Chehalis council adopts downtown rejuvenation plan, opens annexation talks and approves alarm-code changes

Chehalis Mayor Ketchum and the City Council on April 28 adopted a downtown rejuvenation master plan, approved updated municipal alarm-code language, authorized the city manager to begin annexation negotiations with Lewis County and approved an interlocal agreement framework for Lewis County 9-1-1 governance.

The downtown plan, presented by Public Works staff with consultant Aaron Lomo (HPB) joining by Zoom, is a phased blueprint that staff and supporters said is intended to position the city for state and federal grant funding and guide design decisions when aging underground sewer, water and storm systems are replaced. Public Works staff said, “This project began in 2024 ... as a vision of creating a safer, more vibrant, and welcoming downtown.” The council adopted the plan by resolution 03-2025 on a voice vote; staff said adoption carries no immediate fiscal impact but improves competitiveness for grants and loans.

Why it matters: the plan groups projects into phases and provides grant-ready documentation that city staff and council can use when applying to programs such as the Transportation Improvement Board. Staff and several members of the public said the work is largely driven by the need to replace century-old underground infrastructure discovered during recent repairs and to coordinate surface improvements when that work occurs.

Key details and discussion

- Cost estimates and phasing: Staff cited a phased total cost low-end estimate of $34,500,000 and a high-end estimate of $44,000,000 to complete all phases. The master-plan adoption itself carries no immediate budget appropriation; individual projects and designs will return to council for funding and contract approvals.

- Grants and funding: Public Works staff said adopting the plan strengthens applications for grants and loans and noted recent outreach with the Transportation Improvement Board, which staff described as “very favorable.” The council and public repeatedly emphasized that the city will seek phased grant funding rather than expecting to fund the full total at once.

- Public support and concerns: David James, a member of Spirit Chehalis and an employee of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America who sat on the downtown steering committee, told the council the streets and sidewalks need repair and urged adoption, saying it is “never gonna be cheaper to fix the sidewalks and the roads than it is today.” One council member said they had opposed the earlier study but would vote to adopt the plan so staff could pursue state and federal funding; that comment was made during council debate and was not attributed to a named speaker in the meeting packet.

Annexation negotiations

The council passed resolution 04-2025 authorizing the city to begin negotiations with Lewis County over potential annexation of portions of the city's urban growth area. The City Manager said the vote simply opens talks and does not bind the city to annex any particular parcels: “This just provides you and provides me with the authority to actually negotiate with the county and other entities about annexation.” Staff said the negotiation process will include community notices and public meetings and that more detailed, high-level cost estimates (for additional police, fire or other service impacts) will be provided to the council in advance of any final annexation decisions or workshops.

Alarm-code ordinance

On second and final reading the council passed Ordinance 1112-B, amending and repealing sections of chapter 8.24 (alarm systems) of the Chehalis Municipal Code. The ordinance language was read into the record and adopted on a voice vote with no council member requesting further amendment during the meeting.

Lewis County 9-1-1 interlocal agreement

Chehalis's public-safety chief presented a recommended interlocal agreement (ILA) framework to change the governance structure for Lewis County Dispatch. The council adopted resolution 05-2025 authorizing the city manager to enter an ILA for Lewis County 9-1-1 maintenance and participation. The chief said the document is a recommended starting point and that some operational details will be resolved among the member agencies as implementation proceeds.

Consent calendar and other business

The council approved consent-calendar items (items 5-8) on a single motion. During that vote a council member asked where funds would come from for a specific task order (task order number 8); Public Works staff replied the cost would come from the city's professional services line in the adopted budget. The council also received a quarterly financial report (Q1 2025) from the Finance Director (Cassie), who reported the city has received roughly 20% of annual budgeted revenue for the year and noted that capital spending typically accelerates later in the year. Council members raised the risk posed by potential declines in auto sales tax revenue and asked for scenarios showing revenue sensitivity and prioritized spending reductions if needed.

What happens next

- Implementation: adoption of the downtown plan does not authorize construction; individual projects, designs and funding requests will return to council for separate approvals.

- Annexation: staff will proceed with negotiations, community notices and workshops and will provide cost estimates and service-impact analysis to the council before any final annexation action.

- 9-1-1 governance: the city manager is authorized to negotiate the ILA; operational details will be finalized with partner agencies.

Votes at a glance

- Consent calendar (items 5, 6, 7, 8): approved on a single motion (voice vote). Funding source for task order 8: professional services budget line (as stated by Public Works staff).

- Ordinance 1112-B (amend Chapter 8.24, Alarm Systems): passed on second and final reading (voice vote). Referenced code: Chehalis Municipal Code chapter 8.24.

- Resolution 03-2025 (adopt downtown rejuvenation master plan): adopted (voice vote). Low/high cost estimates stated in plan: $34,500,000 to $44,000,000; adoption carries no immediate fiscal appropriation.

- Resolution 04-2025 (begin annexation negotiations with Lewis County): adopted (voice vote). Action authorizes negotiations and public outreach; does not itself annex territory.

- Resolution 05-2025 (authorize city manager to enter interlocal agreement for Lewis County 9-1-1 maintenance and participation): adopted (voice vote). Council authorized negotiation and execution of the ILA framework.

(Voice-vote roll-call tallies were not read into the record for these items during the meeting.)

Ending

Council members and staff emphasized that adoption of planning documents and negotiation authorizations are early steps: design-level work, grant applications, interlocal agreements and annexation decisions will return to the council for discrete funding and policy votes. The council closed the meeting after committee reports and routine city-manager updates.