City of Leavenworth approves funds for affordable housing, updates business license requirements

LEAVENWORTH — The Leavenworth City Council contributed funding for an affordable housing project, made changes to business licensing rules, and signed a resolution in support of public lands during its Sept. 23 meeting.

Following a unanimous recommendation from the Housing Advisory Committee, the council granted Upper Valley MEND nearly $59,000 to support its duplex development on W. Commercial Street. The money was allocated from the city’s affordable housing fund, and will cover the cost of utility extensions and system development charges.

The nonprofit broke ground on the project in July, and hopes to have the two 3-bedroom, 2.5-bathroom homes available for purchase by next year. Priced in the low $300,000s, the homes will be sold using a community land trust model, ensuring they remain permanently affordable.

The city raised the revenue threshold for general business license requirements from $2,000 to $4,000 and will adjust the threshold periodically for inflation starting in 2026. The change was made to align Leavenworth’s rules with the state model.

The city council was also asked if it wanted to consider updating business license fees, as part of its Rate and Fee Schedule changes that will be adopted in December. The fees have not changed since 2010, when the city simplified its rate schedule from five options to the current two: $115 for one to 12 employees, and $300 for 13 or more employees. City staff presented a number of examples from surrounding cities.

“I'd like to know why it was oversimplified…It was just reduced for ease of processing, it seems like,” said Councilmember Anne Hessburg, noting that she’d like to see how Leavenworth’s businesses fell into the five categories. City staff said they would look into it.

The City of Leavenworth signed a resolution opposing the sale of public lands, joining a coalition of western mountain communities with outdoor-dependent economies who signed similar resolutions.

The resolution recognized that Chelan County is 80 percent public land, and reiterated the city’s support for the continued federal management of public lands, opposed their sale or transfer, urged Congress to oppose legislation that would have a negative impact, and encouraged federal agencies to collaborate with local communities and stakeholders.

The City of Leavenworth also declared Sept. 23 as Digital Access Day, calling on residents, businesses, educational institutions to promote digital equity in the community. The resolution was led in partnership with NCW Tech Alliance, whose NCW Digital Access Coalition is working to bridge the “digital divide in North Central Washington.”

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media