Wenatchee council adopts $228 million 2026 budget, approves stormwater, waterline and shelter funding
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Summary
The Wenatchee City Council adopted its largest budget to date — $228 million — and approved a string of infrastructure and shelter funding items, including a stormwater-code amendment, Pershing Street grant, Crawford waterline loans and homeless services contracts.
WENATCHEE — The Wenatchee City Council adopted its 2026 final budget and approved a slate of funding and contract actions at a special meeting called for Thursday, Nov. 20.
The council approved a $228,000,000 budget that includes roughly $130,000,000 for capital projects and a $38,000,000 general fund. Finance Director Brad Pozenjak told council the budget was tightened compared with prior years and that one-time discretionary requests were scaled back to maintain fiscal prudence.
In votes accompanying the budget, council members adopted Ordinance No. 2025-15 to amend city code references to the Stormwater Management Manual for Eastern Washington so the city may continue using the 2019 manual until state permit timelines require the newer 2024 standards. Kelsey Grover, stormwater technician, said the change aligns local code with the Eastern Washington Phase 2 municipal stormwater permit and delays implementation of higher thresholds until 2027.
Council also authorized staff to apply for Public Works Board construction funding for improvements to digesters and boilers at the wastewater treatment plant, a project the council previously approved in 2023. Mike Hodgson, wastewater treatment plant supervisor, said the application is a prerequisite to secure construction dollars.
The council approved Amendment No. 1 to the Jacobs Engineering professional services agreement — a $135,214 amendment paid from sewer utility professional services funds — to expand modeling and alternatives analysis for secondary treatment as the plant approaches capacity, Jessica Shaw, deputy public works director, said.
On street maintenance, the council awarded the 2026 chip seal contract (City Project 2401-2026) to Central Washington Asphalt for the base bid plus alternate 1; Charlotte Mitchell said the selected package will chip seal about 5.3 miles of city streets.
A significant grant and loan package also moved forward. Darcy Ronning, utility project manager, described a Department of Ecology Water Quality combined financial assistance agreement for the Pershing Street stormwater retrofit totaling $3,924,609.30, with roughly $3,000,000 from water-quality assistance and a forgivable principal of $342,170 for qualifying green-infrastructure work; the loan portion carries about a 1.5% interest rate payable over five years. Jeremy Hoover, senior utility engineer, said the city accepted two loans for the Crawford Water Main Replacement — a Public Works Board loan of $3,000,000 and a Department of Health loan of $851,000 (the latter carries a 1% loan fee) — and intends to combine the waterline work with a separately funded intersection reconstruction to gain construction efficiencies.
Council also authorized the mayor to enter grant agreements to contract with providers for homelessness services: a recommended contract with the People’s Foundation for $218,180 to provide 50 low-barrier shelter beds at Saint Francis House and a contract with the Wenatchee Rescue Mission for a combined $712,700 to support an emergency safe-RV program, pallet shelters and congregate beds. Lehi de Reis (Community Development) said recent program changes and the closure of a Safe Park site produced savings that were folded into the FY2026 budget.
Votes at a glance
- Ordinance No. 2025-15 (Stormwater manual definition): approved (voice vote). - Authorization to apply for Public Works Board funding for WWTP digester/boiler improvements: approved (voice vote). - Jacobs Engineering Amendment No.1 ($135,214): approved (voice vote). - Award Chip Seal Contract (Project 2401-2026) to Central Washington Asphalt: approved (voice vote). - Change Order No.16 (Convention Center, Absher Construction): approved (voice vote). - Pershing Street Department of Ecology financial assistance ($3,924,609.30): approved (voice vote). - Acceptance of Crawford waterline loans (Public Works Board $3,000,000; Dept. of Health $851,000): approved (voice vote). - Authorize Community Safety Action Plan grant (WTSC, $146,000): approved (voice vote). - Authorize grant agreements for homeless services (People's Foundation $218,180; Wenatchee Rescue Mission $712,700): approved (voice vote). - Adopt 2026 final budget (Ordinance No. 2025-14): approved (voice vote).
What happens next
Most approvals authorize staff to proceed with contracts, loan closings or grant-signing steps; several items (notably the Jacobs scope and Pershing Street project) will return with more detailed design or procurement steps. The budget adoption establishes spending authority for FY2026 and all actions reflected were approved by voice vote during the meeting.
