Thurston County

The Business Meeting agenda included the Proclamation of African American Heritage Month for Thurston County and several public comment periods. The Consent Agenda involved numerous actions, such as authorizing the advertisement for commercial real estate brokerage services, approving an Interlocal Agreement with the Thurston Regional Planning Council for Boundary Review Board services, approving contracts for South Sound Green environmental education and amendments to the Regional Environmental Education Partnership Interlocal Agreement, renewing private ambulance business licenses, approving a Data-Sharing Agreement with the Department of Retirement Systems for auditing employee records, approving contracts for 2025 Community Development Block Grant public services subrecipients, authorizing orders under cooperative purchasing contracts, calling for sealed bids for asphalt materials, authorizing an RFQ for Progressive Design-Build services for the WARC Reconfiguration Project, dedicating right-of-way for 56th Avenue NE, writing off uncollectible Public Works accounts receivable and personal property taxes, and several reappointments and appointments to various advisory committees and boards. Department items included approving a grant agreement for Puget Sound Salmon Recovery Grants, approving contracts with Homes First for affordable rental housing preservation, authorizing the temporary closure of Littlerock Rd SW, and approving a grant application for fish barrier removal at Green Cove Creek. The public hearings addressed a Proposed Ordinance for Residential Energy Performance Rating and Disclosure Policy, and proposed ordinances for Precinct Boundary Changes and County Commissioner Districts legal descriptions, which included approving the boundary changes and associated legal description amendments.

The meeting included a joint presentation with the Thurston County Sheriff's Office and the Port of Olympia regarding Harbor Patrol operations, including an introduction of the new Harbor Senior Manager. Discussions covered the history, mission (security, marine safety, emergency response, noting no law enforcement authority), vessels, and staffing of the Harbor Patrol. The session also addressed the organizational transition of the Harbor Patrol program to the Thurston County Sheriff's Office Marine Services Unit. Agenda items for the Board Work Session included a review of the current day's agenda and consideration of a Letter of Support for the Yelm Creative District. Additionally, separate materials for a Business Meeting on the same day indicated approvals for a custodial services contract, a resolution calling for bids for the official county newspaper, an amendment for a Voluntary Stewardship Program cost share project, a contract for DocAccess software, renewal of a PaperCut subscription, installation of security cameras at Voter Services, a grant execution for the Summit Lake Algae Program, authorization to issue an RFP for Pavement Rating Services, approval of a Right-of-Way Vacation for Pingree Avenue, a call for bids for Pavement Preservation, and contracts for School Resource Officers in the Rochester and Rainier School Districts. Further business included extending law enforcement services with the City of Rainier, transferring two vessels from the Port of Olympia to the Sheriff's Office, appointments to the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, and approval of voucher lists from January 26, 2026, and February 2, 2026.

This document outlines the Grand Mound Water System Plan and water use efficiency goals. It details the two parts of the water system plan: Part A, covering general policies, standards, service area, performance criteria, capital improvement programs, water use efficiency, operations, maintenance, water quality monitoring, emergency response, and cross-connection control for all county water systems; and Part B, providing system-specific planning for the Grand Mound system, including current and future water demands, technical, managerial, and financial plans, source protection, and a capital improvement plan. The strategic goals for the Grand Mound Water System aim to reduce water usage at metered connections by 3% by 2030, maintain residential daily water usage at or below 200 gallons per connection, keep Great Wolf Lodge's average daily water usage at or below 120,000 gallons, and maintain water leakage below 10% of water production.

The meeting concluded following an executive session conducted under RCW 42.30110 subsection 1i to discuss legal counsel representation or potential litigation. No action followed the executive session. The commissioners confirmed there were no further items to discuss before adjourning the meeting.

The session served as an informational update regarding the CPA-1 City of Yelm and Thurston County Joint Plan update. This update is a full repeal and replace of the plan last revised in 2006, aiming to incorporate current conditions, maps, and align with existing comprehensive plans and growth management standards. Key discussion points included incorporating feedback received concerning flood control from Alder Lake, natural spaces, farmland, and climate change. The Planning Commission previously issued a unanimous recommendation of approval for the joint plan on July 10th, which was subsequently supported by a letter from the City of Yelm mayor on August 8th. The next steps involve submitting an agenda item sufficient for staff to accept public comment and schedule a public hearing, possibly on September 12th or October 10th, followed by a briefing on October 18th to review public comments.