A positive vibe flowed from the dais at the June 27 Lynnwood City Council meeting. Mayor Nicola Smith and councilmembers greeted each agenda item with a smile.

“I am mighty pleased to be here,” Council Vice President Benjamin Goodwin said with a grin. The sentiment was echoed throughout the meeting as a fast-paced flow of approvals, celebrations, proclamations and sweet farewells were presented.

Mayor Smith commented on the bevy of events that have occurred this past month. Citing a “positive energy and forward momentum,” Smith recounted the varied array of events that have touched the diverse Lynnwood community:

• June 16 State of the City Address by Mayor Smith

• June 18 ribbon cutting ceremony at Lynndale Park for Girl Scout Cadette Troop 41002

• June 21 ceremony for the Cedar Valley Community School art project at 196th Street Southwest and Scriber lake Road

• June 25 Lynndale Park off-leash update and K-9 demonstration

• June 26 Disaster Preparedness workshop in Spanish at Fire Station 14

“Lots of citizen engagement over the last couple of weeks,” Smith said.

Lynnwood resident and longtime community volunteer Dave Gilbertson then approached the podium to publicly say goodbye to the city. Gilbertson talked through the buzzer thanking city staff, the mayor and councilmembers for their hard work.

Applauding the city’s support for veterans via the Veteran’s One-Stop Resource Center, Gilbertson shared some of his family history.

“Both my father and father-in-law were World War II veterans,” Gilbertson told councilmembers. “My brother and I served in Vietnam.” Coming back from war, Gilbertson explained, changes you and “it never goes away.”

“This support for veterans is such an important step and I applaud your leadership Mayor Smith,” Gilbertson said.

Gilbertson has worked with numerous boards and commissions, most recently on the Parks and Recreation Board helping with the comprehensive plan. His closing remarks touched on the importance of supporting parks and recreation, veterans and providing a “helping hand to those in need.”

Gilbertson was bid a heartfelt and emotional farewell by city staff and councilmembers, as Gilbertson now prepares to move to Southern California after retiring from his work with the City of Seattle.

Ex-councilmember Ted Hikel approached the podium with a handful of documents. Holding his stack of papers, Hikel started with a reminiscence of the mayor’s inaugural year.

“Two years ago I told the mayor I wanted her to be successful,” Hikel said as he referred councilmembers to the 2011 Financial Policy and the Rainy Day Fund.

Stating that a successful mayor makes a successful city, Hikel shared his concerns that the Rainy Day Fund was not being filled as stipulated in the 2011 Financial Policy.

Lamenting the lack of a $1 million deposit annually, Hikel challenged the mayor and councilmembers to meet the Rainy Day Fund goal of $9 million. This price goal would allow the city to cover at least two months of operating costs in times of emergency.

“I am happy to do the research for you,” Hikel said as he ended his remarks. He stepped towards the dais and handed each councilmember a packet containing his research citing the 2011 policy and goals.

However, according to City Spokeswoman Julie Moore, Hikel’s research didn’t encompass the 2014 revision of the financial policy, which changed the language of the policy and set tiered goals. Within the updated version, which was not quoted by Hikel, Lynnwood has a set interim goal of $5 million by 2016 and an end goal of $9 million.

Within the revised policy’s framework, Lynnwood is accomplishing its financial goals.

“We have accomplished the interim goal of having $5 million by 2016 and we are well on our way towards the ultimate goal of having $9 million in revenue stabilization fund,” Moore said.

Following citizen comments, the councilmembers and mayor rallied around two proclamations with full member support and approval.

Councilmember Shirley Sutton read the proclamation designating the month of June as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) Pride Month.

“Whereas, our nation was founded upon and is guided by a set of principles that includes that every person has been created equal, that each has rights to their life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness and that each shall be accorded the full recognition and protection of law,” Sutton said with a smile.

Lynnwood LGBT Pride Month was supported by councilmembers, who unanimously voted in favor of the proclamation to “encourage all residents to honor the history of the fight for equality.”

The second proclamation recognised Lynnwood’s Park and Recreation facilities and programs by declaring the month of July Park and Recreation Month. Councilmember Ruth Ross announced the proclamation to Lynn Sordel, Director of Parks, Recreation and Arts. The proclamation addressed the importance of “parks, greenways and open spaces (that) provide a welcome respite from our fast paced, high-tech lifestyles while protecting and preserving our natural environment.”

Also at Monday evening’s meeting:

• Reminder of Lynnwood University, a free eight-week course, is open for registration. The interactive course is scheduled at various city locations Thursday evenings from 6:30-9:00 p.m. Sept. 8 through Oct. 27, 2016. To register, contact Julie Moore at 425-670-5023 or jmoore@lynnwoodwa.gov.

• Adopted Ordinance in order to replace automatic transfer switch at Justice Center (Passed 6-0, Councilmember Ian Cotton abstained)

• Authorized Mayor Smith to enter into a small works contract with Colvico, Inc. to replace transfer switch at Justice Center not to exceed $105,941.63 (Passed 6-0, Councilmember Cotton recused himself)

• Authorized Mayor Smith to enter into a contract supplement with Stantec Consulting Services, Inc. not to exceed $13,090.00 (Passed 6-0, Councilmember Cotton abstained)

• Adopted Ordinance updating funding for Lift Station no. 10 Flood Protection project (Passed 7-0)

• Authorized Mayor Smith to enter into a contract with Gray and Osborne, Inc. not to exceed $73,100 (Passed 7-0)

• Authorized Mayor Smith to enter into Interlocal Agreement for Consolidation of administrative functions between Snohomish County Fire Protection District 1 and the City of Lynnwood (Passed 6-0, Councilmember Shannon Sessions recused herself)

–By Emily Scott