Electric City has agreed to provide Washington State University an additional $1,000 to finish up work on its Pathway and Revitalization project.

The city had contracted with WSU’s Rural Communities Design Initiative team last spring to do initial planning for a project that includes downtown sidewalks, two parks and a trail system along Banks Lake.

WSU Assistant Professor Kathleen Ryan, leader of the group, informed the city that her group would need another $1,000 to complete the project. The WSU RCDI group’s original contract was for $5,000.

The motion to provide another $1,000 passed unanimously by the council at its last meeting.

Deputy City Clerk Russell Powers said that the team was going to break down the various elements of the plan with overlays so the city could eventually apply for grants to fund various parts of the overall plan.

The city plans to meet soon with National Park Service Ice Age Flood officials to move forward on any interpretive message along the trail network and also in the city park projects. The NPS Rivers and Trails emphasis will become part of the city’s plan.

In another development, the city has learned that the overall project will be a separate document that will become part of the city’s Comprehensive Plan.

It earlier was thought that the city would have to revise its Comprehensive Plan, a lengthy process. Now it is apparent that the city’s Pathway and Revitalization plan will be a standalone document.

City Planner Kirk Danson said the plan can be passed without a comp plan amendment. But he suggested the city should hold a public workshop, then have the plan reviewed by various agencies, followed by a public hearing.

The city plans to move forward in applying for various grants as grant filing periods occur.