Moses Lake meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Moses Lake City Council weighs $2.78M in payments; boards review downtown, lodging tax, land-use rules

The Moses Lake City Council met Aug. 12 to consider approving $2,775,394.02 in claims and payroll payments, a routine consent item required by state law. The council also held a study session Aug. 3 to receive reports on downtown and Desert Point, while other city boards met to plan the 2027 lodging tax cycle and review outdoor market and conditional use permit rules. No minutes have been published for any of these meetings, so outcomes are not yet known.

City Council special meeting (Aug. 12)

The council considered a disbursement report covering claims and payroll since July 28. The total of $2,775,394.02 includes:

• Accounts payable checks: $1,335,390.59 (checks 175198–175486)
• Payroll expenses: $563,231.79
• Direct deposits: $858,184.44

Largest payments listed were Lakeside Disposal at $323,870.94, Tyler Technologies at $179,542.14, and Multi Agency Comm Center E911 at $66,764.36. The report also includes refunds and vendor invoices.

City Council study session (Aug. 3)

The council received reports from business street consultant Rod Stevens on the downtown area and the Desert Point proforma. The session also included an executive session to evaluate the performance of a public employee. No action was taken.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (Aug. 7)

The committee reviewed the current lodging tax funding process and set the schedule for the 2027 application cycle. This includes open dates for applications, a meeting for applicant presentations, and a separate meeting for funding review and decisions.

Planning Commission (Aug. 13)

The commission held a second review workshop on outdoor markets and a first review workshop on conditional use permit types. Building Official Chris Horton presented on building permit processes and fees. The commission also approved minutes from its July 16 meeting.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings were listed in the provided data for the next 14 days.

Moses Lake Council weighs kratom rules, opioid funds, fire station options

Moses Lake city officials met four times over the past two weeks, but no minutes have been published yet, so all items remain pending. The most consequential proposals on the table are a new kratom ordinance and $56,710.84 in opioid abatement funding.

City Council — July 28

The council held two meetings on July 28, both with agenda items but no published minutes.

First meeting:

• **Kratom Regulations Ordinance 4001** — The council reviewed options ranging from a total ban to a ban for those under 21. No vote was recorded.
• **Opioid Abatement Council RFP recommendations** — The council considered approving $56,710.84 in opioid abatement funding for local services.
• **Mobile Outreach and Transportation Services (MOTS) Contract Renewal** — Renewal was on the agenda.
• **Street Vacation Ordinance 3098 and Resolution 4047** — Both were listed for consideration.
• **Annexation Policy Ordinance 3099** — Also on the agenda.

Second meeting:

• **Kratom Regulations Ordinance 4001** — The same ordinance was reviewed again, with no decision recorded.
• **Temporary Third Fire Station options** — The council discussed options for a temporary third fire station.
• **Weed Abatement hearing for 938 S. Balsam St. (Resolution 4051)** — A hearing was scheduled.
• **Call Sila Nanotechnologies Covenant Resolution 4052** — Considered.
• **Call REC Silicon Asphalt Portion of Covenant Resolution 4053** — Considered.

City Council study session — August 3

The council held a study session to receive reports from business street consultant Rod Stevens.

• **Downtown Report** — Stevens presented a review of downtown conditions.
• **Desert Point Proforma Review** — Stevens also reviewed the Desert Point financial proforma.
• **Executive Session** — The council held an executive session to evaluate the performance of a public employee. No action was taken publicly.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee — August 7

The committee began planning for the 2027 lodging tax funding cycle.

• **2027 application cycle open dates** — Members reviewed the proposed open dates.
• **Applicant presentations meeting** — A date was discussed for applicant presentations.
• **Funding review/decision meeting** — A date was discussed for funding decisions.

No votes or final decisions were reported from any of these meetings, as minutes have not yet been published. All items are subject to change.

Coming up

No upcoming meetings are listed in the next 14 days. Residents should check the city’s official meeting calendar for any newly scheduled sessions.

Moses Lake Council agendas target kratom rules, opioid funding, and 2027 growth plan; outcomes not yet confirmed

Moses Lake City Council agendas from the past two weeks laid out several consequential items — including a proposed kratom ordinance, $56,710.84 in opioid abatement funding, and the 2027 Comprehensive Plan housing analysis — but minutes have not yet been published, so the city has not confirmed what was decided.

July 28: Kratom regulations and opioid abatement funding

The July 28 City Council meeting agenda listed Ordinance 4001, which would regulate kratom. The agenda presented two options: a total ban or a ban for those under 21. The agenda also included a recommendation from the Opioid Abatement Council RFP for $56,710.84 in funding for local services.

Other items on the July 28 agenda were:

• Mobile Outreach and Transportation Services (MOTS) contract renewal
• Street Vacation Ordinance 3098 and Resolution 4047
• Annexation Policy Ordinance 3099
• Discussion of options for a temporary third fire station
• Weed abatement hearing for 938 S. Balsam St. (Resolution 4051)
• Call Sila Nanotechnologies covenant (Resolution 4052)
• Call REC Silicon asphalt portion of covenant (Resolution 4053)

Because minutes are not yet available, it is not possible to report whether any ordinance or resolution was adopted, amended, or continued.

July 21: 2027 Comprehensive Plan housing analysis

On July 21, the City Council met jointly with the Planning Commission to review the 2027 Comprehensive Plan update. The agenda covered the plan overview, status, and timeline, followed by discussion of future growth and housing allocation, land capacity analysis results, future land use, and urban growth areas. The meeting was scheduled to conclude with next steps for the 2027 update.

Minutes for this meeting have not been published, so no actions or recommendations from the joint session are confirmed in the record provided.

Coming up

• **Aug. 3 — City Council study session.** The Council will receive reports from business street consultant Rod Stevens, including a downtown report and a Desert Point proforma review. An executive session is scheduled to evaluate the performance of a public employee.
• **Aug. 7 — Lodging Tax Advisory Committee.** The committee will begin planning for the 2027 lodging tax funding cycle, including setting open dates for applications and scheduling meetings for applicant presentations and funding decisions.

Residents who want to confirm outcomes from the July 21 and July 28 meetings should watch for the city's published minutes, which are the authoritative record of what was decided.

Moses Lake government roundup: Planning Commission acts, most boards still awaiting minutes

Planning Commission

The only body with published minutes from the past two weeks is the Moses Lake Planning Commission, which met July 16. Commissioners excused Commissioner Davis and approved the minutes from the May 14 meeting. Both motions passed without recorded vote tallies. No other substantive actions were taken.

City Council

The City Council met July 14 on a packed agenda, but minutes have not yet been published, so outcomes are not available. Items on the agenda included:

• **ADA on-street parking assessment** for downtown accessibility, with an estimated cost of $5,000 to $20,000 per stall.
• **Right of Way Vacation Policy**, including proposed Ordinance 3098.
• **Opioid Abatement Council 2026 RFP recommendations.**
• **Temporary third fire station options** discussion.
• **Extraterritorial Agreement Policy** update covering water and wastewater services.
• **Maple Ridge Park settlement agreement.**

Because minutes are not yet public, it is not known which of these items were decided, tabled, or merely discussed.

Civil Service Commission

The Civil Service Commission also met July 14. Agenda items included fire and police department updates on testing and hiring, and proposed language revisions to Civil Service Rules Article 9.05 (Temporary Appointment) and Article 9.06 (Provisional Appointment). Minutes are not yet published.

Municipal Airport Commission

The Airport Commission met July 8 to discuss the proposed 2027–2032 Airport Statewide Capital Improvement Program (SCIP), which outlines $1,301,500 in projects. Those include:

• Pavement maintenance: $300,000 proposed for 2027.
• Airport fencing design at $10,000, with construction phases 1 and 2 at $150,000 and $170,000.
• Turf runway conversion: $130,000 proposed for 2031.
• Runway lighting upgrade: $157,500 proposed for 2028.

The commission was also scheduled to interview applicants for a commission vacancy. Minutes are not yet published, so no actions can be confirmed.

Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Advisory Board

The Parks Board met July 8 to hear a sand volleyball courts presentation by Jennifer DeHoog and an ice rink recap by Tom Los. The agenda also listed updates on the Creative District, 1% for the Arts, water conservation medians, pool heaters, ice rink scoreboards, the Open Space Plan, and the arena chiller. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

July 21 — City Council (joint with Planning Commission): Review of the 2027 Comprehensive Plan, including the overview, status, and timeline. Council members will discuss future growth and housing allocation, land capacity analysis results, future land use, and urban growth areas, followed by next steps for the Comprehensive Plan update.

Moses Lake meetings preview $1.3M airport plan, church expansion hearing; no decisions recorded yet

Moses Lake's recent government meetings covered airport capital projects totaling $1,301,500, a church expansion proposal, and a safety review of the city's $1 million grant-funded chip seal project — but minutes have not yet been published for any of the sessions, so no official decisions are on the record.

Airport Commission outlines $1.3M capital improvement plan

The Municipal Airport Commission met July 8 to discuss the proposed 2027–2032 Airport Statewide Capital Improvement Program (SCIP), which lists $1,301,500 in projects. The breakdown includes $300,000 for pavement maintenance in 2027, airport fencing design at $10,000 with construction phases 1 and 2 at $150,000 and $170,000, a turf runway conversion at $130,000 proposed for 2031, and runway lighting upgrades at $157,500 proposed for 2028. The commission also planned to interview applicants for a vacancy and review budget and old business items including weed spraying and grant money. Minutes are not yet published.

Hearing Examiner considers Source of Life Church expansion

A June 30 public hearing before the Hearing Examiner addressed Conditional Use Permit PLN2026-0022 for Source of Life Church in an R-1 residential district. The proposal includes a 9,200 sq ft two-story building with classrooms, office space, and a warming kitchen, plus parking and circulation upgrades. A secondary gated access to W Abbey Road would be limited to Sunday and emergency use. The applicant stated there would be no increase in overall attendance or traffic generation. Public testimony required prior registration. No decision has been recorded.

City Council reviews street safety data and downtown enhancements

The Council held a June 29 study session to review crash data following the 2025 chip seal and re-striping project on Wheeler Road, Hill Avenue, and downtown streets. That project was $1 million grant-funded. The agenda also included a 200-day safety review, analysis of traffic queue lengths and signal coordination for 15 intersections, and a downtown enhancements kickoff with design firms Northwest Studio, Berger Partnership, and Business Street. The Council planned an executive session to evaluate a complaint against a public officer or employee. Minutes are not yet published.

Parks Board hears Ice Rink and Sand Volleyball updates

The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Advisory Board met July 8. Tom Los presented an Ice Rink recap and Jennifer DeHoog gave a presentation on Sand Volleyball Courts. The board also received cultural services updates on the Creative District and 1% for the Arts program. Ongoing projects listed include water conservation medians and planter strips, pool heaters, ice rink scoreboards, the Open Space Plan, and the arena chiller. Minutes are not yet published.

Coming up

• **July 14 — City Council:** ADA on-street parking assessment (estimated $5,000 to $20,000 per stall), Right of Way Vacation Policy Ordinance 3098, opioid abatement RFP recommendations, temporary third fire station options, a Maple Ridge Park settlement agreement, and kratom regulation discussion.
• **July 14 — Civil Service Commission:** Proposed language revisions to Civil Service Rules Articles 9.05 (Temporary Appointment) and 9.06 (Provisional Appointment), plus fire and police department hiring updates.
• **July 16 — Planning Commission:** Public hearing on a Parking Lot Threshold Amendment, workshops on commercial site development and open air markets, and a discussion on building permit processes and fees.

Moses Lake meetings: street safety review, church expansion hearing, cost recovery fees on the agenda

What was decided

No decisions are confirmed in the public record for this period. All three recent Moses Lake meetings — the June 23 and June 29 City Council sessions and the June 30 Hearing Examiner hearing — are listed as "agenda only," with minutes not yet published. Outcomes, votes, and any dollar figures tied to actions cannot be reported until the official minutes are released. Readers should treat the items below as what was scheduled for discussion, not as final decisions.

City Council, June 23 — cost recovery fees and infrastructure agreements

The Council was set to discuss updates to cost recovery fees in a study by Berk Consulting. Other scheduled items included authorization of night work on a water main tied to the Stratford Road-Alder Street Bridge, review of a Request for Qualifications for operations at the Larson Recreation Center, the Desert Point Sewer Extension Agreement, and extraterritorial agreements for Paradise Point, McAtee, and Desert View. The meeting also listed updates to the unrepresented salary plan.

City Council, June 29 — downtown street safety and enhancement kickoff

A study session was scheduled to review crash data following the 2025 chip seal and re-striping project on Wheeler Road, Hill Avenue, and downtown streets. The agenda describes the project as $1M grant funded and calls for a 200-day safety review. Council members were also set to discuss traffic queue lengths and signal coordination for 15 intersections.

A separate kickoff meeting for downtown enhancements was scheduled with design firms Northwest Studio, Berger Partnership, and Business Street. The Council also planned an executive session to evaluate a complaint against a public officer or employee.

Hearing Examiner, June 30 — Source of Life Church expansion

The Hearing Examiner was scheduled to hold a public hearing on Conditional Use Permit PLN2026-0022 for the expansion of Source of Life Church in an R-1 residential district. The proposed project includes a 9,200 sq ft two-story building with classrooms, office, and warming kitchen, plus on-site parking and circulation upgrades and a secondary gated access connection to W Abbey Road for Sunday and emergency use. The agenda states the applicant reports no increase in overall attendance or traffic generation. Public testimony required prior registration.

Coming up

• **Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Advisory Board — July 8.** Scheduled items include a Sand Volleyball Courts presentation by Jennifer DeHoog, an Ice Rink recap by Tom Los, and a Cultural Services update covering the Creative District and 1% for the Arts. Ongoing projects listed for update include water conservation medians and planter strips, pool heaters, Ice Rink scoreboards, the Open Space Plan, and the Arena Chiller. Public comment is accepted.

Residents seeking confirmed outcomes from the June 23, June 29, and June 30 sessions should watch for the published minutes, which are the authoritative record.

Moses Lake Council eyes downtown safety data, launches enhancement project kickoff

The Moses Lake City Council held a study session this week to review traffic safety results from a $1 million grant-funded re-striping project and kicked off planning for downtown enhancements with outside design firms. No formal votes were taken; the discussions were agenda items in preparation for future decisions.

City Council study session on June 29

Council members reviewed crash data and traffic operations for Wheeler Road, Hill Avenue, and downtown corridors following the 2025 chip seal and re-striping project. The $1 million grant-funded work included new striping and signal coordination at 15 intersections. Staff presented a 200-day safety review, analyzing crash frequency, traffic queue lengths, and signal timing.

The council also held a kickoff meeting for the Downtown Enhancements project with design firms Northwest Studio, Berger Partnership, and Business Street. Following the open session, the council entered an executive session to evaluate a complaint against a public officer or employee. No action was announced following the closed-door discussion.

City Council workshop on June 23

At a workshop session, the council heard an update from Berk Consulting on a Cost Recovery Fee Study. No decision was made. Other agenda items included:

• Authorization for night work on the Stratford Road-Alder Street Bridge water main.
• Review of qualifications for operations of the Larson Recreation Center.
• Desert Point Sewer Extension Agreement.
• Extraterritorial agreements for Paradise Point, McAtee, and Desert View.

Minutes for this meeting have not yet been published.

Hearing examiner

The city’s hearing examiner was scheduled to hold a public hearing on June 30 for a conditional use permit for expansion of Source of Life Church in an R-1 residential zone. The proposal calls for a 9,200-square-foot, two-story building with classrooms, office, and a warming kitchen, plus on-site parking improvements and a secondary gated access to W Abbey Road for Sunday and emergency use. The applicant stated the project would not increase overall attendance or traffic generation. Public testimony was accepted with prior registration.

Coming up

The Parks, Recreation & Cultural Services Advisory Board meets on July 8. Agenda items include a presentation on Sand Volleyball Courts by Jennifer DeHoog, an Ice Rink recap by Tom Los, and updates on cultural services (Creative District, 1% for the Arts) and parks projects. Ongoing projects under review include water conservation medians, pool heaters, ice rink scoreboards, the Open Space Plan, and the arena chiller. Public comment will be accepted.