Chehalis council approves budget amendment, adopts six‑year transportation plan and accepts transportation district report

Chehalis City Council on March 24 approved multiple routine and legislative items, including a budget amendment, a six‑year transportation plan required by state law and the Transportation Benefit District annual report.

Key results at a glance: - Ordinance No. 1111‑B (budget amendment): Council voted to pass Ordinance No. 1111‑B on second and final reading. The ordinance amends the fiscal year budget and revises budgeted amounts by a combined total of $3,830,222 across multiple funds including the general fund, street fund, transportation benefit district fund and several capital and utility funds. The council vote was taken after the ordinance was read into the record and a motion to pass carried. - Resolution No. 2‑2025 (2026–2031 Six‑Year Transportation Improvement Program): After a public hearing, council approved Resolution No. 2‑2025 adopting the 2026–2031 six‑year transportation improvement program required for submission to the state. Staff noted typographical errors in the draft schedule and said those would be corrected before submission; council nonetheless adopted the program on the motion. - Transportation Benefit District (TBD) annual report (2024): The council approved the TBD annual report, which summarized 2024 beginning cash ($4,627,000), revenues and expenditures and capital projects funded with TBD dollars. Projects listed included a $518,000 grind and inlay on North National Avenue and Thirteenth Street ADA sidewalk improvements; the report shows an ending TBD cash balance of $5,000,974. - Consent calendar and routine approvals: The council approved the consent calendar, which included minutes from the March 10 meeting, vouchers and transfers totaling $474,301.88 and acceptance and closeout of multiple sidewalk improvement projects.

Why it matters: The budget amendment reallocates funds among operating and capital accounts and authorizes spending changes across a wide range of city funds. Adoption of the transportation plan satisfies a state reporting requirement and sets the city’s project priorities for grant applications and capital work over the next six years. The TBD report documents recent spending and projects eligible for that dedicated transportation funding source.

Details and context: The budget ordinance (No. 1111‑B) was presented and read at the meeting; council moved to adopt it on second and final reading. The ordinance text as read listed the funds affected and the total amount of the amendment, $3,830,222. The TIP presentation and public hearing clarified project timing, noted several typographical errors in the draft document (which staff said will be corrected before the state submission) and described planned projects for 2025 through 2031 including South Louisiana realignment, Thirteenth Street ADA improvements and one large engineering project—Chamber Way realignment and bridge work—projected in later years. Council members asked whether the Safe Routes to School grant was secured; staff said the city had applied and expected notice around July.

Votes recorded: The meeting used voice votes for the routine motions; roll‑call tallies by individual councilmember names were not entered in the meeting transcript. The motions were announced as approved by voice: “Aye” carried for each listed motion.