CITY COUNCIL MINUTES May 7, 2025 City Council of the City of Ephrata, Grant County Washington met in regular session on May 7, 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, Sarah McDonnell, and Mike Warren. Via Teams: Beau Lamens and Valli Millard (late). Staff Present: City Administrator Ray Towry, City Attorney Anna Franz, Community Development Director Ron Sell, Finance Director Kristen McDonnell, Public Works Director Rob Harris, Police Chief Erik Koch, Fire Chief Jeremy Burns, and City Clerk Katie Kapalo. Motion to excuse Council members Harris and Millard. (m/s Moore/Warren) 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. The Civil Air Patrol presented colors; Pledge of Allegiance was said. This meeting is being recorded and Iive-streamed. Agenda: Addition of I.f.. Municipal Clerks' Week Proclamation Presentations: American Legion Auxiliary Poppy Days Proclamation The American Legion Auxiliary requested that May 17-26, 2025, be officially declared as "Poppy Days" in support of their ongoing initiative to honor and assist veterans. They shared the historical background of the red poppy as a national symbol of remembrance for fallen service members and emphasized the importance of public participation. Funds raised during Poppy Days support essential veteran services and programs. The Auxiliary encouraged the community to wear poppies and show their appreciation for the sacrifices made by veterans and their families. Municipal Clerks Week Proclamation We proudly proclaim the week of May 4-10, 2025, as Municipal Clerks Week, in recognition of the vital contributions municipal clerks make to local government and the communities they serve. As the cornerstone of transparent and accessible public service, clerks manage official records, support legislative processes, and ensure smooth communication between citizens and elected officials. We honor their professionalism, dedication, and the critical role they play in upholding the integrity of municipal operations. Consent Agenda: Motion was made to approve the consent agenda. (m/s Moore/McDonnel, 6 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Check #101965 through #102054 in the amount of $2,893,789.99 Payroll Check #48333 through #48338 in the amount of $21,721.26 Direct Deposit in the amount of $281,672.30 Claims Check #101943 through #101959 in the amount of $190,061.69 Direct Debit in the amount of $14,250.00 Claims Check #101938 through #101942 in the amount of $44,342.49 Claims Check #101960 through #101964 in the amount of $2,846.16 Council Minutes: i. April 16, 2025 ii. April 30, 2025, Workshop Special Events Applications i. Chamber of Commerce Downtown Clean Up - May 17, 2025 ii. Touch-A-Truck = May 17, 2025 iii. EHS Senior Parade - June 5, 2025 iv. EHS Senior Party = June 6, 2025 Confirmation of Mayor's Appointment of Jordan Hansen to Parks and Recreation Commission Acceptance of Completion of 2025 Crack Seal Project Staff, Committee, and Agency Reports: Grant County Health District Annual Report. The Grant County Health District (GCHD) provided their Annual Report for 2024 which provides an overview of GCHD achievements, collaborations, and commitment to public health throughout the year. First Quarter Finance Report Director McDonnell provided a first quarter update for Fiscal Year 2025. Revenues are 8.2% below budget and expenses are 5.2% below budget, primarily due to the impact of the Water Sewer Construction budget. Compared to the same period in 2024, revenues have increased by 66.9% and expenses by 36.7%. The department is making progress on annual goals, including moving toward a paperless system, implementing quarterly performance reviews, and preparing long-term revenue forecasts. One police officer was hired during the quarter with a start date of April 1, 2025. Public Hearing = Transportation Improvement Program 2026-2031 Mayor Reim opened the Public Hearing at 6:16pm. Director Harris presented to the council. The Six- Year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) is a planning document that outlines the City's prioritized list of transportation projects it hopes to complete over the next six years. While the TIP does not commit the City to funding or completing all listed projects, it serves as an essential roadmap for future infrastructure improvements. Inclusion on the TIP is often a prerequisite for applying for and receiving state and federal transportation funding. Most grant programs require that a project be listed in the TIP and submitted to the Washington State Department of Transportation in order to be eligible for consideration through the State Transportation Improvement Program (STIP). Council discussion ensued. Mayor Reim asked for public comment. There being no public comment, Mayor Reim closed the public hearing at 6:25pm. Resolution 25-34 Update of the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program Following the public hearing, Director Harris presented Resolution 25-34 to the council. Motion to Adopt Resolution 25-34 approving the update to the Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program (m/s Warren/Borck) 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Resolution 25-32 Approval of Updated Employee Wellness Program Policy The City's existing wellness policy, adopted in 2008, no longer reflects the current priorities, structure, or initiatives of the Weliness Committee. In response to the evolving needs of staff, changing workplace dynamics, and updated wellness best practices, the Wellness Committee is proposing revisions to modernize the policy. These updates aim to better support the well-being of employees and ensure the City's wellness efforts align with today's workforce expectations and standards. Motion to Adopt Resolution No. 25-32 as presented, adopting the updated Wellness Policy. (m/s Moore/McDonnel) 5 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Council Member Millard joined via Teams at 6:35pm. 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. 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 for $525 to provide working logo concepts, which were used during the April 30 workshop. At that workshop, Council finalized the color palette submitted to CivicPlus ahead of the May 2 website redesign deadline- -and narrowed the design options to two finalists. Council members voted to select the final logo design. Mayor called for a vote to determine which logo concept to adopt: Logo Concept A or B (B1, B2, B3). Council was asked to first vote between A or B. Logo Concept A votes: Mayor Reim, Council Member McDonnell (2 votes) Logo Concept B votes: Council Members Borck, Lamens, Millard, Moore, and Warren (5 votes) Council was then asked to vote between B1, B2, or B3 to specify which sun detail. Logo Concept B1 votes: Council Members Borck and McDonnell (2 votes) Logo Concept B2 votes: Council Members Moore and Warren (2 votes) Logo Concept B3 votes: Mayor Reim, Council Members Lamens and Millard (3 votes) Logo concept B3 wins with the most votes. City Administrator Updates City Administrator Towry reminded the council that if they are up for re-election they have until the end of this week to file with the elections department within Grant County. He also informed the council that they need to set a date for the workshop with the Port of Ephrata. Mayor Reim asked Director Sell about any recent updates with the annexation at the new jail property. Director Sell informed the council that the property has officially been annexed, and they are just waiting for the documentation from the state. Mayor adjourned to executive session at 6:40 p.m. to discuss acquisition of real estate or site selection (RCW 42.30.110(1)0) for approximately 15 minutes. At 6:55 p.m. Mayor Reim extended the executive session for an additional 15 minutes. Ex session adjourned at 7:11pm, no decisions were made, or action taken. There being no further business, Mayor Reim adjourned the meeting at 7:11pm - - - Bruce Reim, Mayor ATTEST: Katie Kapalo, City Clerk