East Wenatchee City Council on Jan. 7 approved changes to local rules for marijuana retail, awarded a design contract for City Hall improvements and approved several other resolutions, while debating whether to form a financial sustainability task force to study long-term revenue options.

The council voted to adopt Ordinance 2025-01, amending East Wenatchee Municipal Code 17.60.050 to reduce certain location buffers for marijuana retail establishments to 100 feet, the minimum allowed under state law. Council also approved Resolution 2025-01 to contract with Forte Architects for up to $40,710 to design safety and remodel work in the west wing of City Hall; Resolution 2025-02 to accept two Miovision Scout traffic counters from the Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council; Resolution 2025-03 to adopt updates to the Capital Facilities Plan and Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program; and Resolution 2025-04 to accept a $20,000 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant administered by the Washington State Department of Commerce for an investment-grade energy audit.

Why it matters: The marijuana buffer change narrows the distance retail outlets must be sited from listed sensitive uses — such as parks, libraries and day-care centers — from 1,000 feet to the 100-foot minimum allowed by RCW 69.50.331 for many of those uses, which could allow additional retail locations in the city’s commercial zoning districts. The energy grant and architect contract move the city closer to making building and HVAC upgrades at City Hall that the council has identified as priorities.

Marijuana buffers and the ordinance
Community Development Director Curtis told the council that state law sets an initial 1,000-foot buffer but allows jurisdictions to reduce that buffer to as little as 100 feet for the listed uses other than schools and playgrounds. "RCW 69.50.331 states that there shall be a 1,000-foot buffer from the perimeter of elementary or secondary schools, playgrounds, recreation centers, child care centers, public parks, public transit centers, libraries, or any game arcade admission to which is not restricted to persons aged 21 years or older," Curtis said. He explained the code amendment process, and said the planning commission recommended approval by a 4–0 vote after a public hearing on Dec. 18.

Curtis and council members discussed enforcement, zoning limits and how the 100-foot buffer would interact with the city’s commercial zoning districts. "We currently have two inside city limits," Curtis said when asked how many marijuana retailers are in the city now. Council members asked whether the change would lead to outlets in every neighborhood; staff replied that retail marijuana is only permitted in the central business district and the general commercial district, so the number of new locations would likely be small.

Council member Botello moved to adopt the ordinance as presented; Council member Tidd seconded. The council voted in favor; the ordinance was approved.

City Hall west wing design contract
Garen, who presented the facilities item to council, described the project as a modest redesign intended to improve staff sight lines, public service counters and safety. "Once you come in, there'll be a single point customer service desk that does not also interfere with an employee's workspace," he said, describing changes that would create a clearer public entry and separate customer service from staff work areas.

Council discussed bidding approach, small-works roster use and construction coordination. Council member Tidd moved to approve Resolution 2025-01 authorizing the mayor to execute an agreement with Forte Architects for up to $40,710 for the west wing design; the motion passed.

Traffic counters and transportation data
The council approved an interlocal agreement with the Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council to accept two Miovision Scout traffic counters. A city presenter described the devices as camera-based units that record counts of vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians and produce time-of-day and turning-movement data used for signal timing, development review and grant applications. The presenter said the devices are provided at no cost and data-analysis fees are charged only when the city requests processed results.

Energy audit grant
Finance Director Karen explained the department’s work with the Washington Department of Enterprise Services and said East Wenatchee was awarded a $20,000 Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce to fund an investment-grade energy audit. "As of now, we are looking like we'll be about 100% funded for at least the energy audit," Karen said. The council approved Resolution 2025-04 authorizing the mayor to execute the federal interagency agreement number F24-51701-010 with the Department of Commerce.

Capital facilities and transportation updates
Council approved Resolution 2025-03 adopting updates to the capital facilities inventory and the 2025–2030 Transportation Improvement Program. Curtis summarized items removed (completed projects) and additions, including a Kentucky Street rebuild project and a 5th Street gap-fill and traffic-light project; he said the planning commission held a public hearing and forwarded a 4–0 recommendation of approval.

Financial sustainability task force discussion (no formal action)
City staff proposed a temporary financial sustainability task force to review long-term revenue options, service levels and budget priorities and to produce recommendations for council. Staff member Josh said the group would begin work in January, include six community members, meet at least bi-monthly and sunset on Sept. 30, 2025. Josh said the task force would "review the budget process, meet with city staff, discuss service levels and costs, explore alternative revenue options and prioritize these options, [and] develop recommendations to the city council."

Council members debated whether the council and its Finance Committee could accomplish the same work, whether forming a citizen task force would duplicate effort, and whether the task force could produce a useful community-backed recommendation. Concerns included staff workload and ensuring the council remained engaged with and accountable for budget decisions. No motion to create the task force was adopted during the meeting; the mayor said staff would return with a proposed workshop schedule and further details on facilitator options.

Other actions and procedural items
The council also:
- Set a public hearing for Tuesday, Jan. 21, 2025, on a request to defer frontage improvements associated with Short Plat application 2019-01 on North June Avenue (motion passed).
- Reappointed Jennifer Raison to the Civil Service Commission for a six-year term (chair noted the reappointment).
- Conducted mayor-pro-tem nominations; the initial vote resulted in a tie between Council member Botello and Council member Magdoff. Mayor Crawford broke the tie and declared Council member Magdoff the mayor pro tem for 2025.

Votes at a glance: Ordinances and resolutions approved (Jan. 7, 2025)
- Ordinance 2025-01 (Municipal Code 17.60.050): Reduced location buffers for marijuana retail establishments to 100 feet where allowed under RCW 69.50.331 — Approved (motion: Botello; second: Tidd).
- Resolution 2025-01: Award design contract to Forte Architects for City Hall west wing safety improvements and remodel, not to exceed $40,710 — Approved (motion: Tidd; second: Magdoff).
- Resolution 2025-02: Accept transfer of two Miovision Scout traffic counters from the Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council — Approved (motion: Tidd; second: Arnold).
- Resolution 2025-03: Adopt amendments to the Capital Facilities Plan and 2025–2030 Transportation Improvement Program — Approved (motion: Magdoff; second: Botello).
- Resolution 2025-04: Authorize the mayor to execute interagency agreement F24-51701-010 accepting a $20,000 Department of Commerce Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant for an investment-grade energy audit — Approved (motion: Tidd; second: Johnson).
- Motion to set public hearing for Short Plat application 2019-01 (frontage-improvement deferral): Set for Jan. 21, 2025 — Approved (motion: Botello; second: Johnson).

What’s next: Staff will bring back details on a proposed schedule and facilitator options for the financial sustainability work, and the Jan. 21 hearing will consider the requested frontage-improvement deferral. Several items — including committee and community-board appointments and additional workshop dates — will return to council in the coming weeks.

Sources: meeting presentation materials and staff comments at the Jan. 7, 2025 East Wenatchee City Council meeting; planning-commission recommendation on buffer amendment; state statute RCW 69.50.331 (marijuana location buffers) as cited by staff.