Council approves North Kentucky design amendment, buys excavator and signs off on Safe Routes change orders; schedules PFD interviews

The East Wenatchee City Council on an evening meeting approved a contract amendment to advance design work on North Kentucky Avenue, authorized the purchase of an excavator for the stormwater utility, and accepted two change orders for the Safe Routes to School project. The council also voted to interview three candidates for a Public Facilities District appointment at a special meeting on April 15.

Council members said the North Kentucky amendment will let the city reach roughly 60% design and begin targeted right-of-way discussions to address stormwater needs. City staff said the amendment adds $50,000 to the existing RH2 design contract, bringing the total authorization to about $729,107.57 and leaving roughly $170,000 remaining from the Public Works Board award used to start the project.

Council discussion on the excavator centered on operational efficiency and public perception. Staff said having an excavator in-house will make routine stormwater, ditch and pond maintenance and small localized repairs more efficient and reduce frequent short-term rental costs. Council member Stockton said the stormwater utility is an enterprise fund and ratepayers expect the utility to be maintained. Council member Hefner voiced concern about the timing and public perception of buying a piece of equipment amid discussions about tightening budgets. The motion to authorize the purchase from Pape Machinery carried with one recorded nay from Council member Johnson.

On the Safe Routes to School project, staff described two change orders: Change Order 9 (replacement of a broken irrigation vault lid) and Change Order 10 (a set of adjustments that included costs tied to a water district and city expenses to protect a light pole grounding bed and modify stormwater infrastructure around a fiber bank). Council approved both change orders. Staff said the additional costs will come from the 301 capital project fund and will be matched from stormwater and Transportation Benefit District funds.

The council also reviewed applications for a Public Facilities District board seat. Council voted to advance all three candidates to the interview phase and scheduled a special meeting at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday, April 15, for interviews. The council discussed appearance-of-fairness concerns because Mayor Crawford was one of the applicants; a council member said they were uncomfortable discussing the applications with the mayor present but ultimately the motion to interview all three candidates passed and a separate motion to hold the special meeting passed with one opposed.

Votes at a glance - Motion to approve consent items (agenda, vouchers, minutes): adopted (motion carried; no opposed recorded in transcript). - Resolution 2025-17 — Approve amendment to RH2 design contract for North Kentucky Avenue (City Project 2023-05): motion adopted (mover: Council member Tidd; seconder: Council member Botello). Amendment amount cited as $50,000; new total authorization cited at $729,107.57; funding includes a $850,000 Public Works Board loan with $150,000 grant. - Resolution 2025-20 — Authorize purchase of an excavator for the stormwater utility (vendor cited as Pape Machinery, model cited as John Deere 50): motion adopted; recorded vote: Council member Johnson voted nay; motion carries with one nay. Funding: stormwater fund (enterprise fund). - Resolution 2025-21 — Approve Change Orders 9 and 10 for the Safe Routes to School project (City Project 2019-08 / 2019-09): motion adopted. Additional costs to be charged to 301 capital project fund with matches from stormwater and Transportation Benefit District funds. - Motion to interview all three Public Facilities District applicants and to hold a special meeting April 15 at 5:15 p.m.: motion to interview all three carried (one nay recorded); motion to hold the special meeting carried (one opposed recorded).

Discussion and follow-up Council members pressed staff for clarity on funding sources and timing. For North Kentucky Avenue staff said Department of Ecology design funding is a path to later construction and right-of-way funding, and that a subsequent construction/right-of-way application would be needed (staff reported Ecology funding processes have favored most projects that received design funds in the last round). For the excavator, staff said the quoted price is being honored from a 2024 quote and that routine maintenance demands are expected to be minimal based on the department’s mechanic capacity. For Safe Routes, staff explained complications digging near a fiber bank that was backfilled with concrete-like material (CDF) and the need to protect a light pole grounding bed.

Council direction included proceeding with the approved actions and continuing to communicate to residents which municipal funds are being used for specific purchases so the public understands why enterprise and capital funds differ from the general fund.

Ending Council moved on to other agenda items after the votes and scheduled the PFD interviews for April 15; staff were directed to proceed under the approvals recorded above.