City of Tumwater

The meeting commenced with a roll call and the appointment of Troy Patients to the steering committee was discussed, pending formal approval. A significant agenda item involved addressing concerns raised by new condo residents regarding trash blown into the lake, leading to a discussion about organizing a work party for trash pickup. The committee reviewed the proposed March newsletter, noting assignments for various sections, including wildlife, lakeside perspectives, and habitat information from Grant Gilmore regarding a natural yard care program aimed at reducing fertilizer and pesticide use. Further discussion clarified procedures regarding excused absences from future meetings based on bylaws. The structure of the 'Walk About' event was debated to ensure compliance with open meeting regulations, concluding that if city representatives are absent, it would not constitute an official meeting.

The meeting commenced with roll call and the Pledge of Allegiance. Key agenda items included the proclamation of American Red Cross Month, which featured remarks from the Executive Director of the American Red Cross South Puget Sound and Olympic Chapter, Shannon Glenn. Council members expressed interest in CPR training and life-saving awards. Following this, a proclamation recognizing March as National Women's History Month was read, with significant discussion regarding the contributions and challenges faced by women in leadership, referencing the 2026 theme 'Leading the Change: Women Shaping a Sustainable Future.' Public comment focused heavily on the recent removal of a Student Resource Officer (SRO) from Bush Middle School without apparent prior notice to parents, raising concerns about transparency following stated changes in direction for the police department and the recently signed SRO interlocal agreement.

The meeting focused primarily on two agenda items: a reimbursable agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation (WashDOT) for the Tom Water Boulevard and I5 interchange project, and the final acceptance of work for the Lynwood Avenue sidewalk to Second Avenue project completed by Northwest Cascade. The interchange discussion detailed the project's phased approach (Phases 1 and 2 involving roundabouts, with Phase 3 for future bridge improvements) driven by development growth and cost considerations, estimating the agreement at $200,000 to cover WashDOT review and inspection time. The Lynwood Avenue project overview detailed multimodal improvements including 3,750 linear feet of reconstructed sidewalk, 31 new curb ramps, traffic calming measures, and roadway repaving of approximately 87,000 square feet. The project also involved coordination regarding driveway entrances, utility relocations, and accommodating a relocated bus stop for Inner City Transit at the 7th Avenue intersection. The final contract total for the Lynwood project exceeded the engineer's estimate by 15.96%.

The meeting consisted primarily of applicant interviews for lodging tax funding, with one segment dedicated to the South Sound Block Party presentation, which detailed significant financial success in its third year, noting that $1 in concert ticket sales generated $12 in the local economy. Key findings included ticket buyers representing 37 states and a strong advanced sales percentage from outside the local area. The committee also heard a presentation from the Olympic Flight Museum regarding their application for funding for the 2025 Olympic Air Show, highlighting strong lodging impacts from their recent event with over 9,000 attendees, including significant percentages of tourists and international visitors. A representative from the Tumwater Historical Association presented on their organization's need for support following difficulties during the pandemic, noting a transition to new leadership and seeking $5,000 in funding to maintain energy and focus on local history and tourism.

The meeting commenced with the approval of the October 9th meeting minutes. Key agenda items included an update on the preparation process for the city food system plan, focusing on community concerns regarding food insecurity, access to food, local agriculture, food processing, and food waste reduction. The consultant emphasized stakeholder engagement and the development of an assessment and future goals. Additionally, the committee addressed an amendment to an interlocal agreement (ILA) with the Regional Housing Council for the France Anderson project, specifically to update funding sources from ARPA funds to General Funds. Finally, the committee reviewed and moved to approve an ILA with Lacy, Olympia, and Yelm to update accessory dwelling unit (ADU) plans to incorporate recent state energy code updates. The meeting concluded with a presentation on proposed amendments to Title 14 (Development Code Administration) and related municipal code sections to comply with State Senate Bill 5290 regarding local land use permit review timeliness.