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Council approves consultant contract with SCJ Alliance for 2026 comprehensive‑plan periodic update
Summary
Council approved a professional‑services agreement with SCJ Alliance and its subconsultants (Leland Consulting, Cascadia, Fehr & Peers) for the 2026 comprehensive plan periodic update; the contract leverages $275,000 in state grant funding and includes a city match.
The Ellensburg City Council approved a professional‑services agreement with SCJ Alliance for consultant services to complete the city’s 2026 comprehensive‑plan periodic update, including a new climate element and required housing and land‑capacity analyses.
Staff said the city is a fully planning jurisdiction under the Growth Management Act and must complete a periodic update. SCJ Alliance’s team includes subconsultants Leland Consulting Group for housing/land‑capacity work, Cascadia for climate/critical‑areas analysis, and Fehr & Peers for transportation analysis. The package will also employ community engagement tools and a public‑participation plan.
The city has been awarded $275,000 in Department of Commerce grant funding (a $125,000 periodic‑update grant and a $150,000 climate‑planning grant) to offset consultant costs. The total agreement amount discussed at the meeting was approximately $530,516; staff said the FY 2025–26 budget contains $338,995 for periodic‑update professional services and that additional funds (about $149,521) would be covered from fund balance and restricted funds as needed; staff will return with exact supplemental budget language.
Council approved the agreement and authorized the city manager to sign a substantially similar contract. Staff emphasized the extended statutory deadline (new state law extended the periodic‑update deadline to Dec. 31) but noted significant technical work remains and public outreach will be required.
