[0:00]

[0:12] And what does.

[0:25] That mean.

[0:27]

[0:32] What do you think.

[0:35] It's possible.

[0:36] Let me know.

[0:38] I think that's about.

[0:42] It really Yeah I'm sure there's been a lot.

[0:48] Yeah no, as far as.

[0:52]

[0:58] It's OK.

[1:02] So Yeah the thing about.

[1:14]

[1:19] It is that they have not pulled it out.

[1:26] So what's that going to do.

[1:30] You are.

[1:31]

[1:35] You are you going to.

[1:40]

[1:44] Really protect us.

[1:45] Yeah It's.

[1:51]

[1:54] Not bad.

[1:54]

[1:58] We did talk.

[2:01] You can stay holstered.

[2:02] Yes sit down and everything in it.

[2:06] Yes that's our thanks.

[2:10] Yeah that's great.

[2:13] That's great.

[2:17] Thanks no problem.

[2:21] Oh, yeah.

[2:23] Sounds good.

[2:26] And I welcome you both to the August

[2:30] 11, 2026 city council meeting.

[2:32] I call the meeting in order, and if you would please

[2:34] join me in the Pledge of Allegiance.

[2:38] I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America

[2:44] and to the Republic for which it stands.

[2:46] One nation under God, indivisible,

[2:50] with liberty and justice.

[2:51]

[2:56] Thank you.

[2:57] Mayor McArdle here.

[2:59] Council Member.

[3:00] Sanders mayor.

[3:01] Council Member.

[3:02] Venegas here.

[3:03] Council Member here.

[3:04] Council Member.

[3:05] Higgins here.

[3:06] Council Member.

[3:07] Vargas council member.

[3:09] Hollingsworth, Mayor and council member here.

[3:13] Great we do not have any agenda changes this evening

[3:17] and so we will move into citizen comments.

[3:21] This is the time that we hear from our community.

[3:24] Comments are very important to us,

[3:25] and we appreciate you taking the time to attend tonight's

[3:27] meeting to share your thoughts.

[3:29] There is a three minute time limit

[3:30] to public comments for both items on the agenda

[3:33] or not on the agenda, and speakers may not

[3:36] transfer their time to another speaker

[3:38] during the council meeting.

[3:39] Public comment periods are not an opportunity for dialogue

[3:43] with council members.

[3:44] However, you would like to have a lengthier conversation.

[3:46] I encourage you to take a contact card at the back

[3:48] of the table before you leave.

[3:50] If you would like to provide comments.

[3:54] Oh, this is for items on the agenda.

[3:58] So is there anyone that has any public comments

[4:02] for items not on the agenda.

[4:04] Go ahead and make your way to the microphone.

[4:06]

[4:10] And I just want to confirm, your honor, for housing authority.

[4:15] But that's for the presentation.

[4:16] Correct that's right.

[4:19] And if you have any comments on items on the agenda,

[4:24] please raise your hand and we will take a note

[4:27] and we'll call you on that item for discussion.

[4:33] All right.

[4:34] We will move into the consent agenda.

[4:39] And I would accept a motion to approve the consent agenda.

[4:43] People have reviewed and.

[4:46] Approved the consent agenda.

[4:49] All right.

[4:49] So I have a motion by Council and seconded by Council Chitty.

[4:53] All those in favor.

[4:54] Aye Aye.

[4:55] Opposed motion passes.

[4:57] All right.

[4:58] Let's move into special presentations,

[5:00] proclamations and awards.

[5:02] And tonight we have the Housing Authority of Chelan County

[5:06] and the city of Wenatchee presenting.

[5:08] And we have Vicki and Sasha here.

[5:11] And so I will pass it off to you this evening.

[5:18] This and such is the president of the housing authority.

[5:22]

[5:27] So if there's any.

[5:29]

[5:34] Yeah OK.

[5:37] Good bye.

[5:39] Good evening, everyone.

[5:40] Madam Mayor, members of council.

[5:41] My name is Sasha sleiman and I am

[5:43] the executive director for the Housing

[5:45] Authority of County and City.

[5:48] I wanted to talk to you today a little bit

[5:50] about our organization.

[5:52] And I know actually the city of Portland

[5:54] is probably one of the more acquainted

[5:58] municipalities with your representative on our board.

[6:00] But each municipality.

[6:04] Appoints a representative.

[6:06] And so your representative has been for many years.

[6:09] And I know she is a really wonderful job of reporting back

[6:13] to you all and having conversations

[6:15] with staff and with you and the mayor

[6:17] and doing things in the community.

[6:19] So we really appreciate that.

[6:21] What I'm doing is kind of going around

[6:23] to all the municipalities, introducing myself.

[6:26] There's been a lot of new electeds.

[6:27] I've worked for the County commissioners for a few years.

[6:30] I was on the city council, so when I entered the role,

[6:33] I thought I knew everybody and a lot

[6:35] of people got elected across the two County area, and I don't.

[6:38] So I want to make sure that I introduce myself to you all.

[6:40] But also, my board wanted kind of a chance for us to connect.

[6:46] And then that way you all know who your representative is

[6:48] and in the future, potentially better

[6:51] communication between each municipality

[6:53] and our organization.

[6:55] We are a quasi governmental organization,

[6:58] so we're not really a nonprofit.

[7:00] We're not exactly a County or a city.

[7:03] Really fun name, though.

[7:05] Mouthful has been already planned

[7:06] in the city of Wenatchee.

[7:07] We do serve Douglas County and all of the small cities

[7:11] throughout the entirety of our region.

[7:14] We are that because the city of Wenatchee

[7:18] and then later in 1998, when County designated us

[7:23] as a housing authority, which is something

[7:26] you can do under our CW.

[7:27] And originally we were a forum to provide agricultural housing

[7:33] for workers in the AG industry.

[7:35] So really rooted in agriculture.

[7:37] Up here in the Chelan area, we have three properties and then

[7:43] two properties in Manson and you all

[7:47] probably are overly familiar, so I won't get into it too much.

[7:50] But the demographics of the industry are changing.

[7:54] But we are really rooted in that ad housing

[7:57] and want to continue to be but also looking

[8:00] at statutes and requirements.

[8:04] And can we ever shift that to continue

[8:06] to meet the intent of supporting industry in this area.

[8:11] And is there a future where we can potentially

[8:14] serve an industry that isn't that either isn't

[8:18] or isn't just agriculture.

[8:21] For example.

[8:21] You all know this very well.

[8:24] Tourism hospitality is huge here.

[8:27] Leavenworth knows it very well.

[8:29] Also, can people afford to live the areas that they work in

[8:34] and that in itself is an industry need.

[8:36] Just the way that agriculture housing is.

[8:38] And so can we ever have an ability to do that

[8:42] and still stay true to our organization and the governance.

[8:47] So just putting that on all of your radar.

[8:51] We have a property here in Chelan

[8:54] called Chelan bluff that we often

[8:55] are wake up late or running a lot of vacancies, which

[8:58] is Hurts my heart of it, because you all

[9:03] know there's a housing crisis.

[9:04] I know there's a housing crisis.

[9:06] And to not be able to fill those units because

[9:08] of the restrictions of you have to have

[9:11] this exact person to fill those units

[9:13] at this exact income level.

[9:16] And so I'm working to try and remedy that

[9:19] with our different funders.

[9:22] What else do I want to tell you.

[9:24] We have some housing restrictions.

[9:28] Switch from egg to yes, we get waivers every once in a while.

[9:32] We keep mentioning that allows us to do that.

[9:35] So that's something that we're really exploring because I get

[9:37] calls all the time from folks who need housing

[9:40] and having that flexibility, something

[9:43] that I'm really excited about.

[9:44] Looking into the future here, I'm

[9:48] going to tell you in the new year,

[9:49] as I like to not tell you something and then not be it.

[9:53] So I'm going to tell you a father out deadline

[9:55] and then I'll make it.

[9:57] In early 2027, we are rolling out

[10:00] with a platform that will allow potential tenants

[10:05] and potential applicants to this section 8 housing program apply

[10:11] online in their rents online.

[10:14] Do all of that application work online, which is huge for these

[10:19] in the outer lying areas that are not just Wenatchee right

[10:22] now, our partners at Chelan Valley folk

[10:25] who are huge resources here in their community,

[10:28] they're working with someone who needs assistance, longer

[10:32] term assistance, emergency.

[10:35] They would have to have them physically drive to my office

[10:38] in Wenatchee happy to fill out paperwork and simply

[10:41] photocopy IDs right back or at the link box.

[10:45] It's just not very accessible.

[10:47] So it's rolling out technically at the end of this year.

[10:51] But we're doing property by property,

[10:53] and I think it'll be huge, especially

[10:54] for our senior populations on fixed incomes

[10:57] when they get their Social Security on a certain day.

[11:02] And you are dealing with mail, the amount of checks that we're

[11:06] receiving late from the outlying areas just

[11:10] because of everybody's control, won't

[11:13] have to deal with that anymore.

[11:14] They can pay it right there online,

[11:17] or someone can help them if they can't access the technology.

[11:21] So really excited about that.

[11:23] We also just contacted the very last of our Housing Choice

[11:26] Voucher waitlist Housing Choice vouchers,

[11:29] a federal program administered nationwide where we help

[11:34] subsidize the tenant's rent.

[11:35] And that subsidy goes directly to the landlord.

[11:38] So we have about 448 families on the program

[11:41] across the two County area.

[11:43] About $400,000 a month goes into the community and the landlords

[11:47] pockets from that program.

[11:50] And we have had a wait list of over 300,

[11:55] almost 400 people since July of 2023.

[11:59] So a really long time to be on a wait list.

[12:01] A lot of things change in one's life in that time,

[12:04] but we just contacted the last of the folks.

[12:06] We can close our waitlist.

[12:08] Now we've got about 20 people who are eligible for vouchers.

[12:12] We're just working on the paperwork, finding apartments,

[12:16] so we're really excited.

[12:18] That was about 280 people that were contacted

[12:20] in the last 12 months.

[12:22] Here's the sad part of that.

[12:23] We really are only bringing on probably about 40 to full

[12:28] because we have a wait list like that.

[12:30] Like I said, things change.

[12:31] People move, maybe get the letter

[12:34] and that kills me because I know that some people need help.

[12:39] So again, 2027, that process hopefully will have some funding

[12:42] from the federal government to continue it,

[12:45] hopefully at the same levels.

[12:46] We'll assess that in the early New year

[12:48] and then people will be able to apply online.

[12:50] We'll probably see me then for that.

[12:52] I want to get it out to the public for the first time

[12:55] in four years.

[12:56] You can apply for Section 8 housing.

[12:58] So we're really excited and proud of that.

[13:01] The last couple things I wanted to let along those lines

[13:04] is Housing Choice Voucher.

[13:06] Similarly to city councils and County commissioners,

[13:09] my board also has to host public hearings for certain things.

[13:13] So the Housing Choice Voucher administrative plan

[13:15] is now available on our website for public comment.

[13:19] It is a 600 page document folks.

[13:22] Please read it cover to cover.

[13:25] But no, in all seriousness, it is

[13:27] kind of our Bible for lack of a better comparison on how

[13:30] we administer the program.

[13:33] It is the rule book.

[13:34] So please, if you know of anyone or a landlord

[13:39] and helpful for participants or landlords to look at that

[13:42] and see what's changing.

[13:42] A lot of Federal Regulations change.

[13:45] So we're updating that and we're doing

[13:46] public comment public hearing on that September 24.

[13:50] So it'll be available on our website until then.

[13:53] And then the last thing is just letting

[13:56] you know that Vicki and I are here

[13:59] and I can email the mayor knows how to get a hold of me.

[14:03] If any of you wanted to talk more,

[14:06] just get that connection between all of us

[14:09] and then figure out how you best want to hear from us.

[14:12] If you want us to come and present

[14:15] to you formally like this, or if it should

[14:17] be things that we lead with.

[14:19] I work with your staff quite a bit

[14:21] through just our work and also our other future

[14:25] and other things.

[14:25] So pretty connected tries to connect with people,

[14:29] whether you know it or not.

[14:30]

[14:33] Do you have any questions.

[14:34] Sorry, I just like would you explain what we're

[14:38] doing in Leavenworth, in Thailand

[14:40] to get more of the service workers into.

[14:43] Obviously we got some units have been switched, haven't they.

[14:49] We're working on it.

[14:50] Yes, we are working on it.

[14:51] Not that ideally, that would be a goal.

[14:54] Yes and we are preserving housing.

[14:57] There is affordable housing property in Kashmir

[15:00] that we are hoping to acquire in the last stages

[15:02] of that senior housing, that it doesn't go to the open market

[15:07] and those folks get to say, permanently affordable.

[15:11] Any question.

[15:12]

[15:18] I was just curious, out of the 40

[15:20] roughly, that have been kind of realized and received support,

[15:23] how many of those are within the city of Sharon.

[15:27] Oh what I should have brought abroad is that number.

[15:30] I don't know if the new tenants, and we

[15:32] may not know that exactly because they're

[15:33] searching for housing.

[15:35] So whether they're housed or somewhere or unhoused,

[15:38] they might they're still looking for housing.

[15:40] So I can update that.

[15:41] But I do have a report that tells me

[15:42] how many active vouchers are in each city.

[15:45] I should have brought that so I can email it to you.

[15:47] There's a handful here in Chelan.

[15:51] Yeah OK.

[15:52] Yeah OK.

[15:55] We're going down the line.

[15:57] Just a quick Pat on the percentage

[15:59] of those 400 versus the ones that are let's

[16:04] say retired or seniors on Section 8

[16:06] versus working families.

[16:08] I don't know if you know the percentage

[16:10] of our unit of Section 8, I don't off my head,

[16:17] but I can get it.

[16:17] I can see if we have that data of our properties, though.

[16:21] We have 20 properties across the two counties, just over under it

[16:27] and move some 600 units around 200 and some are add housing

[16:33] and 180 ish are senior properties.

[16:40] So you have to be 62 or older.

[16:42] Some of them you can be disabled.

[16:44] So our properties senior housing is our second.

[16:50] But our biggest unit count is agriculture workers.

[16:53] Yeah Well you know.

[17:03] Yeah a lot of good information.

[17:07] Thanks for that.

[17:08] But just one thing I wanted to drill down a little bit on

[17:12] and forgive me for what you said,

[17:15] but I'm wondering if you could.

[17:19] Drill down a little bit on the vacancies

[17:21] that are showing as well and what

[17:23] the impediments are to folks being

[17:26] able to use those that housing.

[17:29] This is yeah, that this is probably

[17:31] my biggest issue at the moment.

[17:34] So I appreciate it.

[17:34] Yeah the my perspective of it is that we are trying

[17:40] to find a person that obviously exists,

[17:46] but they're harder to find and harder to reach.

[17:48] And what I'm trying to tease out with my staff

[17:49] is, are we not meeting them where they're at

[17:53] and finding them correctly, or do we

[17:56] need to ask which we are in the process of asking the State

[18:00] Department of Commerce, the USDA rural development

[18:04] for that property, if we can have some adjustments.

[18:07] So commerce is the income limit is 30% Ami, which is quite low,

[18:14] like almost I used to manage the homeless programs for Saline

[18:16] County.

[18:17] That's like barely out of homelessness level.

[18:20] And they have to the Head of Household

[18:23] has to earn up to $5,000.

[18:26] Around $5,000 to around $5,000 in agricultural work.

[18:30] Thankfully, agricultural workers are

[18:32] making more money today than they were in a few years ago.

[18:36] So that in itself is a challenge.

[18:39] And so we've asked the State Department of Commerce

[18:41] to at least let us buy up the 80% that lets us do,

[18:45] because that would be I think that right there

[18:47] we would probably go into this.

[18:49] The other component is the Head of Household

[18:52] who also has to have an income also has to be

[18:54] documented resident citizen.

[18:58] And they have to have your ID has to be around.

[19:01] So it's not like our seasonal properties right now.

[19:04] Well, and this is year round agriculture.

[19:08] And so I think what we're trying to find

[19:10] is a very small box when you combine all of those.

[19:14] So I'm hoping just a shift in army will help.

[19:18] And that's the path of least resistance.

[19:21] Distance the path is harder to do that we are on

[19:25] is getting the rural development,

[19:27] USDA rural development to let us have flexibility and have anyone

[19:30] who is of 80% or lower, regardless of where they work,

[19:34] be housed there, but they are USDA.

[19:38] So obviously that so those guidelines

[19:41] are federal USDA guidelines.

[19:45] So $5,000.

[19:48] Obviously that means a whole lot more in Oklahoma

[19:53] than it does in land, for instance.

[19:56] Yeah for sure.

[19:58] Yeah 30% behind.

[20:00] You're not making a lot of money and

[20:02] there's really nowhere for you to live other than our housing.

[20:05] So it's.

[20:06] Yeah, it's a challenge.

[20:08] Yeah flexibility.

[20:10] Nice well, thank you for presenting.

[20:16] That's exactly what I wanted to ask.

[20:18] So thank you for answering.

[20:19] Yeah of course.

[20:20] No, it breaks my heart because I've talked to people here

[20:22] in this area who need housing.

[20:23] And I'm like, well, yeah, because I thought

[20:26] I wouldn't get help for it.

[20:28] So yeah, well, we'll get there.

[20:31] We'll go there.

[20:34] Yeah I'm just curious now that you brought it up.

[20:37] How are you currently advertising.

[20:39] Great question.

[20:40] And that we are my property manager here

[20:44] in the area this year has really good relationships

[20:46] with the growers in the area.

[20:48] And so she's gone directly to growers and talked to employees.

[20:52] We've done a job fairs.

[20:55] What I'm worried about on the are we doing enough component

[20:59] is are we allowing people to return to us that when we

[21:06] contact somebody who was on the waitlist,

[21:08] for example, for that property, which we don't have

[21:10] at the moment, when we would or we would contact folks who are

[21:13] on the waitlist, maybe we have really strict rules on when

[21:18] they have to get back to us.

[21:19] And I'm looking at are we allowing them to get back to us

[21:24] in a way that's feasible for them.

[21:26] And they're working agricultural hours.

[21:28] Maybe they have two jobs and can they really easily

[21:31] call us by 4:30 or o'clock.

[21:34] What I mean.

[21:34] Are there ways of a lot of the people on my list

[21:37] that I was looking at trying to determine,

[21:39] is it the income limits.

[21:41] Is it this is that a lot of them just didn't respond.

[21:44] We asked for paperwork and they didn't give it.

[21:46] So I don't know if they're self-selecting like,

[21:48] oh, I don't actually have that requirement.

[21:50] I'm not going to return my paperwork.

[21:52] Or is it a burden or did you not get the paperwork

[21:55] to the right house I have a vendetta about mail these days,

[21:59] so we'd like to mail too much.

[22:01] But by the time you've done that to us.

[22:06] Yeah, she goes on.

[22:07] Amber I don't know if anybody.

[22:09] Yeah Amber Turner.

[22:12] Well, yeah.

[22:13] Cody's a great radio station, but I would think that maybe

[22:16] it's because of that.

[22:18] But yeah.

[22:19] Obviously yes.

[22:20] But yes.

[22:22] Yes hello.

[22:23] 101 yes.

[22:25] Yes I will ask Amber.

[22:28] Hasn't I know that.

[22:29] But one of her colleagues.

[22:30] Yeah right.

[22:33] Yeah any other questions.

[22:35] Well, thank you for coming up here.

[22:37] Thank you.

[22:40] But it's great to see your face up here Yes You look great.

[22:44] Yeah thank you guys.

[22:46]

[22:49] All right we'll move into motion considerations

[22:53] and we'll start with the US Department of Transportation.

[22:56] Federal Aviation Administration grants offer for airport

[22:59] improvement program.

[23:02] Project number (353) dash 2026.

[23:09] This will be handled by our city administrator.

[23:12] Thank you for reading that so I don't have to council.

[23:16] This is a very recently as of actually

[23:20] Friday awarded grant from the Federal Aviation Administration

[23:25] to as you recall, the environmental assessment

[23:29] process.

[23:31] The final report remained in draft form because of feedback

[23:36] that we received from adjoining property owners and public,

[23:41] and the FAA felt like we needed to go back out

[23:44] and make sure that the public outreach that was done, which

[23:49] happened actually during COVID, but make sure

[23:53] that public outreach and the stakeholder outreach

[23:56] was done adequately.

[23:58] Make sure that we're confirming critical aircraft usage

[24:02] at the airport and what the needs

[24:05] are of Lakeland airport for runway alignment and instrument.

[24:12] Instrument approach.

[24:13] What has been deemed not viable in the current master plan

[24:17] provides for instrument approach.

[24:20] So things that have changed since it was finalized in 2021

[24:26] need to be reevaluated before the FAA will

[24:29] commit to additional funding.

[24:30] The good news to that is that they have given us this grant,

[24:34] $418,000 to provide 90% of the funding

[24:39] for the planning consultant who will do that work for us.

[24:43] So what we're asking of you tonight

[24:46] is to approve and authorize acceptance

[24:49] of this Federal Aviation Administration grant for.

[24:54]

[24:58] Airport for updating the airport improvement program.

[25:02] Excuse me through the airport improvement program funding.

[25:05] And it is for updated airport master plan and airport layout.

[25:11] So we will have the same match that we

[25:15] found on prior FND GRANTS.

[25:17] It's a 90% funded by the FAA, and then we

[25:21] have a 10% match that is funded 50%

[25:24] by Washington State Department of Transportation

[25:26] aviation division.

[25:28] And then the city and the port through the interlocal

[25:30] agreement, equally split the remaining 50% 10%

[25:37] And we will include it in the budget for you going forward.

[25:40] So we're asking you to approve the grant offer for airport

[25:43] improvement program project number 1, 90% I will accept

[25:50] a motion to open for discussion to authorize the city

[25:55] administrator or fund manager to execute instead,

[25:58] Grant airport improvement program project number 3

[26:02] to three say thank you.

[26:10] Thank you, Council Sanders.

[26:12] And for discussion and questions.

[26:15] Yes so if we all accepted what was happening

[26:21] and please move forward or not forward

[26:23] with the current scope of work that was done previously.

[26:25] Yeah, that's a great question.

[26:27]

[26:31] The work that was done previously is complete.

[26:34] There is no more funding for improvements at the airport.

[26:40] So Lake Chelan airport, under the current master plan,

[26:44] we don't have a viable funding source from the FAA

[26:48] to do the runway realignment.

[26:51] So without going through this planning process,

[26:55] nothing will change at the airport.

[26:57] It will stay as it currently is.

[27:00] Does that mean that any.

[27:04]

[27:09] Any hangups or hiccups with the water that's going to be taken

[27:11] out there, or is that separate.

[27:13] That's industry versus take offs and landings.

[27:16] OK awesome.

[27:17] Great question.

[27:18] So the airport that's going, the water line

[27:22] that's going to be constructed to the airport,

[27:25] will provide the opportunity for the city

[27:28] to develop available land out there for hangar development.

[27:35] But generally with hangar development,

[27:37] the taxiways and the runway and the runway areas

[27:41] and the apron for the vehicles to get there

[27:44] and the vehicles, the airplanes to be able to get

[27:47] from the hangars to the runway.

[27:50] We wouldn't have funding to install those.

[27:53] Those are generally funded through FAA airport

[27:56] improvement program funding.

[27:59] So this is kind of laying the groundwork

[28:01] for any future improvements that would happen out there

[28:04] and creating that map, that airport layout plan of what

[28:09] the airport should look like with the future growth

[28:12] and with the anticipated aircraft that we'll be using it,

[28:16] and making sure we have current robust public outreach

[28:23] to the stakeholders want around the airport

[28:26] that own property around the airport,

[28:28] but also the users of the airport.

[28:31] And that was part of the feedback

[28:33] was those stakeholders did not feel like they had had

[28:38] an adequate opportunity during the multiple years

[28:41] it went from 2018 to 2021.

[28:44] But as I mentioned, there was a pandemic in the middle of that.

[28:47] It didn't feel like they had adequate opportunity

[28:50] for public input, or if they shared it,

[28:56] it wasn't factored in with the way it should have been given.

[29:00] If more people who shared their opinions

[29:02] had been able to provide comment.

[29:06] Can I ask a question.

[29:08] Can I give everybody.

[29:10] OK I just want to be clear.

[29:13] This is a fast tracking your movement out there,

[29:14] annexation or anything.

[29:15] This is planning, and this is a great way

[29:18] to allow the stakeholders out there to get more input

[29:21] and not feel this is what we get down.

[29:23] Yes, this is slowing it down, taking a step back and making

[29:27] sure we have the right layout for that airport to serve,

[29:32] the needs that it needs to serve,

[29:35] and also realistic plan if we're going to expand the airport,

[29:40] if that's what the numbers show is necessary.

[29:45] How do we do that and how do we work with the adjoining property

[29:48] owners when they're ready to transition ownership of any land

[29:53] we would need to the city.

[29:57] OK no.

[29:58] I'm good.

[29:58] Thanks for the explanation, I appreciate it.

[30:02] Thank you.

[30:02]

[30:05] And yeah.

[30:10] So is this kind of just a repeat of the half

[30:17] million plus that we spent on the previous.

[30:20] Just a better stab at the same process.

[30:25] I wouldn't say it's a full repeat.

[30:27] It is validating the data that was gathered at the time,

[30:31] updating it in light of current operating indicators at Lake

[30:37] Chelan airport, the current economic conditions that we are

[30:44] encountering here in this area.

[30:46] So it's really validating what was previously done.

[30:50] That's really step one in the scope.

[30:54] And then it's also when you go through a planning process,

[30:58] you don't.

[31:00] You plan it right.

[31:03] You're not looking at the actual operational side of it.

[31:07] And part of what happened during the environmental assessment

[31:10] is that the FAA, with the staff they have in place now

[31:15] and understand during that same period, time period

[31:18] in the last four years, the Federal

[31:21] Aviation Administration has undergone

[31:23] significant staff turnover.

[31:27] So with the current staff, they took the airport alignment that

[31:31] was selected as the preferred alternative and the lack

[31:36] of in a non-technical way, we plugged that alignment

[31:39] into their flight simulators at operational level

[31:44] and determined that unless we were to literally move

[31:48] mountains, that runway would not work

[31:52] without an instrument approach.

[31:54] And because of those same mountains and that large river

[31:58] gorge, an instrument approach, we

[32:00] don't have the amount of clearance

[32:02] on every side that is needed in order to support

[32:04] an instrument approach.

[32:06] So the alternative that was selected at the time

[32:10] by the city council and through that planning process

[32:14] looks great from a planning perspective.

[32:17] But when they plugged it into the operational side,

[32:20] it's not feasible.

[32:22] So that was why they said a large part of the reason

[32:25] why they said, let's go back.

[32:27] Let's look at it with that insight.

[32:30] We've had new construction happen since the inventory was

[32:35] taken of adjoining property.

[32:37] So there's been additional housing that's

[32:39] been allowed to be constructed by the County

[32:43] in the runway approach area.

[32:46] That also factors into whether FAA will approve it.

[32:50] And they've regulations have changed

[32:52] during that same time period.

[32:54] They used to allow exceptions for the displaced thresholds,

[32:58] and that's where you have the short approach

[33:00] area at the end of the runway.

[33:02] And the runway protection zone is shorter

[33:05] than what they want it to be.

[33:08] They no longer allow those exceptions.

[33:10] So if they're going to fund a half a million construction

[33:14] project, or 1.2 or $7 million construction project, whatever

[33:19] it turns out to be, they're going

[33:21] to make the airport bring it up to compliance

[33:23] with current standards.

[33:25] And we're unable to do that with the alignment,

[33:30] the preferred alternative alignment

[33:31] that was last selected.

[33:34] So there's a number of factors in there.

[33:38] So I wouldn't call it a repeat.

[33:41] It's a quality check verification

[33:46] that the data is still good that we're

[33:51] applying current regulations to the analysis.

[33:54] Our consultant is doing that.

[33:56] This is not a criticism of our former planning consultant

[34:00] or our current engineers.

[34:03] This is just simply a fact that conditions have changed.

[34:08] Is there a specific scope of work that the FAA has.

[34:14] With this grant.

[34:15] There is a scope of work that we developed with the FAA's

[34:18] assistance and approval of it, for we ever

[34:21] applied for this grant in order to make sure the FAA has really.

[34:29] Done some significant favors for Lake Chelan airport

[34:32] through this process and through this grant.

[34:34] This is not the normal time frame for a grant.

[34:36] So they essentially Held Funds for us since the spring

[34:39] until we could get a scope of work put together

[34:42] and get a cost estimate put together.

[34:44] And we've done that in lockstep with FAA planning consultant

[34:49] and our project manager to make sure that we would arrive

[34:53] at this point where we have a scope of work

[34:56] that they've approved.

[34:57] We've already done the RFP for planning consultants

[35:02] to do the work using that scope of work.

[35:06] I anticipate bringing that contract back

[35:08] to you at the next council meeting

[35:10] should you approve this grant.

[35:12] But it was all subject to US actually getting

[35:15] the formal approval of the grant.

[35:17] So we've tried to work this on a parallel basis

[35:20] so that we're getting the funding lined up while we're

[35:22] doing the work to get the planning consultant contract

[35:27] and be able to move forward with the work.

[35:30] And that scope of work will offer

[35:33] some guidance on the cost, benefits and economics

[35:36] of different alternatives, kind of a business strategy going

[35:42] forward to make this a viable project

[35:46] to continue to put money.

[35:48] Absolutely it will make sure that we come out of this process

[35:53] with an updated master plan and updated airport layout plan

[35:58] and exhibit A, which Lake Chelan airport has not had in the past.

[36:01] And exhibit A is the FAA's term for the formal property

[36:06] ownership and map of the boundaries for the airport

[36:11] and the surrounding property.

[36:14] It will put us in the driver's seat

[36:17] and get us perfectly aligned to be able to move forward

[36:21] with a real improvement project and improvement

[36:25] project that's achievable and realistic

[36:27] and can be funded by the FAA.

[36:29]

[36:32] And the consultants.

[36:34] How many people are on our list.

[36:38] We sent it out.

[36:38] We published it in the Seattle journal of construction.

[36:43] That's called the Journal of business,

[36:45] but it's specifically for specialists in land development.

[36:51] We received three highly qualified proposals.

[36:54] We ranked those as we have an evaluation committee

[36:57] that has ranked those.

[36:58] We have two finalists, and we have interviews scheduled

[37:02] with those finalists this week, pending approval

[37:06] and subject to the approval by the city council of the grant,

[37:09] including our previous consultant.

[37:15] In terms of being interviewed, yeah,

[37:19] they're not being interviewed for the planning

[37:20] consultant work.

[37:21] They do continue to be under contract with the city

[37:24] for our engineering because they were the consultant

[37:29] on the previous master plan.

[37:31] OK yeah.

[37:34] Well, yeah.

[37:35] Thanks for your patience.

[37:36] Absolutely all right.

[37:41] We have a motion by Council Combs and a second

[37:44] by Council Sanders.

[37:46] All those in favor.

[37:48] Aye Aye.

[37:49] Opposed motion passes.

[37:52] We'll move on to item D, resolution number 2026 1486.

[37:56] Education service center SB inter local purchasing system

[38:03] purchasing co-op in our local.

[38:05] And this will be handled by our director.

[38:08] Thank you mayor.

[38:09] Quite a mouthful.

[38:10] Council tonight before you is a resolution

[38:13] to approve an interlocal agreement and an addendum

[38:16] to an interlocal agreement for cooperative purchasing

[38:19] with tips, which is the local purchasing system.

[38:23] Tips is a cooperative purchasing program

[38:25] that's administered by region 8 educational service center

[38:29] in Texas.

[38:29] So that's why the title of our agenda

[38:32] is educational Services Center there.

[38:34] The administering program of they

[38:37] administer the cooperative purchasing program.

[38:40] So a cooperative purchasing is an Avenue

[38:43] that public agencies can use to get competitively

[38:47] solicited contracts, which helps reduce

[38:50] administrative costs and staff time that's

[38:51] associated with advertising.

[38:54] Getting proposals.

[38:55] Awarding contracts.

[38:56] It's another tool in our tool belt

[38:57] to be able to get the best price for certain services or supplies

[39:03] that we need to purchase.

[39:05] So tips is one of many cooperative purchasing programs

[39:10] that operates in the country.

[39:11] It's based in Texas, but they do operate in Washington State.

[39:16] The addendum to the interlocal agreement

[39:19] was one that was prepared by our city attorney,

[39:20] just to clarify language to ensure that we're following

[39:24] Washington procurement laws.

[39:27] So the city, through partnership or through participation

[39:30] as a member to this cooperative purchasing,

[39:33] gets access to the competitively bid contracts

[39:37] that tips has already procured.

[39:41] There is no membership fee associated with it.

[39:44] So this is a $0 agreement.

[39:45] It just gives us access to those cooperative purchasing.

[39:51] And the city also retains the right

[39:53] to use this cooperative purchasing

[39:54] or to not use this cooperative purchasing in the best

[39:57] interest of the city.

[39:58] So we're not obligated to use it,

[40:00] but it does give us options when we need to go procure

[40:02] for supplies or services.

[40:06] So in your packet you have the resolution,

[40:09] you have the interlocal agreement,

[40:11] and then you have the addendum for the Washington law as well.

[40:15] So the resolution approves the interlocal agreement

[40:17] and the addendum.

[40:19] And I am available for any questions.

[40:22] I move to adopt resolution number 2026 dash 1486 second.

[40:28] All right.

[40:28] We have a motion by Council and second by Council.

[40:33] Any questions.

[40:34] No I think it's a great thing you already

[40:37] see your potential savings with a particular item

[40:42] that is already purchased.

[40:44] I think there's definitely lots of possibility

[40:47] for savings with contracts and utilizing them.

[40:53] I'm good.

[40:55] I'm good.

[40:57] Yeah, good.

[40:59] There's a motion and a second.

[41:01] All those in favor.

[41:02] Aye Opposed.

[41:04] Motion passes.

[41:05] All right, let's move into administrative reports,

[41:07] and we'll start with resolution number

[41:08] 2020 6014x affordable housing grant

[41:11] funding policy and finance.

[41:15] Great so the resolution an affordable housing fund policy

[41:21] application and supplemental worksheets

[41:23] you have before you as a careful recraft

[41:26] from the originally enacted policy

[41:28] that started back in 2019.

[41:31] So earlier this year, due to receiving a large volume

[41:33] of requests from the community benefit grant application

[41:36] process, it was determined that some of those requests

[41:40] were related to affordable housing,

[41:42] and thus the need arose for the major renovation on this policy

[41:46] and application process in an effort

[41:48] to improve those processes and ensure compliance,

[41:51] all parties involved.

[41:53] And so, while I do acknowledge that this is a very complex

[41:56] policy and process, as I'm sure you're all

[41:58] aware of after reviewing your packets,

[42:01] I'd also like to stress that this is necessary from an audit

[42:04] standpoint, because the city of Charlotte

[42:07] receives funding to support affordable housing

[42:10] initiatives in three ways.

[42:12] State share tax revenue, council directed allocations

[42:16] and developer contributions.

[42:18] Staff, of course, have the responsibility

[42:20] to ensure accurate record keeping

[42:21] for all the various sources of funding

[42:23] and ensure audit compliance for awarded funds and agencies

[42:27] who have been awarded those funds.

[42:29] Then have the responsibility to taxpayers

[42:31] to show that the organization station is providing a benefit

[42:34] that the city would otherwise need to provide,

[42:37] or just as generally, a public benefit.

[42:40] And so without those ties, it can be considered

[42:43] a gifting of public funds.

[42:45] And so this application allows staff to better understand

[42:48] the needs of the organization applying for the funding

[42:51] and the people that which they serve,

[42:53] so that we can best determine what source of funding

[42:56] would best meet their needs.

[42:58] And so this policy was drafted with previous council

[43:02] conversations taking into consideration

[43:04] legal counsel of course.

[43:06] And Sao guidelines are state laws, federal ones.

[43:11] And of course, most importantly feedback provided

[43:13] by our local housing agencies.

[43:17] So in addition to support of this policy,

[43:20] I would also be looking for direction on how much funding

[43:23] council would like to award the 2026 and get some ideas for 2027

[43:29] of the currently available 133,000 that is

[43:34] in the Affordable housing fund.

[43:37] Aside from the modest revenue that we receive of about 15,000

[43:41] from the state share tax revenue,

[43:43] the next external contribution is expected

[43:46] to be the widening project.

[43:49] But we really at this time do not know when we will receive

[43:52] funding from that project.

[43:54] So at this time, my recommendation

[43:56] would be no more than $50,000 for 2026,

[44:01] $50,000 for 2027 be awarded.

[44:04] That would at that time leave approximately $50,000 for 2028.

[44:08] And perhaps we just see at that time of that

[44:11] project looks like or other developer

[44:13] contributions or council directed

[44:16] contributions would look like.

[44:18] And so with that all being said, I

[44:20] look forward to hearing your feedback on the 2026 award

[44:24] amount and recommendation for future years,

[44:26] as well as on the policy itself.

[44:29] And application process.

[44:31] Thank you very much.

[44:32]

[44:36] Thank you very much.

[44:39] Now, do you remember that the grant

[44:42] didn't do anything with that.

[44:43] But what the request of those three other housing associations

[44:48] were for 2020.

[44:50] I do not have that information available right

[44:52] off the top of my head.

[44:54] So that's back a few months.

[44:56] I would be more than happy though to dig those back up.

[44:59] I do know that one is referencing some updates

[45:04] to an owner occupied home who would be

[45:07] eligible under like low income.

[45:10] There was also some renovations to as well to heritage heights,

[45:16] but I'd really want to look back into those specifics

[45:19] and I'd be happy to commit to accomplishing that.

[45:21]

[45:30] Along the same lines, do we know roughly

[45:33] how much was awarded last year to organizations that would

[45:36] qualify for affordable housing.

[45:37] The way we're looking at it now.

[45:40] Yeah so that's a great question and a bit of a harder one

[45:43] to quantify.

[45:44] Just so we've had a bit of a moving target

[45:46] here with our housing funds.

[45:49] There was a interlocal agreement between us and the housing

[45:55] trust, which we were providing a $20,000 a year

[45:58] stipend up to them for operational

[46:01] and affordable housing needs.

[46:05] We awarded funds affordable housing

[46:09] from the community benefit grant application process.

[46:13] And so really, this year, we're really

[46:15] trying to make sure that those processes

[46:17] are all kept separately.

[46:18] And everyone kind of has their respective pots of funds.

[46:23] But I would urge counsel.

[46:26] I perhaps what we've historically done.

[46:29] Maybe we pivot away from.

[46:31] Sure no, I think that $50,000 recommendation sound,

[46:35] as long as it's kind of in alignment,

[46:36] roughly with some of those organizations

[46:38] and what they applied for.

[46:40] I think it's great that we continue to fund them as they

[46:42] I know they rely on them.

[46:43]

[46:48] I agree with 50,000 to be conservative in what is sent out

[46:53] with what is presented because as you mentioned, Widener

[46:59] potentially so based on.

[47:03] A source of income.

[47:06] So that's good.

[47:08]

[47:13] Yeah speak on conservative side.

[47:16] Now that puts us out for a year and we're spent.

[47:19] So that's with 15,000 companies evidence without

[47:24] possible forward income.

[47:26] But yeah, I guess I have some questions

[47:41] on item 6, the recorded security capital board still.

[47:46]

[47:48] But maybe I'll discuss those.

[47:51]

[47:56] So we can discuss that further.

[47:58]

[48:02] If you like.

[48:04] All right.

[48:05] We'll move into discussion about higher

[48:08] professional services, agreement for fire protection inspections

[48:11] and that.

[48:14] Yes thank you.

[48:17] Mayor yes.

[48:19] Tonight we're going over live professional services agreement

[48:24] with fire protection software company

[48:28] that we've had since 2018.

[48:31] Somebody was egress fire here tonight.

[48:35] Jim, who was with fire and now live.

[48:39] I go over the presentation on the.

[48:43]

[48:46] Thank you.

[48:46] Yes thank you.

[48:48] Thank you very much.

[48:49] Just going to be brief.

[48:51] But we can help you see the last eight

[48:53] years with our detection system, life safety system and tracking

[48:56] them.

[48:57] We currently have 71 properties we monitor with 295 systems.

[49:01] And that has more than doubled since we started.

[49:05] So some exciting news is we virtually live.

[49:09] I was the vice president of fire, Vice President of live,

[49:12] and we opted to go with their platform

[49:15] for a lot of different reasons.

[49:16] The main thing is that they have a lot more flexibility and a lot

[49:21] more free, free software offerings that they offer us

[49:24] to help with prevention, to really

[49:26] increase firefighter safety and fire prevention

[49:28] and save station.

[49:30] So they have a software certification,

[49:32] which is really hard certification

[49:33] to get that protection.

[49:36] They also offer a host of new features

[49:38] for compliance, fire prevention and firefighter safety.

[49:41] First of all, I have their support staff to help Casey

[49:43] and his team do what they need to do and fire compliance.

[49:47] And there's also some free modules that we're doing.

[49:49] So we're doing some free tracking

[49:51] where fire department and buildings can

[49:54] go on this platform also, and be combined with that premises

[49:56] detail that can also be used for short term rentals and stuff

[49:59] like that to help us do that.

[50:01] We have a fire watch program, so in the building

[50:04] has you on fire watch because their systems are down.

[50:07] Traditionally, that's been kind of a favor type thing.

[50:09] So I'll be trapped digitally so that you'll know that existed.

[50:12] That building's on fire watch, and it's actually being

[50:14] directed to do it properly.

[50:17] We also have an integration with first name

[50:18] first used as a platform for the fire departments.

[50:21] That's a free module also.

[50:23] So if there is an incident, the city of Cheyenne and that fire

[50:26] truck rolls out, they'll know if there's an additional system

[50:28] there, it's on fire watch or anything like that,

[50:30] but also helps firefighters also.

[50:33] So it's a pretty complete platform I'm

[50:36] available for any questions.

[50:37] Also, I think you all have one sheet

[50:39] of paper what the new system looks like and my business card.

[50:41]

[50:48] Yeah so our business fire inspection.

[50:52]

[50:55] Yeah and so they put that into the system

[50:56] as we're talking about.

[50:57] That system talks to your system and you want to upgrade that.

[51:01] What office city do you.

[51:04]

[51:06] Plan to game.

[51:07] Yeah so he represents the company that we currently use.

[51:14] So his system is what.

[51:16] Before I got here.

[51:17] We've been using since 2018.

[51:19] They were acquired by live.

[51:20] So he's the back end of live and answering the questions we have.

[51:24] So nothing will change.

[51:26] We're being migrated over to the new live platform this month.

[51:30] The upside to it is really for us, our compliance.

[51:33] That went up to over 75% Now with using p grids,

[51:36] because now it ties into setting up the notification

[51:40] to the businesses that vendors already know that when

[51:43] they do an annual or six month inspection,

[51:46] they upload that report.

[51:48] And it comes into my office that we either accept

[51:51] it or pick it back out.

[51:52] So it allows us to track it and not do pen and paper.

[51:56] And pretty much every jurisdiction around us

[51:58] is using egress.

[52:00] So when Angie County, the border area.

[52:03] So all these vendors, whether they're

[52:04] from Spokane or the West Side, are used to using egress.

[52:08] And so it's just what they require.

[52:11] And there's more.

[52:14] There's some more APIs that tie-in when I first do,

[52:17] which is a big one for fire when you first use this,

[52:20] will now talk to their system.

[52:21] Today, they don't have any way to look at our software

[52:25] or our inspections.

[52:26] They just don't have access to it.

[52:27] So this will give them access to fire

[52:30] life safety inspections for it.

[52:32] Really for us, for the city, it's mostly just a good system.

[52:36] Inspection for businesses, the fire alarm systems,

[52:40] the suppression systems include schools,

[52:43] family buildings, commercial buildings up to 275.

[52:48] So we have quite a few system types in there.

[52:51] It just helps us keep track of all that.

[52:53] And then we work with, most of these vendors who

[52:56] are doing these are coming out of Yakima

[52:58] or Wenatchee or Spokane.

[52:59] So it just helps keeps everything dialed in with things

[53:02] are doing.

[53:03] If you're a business owner, you log in and see when the stuff

[53:06] is due and if you have to bail.

[53:07] Just keeps everybody on the same page, the fees themselves.

[53:11] That is one component that is going up with the new system.

[53:15] The feed today that is charged to the third party vendor

[53:18] is going from 15 to 18.

[53:21] So that's the fee.

[53:23] That's the entire time that gets charged to the vendor.

[53:27] The vendor themselves, though, have

[53:28] the ability to up charge that.

[53:30] That's out of our control.

[53:31] And they do that which that's not.

[53:34] And I tell people to shop a different vendor,

[53:36] they're going to do that.

[53:38] But nothing really changes other than that there'll

[53:41] be a new system that allows them to do a lot more,

[53:43] and it will help us track a lot more

[53:46] stuff with the fire department and have our clients go up.

[53:49] So we have a pretty compliant 75% is pretty high.

[53:51] I mean, I don't think very many departments are close to that.

[53:54] So I'm moving up on the pricing to that.

[53:58] We do track that a little bit differently also.

[54:01] Is that let's take a restaurant, for example, if they have

[54:04] two commercial goods in there and we

[54:07] charge 2 times $15 dollars when it was commercial one.

[54:11] So it's $18 and $30.

[54:14] So you'll see an overall price reduction on businesses.

[54:18] So there is that.

[54:19]

[54:22] Question I guess this is a little out of my expertise here.

[54:32] So, bottom line I concern I have is for the commercial businesses

[54:39] in town.

[54:41] Is this something that's going to streamline

[54:45] their compliance without significantly

[54:48] raising costs and red tape.

[54:51] How is.

[54:55] How is the rubber meeting the road

[54:57] in this for our constituents.

[55:01] So this stuff is the platform we have today

[55:05] has been in place since 2018, though the businesses that

[55:09] are using have been using it since 2018,

[55:11] so they're already utilizing this software anyways,

[55:14] and the business owners themselves don't

[55:16] really have to do anything.

[55:18] It's mostly just for the vendors themselves

[55:20] who, when they do an inspection, they report it into the system

[55:24] that comes into our staff.

[55:25] We review it and it goes from there.

[55:27] He also sends out notifications to the vendors

[55:30] and there are fire alarms.

[55:33] Fire suppression systems are do they send out notifications

[55:37] or when they're online.

[55:38] Just to let them know.

[55:39] So it's just a way to track everything before two years

[55:42] with around people just using carbon copy paper

[55:45] and just it's hard to track all that stuff.

[55:46] So this has been around for a long time.

[55:49] So yeah, I came on board back in 2018

[55:51] so it doesn't change anything.

[55:53] There is a cost.

[55:54] But for the businesses like Lakeside for example,

[55:59] they're not open year round.

[56:00] So we have the ability on our end to buy water.

[56:03] We can get the frequency on how often they need

[56:07] to use it so they like Amy Mac.

[56:10] She goes ahead and claims more than the required minimum.

[56:13] So this stuff comes out of the fire code.

[56:15] It's not a city mandated, it's the fire code.

[56:17] When it comes down to the cleaning schedule

[56:19] and the annual inspection schedule

[56:21] for the environmental component, we have the ability

[56:24] on the cleaning schedule for the food system

[56:27] to knock that down to once a year,

[56:29] and we've done that for all the seasonal businesses.

[56:32] So some of if we're trying to get

[56:34] the taco trucks on there as well, on if they

[56:36] now have to do it as well.

[56:38] But the side waters view is we have

[56:41] a handful that are just seasonal,

[56:42] that we've knocked it down.

[56:43] They can still go above and beyond

[56:45] and do more than that for their own cleaning,

[56:47] but it doesn't require that to enter into us.

[56:50] We just do it once a year.

[56:51] But a commercial system that's running grease like neighbors

[56:56] like the Panther, for example, they're

[56:57] going to have to do by code at a minimum every six months.

[57:00] They have to get a full cleaning and then

[57:03] their hood system has to be spent

[57:05] on the suppression side of it.

[57:07] The fire alarm and the suppression of the buildings

[57:10] are just once a year.

[57:11] That's just an annual thing.

[57:12] That's just the minimum that you have to do for fire code.

[57:15] If they're running more than that,

[57:17] the recommendation that they have

[57:18] to clean more often, that we don't put it

[57:21] in there more than that just every six months.

[57:23] So this system is it kind of streamlines

[57:26] our ability to monitor compliance

[57:29] and those kind of things.

[57:30] But it's going to be fairly transparent.

[57:33] And there was a lot of businesses

[57:35] that we found that there'd be a fire call maybe

[57:38] after a smoke investigation.

[57:39] And they have a good system and they

[57:41] haven't had a good cleaning.

[57:42] They hadn't had one in 15 years, and they

[57:45] hadn't had their suppression system done in 15 years.

[57:48] And so it was able to track all that.

[57:50] It's taken some time to get every business I think we're now

[57:53] everybody is totally on there.

[57:54] I haven't seen a new business come online in well

[57:57] over a year or two.

[57:58] So it's just a way to streamline it

[58:00] and everyone's on the same page.

[58:01] So if the property owners and the vendors

[58:04] had a chance to do an interview.

[58:06] And as far as the fees are concerned,

[58:09] that's just the standard fee that went on at $15 that's

[58:12] passed down to the vendor.

[58:13] And then of course, charges stops.

[58:18] Thanks, Mark.

[58:22] This is why is this why does the city have a list in that time.

[58:27] That's a good question.

[58:29] So the fire department here locally has

[58:32] no authority to enforce codes.

[58:34] So the building department here in the fire code,

[58:38] official department duties fall under building and planning.

[58:40] So the fire department here online Wenatchee.

[58:45] They have the fire Marshal.

[58:47] But they also still even at the city Wenatchee

[58:49] have a fire code official.

[58:51] So same duties that falls in on the fire

[58:53] or excuse me, at the Community Development Department.

[58:56] We have the ability to do the enforcement side of it.

[58:59] So the fire department can streamline it.

[59:02] It didn't make sense for us to go do inspections.

[59:04] So I come and then they go.

[59:06] Just so Brandon and myself worked out a deal with the fire

[59:09] department where they'll send their crews

[59:11] out there because it's important for the fire to go out there.

[59:14] They have building familiarization.

[59:16] It's a way to get their face out in the public.

[59:17] They should be out doing their inspections.

[59:20] If they come across something that's egregious on their check

[59:22] sheet, they send it to us, and then we follow up on it

[59:24] and we'll go from there.

[59:25] But if you tell the fire department,

[59:27] no, I'm not doing that.

[59:28] They literally can't enforce anything.

[59:31] So it falls under fire code, which then falls

[59:33] back to the fire code official.

[59:35] Which is why if we had a traditional fire

[59:37] Marshal under a city, that value involved

[59:40] that person here called fire.

[59:42]

[59:47] Any other questions.

[59:49] Microphone question.

[59:50]

[59:52] All right thank you.

[59:54] Thank you.

[59:55] Thank you.

[59:57] All right, let's move into.

[1:00:00]

[1:00:03] Our city administrator and department reports.

[1:00:05] We'll start with Laura.

[1:00:08] Thank you.

[1:00:08] Mayor just wanted to update you on a couple of changes

[1:00:14] that we have going on in the outside departments.

[1:00:18] One is back to the airport.

[1:00:20] We do have an interim airport operations manager in place.

[1:00:24] So he is in the process of doing a review of the operating

[1:00:29] procedures for airport operations,

[1:00:31] creating standard operating procedures

[1:00:34] to shadow Jay for two days.

[1:00:37] And we'll run similar operating standard operating procedures

[1:00:40] for maintenance, and has scheduled a meeting

[1:00:46] with the tenants to talk about what

[1:00:49] we need from the tenants in terms of airport inspections.

[1:00:52] Following up on a meeting that Paul and I had earlier

[1:00:55] this year, but just making sure we're

[1:00:57] continuing to keep those lines of communication

[1:00:59] open to get 100% compliance from our hangar

[1:01:04] owners and tenants on what they are doing inside those hangars.

[1:01:09] That's one update.

[1:01:10] It's really good to see that level of work

[1:01:13] happening out of the airport and just improving

[1:01:16] that the operations side.

[1:01:18] And then the other thing I wanted to let you know is that,

[1:01:21] as we talked about previously, the bid for the air

[1:01:25] or the Library Foundation repair came in 100,000 higher

[1:01:29] than the engineer's estimate.

[1:01:31] You were able to have a conversation with the bidder

[1:01:34] and recall, we had one bidder about why the bid was so

[1:01:38] much higher than anticipated.

[1:01:40] And really, it's because they built a lot of risk

[1:01:43] into their bid because of the unknown,

[1:01:46] of what's underneath the flooring,

[1:01:48] what's behind the drywall.

[1:01:50] So we came up with a solution with that potential bidder to do

[1:01:55] a small not to exceed $5,000 exploratory analysis contract

[1:02:00] with them so that we should be getting done later

[1:02:03] this week over at the library.

[1:02:06] To enable us to really get a better bid package

[1:02:09] put out and get that done.

[1:02:15] Meanwhile, we're working closely with the library on continued

[1:02:18] communication to the public about when they

[1:02:21] will have library services full library services

[1:02:24] available to them.

[1:02:25] Obviously, both across the street.

[1:02:27] That's dependent upon the final repairs,

[1:02:30] but the library is working on an improved,

[1:02:34] expanded library pop up program within the city limits.

[1:02:38] So that's good to hear.

[1:02:39] And we'll be hearing more from the library

[1:02:41] about that in the future.

[1:02:44] That's all I have.

[1:02:46] So one piece of exciting news, I guess.

[1:02:53] The river heights project has been submitted.

[1:02:57] So we have an application for that, which is great,

[1:03:02] but where are you going to be processing that.

[1:03:05] So that's one step closer to that person.

[1:03:12] OK thank you mayor.

[1:03:15] We just wanted to help get the word out.

[1:03:17] We have a few vacancies for greenskeeper positions

[1:03:21] at the golf course, and if we didn't have smoke,

[1:03:25] it would be really, really trying for the team

[1:03:28] up there with the positions that are

[1:03:29] open, that having a hard time filling

[1:03:32] in the middle of the season.

[1:03:33] When we have vacancies, it's very difficult

[1:03:35] to hire more seasonal employees in the middle of the summer.

[1:03:38] Most people already have jobs for the year,

[1:03:42] so help spread the word.

[1:03:43] We have some vacancies greenskeeper positions

[1:03:46] and I will say, well, we don't like

[1:03:49] the smoke at the golf course, but it's really decreasing play.

[1:03:52] It's been a saving grace for the maintenance team

[1:03:55] because they don't have to do quite as much hand watering

[1:03:58] as they would this time of year, so they can

[1:04:00] with a reduced staff that's out there right now,

[1:04:03] they can still keep up on the day to day work.

[1:04:05] But as soon as the smoke clears, which we're all hoping for that

[1:04:09] is going to have a lot of pressure

[1:04:10] on the limited staff that are out there

[1:04:12] for the maintenance course.

[1:04:15] On the topic of smoke, we're feeling those impacts all

[1:04:17] across our entire department.

[1:04:19] I shared a little bit last week on some of those numbers,

[1:04:23] and it's still looking pretty bleak.

[1:04:24] Our golf courses in a seven day period compared to last year,

[1:04:27] down 41% The RV park process over 100

[1:04:31] cancellations in a seven day period by the RV parks.

[1:04:34] You can see it's empty and this is the time of year.

[1:04:37] We typically have every site booked out every single day.

[1:04:40] So I think a lot of kudos to my team who are Fielding all

[1:04:44] of those phone calls, who are calling in,

[1:04:46] trying to make cancellations, and

[1:04:48] we've got procedures in place on when we do allow cancellations.

[1:04:52] We do provide refunds, which some people are not

[1:04:57] always happy when we tell them what

[1:04:59] procedures they have to follow.

[1:05:00] So they are showing excellent customer

[1:05:03] service in some really trying and difficult phone

[1:05:05] conversations.

[1:05:08] And then next week we have a Park Board meeting

[1:05:11] to highlight some to talk about our Park Board meeting

[1:05:13] next week, or field use and waiver

[1:05:15] field use fee waiver policy.

[1:05:18] We'll be talking about rates, capital improvement,

[1:05:20] all things that will be coming back to council for the process.

[1:05:22] So I'm excited about it this week

[1:05:25] and you'll hear about it soon.

[1:05:27]

[1:05:30] For finance it's pretty much all about budget right

[1:05:33] now of course too as well.

[1:05:34] So I'm sure you're all just gearing

[1:05:36] up and getting ready for September and October.

[1:05:40] Really gripping stuff.

[1:05:41] I know you guys will be really excited to be

[1:05:43] doing this along for that ride.

[1:05:45] Otherwise it's pretty routine operations, as you imagine,

[1:05:48] but it takes a lot of work.

[1:05:50] So just want to give a special shout out though of

[1:05:53] course, all of our first responders working on the nine

[1:05:56] network out there to know that they're just doing

[1:06:00] a number on our community.

[1:06:02] So know that my colleagues here at the city

[1:06:05] think about all the businesses to impact it.

[1:06:07] So I just wanted to share that to us.

[1:06:09] Thank you.

[1:06:10]

[1:06:13] Yeah so the Sheriff's Office has been extremely busy three weeks,

[1:06:20] last three weeks with the fire that started,

[1:06:24] the little giant fire Sheriff's Office.

[1:06:26] We are Manning two level three roadblocks in the beginning

[1:06:29] at and on the South Shaw of Lake shore.

[1:06:31] And those roadblocks we are at mandated

[1:06:35] overtime football and football and voluntary overtime.

[1:06:42] So guys are spending a lot of hours out there.

[1:06:46] We also have contracted Marine One to the fire

[1:06:49] to help with transporting fire crews and supplies up

[1:06:54] and down the lake.

[1:06:56] That is voluntary overtime with that.

[1:07:01] So that's been keeping us busy.

[1:07:02] I want to give a big thank you to our volunteers

[1:07:06] that have helped out.

[1:07:07] We've had multiple days and nights where we've

[1:07:09] had to change the feedback levels,

[1:07:12] move them down, move them down lake.

[1:07:15] And we've relied upon a lot of volunteers to help us with.

[1:07:21] So big shout out to those people.

[1:07:26] Let's see here.

[1:07:27]

[1:07:30] Quick update on marine patrol right now.

[1:07:34] It's the boats ready to go.

[1:07:38] Marine two in the Marina.

[1:07:40] But there's not a lot of love that.

[1:07:43] We are.

[1:07:45] About three weeks ago, we were sitting

[1:07:46] at about 175 ish contacts for the year, which

[1:07:51] was on par for a good year.

[1:07:54] But the last two weeks we've been

[1:07:57] speaking with Gavin Walters.

[1:07:59] Nobody's out there, so we are utilizing

[1:08:02] our control guys to handle calls within the city.

[1:08:05]

[1:08:09] And then I'll touch on bridge jumping.

[1:08:12] Sorry I wasn't here two weeks ago.

[1:08:15] I heard that was a pretty hot topic.

[1:08:19] So I talked to Sheriff Morrison about issues

[1:08:23] and about the damage that's being done to the Globes

[1:08:27] to the outlets and everything.

[1:08:32] And we discussed some solutions.

[1:08:35] So he approved 32 hours of overtime

[1:08:39] are to be given out for enforcement

[1:08:42] of the bridge jumping.

[1:08:44] With that it is.

[1:08:46] I put an email out to our entire staff on.

[1:08:49] We can do full shifts.

[1:08:51] If you want to sit on the bridge for eight hours

[1:08:54] or you can hang out for an hour after your shift,

[1:09:00] come in early or whatever you want.

[1:09:02] Just let me know so I can track the amount

[1:09:05] of time that is being put out and the amount of contacts.

[1:09:11] And we have had a couple takers.

[1:09:13] We have issued tickets for bridge jumping

[1:09:18] and the smoke is coming in, and we're not seeing a lot of issues

[1:09:23] right now.

[1:09:24] So it is nice though, that we do have

[1:09:28] that ability to get out there.

[1:09:30] It's extremely hard for us to do it while on patrol

[1:09:35] and so hopefully we can put a stop to that.

[1:09:42] Thanks all.

[1:09:45] Thank you.

[1:09:48] Nothing for me.

[1:09:49] OK OK.

[1:09:54] Let's move into Mayor.

[1:09:56] Council comments.

[1:09:57] So we'll start with Shane.

[1:09:59] Thank you mayor.

[1:10:01] So thank you for coming for your presentation tonight.

[1:10:04] Thank you to staff.

[1:10:06] Over to you, as always, for tons of work that needs to get done.

[1:10:11] Thank you.

[1:10:11] I ask questions and I will be person

[1:10:14] that I don't know everything.

[1:10:16] So I know to do that.

[1:10:19]

[1:10:22] Couple of months ago we talked a little bit about.

[1:10:27] One of the residents of the area, Mr. Higgins,

[1:10:31] has some second homeowner thoughts

[1:10:33] and about taxes on second homes and things like that.

[1:10:37] I don't know the legality of that,

[1:10:39] but I believe we're looking into it.

[1:10:40] So just want to see if we have any thoughts

[1:10:43] or if anything's come out of that.

[1:10:45] Council Member from Nancy pointed me to a book

[1:10:47] that I'm reading this past week that

[1:10:48] talks about other communities and communities that

[1:10:52] are doing it.

[1:10:53] So I just kind of want to know.

[1:10:54] I don't know where I feel on that issue,

[1:10:55] but I just want to know what's being

[1:10:57] done, what's out there, what are levers we

[1:10:59] can work with for having.

[1:11:02] Yeah smoke firefighters.

[1:11:04] Thank you.

[1:11:04] First responders.

[1:11:05] Sheriff's Office.

[1:11:07] The fire meeting last Friday that was well attended.

[1:11:09] Got to talk to Sheriff Morrison.

[1:11:11] And I know how hard you guys are working to the firefighters.

[1:11:14] So thank you for all of that.

[1:11:16]

[1:11:19] Yeah my thoughts and concerns are

[1:11:23] with all the businesses in the Valley

[1:11:25] is a very hard time consuming.

[1:11:27] It's all very hard heart.

[1:11:29] Very concerned about parks golf course.

[1:11:33] But I did have a little fun last night.

[1:11:35] But not last night.

[1:11:36] Last week, but Council kitty and I

[1:11:38] went and did the jail tour, which I thought was fascinating.

[1:11:42] So he got an opportunity to do this.

[1:11:44] And you came back.

[1:11:46] Yeah, that was pretty clear that I was going to be let out.

[1:11:49]

[1:11:55] That the first time.

[1:12:01] But he gave Sean he.

[1:12:05] Yeah they run a great operation.

[1:12:08] And so I gotta thank you.

[1:12:10]

[1:12:13] Yeah I think we're all a little down with the environment,

[1:12:19] but it could be a lot worse shape.

[1:12:22] There's communities that suffer a lot worse.

[1:12:25] But I know businesses are struggling.

[1:12:29] So I'm trying to shop local a little bit more.

[1:12:33] And I think we all got to stick together.

[1:12:37] I appreciate the Sheriff's Department all you guys doing,

[1:12:40] especially now with the fires.

[1:12:44] But I do appreciate I have seen the effects

[1:12:48] of a little more presence with regard to the British dumping.

[1:12:52] And I think that ultimately made me save some life and property.

[1:12:59] So I appreciate that.

[1:13:00] Did have a question with regards to the bonding.

[1:13:03] You mentioned the refunds.

[1:13:05] And I'm wondering, do we have a specific refund

[1:13:08] policy with respect to smoke and how is that working.

[1:13:13] Yeah, that's a great question.

[1:13:14] So when people make their reservations, especially

[1:13:16] this time of year, most people do a seven day reservation

[1:13:19] because a portion of the RV park is Saturday

[1:13:21] to Saturday open bookings.

[1:13:23] So when anyone makes a reservation at the RV park,

[1:13:26] it's a two night deposit that they have to make.

[1:13:28] They can pay for their whole stay is full,

[1:13:30] but it's a minimum of two nights that they have to pay.

[1:13:33] So if someone wants to make a cancellation,

[1:13:35] it has to be to get a full refund.

[1:13:37] Plus, a cancellation fee has to be made three weeks in advance.

[1:13:41] Obviously, in instances like this where people are not

[1:13:44] they're making a decision closer to so what we have,

[1:13:48] our procedure that we follow is the day check in.

[1:13:51] If the AQI is reading over 150, then we

[1:13:54] will allow them to cancel the reservation with

[1:13:56] and getting their deposit back.

[1:13:58] There is an administrative fee that we

[1:13:59] have to hold on to which covers credit card fees essentially.

[1:14:04] But that's the threshold is 150 AQI on the day check in.

[1:14:08] So part of the challenges that we're dealing with is people are

[1:14:11] calling on a Tuesday or Wednesday

[1:14:13] to cancel their check in on Saturday,

[1:14:16] but they have the AQI on the day check in is what we follow.

[1:14:20] So as we all that the air quality changes by the hour.

[1:14:24] So while we might predict that the air quality will be poor.

[1:14:28] We don't know what's going to happen between now and Saturday.

[1:14:30] So that's where we're getting some of that pushback

[1:14:32] from customers.

[1:14:33] Or at least it's just requiring a lot of explanation

[1:14:35] as to here's our procedure, here's why we set it,

[1:14:38] and sticking to it even when we get some of those complaints.

[1:14:42] Yeah it's a hard thing to negotiate, I imagine.

[1:14:47] And we definitely we want to accommodate our visitors.

[1:14:52] So they're not afraid to book here in the future.

[1:14:55] And we're encouraging people to reschedule.

[1:14:59] If you don't want to come this week,

[1:15:01] why don't you book for October, maybe change your reservation

[1:15:04] so they can still come to the RV park,

[1:15:07] but understandable that they don't

[1:15:08] necessarily want to be camping in this weather right now.

[1:15:12] Well yeah, just want to give a special thank

[1:15:19] you for the first responders.

[1:15:21] You're here.

[1:15:22] So thank you.

[1:15:24] And we've had three weeks.

[1:15:25] It hasn't been easy with what everything is going on here.

[1:15:29] And yeah, it's tough.

[1:15:31] It's tough all around.

[1:15:32] And big shout out to the Hotshots.

[1:15:37] So yeah.

[1:15:38] So thank you to the housing authority for the presentation.

[1:15:43]

[1:15:46] Thank you for that.

[1:15:49] But of course shout out to all first responders.

[1:15:52] You guys are working really hard for sure.

[1:15:55] And thank you staff.

[1:15:59] And yeah to echo that fire Sheriff's it's

[1:16:05] a tough time for everybody.

[1:16:07] We appreciate the work they put in.

[1:16:11] It was a little bit eye opening our tour

[1:16:15] down there through the jail.

[1:16:18] We think it's just taking people in there

[1:16:21] and locking them up and stepping away.

[1:16:24] It's amazing how many steps they have

[1:16:26] to go through medically and systems

[1:16:29] that they have for monitoring.

[1:16:33] Kind of gave me a little bigger insight of what technology goes

[1:16:39] on with medically monitoring the people that are in there

[1:16:43] and the challenges they have.

[1:16:45] And I guess my last thought on that

[1:16:49] is, I think the only sure, sure way to stop

[1:16:53] that is a physical barrier.

[1:16:56] That But it's a Band-Aid.

[1:16:59] But you're going to really deal.

[1:17:01] I think it's a lot of folks.

[1:17:05] It might be a physical barrier.

[1:17:07]

[1:17:10] I think I'll keep it short.

[1:17:14] Echo what's been said already.

[1:17:16] And just remind you that these times, some people woke up

[1:17:20] and they didn't have a home anymore.

[1:17:22] All those things and we get concerned about what's happening

[1:17:25] around us, but really reminding ourselves what we do

[1:17:29] and being grateful that we still have a home, a place

[1:17:34] to hide out from the snow.

[1:17:36] People out there watching out for us.

[1:17:39] The city staff watching out for the entire community.

[1:17:42] There has been a lot of money.

[1:17:43] And then just the things on parks,

[1:17:46] the benches that the request on the park right now

[1:17:50] from some people that there was any funding

[1:17:54] left over for those yet or that's not closed up.

[1:17:57] I don't have an update on that.

[1:17:58] We still have some open contracts with work

[1:18:00] out at Lakeside that has yet to be finished.

[1:18:02] Actually, I should have shared this as an update.

[1:18:05] We had twin floats for the swim area at Lakeside

[1:18:08] was kind of one of those outstanding items.

[1:18:10] That was backordered, and they started working to pick up

[1:18:13] in last week, and the contractor started working through this one

[1:18:16] line at Lakeside.

[1:18:18] So once all of our current contractual obligations

[1:18:21] are paid out.

[1:18:21] That's when I will determine how we'll proceed with this.

[1:18:26]

[1:18:29] Yes on a positive note, I think we're probably

[1:18:32] all semi fire suppression experts now claim

[1:18:35] dialogue and presentation.

[1:18:37] So thanks for that.

[1:18:39] And then as has been mentioned, just

[1:18:41] and we're all thinking about all those direct impacts impacted

[1:18:45] directly and indirectly with all that's

[1:18:47] going on with all things fire.

[1:18:49] And several folks have mentioned,

[1:18:51] our small businesses can use all the help

[1:18:53] they can get around town.

[1:18:55] So when we can and have capacity,

[1:18:58] we just encourage everyone to do that.

[1:19:00] And then just thanks to the public

[1:19:01] for coming out tonight and staying informed and involved

[1:19:04] and engaged, appreciate that.

[1:19:06] And then great presentation by the housing authority.

[1:19:10] Really interesting to learn all that they're involved with.

[1:19:12] And then also some of the red tape

[1:19:13] that they have to work through.

[1:19:14] And then just at the point of business not a major surprise,

[1:19:19] but we're in the process of moving to our new house

[1:19:21] in Hanson, and since I won't live within city limits anymore,

[1:19:25] August will be my last month on council.

[1:19:28] So I just want to give staff time to prepare

[1:19:29] for that vacancy, and looking forward to staying involved

[1:19:33] and engaged until that time.

[1:19:35] So I am.

[1:19:38] Hanson Community Council out in that area.

[1:19:41]

[1:19:45] All right, I will just echo the first responders.

[1:19:50] Every day I wake up and think, how can you go out and fight

[1:19:52] this fire all day long.

[1:19:54] And then you see those tents and they're

[1:19:57] still out sleeping in smoke and I

[1:20:01] just I don't know how they do it.

[1:20:03] And it's very humbling to see everyone who has to work outside

[1:20:09] and be in this environment.

[1:20:11] And they'll go home and have a smile on your face.

[1:20:14] So thank you for everyone who's putting in work

[1:20:20] to keep our community safe.

[1:20:22] On that note, I had a conversation

[1:20:26] with incident command leader that

[1:20:29] just took over as a team 12.

[1:20:31] I think that was taking over, and they are working

[1:20:35] to secure their land lease, and they will be building a fire

[1:20:39] camp in shewan, which will be about 200 and 250 Watt

[1:20:44] firefighters based in town.

[1:20:47] So it was nice that they were actually thinking

[1:20:50] about their location, about where to put this and just

[1:20:53] the economic impact to help our community

[1:20:56] by where they're putting their fire, their firefighters.

[1:20:59] So it will be in the city limits.

[1:21:04] And hopefully we'll start to see those that fire

[1:21:07] camp being built next week.

[1:21:10] Everyone, I gave you a copy and emailed you.

[1:21:13] I would love your feedback on for council and directors

[1:21:17] on the HWC legislative priorities.

[1:21:20] There's 19 of them.

[1:21:21] I don't expect you to bring all 19 of those.

[1:21:24] If you can just maybe pick your top five.

[1:21:26] That would be helpful for me when

[1:21:28] I'm sitting in a room of 30 to 40 other elected officials

[1:21:32] from other communities across the state of Washington,

[1:21:36] from a small communities perspective,

[1:21:38] to make sure that our feedback is

[1:21:41] represented in some of the things

[1:21:43] that you see will be pushing forward.

[1:21:47] And then I'll reiterate, the Small Business piece

[1:21:51] of this August is our number two month in revenue

[1:21:54] generation for sales tax.

[1:21:56] And we just heard recently one of our local lodging businesses

[1:22:01] is currently at 10% capacity or 10% booked.

[1:22:07] That kind of tells you this into perspective.

[1:22:10] How in.

[1:22:13] This month of August and probably around September

[1:22:17] pass on our local business community,

[1:22:18] coming off of a slow spring and a slow winter.

[1:22:23] So as everyone said up here, if you

[1:22:26] can support your local business as much as you can, that would.

[1:22:32] Every little bit will help our local community.

[1:22:35] That's just kind of right now hanging on by a string.

[1:22:37] And I hope that this fire season isn't

[1:22:40] the straw, that it's the last straw that they can handle.

[1:22:43] So that is all I have.

[1:22:48] But now I would accept a motion.

[1:22:50] John thank you.

[1:22:54] Thank you.

[1:22:55] All right all those in favor.

[1:22:56] Hi all right.

[1:22:57] We are adjourned.

[1:22:58] Thank you.

[1:23:02]

[1:23:06] Sir

[1:23:07]

City Council Meeting

Agenda

Transcript