Medical Lake City Council business at its April 16 and May 7 meetings dealt mostly with discussing and approving a variety of contracts from creating a climate hazardous mitigation plan to hiring a grant writer and professional governmental relations firm. Council also awarded an upcoming project in the central business district, and approved a vendor to produce the city’s summer concert series.
Coney Island to get multi-use dock
At its April 16 meeting, the council voted unanimously to award a contract for installing a multi-use dock at Coney Island Park downtown. Treeline Contracting was the only bidder on the project, which includes shoreline restoration measures as well, coming in at $98,787.50.
“Just shy of what our budget was,” Parks and Recreation Director Glen Horton told council.
Horton added a second bid was received by the city, but was denied because it was submitted late and only included installation of the dock.
The project is funded by the city’s portion of American Rescue Plan Act money, some of which Mayor Terri Cooper said was initially set aside for parks improvements. Horton added the contractor changed the proposed layout of the dock, which includes 20-foot long, 25-foot wide performance dock connected by a floating walkway to a 20-foot wide, 10-foot long fishing dock.
“It’s a fixed-pier dock,” City Administrator Sonny Weathers said of the performance dock. “It’s not a floating dock.”
Council got a view of a preliminary layout for the dock during a workshop at its May 7 meeting, with no final decision being reached. Council also approved a master agreement for services contract at the May 7 meeting formalizing Treeline’s bid.
Linger @ the Lake series approved
Also at the April 16 meeting, council unanimously approved a contract with Hero Event Support for a summer concert series beginning in June at Waterfront Park. Hero, a Spokane-area company, will provide all staging, audio, lighting and talent management services at four concerts this summer: June 14, July 4, Aug. 8 and Aug. 29.
The contract pays Hero $8,500 per event, with a total price not to exceed $40,000. The company recently provided similar services at Cheney Mayfest, May 10-11.
During discussion, the City Council recognized the Aug. 8 date will conflict with the annual Bluewaters, Bluegrass Festival — also held in Waterfront Park. The decision was made to approve the contract as is, with the listed dates, and amend the dates later with Hero.
Climate hazardous mitigation plan creation
Council unanimously approved a $59,729.85 contract at its April 16 meeting with Oklahoma City-based company Chloeta for creation of a climate hazardous mitigation plan. The Native American-owned company will assist in preparing a plan that will include a communications strategy for informing the public should a climate disaster — like last summer’s Gray Road Fire — strike.
At its March 19 meeting, the council approved receipt of a $100,000 Department of Commerce 2023 – 2025 Climate Planning Grant to pay for developing the plan for mitigation of potential climate hazards. Through meetings and research, the city and Chloeta will develop a plan understanding potential climate hazards, the city’s vulnerability to these, plans and policies providing solutions and creation of mitigation strategies.
At its May 7 meeting, council approved a service agreement formalizing Chloeta’s bid.
Government affairs, grant writer discussed
Council held a pair of workshops at its May 7 meeting to discuss the possibility of hiring a government affairs professional service firm to deal with legislative matters affecting the city.
Weathers said city officials and the mayor have conducted lobbying efforts with state and federal elected officials to advance Medical Lake interests, and while this has worked well, having a firm who knows and keeps up on legislative trends, issues and other aspects full-time would greatly benefit the city in the future.
“It’s really nice to have friends like that working on behalf of the city,” he added.
Weathers said they are proposing issuing a request for proposal for firms providing such services, hoping those would come back with bids in the $30,000 – $40,000 range. While not in the city’s 2024 budget, city interest revenues typically budgeted in the $10,000 range but usually coming in around $50,000 – $60,000 would be able to cover the costs of a governmental services firm.
Cooper said they always have good visits with legislators in Olympia, but once they leave, the focus of those legislators often shifts to other issues. Having a governmental firm representing Medical Lake would help keep the city’s needs in the discussion.
“It makes a difference,” Cooper said. “There are a lot of things pertinent now that we weren’t aware of before.”
Council also conducted a workshop on the possibility of hiring a grant writer for the city. Weathers said the city has been successful at acquiring over $6 million in grants since 2022, but might have a chance to get more with a full-time writer on contract.
Medical Lake has a proposal for grant writing services currently from Positive Impact Grant Writing, LLC of Spokane for $5,000 to research and identify possible grant opportunities, prepare the materials and submit them to the appropriate agencies. Weathers said the city has a number of capital improvement projects that could be pursued with the services of a grant writer. Council agreed to move both the governmental services firm and grant writer proposals forward for preparation of request for proposals and consideration at a future meeting.
