City Council

MEETING MINUTES TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL February 3, 2026 CONVENE: 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff and Councilmembers Peter Agabi, Joan Cathey, Angela Jefferson, Meghan Sullivan, and Brandon Weedon. Excused: Councilmembers Eileen Swarthout and Kelly Von Holtz Staff: Staff: City Administrator Paul Simmons, City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick, Acting Police Chief Carlos Quiles, Jr., Community Development Director Brad Medrud, Fire Chief Brian Hurley, Finance Director Troy Niemeyer, Information Technology Director Lance Inman, Parks & Recreation Director Chuck Denney, Water Resources & Sustainability Director Dan Smith, Facilities Manager Chris Graham, Sustainability Manager Alyssa Jones Wood, Communications Engagement Specialist Margo Bergendahl and City Clerk Melody Valiant. PUBLIC COMMENT: Mayor Dahlhoff asked Councilmembers and the public if they were comfortable reducing the standard public comment time from 3 minutes down to 2 minutes to allow everyone to speak as there were so many in attendance. Public comment was reduced to 2 minutes and Mayor Dahlhoff encouraged everyone to submit comments in writing as well to the Council if they wished to do so. Public comment was given by residents and community members Rice, Schaffert, Brewer, Burgess, Cronk, Lehenbauer, V. Fluetsch, B. Fluetsch, J. Bloom, S, Poulus, Graman, Tonder, Toyer, White, Rumsey, Brady, T. Poulus, M. Shepard, K. Shepard, C. Bloom, E. Bloom, Reynolds, Cade, Janis, Quezada, Norton, Lazar, Clement, Wells, Madeley, Jorgenson, H. Mitchell, M. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 3, 2026 1  Mitchell, Greene, Hansen, Bettridge, Gunderson, Kramer, McNagny, Pantier, Jones, Fretts, Burt, Deardoff-Zeigenfuse, Larson, Batson, G. Duerr, Gibeau, Schroeder, Humble, Kautsky, Whistler, Kramer, and Campbell. Mayor Dahlhoff took a 5-minute recess at 8:29 p.m. Mayor Dahlhoff reconvened the meeting at 8:36 p.m. Public comment continued with the following residents and community members Jorgensen, Dietz, Stormans, Sipe, Clubbe, Wiley and King. CONSENT a. Approval of Minutes: City Council, January 20, 2026 CALENDAR: b. Payment of Vouchers c. Resolution No. R2026-002, Thurston County Hazardous Waste Management Plan d. Project Review Reimbursable Agreement with WSDOT for the Trosper Road Interchange Project Amendment No. 2 e. 2025-2027 Stormwater Capacity Grant Agreement with the Department of Ecology f. Capital Area Regional Public Facilities District Board of Directors Reappointment of Chris Leicht MOTION: Councilmember Jefferson, moved, seconded by Councilmember Agabi, to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion carried unanimously. PUBLIC HEARING: RESOLUTION NO. Administrator Simmons introduced Resolution No. R2026-003, In R2026-003, IN Support of Tumwater School District Replacement Safety, SUPPORT OF Technology and Capital Improvements Levy. He introduced TUMWATER SCHOOL Superintendent Kevin Bogatin and Board President Melissa Beard DISTRICT who were there to speak in support of the levy which will be on a REPLACEMENT special election on February 10, 2026. The six-year replacement SAFETY, levy of property taxes will help support dozens of projects across TECHNOLOGY & school safety, technology and capital improvements. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS Mayor Dahlhoff opened the testimony for the public hearing at LEVY: 8:52 p.m. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 3, 2026 2  Public comments were given by residents and community members Bogatin, Beard, Sloaf and Hansen. Mayor Dahlhoff closed the public hearing at 9:03 p.m. MOTION: Councilmember Sullivan, moved, seconded by Councilmember Weedon, to approve Resolution No. R2026- 003, In Support of Tumwater School District Replacement Safety, Technology and Capital Improvements Levy. Motion carried unanimously. COUNCIL CONSIDERATIONS: RESOLUTION NO. Manager Jones Wood presented Resolution R2026-001, updating R2026-001, Greenhouse Gas Emission reduction targets. It is being updated UPDATING to be in line with state goals. She explained what greenhouse gas GREENHOUSE GAS emissions are and went over different emission sources. EMISSION Manager Jones Wood is asking the Council to adopt the updated REDUCTION goals to reduce community wide green house gas emissions to TARGETS: net-zero by 2050 with 2022 as a baseline. MOTION: Councilmember Jefferson, moved, seconded by Councilmember Cathey, to approve Resolution No. R2026- 001, updating Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Targets. Motion carried unanimously. SALISH LANDING Director Medrud talked about the Salish Landing amendment COUNTY letter. Council was briefed in detail on it at last week’s Work AMENDMENT LETTER: Session. This discussion is to address the comments and concerns the Council brought up and briefly review the process again and the requested action needed by City Council at tonight’s meeting. This is part of the 2026/2027 Thurston County Comprehensive Plan Preliminary Docket Process. As part of that process, the Board of County Commissioners has requested a letter from the Mayor indicating Tumwater’s support for the Salish Landing Comprehensive Plan and Joint Plan amendment and for the amendment to remain on the County docket for review and action. Director Medrud reviewed the following topics: • Comprehensive Plan docketing process • UGA Swap map and details TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 3, 2026 3  • Tumwater and Urban Growth Area Forecasts • Water and Sewer System Maps • City comment letters sent to the County over the years • Community Engagement process Director Medrud said there were two letters before them to choose to approve and send, letter A was in the packet and letter B was being presented this evening with additional text that had been added at Council’s request. Councilmembers expressed support for sending letter B and acknowledged that this is just starting the process and isn’t part of any final decision. Councilmember Cathey expressed her dislike for the project. MOTION: Councilmember Agabi, moved, seconded by Councilmember Weedon, to authorize the Mayor to sign the Salish Landing County amendment letter. Councilmember Cathey voted against. PURCHASE Chief Hurley presented a purchase agreement with Champion AGREEMENT WITH Homes Center for T-2 Fire Station temporary housing. The CHAMPION HOMES current housing isn’t large enough to accommodate all the staff CENTER FOR T-2 FIRE at the T-2 fire station. This purchase would allow more space for STATION TEMPORARY staff and a place for staff to relocate to when they have to vacate HOUSING: the building while it’s being remodeled. Manager Graham talked about the solution they are proposing which is purchasing a 1,800 square foot double-wide mobile home. It is the most cost- effective solution with the ability to either donate or resell the home after they no longer need it. MOTION: Councilmember Jefferson, moved, seconded by Councilmember Sullivan, to approve the purchase agreement with Champion Homes Center for the T-2 Fire Station temporary housing. Motion carried unanimously. COMMITTEE / Due to the length of the meeting Mayor Dahlhoff asked if the MAYOR/CITY Committee Reports, Mayor and City Administrator’s Reports and ADMINISTRATOR’s & Councilmember reports could be removed from tonight’s COUNCILMEMBER agenda. The Council agreed they could be removed. Mayor REPORTS: Dahlhoff said that if anyone had anything they wanted to report to email the Council with it. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 3, 2026 4 EXECUTIVE SESSION Mayor Dahlhoff recessed the meeting at 9:55 p.m. to discuss real estate acquisition pursuant to RCW 42.30.110(1)(b) for approximately 20 minutes. ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Dahlhoff reconvened the meeting and adjourned the meeting at 10:15 p.m. Prepared by City Clerk, Melody Valiant TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 3, 2026 5