City manager reports upcoming events, construction and public sessions; chip-seal program explained

The city manager told the council about a series of upcoming events, construction schedules and public information sessions, and described the chip-seal process residents should expect.

"A reminder that the Unity Park unveiling is, August 1. . . Gladiator Dash is at Rotary Park on August 2. Our city grants are open for the August," the city manager (Speaker 2) said.

The manager gave a construction update and explained the chip-seal process: "Chip Seal is a 2 to 3 week process. The oil gets laid down, the rocks get crushed, and you drive over it, you drive slowly. Then we sweep up the rocks after a couple of weeks." The manager also said the city cut the program in half this year but is working on as many streets as possible.

Other calendar items mentioned: an Ellensburg Academy event on July 29 that will cover the library, affordable housing and water systems; an accessory-dwelling-unit (ADU) information session on Aug. 19 at the Hal Holmes Center; and a study session scheduled for Aug. 4 that will meet at the Kittitas Valley Memorial Pool, begin at 6 p.m., move around the facility, and end at 6:45 p.m. so the regular meeting can start at 7 p.m.

The manager also asked for volunteers from council and boards to help plan community activities tied to the America 250 program and said the council would receive meeting invites to participate in the Yakima Basin Fish and Wildlife Recovery Board; a council member asked that Council member Palmer be listed as an alternate.

These items were presented as informational updates; the council did not take formal actions to change budgets or authorize contracts during the report.