Jessica Cole

The council meeting addressed several key agenda items including a retirement recognition for a police officer, a review of the fire services feasibility study, and a kick-off presentation for the citywide fee study. A public hearing was held regarding the 2025 Comprehensive Plan Amendments, involving map and zoning designations and water and sewer connection policies. New business items included a contract with the Downtown Moses Lake Association, discussion on interest for the homeless fund, and an initial presentation on amendments for mobile and street food vendors. Furthermore, the council considered an extra-territorial policy amendment resolution.

This document details a docket of proposed amendments to the City of Moses Lake's Unified Development Code and Comprehensive Plan for 2025 and 2026. It outlines proposed changes across various code chapters, including water and sewer utility rates, subdivision and binding site plan processes, zoning definitions, building design standards, parking regulations, landscaping, and signage. The overarching goal of these amendments is to enhance code clarity, promote efficient and orderly community growth, ensure adequate infrastructure, and align regulatory frameworks with the City's priorities and state laws.

Key discussions included reviewing correspondence and subcommittee reports from the Creative District, Arts Committee, and Code Development & Design Standards Committee. Staff provided updates from Museum, Recreation, and Maintenance divisions. Director reports covered extending concessionaire contracts for the Surf 'n Slide Water Park for 2026 and 2027, prioritizing capital improvement projects via an asset inventory, transitioning tourism oversight to the PR&CS Department, and reviewing a request from the Hockey Association to extend the ice rink season by two weeks pending financial review by the City Council. Ongoing projects discussed involved water conservation through Xeriscaping planter strips, repairing pool heaters, relocating the ice rink scoreboards post-season, and developing a 6-year Open Space Plan with a consultant in 2026.

The Special Meeting agenda focused extensively on water resource management and supply strategies. Key discussion items included reports and feasibility studies related to Water Conservation and Endpoint Projects, Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR), potential new deep wells, and surface water options such as lake withdrawal locations and canal transfers. Furthermore, the agenda covered shallow well siting progress, specifically concerning the progress on deep-to-shallow exchange discussions and identifying the most viable new shallow well locations.

The Special Meeting commenced with a Study Session focused on the Financial Sustainability Plan (FSP) kickoff, including the presentation of a Six-Year Financial Forecast and an introduction to the Service Level Budgeting (SLB) process. The subsequent Regular Meeting included a presentation by the NCW Tech Alliance. The Consent Agenda covered the approval of the agenda, minutes from November 12 and 18, 2025 meetings, claims and payroll, 2026 Department Visual Work Plans, Federal Legislative Agenda, and acceptance of a Lift Station Upgrade. Staff reports included a briefing on the State Auditor's Office Audit Report. Key topics discussed in earlier or related meetings involved managing water utility rates, approving labor agreements with IAFF and AFSCME unions, and adopting a Bilingual Compensation Policy.