WENATCHEE — The City Council kicked off the new year with a quick and drama-free meeting unlike pretty much any meeting in 2012 when the city’s financial survival was anything but certain.

“It’s a different place around here than it was a year ago,” Mayor Frank Kuntz said after the 25-minute meeting. “As you can tell by the meeting, the mood is lighter. We’re doing the city’s business, but we’re having fun doing it.”

A year ago, the Town Toyota Center’s nearly $42 million debt was in default, the city’s budget was in trouble and there was no clear path for resolving the financial crisis.

Over the course of last year, two new sales taxes were imposed and the arena’s debt was refinanced. By the end of December, the city’s financial obligation to the arena had dwindled to nothing.

“Our financial picture is back in order,” Kuntz said Thursday night.

During its first meeting of the year on Thursday, the City Council appointed new members to the park board and the planning commission, signed a new lease of space to the Columbia River Drug Task Force, signed a new contract with Charter Communications and appointed Councilman Tony Veeder as mayor pro-tem to serve in Kuntz’s absence.

Kuntz promised the room full of high school students getting class credit that they’d be out the door within an hour. But it was over in less than half an hour.

After the meeting, Kuntz said the city does have some challenges this year, including negotiating new contracts with its unions. But city business is a lot easier to carry out without the legal and financial uncertainly of the Town Toyota Center.

“This is just a way more fun place to come to work now,” he added.

Michelle McNiel: 664-7152

mcniel@wenatcheeworld.com