Bill Forhan, Owner, NCW Media, Inc
City Council and the Planning Commission met in joint session to visit the Planning Commission docket for 2021. Currently, the commission has unfinished projects from 2020. Those include the Transportation Element Update anticipated to be completed by March; Housing Action Plan anticipated for completion by April; Shoreline Master Plan updates anticipated for completion by May; and Fire Code Amendments to address Wildland Urban Interface standards targeted for completion by March.
On the Docket for 2021 Amendments include a number of items:
• In 2019 Council tabled resolution 1589 on zoning standards that included issues of lot size and setbacks that could hopefully address issues of affordable housing in Leavenworth.
• Bed & Breakfast Density would consider limiting the number of B&B’s per block or neighborhood.
• Off Street Loading and Parking requirements and standards
• Commercial setback requirements including eave overhangs, construction, maintenance and snow for buildings located on or near the property line.
• RV Park and Campground regulations
• Non-conforming annexation uses, such as vacation rentals for regulations for clear regulations and a process for becoming conforming when annexing into the city.
• Other items include, height limits, front yard fence heights, ADU’s and Conditional Use Permits.
The RV Park and Campground regulations review was at the request of KOA. It is unclear at this time what KOA’s concerns might be. Last fall the city council voted to shut down a temporary campground that has operated for over 20 years adjacent to Krystal’s Restaurant on Highway 2 during Autumn Leaf and Oktoberfest.
Sewer System upgrades
Replacement of the Wastewater Treatment Plant is the city’s largest project. It is being mandated by the department of ecology to reduce the discharge of phosphorus into the Wenatchee River. While the treatment plant itself is fairly new the collection system, better known as the sewer system, is nearing the end of its life in many places and needs to be upgraded. Instead of excavating the old lines a new process is often employed called pipe bursting. This process sends a burst head into the existing pipe and then replaces the existing line as it moves through the old pipe.
Problems have occurred with the process of replacing the line between the Post Hotel and 9th Street. The burst head often got stuck because the original pipe was not properly backfilled when it was installed some 60 to 70 years ago. Large boulders were apparently thrown back into the hole covering the old pipe. This caused the burst head to stop and prevented it from bursting the old pipe requiring excavation often at depths up to 24 feet.
The result is the city council approved a change order for $169,439 to the cost of the project. At this point the total estimated cost of the project remains within the contingency budget
Committee Assignments
Economic Development – Meets 2nd Tuesday of every month at 3 p.m. - Mia Bretz, Carolyn Wilson, Anne Hessburg.
Parks – Meets 2nd Tuesday of every month at 4 p.m. - Jason Lundgren, Clint Strand, Sharon Waters.
Public Works (including cemetery & Parking - Meets 2nd Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m. - Zeke Reister, Jason Lundgren, Sharon Waters.
Housing - Meets 4th Tuesday of every month at 3 p.m. - Zeke Reister, Mia Bretz, Sharon Waters.
Public Safety - Meets 4th Tuesday of every month at 4 p.m - Carolyn Wilson, Clint Strand, Jason Lundgren.
Finance - Meets 4th Tuesday of every month at 5 p.m. - Clint Strand, Zeke Reister, Anne Hessburg.
Water Treatment Plant repair contract awarded
Last summer the city council heard a report on the Icicle Creek water treatment plant. Corroded pipes and outdated treatment systems were in need of an upgrade. At the time Gray & Osborne, the city’s engineering consulting firm, estimated repairs would cost $2 million. Council approved a contract award for the immediate essential repairs in the amount of $160, 037 to KRCI, LLC of East Wenatchee. This contract will take care of demolition, removal, disposal and replacement of the aging water intake mainline as well as replacement and enhancement of associate equipment. This will allow the water plant to continue to operate until Council approves the funds for the complete upgrade.
Festhalle Funding
The Festhalle remains closed due to COVID so it is not generating any revenue from operations. The fund balance is currently zero so staff requested approval to transfer $20,000 to $75,000 from the general fund to the Festhalle fund to cover expenses. In 2020 the city transferred $52, 110 to the Festhalle fund but with the fund now at zero staff is concerned they will need more this year.
Council members expressed concerns that the facility is simply sitting there bleeding cash but ultimately approved transfer of funds needed to meet obligations.
Occupancy for Leavenworth Haus
Some flooding occurred in December near the Leavenworth Haus apartments. Concerns have been raised about the issuance of an occupancy permit for building A as a result. Some stormwater mitigation measures were deferred on the rest of the project when the occupancy permit was issued for building A. City Development Services Manager, Lilith Vespier, said the practice of deferral on large projects like Leavenworth Haus is common practice by other agencies. Vespier also said the engineers on the project, Gray & Osborne, had approved the deferral.
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