Friday, March 29, 2024

Autumn - When leafs change colors and city council changes funds

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There was little wiggle room, both literally (nearly standing room only) and metaphorically, for lengthy debates due to the loaded agenda at the August 28 City Council meeting. Many Leavenworth citizens trickled into City Hall on Tuesday - amongst the high attendance was a cluster of individuals in matching maroon polos with an emblem above the chest and a bit of a chip on their shoulder about concerns regarding their organization. The meeting lasted until nearly nine p.m. with discussion circulating around the future of the city's waste services, Autumn Leaf Festival funding and the annexation of Pine Village KOA Campgrounds. 

In typical fashion, the meeting opened with the flag salute. However this week's patriotism lingered longer than the usual Pledge of Allegiance at the meeting - Larry Meyer, long time member of the Mosquito Control District, requested a moment of silence in respect for the recent passing of American hero John McCain. After everyone took a moment to reflect on the former Senator's life the meeting instantly launched into business. 

Meyer went over the background of the Mosquito Control District, named a few notable figures that are extremely good at their job of terminating the pesky miniscule bugs and confirmed that while the West Nile virus has appeared in the Tacoma area, Leavenworth has no sudden need to stock up on mosquito repellent any time soon - there has never been any evidence of West Nile mosquitos here. He also introduced the idea of expanding the district to include certain areas that have been receiving the Mosquito District's services but not being enveloped into the tax paying area. He stated that they currently cover city limits and work out towards Sleeping Lady. 

"This year we're going to expand our district a little bit because we've been serving a particular area but they've never been paying tax," said Meyer. On Election Day there is going to be something on the ballot for certain residents to vote to be folded into the district and under the blanket of the Mosquito Control's metaphorical insect screen. 

Representing the Music in the Meadow Concert series was Jamie Howell and to be expected from a group that thrives on entertaining folks, he had a presentation for the crowd. With the lights dimmed and a brief introduction about Icicle Creek for the Arts being the recipient of the $2,000 funding grant from the city, the crowd and City Council got a chance to see where the funding grant went. A large portion of the funding went into marketing to attract guests and Howell stated that 32% of the visitors came from outside areas to attend the event. It was a chance for the city to see the outcome of the funding reflected in both black and white numbers and also a colorful clip of the fun itself. 

To round out the conversation of funding, one of the maroon polo adorned people rose to discuss the Autumn Leaf Festival. Bill Forhan, president of the Autumn Leaf Festival, projected the question 'why are festivals important?' and why is 'Autumn Leaf important?' as he began inclining to the bottom line of his appeal to the council. He reiterated that the Autumn Leaf Festival is not a tradition that is is only rooted within the Leavenworth city lines, but across the entirety of Washington state. Forhan directed his time at the podium to appeal to the City Council to have the $5,000 fund that was stripped away. 

"Autumn Leaf is the only festival that actually goes out to other communities with a personal invitation to come and visit. I think you oughta think about that a little bit," said Forhan.

With at least 20 high school bands, the kid oriented parade that is the preface to the actual parade and generating the attention of families across the state, Forhan made the point that Autumn Leaf Festival is the most family friendly festival. In a town chock full of opportunities catered around drinking and other activities for the 21 and up crowd, Autumn Leaf Festival is a long time tradition centered around family. Forhan didn't just anchor his argument on the emotional aspect, but also used logistics with numbers. He made the point that financially September, when Autumn Leaf Festival happens, is the second highest month for tax collections. 

"As we pass by people when we go to these parades they are out of their chairs, up on their feet, they're dancing and doing the chicken dance with us," said Forhan. "They're laughing and giggling and having fun."

However, the behind the scenes commitment, volunteering and most importantly, funding, to mold the event is where Forhan had begun to see wavering support. 

"Few of you have witnessed the hard work that our volunteers have contributed to this effort to sell out community. We've invited you, we've asked you to come and volunteer and spend the weekend with us just so you can see what we take on," said Forhan. "The city's been a good partner with us over the couple of years. We've gone through some struggles and I appreciate the help you've given us. But this year you decided to cut our funding. Now we adjusted our budget as best as we could but we had some unexpected maintenance costs for the float and we are still left very short of funds, just so you know. We will have a festival at the end of this month, it's probably not going to be the robust festival we've always had unless we get some funds coming in. So I'm asking you to give it a second thought and consider restoring the funding you cut from us."

Forhan closed his spiel with talking about the disappointment for visitors that would funnel from a lack of funds for the festival; not in a threatening manner, but matter of fact foreshadowing. The speech ended with fielding a few questions that arose from lingering doubt from some City Council members and thunderous applause from his fellow maroon polos and community members. 

"Autumn Leaf Festival is at a critical point right now. I personally feel, you know I have a real affection for this festival and I feel like we have the opportunity here to help them with this shortfall," said Mayor Cheryl Farivar. "It's perfectly acceptable for us to make a motion tonight to add $5,000 to the Autumn Leaf Festival if that is the council's desire." 

The end result was the city council voting to reverse the previous decision and increase the funding by $5,000 - despite the hesitation from a few members, all of the members voted to fund the festival except for Mia Bretz. She remained the sole member who remained faithfully sticking to her decision and explained her viewpoint. 

"The reason we had reduced the amount was because the original intention of giving the subsidy wasn't to do it in perpetuity. And so the council discussed trying to kind of wane the festival off the subsidy in order to help encourage more diverse thinking on income generation. And unless we change the way we give money to festivals, I personally am not comfortable giving to one particular festival money and when we don't really give other festivals money," said Bretz. "That was the reasoning why we went with the lower amount and I feel comfortable remaining there."

After the $5,000 was rewarded to the Autumn Leaf Festival group, the meeting transitioned into taking action on several items for the city. Among the series of items discussed, there was time alloted to review the final draft of the city's contract with Waste Management and untangle any confusion, questions or need for clarification. The city currently provides sanitary waste pick up services to residents and have the option to contract with Waste Management for recycling. However this contract will require the residents to have garbage service through Waste Management along with recycling if they'd like. Cashmere has recently adopted a similar transition in October 2016. 

Tami Yager, manager from Public Sector Services Waste Management Co., was there to guide discussion about the transfer of city services of waste and recycling to Waste Management.

"64 gallon service would remain the default initially. Once we implement the contract we will let everyone know what the other service options are, how to contact us, how to sign up for service and we will go ahead and work with city's existing cart inventory and replace those as needed if someone chooses to keep the existing 64 gallon service," said Yager. 

There will also be a bulky waste collection by appointment service, there will be a distribution of information to residents about options relating to senior, low income and carry on service, coordinate snow removal and also Waste Management will meet with the city to review the notes on everybody's individual house and preference of service. 

"We want to be as much of a hometown feel as we can be," said Yager. 

One month prior, Waste Management will get an update of the customer list, develop a list of frequently asked questions and answers and will update the web page for Leavenworth to be more robust. Also closer to time, the mayor may also reach out to the public to further explain the contract more thoroughly to the residents. Letters or postcards, undecided which as of right now, will also be sent out to residents to inform about rates, how to sign up, when to request services and other assorted details. These actions will help the transfer go more smoothly and keep residents within the loop.

 

Other business discussed at August 28, City Council Meeting: 

  • There was a public hearing conducted for the request of the annexation of the Pine Village KOA. City of Leavenworth moved to adopt Ordinance No. 1572 annexation of the Pine Village KOA campground property. Water rights owned by the Recreational Adventures Co. was delayed and now will be transferred within the next 18 months. 
  • At Enchantment Park there will be an installation of recreational sporting lights that are at a 30/20 FC Light Level on Field #3. The council authorized the expenditure of the needed funds to purchase and install the lights. This will be done through Techline Sports Lighting in the amount of $217,987. 
  • City of Leavenworth also signed the Letter of Intent to Participate as a Planning Partner for the Chelan County Hazard Mitigation Plan Update. 
  • The City Council also rejected the bids received for the US 2 crosswalks, project HLP-PB15(008) because it was $150,000 over the estimate. There will be rebidding in December with hope for better numbers and the possibility of putting in for additional funding. 

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