Ephrata to combine comp‑plan update, climate resiliency element and impact‑fee study; downtown floodplain study proposed

Aaron Mercow, a consultant with CJ Alliance, told the Ephrata City Council that staff are proposing to combine four planning efforts into a single, coordinated project so the city meets a state deadline and leverages available grant funding.

The combined scope includes the next periodic comprehensive plan update (required by the Growth Management Act), a newly required climate change and resiliency element, a transportation and parks impact‑fee study, and a potential downtown plan/floodplain study. “The comp plan update is due 06/30/2027,” Mercow said, and the city has begun pursuing state grant funding to cover much of the work.

Why it matters: the GMA periodic update sets local land‑use policy and development regulations; the new climate element is a state requirement and, together with an impact‑fee study, affects how growth pays for transportation and parks infrastructure. Councilors and staff framed the downtown floodplain as a local economic and safety concern that could benefit from targeted study.

Key points presented

- Deadline and funding: Mercow said the periodic comprehensive plan update is due June 30, 2027, and that state grant programs are already open; staff expect the update and the climate element to be largely state‑funded through Department of Commerce grants. “The climate funding grant is $150,000,” Mercow said, and he characterized that amount as sufficient to meet the state’s basic requirements.

- Scope and phasing: The consultant described a phased approach that prioritizes the transportation plan and impact‑fee study to complete those deliverables before 2026, while allowing two years for the comp‑plan and climate work. Mercow said the team would perform a land‑capacity analysis, vulnerability and asset risk assessments for climate impacts (heat, drought, smoke, floods) and public outreach tied to the climate element.

- Downtown and floodplain: Because downtown Ephrata is affected by floodplain constraints, staff proposed adding a downtown/floodplain study within the overall scope if schedule and funding permit. Mercow said the climate grant can be used for floodplain mitigation work but that downtown revitalization elements would need other city funds or separate sources.

Council and staff response

Council members welcomed floodplain mitigation work as a high‑priority local issue. A councilor asked whether the downtown study would recommend ordinance changes or beautification projects; Mercow said the climate grant must be used for climate‑related work and that any downtown revitalization components would rely on other funding but could be paired with floodplain mitigation for efficiency.

Next steps and decisions

Mercow said staff plan to bring a contract for the combined scope before the council at the next meeting, likely on the consent agenda unless a councilor pulls it for discussion. He told the council the grants are eligible for reimbursement beginning July 1, which would allow work to begin once grant awards and scopes are finalized.

Ending

Council members did not take a formal vote on policy at the meeting; they heard the consultant’s overview and were told an approval of a professional services contract will be scheduled for the next meeting. The city will seek available state grant funds to pay for the comp‑plan and required climate element work.