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Ellensburg Council Adopts 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendments After DEI Chapter Debate
Summary
The Ellensburg City Council approved Ordinance 4977 adopting two 2025 comprehensive plan amendments — CIP updates (2501) and a revised Chapter 9 proposed by the DEI Commission (2502) — after public comment questioned the amendment process; the motion passed with one recorded no vote.
Ellensburg — The City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 4977 on Dec. 15, approving two 2025 comprehensive plan amendments: 2501, updates to the capital improvement plan, and 2502, a revised Chapter 9 related to diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI).
Stacy Henderson, planning manager, presented the ordinance’s second reading and told the council the planning commission had unanimously recommended approval of amendment 2501 and gave a majority recommendation for 2502, with the caveat that the 2026 rewrite should use the original chapter as the starting point rather than the DEI-proposed edits. Staff noted corrected charts and exhibits had been provided in the packet and recommended council adopt the amendments as presented.
During public comment Pat Kelleher, a resident, said he was "confused as to what your process is," asserting the DEI Commission’s revised chapter was presented after the public comment period and questioning whether that circumvented the planning commission’s advisory role. Legal counsel responded that the DEI Commission may communicate with council and that council has the authority under city code to revise planning commission recommendations.
After brief remarks thanking staff and community participants, a councilmember moved to conduct second reading and adopt Ordinance 4977. The clerk called the roll; the motion carried with multiple recorded "yes" votes and one "no" vote (Poulsen). The ordinance amends the city’s comprehensive plan as codified in the Ellensburg City Code and incorporates corrected exhibits referenced in the council packet.
The council indicated the DEI-related changes will continue to be reviewed in the 2026 periodic update process. No immediate changes to zoning or development approvals were announced as part of this vote.
The council’s action takes effect according to procedures set out in the ordinance and city code; council members asked staff to continue public engagement as the city proceeds with additional revisions in 2026.
