This report includes 2022 accomplishments and outlines projects to be completed in 2023.

Working Toward A Strategic Vision

The City Council’s Strategic Vision 2023-2028 represents the most important issues facing the City of Ellensburg and establishes precedence for expenditure of staff and other City resources. In addition to providing essential public services, the vision includes:

• Housing Affordability
• Economic Vitality
• Safe and Inclusive Community
• Energy & Resource Management
• Sustainable Infrastructure

To learn more, visit the City website at ellensburgwa.gov/strategicvision.

Housing Affordability

Housing affordability is a statewide problem. The City has taken several actions to advance affordable housing projects.

• Contributed $750,000 of affordable housing sales and use tax funds to purchase property to convert the former Nites Inn motel into 16 one-bedroom apartments. The 4.8-acre property at 1200 S. Ruby Street, will be dedicated to low-income housing owned by HopeSource.
• Approved surplus of two City properties for residential development: Whitfield Triangle on Alder Street (to be sold for private development, with proceeds to be used at Reed Park), and the former Catherine Park to be used for a pilot cottage-style affordable housing project.

Above: The Stuart Meadows affordable housing subdivision breaks ground for Phase 1 with six homes to be constructed in 2023.

The Stuart Meadows project is a partnership with Habitat for Humanity to build 18 units of owner-occupied affordable housing at Water Street and Bender Road. The project was made possible through a surplus City property contribution and affordable housing sales and use tax funding, plus a State Connecting Housing to Infrastructure Program (CHIP) grant. The project broke ground in 2022.

In response to the increasing visibility of people experiencing homelessness and behavioral health challenges, Ellensburg and Kittitas County created an Ad Hoc Committee on Homelessness and worked collaboratively to 1) identify service gaps; 2) update policies for public camping; and 3) start joint planning for a year-round sleep center (location to be determined). Learn more on the City website.

Economic Vitality

• Completed a county-wide economic development strategic plan through partnership with Kittitas County and began facilitation of economic development organizations (EDOs) to maximize collective impact as our community grows.
• Arts Commission partnered with arts organizations to plan expansion of the creative sector.
• Developed standards for streateries, parklets, and amend sidewalk cafes which were adopted in 2023.
• Formed Downtown parking team to explore and guide implementation of downtown parking study.
• Completed business planning for the City’s broadband fiber utility and leveraged fiber network to incentivize a private investment in broadband infrastructure to advance connectivity, speeds, and accessibility to customers across the community.
• Secured a middle-mile Broadband grant and matching funds. Began construction to critical City water infrastructure while providing wireless broadband to unserved and underserved properties in Kittitas County through a third-party provider.
• Developed Unity Park Master Plan and began design phase with planned construction in 2023. The Unity Park concept includes removal of the current bank building and drive-thru, and relocation of the iconic Ellensburg Bull within the park, along with a restroom, event infrastructure, a plaza, water feature, lawn, and art. Learn more on the City website.
• Worked collaboratively with school district to resolve infrastructure and traffic issues for two new schools and installed safety lights at Palouse to Cascades (PTC) trail crossing on Cora Street.
• The Arts Commission named the first Ellensburg Poet Laureate, Marie Marchand, who is working to enhance the presence and appreciation of poetry and the literary arts through events and education.
• In partnership with Central Washington University, replaced tourism banners around the City with fresh designs.

  
  

Ellensburg Community Fieldhouse

A fire on December 2, 2022 resulted in the loss of the Ellensburg Racquet & Recreation Center and created an emergent need for the City and Kittitas County. The 32,000 sq ft indoor recreation facility provided year-round activities. The City is collaborating with community partners to fund and replace the lost facility with the construction of a Fieldhouse—a multi-use, multigenerational community indoor fitness complex—at Rotary Park. Learn more on the City website.

Safe and Inclusive Community

• City website received a design refresh, and is now mobile responsive with improved accessibility features for phones and tablets.
• All public meetings continued to be held in-person and virtual.
• Adopted Juneteenth as a City holiday.
• Hosted Ellensburg Academy Budget Workshop, Police Citizen’s Academy, Touch-A-Truck, Ride To Renslow, and Coffee with Council events.
• The Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Commission partnered with Ellensburg School District, Central Washington University, and other community partners to host a community-building conversation, “Belonging In the Burg.” Look for more events in 2023.
• The Ellensburg Public Library launched the Bookworms to Earthworms Seed Share library, a project that provides free seeds to increase the capacity of the community to feed itself through a culture of sharing.
• Management of the Ellensburg Animal Shelter transitioned from Ellensburg Police to the Yakima Humane Society (YHS). The shelter has been rebranded as the Ellensburg Adoption Center and has record adoptions with improved level of shelter and animal services.

Ellensburg Land Acknowledgment

The City Council adopted a land acknowledgment statement:

The City of Ellensburg is located on the historic home of the K’ti’tas and Pshwánapam bands of Indigenous people. Today, these bands are part of the Confederated Tribes and Bands of the Yakama Nation, a federally-recognized Native Nation constituted under the Treaty with the Yakamas of 1855. The Indigenous stewards of this land practiced a subsistence lifestyle through fishing, hunting, and gathering since time immemorial and remain committed stewards of this land, cherishing it, protecting it and using it, as instructed by their elders through generations, and actively practicing the traditions and culture as neighbors in the Ellensburg community.

Energy and Resource Management

• Compliant with Washington State regulatory requirements around clean energy and planning for participation in emissions cap-and-invest program through the Climate Commitment Act.
• Maintained 95% carbon-free energy supply of electric power purchase.
• Produced approximately 2.6 million kWh of solar energy across entire system. Provided solar incentives for low-income housing and energy conservation measures.
• Secured grants for renewable energy (solar) park expansion, EV charging stations at Rotary Park, methane gas recapture from Wastewater Treatment Plant, and smart grid technology.
• Initiated Sustainability and Energy Planning project which will continue in 2023.
• Installed EV charging stations at City Hall.
• Updated Shoreline Master Program.
• Gas Utility was APGA Safety Contest Winner for 3rd straight year and maintained APGA SOAR (system operational achievement recognition) Silver status.

Above: Bureau of Land Management photo of Yakima River

Ellensburg and Twin City Foods staff were presented with the John W. Keys, III Award for their collaborative actions in the Schaake Habitat Improvement Project. This award is given to one Bureau of Reclamation project (nationwide) each year to recognize the employees and nongovernmental customers and stakeholders that make exceptional contributions to building partnerships and strengthening relationships. Overall, this award recognizes outstanding business practices, communication, collaboration, and partnering achievements. The Schaake property (former cattle yard and slaughter house) was purchased by the Bureau of Reclamation in 2003 due to the high potential for habitat improvement for steelhead and salmon, and to place additional riparian habitat into public ownership. The restoration improved natural and sustainable processes that create and maintain riparian habitat in this reach of the Yakima River. The Bureau worked collaboratively with the City and Twin Foods to balance interests.

Sustainable Infrastructure

• Installed bridge on Dolarway Road as first phase of Reecer Creek Levee Project. When complete, the project will help protect people and properties in West Ellensburg from flood damage.
• Improvements along Helena Ave. from Water St. to Airport Road were completed resulting in new sidewalks, fire hydrants, Central Transit bus shelter, bicycle lanes, and landscaping.
• Allocated federal COVID-19 relief dollars from the American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) to fund construction of Unity Park, wastewater transmission system improvements and efficiencies, and project management capacity.
• In response to fire on 12/2/22 (arson) with total loss of the Ellensburg Racquet & Recreation Center, began planning to rebuild indoor recreation fieldhouse facility at Rotary Park.
• Secured $3,747,000 transportation grants for projects.

2022 Projects Completed:

• Palouse to Cascades (PTC) trail from Dean Nicholson Blvd. to University Way and new signal at 14th & Alder
• University Way & Reecer Creek Road signal
• Field lights at Rotary Park youth baseball/softball complex
• Main Street signalization enhancement
• Helena Avenue complete streets

What’s Happening On University Way?

The Gateway I Project scheduled for completion in 2023, will improve the City’s entryway. The City’s Stormwater Utility received approximately $2.7 million through the DoE’s Water Quality Grant Program, to design and construct a stormwater treatment system and bicycle and pedestrian improvements along University Way, from Wenas Street to the Red Horse Diner. The project includes rock lined swales behind existing curb on both sides of the roadway, trees, two new bus pullouts, and sidewalks. Gateway II, to be constructed in 2024, will provide similar improvements along the City’s eastern entryway onto Vantage Highway.

2022 By The Numbers

2023-2024 City Budget and General Fund

The 2023-2024 Biennial Budget totals $117,210,483 for 2023 and $106,007,479 for 2024 excluding ending fund balance. The City Budget serves as a policy document, a financial management tool, and a communications device for the biennium (two years). The Budget reflects priorities for operations and capital investments and maintains current levels of service and required reserve balances. It also expands staffing and services aligned with the City Council’s Strategic Vision 2023-2028.

The Budget includes 36 separate funds which each have revenue and expenditure restrictions and requirements. The General Fund is the principal operating fund of the City, including expenditures for police, parks and recreation, engineering, library, planning and development, finance, and general city administration.

Principal sources of General Fund revenues are taxes (property tax, sales tax, Business & Occupation (B&O) tax, and others) 70%, charges for services 22%, licenses and permits 2%, state/federal-shared revenues 3%, and fines/penalties 1%. The City’s combined General Fund revenues are projected at $42,006,664 for the biennium.

Other major fund types are Special Revenue (including Transit), Capital Projects, Debt Service, Enterprise (Utilities), and Internal Service Funds. City utilities—which are essential community services (water, wastewater, electric, natural gas, telecommunications (fiber), and stormwater)—operate as their own business entities and are not supported by tax revenues.

Capital construction and maintenance projects are funded through a combination of local revenues (impact fees and construction sales tax) leveraged to attract state and federal grants. Learn more on the City website.

Ellensburg City Council

The Ellensburg City Council meets twice each month, at 7 p.m., on the first and third Monday in the Council Chambers at Ellensburg City Hall.

All City Council, board, and commission meetings are hybrid. Learn more.