CITY COUNCIL MINUTES December 4, 2024 City Council of the City of Ephrata, Grant County Washington met ini regular session on December 4, 2024. The meeting was called to order at 6:13 p.m. by Mayor Members Present: Mayor Bruce Reim, Mayor Pro-Tem Matt Moore, Council Bruce Reim. members Phil Borck, Beau Lamens, Sarah McDonnell, Valli Millard and Michael Warren. Via Teams: Kathleen Harris City Attorney Anna Franz, City Administrator Ray Towry, Community Development Director Ron Sell, Chiefl Finance Officer Leslie Trachsler, Finance Director Kristen McDonnell, Public Works Director Rob Harris, Police Chief Erik Koch, City Engineer Shawn O'Brien, Fire ChiefJeremy Burns, Parks and Recreation Director Josh. Johnson and City Clerk Katie Kapalo. Staff Present: Pledge of Allegiance was said. No public signed up to speak. This meeting is being recorded. Agenda: Agenda was amended removing item VI(a)(i). Presentations: None Consent Agenda: Motion was made to approve the consent agenda. (m/s Warren/Lamens) Motion carried. Items on the consent agenda are as follows: Payroll Check #48298 through #48304 in the amount of$21,749.28 Direct Deposit in the amount of $269,271.40 Claims Check #101255 through #101271 in the amount of $179,450.36 Direct Debit in the amount of$12,525.00 Claims Check #101251 through #101254 in the amount of $4,398.44 Claims Check #101272 in the amount of$37.90 Check #101273 through #101312 in the amount of $2,296,829.03 Council Meeting Minutes: November 20, 2024 Special Event Applications: None Water Tower Foundation Public Works Director Harris gave a briefs summary of the water tower foundation pour that happened on November 23, 2024. There were approximately 50 workers that worked a total of 19.5 hours, assisting in 1,520 yards of concrete being poured to create a strong foundation for our future water tower. Water tower construction scheduled for 16h, take al break for Christmas, then pick back up in Public Hearing - Ordinance 24-15 Subdivision Code Update Mayor Reim opened the public hearing at 6:24 p.m. Director Sell discussed updates suggested to be made to the Comprehensive Plan and Development Regulations per the study session the Ephrata Planning Commission conducted on October 26, 2024. A summary of the items that were the new year. included are as follows: I. Definitions added and removed as needed. 2. Updates to the standard exemption language to match the state subdivision codE 3. Typeland II Short Subdivisions standards will be combined into a single short plat standard which will allow up to nine (9) lots to be created administratively. Additionally, the Short Subdivision Committee will no longer be required to 4. Adefined trigger to require a traffic analysis and potential mitigation ift the proposed subdivision development either as a short plat, major subdivisions or binding site plan, has more than 100 average daily trips being generated by the 6. Coordination between application processing and review procedures within Chapter 17, Administration ofDevelopment Regulations and Chapter 18, Subdivisions are being updated for consistency to new code standards. 7. The Binding Site Plan chapter oft the code is being updated to provide an administrative review of said plans. Binding Site Plans will not require a public hearing before the City's Hearing Examiner as currently required. 8. Lot line adjustment updates to include the requirement ofa Record of Survey per language. review and approve preliminary short plat applications. development. 5. Zero Lot Line Subdivision standards added. County standards. Discussion ensued. There being no public comment, Mayor Reim closed the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. Public Hearing - Resolution 24-15 Grant County Development Agreement Mayor Reim opened the public hearing at 6:34 p.m. Director Sell presented the proposed agreement between the city and the county. Grant County is building a new. jail at the former Ephrata Speedway to address overcrowding. The county and city negotiated an agreement to extend water, sewer, and roads to the site. The county will cover most costs, including sewer lines, a roadway, and a $106,400 water rights fee, while the city will extend water lines. The agreement also details annexation terms and zoning for the project. Discussion Ensued. There being no public comment, Mayor Reim closed the public hearing at 6:41 p.m. Ordinance 24-17 2024 Supplemental Appropriation This is the first reading of Ordinance 24-17 Supplemental Appropriation. RCW: 35.33.121 limits spending to the budgeted amounts for each fund. At the end oft the year, expenses are reviewed and projected for the rest oft the year. The spending period stays open for 20 days after the year ends to pay any remaining claims. Ife expenses are expected to exceed the budget, a budget amendment is needed. 11 funds may go over budget due to higher costs for insurance, training, services, new staff, benefits, a reclaimed water pipeline project, Motion to move Ordinance 24-17 to second reading. (m/s Lamens/Moore) Motion Ordinance 24-15 Subdivision Code Update This is the first reading of Ordinance 24-15 Subdivision Code Update. In June 2023, Ephrata updated its development codes for consistency. Key changes include allowing some plans to be reviewed administratively, merging subdivision processes, adding traffic analysis requirements for larger developments, and updating procedures for lot line adjustments and Binding Site Plans. The Planning Commission approved these updates in November 2024, but legal review identified some inconsistencies, leading to further updates in the proposed City Council Motion to move Ordinance 24-15 to second reading. (m/s McDonnel/Borck) Motion Ordinance 24-13 2025 Fee Schedule This is the second reading of Ordinance 24-13 Fee Motion made to approve and adopt Ordinance 24-13. (m/s Moore/Millard) Motion Ordinance 24-11 2025 Budget This is the second reading of Ordinance 24-11 - 2025 Motion made to approve and adopt Ordinance 24-11. (m/s Warren/Borck) Motion supplies, equipment, and legal fees. carried. Ordinance 24-15. Discussion ensued. carried. Schedule. carried. Budget. carried. Ordinance 24-14 Creation of EMC 9.42, Trespass Warning This is the second reading Motion made to approve and adopt Ordinance 24-14. (m/s Borck/Warren) Motion ofOrdinance 24-14 Creation ofE EMC 9.42, Trespass Warning. carried. Resolution 24-14 Personnel Policy 9.2 Vacation Historically, the city has not had the revenue to support salary increases and would provide additional vacation leave to employees. City policy requires employees to use 801 hours of vacation annually, with a carryover limit of2 280 hours. Most staff can cash out up to 80 hours, and any excess is moved to sick leave. However, one union can cash out up to 1201 hours. This resolution would increase the max cash-out limit to 120 hours for all employees. (m/s Warren/Moore) Motion carried. Resolution 24-15 Grant County Development Agreement Grant County is building a new jail at the old Ephrata Speedway site, which requires city water and sewer services, despite being outside city limits. To facilitate this, the city and county have agreed on a plan outlining each party'sre responsibilities. (m/s Moore/Borck) Motion carried. 2024 Community Street and Utility Standards The City of Ephrata utilizes the Community Street and Utility Standards to set expectations for howi improvements will be completed in the right-of-way. The Community Street and Utility Standards should be reviewed and updated annually. The City is currently using the 2016 Community Street Dog License Information In 2013, Ephrata switched from annual dog licenses to lifetime licenses for convenience, efficiency, and improved compliance. This change significantly reduced staff workload by eliminating annual renewals, reminder letters, and mailing costs. Dog owners now register their pets and provide rabies vaccination proof only once. Additionally, Ephrata's lifetime license fees are notably lower than those in Acceptance of] Donations for Shop with a Cop Program Since 2015, The Ephrata Police Department has put on the Shop with a Cop event. Earlier this year the City Council accepted a Wal-Mart Grant totaling $1000.00 for Shop with Cop. Generally, $2000.00 or more is used to fund this event, which includes shopping at Wal-Mart, wrapping of gifts and food for the supported children and parents. The Ephrata Police Department reached out to our community to assist in supporting the Shop with a Cop event. As ofl November 27, 2024, the Ephrata Police Department has received $906.00 to support Shop with a Cop. (m/s McDonnel/Moore), Motion carried. There being no further business meeting adjourned at 7:27 p.m. and Utility Standards. neighboring cities, offering long-term savings for pet owners. Brucel Réim, F ATTEST: Katie Kapalo,