Wenatchee council approves Pershing Street stormwater contract, PUD interlocal and FEMA generator extension

The City Council voted to advance multiple public‑works and utility projects aimed at flood mitigation and resilience.

Darcy Running, utility project manager, asked the council to approve an agreement with AKS Engineering and Forestry LLC (formerly CPH Consulting) to finish design and manage construction for the Pershing Street stormwater retrofit. The council authorized the city administrator to sign the agreement; the contract value presented to council was $307,659.

Public Works deputy director Jessica Shaw presented a new master interlocal agreement with Public Utility District No. 1 of Chelan County that updates a 2003 accord and establishes a master permit process for city stormwater infrastructure located on PUD property. Shaw said the agreement covers five existing sites at the Wenatchee River confluence and Old Station area and anticipates two additional outfalls tied to Confluence Parkway; the council authorized the administrator to sign the master agreement and subsequent site permits without returning to council for each permit.

Running also asked the council to approve a one‑year time extension to a hazardous‑mitigation grant contract (Hazard Mitigation Grant 5395‑12R) so FEMA‑funded generators the city has purchased can be installed and the contract closed by May 30, 2026. Staff said the generators will back up all water critical infrastructure, including the treatment plant, and that funding is provided via the county hazard‑mitigation grant program with FEMA as lead.

All three motions passed on council voice votes; staff said construction funding for Pershing Street will be available July 1 and the stormwater design work will move into construction in 2026.