City Council

CITY COUNCIL 2026 BUDGET WORKSHOP Tuesday, August 19, 2025 City Hall, 271 9th St NE, East Wenatchee, WA Present: Councilmember Arnold, Councilmember Castellente and Councilmember Magdoff. Staff Present: Mayor Crawford, Finance Director Josh DeLay, IT Specialist Ike Laswell and City Clerk Laura Leon. 1. CALL TO ORDER Councilmember Arnold called the meeting to order at 2:35 p.m. 2. DRAFT 2026 DEPARTMENT BUDGET PRESENTATIONS IT Specialist Ike Laswell, Court Administrator Mary Beth Phillips, Streets Manager Josh Toftness and Public Works Director Garren Melton presented their respective draft 2026 department budgets. Please see attachment A. Councilmember Johnson joined the meeting at 3:44pm. 3. ADJOURNMENT With no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:41 p.m. Jerrilea Crawford Jerrilea Crawford (Sep 3, 2025 12:24:56 PDT) Jerrilea Crawford, Mayor Attest: Anna Laura Leon, City Clerk City of East Wenatchee Council Budget Workshop Minutes 08-19-2025 ATTACHMENT A MUNICIPAL COURT BUDGET 2026 Presented by: Judge Clarke W. Tibbits Mary Beth Phillips, Court Administrator  ATTACHMENT A YOUR COURT The East Wenatchee Municipal Court has • one appointed part-time judge • one Administrator, • one full-time clerk/bailiff/Spanish interpreter, • one full-time clerk/probation officer, • one full-time clerk. The mission of the East Wenatchee Municipal Court is to promote respect for law and individual rights; provide open, accessible, and effective forums for dispute resolution; resolve legal matters in a just, efficient, and timely manner and assure the dignified and fair treatment for its employees and customers. The East Wenatchee Municipal Court is dedicated to its partnership with the City of East Wenatchee in enhancing the quality of life and safety of our community. East Wenatchee Municipal Court is a limited jurisdiction court hearing the following cases: • Traffic and non-traffic infractions. • Criminal and criminal-traffic misdemeanors and gross misdemeanors. • Parking enforcement violations Page 1  ATTACHMENT A MUNICIPAL COURT RESPONSIBILITIES Municipal Court Responsibilities Core Mission: Ensure access to justice and serve our community. Daily Operations: • Process court documents, orders, judgments, and correspondence. • Issue and process warrants, subpoenas, bonds, bail forfeitures, and compliance requirements. • Perform accurate accounting, receipting, and cash handling for fines, fees, and penalties. • Maintain court records, customer accounts, and collections. Collaboration: Support law enforcement, attorneys, and partner agencies. Compliance: Meet statutory deadlines, respond to legislative changes, and ensure accuracy. Impact of Errors: Mistakes or delays can have serious consequences. Staffing Needs: Current staffing levels are essential for accuracy, efficiency, and public service. • Currently at minimum staffing levels • New system has required the need for new staff Page 2  ATTACHMENT A STAFFING COMPARABLES MUNICIPAL COURT CASELOAD MUNICIPAL DISTRICT COURT Case Type Year to Date Year to Date % Case Filing • 1 part-time Judge • 1 full-time Judge Filings 2024 filings 2025 Increase/Decrease • 1 Court Administrator • 1 Court Administrator Criminal Non-Traffic 183 194 +6.01 Criminal Traffic 149 170 +14.09 • 1 Chief Clerk Infraction Non-Traffic 37 16 -56.76 Infraction Traffic 580 677 +16.72 • 1 Lead Clerk Parking 2 7 +250 • 1 full-time • 1 full-time Caseload data does not comprise a complete workload report for the courts. Administrative activities, Bailiff/Interpreter/clerk Bailiff/Interpreter non-case activity, and off-bench case activity are not reflected in caseload statistics. • 1 Part time DOUGLAS COUNTY DISTRICT COURT CASELOAD Bailiff/Interpreter Case Type Year to Date filings Year to Date filings % Case Filing 2024 2025 Increase/Decrease • 1 full-time Probation • 1 full-time Probation Criminal Non-Traffic 97 133 +37.11 Officer/Clerk officer Criminal Traffic 310 255 -17.74 Infraction Non-Traffic 125 57 -54.40 • 1 full-time probation officer/Clerk Infraction Traffic 1970 1745 -11.42 Parking 12 8 -33.33 • 1 full-time Clerk • 4 full-time Clerks • 1 part-time Clerk Page 3 Numbers pulled 1/1/24-8/14/24 and 1/1/25-8/14/25 ATTACHMENT A Page 4  ATTACHMENT A Court revenues come from three primary sources: fees for court services, court costs and other legal financial obligations and fines. Fees, such as filing fees, are increasingly limited by statutory changes. For example, the court cannot always collect a filing fee upon receipt of an impound hearing. Moreover, all fees are subject to waivers for persons unable to pay. Indigent persons are, by statute, unable to pay. Court fines, fees, costs, and other legal financial obligations, such as warrant and public defense fees, have historically been assessed pursuant to statutory authority. These fees cannot be assessed on indigent persons and others deemed unable to pay. Though considered as punishment, courts must still consider factors bearing on the ability to pay when assessing fines. This has severely limited the amount of money the court can assess or collect. Additionally, these limitations also affect past cases. Statutes have opened avenues to review and waive costs and fines imposed in past cases. Moreover, the court’s ability to enforce past decisions imposing costs and fines, is limited. The court cannot punish a person for non-payment where the person lacked the ability to pay. Further, other sanctions for non-payment have been cut back. For example, drivers’ licenses cannot be suspended for failure to pay, and collection agencies do not report failing to pay court costs. An account is deemed uncollectible after 10 years and is written off pursuant to RCW 10.01.180 and RCW 6.17.020. Municipal Court collects revenue that is disbursed to the state Page 5  COURT HIGHLIGHTS ATTACHMENT A MUNICIPAL COURT TURNED 30 YEARS OLD JANUARY 2025 Community • Partnered with Sterling Middle School to host summer student program and decorate the jury room with student artwork. • Hosts Pinnacle Prep students for a clerk job-shadowing experience. • Coordinated in the past with Wenatchee Chamber to hold a mock trial for the Careers After School program. • Continued involvement with the DVI (Domestic Violence Intervention) System Coordination Council Advancement • Probation Officer attends annual training to address emerging client challenges. • Administrator serves as Central East Regional Director for the District & Municipal Court Management Association (DMCMA) for 5 years, teaching courts in the region. • Earned DMCMA President’s Award two consecutive years (2024 & 2025) • Coach/Mentor of the Year (2025). • Administrator sworn in as DMCMA President for the 2025–2026 term. • In October 2024, became a pilot court for Washington’s new Courts of Limited Jurisdiction Case Management System — one of 11 courts leading the way for 138 others statewide. Compliance • Finished processing 458 Blake v. Washington State cases and received $5,670.96 for our work from the state. Page 6 ATTACHMENT A Thank you  ATTACHMENT A 2026 Budget – Public Works Overview  ATTACHMENT A 101 – Street Improvement Fund Changes • Moved 25% of Superintendent salary to stormwater fund. • Moved 5%* of Superintendent salary/benefits to event fund. • Estimated combined savings of $56,000 to general fund. • Reduced ER&R $50,000 (50%) for 2026. • Exploring moving additional funds from Japanese garden, banners, and parks items to events fund. Estimated additional savings to general fund of $25,000 - $30,000 if approved by EWEB. • Total general fund expenses reduced ~$130,000 from 2025. 2  ATTACHMENT A Street Fund (101) 10% Budget Cut Exercise Street Fund Expenditures Vs Budget 13% Under 6% Under 16% Under $1,600,000 6% Under Budget Budget Budget $1,400,000 19% Under Budget Budget $1,200,000 $1,000,000 $800,000 $600,000 $400,000 $200,000 $- 2020 2021 2022 2023 2024 Budget Actual Expenditures Five-year average expenditures are 12% under budgeted expenditures. 2025 Budget = $1,473,641; 10% Reduction = $147,364 3  Total Street Fund Expense Breakdown (2024 Actuals) ATTACHMENT A All other (Sidewalk, Paths, Mandatory Expenses Street Lights, City Parks, (Utilities, Contracts, Fuel, General Services Banners, Misc) Insurance) $258,883.85 (Janitorial)/Supplies $21,145.73 $22,308.55 Traffic Control Devices $25,233.02 ER&R $100,000.00 Other $294,308.19 Salaries and Benefits Roadway & Roadside $709,187.00 $45,347.52 Snow and Ice $80,273.37 4  ATTACHMENT A What is in the Streets Budget? • Roadway • Snow and Ice • Sidewalks • Flags/Banners • Special Purpose Paths (Loop • Roadside Trail) • City Parks • Street Lighting • General • Traffic Control Devices Services/Miscellaneous • Parking Facilities • Facilities 5  ATTACHMENT A Roadway: $159,755.20 (13%) Sidewalks: $24,137.58 (2%) • Crackseal • Used to replace damaged panels or to eliminate trip hazards. • Coldpatch (pothole repair) • Large asphalt repairs 6  ATTACHMENT A Special Purpose Paths: $4,467 (>1%) Street Lighting: $52,674 (4%) • Loop trail maintenance – HMA path • Approximately $40,000 is the utility bill to preservation, danger tree keep existing streetlights on. trimming/removal, tunnel light • Remaining funds replace dead lights, maintenance, graffiti removal, etc defective controllers, vandalized equipment, required 811 power locates. 7  ATTACHMENT A Traffic Control Devices $119,215 (9%) Parking Facilities: $650 (0%) • WSDOT Signal Maintenance, replacing • Painting parking stalls, garbage cleanup, aging signal equipment. HMA repair and maintenance • Traffic paint (crosswalks, lane lines, stop bars, arrows, reflective beads) • Replace aging cones and barricades 8  ATTACHMENT A Snow and Ice: $136,248 (11%) Flags and Banners: $6,091 (1%) • All snow plowing and de-icing operations • Seasonal event banners and American on streets and sidewalks adjacent to City flags. Includes minor repairs to mounting property. hardware. 9  ATTACHMENT A Roadside: $315,869 (25%) City Parks: $85,159 (7%) • Tree trimming, street signs, weed • Weed control, fertilizer, mowing, control, erosion control, graffiti irrigation maintenance and repairs, removal. water/power bills. • Until 2025, also included • High repair costs due to vandalism. construction inspector hours. • Includes $12,000 Master Gardener Contract for Japanese Garden. 10  ATTACHMENT A Miscellaneous – General Facilities: $62,606.87 (5%) Services, Training, Fuel, • HVAC Service contract, tools, Insurance: $181,682 (14%) cleaning supplies, lightbulb • Includes required CDL testing replacement, any structural repairs (medical, random drug), union or preservation. contract clothing/boot allowance, safety equipment, shop supplies, janitorial services • NOTE: $111,208 of this amount is insurance. 11  ATTACHMENT A Training: $13,494 (1%) ER&R Fund: $100,000 (8%) • Covers required trainings and • Funds replacement of aging fleet. (re)certifications. Particularly important in a fleet with a vehicle celebrating its 50th birthday next year. 12  ATTACHMENT A 001 Fund Public Works 2025 Budget 2026 Budget Change 001-000-315-542-10-10-00 Salaries $ 128,500 $ 120,000 $ (8,500) 001-000-315-542-10-20-00 Benefits $ 41,000 $ 38,500 $ (2,500) 001-000-315-542-10-31-00 Office Supplies $ 750 $ 500 $ (250) 001-000-315-542-10-35-00 Small Tools & Equipment $ 500 $ 500 $ - 001-000-315-542-10-40-00 Cell Phone $ 750 $ 750 $ - 001-000-315-542-10-43-00 Travel $ 1,000 $ 600 $ (400) 001-000-315-542-10-46-00 Insurance $ 23,700 $ 29,000 $ 5,300 001-000-315-542-10-49-00 Training $ 2,000 $ 1,000 $ (1,000) 001-000-315-542-10-49-01 Miscellaneous $ 1,000 $ 500 $ (500) 001-000-315-542-10-49-10 Memberships $ 500 $ 300 $ (200) 001-000-315-544-20-45-00 Engineering Support Services $ 20,000 $ 15,000 $ (5,000) 001-000-315-544-20-40-01 Pavement Management Plan $ - $ 20,000 $ 20,000 $ 219,700 $ 226,650 $ 6,950 Major Changes: • Moved 10% of Director Salary/Benefits to Stormwater Utility Fund. • 6% reduction from 2025 Budget in recurring expenses – 9.4% reduction if excluding Insurance costs. • One time ask - $20,000 for a Pavement Management Plan • Reduced $5,000 from Engineering Support Services. 13  ATTACHMENT A 001 - Pavement Management Plan • For multiple pavement preservation grants, a Pavement Management Plan either scores additional points, or is required for consideration. • City collected pavement condition data in 2025. Average pavement condition has declined from 68 in 2020 to 62 in 2025. • Plan will establish an acceptable pavement condition for the City. • Plan will develop funding recommendations for desired LOS. • If adequate funding is not available, establishes preservation priorities. 14  ATTACHMENT A 001 - Pavement Management Plan Cont. • Snip from FY 2025 NHS Grant Application. Having a pavement management plan is nearly one third of total possible points. • City received $4,600,000 in NHS funding in 2021 with a plan “in development.” • Nearly all Grant programs request pavement condition data and weigh the City’s preservation program when considering projects. 15  ATTACHMENT A 301 Fund – 2026 Proposed Projects (Grant Funded) • 5th St NE Improvements: Design Contract $ 729,350 Estimated Construction Engineering $ 500,000 NOTE: Contingency is greater Estimated Construction $ 4,750,301 than City Match. If full Contingency (7.5%) $ 356,273 contingency is not needed, project may be 100% grant Total Estimated Cost $ 6,335,923 funded. Total Grant Funding $ 6,120,000 City Match (TBD) $ 215,923 16  ATTACHMENT A 301 Fund – 2026 Proposed Projects (Grant Funded) • TIB APP Eastmont Ave Overlay: • Coordinating with East Wenatchee Water District Project. Total project cost would otherwise be ~$1,700,000 • Contingent on TIB funding, may pursue other treatments if unfunded to capitalized on EWWD project. Estimated Design $ 104,440 Estimated Construction Engineering $ 69,625 Estimated Construction $ 696,247 Total Estimated Cost $ 870,312 Grant funding, if awarded $ 727,012 City Match (TBD) $ 143,300 17  ATTACHMENT A 301 Fund – 2026 Proposed Projects (Grant Funded) • TIB Pedestrian Safety Improvements: • 3 community requested protected crossings on 9th St NE, Rock Island Road, 4th St SE. • Filling sidewalk gap on Grover Place between 5th and 8th. Estimated Design $ 126,350 Estimated Construction Engineering $ 66,900 Estimated Construction $ 669,000 Total Estimated Cost $ 862,250 Grant funding, if awarded $ 732,912 Link Transit Commitment, if awarded $ 100,000 City Match (TBD) $ 29,338 18  ATTACHMENT A 301 Fund – 2026 Proposed Projects (Grant Funded) 19  ATTACHMENT A 301 Fund – 2026 Proposed Projects (unfunded) • 19th St NE Short Span Bridge Analysis : $25,000 • Preliminary analysis to determine remaining life of bridge, determine if load restrictions on 19th St NE are needed, possibly assist with repair/replacement design. 20  ATTACHMENT A 401 Fund – Notable Changes Revenue: • Estimated Revenue $1,173,000 from SWU fees. Expense: • Moved 25% of Street Superintendent, 10% PW Director Salary and Benefits into fund ~$50,000 • $30,000 to Update Stormwater Comprehensive Plan. • Increased supply budget for purchase of steel plates, equipment trailer, and additional detour signage for small projects to $50,000. • Camera inspection of corrugated metal pipes: $20,000. • Small Works Project Budget increased to $100,000. • PWTFL Debt Service payment reduced from $76,000, to $11,700 for 2026. Final annual payment in 2027. 21  ATTACHMENT A 401 Fund – 2026 Project – Continue N Baker 22  ATTACHMENT A 401 Fund – Small Works Projects Cont. • Budgeting $100,000 to sleeve ~750’ of 24” pipe on N Baker Ave. • Budgeting $20,000 for consultant to camera corrugated metal pipes that City camera cannot access (Baker, 11th, VMP, 9th St NE, Grant Road, 3rd & 4th St SE). 23  ATTACHMENT A 2025 N Baker Ave Failed Storm Pipe: Estimated Contractor Cost Item Qty Unit Unit Cost Total Mobilization 1 LS $ 25,000 $ 25,000 Project Temporary Traffic Control 1 LS $ 20,000 $ 20,000 Roadway Excavation Incl. Haul 465 CY $ 65 $ 30,225 Corrugated Polyethylene Storm Pipe 12 In Diam. 620 LF $ 150 $ 93,000 Divert Spring Water During Consruction 1 LS $ 15,000 $ 15,000 Adjust Manhole 3 EA $ 1,000 $ 3,000 Manhole 48" Diameter 2 EA $ 4,000 $ 8,000 Connect to Existing Structure 12 EA $ 2,000 $ 24,000 Crushed Surface Base Course 700 TN $ 50 $ 35,000 Crushed Surface Top Course 150 TN $ 60 $ 9,000 Remove Structures and Obstructions 1 LS $ 5,000 $ 5,000 Stormwater Pollutent Prevention 1 LS $ 2,000 $ 2,000 HMA 3/8 In PG 64H-28 65 TN $ 200 $ 13,000 *Not including markup if emergency contract required. Total Cost: $ 282,225 24  ATTACHMENT A 2025 N Baker Ave Failed Storm Pipe: Estimated Total in House Costs Item Qty Unit Unit Cost Total 12" Sewer Pipe 620 LF $ 32 $ 19,840 CDF Backfill for Destabilized Areas 1 LS $ 2,000 $ 2,000 Misc. Project Supplies 1 LS $ 8,000 $ 8,000 Crushed Surface Top Course 20 TN $ 25 $ 500 HMA 3/8 In PG 64H-28 16 TN $ 100 $ 1,600 Vactor Rental (budgeted) 1 LS $ 9,000 $ 9,000 Staff Salary + Benefits 900 Hours $ 52 $ 46,800 ER&R Vehicle Rental (trucks, mini, dump trucks) 1 LS $ 9,000 $ 9,000 Supply Cost $ 31,940 Sunk Costs $ 64,800 Total Cost $ 96,740 $250,000 Estimated savings not including sunk costs $185,485 Estimated savings including sunk costs 25  ATTACHMENT A Stormwater Comp Plan Update • Last version substantially completed in 2021, not formally adopted due to staffing levels. • New update recommended to ensure compliance with 2024-2029 Municipal Stormwater Permit, and update capital project list. • Projects identified in current capital project list have received over $3,000,000 in grant funds for water quality and flow control projects (Storm pond on Highline Drive, N Kentucky Ave conveyance and treatment). 26 5b. 08-19-2025 City Council 2026 Budget Workshop 1 Minutes Final Audit Report 2025-09-03 Created: 2025-09-03 By: City Clerk (cityclerk@eastwenatcheewa.gov) Status: Signed Transaction ID: CBJCHBCAABAASD-t0gpcCCuLPSamssv2Xf_OLDe4g3m- "5b. 08-19-2025 City Council 2026 Budget Workshop 1 Minutes" History Document created by City Clerk (cityclerk@eastwenatcheewa.gov) 2025-09-03 - 2:32:14 AM GMT Document emailed to jcrawford@eastwenatcheewa.gov for signature 2025-09-03 - 2:32:39 AM GMT Email viewed by jcrawford@eastwenatcheewa.gov 2025-09-03 - 7:24:27 PM GMT Signer jcrawford@eastwenatcheewa.gov entered name at signing as Jerrilea Crawford 2025-09-03 - 7:24:54 PM GMT Document e-signed by Jerrilea Crawford (jcrawford@eastwenatcheewa.gov) Signature Date: 2025-09-03 - 7:24:56 PM GMT - Time Source: server Agreement completed. 2025-09-03 - 7:24:56 PM GMT