Ellensburg City Council September 21, 2026

Ellensburg City Council regular meeting, September 21, 2026. The council approved a 2025–2026 biennial budget amendment authorizing previously approved projects and program changes. The amendment increases budgeted revenue by about $3.76 million, decreases expenditures by about $17.5 million, and increases anticipated ending fund balances by about $21.43 million; staff said much of the expenditure decrease reflected departments adjusting budgets to expected spending. Items included water and wastewater rate changes, the library and Hal Holmes Community Center HVAC replacement, an aquifer storage and recovery project, Pearl Street sidewalk repairs, and other service and program costs. The HVAC project was estimated at $1.6 million, supported in part by CDBG funds and approximately $400,000 in maintenance-bond funds. No new vendor award or specific procurement contract amount was identified.

The council also approved an interlocal agreement creating a Kittitas County regional advocacy and funding consortium to coordinate federal advocacy and pursue funding for regional infrastructure, economic development, transportation, and other public-sector needs. It reviewed draft comprehensive-plan chapters on capital facilities, utilities, and parks and recreation, including planned improvements and project priorities; these were discussion items rather than procurement approvals. The police chief presented the 2025 crime report and discussed limits and auditing of the department’s license-plate-reader system under state law. The council also appointed Jennifer Patterson to the Parks and Recreation Advisory Commission.