City Council

MEETING MINUTES TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL February 17, 2026 CONVENE: 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff and Councilmembers Peter Agabi, Joan Cathey, Angela Jefferson, Meghan Sullivan, Eileen Swarthout, Kelly Von Holtz, and Brandon Weedon. Staff: Staff: City Administrator Paul Simmons, City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick, Acting Police Chief Carlos Quiles, Jr., Fire Chief Brian Hurley, Assistant Fire Chief Shawn Crimmins, Finance Director Troy Niemeyer, Information Technology Director Lance Inman, Communication Director Jason Wettstein, Parks & Recreation Director Chuck Denney, Water Resources & Sustainability Director Dan Smith, Water Resources & Sustainability Deputy Director Tyle Zuchowski, Program Manager Patrick Soderburg, Utilities Operations Manager Steve Craig, Paramedic Jake Thompson, Medical Services Officer A.C. Bates and Deputy City Clerk Tracie Core. Others: National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP) Member Talauna Reed and President Larry Jefferson, Reverend David Reeves and Community Members Patty Riley and Tom Donuts. SPECIAL ITEMS: PROCLAMATION: Mayor Dahlhoff and Councilmembers Agabi, Jefferson, Sullivan, BLACK HISTORY Swarthout, Weedon and Von Holtz read a proclamation declaring February MONTH, 2026 Black History Month. FEBRUARY 2026 Black History Month serves as both a celebration and a powerful reminder that Black history is American history. Black culture is American culture, and Black stories are essential to our continued journey towards a better society, to understanding ourselves, and growing strong as a community. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 17, 2026 1  Mayor Dahlhoff presented the proclamation to Reverend David Reeves and Larry Jefferson President of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). EMPLOYEE Chief Hurley shared that on January 5, 2026, a member of our community, RECOGNITION: Tom Donuts, had a serious medical emergency and we had city staff on site who took immediate action. Officer A.C. Bates shared information on cardiac arrest, the chances of survival and importance of being CPR certified in an event like this one. He commended the crew on a fantastic job. Special guest Tom Donuts came to say thank you. He is grateful and shared with Council that they should all be proud of everyone and the great job they did. Recognized for their lifesaving efforts, the following were presented with certificates and cardiac arrest pins: Director Dan Smith, Deputy Director Tyle Zuchowski, Program Manager Patrick Soderburg, Utilities Operations Manager Steve Craig, Paramedic Unit 8 and Community ember Patty Riley. PUBLIC Public comment were given by residents and community members Baker COMMENT: and Chermet. CONSENT a. Approval of Minutes: City Council Meeting, January 27, 2026 CALENDAR: b. Payment of Vouchers c. Interlocal Agreement with Thurston County for Emergency Management d. Preliminary Docket for 2026 Comprehensive Plan Text Amendments e. Reappointment of Michael Jackson to the Tree Board f. 2026 City Council Meeting Schedule and Summer Recess MOTION: Councilmember Von Holtz, moved, seconded by Councilmember Swarthout, to approve the Consent Calendar as published. A voice vote approved the motion unanimously. COUNCIL CONSIDERATIONS: POSITION Director Sutherland asked Council to authorize the Mayor to approve the REQUESTS: creation of a Payroll Technician position in the Finance Department and an Executive Assistant position in the Police Department. She shared that in 1997 the City was authorized for 136 positions with one payroll officer. Currently the City is authorized for 275 positions with one payroll officer. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 17, 2026 2  City Administrator Simmons shared that the hope with the new Payroll Technician position would be to have a special emphasis on public safety aspect of payroll. Director Niemeyer gave an abbreviated budget update presentation while Councilmembers asked questions and shared potential budget concerns with the addition of new positions. MOTION: Councilmember Sullivan, moved, seconded by Councilmember Von Holtz, to approve the Position Requests. A voice vote approved the motion unanimously. REAL ESTATE Director Denney gave a presentation for the Draft Lodge Funding, Real PURCHASE AND Estate Purchase and Sales Agreement for 4315 Tumwater Valley Drive. SALE AGREEMENT Director Denney gave a brief history, location, size and condition of the FOR 4315 lodge. He shared this location is perfect for the new home of the Parks & TUMWATER Recreation Administrative Offices with the many events the department VALLEY DRIVE: puts on. Director Niemeyer shared a draft funding model on how the lodge would be paid for. Councilmembers asked questions regarding the funding. MOTION: Councilmember Sullivan, moved, seconded by Councilmember Cathey, to approve the Real Estate Purchase and Sale Agreement for 4315 Tumwater Valley Drive. A voice vote approved the motion unanimously. MAYOR/CITY Mayor Dahlhoff shared there will be a Budget and Finance Committee ADMINISTRATOR’S meeting on February 27, 2026. She asked Council to start thinking about REPORT: budget requests. What are they seeing, hearing, and passionate about and what could Council do differently to provide those services. Administrator Simmons said the next Public Works Committee meeting is on February 19, 2026, and it will be at their new meeting time at 11:00 a.m. He also shared that Councilmember Agabi resigned from the Public Health and Safety Committee and Councilmember Sullivan will be replacing him on that committee. Administrator Simmons also shared we have now merged the Councilmembers’ reports with the Committee reports resulting in a shorter agenda. COUNCILMEMBER Councilmembers Agabi, Cathey, Swarthout, Sullivan and Weedon gave REPORTS: reports. Councilmember Jefferson gave a report and shared that the Public Works Committee will meet on February 19, 2026, to discuss the following: TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 17, 2026 3  • Service Provider Agreement with Gray & Osborne for the Well 15 Aeration Facility Design • Final Acceptance of Work with A & D Enterprises for the Ansten Sewer Project • Final acceptance of Work with Miles Resources for Israel Road Pedestrian and Bike Project • Fiber Optic Cabling Agreement with Washington State Department of Transportation Amendment No. 17 Councilmember Von Holtz gave a report and shared on February 11, 2026, at the Public Health and Safety Committee meeting they voted to forward the Interlocal Agreement with Thurston County for Emergency Management to the City Council consent calendar at tonight’s meeting. ADJOURNMENT: With there being no further business, Mayor Dahlhoff adjourned the meeting at 8:37 p.m. Prepared by Deputy City Clerk, Tracie Core. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – FEBRUARY 17, 2026 4