Wenatchee council approves consent agenda, code housekeeping and staffing ordinances

At the meeting the council approved several routine and policy items in a series of voice votes.

Consent agenda: Council approved the agenda, vouchers and minutes and authorized the mayor to sign right-of-way documents for the Red Apple Road—Vista Place to Miller Street project (city project #2315). The council also approved Resolution 2026-05 appointing Angela Shirley and Kristen Van Min to the Historic Preservation Board for three-year terms.

Ordinance 2026-01 (municipal code housekeeping): Public Works Director Tom Wachholder described the ordinance to clarify delegated authority to the Public Works Director for approving preapproved plans and policies and to add a maintenance activity definition; council adopted the ordinance by voice vote.

Ordinance 2026-02 (deputy city clerk): HR Director Kim Oglesby explained that public records workload rose from 365 hours in 2024 to 548 hours in 2025, driving a recommendation to add a Deputy City Clerk position (starting salary $80,000). Staff said savings from the modified security contract will cover most of the cost, leaving an estimated $20,000 fiscal-year impact. The ordinance was adopted.

Ordinance 2026-03 (interim city administrator stipend): Council adopted an ordinance authorizing a stipend equal to 15% of the current city administrator salary for the interim city administrator (estimated $2,470.34 per month) for the duration of the interim assignment; the stipend ceases when a permanent administrator begins.

Votes: Each motion carried on voice votes recorded in the transcript as 'Aye.' The transcript does not contain full roll-call vote lists for these motions; the minutes show motions, seconding members and that each motion carried.

Next steps: staff will implement the adopted ordinances and track budget impacts and service outcomes, including public records workload and recruitment for the permanent city administrator.