TOWN OF FLAVORTOWN
TOWN COUNCIL
Minutes of Regular Meeting No. 219
Tuesday, April 29, 2025
Council Chamber, Town Hall
1. CALL TO ORDER
The regular meeting of the Flavortown Town Council was called to order at 7:04 p.m. by Chairperson Kessling.
2. ROLL CALL
Present: Chairperson Kessling, Councilmembers Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, and Hasegawa.
Absent: Councilmember Fenstermacher.
Also present: Bud Coolidge, Mayor; Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.
A quorum was present.
3. APPROVAL OF PREVIOUS MINUTES
Councilmember Whitcomb moved to approve the minutes of the April 15, 2025 regular meeting; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 6–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.)
4. CORRESPONDENCE
No correspondence was received.
5. OLD BUSINESS
A. Mulch beds outside Town Hall
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Mulch Materials at the April 1, 2025 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. The Council considered whether the mulch beds outside Town Hall should be pine bark nuggets or pine bark mini-nuggets. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Patrice Hollingsworth-Ng. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to specify pine bark nuggets for the mulch beds outside Town Hall; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the motion to add the words "on a trial basis"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Councilmember Tassel moved to amend the amendment to add "of not more than ninety days" after "trial basis"; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The amendment to the amendment carried, 4–2. The amendment carried, 6–0. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Thornquist.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 25-K.
B. Posted hours of the community garden
This item was referred to the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Posted Hours Continuance at the March 4, 2025 regular meeting and has returned from subcommittee. The Council considered whether the posted hours of the community garden should be rescinded. The item was placed on the agenda by the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. Councilmember Delgado moved to retain the posted hours of the community garden; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 5–1. (Ayes: Tassel, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Kessling.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 25-L.
6. NEW BUSINESS
A. Welcome sign at the town line
The Council considered whether the welcome sign at the town line should be made of aluminum or routed cedar. The item was placed on the agenda at the request of Wendell Prue. Councilmember Whitcomb moved to specify aluminum for the welcome sign at the town line; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 28 minutes. The motion carried, 4–2. (Ayes: Tassel, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Kessling, Thornquist.) The item was adopted as Ordinance No. 25-M.
Councilmember Fenstermacher arrived at 8:11 p.m.
B. Splash pad
The Council considered whether the Town should have the splash pad at all. The item was placed on the agenda by the Bureau of Water Features. Councilmember Delgado moved to retain the splash pad; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. Chairperson Kessling asked whether there was any further discussion. There was. Discussion continued for 14 minutes. Councilmember Tassel moved to table the item; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion to table carried, 4–3. (Ayes: Tassel, Thornquist, Delgado, Hasegawa. Nays: Kessling, Fenstermacher, Whitcomb.)
C. Hedge along the Town Hall walkway
The Council considered whether the hedge along the Town Hall walkway falls under the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee or the Department of Parks, Recreation, and Adjacent Green Space. The item was placed on the agenda by the Department of Public Works, Sidewalk Subcommittee. Bernadette Kwan rose to a point of order, stating that the item had not been properly noticed, and cited Robert's Rules of Order, Section 9. The Clerk confirmed that the item was added to the posted agenda after the notice deadline. The objection was sustained, and the item was removed from the agenda to be re-noticed for the next regular meeting.
7. PUBLIC COMMENT
Chairperson Kessling opened public comment at 9:16 p.m.
Wendell Prue stated that if the Town changed what the welcome sign at the town line was made of, heat would come off it. Mr. Prue stated that if heat came off it, the insects would move. He further stated that if the insects moved, the birds would leave.
Connie Vandersloot thanked Chairperson Kessling, Councilmember Tassel, Councilmember Thornquist, Councilmember Whitcomb, Councilmember Delgado, Councilmember Hasegawa, and Councilmember Fenstermacher individually for their service. Ms. Vandersloot stated that the Town is fortunate to have them. She then stated that the geese have been watching the splash pad.
Ray Tolliver stated that he would be brief, and asked where everyone is supposed to park.
There being no further speakers, public comment was closed.
8. MAYOR'S REPORT
The Mayor proclaimed the month of May as Mulch Awareness Month.
9. DEPARTMENT REPORTS
Office of Signage Compliance: The Office reported that the signage on Fennel Street is legible.
Division of Seasonal Decoration: The Division reported that one of the seasonal banners has not been recovered.
10. COMMITTEE REPORTS
The Chair noted that the Ad Hoc Subcommittee on Banner Continuance has recorded no activity since the February 4, 2025 regular meeting. Councilmember Tassel moved to dissolve the subcommittee for inactivity; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 6–1. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Hasegawa. Nays: Delgado.)
11. ADJOURNMENT
There being no further business, Councilmember Tassel moved to adjourn; seconded by Councilmember Thornquist. The motion carried, 7–0. (Ayes: Kessling, Tassel, Fenstermacher, Thornquist, Whitcomb, Delgado, Hasegawa.) The meeting was adjourned at 9:30 p.m.
Respectfully submitted, Carol Ann Albrecht, Town Clerk.