Tag: city-council

Marine Patrol Deputy Churchill honored at City Council

by Richard Uhlhorn

Tuesday evening’s, April 9, City Council meeting had a number of interesting items on the agenda. In particular was the presentation of Garrett Churchill’s Marine Patrol Officer of the Year Award and Parks Director Paul Horne’s PROS Plan (Parks & Recreation Open Space)update which will be covered separately.

Marine Patrol Award:
Sgt. Rob Huddleston requested that the Sheriff allow him to have the Washington State Marine Patrol Officer of the Year be recognized at the Chelan City Council meeting.

Deputy Garrett Churchill accepts his plaque as Marine Patrol Officer of the Year from
State Parks representative Brian Alexander

Sgt. Huddleston has been involved with the Marine Patrol on Lake Chelan for a number of years. “I’ve supervised and been involved for a long time,” said Huddleston. “Lake Chelan is a pretty unique place.

Sgt. Rob Huddleston

Deputy Garrett Churchill put his name in to patrol Lake Chelan. “He took the job head on. Some people think it is the best job in the world and that patrol officers just have fun hanging out on the lake,” he said. He added that after eight or more hours on the lake is a tough assignment.

“To accomplish what he did takes a special person to do that.” Huddleston said. “The State Parks runs the marine patrol.” Huddleston then introduced State Park representative Brian Alexander.

State Parks representative pointed to a plaque that will hang in the State Parks office honoring various individuals for outstanding work. Deputy Garrett Churchill’s name was engraved on the plaque for his work as a Marine Patrol Officer of the Year.

Alexander stated that Churchill took his work in the marine patrol seriously. “He started out on probation and rose to No. 1. He deserves this award.” Alexander said that the program emphasizes education. There are 39 municipalities involved in the marine program and Alexander said, “Garrett is a great example of what we are looking for.”

Citizen Comments:
John Olson shared recent information he has gathered or seen in the news media with Chelan City Council on March 9.

John Olson, past city councilmember, addressed the Council with several concerns and issues facing the City and Communilty.

                Butte meeting – Over 100 attended. “The developers are proposing a Hawks Meadow style development,” said Olson who is constantly lamenting the fact that there are no more public access points to Lake Chelan except for the proposed micro street end parks.

                He remarked that the State budgeted the property tax returns as one percent per year. “Our state leaders shunted the one percent property tax increases per year onto the Cities.

                He mentioned an article in the Wenatchee World about a pear orchardist in the Wenatchee Valley who has cut out six acres from his orchard for residential development to stay in the agriculture business. He told the Council that Community Development Director John Ajax has been struggling with the Ag-Tourism issue and asked Olson what he thought. Olson stated that with farms disappearing, it was development of agriculture tourism, i.e. vineyards or subdivisions.

Chelan’s Earth Day Celebration is coming up on April 20 in Riverwalk Park. Mayor Erin McCardle read an Earth Day Proclamation into the record.

Mayor Erin McCardle read the Earth Day Proclamations into the record at Tuesday’s City Council meeting. Earth Day will be celebrated in Chelan on Saturday, April 20.

Motion considerations:

Berger Professional Services agreement for Lakeside Park:
Parks Director Paul Horne introduced Jason Henry of Berger Partnership to provide an update of the 60% design progress on the Lakeside Park Project

Parks Director Paul Horne had a number of motions on the agenda at Tuesday’s meeting.

Henry stated that the company still needed to advance the design of the project. “We are working with the RCO (Recreation and Conservation Office).” The RCO is offering a little more money to help with upgrades at the restrooms and swimming area. He said they should have it completed by 2025.

Shoreline Watercraft, a City concessionaire, offers boat and personal watercraft rentals at Lake Chelan Marina.

Berger will provide design development, construction and bid documents and interface with the RCO to provide any materials still needed for the grant award which should happen in the next several months. Berger will also handle the bidding and construction administration until the end of the project.

The council approved the continuation of the Berger Partnership Professional Services Agreement along with the Lakeshore Marina Seasonal Moorage Agreements  and the Rally Alley2024 to 2028 Concession Agreement

The Council unanimously approved amending the Municipal Code Section 13.12.050 to include Commercial Facilities. What this amendment does is allow commercial businesses waivers for 24 months on utility bills in case of fire or other disasters. The existing ordinance only addressed residential properties. Commercial entities like the recent fire at the Apple Cup will apply until the business comes back on line.

The Council also authorized the Mayor to finalize and execute the Beckwith Consulting Professional Services Agreement for the Imagine Downtown Revitalization Project Design.

The Proposed design scope includes the following tasks:

Task 1 – Initiate Work · Conduct project start workshop · Complete topographical survey –  Task 2 – Pre-design to 30% · Condition assessment · Street design elements · Parking lot walkway connection · New canopy street tree pit locations · Impact on existing streetlights · Alternative concepts · South Parking Lot on Wapato Avenue · Review with stakeholders/Council · Cost estimates and schedules –  Task 3 – Design to 60% Woodin Avenue · Based on the results of Task 2, we will complete design to 60% of Woodin Avenue from Columbia to Sanders Streets including alternative palette selections. · Align ordinances governing overhead canopies, outdoor dining areas, a[1]frame signage, benches, sidewalk displays, potted plants, and other business and property owner improvements and furnishings with expanded sidewalk widths. · Cost estimates · Community impact · Survey public on palette themes · Review with stakeholders/Council · Bid booklet –  Task 4 – Design to 90% Woodin Avenue · Complete set of contract documents · Specifications · Updated cost estimates · Construction scheduling alternatives · Construction permit applications · Review with Council · Further develop drawings and specifications in accordance with Chelan standards –  Task 5 – Design to 100% Woodin Avenue · Final set of contract documents · Final specifications · final cost estimate · Selection of construction scheduling alternatives · Construction permit approvals · Construction impact mitigations · Review with Council · Bid Advertisement –  Task 6 – Bidding Assistance · Pre-bid meeting attendance · Addenda preparation and issuance · Bid analysis –  Task 7 – Construction Support · Pre-construction meeting attendance · Progress Meetings · Inspections

Parks Director Paul Horne presented the Parks & Recreation Open Space (PROS) Plan to the Council which will be covered under a separate article.

The next City Council Meeting will take place on April 23 beginning at 6 p.m.

City to hire Human Resouces/Communications Director

By Richard Uhlhorn

Last weeks City Council meeting (3.26.24) probably will go down as the quickest City Council meeting ever. It lasted approximately 30 minutes.

HR/Communications position:
The big news out of the meeting was the unanimous decision to hire a Human Resources/Communications Director at an estimated cost of approximately $100,000+ per year.

City Administrator Wade Farris explained to the Council why the City needed to hire a HR/Communications Director.

The new position is not budgeted and will require a budget amendment.

City Administrator Wade Farris explained that the City has operated without a HR position but that as the political climate, laws and regulations have become more complex the City cannot afford to not fill that position for its staff.

The new position will also include City communications in what the City sees as a more complex media world. “Getting information to and from our citizens has become more difficult and more important,” Farris wrote in his descriptive needs.

“We will go out in the local and region market and see what we get,” said Farris.

Councilman Mark Ericks

Councilman Mark Ericks asked it there was a potential pool of applicants out there? Farris replied  that he doesn’t know. “If we don’t have anyone local, we will have to reach out further.” He added that the position description is not finished yet. The position will be advertised in the middle of April.

Youth Baseball League:
Paul Horne, Parks director brought forth a proposal from the Chelan Youth Baseball League to use the PUD Athletic Fields (Chelan Gorge Park) for the 2024 season beginning in March though June.

Parks Director Paul Horne.

This is an extension of an agreement that has been in place for many years. The facilities agreement includes the League’s requirements to perform maintenance on the fields as needed to support their activities.

The maintenance by the League will waive fees to offset maintenance costs by the city. The agreement also supports local youth recreation, i.e. T-Ball programs.

“We have a pretty robust program this year,” said Horne. The agreement was passed unanimously.

Berger Professional Services Agreement:
The City Parks Department received a $100,000 grant from Chelan County PUD to develop a master plan and redevelopment of the Chelan athletic fields now called Chelan Gorge Community Park.

The Parks Department has utilized the services of Berger Consulting in the past and Horne stated that Berger is on board and have an aggressive timeline to work within.

Berger is familiar with Chelan Parks and is currently working on the Lakeside Park Project.

The Parks Department proposed renewing Berger’s PSA that expired on March 12, 2023 which the Council unanimously approved.

Councilman Bob Goedde stated that he doesn’t like the name Chelan Gorge Park and would prefer

Imagine Downtown Chelan:
Public Works Director Jake Youngren stated that the project has been an interesting. Process. Now that Phase One is completed the City is soliciting qualified candidates to continue the project.

“We have has public outreach and are now working towards a contract that will be executed on April 9.

Mayor/Council Comments:
Jake Youngren said he appreciated the the public’s patience during the Hwy. 150 night time sewer crossing work.
Peri Gallucci, who was out during the week on personal business said she appreciated all the work that her staff had done.
Brad Chitty thanked the Vets for their service over the years. (See Below)
Marc Ericks said that whenever a person visits Washington D.C., they should make an effort to visit the Vietnam Veterans Memorial. “It is extremely quiet and respectful.”
Mayor Erin McCardle she was very encouraged by the reception she and Wade Farris received when visiting our representatives in the Capital. “Senator Murray was impressed with the Northshore Pathway and Water Project,” said McCardle.

Mayor Erin McCardle

McCardle said that Representative Schier’s staff assistant was touring the proposed projects. “Senator Cantwell’s assistant will tour on Monday and Senator Murray’s after that.

McCardle also spoke about the defining the Community’s Core Values with Shane Collins, Amy Sheridan and John Ajax.

Proclamations:
Mayor Erin McCarfle deferred to Councilman Bob Goedde to read into the record, the National Vietnam War Veterans Day Proclamation. Goedde is an veteran of that conflict.

Vietnam veteran Bob Goedde read the Vietnam War Veterans Day Proclamation.

Mayor McCardle read the Proclamation for Community Development Week.