City Of Kalama

City Council Meeting October 17, 2024 Kalama City Council held a public hearing on the proposed revenues including recommendations on increases to property taxes, utility rates, and specific fees for services. Currently the preliminary budget is in balance except for the general fund, library, and community building. It is anticipated the carryover from 2024 will cover the small library shortage. Revenue projections figures were provided and included the requests for increases. A 1% property tax increase has been requested to help cover inflation and wage increases for general fund supported services. Sales taxes have fluctuated greatly in the last five years with a drop in 2024 due to the lack of construction and other large projects. General tax revenues provide the citizens with police, library, administrative services, building/planning/code enforcement, jail/court/legal, parks, and facilities maintenance while also providing supporting funds for streets and the community building. 3 Options for utility rate increases were presented: • 8% increase on base and consumption rates: Average increase of 7% • 8% water increase & 3% sewer increase on base and consumption rates: Average Increase of 3.7% • 5% water increase on base and consumption, 5% sewer increase on consumption only: Average increase of 3% Recommended fee increases were provided (see packet for details here: https://tinyurl.com/5b74du4y). The Council voiced concerns about raising taxes and rates, while recognizing the necessity of meeting the needs of the community. It was noted that the property tax generates only a small amount of added revenue and weighed the political impacts. A few items discussed included: - Raising water rates more than sewer and the needs of each system - Kalama’s water rates are the lowest in the County while sewer rates are high. Kalama ranks third in overall rates in the County. Other jurisdictions are also increasing rates as well. The consensus of the Council was to address the rates with no more than 3% to 3.5% overall increase. - There was a split opinion on the property tax increase. Staff will bring the proposed property tax increase back for a final vote of the Council at the November 7th meeting. Final levy information needs to be provided to the County by mid-November. Staff will re-work the utility rate proposal to meet the Council’s suggestions and concerns. The City Council adopted Ordinance No. 1521 amending the 2024 Budget by $31,285. In reports: - Mayor Reuter plans to bring a draft letter of support to the Council for considering, which requests that the County share landfill profits with all the cities in Cowlitz County. The Library is hosting upcoming history talks, and the first will be on October 26, from 2-4pm at the Kalama Baptist Church. Another library program has a local author mentoring new, young authors monthly. - Applications for the open Public Works technician position are being accepted until November 1st. - Police Chief Herrera noted the two new officers to fill the open positions in his department started on Tuesday and will be sworn in on November 7th. The new radar sign was installed and was up for less than 24 hours before being hit by a vehicle. It is now being repaired. - Clerk/Treasurer McMaster noted the newly hired finance employees are doing well in their respective positions. Upcoming Events: - Downtown Trick or Treat hosted by the Chamber of Commerce, October 31st, 3-6pm (N 1st Street) - Chief’s Caribbean Dinner (a Shop with a Cop Fundraiser) on November 1st, 6pm. See details here: https://tinyurl.com/46kjv3fh

The upcoming City Council meeting will be held on Thursday, October 17, 2024 @ 7:00pm in the City Council Chambers at 320 N 1st Street. Agenda items include: Public Hearing for 2025 Revenues (property taxes, utility rates, city fees), and a budget amendment The full agenda can be found here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa/agendas/661

The upcoming Civil Service meeting will be held on October 24, 2024 at 5:00pm at the City Council Chambers located at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama.

City Council Meeting Recap 10.03.2024: Mayor Reuter proclaimed October as Friends of the Library month. Council adopted Ordinance 1520, replacing Ordinance 1519, addressing camping on public property. Based on the recommendations from the Parks and Rec committee, Council gave staff direction to research at ADA improvements, and visioning for park improvements or parks and recreation programing while preparing the 2025 budget request. City Administrator Smee explained a few projects that were originally slated for use of the ARPA funds will not be under contract (or obligated by contract) before the end of 2024. This leaves a balance of just over $80K in ARPA funding. The lighting under the Elm Street overpass was canceled when WSDOT Bridge Division could not approve the permit-- citing the lights could be a hazard. The Port of Kalama and City have many projects running and have not yet had the opportunity to hire consultants for completing a feasibility study for a regional wastewater treatment plant. Administrator Smee offered an option that would obligate the ARPA funds and “free up” some general funds or sewer reserve funds by using ARPA funds on the City Hall project in lieu of either the proposed sewer interfund loan or the use of general fund reserves. The Council was clear they were not willing to lose, or have to repay, the federal ARPA funding, and agreed this plan would provide for future general capital improvement funding. A budget amendment would be drafted under this direction for consideration. Citizen Staci Mangan presented information to the Council regarding the issues of feral cats in Kalama. Some items discussed included educating the Kalama community about feral cats and offering resources such as the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon (which also serves southwest WA) with a “trap, neuter, and release” program. The Council and Police Chief Herrera agreed the City could communicate additional education on the subject. The cost of funding a program, administered by the City, to include traps and staff time could cost $15,000 and up depending on the structure of the program. Community volunteers could establish contact with the coalition to run a program. In reports: - The library noted that the Gathering Place will celebrate its first anniversary and is still running strong. - Tourism Secretary Moore requested direction from the Council on the amount of funding the Tourism Committee could potentially allocate at their upcoming meeting on October 21st. Requests received largely exceeded what the council’s structure had authorized based on estimated revenues for 2025. The Council advised it would be reasonable to include the $30,000 of carryover from the Cowlitz County tourism grant into the budget for 2025. - Director of Public Works Rasmussen informed the Council the department would be accepting applications for the vacant Public Works technician until November 1st with a possible hire date as soon as December 1st. - Police Chief Herrera reported the 2 new officers will be starting on October 16th. Tickets for the Shop with a Cop fundraiser Caribbean Dinner are available at the temporary City Hall and Police Department. There will be no ticket sales at the door. - Clerk/Treasurer McMaster noted the Council can expect an invitation to the exit conference with the auditors at the end of the audit. A preliminary draft of the 2025 budget numbers was provided to the Council to begin their preparation for the revenue hearing at the next meeting. Revenues are proposed with increases to property taxes and utility rates.

The regular Parks & Recreation Advisory Committee meeting of October 8, 2024 has been canceled. The next scheduled meeting will be held on November 12, 2024 at 5:30pm in the City Council Chambers at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama. Agenda information will be posted here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa

The October edition of the City newsletter is available here: https://tinyurl.com/mr5ed8cj

Here's the Drum 4 Fun schedule for October! Dates: October 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, 29, 31 from 10am-11am on Tuesdays & Thursdays! Pricing: all Tues & Thurs classes = $50, Tuesdays only = $25, Thursdays only = $25. Class location: Kalama Community Building at 216 Elm Street. For more info: 360-762-7690, cityhall@cityofkalama.com

The Planning Commission meeting for October 10th, 2024 has been canceled. The upcoming Planning Commission meetings are November 14th, 2024 @ 6pm and December 12th, 2024 @ 6pm. Meeting location: 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama. Agendas and meeting information will be available here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa

9/19/2024 City Council Budget Priorities Workshop and Regular Meeting: A budget workshop was held prior to (and continued into) the regular Council meeting. Discussion included prioritizing the quality-of-life programs and projects while maintaining the health, life, and safety needs required of the city and recognizing the effects on available revenues. Improvements to parks, more recreational or educational programs, the community building needs, public works projects (including a new shop facility), adding a staff planner position, and software programs were all items addressed along with how to fund them and whether current staff has the capacity to expand workload for acquiring additional grant funds, programs, and projects. In the regular meeting, the Council adopted Ordinance 1519 which amends the current Kalama Municipal Code to prohibit sleeping or camping on public property based on a recent Supreme Court decision. In reports: Tourism applications are being accepted until September 30, 2024, and the Tourism Committee meeting on October 21st to review applications. Planning Commission continues the work on the nuisance abatement code but will not hold a meeting in October. Public Works - A portion of North 1st Street between Elm and Fir will be closed as the crew makes sewer line repairs on Monday & Tuesday, September 23rd and 24th. Police – Chief Herrera addressed the recent rash of school related threats that have occurred throughout the County. Kalama Schools and the Police department are working together to ensure the safety of all students and faculty. Finance - The department heads have received the 2025 budget materials to review and return their budget requests. The Auditors should be completing the audit next week. Summer Sewer averaging end tomorrow, September 20th. Public Hearings for the 2025 Budget were set as follows: Revenue Hearing - October 17, 2024 @ 7pm Preliminary Budget Hearing - November 7, 2024 @ 7pm Final Budget Hearing - November 21, 2024 @ 7pm

Attention Kalama Downtown Businesses & Residents, A portion of North 1st Street will be closed to traffic, from Elm Street to Fir Street, on Monday, September 23rd for critical sewer repairs from 7AM until 5PM. On Tuesday, September 24th, North 1st Street from Elm Street to Fir Street will be open to single lane traffic from 7AM until completion of the project. Completion of the project is scheduled for the same day, September 24th. Thank you for understanding as we diligently work to fix the issue. Kalama Public Works

The Kalama City Council will hold a workshop on Thursday, September 19th, 2024 at 6:00pm in the council chambers located at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama, WA to discuss 2025 budget priorities. This meeting is open to the public. For questions, contact 360-673-4561. (See agenda for Zoom info.) https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa

Attention Kalama residents inside city limits: Summer sewer averaging will end on September 20th. This means that after September 20th, every drop of water will have a sewer charge associated with it for residents that are connected to city sewer. If you plan to do large water consumption activities, (such as pressure washing, using sprinklers, etc.) it will have a greater impact on your bill after the 20th of September. For more details related to summer sewer averaging, visit: https://www.cityofkalama.com/departments/utility-department/utility-rates/summer-sewer-average

The September 26th, 2024 Kalama Civil Service meeting has been cancelled due to lack of agenda items. The next tentative meeting is scheduled for October 24, 2024 at 5pm in the Kalama City Council Chambers located at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama.

Street striping is happening within Kalama's City limits this Friday, September 13th, 2024 starting at 9am. The City has contracted with Specialized Pavement Marking, Inc. to give our city streets some fresh paint. If you're out driving in Kalama, please beware of the potential for wet paint on center lines (yellow ) and fog lines (white, outside lines). Thank you!

The next library board meeting will be held on Wednesday, September 18, 2024 at 5:15pm in the City Council Chambers located at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama. The agenda will include virtual attendance information, and will be available here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa

City Council 9.5.2024 Mayor Reuter signed a proclamation to recognize September 17th-23rd, 2024 as Constitution Week. The council held 2 public hearings. The first was to amend the 6-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) for 2025-2030. Additions to the previously adopted plan include (1) a grant funded Transit Feasibility Study and (2) Old Pacific Highway Sidewalk projects. The TIP was adopted by Resolution 742. The 2nd public hearing was held to adopt a Complete Streets Program, which adopts a comprehensive approach to street development, incorporates all forms of transportation, and addresses issues of accessibility and ADA concerns. There was discussion of whether the program should be amended to include the word “horses” in the same manner as bicycles. There is nothing in the program that currently prohibits horses or animals. The program was adopted by Ordinance No. 1518. The Council was briefed on the recent Supreme Court ruling regarding camping on public property and recommended the Police Chief work with city staff to update the existing Kalama Municipal Code. Chief Herrera presented an executive summary of the Police Strategic Plan which was started in 2020. He highlighted the department’s progress and goal setting. He thanked all community stakeholders involved for their input and will present a finished report to the Council with projections for 2025-2030. The City received $60K in state grant funding for an architectural survey and ADA access feasibility study for the Kalama Community Building and is working with the engineers, Gray & Osborne. Engineers will be scheduled for a site visit in October 2024, and a final report is expected to be complete in February 2025. The Council adopted Resolution 743 to set a hearing on October 2, 2024 @ 10am for a Street Vacation petition for a portion of Birch and 8th Street right-of-way. Reports: - Library- The “Library of Things” has items available for check out such as pickle ball paddles, disc golf set, dryer vent cleaning kits and more. - Tourism – Applications are now being accepted until September 30th for 2025 funding. - Public Works – Paving has been completed by Lakeside on Birch Street using TBD funds. - Finance – The auditor has begun the City’s two-year audit, and Councilmembers Geiger and Stanfill plan to attend audit meetings. The Council requested a budget workshop be held on September 19, 2024, @ 6pm to discuss priorities for 2025. Summer Sewer averaging will end on September 20, 2024. City Hall: Renovation is currently on schedule with interior painting starting and exterior prep work for painting in process. The windows have a long lead time so there are some concerns. On the schedule is the HVAC work, lighting, casework, and furniture installation. So far, the City has expended about $30K of the $68K budgeted contingency funds on change orders.

The Kalama Planning Commission will meet on Thursday, September 12th, 2024 at 6:00pm at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama. Agenda and Zoom information will be available here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa

The Kalama Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee will meet on Tuesday, September 10th, 2024 at 5:30pm in the City Council Chambers located at 320 N. 1st Street, Kalama. The agenda and virtual attendance information can be found here: https://www.towncloud.io/go/kalama-wa

The Kalama Tourism Advisory Committee is accepting tourism applications for 2025 funding requests, now through September 30, 2024 @ 5pm. Find the application and details here: https://www.cityofkalama.com/community/tourism If you have questions, please contact communityrelations@cityofkalama.com or 360-673-4908.

The Kalama City offices & Library will be closed on Monday, September 2nd, 2024 in observance of Labor Day. We acknowledge our hard working, dedicated City employees--including our police department, public works crew, city hall admin team, and public library staff. Each member plays an important role! Thank you for all you do!