Wenatchee council approves park improvements, water-right lease extension and emergency outfall repair; adopts code change and accepts CDBG report

WENATCHEE, Wash. — The Wenatchee City Council at its Feb. 18 meeting approved a series of actions including a Parks Department construction contract, a multi-year water-right lease, an emergency stormwater repair, a zoning-related code amendment and the city’s 2023 Community Development Block Grant performance report.

The most immediate decisions were the council’s acceptance of a low bid for pedestrian improvements at Pioneer Park and a unanimous declaration of an emergency to replace the Holly Street stormwater outfall, both of which city staff said are time-sensitive.

The Pioneer Park pedestrian project will move forward with Pipkin Construction after the council accepted the low bid of $228,316.80 and authorized the city administrator to sign the standard project agreement. Dave Erickson, the city’s parks and recreation director, said the work will connect sidewalks and add ADA-compliant parking and internal walkways to link the pool, restrooms, play equipment and skate park. “We were amazed that we got 14 competitive bids,” Erickson told the council, and staff said they expect construction to finish before the summer pool season.

In other infrastructure action, the council approved a staff-declared emergency to replace a damaged section of 66-inch storm pipe on the Holly Street outfall after a Feb. 3 blaze destroyed the existing plastic-coated pipe. Jessica Shaw, deputy public works director — utilities, said the 70-foot section is estimated to cost about $259,300 to replace and that J & K Construction is near contract execution. Shaw said…