Cashmere City Council Meeting

Seven lifeguards have been hired to staff the Cashmere city pool this summer. At the May 23rd City Council meeting, Mayor Jim Fletcher announced that more interviews are scheduled and the city has a goal of having at least 15 lifeguards.

Discussions between Cashmere and the Library District have begun, which could allow the library to move forward with the planning and design of library facilities in the Riverside Center. Fletcher anticipates that in the next few months an agreement would be ready for the Council to review. In a follow-up comment, Fletcher explained that ìthe first agreement, or MOU, is to declare intent to move forward with plans, determine respective responsibilities then enter a long-term lease. As a concept of what the inside of our library could become the new library in Winthrop opens in June.

The Library District’s timeline is to have an agreement in place by fall of 2023, begin renovations in the spring of 2024, with a move-in date in the fall of 2024. In a split 4:1 vote the Council approved a contract with Aerial Paragliding.

The agreement allows the company to conduct on-the-ground training at Riverside Park for a fee of $2.50 per participant, excluding the instructors. Fletcher explained that the agreement is modeled after the one that Cashmere has with rafters, and that the rate is identical. Steve Croci, Director of Operations, reiterated that the agreement is only for on-theground training not for paragliders landing at the park.

Voting against the agreement, Council member, Chris Carlson said that paragliding equipment is large and will take up a lot of space in the park. He argued that the priority should be Cashmere residents using the park, not to benefit a for-profit company. He expressed concern that the paragliders could have access to the park while excluding a mom, family or child who wants to play at the park.

Carlson concluded that he did not think paragliding fits well with the nature of Riverside Park. Council member, John Perry, replied that he appreciated Carlson looking out for city residents, but that he also understood that the park and some of its facilities were paid for by fees collected by non-resident rafters. He expressed that there is a need for a balanced use of the park. Member, Jayne Stephenson felt that since the company is from the area, the agreement would be supporting a local organization. Fletcher added that the agreement only goes through October allowing the city to see how things go.

The Council unanimously approved a procedure for purchasing easements for right of ways on federally funded construction projects. Croci explained that these funds require the city to follow specific procedures when obtaining the property.

The expansion of Sunset Highway will require the city to obtain additional right of way easements for sidewalks. Stephenson asked if this would require people to have to move. Croci replied that would not be necessary, only small pieces of property would be needed. Fletcher suggested that the Council may want to have a budget workshop during the summer to discuss and set some goals for the next few budget cycles. He also announced that an agreement with Fire District 6 is currently being reviewed by the District and that by June the city should have the agreement to review and potentially approve.

Croci gave a shout-out to Crunch Pak for putting in new city sewer and water lines in the company’s new parking lot. In a final announcement, Carlson told the other members that he had attended a conference about gang activity in Wenatchee and E. Wenatchee. He expressed concern about gang activity coming to Cashmere and suggested coordinating with the school to bring in a speaker to discuss the issue.