Residents urge sister-city welcome, downtown promotion and voice concerns over housing growth at Wenatchee council meeting

Several community members addressed the Wenatchee City Council during the public-comment period on April 9.

Mayor Crawford (East Wenatchee) personally invited the council to a welcome reception for the Msawa, Japan delegation arriving April 29 and described planned student visits and community-hosting activities. "We're doing it at the new general aviation terminal up at Pangborn Memorial Airport," the mayor said while handing out invitations.

Mark Hart, co-owner of King Pizza and a Downtown Association board member, gave a brief "Main Street Minute" update on promotion efforts, including a June "possibilities tour" to connect property owners with prospective tenants and a plan to install hanging flower baskets downtown.

Carrie Craftton of Craftton Moore Associates thanked the council for office space the nonprofit uses and summarized services provided over the past year, including job coaching, job placement and supports for 13 individuals.

PUD Commissioner Rich Cole raised concerns about the pace of local growth and housing costs. Cole cited rental examples—"a studio going for around $1,500 to start and up to over $2,300 a month"—and said those rents are out of reach for many local workers. He asked whether the council had considered infrastructure impacts (streets, water, police, schools) and suggested impact fees as a potential policy option. The council accepted his comments for the record; no formal council action on impact fees was taken that night.

Marina Esel, a high-school senior and junior city council member, described her positive experience participating in city programs, thanked mentors, and encouraged other students to get involved in civic activities.

The council closed public comments and proceeded to the consent agenda and action items.