by Richard Uhlhorn
Chelan Park 2025 regulations:
Chelan City Workshops give Chelan’s department heads an opportunity to interact with council members on the various issues facing the city. At the Tuesday, February 4 workshop the big issue the council will be considering at its Tuesday, February 11 council meeting is a new ordinance (Ordinance No. 2025-1629) on City Park regulations.
This ordinance, if passed by the city council will implement new regulations covering five new policies that will help control park issues that became unmanageable last year.
Working with the Friends of Lakeside, a neighborhood advocacy group since last September, the city came up with policies to help make the parks more family friendly.
It is hoped that Chelan Parks will have these policies in place by Memorial Day. They include enforcement and infrastructure elements.
The workshop on February 4 provided direction for staff to draft the required revisions to the existing Code of Ordinances, particularly Chapter 9.22 PARKS – Prohibited Acts. They include:
- Dogs – are permitted in the parks during the off-season between Labor Day and Memorial Day as long as they are on a leash no longer than eight feet. Dogs and other animals are not permitted during the summer months between Memorial Day and Labor Day.
- Glass Containers – New… glass containers will not be allowed in Chelan Parks.
- Tents & Canopies -Tents with flooring will not be permitted except for Chelan permitted special events. 10X10 tents will be allowed as long visibility is not obstructed. Beach umbrellas will be allowed to protect park visitors from the sun, but no pitching or maintaining a tent or canopy or other improvised structures.
- Fire & BBQs – not permitted unless provided by the Park.
- Alcohol & Smoking – Prohibited.
Hollingsworth noted that getting the word out to public is going to be hard. “We need to make a reasonable effort,” he said. The Parks Department will be hiring enforcement for the weekends during the summer months.
2024 Finance progress:
Finance Director Jackie Tupling shared the major and significant revenue numbers for each department at its Tuesday, February workshop. “The ending balances was better than expected,” said Tupling. The Parks ended up $600,000 in the hole. The Golf Course broke even and the department is receiving a $702,000 grant.”
The $700,000 grant is for planned improvements at Lakeside Park.
Tupling reported in writing that:
- Sales tax receipts decreased by $29,309 in the fourth quarter bringing the amount to $775,189. Total to date is $2,757,532
- Lodging tax, 2% and 3% came in slightly higher than last year’s 4th quarter by $25,802. Total 2% capital funds collected in the fourth quarter was $298,645. Total for the year was $813,710. Three percent collections in the fourth quarter was$47,149 and $1,223,562 for the year.
- Real Estate Excise Tax IREET) added up to $175,913 or $522,549 for the year. Tupling reported that REET collections were up $53,327 dollars and $140,420 to date.
- Building fees are slightly higher compared to 2023
- General facilities charges are down
- Receipts in Parks and Recreation are higher in General Parks, the Marina and Golf Course, but down in the RV Park, Putting Course and Recreation/Youth Sports.
Chelan Butte:
Tupling reported that the $500,000 set aside for Chelan Butte’s potential purchase has reached its sunset clause. “You guys can be thinking about those funds when they drop off.”
Councilman Tim Hollingsworth asked where the city is at concerning the Butte and the Trust for Public Lands. Tupling said it was time to move forward. There is no potential buyout purchaser for the privately held land and it is still available for development.
Chelan/Chelan County PUD partnership:
Mayor Erin McCardle reported on the City/PUD partnership. “Going back to last summer and looking at the community requests we came out with four projects,” stated McCardle. They were:
- Connecting a wastewater line from the PUD’s Fish Rearing Facility to the City Wastewater Treatment Plant.
- Chelan Gorge Park Revitalization. Building a multi-use four plex for baseball, softball and soccer along with other improvements.
- Imagine Downtown – modernize infrastructure, enhance public spaces, and integration of innovative technologies like Wi-Fi for all.
- South Chelan vacant property to potentially be developed into an additional community park.
One of the big issues with the public has been protecting the Chelan River from the east side of the Woodin Avenue Bridge to the dam from motorized traffic with the exception of boats transiting to and from the Chelan PUD boat launch.
The city has prepared a proposed resolution to keep the river free of motorized traffic including a proposal by a local consortium that would like to develop a docking area along the north side of the river west of the pavilion. The proposed resolution recognizes the increasing demand for expanded motorized access to downtown and supports such access west of the Woodin Avenue Bridge
The community wants more access to the water and a proposal to add access points for non-motorized craft and swimming areas.
Councilman Tim Hollingsworth remarked that “There is a tremendous amount of non-motorized use in the river. We need to recognize the popularity of that corridor. Mayor McCardle added, “We don’t want to encourage additional boat traffic.”
All Things Lake Chelan 