Electric City council votes to cancel Shoreline Waterfront Trail, seeks WSDOT waiver of about $87,000

The City of Electric City council voted on Aug. 28, 2025, to cancel the Shoreline Waterfront Trail project and ask the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) to waive about $87,000 the city has already spent pursuing the design and approvals. The motion to cancel was moved by Councilmember Matt Gilbert and seconded by Councilmember Brian Buche; Councilmember Don Redfield is recorded as voting no and the motion carried 4-1.

Council discussion identified three options before the vote: remain with CenturyWest Engineering and pay roughly $55,000 for a geotechnical inspection to obtain WSDOT-stamped design approval; hire TD&H Engineering and restart the design at an estimated $112,000 to reach stamped approval; or cancel the project and request WSDOT forgiveness of the approximate $87,000 already spent. City Clerk/Treasurer Peggy Nevsimal and councilmembers reviewed the cost estimates and the requirement that WSDOT provide a stamped design for the waterfront work.

The decision means the city will ask WSDOT to waive previously expended funds rather than invest the additional sums needed for geotechnical work or a full restart of engineering. The minutes do not record further procedural directions for staff beyond the motion to request the waiver. The special meeting was called to order by Mayor Diane Kohout and is recorded as adjourning at 6:26 p.m.; the minutes show unanimous approval of the meeting agenda earlier (M/S Redfield/Martin; CU).

The meeting document includes a typographical error in the signature line that lists "Diane Kout"; the mayor's name is Diane Kohout in the body of the minutes and in the roll call. The clerk of the council is listed as Peggy Nevsimal.