Leavenworth moves forward on PFAS claims, city policies, yard waste pickup

LEAVENWORTH — The Leavenworth City Council agreed to pursue PFAS-related class-action settlement funds, change the stop sign placement process, update city parks and snow maintenance policies, and upgrade composting and yard waste services during its Sept. 9 meeting.

PFAS

The City of Leavenworth opted to pursue legal services for PFAS product liability litigation in relation to two class-action settlements with major manufacturers 3M and DuPont. The settlement resulted in $13.6 billion set aside to help water districts fund filtration systems or other measures to address PFAS contamination.

Perfluoroalkyl and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), are a broad group of human-made chemicals used since the 1940s, according to the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Also referred to as forever chemicals, PFAS are resistant to breakdown, building up in humans and the environment over time. They can leach into ground and surface water sources, leading to exposure through drinking water. Exposure has been associated with health risks such as increased cholesterol levels, cancer risk, immune system impacts, and natural hormone interference, according to the EPA.

Leavenworth was identified as a potential recipient of settlement funds. However, according to city officials, it was contacted as part of a broader list of jurisdictions, not because of any known significant PFAS contamination.

“I would personally be very surprised if they did find PFAS in our water supply, given the fact that it's up the Icicle [Creek] and wells on the Wenatchee [River],” said City Administrator Matthew Selby.

The legal services will be provided by Jeffers, Danielson, Sonn & Aylward, LLC on a contingency fee basis, and include water testing and filing of the claims at no cost to the city. If the city is awarded funds, the attorneys will receive a third of the settlement award as well as cost reimbursement.

“We have a PFAS monitoring requirement, so that is something that's already being done. We don't have detectable limits, but these are more sensitive tests…It just gives us more information, and then it doesn't have a financial risk to us if they don't find anything,” said Public Works Director Andi Zontek-Backstrum.

City Councilmember Anne Hessburg expressed concern about additional attorney expenses outweighing the settlement amount if awarded. However, contract language clarified that the city would not be responsible for fees that exceed the award. Leavenworth City Council unanimously approved the legal services agreement.

“So worst case scenario, we don't get [the settlement funds],” said Mayor Carl Florea.

Stop Signs Placement Policy

City council also voted to repeal the stop sign placement policy and instead delegate the authority of placement to the city engineer. According to city staff, the current policy was created by the former Public Safety Committee, and includes outdated procedural and technical details that do not align with practical traffic conditions. The change will allow the recently hired city engineer to make these decisions consistent with professional standards and traffic

control guidance. Both City Councilmembers Anne Hessburg and Mike Bedard suggested that the decision-making process be explained on the website.

“I think it also provides another level of transparency if we're removing a policy…It would be great to know how those are equitably being evaluated,” said Hessburg.

Lost and Found Policy at City Parks

The City of Leavenworth amended its city parks policy to explicitly define holding times for lost and found items. Under the amended policy, all lost or abandoned items recovered by city park staff will be held for a minimum of 96 hours. Items will be available for retrieval by visiting City Hall or calling (509)-548-5275, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.

“We don't want to hold on to them longer than that. We have had very unique things that get collected, like a cooler where someone was keeping what seemed like a pet rat,” said Zontek-Backstrum, noting that the four-day time frame accounts for long weekends.

The decision was prompted by a recent incident in which city staff spent considerable time looking for abandoned items that had been disposed of after the owner returned several days later.

Snow and Ice Maintenance Policy

City council approved a new snow and ice maintenance policy, which expands the city’s responsibilities to include snow and ice maintenance on sidewalks in residential zones that are not part of the Safe Routes to School network that is currently maintained. The policy was approved with amended language on page three mirror to Leavenworth Municipal Code 12.20.030: throwing snow and ice into streets. The city council plans to revisit the policy following the 2025-2026 winter to evaluate its effectiveness and make necessary revisions.

Composting and Yard Waste

The City of Leavenworth formalized its arrangement with Winton MFG Compost Works, which has allowed the composting facility to collect community compost in bear-resistant cans on city property for the past two years. Under the agreement, Winton MFG will purchase and install containers that will require a key-code to access. The shift aims to limit the container use to Community Compost Program participants, thus limiting contamination. 

According to Selby, the new containers will replace the ones at city hall, the old Osborn School, and near the Recycling Center on 14th Street, with an additional container placed at the rear of the Glacier Parking Lot.

Additionally, the city council authorized a 10-year agreement with Winton MFG, allowing the compost facility to provide curbside pickup of yard waste for residents within City limits. According to Robette Schmit of Winton MFG, the services will be provided bi-weekly from May through September, and weekly in April and October, with a Christmas tree pickup in January. The service is expected to cost $21 monthly, with a 25 percent discount for seniors. The arrangement is similar to the city’s agreement with Waste Management for curbside pickup of trash and recycling.

Other City Updates

The city council authorized Ardurra Group to provide the City with an Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) Self-Evaluation and Transition Plan for the amount of $120,000. Because the city reached a threshold of 50 employees this year, it is required to evaluate its programs, facilities, and infrastructure to ensure accessibility, then develop a plan to identify barriers and a schedule for removal.

Lastly, a $336,000 professional services agreement with RH2 Engineering was also authorized to prepare the update to the city’s general sewer and wastewater facility plan. The last plan was approved in 2017 and completed in 2021, with heavy focus on phosphorous limits. The new plan will provide a 20-year planning horizon, ensuring compliance with state requirements while planning for future growth, system needs and financial stability.

Taylor Caldwell: 509-433-7276 or taylor@ward.media