19830412 City Council Minutes-36
April 5, 1983 - continued
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Council President Jaech removed from the April 12 agenda the presentation of the Arts Commission
selection of the 1% for art item for the library plaza. She said she had met with the Chairman of
the Arts Commission and was informed that they are not yet ready to present anything. He will
advise he.r when they are ready.
Council President Jaech read aloud a letter from Jacqueline Wilson of the Maplewood Manor Condominium
commending Fire Marshal Gary McComas for his help in regard to the upgrading of their fire alarm
system to meet City Codes. He had met with them to answer their questions and help them in their
deliberations, and Ms. Wilson stated that he was a valuable contributor to the process which con-
cluded satisfactorily for everyone present.
Council President Jaech said a member of the audience had indicated to her that he was having trouble
locating the posted Council agenda. He could not find it at the library or at the Anderson Center.
The City Clerk will assure that the agendas are posted.
Council President Jaech reported that the Finance Committee had met this evening with Mary Hughes of
Foster & Marshall who is preparing to do the underwriting of the City's bond issue. They want to
submit the package to,Moody's shortly to get a rating. Once submitted, it will be approximately 10
days before the rating is announced. Foster & Marshall will be giving the City an offer on April
26, and a closing date late in May is anticipated for selling all the bonds. Council President
Jaech noted that Ms. Hughes had indicated that Moody's rating is not based so much on debt service,
but the things they are looking at are the Washington State economy and financial condition. She
said the high sales tax rate, unemployment, and the WPPSS issue tend to outweigh the City's debt
coverage ratio. Ms. Hughes felt the City's ratios for the last three years were very good and that
the proposed rate structure last week would still provide a good ratio. Council President Jaech
said the City is looking at approximately a 2 1/2% discount on the bonds through Foster & Marshall
and a coupon rate of 9 3/4%, which comes to an overall rate of 10 1/4% which the City will pay for
the bonds. Councilmember Kasper added that Ms. Hughes had seemed surprised that the bonding company
had changed its thinking to the extent that the economy is the prime issue. He said it appeared to
him that the Council will have a big decision to make in the next two weeks, as they may get into a
position wherein they do not go for a bond issue.
Council President Jaech said at the Finance Committee meeting they also had discussed the leasing of
four Malibu vehicles for the Police Department, and it was the consensus to approve the leasing.
COUNCILMEMBER HALL MOVED, SECONDED BY'COUNCILMEMBER NORDQUIST, TO APPROVE THE.LEASING OF THE POLICE
VEHICLES. MOTION CARRIED.
There was no further business to come before the Council, and the meeting adjourned .at 9:50 p.m.
IRENE VARNEY MORAN, Cit Clerk HARVE H. HARRISON, Mayor
April 12, 1983 - Work Meeting
The regular meeting of the Edmonds City Council was called to order at 7:40 p.m. by Mayor Harve
Harrison in the Plaza Meeting Room of the Edmonds Library. All present joined in the flag salute.
PRESENT
Harve Harrison, Mayor
Jo -Anne Jaech
Laura Hall
Bill Kasper
Ray Gould
Larry Naughten
John Nordquist
Katherine Allen
Tony Foss, Student
MAYOR
Representative
STAFF PRESENT
Jim Adams, City Engineer
Irene Varney Moran, City Clerk
Bobby Mills, Acting Public Works Supt.
Art Housler, Finance Director
Jeff Ristau, Accounting Supervisor
Jack Wei nz, Fire Chief
Mary Lou Block, Planning Director
Steve Simpson, Parks & Recreation Director
Pat LeMay, Personnel Director
Linda Sullivan, Landscape Designer
Jim Jessel, Property Manager
Wayne Tanaka,'City Attorney
Jackie Parrett, Deputy City Clerk
Mayor Harrison introduced Tony Foss, the new Student Representative from Meadowdale High School.
Mayor Harrison introduced Pat Hepler from the Fire Department who presented $500 for the rescue boat
fund from Edmonds Firefighters Local 1828.
Mayor Harrison noted that Bill Nims, Engineering Coordinator, had resigned, and he recommended that
the position be retitled Traffic Engineer with a reclassification to E-5 from E-4, so he would be
better able to recruit qualified candidates who are licensed professional engineers. COUNCILMEMBER
KASPER MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER NORDQUIST,. THAT THIS REQUEST BE REFERRED TO THE PERSONNEL
COMMITTEE. MOTION CARRIED. Personnel Director Pat LeMay noted that at the April 25 ,-!ork meeting
they will be discussing the reclassification study and -perhaps this could be included for discussion
at that time.
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April 12, 1983 - continued
CONSENT AGENDA
Councilmember Kasper removed Item (E) from the Consent Agenda. COUNCILMEMBER NAUGHTEN'MOVED, SECONDED
BY COUNCILMEMBER NORDQUIST, TO APPROVE THE BALANCE OF THE CONSENT AGENDA. MOTION CARRIED. The
approved items on the Consent Agenda included the following:
(A) Roll call.
(B) Approval of Minutes of April 5, 1983.
(C) Acknowledgment of receipt of Claim for Damages from Bruce Farver in the amount of $3,270.47.
(D) Set date of May 3, 1983 for hearing on Planning Board recommendation on contract rezone
request from RM-3 to CG zoning at 24111 Highway 99 (Birtcher McDonald Frank Properties/R-
2-83).
PROPOSED ORDINANCE IMPLEMENTING WATER/SEWER RATES [Item (E) on Consent Agenda]
Councilmember Kasper felt that there were two ordinances before them. THEREFORE, COUNCILMEMBER
KASPER MOVED TO VOTE ON THE ORDINANCE OUTSTANDING WHICH HE SAID WAS BASICALLY CLASSIFIED AS THE
KATIE ALLEN MOTION ALONG WITH CHANGES SET FORTH BY THE STAFF ON MARCH 29 REGARDING 92¢. (A hearing
was held March 29 on the first reading of this ordinance, following which a motion was made to
reject it. There was a tie vote on the motion, so the motion failed, but no motion was made to pass
it, and Councilmember Allen then suggested that the Staff be asked for a recommendation within the
ranges presented in the previous two or three meetings. The following week the Staff made a recommendation
and then the Council instructed the City Attorney to .draft an ordinance, which was the ordinance
• placed on this.evening's Consent Agenda.) THE MOTION TO VOTE ON THE PREVIOUS ORDINANCE FAILED FOR
LACK OF A SECOND. COUNCILMEMBER KASPER THEN MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER GOULD, TO PASS ORDINANCE
2361 [ITEM (E) ON THE CONSENT AGENDA] AS PRESENTED. MOTION CARRIED. Councilmember Gould reviewed
the provisions of the ordinance. Councilmember Kasper said he still did not feel these rates would
take care of the long-range problem, but to make the vote unanimous and in light of the fact that he
thought this was the best they had in a long time, he had made the motion. Councilmember Gould
expressed thanks to Bill Crow for his persistence in making the Council understand, and.Councilmember
Naughten thanked the Finance Department for their work. Councilmember Hall thanked the Herald
reporter for his detailed article on the subject.
REPORT ON PROPOSAL ON COST FOR STUDY OF 6TH AVE. PLAYFIELD LIGHTS
City Engineer Jim Adams had solicited proposals and the one he presented was from Jack O'Malloy of
Engineering Electrical Systems in Bellevue. For the following tasks the fee would be based on time
and expenses, with an ..,.estimate of $1,200 - $1,800: Study the adequacy of lighting for various
recreational activities; study the amount of glare to surrounding residences, and mitigating measures
to reduce excessive glare; prepare a written report to include modifications, using the existing,
system or installing a new system, with an associated construction cost estimate; and one oral
presentation to the City Council. Mr. Adams said that until a scope of work is developed the range
of cost was given rather than a definite amount. Councilmember Gould asked if it would make the
residents feel better that the lights are on if $1,500 was spent on such a study, or would it be
futile, and Councilmember Nordquist said there are two schools of thought --one, that these people
knew these liahts existed and they should live with them and, two, that it is a nuisance and something
should be done to reduce the nuisance. He said that while they probably never will take the lights
away, he thought they should do something, to help the situation for these people and he thought the
study was the minimal thing they should do. Councilmember Kasper was interested in knowing what the
candlepower had been previously and he said the person who designed the lights should have that
information. Parks and Recreation Director Steve Simpson said he believed they were designed for 20
candle power on the field and according to standards in the industry for recreational play. Council -
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member Gould asked for the credentials of Engineering Electrical Systems. Mr. Adams said he had
obtained a list of firms from the PUD and from the Recreation Department, and both lists were the
same. Of the three firms on the lists, this was the only one to make a proposal. Councilmember
Hall thought they already had most of the information they were asking for in a report. Mr. Simpson
stated that the light on the field is not the problem --it is the glare from the burning light bulbs,
and that has been reduced considerably since the installation of the shields. Councilmember Gould
.observed that the study would take the question of the lighting on the field out of their subjective
hands and put it to the experts, and he liked that. COUNCILMEMBER NAUGHTEN MOVED, SECONDED BY
COUCILMEMBER NORDQUIST, TO AUTHORIZE THE STUDY, FOR AN AMOUNT NOT TO EXCEED $1,800. Mayor Harrison
said he had invited Peggy Harris and Dorothy Williamson to enlighten the Council on this problem,
and he asked the two ladies to speak.
Dorothy Williamson suggested they look out the window at the lights right then, and she said their
plea for relief is still not"being answered. She said they have gone through two winters of lights
and still have the same results --only now there are more lights. She offered to be involved in any
meetings in order to pursue a settlement, and she felt play schedules should be reduced so the
neighborhood can have relief. She asked that the lights be turned off until something better can be
developed.
Peggy Harris, 721 Sprague, said the shields are of no real value and that the liahts are worse than
they were before the shields as far as her view is concerned. She asked if the City had ever been
sued since she had been told that the number of lights had been increased to preclude the possibility
of suit.
Mayor Harrison said that in looking back on this he thought they all had thought they would have a
better field with the lights, but now that they are there he sees it was a mistake. He thought the
field was being overused and should -be a daytime fi.eld only, and that the lights should be donated
to the Meadowdale field. He asked the Council to consider that.
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April 12, 1983 - continued •
Councilmember Jaech had received a letter this evening from Mr. and Mrs. L. G. Reynolds, at
,655 Main St.,.#301, which she read and which stated that the lights were a violation of the
L,ommunity.bevelopment Code and asked that something be done about them immediately.
In response to the remarks that the number of lights had been increased, Mr. Simpson said he
¢ did not know if the candle power on the field had been increased, but when they added the
R shields the shields caused each beam of light to the field to be narrowed, so additional lights
were turned on to cover the field because it would.be a hazard to have shadowed areas. He said
all lights that are on have shields. Councilmember Nordquist suggested that this item should
be removed from the agenda, and THE_MOTION AND THE SECOND WERE WITHDRAWN. Councilmember Naughten
• said this was an administrative problem and he thought -the Mayor should handle it and the
Council would go along with his decision. Councilmember Gould said this was not a public
hearing --they already had that --and if it were a public hearing there would be people from the
other side expressing their views, and they had to think of the people using the fields also.
Councilmember Nordquist thought that if Jim Jessel retrieved all of the other information on
the lighting and gave it to the Engineering Department they could resolve the problem.
PRESENTATION OF MEADOWDALE PLAYFIELD AREA PLAN
Landscape Designer Linda Sullivan had prepared a written summary of the progress of the subject
plan, which she reviewed. The master plan includes six lighted baseball/softball fields, four
of which can be converted to soccer/football fields; a central scorekeeping facility; a chi.ldren's
play area; and parking for approximately 100 cars. The site is owned by the Edmonds School
District and planning for it has been done by the School District, the City of Lynnwood, and
the City of Edmonds. A proposed agreement was drafted in 1981 to cover joint development,
maintenance, and scheduling of the field. Cost of development (June 1982 figures) was estimated
to be $2,235,166, and the addition of a multi -purpose building with restrooms, storage, con- •
cession booth, lounge, and lockers would bring the total to $3,200,715. Lack of funding brought
the project to a standstill, and efforts to acquire grant money were not successful. The
Lynnwood Parks and Recreation Director does not have much enthusiasm for volunteer work on the
project as it is a project above the financial means of volunteer groups. Ms. Sullivan noted
that the Meadowmere plat of single-family homes will commence development shortly and although
the Edmonds side is the most buffered it may not be sufficient to mitigate the problems associated
with field lights, and part of the vegetative buffer will be removed in development of the
plat.
Parks and Recreation Director Steve Simpson added that Lynnwood sees this project as.having a
number of constraints --it will be a very large complex in a residential area and they would
hear the same problems Edmonds has heard regarding its playfield; it is a large complex that
will draw a lot of people; the people who are going to pay to use that facility will be adults
and they have to play at night and on weekends.
Student Representative Tony Foss said he has been hearing about this field since he was in
elementary school. He noted that there are a lot of children in that area and with the new
Meadowmere development there will be a lot more. He thought a playfield like that would be
used all the time, and he noted that the roads around it are not developed well, but he saw the
site as being advantageous to children.
Mr. Simpson observed that the field in downtown Edmonds is in an even more urban area than the
proposed one in Meadowdale and the same problems will be experienced. Councilmember Kasper
thought a recreation district concept to spread the cost to be the only reasonable approach,
and he thought an EIS would be necessary. Ms. Sullivan said an EIS was done in 1973 but the
plan has changed since then. She said the general consensus was that there would not be severe
impact to the neighbors, but she added that she had heard complaints about the EIS and, also,
she did not believe lights were considered. Mayor Harrison thought the site to have potential .
for at least some rough fields.
Councilmember Allen observed that Lynnwood has put.a lot of money into the Lynnwood complex.
She said they could work with the School District on the Woodway facility, but it is difficult
to get to it. She said the lights would be obscured by trees there, so that was a possibility
to explore. Mr. Simpson said the School District is committed to all of the fields that they
have, and Edmonds probably could work -.something out with them. Councilmember Kasper said it is
Jim Bride's opinion that a recreat.ion District is the answer. Mr. Simpson will pursue these
thoughts and report back to the Council.
TEMPORARY PUBLIC SERVICE PROJECTS
Mayor Harrison said the ordinance setting up this program calls for an hourly minimum wage of
$3.35. He proposed that the ordinance be amended to increase the hourly wage to $4.00 which he
said is more.in line with the hourly wage paid the temporary summer workers and other temporary
help during the year. This would not change the amount budgeted but would decrease the number
of people put to work on this project. Personnel Director Pat LeMay said a little less than
$39,000 had been authorized by the. Council so far ($65,000 is budgeted). Councilmember Gould
said the question was whether they wanted to pay the people hired at a higher rate or put more
to work at a lower rate, noting that they could hire another person for 31 hours for that same
money. Acting Public Works Superintendent Bobby Mills said there will be six more summer
people coming on at $4.00 - $4..50 per hour, depending on how long they have worked for the City
in summer jobs. Mayor Harrison added that three out of four of the first people hired in the
Temporary Publc Service Projects werebreadwinners and two out of the next four were. Mr.
LeMay said the only eligibility.criterion is that they be unemployed, but a preference is
expressed for Edmonds residents because the Edmonds taxpayers are paying for it. The City
Attorney was asked if Edmonds residency could be required, and Mr. Tanaka responded that as a
• April 12, 1983 - continued
practical matter most of the people interested in this kind of job will be from this area as
costs of transportation would preclude anyone taking'the*job at that salary if he had to come a
great distance. He said there could be some problems with putting such restrictions on the job
which would not make it worthwhile. COUNCILMEMBER KASPER MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER
HALL, TO INCREASE THE HOURLY WAGE TO $4.00 AS REQUESTED BY THE MAYOR. MOTION CARRIED. Councilmember
Gould suggested that perhaps more money should be authorized to put more people to work.
He observed that the project is working as breadwinners are being put to work. Mayor Harrison.
will propose the next projects to the Council soon.
COUNCIL
Councilmember Nordquist reported that Sue Clement had called him to say that Max Gellert's
wife's funeral would be the following day. Councilmember Nordquist suggested that a letter of
condolence be sent to former Councilmember Max Gellert.
Councilmember Hall proposed that a resolution of commendation be prepared for Bill Nims.
Councilmember Hall inquired about Clean -Up Week, and Acting Public Works Superintendent Bobby
Mills stated that it will be the week of April 18.
Councilmember Hall had attended the Massey tape presentation the previous evening and she
recommended them to others.
Councilmember Hall referred the Planning Department and City Attorney to a Sunday Times article
entitled "Don't block your neighbor's sun."
Councilmember Kasper complimented Finance ^irector Art Flousler on his letter to Moody's Investment
Services, it done.
saying was exceptionally well
Councilmember Kasper noted that there was a, request from, some of the Staff to reconsider the
decision to have rolled curbs on the 76th Ave. walk: -way. COUNCILMEMBER KASPER MOVED, SECONDED
BY COUNCILMEMBER NORDQUIST, THE T IT BE PUT ON THE NEXT 'o10IRK MEETING AGENDA. Mayor Harrison.
noted that four of the fives Staff members who had signed the request were present, as well as
Jeanie Johnson who had made the request that the curbs be rolled, and he thought the issue
THE MOTION %ND THE SECOND WERE WITHDRAWN. The Staff had
could be resolved very quickly,. T
indicated that 76th Ave. W. is an arterial roadway with a 30 mph speed limit, and also that it
is unsafe for bicycles to move on and off the pathway, and this was the basis for their request.
COUNCILMEMBER KASPER MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEM EF HALL THAT THE PATHWAY BE DONE WITH
RAISED CURBS. MOTION CARRIED WITH COUNCILMEMBER NORDQUIST VOTING NO. Councilmember Nordquist
said it would have been more appropriate in making the presentation if the Staff had made their
comments.
Councilmem,, er Naugghten :noted that the five-year amortization period in the Sign Code will end
next month so all the siems in the City which are oversized will be nonconforming. He noted.
that the Council had overturned an ADB decision last week which he did not like doing, but he
was concerned in that decision that if they allowed that sign the message to the community
would be that the Sign Code really is not applicable to what the City wants. 4s thought the
Council should review the Sign Code and reaffirm the intent of it or, if they are not satisfied
with part c f it, refer it to the Planning Board for review. TF:EREFCRE, C UNC ILMEMBER NAUGHTEN
MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALLEN, TO REVIEW THE SIGN CODE ON MAY 10, 1983. tIOTIOir CARRIED.
Councilmember Naughten said each of the Council should review it and determine whether it is
still valid, and that the ADB.needs a message from the Council about the Sian Code. Council -
member gasper said there shooid be sortie allowances for variances in any code like that if they
are well presented and factual.
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Councilmember Gould read a: memo frorr; Planning Director Miary Lou Block regarding very large
billboards in -`he County area cn Highway 99 which have generated complaints from Edr.ionds
merchants. He said the County is considerinc an ordinance to, allow even larger billboards and
these massive signs defeat the City's intent of overcoming the sign Cutter on Highway 99.
Mayor Harrison said he had received a tol.ephone call from A.ckerley Ccmrnunicatioils saying the
two large signs are the maximum 672 sq. ft. signs. He said in Snohomish County they are con-
sidering allowing one sign per 1,000 lineal feet and in other counties it will be one per 500
lineal feet. COUNCILMEMBER GOULD MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER NAUGHTEN, TO.ASK THE COUNCIL
!PRESIDENTi TO WRITE A, LETTER ;!N BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL TO THE COUNTY COUNCIL Ui<GING THAT
THEY DO NOT ADOPT THE PROPOSED ORDINANCE AS IT VISUALL`, AFFECTS THE EDNONDS AREA. �110iICON
CARRIED. Councilmember Gould further urged everyone to contact the County Councilmembers
personally. Councilmember JaEct. suggested: that the Ballinger Community Club be contacted so
they can have some input, and she said she had asked C':s. Elcck to advise them v:hen the public
hearing will be held.
Council President Jaech asked for suggestions for discussion topics for the next Council dinner
meeting. Councilmember Alien suggested an eval'uatton of the retreat. Council President Jaech
then discussed the retreat plans.
Personnel Director, Pat LeNay asked all Councilmerebers to turn in their job description books to
be updated. He also requested a very short Executive Session.fcilowing this evening's meeting
to discuss labor negotiations.
Council President Jaech announced that the following evening at 7:00 p.m. there would be a
presentation at the Meadowdale Corrimunity Club regarding the sewer/drainage project.
Council Pres i dent Jaech gated that the Roundjar'v Review Board will hear the Woedwav .ann.exati or.
appeal and the Greenery annexation on April ls.
f.40.
April 12, 1983 - continued •
There was no further business to come before the Council, and the meeting adjourned to Executive
Session at 101:10, p..m.
IRENE VARNEY MORAN, Uty Clerk HARVE H. HARRISON, Mayor
No Council meeting was held on April 19, 1983.
April 26, 1983
The regular meeting of the Edmonds City Council was called to order at 7:30 p.m. by Mayor Harve
Harrison in the Plaza Meeting Room of the Edmonds Library. All present joined in the flag
salute.
PRESENT STAFF PRESENT
Harve Harrison, Mayor
Jim Adams, City Engineer
Jo -Anne Jaech
Irene Varney Moran, City Clerk
Laura Hall
Bobby Mills, Acting Public Works Supt.
Bill Kasper
Art Housler, Finance Director
Ray Gould
Marlo Foster, Police Chief
Larry Naughten
Jack Weinz, Fire Chief
John Nordquist
Mary Lou Block, Planning Director
Katherine Allen
Steve Simpson, Parks & Recreation Director
Tony Foss, Student Representat.ive
Pat LeMay, Personnel Director
Jim Jessel, Property Manager
Felix deMello, Building & Grounds Supvr.
Wayne Tanaka, City Attorney
Jackie Parrett, Deputy City Clerk
AUDIENCE
Mayor Harrison recognized Buildings and Grounds Supervisor Felix deMello who announced that on
Sunday, May 1, 1983, from 10:00 to 12:00 a.m. there will be a planting project downtown of the
flowering annuals and he is looking for volunteers to participate for that short period. He is
hoping to involve the community in this project.
Dave Ehrling, President of the Edmonds Chamber of Commerce, announced that there will be a
presentation at the next Chamber meeting on "Main Street, USA," and he invited the Council to
attend. He noted that the Chamber is a revitalized, energized group, and said they would
welcome participation by the Council.
Roger Hertrich, 1020 Puget Dr., said there is a problem on SR 524 at 196th and Olympic in that
there was an accident at that intersection a month ago and another one this evening. He said
there is a sight distance problem there and that together with the speed of westbound traffic
is causing this situation. He noted that the road curves toward the north because of the left •
turn lane at that intersection and at the north side of 196th there was supposed to be a flatter .
area where a.car could pause to survey the highway before crossing it, and he did not think
that was done correctly. Mayor Harrison asked the City Engineer to investigate this, and Mr.
Adams said he had already studied it and one of his recommendations will be to put a cul-de-sac
on that short street to stop the traffic. His written recommendations will be forthcoming.
MAYOR
Mayor Harrison advised that the City's bond rating has been upgraded to A which will save
approximately $75,000 over the 15-year period of the upcoming bond issue.
Mayor Harrison stated, in regard to the Nonrepresented Wage and Salary Program, that he is
required to inform the Council of merit adjustments for department heads and obtain approval of
the Council, but he has decided to inform the Council of all the merit adjustments given. He
had provided them a written summary to show the merit adjustments given, effective April 1,
1983, together with the April 1, 1983 across-the-board increase and the alignment increase to
get the employees into the pay progression plan. There were 12 nonrepresented employees affected
whose dates of evaluation were prior to April 1. Councilmember Naughten recalled the criteria
for merit and noted that everyone was getting approximately 1% so that seemed to indicate that
either there was not enough money in the program or else everyone was rated average. Mayor
Harrison had indicated in his memorandum that it appeared the merit increases cannot go much
beyond 1% this year because of the impact that the total base increases (across-the-board,
alignment, and merit) will have on next year's budget, but that it also appeared that the
average monthly increase.of 7.8% for 1983 is generous. Councilmember Nordquist stated that he
did not think the incentive is in the merit program and that he hoped something could be done
to improve it next year. COUNCILMEMBER NORDQUIST MOVED, SECONDED BY COUNCILMEMBER ALLEN, TO
ACCEPT THE MERIT ADJUSTMENTS. Councilmember.Allen said they need to go to the next to the last
paragraph of the Mayor's memo which said merit increases could not be higher because of the
budget impact this time, and at least they have moved ahead with some people. Mayor Harrison
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