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Home My WebLink About10-14-2025 Special Meeting MinutesCITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING Tuesday, October 14, 2025 Zoom and City Hall, 271 9th St NE, East Wenatchee, WA City of East Wenatchee Council Meeting Minutes 10/14/2025 1.CALL TO ORDER Mayor Crawford called the East Wenatchee City Council Special Meeting to order at 5:32 p.m. 2.PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Finance Director Josh DeLay led the Pledge of Allegiance. 3.ROLL CALL Present: Councilmember Arnold, Councilmember Castellente, Councilmember Stimmel, Councilmember Johnson and Councilmember Hepner (Zoom). Mayor Crawford amended the agenda to address the Executive Session before the Presentations and Action Items (making it item 6 on the agenda). Motion by Councilmember Johnson to approve the amendment to the agenda as presented by Mayor Crawford. Councilmember Hepner seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. 4.COUNCILMEMBER DECLARATION OF CONFLICT OF INTEREST No Councilmembers indicated conflicts with any of the items on the agenda. 5.CITIZEN COMMENTS None. 6.EXECUTIVE SESSION Executive Session to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). Motion by Councilmember Castellente to meet in executive session for a time period not to exceed 10 minutes (5:46 p.m.) to discuss with legal counsel representing the agency potential litigation to which the agency, the governing body, or a member acting in an official capacity is, or is likely to become, a party, when public knowledge regarding the discussion is likely to result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. At 5:41 p.m. the clerk announced additional time was needed and the Executive Session was extended for an additional 5 minutes (until 5:52 p.m.) Councilmember Magdoff joined the Executive Session in person at 5:45 p.m. Councilmember Hepner joined in person at 5:50 p.m. Council adjourned the executive session at 5:52 p.m. No action was taken in executive session. City of East Wenatchee Council Meeting Minutes 10-14-2025 7. PRESENTATIONS a. Public Works Director Garren Melton presented a PowerPoint on a Hybrid Staff Position Proposal. Please see Exhibit A. Community Development Director Curtis Lillquist also presented on the topic as the position would also involve working with the Community Development Department. Comments provided by Councilmember Hepner, Councilmember Castellente, and Councilmember Magdoff. b. Finance Director Josh DeLay presented the 2026 draft Preliminary Budget and focused on General Fund Overview, Departmental Savings/C uts, Police Staffing and Capital Projects. Budget Overview • 2026 projected expenses: $10.8 Million (↓ 2.9% from the prior years adopted budget; ↓ .05% from amended 2025.) • Revenue increase: Approximately $700K - $800K, primarily due to the public safety sales tax. Departmental Savings • Total discretionary savings of $288,300.20 (this not personnel). Personnel Adjustments & Savings • $257,000 saved from not funding two police retirements after March 2026. • Position reallocations: o PIO/Events Director: 16% moved to Events Fund -- $25,000 savings. o Public Works Director: 10% moved to Stormwater -- $10,500 savings. o Street Manager: 30% moved to Stormwater (25%) / Events (5%). Councilmember Castellente raised concern regarding unfunded positions and long- term service impacts. Chief of Police Rick Johnson explained the following: • Department would be able to function without an Assistant Chief. • The Department is seeking state public safety grant and while the staffing my drop temporarily, the grant could restore positions. • Patrol coverage would be maintained, but the Drug Task Force may be short staffed for up to a year. City of East Wenatchee Council Meeting Minutes 10-14-2025 COLA & Personnel Costs • Teamsters (Police): 3.5% COLA pending contract negotiations. • Local-846 (Streets, Planning, Finance): 3.4% COLA, per previously negotiated union contract. • Step increases for exempt department heads, where applicable. • Mayor proposed 1-3% COLA, not included in the current draft. • Insurance Increases: o 20% estimated increase in general liability insurance. o 15% increase to law enforcement L&I rates. o 8.7% increase in health insurance. o 7% increase in office/administration L&I rates. o 4.3% increase in dental insurance. Capital & Equipment • No new vehicle purchases for 2026; Street Department’s contribution to ER&R reduced to $50K. • State Grant: $150K secured for City Hall HVAC replacement; matching funds still needed. Motion by Councilmember Castellente to hold another budget workshop before the November 4th Meeting. Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion. Discussion took place. Due to the meeting being a Special Meeting Councilmember Castellente withdrew his motion as the item was not included in the original agenda. Councilmember Johnson also withdrew the second to the motion. Discussion took place. Councilmembers requested a presentation take place at the November 4, 2025, meeting with additional information on the budget that includes contractual and non-contractual expenditures of the City and COLA increases for Department Heads and how that would impact the 2026 proposed budget. 8. ACTION ITEMS a. Public Works Director Garren Melton presented Resolution 2025-47, Safe Routes to School Change Order 11 - City Project No. 2019-08 and 2019-09. Motion by Councilmember Magdoff to approve Resolution 2025-47 authorizing Mayor Crawford to execute Change Order 11 associated with the East Wenatchee Safe Routes to School Projects; City Project No. 2019-08 and 2019-09 as presented in Exhibit A. Councilmember Johnson seconded the motion. Motion passed unanimously. City of East Wenatchee Council Meeting Minutes 10-14-2025 b. City Clerk Laura Leon presented the October 21st City Council Meeting Location. Discussion took place. Motion by Councilmember Hepner to approve the temporary change of meeting location for the October 21, 2025, City Council Meeting to Eastmont Junior High Auditorium. Councilmember Arnold seconded the motion. The motion passed with 4 votes in favor, 1 against and 1 abstention. 9. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 07:39 p.m. Jerrilea Crawford, Mayor Attest: Anna Laura Leon, City Clerk Jerrilea Crawford (Nov 26, 2025 13:19:58 PST) Jerrilea Crawford Current Unfilled Positions & Needs •1 Street Maintenance Worker •1 Code Enforcement Officer •Additional Stormwater Staff to meet escalating NPDES Permit Requirements (Estimated .5 FTEs after 2025 program audit). EXHIBIT A Proposal: •Leave Street Department position temporarily vacant. •Establish a new position that is: •25% Code Enforcement •25% Public Works project management, inspection, field support •50% Stormwater project management and inspection •Prefer a CDL to assist with winter operations to ensure winter LOS does not drop, and when large street projects require additional support. EXHIBIT A Current Needs and Assumed Council Priorities •Re-establish a proactive Code Enforcement program •Maintain existing winter operations LOS (all streets plowed within 24 hours)Primary: •Reduce costs to the General Fund •Maintain ability to complete complex in house PW projects •Increase support and cross training for PW and Planning. Secondary: EXHIBIT A Code Enforcement Costs First Year Expenses – Standalone Position First Year Expenses - Proposed Position Recurring Expenses - Proposed Position Salary $77,000 – $89,000 $19,250 - $22,250 $19,250 - $22,250 Benefits $29,000 - $35,000 $7,250 - $8,750 $7,250 - $8,750 Abatement Fund*$30,000 - $40,000 $30,000 - $40,000 * Legal Services*$20,000 - $40,000 $20,000 - $40,000 * Gas $500 $500 500$ Phone $800 $800 800$ Training $2,000 $2,000 2,000$ Travel $500-$1,000 $500-$1,000 500$ Vehicle*$30,000 Not Needed Not Needed Office/Safety Supplies*$1,500 $1,500 200$ Total $191,300 – $239,800 $81,800 - $116,800 $30,500 - $35,000 *Costs to restart code enforcement program. Can be seeded over multiple years and may be partially replenished through fees associated with code enforcement actions. EXHIBIT A Recurring Financial Benefits/Impacts •Cost of Street Maintenance position: $110,000 •Estimated cost of proposed position: $120,000 General Fund Impact Stormwater Utility Fund Impact* Vacant Maintenance Position - $100,000 - $10,000 Proposed Position $ 60,000 $ 60,000 Net Financial Impact - $ 40,000 $ 50,000 *The 2021 SWU rate study anticipated additional staffing needs to stay in compliance with state and federal requirements. Additional resources were factored into the 2023 rate adjustment. EXHIBIT A 5e. 10-14-2025 City Council Minutes Final Audit Report 2025-11-26 Created:2025-11-26 By:City Clerk (cityclerk@eastwenatcheewa.gov) Status:Signed Transaction ID:CBJCHBCAABAA5fwLvhCHJt3hIaoIWuSGb6j55XMafzd6 "5e. 10-14-2025 City Council Minutes" History Document created by City Clerk (cityclerk@eastwenatcheewa.gov) 2025-11-26 - 5:41:03 PM GMT Document emailed to Jerrilea Crawford (jcrawford@eastwenatcheewa.gov) for signature 2025-11-26 - 5:41:08 PM GMT Email viewed by Jerrilea Crawford (jcrawford@eastwenatcheewa.gov) 2025-11-26 - 9:19:25 PM GMT Document e-signed by Jerrilea Crawford (jcrawford@eastwenatcheewa.gov) Signature Date: 2025-11-26 - 9:19:58 PM GMT - Time Source: server Agreement completed. 2025-11-26 - 9:19:58 PM GMT