City Council

TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 1 CONVENE: 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Debbie Sullivan and Councilmembers Peter Agabi, Michael Althauser, Joan Cathey, Leatta Dahlhoff, Angela Jefferson, Charlie Schneider, and Eileen Swarthout. Staff: Community Development Director Michael Matlock, City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick, Communications Manager Ann Cook, Police Chief Jon Weiks, Fire Chief Brian Hurley, Information Services Manager Lance Inman, K9 Officer Russ Mize, and City Clerk Melody Valiant. SPECIAL ITEMS: LGBTQIA+ Councilmember Swarthout read a proclamation declaring the month of June COMMUNITY PRIDE 2022 as LGBTQIA+ Community Pride Month. The proclamation calls upon MONTH the people of the City of Tumwater to join in celebrating diversity, PROCLAMATION: promoting inclusion and equal protection under the law, and encourage the elimination of discriminatory policies and practices toward any culture, race, or group. Mayor Sullivan introduced Natalie Coblentz representing Capitol City Pride. Ms. Coblentz thanked the City Council for issuing the proclamation. She and her partner are hosting the Capitol City Pride’s 2022 Festival this year. The Council and community are invited to participate on June 4, 2022 at the Port Plaza in Olympia. Local artists musicians, and craft vendors from the LGBTQI community will be featured. POLICE OFFICER Police Chief Weiks recognized K9 Police Officer Russ Mize as the 2021 OF THE YEAR: Officer of the Year. Officer Mize joined the department in July 2001. He previously was honored as the Police Officer of the Year in 2004 and 2007. In 2006, Office Mize established the K9 Program for the City of Tumwater. Officer Mize has been the department’s lone K9 handler and has contributed tremendously to establish and operate the program. Officer Mize is a highly respected Master K9 Handler not only locally but also statewide. In 2008, Officer Mize was awarded the meritorious service award for his contributions to a more effective and efficient police department. In 2014, Officer Mize received the Chief’s Award for his relentless pursuit of criminals and safeguarding the community, dedication to the K9 profession, and upholding Tumwater Police Department standards. The Officer of the Year is selected by peers within the Police Guild membership. This year the endorsement by the Guild declared how Officer Mize has proven to be a valuable member of the Tumwater Police Department for many years. This past year, Officer Mize demonstrated what an outstanding team member he is and continually goes above and beyond by changing his schedule as needed to fill gaps when required. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 2 Officer Mize maintains a great attitude and is positive and upbeat no matter the situation. With changes in how the department conducts business especially in the high liability of K9 deployment, it would be easy to become disillusioned and apathetic; however, Officer Mize took the challenges of new legislation and found ways to adapt. Officer Mize is well respected and liked by all employees of the Tumwater Police Department. He has earned being Officer of Year for 2021. Police Chief Weiks presented Officer Mize with a plaque acknowledging his selection as 2021 Police Officer of the Year. Police Chief Weiks recognized the late Bill McLaughlin, who for many years recognized Tumwater's Police Officer of the Year by presenting a U.S. Flag which was flown over the U.S. Capitol, Washington State Capitol, and City Hall. Police Chief Weiks presented a U.S. Flag to Officer Mize. Prior to his death, Mr. McLaughlin created an endowment to ensure the tradition continues in the future. The Vice President of the Police Guild spoke in support of Officer Mize’s selection as Police Officer of the Year. Police Officer Mize thanked the Council and his fellow officers for their recognition and his wife, Patty Mize for her support. He thanked the department’s command staff for supporting the K9 Program and citizens of Tumwater with whom he has had positive interaction and who support the K9 Program. PROCLAMATION: Councilmember Dahlhoff read a proclamation declaring the week of May EMS WEEK MAY 15- 15 – 21, 2022 as Emergency Medical Services Week in the City of 21, 2022: Tumwater. The proclamation urges all people to join in the observance to recognize those who give so much of themselves and consistently rise to the challenge for the safety and health of others. Fire Chief Hurley thanked the Council for issuing the proclamation in observance of Emergency Medical Services Week and for recognizing the work of emergency medical providers in the City and throughout Thurston County. The Tumwater Fire Department currently has 28 certified Firefighter/Emergency Medical Technicians and 17 certified Firefighter/Paramedics. Last year, they responded to 4,500 calls for medical assistance. The Tumwater Fire Department is part of a larger system providing care throughout the county. Over the past several years, the department has experienced impacts from the pandemic. The entire City workforce has been challenged but continues to provide the highest level of care and service to the community. He thanked the Council for supporting the City’s medical professionals as they continue to deliver the highest quality emergency medical care throughout the community. STATE OF THE Cheryl Heywood, Executive Director, Timberland Regional Library (TRL) TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 3 TIMBERLAND presented the 2021 state of the library and several 2022 initiatives. The REGIONAL Thurston County Trustees on the TRL Board include Nicolette Oliver, LIBRARY: Member-at-Large and Board President, and Mary Beth Harrington. Lily Grant serves as the Tumwater Library Manager. Throughout 2021, TRL libraries served as anchor institutions playing an essential role in the communities they serve. Highlights during 2021 focused on local communities and increasing TRL’s presence in underserved communities; diversity, equity, and inclusion; and empowering children from birth to five years of age. The Board of Trustees approved the opening of two demonstration libraries with a two-year lease at Capital Mall and a three-year lease at the Hawks Prairie location. Wireless infrastructure was upgraded at all libraries and at the headquarters location in Tumwater. Ms. Heywood described different types of book purchases for toddlers, preschoolers, and library patrons. To accommodate the opening of the two demonstration libraries in west Olympia and Hawks Prairie, TRL reviewed internal processes and installed automated equipment at the Lacey Library, Olympia Library, and at the Headquarters facility to improve processing. During the pandemic, TRL worked with the five counties in partnership with cities, U.S. Forest Service, ports, and hospitals to install StoryTrail, a fun and engaging way for families to combine a love of nature and a love of reading. All 29 libraries continue to serve as connection sites for the Work Source system across the five-county region. Ms. Heywood serves as a Pacific Mountain Workforce Development Council Boardmember. She oversees, the One-Stop Committee overseeing the Worksource program within the region. In 2021, TRL had 32,397,000 active cardholders in Tumwater checking out 258,268 items and downloading 180,313 eBooks, eAudio books, and eMagazines. 2022 initiatives included new open hours for Thurston County libraries expanding open hours to 330 hours a week, with Tumwater Library open for 54 hours a week from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. TRL expanded assess hours for individuals 18 years or older by the use of their library card to access a keycard system for accessing the McCleary Library from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. As of May 16, 2022, the Ocean Park, Packwood, and Hoodsport libraries are offering expanded hours through keycard access. Tumwater patrons can request a keycard to access those libraries from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. daily. At the Tumwater Library in partnership with U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services, the library is offering fishing kits to include fishing rods for children and adults, a tackle box, a Discover Pass, and other items for fishing. TRL also offers a seed library with free seeds at each community TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 4 library. Storytime will be offered at Pioneer Park each Wednesday from July 6, 2022 to August 17, 2022 at 10 a.m. Ms. Heywood shared a quote describing what TRL has provided to communities, especially over the last two years. She invited questions from the Council. Councilmember Dahlhoff asked about the availability of the annual report. Ms. Heywood said the Council should have received a copy of the report via an email. It is also available at www.trl.org. She confirmed the Council would receive a link to the site. Councilmember Cathey asked whether TRL has been affected by recent national efforts to ban books. Ms. Heywood advised that TRL receives some comments each year surrounding concerns of a particular item in the collection. Patrons complete and submit a comment resource form. TRL implements an internal review process to review the complaint and respond to the concerns. However, TRL does not eliminate or ban any materials offered through TRL, as the Board adopted policies on the intellectual freedom to read, view, and listen. Councilmember Jefferson inquired about the percentage of Spanish language patrons. Ms. Heywood said TRL does not track that information. She offered to follow-up with the Council. TRL often ask patrons if they are interested in Spanish language materials. TRL operates in a national union environment and staff is compensated extra if they speak Spanish. TRL is including additional language as identified from the Office of Financial Management within the five-county region. TRL markets posters and other materials in Spanish and English. The Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion (EDI) Action Plan is updated each quarter. TRL was recently audited for all online content on the Overdrive platform. The results reflected that TRL has one of the top EDI collections in the country. Ms. Heywood responded to questions and described online services offered by the libraries. TRL also offers 100 pages (double-sided) a week of free printing. She explained TRL’s process for reviewing new books and other materials prior to adding items to TRL’s collection. TRL does not collaborate with local school districts to identify permissible books. TRL is a junior taxing district governmental entity serving as an intercounty rural library district allowed by RCW 27.1. Schools are a different system in terms of determining library collections versus a public library. For many years, TRL and the Tumwater School District have had a memo of understanding offering all K-12 students a specific number to access all TRL online resources for homework help and support. The five-county region includes 44 school districts with 27 districts offering online resources. The Tumwater School District was one of the first districts in Thurston County to participate in the program. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 5 Several Councilmembers complimented TRL and the Tumwater Library for superb customer service and increasing options for accessibility. THURSTON Marc Daily, Executive Director, Thurston Regional Planning Council REGIONAL (TRPC), shared information on current activities and ongoing work on PLANNING transportation and land use. COUNCIL UPDATE: TRPC is celebrating its 55th year. The organization was created by the Legislature as a voluntary organization with membership from cities, counties, and special purpose districts within a region to work on issues spanning jurisdictional boundaries. TRPC receives federal funds for local transportation projects programmed through the Transportation Policy Board totaling approximately $5 million each year. TRPC works with its members on transportation, land use, and environmental plans, as well as other types of action plans, such as the Housing Action Plan and the Climate Action Plan. TRPC serves as a clearinghouse for regional statistical information on population, employment, and housing. Recent attention generated within the community has focused on TRPC’s top priority of the I-5 corridor beginning with a study on congestion and ways to mitigate congestion along I-5 and local systems. As TRPC initiated the work, the Nisqually Indian Tribe identified the Nisqually River bridge as essentially a dam across the Nisqually River. In the early 1960s as a cost saving measure, the state filled most of the bridge support structure with rocks and dirt. The bridge was originally constructed on pillars. That cost- saving measure was in opposition to the dynamics of a river system with energy diverted forming a channel towards I-5 during peak flow events. TRPC and the tribe worked with the U.S. Geological Survey to model the hydrology and estimated that between the next 17 and 25 years based on current rates of erosion, the Nisqually River will create a channel to I-5 without a major flooding event. The second issue is habitat. Underwater topography of different elevations of the river reveals constraints along the river affecting salmon recovery. In terms of transportation along the I-5 corridor, two main pinch points contributing to congestion include the corridor from Sleater-Kinney to the Highway 101 interchange. A transportation model forecasting to 2045 reflected a five to seven-mile daily traffic backup from the 101 interchange to the exit at Hawks Prairie. The second pinch point is in Pierce County at Mounts Road. Recent construction along that segment of the corridor includes the addition of an HOV lane between Thorne Lane to Mounts Road with completion scheduled by 2025. At Mounts Road, the freeway lanes reduce from four to three lanes. Similar modeling of that area reflects that by 2045, that segment of the corridor would experience a daily seven- mile backup. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 6 Because of the lack of alternative routes to I-5 along the corridor from Tumwater to Pierce County, TRPC explored options to improve the region’s I-5 corridor. One option was increasing the function of State Route 507 by adding three roundabouts. The Legislature passed Move Ahead Washington, which includes $75 million for I-5 improvements. TRPC is working closely with the Legislature on the legislative intent of the funds and whether it includes $19 million necessary to construct the three roundabouts. The roundabouts must be constructed first before any other improvements as it serves to improve an alternate route to ease congestion along the corridor. Two reports released include the Phase 1 report released two years ago and in March 2022, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) released a Planning and Environmental Linkages Report, a federal process for ongoing work on strategies to improve congestion along I-5. One strategy is the part-time use of the freeway shoulder between Sleater Kinney Road and Henderson Boulevard with some improvements by WSDOT to improve and harden the freeway shoulder for use as a freeway lane during peak periods. Recent modeling of improvements to bridges and adding an HOV lane between Mounts Road and Marvin Road with or without the use of the freeway shoulder documented the cost at approximately $15 million. The results increase capacity to the interstate system without adding new pavement. Mr. Daily added that he is encouraging all elected officials to refer to the I-5 corridor from Mounts Road to Tumwater and not focus on geographic segmentation as it could result in missing some opportunities, similar to what the recent modeling documented. Efforts have been ongoing with local governments to consider some language changes for review with TRPC partners to the north on May 9, 2022. Many jurisdictions to the north of the county would prefer to keep the focus on the Nisqually Delta area while TRPC would prefer to pursue cost-effective and practical solutions to receive some benefits prior to addressing the Nisqually Delta area. Mr. Daily reported federal infrastructure funding included $550 billion in new transportation money over the next five years, more than previously allocated by the federal government. The Thurston region applied for a grant of $1 million. Another construction-related program has increased from $5 million to $20 million. The region will need to consider larger regional transportation projects to take advantage of the increased funding because many jurisdictional projects would not meet some of the minimum costs. Packaging projects for a regional application both strengthens the coalition and conveys a better story of how the investments will improve the region. The City’s Deschutes Valley Trail is still seeking funds to complete the trail system, as well as the trail connection from Karen Fraser Woodland Trail to Tumwater Historical Park. Those connections could be funded with federal infrastructure funds. He encouraged the Council to TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 7 “think big” on transportation projects because of the availability of federal funds at this time. Mr. Daily reported he met with Senator Marko Liias, Chair of the Senate Transportation Committee, about high capacity transportation during the last legislative session. Some work has been initiated through TRPC to examine options for the region to expand high capacity transportation. During that meeting, Senator Liias commented on the ongoing work along I-5 across the Nisqually Delta and noted that any improvements in high capacity transportation would need to cross the Nisqually Delta. He suggested working on the high capacity transportation plan to ensure it could be incorporated within the design of the I-5 improvements. TRPC received $250,000 in the supplemental budget and is studying enhanced express bus service with and without HOV lanes, commuter rail, light rail, and improvements necessary to accommodate the Cascadia ultra high-speed rail project. WSDOT recently contracted to complete the National Environment Policy Act (NEPA) review for I-5 improvements with scoping anticipated to begin by the end of the year. The NEPA scoping process is an incredible opportunity for TRPC and its members to include part-time shoulder use, trail connections as a possible mitigation option, and any other projects regional partners would like to be considered as part of the I-5 improvement project along I-5. TRPC plans to provide additional information to members on the NEPA scoping process. Councilmember Swarthout stressed the importance of receiving funds for the completion of trails as it could transform the entire area and provide a safe way to access downtown Olympia. Councilmember Schneider inquired about the timeline for elevating the Nisqually Bridge. Mr. Daily advised that the NEPA review process requires approximately two years to complete. Completion of NEPA is an important step to receive federal funds as elevating the area around the Nisqually Delta will cost approximately $1.5 billion. Following completion of the NEPA review, $75 million is available for design for the delta area, which will require a minimum of two years. TRPC is targeting 2027 to seek construction funds and is competing with the Columbia River crossing project, which has received $1 billion for the Move Ahead Washington project. Councilmember Agabi inquired about the location and length for improvements to the freeway shoulder. Mr. Daily advised that the shoulder hardening work would encompass the freeway segment between Sleater Kinney Road and Henderson Boulevard. Councilmember Agabi remarked that most of the congestion from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. is at the interchange of I-5 and Highway 101. Hardening the shoulder does not appear to alleviate the TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 8 congestion at the chokehold of I-5 and Highway 101. Mr. Daily noted that the region has two major choke points and because of the urgency of the Nisqually Delta, part-time shoulder work is a temporary measure. However, TRPC will continue to explore strategies to improve the I-5/101 interchange. Councilmember Cathey asked whether the roundabout at SR 507 would relieve traffic from the Nisqually Delta. Mr. Daily described the traffic congestion and backups at SR 507 and SR 702 (Graham). A roundabout would increase circulation through the area. All three roundabouts in concert would keep traffic moving. The strategies do not include a prior consideration of a cross base highway as TRPC explored only strategies to reduce congestion along I-5. He added that not all improvements would solve all congestion issues as the region’s population expands. The goal is to improve mobility for people, goods, and services. Councilmember Swarthout commented that she is pleased to represent Tumwater on TRPC and is appreciative of the work completed by TRPC. She asked whether SR 507 would be considered an alternate to access the base. Mr. Daily advised that direct access to the base from SR 507 is not possible; however, the base has two entrances that can be accessed indirectly from SR 507. Councilmember Swarthout inquired about the status of an entrance to the base following the Amtrak derailment. Mr. Daily said TRPC is considering a strategy for opening the perimeter road normally closed to non-military vehicles. Following the derailment, the military opened the road to traffic for access to the base from I-5. The base has indicated a willingness to consider the option, which will be included in the modeling to be completed. Councilmember Swarthout asked whether the City’s E Street Extension project could be considered for funding from the infrastructure funding package. Mr. Daily affirmed the project could be a good candidate for funding after additional review to determine if the project meets specific federal requirements. Councilmember Swarthout reported she attended a seminar sponsored by the Walkability Institute promoting the importance of trails to the health of a community and the effects on a community when a major corridor or freeway is constructed through the middle of a city. The seminar highlighted the importance of communities improving connections to increase walkable options. Mr. Daily said the infrastructure funding package also has prioritized some funding for issues caused by previous decisions for locating highways and freeways through communities. The focus is mainly on those areas of lower wealth; however, there could be some funding opportunities for Tumwater as I-5 did split the City. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 9 PUBLIC COMMENT: Larry Madren was unable to provide comments because of technical difficulties. Mayor Sullivan encouraged Mr. Madren to provide written comments to the Council. CONSENT a. Approval of Minutes: City Council Worksession, April 12, 2022 CALENDAR: b. Approval of Minutes: City Council, April 19, 2022 c. Payment of Vouchers d. Reappointment of Erin Carrier, Mike Culley and Kelly Stowe to the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners and David Bills, Brian Reynolds and Satpal Sohal to the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (Hanna Miles) e. Barclift Park & Tumwater Hill Park Restroom Improvements – Award and Authority to Sign Contract MOTION: Councilmember Dahlhoff moved, seconded by Councilmember Schneider, to approve the consent calendar as published. A voice vote approved the motion unanimously. Mayor Sullivan reviewed the items approved on the consent calendar. COMMITTEE REPORTS: PUBLIC HEALTH & The next meeting is scheduled on May 10, 2022 at 8 a.m. The agenda SAFETY: includes a Veteran Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder briefing, a District Court Leatta Dahlhoff update, an update on Narcan distribution, and review and recommendation on the First Amendment to Nisqually Jail Service Agreement. GENERAL At its last meeting on April 13, 2022, the committee discussed annexation GOVERNMENT: of county islands and Urban Forestry Management Plan amendments. The Michael Althauser next meeting is scheduled on May 11, 2022 for a discussion on binding site plan amendments. PUBLIC WORKS: The next meeting is scheduled on May 5, 2022 at 8 a.m. and includes a Eileen Swarthout public hearing on the 2022 - 2035 Barnes Lake Management District (BLMD) Assessment Increase and an update on the status of the City’s Operations and Maintenance Facility. BUDGET AND There was no meeting and no report. FINANCE: Debbie Sullivan MAYOR/CITY Director Matlock reported Tumwater Police Department and Tumwater ADMINISTRATOR’S HOPES sponsored a medication take-back event. The event resulted in the REPORT: proper disposal of 175 pounds of prescription medication. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 10 A Red Cross Blood Drive is scheduled at the Tumwater Fire Department from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Wednesday, May 25, 2022. Appointments may be scheduled online through the City’s website. Two future community events include a community meeting on the City’s Operations and Maintenance Facility and neighborhood park featuring three 1-hour sessions beginning at 4:30 p.m. on Wednesday, May 18, 2022. Residents will be able to discuss issues with staff members and the design team and view updated plans and share feedback on the facility design, landscaping, lighting, property buffers, design elements, overall theme, and intersection improvements at 70th Avenue and Old Highway 99. An upcoming virtual Regional Fire Authority Town Hall will be hosted by the Cities of Olympia and Tumwater on Thursday, May 19, 2022 at 6 p.m. The remote meeting provides a good opportunity to learn about fire and emergency services, regionalization, and impacts on services to the community. Interested individuals can access www.olympiatumwaterrfa.org. Mayor Sullivan reported on her attendance to the last Community Action Council of Lewis, Mason, and Thurston County. Discussions have been occurring with Thurston County about the organization. The conversations have moved forward and an update will be released on the status of those conversations. Mayor Sullivan said she plans to meet individually with Councilmembers over the next several weeks to receive feedback on the proposed budget. Mayor Sullivan encouraged the Council to complete their application for participation in the City’s 4th of July Parade. Councilmember Cathey asked for additional information on the request for the Council to provide feedback on the proposed budget. Mayor Sullivan explained that she is seeking input from the Council on items that should move forward or to include in the budget. The process is similar to former Mayor Kmet’s meetings with the Council. Councilmember Dahlhoff offered examples of some budget requests she plans to request. One request is a line item within the budget for Council discretion to respond to unexpected activities or needs. Mayor Sullivan announced the hiring of the Sustainability Coordinator and an Economic Development Manager. The Sustainability Coordinator’s first day was Monday, May 2, 2022. The Economic Development Manager is scheduled to start working in June. COUNCILMEMBER TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 11 REPORTS: Angela Jefferson: At the April 20, 2022 meeting of the Thurston County Emergency Medical Services Council, members discussed ALS and BLS response time reports. The average time for urban, suburban, and rural response reflects compliancy over 90% of the time. Members received a Disaster Medical Coordination Center and Training presentation focusing on the Amtrak derailment as an example on how to improve emergency response preparedness. Three issues were identified as affecting emergency medical response. They include hospital discharge to long-term care, the hospital staffing bill recently passed by the Legislature, and regional isolation and quarantine facilities. The Department of Health is anticipated to respond to the questions before the June meeting. The 90-day no divert proposed by the hospital initiative is working well. Multicare has assumed the lead for the initiative in Thurston County. At the last meeting of Experience Olympia (Visitor and Convention Bureau) on April 19, 2022, members adopted the 2022 Business and Marketing Plan. The annual meeting has been scheduled on June 1, 2022 from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. Councilmembers Jefferson and Schneider are planning to attend. The annual meeting will be held at the Indian Summer Golf Course. Tumwater’s recent Easter Egg Dash was mentioned on Seattle websites as one of the best Easter egg events for the Seattle area in 2022. Local models are being sought for a filming a Biking Beyond at Thurston County video on June 3 and 4, 2022. Councilmember Jefferson attended the Thurston Regional Law and Justice Council meeting on April 21, 2022. Legislative bills related to courts included legal and financial obligations. Members reviewed several bills adopted by the Legislature focusing the limiting ghost guns. The Thurston County Sheriff had indicated the presence of ghost guns is not problematic in the area. Joan Cathey: Councilmember Cathey attended the Regional Housing Council (RHC) on April 26, 2022 with Councilmember Althauser. Upcoming meetings include the Solid Waste Advisory Committee, the RHC Funding Committee, the Olympic Area Clean Air Agency, the General Government Committee, and another RHC meeting. Charlie Schneider: Councilmember Schneider attended the April 25, 2022 Climate Action Steering Committee meeting. Members are updating the committee’s charter. Members elected new officers and established term limits. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 12 At the April Tumwater Area Chamber of Commerce meeting, members discussed real estate. The average house price in Thurston County is $531,000. In 2018, the average price for a home was $350,000 reflecting an increase of $200,000 in valuation over a four-year period. The average time a home is on the market is less than 14 days. Councilmember Schneider attended the City’s Earth Day and Arbor Day celebrations at Historical Park on Saturday, April 23, 2022. The Tree Board distributed 100 free tree seedlings. Volunteers spread landscaping mulch and the Parks and Recreation Department hosted a lunch for all volunteers. Councilmember Schneider participated in the Tumwater HOPES/Tumwater Police Department medical lockbox distribution event. Approximately 11 boxes were provided to the community as well as collecting prescription drugs. The next Tumwater Youth Program Grade School Night is scheduled on Friday, May 6, 2022 from 7 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. at Peter G. Schmidt Elementary School. The middle school event is scheduled on Friday, May 13, 2022 from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. at Bush Middle School. Peter Agabi: At the last meeting of the Joint Animal Services Committee (JASCOM), the Executive Director presented the 2022 budget. Members approved a budget amendment of $5,000 for improvements to the animal facility. Staff recommended and received approval of a candidate for appointment to JASCOM representing non-profits. Leatta Dahlhoff: The last meeting of the Regional Fire Authority (RFA) Planning Committee was on April 25, 2022. Members discussed feedback received from members of the Olympia and Tumwater City Councils. Members finalized the plan for initial public outreach sessions and continue to work on governance options and an initial options package. Members are scheduled to begin discussing jurisdictional boundaries of the RFA. The committee meets twice a month with the next meeting scheduled on May 9, 2022 to continue discussions on governance, identification of three to four preferred options, an initial draft finance plan review forecast of seven years, and an update on Fire Benefit Charge data collection and analysis. At the last meeting of the Thurston County Opioid Response Task Force, members reviewed some statistics. The tracking of data from 2020 to 2021 on opioid substance use reflects a 40% increase in overdose cardiac incidents with 22 overdose deaths in 2021. Statistics reveal Thurston County is experiencing a reduction in 911 calls but overdoses are increasing because many people are switching from using heroin to fentanyl. She encouraged everyone to visit the Thurston County Public Health webpage for information on a variety of prevention programs. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 13 Michael Althauser: One of the significant actions by members of the RHC was renewal of contracts for services in the community. Generally, the contracts cover two years but are renewed after the first year to ensure a benchmark to measure outcomes and progress. Most of the contracts are progressing well and are on track with several providers experiencing difficulty hiring staff to deliver services to the community. The Funding Committee reviewed the contracts and provided a recommendation for renewal of all contracts. The Council also renewed the consolidated homeless grant and housing essential needs contract of $4.4 million. The Council’s 2163 funding total another $1.5 million for services directly provided to people experiencing homelessness. A third smaller funding source is available of $291,000 from the Human Services Fund. The Council received the final count of the Point in Time Count from the January count. In Thurston County, 766 people were experiencing homelessness reflective of a lower rate than last year and 2020. However, it does not mean the rate of homelessness has reduced because of the challenges associated with the inability to contact all people. One of the findings is the high number of co-occurring disorders and health conditions. Many are experiencing some kind of mental health issue or disorder during their homelessness experience. Approximately 40% of the homeless are experiencing some form of mental health disorder. The homeless also experience higher rates of physical disability, substance use disorders, and developmental disabilities. Approximately 72% of the homeless receiving services lived in Thurston County while 4% reported a prior residence from another state. Members received an update on the homeless encampment along Ensign Road. The area has experienced an increase in vehicles parked along the road hindering ambulances from accessing the hospital requiring a reroute via Lilly Road, which has increased response time by 60 seconds to three minutes. Thurston County and the City of Olympia may take some action to clean up of the area because of an increase in incidents occurring along the road. The City of Olympia and Thurston County obtained property to address vehicle parking. However, the timeline for moving the vehicles is unknown at this time. Councilmember Althauser met with the Funding and Governance Workgroup for the Capitol Lake Deschutes Estuary project to discuss preliminary next steps as it appears the estuary is the preferred alternative for management of Capitol Lake. Next steps include examining costs to implement the alternative. Local jurisdictions should anticipate some responsibility for ongoing maintenance expenses. The state would likely fund all dredging operations and most of the upfront capital costs with local jurisdictions responsible for maintenance costs. The RHC retreat is scheduled on Friday, May 6, 2022 with the second day of the retreat scheduled on Friday, May 13, 2022. Eileen Swarthout: Councilmember Swarthout reported she was able to take a two-week vacation. She commented on the efforts by the Council in addition to TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 14 attending Council meetings. She is appreciative of the time and effort each Councilmember contributes to serve the City of Tumwater. OTHER BUSINESS: Councilmember Cathey referred to the community meeting for the City’s new Operations and Maintenance Facility on May 18, 2022. She expressed concerns about the recommendation of not attending the community meeting. The results of the meeting would be reported to the Council by staff. As a Councilmember for the City of Tumwater she asked why staff is recommending against the attendance by the Council other than avoiding a quorum of the Council. The meeting includes three sessions, which affords an opportunity to stagger attendance to avoid a quorum. She is not comfortable with the decision nor is she comfortable speaking to community members about the lack of Council presence during the community meeting. Mayor Sullivan responded that the community meeting is intended for staff to present and describe the project and receive feedback from the community. Councilmember Cathey noted the plan for the facility has changed since the last meeting with the community. The last meeting with the community did not restrict attendance by Councilmembers. She suggested the situation has changed and has created an uncomfortable environment, as the Council is not being allowed to interact with the community. Mayor Sullivan emphasized that the purpose of the community meeting is to provide information on the proposal to the public and receive any feedback. Manager Cook reported the Council recently received training on community engagement. The model for the community meeting is IAP2, which is an international model based on best practice for community engagement. Staff reviewed the opportunity to re-engage with the community and recommended the model of inform and consent to update the community on modifications to the site plan, reduction in building size, reduced traffic and staffing by 30%, and the concurrent projects of the roundabout and the park instead of separately to address traffic and safety concerns. The meeting model establishes small groups with community members meeting with the architect, engineers, and staff to engage in a group dialogue. The input will be recorded in a variety of ways. Other meetings will be scheduled to provide the ability for community members to offer public testimony or comments to the Council. The three 1-hour sessions will include the same content largely because a larger space was not available. The meeting has been pre-ticketed to limit the number of attendees for each session. The City may need to add a fourth session to accommodate all community members. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 15 Director Matlock shared additional information on the format and previous successful efforts that provided good community feedback. Manager Cook added that the City continues to receive emails and other forms of communication that will be provided to the Council. The emails have been reviewed to document inaccurate or missing information that should be corrected and communicated to the community. Councilmember Schneider disclosed that he plans to attend the community meeting. He spoke to both City Administrator Doan and City Attorney Kirkpatrick about his attendance. The Council has the option to attend and he has elected to attend to enable interaction with the public that is not possible during a public hearing. Mayor Sullivan provided additional information on the purpose of the format of the meeting and future meeting opportunities with the community. Councilmember Cathey commented that the suggestion to the Council to avoid attending and then receive a briefing from staff conveys a troubling message. Councilmember Dahlhoff pointed out the importance of not attending as a way to create space for the community to connect with staff. She does not plan to attend to enable community members to connect with the architects and engineers. Councilmember Agabi said he has received numerous emails and phone calls regarding the meeting and has elected not to attend to enable staff to have an opportunity to provide information and receive feedback from the community. Many of the phone calls conveyed some anger from the community. Councilmember Swarthout agreed with Councilmember Dahlhoff as she trusts the process and looks forward to receiving information from staff. Councilmember Althauser commented on the importance of Councilmembers who elect to attend to avoid comprising the goals and method of the process. He does not plan to attend the meeting. Councilmember Jefferson said her intent for attending is to observe the process as a new member of the Council. Mayor Sullivan noted that the City has had difficulty hosting meetings during the pandemic because of the different protocols necessary to record and conduct meetings. Manager Cook thanked the Council for the feedback and encouraged TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF MEETING May 3, 2022 Page 16 members to trust the process as the goal is for staff to work collaboratively with the neighborhoods in a problem-solving mode. Councilmember Schneider said the issue of trust is a non-issue as his intent as a Councilmember is to be available to the public. Councilmember Dahlhoff pointed out that the role of the Council is to establish policy while staff’s role is process and procedures. The challenge she would encounter is answering questions on processes and procedures. She believes those answers should be provided by staff. ADJOURNMENT: Councilmember Dahlhoff moved, seconded by Councilmember Swarthout, to adjourn the meeting at 9:23 p.m. A voice vote approved the motion unanimously. Prepared by Valerie L. Gow, Recording Secretary/President Puget Sound Meeting Services, psmsoly@earthlink.net