On the agenda: Granite Falls Minutes — Flock Camera (Sep 16)

&:::.
GRANITE FALLS

CITY COUNCIL MEETING
MINUTES

September 16, 2026
7:00 PM
Civic Center

City Mayor/Council Member Matthew Hartman
Council Mayor Pro Tem/Council Member David Griggs
Council Member Steven Glenn
Council Member Tom FitzGerald
Council Member Bruce Straughn

City Staff City Clerk Darla Wilkins
City Manager Jeff Balentine
Deputy City Manager Brent Kirk
Public Works Director Charles White
Community Development Director Amy Hess
Deputy City Clerk Carole Williams

Consultants Consultant Police Chief Tom Dalton
Consultant City Attorney Emily Guildner

1. CALL TO ORDER

Mayor Matthew Hartman called the City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
2. FLAG SALUTE
Mayor Matthew Hartman led the Council, Staff and Audience in the Pledge of
Allegiance to the flag.
3. ROLL CALL

City Clerk Darla Wilkins verbally called out the Council Member's names and took
note of the meeting attendance.

Mayor Matthew Hartman added an item 7f to the agenda, "Discussion of Letter
addressing the Roadless Rule EIS".

4. CONSENT AGENDA

MOTION: Motion to approve the Consent Agenda.
MOVER: Council Member Steven Glenn
SECONDER: | Mayor Pro Tem/Council Member David Griggs

AYES: Mayor/Council Member Matthew Hartman, Council Member Tom
FitzGerald, Council Member Steven Glenn, Mayor Pro
Tem/Council Member David Griggs, Council Member Bruce
Straughn

NAYS: None
RESULT: Passed

4.a. AB 137-2026 Approval of September 16, 2026, Claims Checks #416553
through 416586 and One EFT totaling $129,558.07

4.b. AB 138-2026 Approval of August 16, 2026, through August 31, 2026,
Payroll Claims Checks #416515 through 416517 and Twenty-Seven
EFT's totaling $170,635.50

5. STAFF REPORTS
5.a. Planning

Community Development Director Amy Hess commented on the
following:

e Addressed rumor of pre-application for a proposed new gas station at
the old Rite Aid Building (never paid for, so never resulted in

anything)

5.b. City Manager

City Manager Jeff Balentine commented on the following:

e W. Stanley St. court ruling = dismissed appeal

e Snohomish County ILA negotiations
e TWIC/TSA move ahead on 9/28 (officially)

5.c. Public Works

Public Works Director Charles White commented on the following:

e Storm concerns addressed on 500 block of N. Kentucky
© Crosswalk on Stanley/Cascade (on schedule for torch-down)
e Project updates:
o LID (pavers and paving completed)
o RRFB's (shipped)
o Union & Kentucky overlay (substantial completion issued)
o Legion Park (geotechnical work)

¢ Drinking water well rehab (meeting with G&O)

5.d. City Clerk

City Clerk Darla Wilkins had nothing additional to add.
5.e. Capitol Path Consulting August 2026

Shared for informational purposes.
5.f. | Consultant Police Chief

Consultant Police Chief Tom Dalton commented on the following:

© Calls for service
¢ Highlighted events in the city: assaults, daycare incident, hit & run

PUBLIC COMMENTS/RECOGNITION OF VISITORS-NON-ACTION ITEMS

Joah Wright, Granite Falls, provided comments.
NEW BUSINESS
7.a. AB 139-2026 Discussion City-provided Solid Waste Collection Services

City Manager Jeff Balentine discussed Garbage & Recycling Service
Options. The following slides were presented and discussed regarding
Waste Management's revised 4-year extension vs. a City-operated utility —
10 year pro forma and Basis of Estimate:

e The short answer: not now

7.b.

7.c.

e Timeline

¢ WM's revised proposal: a uniform 6.6% on every service line

° Critical Notes

e What a City-operated utility would look like

e Startup investment: about $2.0 million, financed over 10 years

e Running it: about $1.19 million a year in 2028

e What rates must recover: $1.79 M in 2028, rising to $2.2 M by 2037

e Household bills: the City alternative stays above WM's through 2037

e Ten-year view: ratepayers pay $1.84M more; reserves do not close
the gap

e The payoff comes after the trucks are paid for

e What would change the answer — and what would not

e Risks

e Four alternatives Council can take

e Recommendation: accept the revised rates, fix the terms, keep the
benchmark

e Key assumptions to confirm before any decision

Mayor Matthew Hartman opened up public comment to the audience for
this New Business item and asked if anyone would be interested in
providing public comments. Hearing and seeing none, he moved into
Council discussion.

AB 140-2026 Amendment No. 1 to the Waste Management Service
Agreement

Public Works Director Charles White reviewed the proposed Amendment
No. 1 to the Solid Waste Services Agreement and WMW-DRAFT-091 12026.

Mayor Matthew Hartman opened up public comment to the audience for
this New Business item and asked if anyone would be interested in
providing public comments. Hearing and seeing none, he moved into
Council discussion.

*Bring in Waste Management to talk with the Council on proposed changes

AB 141-2026 Consideration to approve a Master Service Agreement
with Fire Protection, Inc. for the Community Center

Public Works Director Charles White reviewed the proposed agreement
with Fire Protection, Inc. for the community center building.

Mayor Matthew Hartman opened up public comment to the audience for
this New Business item and asked if anyone would be interested in
providing public comments. Hearing and seeing none, he moved into
Council discussion.

7.d.

MOTION: Motion to authorize the City Manager to execute the five-
year agreement with Fire Protection, Inc. for fire-alarm
monitoring and annual life-safety inspections at the
Community Center.

MOVER: Council Member Bruce Straughn

SECONDER: | Mayor Pro Tem/Council Member David Griggs

AYES: Mayor/Council Member Matthew Hartman, Council Member
Tom FitzGerald, Council Member Steven Glenn, Mayor Pro
Tem/Council Member David Griggs, Council] Member Bruce
Straughn

NAYS: None

RESULT: Passed

AB 142-2026 Consideration to Approve an Interlocal Agreement with
the City of Issaquah for Jail Services

City Manager Jeff Balentine reviewed the proposed Interlocal Agreement
with the City of Issaquah.

Mayor Matthew Hartman opened up public comment to the audience for
this New Business item and asked if anyone would be interested in
providing public comments. Hearing and seeing none, he moved into
Council discussion.

MOTION: Motion to authorize the Mayor to sign the Interlocal
Agreement between the City of Granite Falls and the City
of Issaquah for inmate housing and jail services, in
substantially the form presented.

MOVER: Council Member Steven Glenn
SECONDER: | Council Member Bruce Straughn
AYES: Mayor/Council Member Matthew Hartman, Council Member

Tom FitzGerald, Council Member Steven Glenn, Mayor Pro
Tem/Council Member David Griggs, Council Member Bruce

Straughn

NAYS: None

RESULT: Passed

7.e.

TA.

AB 143-2026 - 2027 Fee Resolution (Preliminary Discussion)

City Manager Jeff Balentine, Public Works Director Charles White and
Community Development Director Amy Hess all reviewed proposed
changes to the Fee Resolution.

The slide deck presented included the following:

e (Overview) Tonight's Discussion

e (Process) From Discussion to Adoption: Three Steps

e (Fee Schedule Structure) Grouped the Way People Use It

e (Proposed Changes at a Glance) Five Kinds of Changes Cover
Nearly Every Line

e Special Events and Building Fee Changes

e Engineering Review: Tiered Fees Replace Deposits

¢ Inspections and Right-of-Way: One Standard Rate

e Land Use Applications: One Fee, No Deposit

e Land Use Reviews: Tiers and Fixed Fees

e Plats, Site Plans, and Shoreline Permits

Utility Connection and Administrative Fees

e impact Fees: New Park Fee Formula and Admin Charges

e Utility Rates and the Long Term Outlook

¢ (Water Fund 401) Purchased Water Is the Fastest-Growing Cost

¢ (Water Fund 401) Water Rate Path Keeps the Fund Balanced

e (Water Fund 401) 2027 Water Rates by Meter Size and Customer
Class

e (Council Question) Outside-City Water Rates: What the Three Lines
Mean

e (Sewer Fund 403) Sewer: No Rate Adjustment Needed Until 2032

e (Customer Impact) Combined Utility Bill: 2027 Change Is About 2.1%

e (Reducing Wholesale Dependency) The CIP Well Project Reduces
Wholesale Dependency

e (Council Questions) Questions Received in Advance and Staff
Responses

e (Staff Recommendation) Direction Requested Tonight

Mayor Matthew Hartman opened up public comment to the audience for
this New Business item and asked if anyone would be interested in
providing public comments. Hearing and seeing none, he moved into
Council discussion.

This item is scheduled for a Public Hearing on October 7, 2026.
US Department of Agriculture EIS Comment Letter

City Manager Jeff Balentine voiced concerns about potential impacts to
the City of Granite Falls water supply. He presented a letter regarding this
issue and requested an urgent decision from the City Council—within two
days—on whether they should submit a response collectively or as
individuals.

Mayor Matthew Hartman opened up public comment to the audience for
this New Business item and asked if anyone would be interested in
providing public comments. Hearing and seeing none, he moved into
Council discussion.

MOTION: Motion to approve that the Mayor sign the letter from the
Granite Falls City Council to the Director, Ecosystem
Management Coordination for Proposed Rule and Draft
EIS, Special Areas; Roadless Area Conservation.

MOVER: Mayor Pro Tem/Council Member David Griggs

SECONDER: | Mayor/Council Member Matthew Hartman

AYES: Mayor/Council Member Matthew Hartman, Council Member
Tom FitzGerald, Mayor Pro Tem/Council Member David
Griggs

NAYS: Council Member Steven Glenn, Council Member Bruce
Straughn

RESULT: Passed

8. CURRENT BUSINESS

There were no Current Business items.
9. MAYOR'S COMMENT (5 MINUTES)

Mayor Matthew Hartman commented on the following:

e Railroad Days (October 3rd)
e Attended Gerry James Memorial Service (last Saturday)

10. COUNCIL COMMENTS (15 MINUTES)
Mayor Pro Tem/Council Member David Griggs commented on the following:

e Show'N Shine Event raised $4,900 for the Boys & Girls Club
e Shared his own personal thoughts regarding Flock Cameras

¢ Asked to look at adding future discussion to an upcoming work session
meeting

Council Member Tom FitzGerald commented on the following:

e Thanked staff for Fee Resolution changes

e Garbage recycling proposal

¢ Utility long term outlook

¢ Bigfoot may be in the Children's Parade (Railroad Days)

Council Member Steven Glenn commented on the following:

e Request concerns (check spam folders)
e Review contracts & processes periodically for citizens
« Headed to scout camp after meeting

Council Member Bruce Straughn also found Mr. Wright's email in his spam
folder.

11. CITY MANAGER (5 MINUTES)
City Manager Jeff Balentine commented on the following:

e Junk email

e Deputy City Manager Brent Kirk will be available while he is out of the office
(Friday through Wednesday)

e RMSA (rate reduction in 2027)

e Flock Contract (Annual renewal)

e Legion Park RCO Grant application

e WWTP (working on unresolved issues)

° Two factor compliance message

¢ Request from Little League (placed on agenda facilities request)

¢ Frightening Falls (city leading the event)

e Snohomish County public hearing on 10/20 Granite Falls School District is
asking to increase mitigation fees

12. ADJOURNMENT

With no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was
adjourned at 9:55 p.m.

City Clerk Darla Wilkins, MMC

(dO Spero
Mayor Matthew Hartman

Mayor rs To Ds cid GAyse