In a short regular meeting Tuesday night, the Cheney City Council approved a one-year contract with the city’s Olympia consultant Jennifer Ziegler.
According to the contract, Ziegler represents the city on legislative, regulatory and administrative issues that arise in the state’s capital. She meets with legislators and state agency officials on issues of interest to Cheney, attends important meetings and reports directly to Mayor Tom Trulove on results and what transpired, as well as advising the city on recommended actions and positions to be taken.
“Jennifer has kept the city’s name in play over there,” City Administrator Mark Schuller said.
According to the contract terms, which began Jan. 1 and run through Dec. 31, Ziegler is to be paid $2,500 per month while the Legislature is in session, and $1,500 a month when it is not.
“In my personal opinion, it’s money very well spent,” Schuller said.
Also at Tuesday’s meeting, the council held the second reading on a pair of ordinances amending portions of the city’s Title 21 Zoning chapter and its chapter on overlay zones. Public Works Director Todd Ableman told the council the reason the second reading was being held, and not the third and final passage readings, was to allow for the state to complete its 60-day comment period as required by law.
That period expires March 5, and the council expects to be able to hold the final readings at its March 10 meeting.
“Schedule-wise, we just got ahead of ourselves,” Ableman said.
The council also opened a public hearing on Interim Ordinance W-58, which deals with establishing land use regulations regarding the location of marijuana retail outlets and dispensaries. No members of the public were present to provide testimony, in which case Trulove closed the hearing.
The ordinance now moves to the Planning Commission for another public hearing and comment and review period. That hearing is scheduled to occur at the commission’s next regular meeting, March 9.
John McCallum can be reached at [email protected].
Reader Comments(0)