CITY COUNCIL MINUTES April 16, 2025 City Council of the City of Ephrata, Grant County Washington met in regular session on April 16, 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, Sarah McDonnell, 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, Police Chief Erik Koch, Fire Chief Jeremy Burns, and City Clerk Katie Kapalo. Pledge of Allegiance was said. Motion to excuse Council members Millard and Lamens. (m/s Warren/McDonnel, 5 ayes, motion carried. This meeting is being recorded and live-streamed. Agenda: Corrections to the agenda include adding an executive session and removing item VIII (a) Ephrata Sportsmen Association Lease Extension. Presentations: Brant Mayo and Rhyanne Berryman from the Grant County Economic Development Council presented to the council. For over two decades, the Grant County Economic Development Council (EDC) has served as a key driver of business development and economic growth in the region. Focused on supporting businesses, entrepreneurs, and developers, the EDC leads initiatives in six core areas: Business Retention & Expansion - Partnering with existing industries and supporting entrepreneurial development through personalized advisement. Business Recruitment & Attraction - Promoting Grant County as a prime investment location nationally and globally. Workforce Development - Aligning education and training with business needs while attracting talent to the community. Infrastructure Development - Investing in infrastructure to ensure long- term competitiveness and readiness for growth. Community Outreach - Showcasing the strengths of Grant County's communities to build connections and attract opportunities. investor Relations = Collaborating with investors to drive innovation, sustainability, and economic advancement. Consent Agenda: Motion was made to approve the consent agenda. (m/s McDonnel/Moore) 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Checks Claim #101867 through #101937 in the amount of $2,409,155.94 EFT B&O Taxes in the amount of $31,492.80 EFT CC Fees in the amount of $9,657.52 Council Minutes: i. April 2, 2025 ii. April 9, 2025, Workshop Confirmation of Parks and Recreation Commission Appointment Set Public Hearing Date for Six-Year Transportation Improvement Plan (TIP) for June 4, 2025 Staff, Committee, and Agency Reports City Engineer O'Brien and Public Works Director Harris provided the council with updates on major ongoing projects. Police Chief Koch presented to the council a background of the National Incident- Based Reporting System (NIBRS) and explained the numbers in his monthly report. Public Hearing = Annexation Request from Grant County Mayor Reim opened the Public Hearing at 6:37pm. Director Sell presented to the council. Grant County has chosen a site near Ephrata's city limits for a new jail facility, using state provisions for Essential Public Facilities and extending city water and sewer services beyond the urban growth boundary under state law. The county also owns nearby land being considered for other public facilities, such as a PUD service center and a new City Hall, which must be annexed before receiving city utilities per city policy. A Development and Annexation Agreement with the county outlines zoning as Public Facilities per the City's Comprehensive Plan and includes the county's agreement to assume existing city debt for the annexed area. The City Council has scheduled a public hearing to consider adopting the annexation by ordinance. There being no public comment, Mayor Reim closed the public hearing at 6:38pm. Ordinance 25-04 Grant County Annexation Following the public hearing, Director Sell presented Ordinance 25-04 to the council. 7 Motion to Adopt Ordinance 25-04 approving Grant County's Annexation request as presented with expediency clause to forego a second reading. (m/s Borck/Harris) 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Resolution 25-24 Approval of $2500 for Ephrata Forward Survey Ephrata Forward is a coalition of local public service organizations working together to shape the future of the community. The City Council is being asked to consider a funding request for the next phase of the group's community survey project. The request includes $12,750 for hiring a consultant to analyze survey data and create communication tools for a five-year strategic plan, with each contributing entity paying $2,550. An additional $7,500 is requested for developing the plan and marketing materials to share results at various government levels. Some partners have already committed funds, and discussions with others are ongoing. Council members will review this request to support the project's progress. Motion to Approve Resolution 25-024 as presented, a resolution authorizing $2,550.00 for data analysis of the Ephrata Forward community survey payable through the Columbia Basin Foundation. (m/s Warren/Moore ) 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Resolution 25-31 Grant County Economic Development Council 2025 Agreement As previously presented, the Grant County Economic Development Council has been a leading resource for business development and economic growth in our area. This resolution wouid continue the City's partnership. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 31 for 2025 as proposed. (m/s Moore/Borck) 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. New Logo Presentation The City of Ephrata is transitioning from its 2008 City Seal to a modern logo for branding and communications, reserving the seal for formal documents. As part of a 2024 Communications Plan, staff collaborated with Ephrata High School art students to inspire early concepts. After multiple rounds of council feedback and an April 9 workshop, a working draft was created. A professional graphic designer was hired to develop three logo concepts with up to five revisions, and a brand book, for a total of $1,050. The City has paid a $525 down payment. Key deadlines include May 2 for providing a color palette to CivicPlus for the website redesign and May 15 for the water tower logo. Council members were asked to rank shapes, color palettes, and symbols/descriptors of provided logo concepts. Mayor adjourned to executive session at 7:00 p.m. to discuss acquisition of real estate or site selection (RCW 42.30.110(1)0) for approximately 15 minutes. At 7:15 p.m. Mayor Reim extended the executive session for an additional 30 minutes. At 7:45 p.m. Mayor Reim extended the executive session for an additional 15 minutes. Ex session adjourned at 7:55pm, no decisions were made, or action taken. There being no further business, Mayor Reim adjourned the meeting at 7:55pm Rre Bruce Reim, Mayor ATTEST: Katie Kapalo,City Clerk 9