CITY COUNCIL MINUTES June 18, 2025 City Council of the City of Ephrata, Grant County Washington met in regular session on June 18, 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, Finance Director Kristen McDonnell, City Engineer Shawn O'Brien, Community Development Director Ron Sell, Public Works Director Rob Harris, Police Captain Troy Froewiss, Fire Chief Jeremy Burns, Parks and Recreation Director Josh Johnson, and City Clerk Katie Kapalo. Pledge of Allegiance was said. This meeting is being recorded and live-streamed. Agenda: Addition of item IlI.b. Presentation & Comprehensive Plan Update Scope, and addition of item Vill.a. SR 282 & Nat Washington Way Roundabout. Megan Hagy signed up to speak to the council. Consent Agenda: Motion was made to approve the consent agenda. (m/s Millard/Moore) 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Check #102168 through #102242 in the amount of $635,428.04 Claims Check #102166 through #102167 in the amount of $3,018.00 EFT B&O Taxes in the amount of $31,413.88 EFT CC Fees in the amount of $9,963.68 Council Minutes i. June 4, 2025 Special Event Application i. Church in the Park Acceptance of 2025 Crack Seal and Pavement Repair Project Community Development Presentation Community Development Director Sell presented to the council a breakdown of the monthly report he provides that covers different measurements in his department. Parks & Recreation Sage N' Sun Review Mayor Reim asked Parks & Recreation Director Johnson for a brief review of Sage N' Sun weekend. Johnson stated that overall, it was a successtul weekend and provided estimated statistics for participation in the 3 on 3 basketball tournament. The partnership between the Chamber of Commerce and the City was beneficial and helped the growth of the annual event. Resolution 25-039 Spyglass Agreement The City of Ephrata is pursuing a cost-reduction agreement with SpyGlass, a consulting firm that specializes in auditing elecommunications service billing. Their analysis is designed to identify billing errors, uncover dormant services, and recommend potential cost savings. The agreement operates on a contingency basis: if no savings or recoveries are identified--or if the City opts not to implement the recommendations- there is no fee. If overbilling is discovered, SpyGlass receives 50% of the refund amount; if services are eliminated for cost savings, their fee is 12 times the monthly cost of that service. The City previously partnered with SpyGlass in 2017, which resulted in $840.44 in federal tax exemption savings and the elimination of unused services, leading to an annual savings of $2,026.56. Motion was made to adopt Resolution 25-039 as presented, pending legal approval of the contract and resolution. (m/s Warren/Borck) 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Resolution 25-41 Provident Insurance Policy The City of Ephrata is considering the reinstatement of Provident Insurance coverage for its volunteer firefighters. While volunteer firefighters in Washington are provided coverage similar to L&I, Provident Insurance is designed to supplement that coverage by providing additional financial support if an injury sustained during a covered activity prevents the firefighter from performing their regular employment. This type of insurance is commonly used by fire departments nationwide as a recruitment and retention tool. The City previously carried Provident Insurance from 2010 to 2012 through a FEMA SAFER Grant focused on volunteer firefighter recruitment and retention. However, the policy was not renewed due to budget constraints. Provident markets this coverage as a way to assist injured firefighters and their families with added protection beyond state-provided benefits. Motion was made to adopt Resolution 25-041 as presented, pending legal approval of the contract and resolution. (m/s Warren/Harris) 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Resolution 25-43 QUADCO UPWU Grant Application Authorization The 2023 City of Ephrata Comprehensive Plan identifies the need for a new railroad crossing and North-South arterial as mid-term priorities, recognizing the multi- year timeline required for planning, design, and construction. A future roundabout at SR28 and Alder Street-currently being designed by WSDOT--would serve as a logical access point for these improvements. To advance the projects, the City is pursuing a $50,000 QUADCO UPWP Planning Grant, with $42,500 in grant funds and a proposed $7,250 City match budgeted for 2026. The grant would fund feasibility-level planning, including engineering analysis of crossing options, conceptual route mapping, cost estimates, and identification of grant opportunities. Both projects are already listed in the City's Six-Year Transportation Improvement Program and have been submitted for inclusion in the Regional TIP effective July 1st. Motion was made to adopt Resolution 25-043 as proposed with approval of a 15% match. (m/s Warren/Millard) 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. Resolution 25-45 Professional Services Agreement with GeoEngineers The City is deepening Well #5 and drilling the Well #11 to replace the existing Well #6. Knowing which layers of the basalt formation we encounter during the drilling process is vital for determining final casing installation and presenting the construction to the DOE for approval. Sampling and analyzing the cuttings for the drilling process provides this necessary information. Motion was made to adopt Resolution 25-045 as proposed. (m/s Harris/McDonnell) 7 ayes, 0 nays, motion carried. SR 282 & Nat Washington Way Roundabout The county provided a map of a potential detour that may be used while the development of the roundabout at SR 282 and Nat Washington Way is underway. Mayor adjourned to executive session at 6:53 p.m. to discuss acquisition of real estate or site selection (RCW 42.30.110(1)0) for approximately 15 minutes. At 7:08 p.m. Mayor Reim extended the executive session for an additional 10 minutes. Ex session adjourned at 7:15pm, no decisions were made, or action taken. There being no further business, Mayor Reim adjourned the meeting at 7:15pm. Recs Bruce Reim, Mayor ATTEST: Katie Kapalo, City Clerk