Council flags transportation funding and airport maintenance for near-term discussion

Council members raised concerns about deferred maintenance at the Ellensburg Airport and limited local funding tools for transportation during the Jan. 20 meeting, and asked staff to return with data to inform a possible funding decision.

Council discussion noted the airport had sustained infrastructure damage and that rebuilding primary assets will be costly, with outside funding likely required. A council member said preventative maintenance is essential: "You have to maintain what you have or we're going to suffer the consequences down the road," the member said. The manager and staff provided an MRSC (Municipal Research and Services Center) resource page outlining common transportation funding options, including transportation benefit districts (TBDs) and sales-tax approaches used elsewhere; staff noted Ellensburg uses a transportation fee for transit and has enacted REIT 1 (sidewalks) and REIT 2 (parks-reserved) for other capital needs.

Council agreed to place a discussion on transportation funding and potential ballot timing on a near-term agenda and requested staff deliver the requested data at the next meeting. The city manager also reminded the council that a public hearing on the six-year Transportation Improvement Plan is scheduled for the Feb. 3 meeting. Manager's-report items noted in the meeting included the Ellensburg Police Department's annual community safety survey (open through the end of January), Unity Park final punch-list work and delivery delays, and a tentative March 4 engagement with the Yakama Nation pending confirmation.

Direction to staff: provide transportation-funding options, related revenue data and timelines at the next meeting to support council consideration.