30:40 ↗ secured official letters of support from

30:42 ↗ the city of Esqua and four neighboring

30:44 ↗ cities, Reon, Belleview, Seamish, and

30:46 ↗ Newcastle. The effort included several

30:49 ↗ public comments at the schoolboard

30:50 ↗ meetings and multiple rounds of policy

30:52 ↗ drafting and refinement. The result was

30:54 ↗ an operational expectation that has

30:55 ↗ accountability built into it as the

30:57 ↗ school district must present a

30:58 ↗ monitoring report to the school board

31:00 ↗ each year for the previous school year.

31:03 ↗ Okay. So, hi, I'm Cersei Allen, uh, a

31:06 ↗ junior at Isqua High School. Uh, some of

31:08 ↗ you guys might recognize me from the

31:10 ↗ town hall event. Uh, something I helped

31:12 ↗ work on this year was a project called

31:14 ↗ the carbon commute count, a multi-dist

31:16 ↗ transportation survey and analysis. We

31:19 ↗ received upwards of 12,000 survey

31:21 ↗ responses from 13 middle schools, seven

31:23 ↗ high schools, and two private schools.

31:26 ↗ Um, it was a great feat for us and we

31:29 ↗ got lots of participation, but obviously

31:31 ↗ this is just a baseline. The carbon

31:33 ↗ community count is meant to expand

31:34 ↗ campaigns like bike to school, uh,

31:36 ↗ carpole to school and bus bingo. Uh, by

31:39 ↗ using this data, it adds a personal

31:41 ↗ connection and responsibility to

31:42 ↗ students um to improve our cap per

31:45 ↗ capita account. So far by incorporating

31:48 ↗ an understanding of carbon footprint in

31:50 ↗ such a digestible way has been truly a

31:52 ↗ spearhead opening for a united effort

31:55 ↗ not only on the school spirit level but

31:57 ↗ in civics leadership and science

31:59 ↗ curriculums.

32:03 ↗ Good evening everybody. My name is Cam

32:05 ↗ Penhard and I'm also a junior at Isqua

32:07 ↗ High School. Um, I have been a

32:09 ↗ sustainability ambassador for just over

32:10 ↗ a year now and I have the pleasure of

32:12 ↗ being one of Isqua High School's

32:14 ↗ sustainability coordinators along with

32:16 ↗ another ambassador to Hina Dona who

32:17 ↗ could not be with us today. This year,

32:20 ↗ Isqua ASB piloted the sustainability

32:22 ↗ coordinator role and developed a written

32:24 ↗ toolkit in hopes of reducing the

32:26 ↗ environmental waste produced by ASB.

32:28 ↗ Drawing from our personal experience in

32:30 ↗ ASB, the toolkit focuses on what

32:32 ↗ actually works in a school environment.

32:34 ↗ We have organized it into practical

32:36 ↗ focus areas including but not limited to

32:39 ↗ energy, transportation, waste, and event

32:42 ↗ planning. Within these areas, we provide

32:45 ↗ tips and resources to help facilitate

32:47 ↗ real impact. The ultimate goal is to

32:49 ↗ have Isqua's ASB serve as a model to

32:51 ↗ other middle and high schools in the

32:53 ↗ area in terms of implementing

32:54 ↗ sustainability into everyday day-to-day

32:56 ↗ operations.

32:58 ↗ On November 19th, 2025, three elected

33:01 ↗ city members and two city staff members

33:03 ↗ joined us at the Isqua Town Hall at

33:05 ↗ school alongside representatives from

33:07 ↗ all three of our ASB student government

33:08 ↗ classes and a whole sustainable design

33:11 ↗ and tech class. Overall, we had 80

33:14 ↗ students participating in that event and

33:16 ↗ it was a great success. Cersei, Tuhina,

33:19 ↗ and I all shared key successes from

33:21 ↗ throughout the 2025 calendar year that

33:23 ↗ you just heard about, including some

33:25 ↗ school-based campaigns from the 2024

33:27 ↗ 2025 school year, including this school

33:29 ↗ year 2025 2026.

33:32 ↗ Elected officials discussed their

33:33 ↗ personal visions for engaging with

33:35 ↗ students within the city's climate

33:37 ↗ action plan piloted by Stacy Vim McKini.

33:40 ↗ The session concluded with a highly

33:42 ↗ successful Q&A that had a great dialogue

33:44 ↗ between students and city staff

33:45 ↗ officials. The town hall received incred

33:48 ↗ incredible support and encouragement

33:50 ↗ from students and staff and students are

33:52 ↗ already inspired and asking for more. We

33:54 ↗ hope to continue working with you all in

33:56 ↗ the future and are super excited to see

33:57 ↗ how many student lives we can change.

33:59 ↗ Thank you for your time.

34:01 ↗ >> Great. Thank you very much. Council

34:02 ↗ member Jen got credit for that meeting

34:04 ↗ because she rode her bike to it. So, um,

34:08 ↗ anywhere?

34:08 ↗ >> No one else has signed up in advance.

34:11 ↗ All

34:11 ↗ >> right. Is there anybody else in the

34:12 ↗ audience who would like to make public

34:14 ↗ comments?

34:16 ↗ All right, not seeing any.

34:19 ↗ The next item of business is the consent

34:22 ↗ calendar. I do not have any remarks on

34:25 ↗ today's consent calendar items. Are

34:27 ↗ there any committee chairs or chair

34:28 ↗ dairies who would like to report on any

34:30 ↗ of the consent calendar items?

34:35 ↗ Not hearing any. The consent calendar

34:36 ↗ was distributed to council in advance.

34:38 ↗ If authorized, the item on the consent

34:39 ↗ calendar will be considered together and

34:41 ↗ approved by one motion. Have the

34:43 ↗ payables and payroll been reviewed?

34:46 ↗ >> They have.

34:47 ↗ >> Does any council member desire to remove

34:49 ↗ any item from the consent calendar and

34:51 ↗ consider it under regular business?

34:57 ↗ >> All right. The motion to approve the

34:58 ↗ consent calendar. Oh,

35:02 ↗ is there a motion to approve the

35:03 ↗ consent? Council me council president

35:06 ↗ Michelle.

35:06 ↗ >> Thank you, Mary Mullet. Um, I move that

35:09 ↗ we uh approve the consent agenda as

35:12 ↗ presented. Second. There's a motion and

35:15 ↗ a second. All those in favor say I.

35:19 ↗ >> I.

35:22 ↗ >> All those opposed? No. And that passes.

35:25 ↗ The next item of business is regular

35:27 ↗ business. Agenda Bill 9117, the public

35:30 ↗ defender contract. Like to invite city

35:32 ↗ attorney Rachel Bender Turpin to present

35:34 ↗ this item.

35:36 ↗ >> Good evening and happy new year mayor,

35:39 ↗ council, staff. I'm Rachel Bender

35:42 ↗ Turpin. I'm your city attorney and I'm

35:44 ↗ here tonight to uh discuss

35:47 ↗ um the agenda bill 9014, which is a

35:52 ↗ contract with Valley Defenders, who's

35:54 ↗ the city's current public defender firm

35:57 ↗ for another one-year contract. Uh these

36:00 ↗ rates reflect increased rates over last

36:03 ↗ year. Um substantially increased about

36:07 ↗ double. This is the result of changes in

36:11 ↗ um the state uh the Washington Supreme

36:14 ↗ Court standards for public defense which

36:17 ↗ have have essentially required the city

36:19 ↗ to over a 10-year period dramatically

36:22 ↗ reduce case loads for public defenders.

36:25 ↗ Currently, it's I think believe 420

36:27 ↗ cases per public defender. And um at the

36:31 ↗ end of this 10-year period, we have to

36:32 ↗ get down to 120 per public defender. So,

36:35 ↗ it's a substantial um

36:39 ↗ uh decrease in case cases per attorney.

36:44 ↗ Uh one one piece of that's key to the

36:48 ↗ order is that the Supreme Court has said

36:50 ↗ that if you are already doing better

36:53 ↗ than um you're you're allowed to to

36:56 ↗ decrease it over a 10-year period, 10%

36:58 ↗ per year. However, you can't go up from

37:01 ↗ where you are currently. So in other

37:02 ↗ words, we can't increase case loads

37:05 ↗ beyond what we have already in place

37:07 ↗ here. We are lucky that in Isiqua um we

37:10 ↗ are already ahead of the curve. We

37:12 ↗ weren't operating with a you over 400

37:15 ↗ per attorney case load standard. So the

37:19 ↗ good news is um we'll get there faster.

37:21 ↗ The bad news is that we now have to um

37:26 ↗ jump, you know, a little faster, I

37:28 ↗ guess, than we would if we'd had the

37:29 ↗ full 10 years to implement. And uh the

37:33 ↗ so what we have here before you is a

37:34 ↗ contract with Valley Defenders who is

37:36 ↗ who's been serving the city for um quite

37:39 ↗ a while now, at least 10 years. They've

37:40 ↗ been doing a good job. It's frankly a a

37:44 ↗ difficult field to find uh find public

37:47 ↗ defenders right now. It's hard to find

37:49 ↗ firms that do this and it's hard to find

37:51 ↗ employees for those firms or for

37:53 ↗ municipalities that want to contract

37:54 ↗ with them directly or employ them as

37:56 ↗ employees. Um it's a statewide problem

38:00 ↗ that has been exacerbated frankly by

38:02 ↗ this Supreme Court order, but it is what

38:05 ↗ it is and we um just have to make the

38:07 ↗ best of it and provide our community

38:10 ↗ with high quality indigen uh defense

38:14 ↗ services.

38:16 ↗ The rate was calculated based on um the

38:21 ↗ on a a total total uh cost allocation of

38:24 ↗ what it would what what it costs for

38:27 ↗ valley defenders to employ

38:30 ↗ folks to fill these positions for isqua.

38:33 ↗ So because of the shortage it's the

38:36 ↗ rates have gone substantially up. you

38:38 ↗ have to pay. People are able to sort of

38:41 ↗ ask their price for these jobs and very

38:44 ↗ different from when I started when these

38:46 ↗ were actually pretty low paid low paying

38:47 ↗ jobs. It's a one-year contract. There is

38:51 ↗ um an option for us to renew it for an

38:54 ↗ additional year if the public defender

38:56 ↗ agrees. Uh which would be great because

38:59 ↗ that means that thing the cases or that

39:01 ↗ the costs aren't going up. It also has

39:03 ↗ provision in the contract that if the

39:05 ↗ costs go if the case loads go

39:07 ↗ substantially down or substantially up,

39:10 ↗ we can the parties can meet and confer

39:12 ↗ and negotiate amendments to the

39:14 ↗ contract. We do hope that we will not be

39:17 ↗ looking at increased cases. Uh beyond

39:19 ↗ this, the administration, including

39:21 ↗ myself, are currently looking at ways to

39:25 ↗ um

39:27 ↗ limit our filings to begin with,

39:29 ↗ potentially like pre-filing diversion

39:31 ↗ programs that would uh limit that would

39:34 ↗ reduce the number of cases that have to

39:36 ↗ be filed, period. by giving people with

39:39 ↗ very um limited low crim criminal

39:42 ↗ history or no criminal history the

39:44 ↗ opportunity to do things like uh classes

39:48 ↗ and community service in to avoid having

39:51 ↗ charges filed in the first place. And

39:54 ↗ with that, I'm happy to answer any

39:56 ↗ questions.

39:57 ↗ >> Are there any questions from the

39:58 ↗ council?

40:01 ↗ >> Council member J.

40:03 ↗ >> Um quick question. Are we, just to

40:05 ↗ [clears throat] recap, are we planning

40:06 ↗ on using some of the funds from the

40:08 ↗ public safety sales tax to help pay for

40:10 ↗ the increased cost here?

40:11 ↗ >> Yes, we are.

40:15 ↗ >> All right. That's any other questions?

40:17 ↗ Does anyone want to make a motion?

40:21 ↗ >> So, I move approval of resolution number

40:24 ↗ 2026.

40:28 ↗ >> That's right. Motion.

40:30 ↗ >> Oh.

40:31 ↗ Um, let's see. That's where we pay city

40:35 ↗ clerk tisha the big [laughter] bucks

40:37 ↗ >> and I think just for the record for the

40:38 ↗ public record I think it was agenda bill

40:40 ↗ 9117 I think there was a different

40:42 ↗ >> right

40:43 ↗ >> number referenced earlier but I think

40:45 ↗ this one is

40:45 ↗ >> is it not 9014 oh no you're right it's

40:49 ↗ 917 that's yes it's 9117 thank you mayor

40:54 ↗ >> okay let me start over again so I move

40:56 ↗ to authorize the mayor to execute a

40:58 ↗ professional services agreement with

40:59 ↗ valley defenders for public defender

41:01 ↗ services for the

41:04 ↗ second.

41:05 ↗ >> Okay, there's a motion, a second. Is

41:06 ↗ there any council discussion? Council

41:09 ↗ member Joe.

41:11 ↗ >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor.

41:13 ↗ Um, first off, uh, I have served as a

41:17 ↗ public defender in Colorado. It's not an

41:19 ↗ easy job to do and, uh, we are fortunate

41:22 ↗ that, uh, Sean McN and his firm are

41:25 ↗ servicing the city of Isiqua. They do a

41:27 ↗ fine job. I I wish that Judge Stewart

41:30 ↗ hadn't left because part of the reason

41:32 ↗ why public defenders and prosecutors

41:34 ↗ want to operate in our court is because

41:36 ↗ it is it is a well-run court. Um it is a

41:40 ↗ court that doesn't waste any time. It

41:42 ↗ gets its business done in a timely

41:44 ↗ fashion and gets the cases through uh

41:47 ↗ the process without um abridging or

41:51 ↗ trampling on anyone's rights. Everyone's

41:54 ↗ uh individual rights are taken care of

41:55 ↗ and and upheld. But it does get the

41:58 ↗ business done in a timely fashion. We

42:00 ↗ are very fortunate to have this firm

42:03 ↗ want to come to Siqua and do this and um

42:06 ↗ I would speak highly in favor of

42:09 ↗ adopting this contract this evening.

42:11 ↗ Thank you.

42:11 ↗ >> Excellent.

42:15 ↗ >> Council President, you Michelle.

42:17 ↗ >> Yes. I think council member Joe said it

42:19 ↗ very well, but I did want to say this is

42:21 ↗ something that I've been keeping an eye

42:22 ↗ on for some time. I feel that public

42:25 ↗ defenders are essential to ensuring that

42:27 ↗ every Isiqua resident, no matter their

42:29 ↗ economic status, receives justice under

42:31 ↗ the law. I'm really really pleased that

42:34 ↗ we are ahead of the curve in terms of uh

42:36 ↗ case reduction. Um and I think that this

42:39 ↗ is a very very good start in the right

42:41 ↗ direction. I think there is still more

42:43 ↗ that needs to be done to make sure that

42:45 ↗ public defenders are equitably

42:47 ↗ compensated and that they have the work

42:51 ↗ load that is appropriate for their

42:54 ↗ education and their uh experience uh

42:56 ↗ levels. So we still have a ways to go

42:58 ↗ but I think this is a really good start

43:00 ↗ and I also will be supporting this

43:02 ↗ motion.

43:04 ↗ >> Excellent. Any other comments with that?

43:07 ↗ Let's call for the vote. All those in

43:08 ↗ favor say I.

43:09 ↗ >> I. I.

43:11 ↗ All those opposed? No.

43:14 ↗ And that passes. I figured out my button

43:17 ↗ thing. Thank you very much, Rachel. Uh,

43:19 ↗ the next item of business is agenda bill

43:21 ↗ 9096, 2026, city council calendar. I'd

43:24 ↗ like to invite Deputy City Clerk, Cassie

43:26 ↗ Miller, to present this item.

43:52 ↗ Thank you for your patience while I get

43:54 ↗ set up.

44:11 ↗ Please don't look to me for tech

44:12 ↗ support. [laughter]

44:22 ↗ We need like that Jeopardy theme music

44:24 ↗ we can just play in the background.

44:33 ↗ >> [laughter]

44:45 ↗ >> There we go. I just needed the moral

44:47 ↗ support of the clerk.

44:51 ↗ >> All right.

44:51 ↗ >> Well, thank you for the introduction.

44:52 ↗ You already know I'm Cassidy Miller,

44:54 ↗ deputy city clerk, and uh I'm pleased to

44:56 ↗ present uh the proposed 2026 council

44:58 ↗ meeting and council committee meeting

45:00 ↗ calendar to you.

45:08 ↗ Go.

45:10 ↗ >> So, uh, the purpose of adopting the

45:12 ↗ calendar is to create some amount of

45:14 ↗ certainty, predictability, and

45:15 ↗ transparency with the public on when our

45:17 ↗ city council meetings will be held,

45:19 ↗ including the council committee

45:20 ↗ meetings. Uh, in there is a regular

45:23 ↗ meeting schedule assigned to each group.

45:25 ↗ However, uh there are uh a variety of

45:28 ↗ holidays uh that fall in that in between

45:31 ↗ that schedule that uh cause some

45:34 ↗ misalignment uh and rescheduling needs.

45:36 ↗ Um in 2024, the council also adopted a

45:39 ↗ cultural and religious holiday uh

45:41 ↗ acknowledging that there were certain

45:42 ↗ holidays with significant work

45:44 ↗ restrictions that would prohibit the

45:45 ↗ public from coming to attend in our

45:47 ↗ community and we were are working to uh

45:50 ↗ not schedule any public meetings on

45:52 ↗ those dates.

45:53 ↗ So administration has taken the regular

45:55 ↗ schedules for these meetings and aligned

45:57 ↗ them with those other dates and done our

45:59 ↗ best to shift them around. So that's

46:01 ↗ what uh has been included in your packet

46:03 ↗ tonight for review.

46:06 ↗ So the direction we're seeking is just

46:08 ↗ uh listening to any feedback that you

46:09 ↗ have, any recommendations for changes uh

46:12 ↗ and then hopefully adopting a calendar

46:14 ↗ for your meeting schedule for the year.

46:18 ↗ >> So I've already covered this, but uh

46:20 ↗ we've done our best to kind of realign

46:22 ↗ things. Uh but we have prioritized

46:24 ↗ moving your meetings uh to other Mondays

46:26 ↗ or Tuesdays just to try to keep that

46:28 ↗ same rhythm uh throughout the month.

46:33 ↗ Mondays and Tuesdays being per the

46:35 ↗ normal meeting schedule. Uh so changes

46:38 ↗ to the schedule are of course still

46:40 ↗ possible after approval of the calendar.

46:42 ↗ Uh there is a process that is followed

46:44 ↗ uh for cancellations. Uh if there's a

46:47 ↗ meeting where we know we will lack

46:48 ↗ quorum or where there just aren't enough

46:50 ↗ agenda items to support having the

46:52 ↗ meeting, they can be cancelled or

46:53 ↗ rescheduled. Uh and then any additional

46:56 ↗ meetings needed, including rescheduled

46:58 ↗ meetings, can of course be scheduled.

47:00 ↗ And we would um administratively work

47:02 ↗ with the leadership of the the council

47:04 ↗ or the committees. Uh and then when

47:06 ↗ rescheduling a new meeting, pull the the

47:08 ↗ whole committee or council uh to make

47:11 ↗ sure that you know that that we will

47:12 ↗ have a quorum and that everybody is

47:14 ↗ available to the best of our ability. Uh

47:16 ↗ the uh one thing that uh we did want to

47:19 ↗ call out are community listening

47:21 ↗ sessions and I'll talk more about that

47:22 ↗ briefly but uh right now we only have

47:24 ↗ one community listening session

47:26 ↗ scheduled for the year.

47:30 ↗ So some key dates to point out uh are

47:33 ↗ the council retreats. The first of which

47:35 ↗ is later this month. These all occur on

47:37 ↗ Saturdays. So, just in case you're not

47:40 ↗ looking at those those weekend dates on

47:42 ↗ the calendars, please keep an eye out

47:43 ↗ because uh while we've tried to keep

47:44 ↗ things on Mondays and Tuesdays, there

47:46 ↗ are some uh outliers there. Uh other

47:49 ↗ events are the mayor's state of the city

47:51 ↗ address which occurs on a Thursday and

47:53 ↗ uh then the uh listening session is the

47:57 ↗ the council uh has a booth at the last

48:00 ↗ farmers market of the season and that is

48:02 ↗ a Saturday. The council also has uh

48:05 ↗ typically observed two meeting breaks,

48:06 ↗ one in the summer and one in the winter.

48:08 ↗ And so those have also been taken into

48:10 ↗ account to make sure that we're not

48:11 ↗ scheduling meetings during those times.

48:16 ↗ Regarding some additional uh dates of

48:20 ↗ consideration, uh the primary and

48:21 ↗ general elections, uh we did not

48:24 ↗ schedule around these dates since it is

48:26 ↗ not a council election year. There are

48:28 ↗ two regular council meetings that fall

48:30 ↗ on the dates before the August and

48:32 ↗ November general uh the primary and

48:34 ↗ general elections as well as committee

48:36 ↗ meetings that are meeting on those

48:37 ↗ nights. Uh and then uh the FIFA World

48:40 ↗ Cup uh coming to Seattle is uh it's a

48:43 ↗ point of consideration. We have taken

48:44 ↗ those into account knowing that there's

48:46 ↗ going to be a lot of community

48:47 ↗ engagement really all over the region.

48:49 ↗ Uh but the night of the uh that that

48:52 ↗ it's anticipated to have the most impact

48:54 ↗ is the date of the last game in the

48:56 ↗ area. uh which is July 6th. There is uh

48:59 ↗ a conflict of a council meeting uh was

49:02 ↗ uh that night and then also on the the

49:04 ↗ date of the first game. Uh but we did

49:07 ↗ reschedu the the council meeting for the

49:10 ↗ last game but not the first game. But

49:12 ↗ you will notice all the games uh have

49:14 ↗ been put on the calendar just for

49:15 ↗ awareness.

49:18 ↗ And then just to kind of walk you

49:19 ↗ through a little bit of what we did with

49:21 ↗ the calendar. Um the I did want to call

49:24 ↗ out that the uh next week's council

49:27 ↗ meeting should have been a committee of

49:28 ↗ the whole meeting. It has been

49:29 ↗ repurposed to a special meeting. Uh when

49:32 ↗ there is a holiday on a Monday, we

49:34 ↗ typically try to push that council

49:35 ↗ meeting to the next available day. And

49:37 ↗ if that happens to conflict with a

49:39 ↗ committee meeting that would have

49:40 ↗ occurred on that day, we try to shift

49:42 ↗ that committee meeting around. Um, also

49:44 ↗ of note in January, we have scheduled a

49:46 ↗ tenative meeting on the 26th to allow

49:48 ↗ additional time if necessary for the

49:50 ↗ council vacancy process. And then you'll

49:52 ↗ notice over there on Saturday the

49:54 ↗ council retreat.

49:57 ↗ I swear I'm not going to walk through

49:58 ↗ every month. I did want to point out a

50:00 ↗ few things though. Uh, April was

50:02 ↗ particularly difficult because we did

50:03 ↗ have the Isqua School District spring

50:04 ↗ break as well as a holiday that fell on

50:07 ↗ that Tuesday. So, uh, we had to really

50:11 ↗ move things around. And you'll notice

50:12 ↗ that, uh, March has five Mondays. So,

50:15 ↗ what we did is we took the regular

50:17 ↗ meeting and we pushed it up until, uh,

50:20 ↗ to March 30th. And this is the we're

50:23 ↗ going to do this twice this year, uh, at

50:25 ↗ least as proposed. Um, and then you'll

50:27 ↗ notice another council retreat being

50:29 ↗ proposed on May 2nd. And then two

50:32 ↗ committee meetings ended up kind of side

50:33 ↗ by side at the the final week there.

50:37 ↗ Uh July, that's where we did this again

50:39 ↗ where we had um trying to re re uh

50:42 ↗ schedule and realign because of the uh

50:44 ↗ the FIFA World Cup game. So we had five

50:47 ↗ um five Mondays in June. So we took that

50:51 ↗ first meeting of the month and pushed it

50:52 ↗ up to the fifth Monday of the previous

50:54 ↗ month. And then there's your other

50:56 ↗ council retreat

50:58 ↗ last month. Um we are proposing a uh

51:02 ↗ additional committee of the whole

51:03 ↗ meeting in October to discuss the

51:06 ↗ budget.

51:09 ↗ So the options before you tonight are to

51:11 ↗ adopt the city council calendar as

51:13 ↗ presented for 2026. Uh you can direct

51:16 ↗ any changes uh at this time that you may

51:18 ↗ have to the calendar and we can take

51:20 ↗ those into account. uh or you can choose

51:23 ↗ not to adopt a calendar tonight and we

51:25 ↗ would administratively do our best to uh

51:28 ↗ look at your regular meeting schedule

51:29 ↗ and realign around any conflicting days.

51:36 ↗ Uh timeline wise, if you adopt a

51:37 ↗ calendar tonight, it would go into

51:39 ↗ effect immediately. Uh, and I do want to

51:41 ↗ point out just looking forward, next

51:43 ↗ year will be the um the year when the

51:45 ↗ equity board is tasked with doing their

51:46 ↗ four-year review of the cultural

51:49 ↗ cultural and religious calendar. So, if

51:51 ↗ they have any changes that they would

51:53 ↗ like to recommend, they would bring that

51:54 ↗ before you late next year or possibly

51:56 ↗ early in 2018. But that if there are any

51:59 ↗ changes to that calendar, those would be

52:00 ↗ taken into account in your 2028

52:02 ↗ calendar.

52:06 ↗ >> So, with that, I open it up to any

52:07 ↗ questions you might have. Are there any

52:09 ↗ questions from the council?

52:11 ↗ >> Council member Walsh.

52:13 ↗ >> Thank you. Um Cassidy, first of all,

52:16 ↗ really appreciate this. So much has gone

52:18 ↗ into it. Um I wanted to ask I notice in

52:22 ↗ January and February we have council

52:24 ↗ special meetings rather than um

52:28 ↗ committee of the whole. I understand in

52:30 ↗ January it is related to

52:34 ↗ >> Yeah, I was going to say you might have

52:35 ↗ to.

52:36 ↗ >> Great. Um it it's related to our

52:39 ↗ appointment. Um what was the reasoning

52:41 ↗ for the February period?

52:44 ↗ >> Uh believe Ollie has the details on it.

52:47 ↗ There's a transportation related topic.

52:49 ↗ >> Yes. Mayor Mhlet has asked that we

52:51 ↗ schedule a special council meeting to

52:52 ↗ talk about transportation.

52:54 ↗ >> So fantastic. Look looking at the

52:55 ↗ calendar that seemed to make the date

52:57 ↗ makes sense. I think it's February 9th.

53:00 ↗ I recall. Yeah, February 9th.

53:02 ↗ >> Yes. Okay. Fantastic. And then um

53:06 ↗ yeah, I guess that's more discussion

53:08 ↗ point.

53:12 ↗ >> Council President, you Michelle.

53:14 ↗ >> So uh my question uh is really for the

53:16 ↗ council. I mean we can handle this under

53:18 ↗ discussion, but um the the times that

53:22 ↗ we've been at the um farmers market uh

53:25 ↗ have been so wellreceived and have been

53:27 ↗ such excellent uh outreach for us. And

53:29 ↗ so I'm just wondering if um the council

53:32 ↗ would like to add a um a date in May and

53:36 ↗ I understand May 2nd is a a retreat day

53:39 ↗ for the council. So that might not be

53:41 ↗ appropriate but um the 9th or um a

53:44 ↗ subsequent um date in May u so that we

53:49 ↗ are out there twice instead of just once

53:51 ↗ uh at the end of the of the market. So

53:54 ↗ that's really a question that we can uh

53:56 ↗ discuss as a council, but that would be

53:59 ↗ what I would that would be my question.

54:01 ↗ Can we add another date?

54:05 ↗ >> Thank you. Yes, absolutely. You can do

54:06 ↗ that tonight. Uh or you could do that uh

54:09 ↗ at at a later point.

54:12 ↗ >> Yeah, I think we're totally open to

54:14 ↗ revisiting this and we can add stuff at

54:16 ↗ the next council meeting. Are there any

54:19 ↗ other questions for Cassidy? Council

54:21 ↗ member Joe,

54:21 ↗ >> thank you. Uh, could you refresh my

54:23 ↗ memory that I I know this seems a little

54:25 ↗ bit um mundane and pedestrian for us to

54:29 ↗ do, but we did this in 2023. And didn't

54:32 ↗ we receive an award for this um for this

54:35 ↗ effort?

54:36 ↗ Is

54:36 ↗ >> that

54:40 ↗ we've applied for several awards.

54:42 ↗ >> Okay. I I'm unsure that we've won any.

54:45 ↗ >> Okay. I thought you mentioned that we

54:47 ↗ won an award for being the first city or

54:50 ↗ one of the only cities in the nation

54:51 ↗ that um recognized these special dates

54:55 ↗ and modified our calendar to do so. We

54:58 ↗ we believe we have perhaps the most

55:01 ↗ aggressive calendar recognizing cultural

55:04 ↗ religious holidays. We've looked at

55:06 ↗ other communities that you would think

55:08 ↗ would be aggressive. Berkeley,

55:10 ↗ California comes immediately to mine and

55:12 ↗ they have nothing compared to this.

55:14 ↗ >> Okay. So um there may be others but we

55:17 ↗ looked at the places we thought would be

55:21 ↗ along similar lines and they did not

55:23 ↗ have similar calendars.

55:24 ↗ >> Well I would encourage you to continue

55:26 ↗ to apply for awards for this because it

55:28 ↗ is innovative and no one else is doing

55:29 ↗ it but it is something that I think

55:31 ↗ needs to be recognized as our nation

55:33 ↗ becomes more and more diverse. Thank

55:34 ↗ you.

55:36 ↗ >> If I can speak briefly to that point

55:37 ↗ too. I don't know about any awards but I

55:40 ↗ do know I just in the clerk profession I

55:43 ↗ uh this this our calendar and our

55:45 ↗ approach have been of interest to peers.

55:47 ↗ So at least amongst staff at other

55:50 ↗ agencies there certainly is interest in

55:52 ↗ talk

55:55 ↗ >> if there's no other questions as

55:58 ↗ somebody prepared to make a motion.

56:01 ↗ >> Council President Dashelle.

56:03 ↗ >> All right I think I have the right one

56:04 ↗ this time. So, I I move that we approve

56:07 ↗ resolution number 20261.

56:12 ↗ Is that correct? Okay. Adopting the city

56:13 ↗ council calendar for for uh 2026.

56:17 ↗ >> Second. It's been moved and seconded. Is

56:20 ↗ there any council discussion?

56:23 ↗ Oh, council member Walsh.

56:25 ↗ >> Thank you. Um just wanted to recognize

56:29 ↗ that I normally would ask us to move um

56:34 ↗ meetings so that we are not um hosting

56:36 ↗ on election days. Uh but looking at

56:39 ↗ these that would be very difficult um

56:42 ↗ those particular months I was like I

56:45 ↗ don't know where I would move it unless

56:47 ↗ it would be a Wednesday, Thursday or

56:48 ↗ Friday. Um, so unless anybody else has a

56:52 ↗ significant concern over that, I don't

56:54 ↗ think we need to make an adjustment. And

56:56 ↗ just generally, I very much appreciate

56:59 ↗ both our cultural and um, religious uh,

57:03 ↗ holiday recognition, but also having an

57:06 ↗ entire year's calendar uh, ahead of time

57:09 ↗ makes it a lot easier both for staff

57:11 ↗ coordination and council. And so I just

57:14 ↗ want to show my appreciation and

57:15 ↗ recognize that.

57:18 ↗ Our challenge on election nights is

57:19 ↗ we'll focus on brevity. So, we're out of

57:21 ↗ here by 8 o'clock.

57:24 ↗ There. Okay. There's been a motion. All

57:26 ↗ those in favor, please say I.

57:29 ↗ >> I.

57:31 ↗ >> All those opposed, nay.

57:34 ↗ And that passes. The next item of

57:38 ↗ business is committee and regional

57:39 ↗ reports.

57:41 ↗ And we are going to start with council

57:43 ↗ member Nichols.

57:46 ↗ >> Uh, thank you, Mullet. Uh, I have no

57:47 ↗ reports.

57:49 ↗ >> Council member Jay,

57:50 ↗ >> um, quick report. Um, there is an East

57:52 ↗ Side Transportation Partnership meeting

57:54 ↗ this Friday, first one of the year at 8

57:56 ↗ a.m. on January 9th. Um, also, uh, back

58:00 ↗ at the end of December, on December

58:01 ↗ 23rd, I attended an emergency management

58:04 ↗ call about um, flood recovery, which is

58:06 ↗ highly of interest to the city of

58:08 ↗ Isiqua. So, there are a number of

58:09 ↗ resources that they shared in that

58:11 ↗ meeting that um, we shared with city

58:12 ↗ staff to um, include on the city website

58:14 ↗ and send around to our residents. Um,

58:17 ↗ and [clears throat]

58:18 ↗ uh, in that vein, I was also appointed

58:20 ↗ to two s uh, two committees on behalf of

58:22 ↗ the Sound Cities Association. Notably,

58:24 ↗ I'm an alternate for the King County

58:26 ↗ Flood Control District Advisory

58:27 ↗ Committee. So, that will be very

58:28 ↗ interesting, especially given recent

58:30 ↗ events. Um, and I was also appointed to

58:34 ↗ be a member of the King County Regional

58:35 ↗ Homelessness Authority Governing Board.

58:37 ↗ So, that should be very interesting as

58:39 ↗ well. So, we'll have updates in future

58:41 ↗ meetings.

58:42 ↗ >> Council member Joe.

58:44 ↗ >> Thank you, Mr. Mayor. The um public

58:47 ↗ affairs committee for the Cascade Water

58:48 ↗ Alliance will be meeting on January 7th

58:51 ↗ at 9:00 a.m. The Cascade Water Alliance

58:53 ↗ Board meeting will be held January 28th

58:55 ↗ at 3:30. Um also with the lodging tax

58:59 ↗ advisory committee. The next meeting is

59:00 ↗ February 23rd. Um at that time, we will

59:04 ↗ be reviewing applications uh for uh

59:07 ↗ ELTAC grants. So those applications are

59:09 ↗ being accepted right now with our uh

59:11 ↗ economic development department. And um

59:14 ↗ if you are interested in applying,

59:15 ↗ please reach out to the city. Uh we are

59:18 ↗ emphasizing events that occur in the

59:20 ↗ shoulder seasons. So our hotels

59:23 ↗ typically are completely booked during

59:24 ↗ summer and the high times, but we're

59:26 ↗ trying to get the shoulder seasons to

59:28 ↗ even out uh some of the tax revenue and

59:31 ↗ the visits to Isiqua. So, if you have a

59:34 ↗ um event that's in the shoulder seasons,

59:36 ↗ it's um you know, we would encourage you

59:39 ↗ to apply and those of us on Eltac that

59:42 ↗ review those applications will take them

59:44 ↗ uh under consideration. Thank you. That

59:46 ↗ concludes my report.

59:47 ↗ >> All right. If you want to see

59:49 ↗ Christina's head immediately pop up,

59:50 ↗ just say the word Eltac grants and get

59:53 ↗ an immediate response. Council member

59:55 ↗ Walsh.

59:56 ↗ >> Thank you. Um let's see my notes. I've

1:00:00 ↗ been elected as the East Side Fire and

1:00:02 ↗ Rescue Vice Chair. Um that's temporary

1:00:05 ↗ at this point because we Yeah. Okay.

1:00:08 ↗ Thanks. Um we uh bring on new members

1:00:11 ↗ and then we'll have elections for the

1:00:14 ↗ remainder of the year starting in March.

1:00:16 ↗ Um but with the current chair and vice

1:00:20 ↗ chair having left the organization both

1:00:24 ↗ um for no longer serving in Northbend

1:00:27 ↗ and uh Zack Hall moving up to state

1:00:29 ↗ legislature. We needed a temporary

1:00:31 ↗ placement. So I'm serving in that

1:00:33 ↗ temporarily. Uh East Side Fire and

1:00:35 ↗ Rescue meets this Thursday. The topics

1:00:37 ↗ are including um establishing the 2026

1:00:40 ↗ board priorities um understanding how we

1:00:42 ↗ are going to evaluate the performance of

1:00:45 ↗ our next our current new fire chief and

1:00:48 ↗ our legislative agenda and I have been

1:00:51 ↗ appointed or continued my appointment to

1:00:54 ↗ the affordable housing committee through

1:00:56 ↗ SCA and I'm looking forward to the next

1:00:58 ↗ meeting of that. Thank you.

1:01:01 ↗ >> Thank you deputy council president

1:01:03 ↗ Marks.

1:01:04 ↗ >> Thank you Mr. Mayor. Uh Sound Cities

1:01:06 ↗ Association Public Issues Committee met

1:01:08 ↗ on Wednesday, December 10th. Federal Way

1:01:10 ↗ Council Member Lydia uh Apha Dawson has

1:01:14 ↗ been uh approved as the 2026 SCA pick

1:01:17 ↗ chair and Redmond council member Melissa

1:01:19 ↗ Stewart has been approved as the 2026

1:01:21 ↗ SCA pick vice chair. Uh PC amended the

1:01:24 ↗ state legislative agenda recommendation

1:01:27 ↗ for the board to include two new issues

1:01:30 ↗ [clears throat] proposed by the cities

1:01:31 ↗ of Mercer Island and Newcastle. One was

1:01:33 ↗ support for safe use of ebikes and e-

1:01:35 ↗ motorcycles, e- dirt bikes, very very

1:01:38 ↗ similar to the uh policy [clears throat]

1:01:40 ↗ that we took up recently and then also

1:01:43 ↗ to modernize liability laws to protect

1:01:45 ↗ cities and taxpayers. Um the next SCA

1:01:49 ↗ [clears throat] pard pardon me the ne

1:01:52 ↗ next SCA pick meeting will be Wednesday,

1:01:55 ↗ January 14th at 7 p.m. and the agenda is

1:01:57 ↗ still to be decided. the SCA board of

1:02:00 ↗ directors uh elected new members and at

1:02:03 ↗ the Tuesday, December 9th, North Sub

1:02:05 ↗ Caucus meeting, I was elected to the SCA

1:02:08 ↗ board for a two-year term to represent

1:02:10 ↗ the North Sub Caucus. Uh the first board

1:02:12 ↗ meeting will be January 21st at 9:00

1:02:15 ↗ a.m. It's going to be kind of a breakout

1:02:17 ↗ from the AWC city action days. So,

1:02:20 ↗ they're going to uh draw some of the

1:02:22 ↗ members over to that and I will be

1:02:24 ↗ participating remotely.

1:02:26 ↗ Services, Safety, and Parks had no uh

1:02:29 ↗ December meeting, but the January

1:02:32 ↗ meeting will be held here in council

1:02:33 ↗ chambers at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday,

1:02:35 ↗ January 27th. The agenda is still to be

1:02:38 ↗ determined. This concludes my report.

1:02:40 ↗ >> All right. On the public issues

1:02:41 ↗ committee, is there anyone with longer

1:02:43 ↗ tenure than you right now?

1:02:44 ↗ >> I do I don't believe there is.

1:02:46 ↗ Congratulations.

1:02:47 ↗ >> It was um Oh, the mayor from Kenmore, uh

1:02:51 ↗ Mayor Baker, um had me by quite a bit.

1:02:54 ↗ um but he left office maybe two years

1:02:56 ↗ ago and I believe I've been the longest

1:02:58 ↗ tenure member. Yes, this will be my 16th

1:03:00 ↗ year um as sea pick representative. So,

1:03:03 ↗ >> thank you for your service

1:03:04 ↗ [clears throat] for Isiqua on the issues

1:03:06 ↗ committee.

1:03:06 ↗ >> It is a complete pleasure.

1:03:08 ↗ >> Council President Dm Michelle

1:03:11 ↗ >> and I got he was my mentor when I first

1:03:13 ↗ got on the council. Uh it's a great

1:03:15 ↗ place to be an alternate is is uh with

1:03:18 ↗ uh council member Marts as the

1:03:20 ↗ representative. Well, uh, I have no

1:03:23 ↗ report because all of my December

1:03:25 ↗ meetings were, uh, cancelled, but I was

1:03:28 ↗ appointed as an alternate to the Pugetan

1:03:31 ↗ Regional Council Transportation Policy

1:03:33 ↗ Board, and they will be holding a

1:03:34 ↗ meeting this Thursday at 9:30 a.m. Um, I

1:03:38 ↗ was also appointed to the regional as a

1:03:40 ↗ member of the regional transit uh,

1:03:42 ↗ committee. Uh, that meeting will be um,

1:03:45 ↗ uh, January 15th. And then I was also

1:03:48 ↗ appointed as a member of the board of

1:03:50 ↗ health. That meeting has been moved to

1:03:54 ↗ January the 29th. Um, so that ends my

1:03:58 ↗ report.

1:03:59 ↗ >> Thank you very much. And the mayor's

1:04:01 ↗ report. I've been in this job for all of

1:04:03 ↗ 12 hours, so there is no mayor's report.

1:04:05 ↗ Uh, does anyone have anything for the

1:04:08 ↗ good of the order? Council member

1:04:10 ↗ Nichols.

1:04:12 ↗ Uh, I move to suspend the city council

1:04:14 ↗ rules and add a resolution in support of

1:04:16 ↗ Isqua school district propositions

1:04:18 ↗ number one, two, and three on the

1:04:21 ↗ February 10th special election ballot to

1:04:23 ↗ the January 20th city council meeting

1:04:25 ↗ agenda.

1:04:27 ↗ >> Second. There's a motion in the second.

1:04:29 ↗ Is there any discussion?

1:04:34 ↗ >> Council member Nichols.

1:04:36 ↗ >> Uh, yes. Thank you, uh, Mr. Mayor. This

1:04:39 ↗ is an important topic for the community

1:04:41 ↗ and I think it's a uh a worthy issue for

1:04:44 ↗ the city to discuss supporting.

1:04:46 ↗ >> All right. Excellent. That we'll call

1:04:49 ↗ for the vote. All those in favor say I.

1:04:52 ↗ I.

1:04:52 ↗ >> I.

1:04:54 ↗ >> All those opposed, nay. And that does

1:04:56 ↗ pass by the majority needed to have a

1:04:59 ↗ special rule adjustment. So that will be

1:05:02 ↗ on the January 20th agenda. Is there any

1:05:06 ↗ other good of the order?

1:05:09 ↗ All right. I think the following

1:05:11 ↗ upcoming council meeting, so yes,

1:05:13 ↗ January 12th, we'll have a special city

1:05:14 ↗ council meeting at 6:30 to hear the

1:05:16 ↗ verbal presentations from the applicants

1:05:18 ↗ for the city council vacancy. I think

1:05:20 ↗ there are 15 people who successfully

1:05:23 ↗ filled out the applications. Is that

1:05:25 ↗ right, city clerk? And they've all

1:05:26 ↗ qualified as being as quad residents.

1:05:29 ↗ And then Tuesday, January 10th, a

1:05:31 ↗ regular city council meeting at 7 p.m.

1:05:33 ↗ Those agenda items are the one we just

1:05:35 ↗ heard about along with anformational

1:05:36 ↗ update from WashD on fish passage

1:05:38 ↗ project. And then we'll have more

1:05:40 ↗ council vacancy position number two Q&A

1:05:42 ↗ sessions, potential appointments, and as

1:05:44 ↗ we heard earlier from Cassidy. I think

1:05:46 ↗ January 26 is also an optional date if

1:05:49 ↗ necessary, we can use for that. There is

1:05:52 ↗ no executive session this evening. With

1:05:55 ↗ that being no further business, this

1:05:58 ↗ meeting is adjourned.

Approved minutes

Extracted from the next meeting's packet, where this meeting's minutes were approved as a consent-calendar attachment.

Open PDF

Attendance

Council / Members (6)

Barbara de Michele

Kelly Jiang

Russell Joe

Tola Marts

Kevin Nichols

Lindsey Walsh

Staff (4)

Wally Bobkiewicz, City Administrator

Andrea Lehner, Deputy City Administrator

Rachel Bender Turpin, City Attorney

Tisha Gieser, City Clerk

Motions and votes (3)

Authorize the Mayor to execute a professional services agreement with Valley Defenders for public defender services for the City. b) AB 9096 - 2026 City Council Calendar

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

Carried 6-0

In favor: Marts, de Michele, Joe, Jiang, Nichols, Walsh

Approve Resolution No. 2026-01, adopting a City Council calendar for 2026.

Moved by Council President de Michele · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

Carried 6-0

In favor: Marts, de Michele, Joe, Jiang, Nichols, Walsh

Suspend the City Council Rules and add a resolution in support of Issaquah School District Propositions #1, 2 & 3 on the Feb. 10 Special Election ballot to the Jan. 20 City Council meeting agenda. Mayor Mullet: Upcoming Council Meetings - Announced anticipated agenda items.

Moved by Councilmember Nichols · seconded by Deputy Council President Marts

Carried 6-0

In favor: de Michele, Joe, Jiang, Marts, Nichols, Walsh