Pateros City Council approves community events, reviews infrastructure projects

PATEROS – The city council approved a facilities use request from the Pateros/Methow volunteer fire organization to close off Lakeshore Drive from 9 a.m. to noon on March 30 for kids’ safety during the second annual Easter Fair. The group also reserved the entire Memorial Park and Riverview Pavilion for its Easter egg hunt, scavenger hunt, photos with the Easter Bunny, and other activities. The request was among the topics discussed at the regular monthly meeting of the city council on Monday, March 18.

Hog wild

The Columbia River Hog Chapter requested the use of Memorial Park from 10 to 11 a.m. for its Run for the Border Charity Motorcycle Ride

In his report to the council, city administrator Jord Wilson gave a progress update on several projects funded by government grants.

Pateros Mall Renovation

The Focus Committee for the Pateros Mall Renovation Planning Study met earlier this month. Ken VanVoorhis of SPVV Landscape Architects submitted a recommendation for council approval. The study is funded by a $101,625 Rural Development Block Grant and $100,000 from the Okanogan County .09 fund.

TIB Complete Streets

Downtown ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) improvements and the Commercial Avenue project are on hold until the Transportation Improvement Board (TIB) makes the selections for its Complete Streets program. 

“We are hoping to get Commercial Avenue funded so we can do the two projects at the same time,” said Wilson.

TIB has two award cycles, the first held on March 22.

“If we do not get it funded, it goes back in the pot for the second round closer to the end of the month,” Wilson said.

The ADA improvements are funded by a $489,870 TIB grant.

Warren/Riverside Intersection Pilot Project

“As we move through the design phase of this project, a couple of issues have surfaced,” said Wilson. “There is a limited amount of parking at the tennis courts (that) under normal activities is not an issue; however, during tournaments, the overflow spills out into the streets. There has been serious concern about child safety during these events.”

To resolve the issue, Wilson cited two options:

• Engineering will be looking at the turn radii of the entrance and exit of Lower Riverside Drive to ensure that large vehicles, like a bus or fire engine, can safely access the area. This may result in fewer parking stalls.
• One solution is to use the city right-of-way on the east side of the road for additional bus parking. This would require the property owner adjoining the right-of-way to move his private fence back to the property line. Parking on the uphill end of the right-of-way may require some retainage to keep the bank from sloughing off into the parking area. 

While the project is funded by a $135,000 TIB grant, Wilson said he is working with City of Chelan engineer Travis Denham on coordination of material purchases and training.

“The goal is to do as much of the project in-house as TIB will reimburse staff time for the project,” Wilson said.

Highway 97 Pedestrian Crossing and Pathway

Wilson said Kurt Holland, principal engineer with city engineer Varela Engineering & Management, has finished the planning prospectus, which is the equivalent of a project agreement.

“If we can get the project through the Washington State Department of Transportation, the goal is to start the planning process in April and complete it by the end of the year,” Wilson said.

A $99,219 grant is funding the work.

Stormwater Plan

Wilson said he met with the Department of Ecology (DOE)to negotiate a contract agreement.

“The timeline of the project would be to do the inventory of existing infrastructure this summer and fall and write the plan this winter,” Wilson said.

The stormwater plan is 85 percent funded by a $109,000 DOE grant.

Wilson reported that a windstorm damaged the old well house at the tennis courts. The city converted the act of nature into a public convenience.

“The crew removed the building and pump equipment and installed a ring and lid that can be used as a picnic table,” Wilson said.

Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS)

“We are getting close,” said EVCS project manager Jan Somers of getting the new vehicle charging stations on Commercial Avenue online.

The new 350kw charger has been integrated with the city network, and the final component is the credit card reader system. 

“Once that is complete, the tech will come out and turn that one on,” said Somers. “We should be 100 percent complete by early April.”

Pateros Geology Exhibit

“I am looking for volunteers interested in helping with the project,” said Wilson, “I think it would be a great opportunity for students.” 

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media