Ellensburg City Council voted Dec. 1 to substitute the DEI Commission's alternative text, called Draft B, for Chapter 9 of the city's comprehensive plan and moved the amended item forward as part of first reading of Ordinance 4977.

The motion followed a lengthy public hearing that drew scores of residents who urged opposite outcomes. Amber Hofer, speaking for the DEI Commission, told the council the commission's Draft B "restores some of the content like the demographic data and structural content" while removing terminology that the commission said could trigger legal concerns. Louis Campbell O'Brien, another DEI commission member, said Draft B "provides a measured and coherent foundation for deeper revisions during the 2026 periodic update." DEI commissioners said they had asked the city attorney to review the draft and were told they found no legal violations in the draft itself.

Opponents pressed a different argument. Resident Beryl Kelly cited a federal letter and urged council to remove or further redact the chapter to avoid jeopardizing federal grants, quoting a federal position that "any policy, program, or activity that is premised on a prohibited classification...presumptively violates federal law." Several speakers asked the council to either adopt the staff-recommended redacted version (Draft A) or to remove Chapter 9 entirely.

Council members spent substantial time weighing those legal-risk arguments against community input and the planning commission's prior recommendations. After deliberation the council approved substituting Draft B as the council's choice for the Chapter 9 amendment and directed staff to incorporate that language into the ordinance for second reading.

The council's action was procedural: first reading of Ordinance 4977 was conducted to begin the formal adoption process for both docketed items (25-01, the annual CIP update, and 25-02, Chapter 9 revisions). Staff told the council the comp-plan amendment process remains a Type 5 review that includes SEPA review and a 60-day Department of Commerce review; final adoption remains subject to those processes and the council's second reading.

Public testimony framed the meeting. Supporters of Draft B, including community members who participated in the Common Ground workshop and DEI commissioners, said the alternative preserves goals around belonging, access and measurable commitments while addressing perceived legal triggers. Opponents focused on federal guidance and urged that language be removed to reduce perceived legal exposure. DEI commissioners disputed allegations of discrimination and asked the council to "disrupt" misinformation and consider the harm cited by residents who said they do not feel safe in the community.

The council also asked staff to schedule a January study session focused on ordinance language and Chapter 1.88 guidance for the DEI commission. The planning and legal reviews required under state law will continue before any final adoption.

What happens next: Ordinance 4977 will return for second reading and final action after required notice, SEPA procedures and the Department of Commerce review period.