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Votes at a glance: council adopts utility and administrative code changes, confirms appointment and accepts finance reports
Summary
The council approved three ordinances on utilities and department organization, appointed a member to the Landmarks and Design Commission and accepted preliminary fourth-quarter financial reports; the meeting also produced the Reid Park boundary resolution and the Pathways Place agreement amendment (covered separately).
Action highlights from the Ellensburg City Council meeting, Feb. 18, 2025:
- Ordinance 4954 — Utility connection fee waivers for affordable housing: Council conducted second reading and adopted Ordinance 4954, which allows the city to waive sewer plant impact fees and water plant impact and meter fees for qualifying affordable housing developments, including projects eligible for Washington’s Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP). City staff said the ordinance increases flexibility to leverage state funds for local affordable housing projects.
- Ordinance 4955 — Reorganization of Public Works and Energy Services: Council adopted Ordinance 4955, which separates the former Public Works and Utilities Department into two departments — Public Works and Energy Services — and renames the Public Works and Utilities Director position to Public Works Director while assigning utility management duties to an Energy Services Director. Council said the change reflects evolving energy and utility oversight needs and was adopted through the budget process.
- Ordinance 4956 — Utility billing policies and procedures: Council adopted Ordinance 4956 to amend procedures so the city can extend bill due dates (from 15 to 22 days), extend final-notice windows (from 7 to 14 days), and offer fixed monthly due dates of up to 14 days past the normal due date. The change responds to delays in postal delivery and the city’s recent billing software change.
- Appointment: Julia Stringfellow, nominated to the Landmarks and Design Commission (professional slot), was appointed by the council; she introduced herself as the university archivist at Central Washington University and said she looks forward to serving.
- Preliminary fourth-quarter financial report: Council accepted the preliminary fourth-quarter 2024 financial status and investment reports. City staff noted preliminary favorable receipts in sales and utility tax revenue and higher interest earnings on investments; final audited statements will follow after year-end closing and auditor review.
Other actions taken at the meeting (full articles elsewhere in this package): Council adopted Resolution 2025-03 concerning the Reid Park boundary adjustment and maintenance interlocal with Kittitas County; Council authorized a second amendment to the Pathways Place affordable housing agreement with HopeSource, extending the completion timeline and revising the project design (project expansion to 78 units) — both items are covered in separate articles in this package.
Ending: For full text and staff reports, see the meeting packet; staff will implement ordinance changes and make system updates to billing software, coordinate department reorganization tasks per the adopted code changes, and follow up on appointment onboarding and financial-year-end auditing.
