East Wenatchee approves nonexclusive franchise for Intermountain fiber after local-hire questions

East Wenatchee — The East Wenatchee City Council on May 6 approved Ordinance 2025-04, granting Intermountain Infrastructure Group LLC a nonexclusive franchise to construct, maintain, repair and remove fiber-optic cable in the city’s public rights-of-way. The ordinance was adopted at the council’s second reading after a brief discussion about whether the city may require local-hire or apprenticeship provisions for work under the franchise.

City staff described the agreement as a standard utility franchise that outlines permitting procedures, relocation timelines when city projects require it and mechanisms to recover the city’s review and legal costs. “It’s common for cities to execute franchise agreements with private utilities, basically outlining the procedures for permitting,” Garen, a city staff presenter, said during the meeting.

The most substantive discussion focused on whether the franchise could include local-hire or apprenticeship utilization clauses. “I went back through it, and I still haven't found anything regarding local hire provisions or apprenticeship utilization,” Council member Arnold said, noting the demand for apprenticeable jobs amid the region’s data-center growth. Garen replied that such a requirement would need review by the city attorney and that he was not sure the city has authority to impose apprenticeship or local-hire mandates on a private company doing work in the right-of-way. After that exchange, Council member Arnold said he could not support adding such a requirement.

Council member Botello moved to adopt the ordinance; Council member Johnson seconded the motion. The council voiced approval and the motion passed after a roll call; one council member voiced opposition during the vote.

The ordinance establishes the franchise terms as presented in the council exhibit and preserves the city’s ability to require relocation of facilities when city projects necessitate it, as well as to recover permitting and legal review costs. The agreement is nonexclusive, meaning the city may grant similar franchises to other utilities in the future.

No dollar amounts, timelines for construction, or effective dates were stated on the record during the discussion. City staff also noted the franchise is the subject of a second reading and that the ordinance had been introduced at the prior council meeting.

Council members did not direct staff to add a local-hire requirement without further legal review. Staff indicated any change that would bind the company’s hiring practices likely would need review and approval by the city attorney and might be limited by state or federal constraints.