The Cashmere City Council will hold a public hearing on Monday, October 24, 2022, at

6 p.m. at the Cashmere City Hall. The public is invited to attend and comment regarding the City of Cashmere’s revenue sources and a possible increase in Property Taxes. Written comments can be sent to Kay Jones, City Clerk-Treasurer at kay@cityofcashmere.org. The proposal to pave the Cashmere Pump Track was presented to the Cashmere City Council at their Sept. 26 meeting. Kim Holladay told the Council that her husband, Brent Holladay, was responsible for the pump track being built ten years ago, but he died this past December. His heartbeat was wrapped up with bikes, she explained that her hope is for the pump track to be paved in his honor. James Munley, with Evergreen Bike Alliance, provided the council with detailed plans for the project. According to Munley, he estimated that with local ground source funding and community volunteer support, the track could be rebuilt and paved for about $25,000. According to Munley that is significantly less that the $200,000 needed to build pump tracks in Leavenworth and Quincy, and he emphasized that the design would help reduce maintenance costs. Mayor Jim Fletcher told Holladay and Munley that their next step should be to describe their design to city staff who will make plans for Council approval.

Following up on a request that was made at the previous meeting, the Council discussed the city’s poultry and livestock ordinance. Fletcher explained that the city’s ordinance does permit livestock and poultry in certain zoned areas. If a property Is one contiguous acre or greater, up to 12 chickens, other poultry or rabbits are permitted per acre. Fletcher recommended to the Council that before they start discussing specific changes to the code that they think about what the overall goal is, what do we want in the city and what is the city able and willing to administer. He added that Leavenworth has a permit system for chickens but that he has heard that very few people actually get a permit. Cashmere’s current animal ordinance is fairly simple to administer according to Fletcher. He suggested that any new ordinance be easily enforceable, and he argued that the city did not want to be in the business of measuring setbacks of chicken coops to see if they meet a city regulation. Council members Chris Carlson, Jayne Stephenson and John Perry expressed their support for considering allowing chickens on smaller lot sizes and recommended that the CPC look into specific options. Carlson suggested the need to look into how other cities administers and enforce their ordinance. Derrick Pratt said he was “neutral” on the issue and would like to hear more arguments from both sides of the issue, he expressed concern about enforcement. Cashmere resident, Eva Lorenz, who had brought the issue to the Council earlier in the month, felt that most people who want to have chickens on a small lot will do so responsibly. According to Lorenz, backyard chickens are usually being raised as a learning and family enrichment activity, they are not for saving money but rather for health and education. However, another Cashmere resident, spoke out against allowing chickens on small lots. She argued that in the past when chickens were allowed, her neighbors did not properly take care of the chicken feed and rats and mice became a problem. Smelling chickens is not something she wants to do when she opens her window. She told the Council that if someone wants to have chickens they should live on a farm. She expressed concern that when she called to complain about a neighbor who had a rooster, nothing was done. She questioned why the city does not regulate the numbers of dogs and their barking or enforce ordinances about trash and debris around homes.

Mayor Fletcher reflected on the meeting with Senator Hawkins being a promotion for a regional aquatic center. Cashmere would not see much benefit from such a Center in Fletcher’s opinion. One plan being promoted is the creation of a new Aquatic Center taxing district. Communities would need to choose to join the district and pay the required tax to fund the Center. He recommended that the city watch, wait and see what happens. It might be great for Wenatchee and East Wenatchee, Carlson added, but kids in Cashmere won’t be able to just ride their bike to it, like they can to the Cashmere pool.

 The additional 600+ water meters that have been ordered have still not been received, and Kay Jones, Cashmere’s Clerk/Treasurer said that she had just received word that more meters will not be shipped until Nov. and that only about 200 meters will be available. Depending on the weather they may not be able to be installed at that time. The Council unanimously approved two business items. They amended the city’s Inter-local Agreement with Chelan County for the Sunset Highway project allowing the county to conduct negotiations for right of way acquisition. A contract was approved with Nicholls and Kovich Engineering, PLLC to determine load ratings for four bridges in the city by Dec 31, 2022.