CITY COUNCIL MINUTES April 2, 2025 City Council of the City of Ephrata, Grant County Washington met in regular session on April 2, 2025. The meeting was called to order at 6:00 p.m. by Mayor Bruce Reim. Members Present: Mayor Bruce Reim, Mayor Pro-Tem Matt Moore, Council members Phil Borck, Kathleen Harris, Beau Lamens, Sarah McDonnell, Valli Millard, and Mike Warren. Staff Present: City Administrator Ray Towry, City Attorney Anna Franz, Community Development Director Ron Sell, Finance Director Kristen McDonnell, Public Works Director Rob Harris, City Engineer Shawn O'Brien, Parks and Rec Director Josh Johnson, and Police Chief Erik Koch. Pledge of Allegiance was said. This meeting is being recorded. Charles Robert signed in to speak to Council. Council member Borck complimented the Ephrata Police Department for the community interaction at a recent Ephrata High School baseball game. Agenda: Agenda was amended by adding items f.i. to I and g.i. to I. Presentations: Mayor Reim recognized Charles Robert and gave him 3 minutes to address Council. Consent Agenda: Motion was made to approve consent agenda. (m/s Lamens/McDonnel, 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Items on the consent agenda are as follows: Payroll Check #48326 through #48332 in the amount of $22,367.34 Direct Deposit in the amount of $269,342.54 Claims Check #10197 through #101812 in the amount of $183,796.44 Direct Debit in the amount of $13,950.00 Claims Check #101813 through #101815 in the amount of $1,587.96 Check #101819 through #101866 in the amount of $1,499,145.84 Minutes of the March 19, 2025, Council meeting Special Event Applications: i. Basin Summer Showdown i. Lions Club Fishing Derby ili. Rotary Easter Egg Hunt Resolution 25-026 Accepting 2025 Community Street and Utility Standards The City of Ephrata relies on its Community Street and Utility Standards to guide right-of-way improvements, covering street construction, utility installation, and landscaping. These standards should be updated annually to align with evolving practices, but the City is still using the 2016 version. Maintaining clear, consistent standards ensures projects are built correctly the first time, reducing costly repairs and making maintenance more predictable. By enforcing uniform quality benchmarks, the City minimizes unexpected failures and long-term expenses, ultimately lowering the financial burden on the community. Motion to adopt Resolution R25-026 as proposed. (m/s Harris/McDonnel, 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Resolution 25-027 Parkway ASB and Anonymous Donation Parkway ASB chooses a charity to donate to through their CAPS for cause program. Students donate $0.50 or more and receive a ticket, that ticket allows them to wear their hats all day during school. The ASB decided to donate to the Police Department this year. The Police Department received a $5.00 donation from anonymous source. Total donation of $87.51. Motion to adopt Resolution No. 27 for 2025 as proposed. (m/s Warren/Moore) 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Approval of $2500 for Ephrata Forward Survey Council member Moore discussed Ephrata Forward and explained it as a coalition of leaders from various public service organizations in Ephrata, including the City, Port, Grant County EDC, Grant PUD, Columbia Basin Hospital, and Ephrata School District. The group collaborates to define the community's present and plan for its future. A funding request is being made for the next phase of the Ephrata Forward community survey project, seeking financial support to analyze survey data and create communication tools for a five-year strategic plan. A consultant will conduct data analysis and develop targeted communication materials for a cost of $12,750, with each organization contributing $2,550. Additional funding is requested to create a five-year plan and marketing materials, estimated at $7,500. Some organizations, including Grant PUD, Columbia Basin Hospital, and the school district, have already committed funding, and discussions with others are ongoing. Council members are being asked to consider the funding request to ensure the survey results are effectively analyzed and communicated for Ephrata's future development. Approval of funding will likely be presented at the next council meeting. Logo Discussion City Clerk Kapalo gave a brief presentation to the council on the importance of logos, their impact, and key elements that make logos iconic. The council discussed potential next steps, including scheduling a workshop, forming a subcommittee, or pausing the rebranding effort. The design deadline for the website and mobile app remains May 2, 2025. City Engineer O'Brien sought guidance on the design for the water tower. The council agreed to feature Ephrata High School's "E" and deferred the decision on materials to staff. Staff Update City Administrator Towry briefed the Council on our two new hires that started on April 1, 2025: Jacob Leenhouts, Police Officer, and Dave Bren, Project Engineer. Mayor adjourned meeting at 6:43 p.m. BRCEs Bruce Reim, Mayor ATTEST: Katie Kapalo, City Clerk -