City Council

MEETING MINUTES TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL April 21, 2026 CONVENE: 7:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Leatta Dahlhoff and Councilmembers Peter Agabi, Joan Cathey, Angela Jefferson, Eileen Swarthout, Meghan Sullivan, Kelly Von Holtz and Brandon Weedon. Staff: Assistant City Administrator Kelly Adams, City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick, Acting Police Chief Carlos Quiles Jr, Communications Director Jason Wettstein, Finance Director Troy Niemeyer, Information Technology Director Lance Inman, Water Resources & Sustainability Deputy Director Tyle Zuchowski, Program Manager Patrick Soderberg and City Clerk Melody Valiant. Others: Thurston County Realtors Association President Dawn Baker, Thurston County Title Manager Chris Lester, Sergeant Pete Navarro, Sergeant Rachael Johnson, Sergeant Chris Tressler, Sergeant Randy Baughn, Officer Chase Grimmett and Acting Sergeant Rios. SPECIAL ITEMS: PROCLAMATION: Councilmember Sullivan read a proclamation declaring April FAIR HOUSING 2026, Fair Housing month. The Fair Housing act was enacted in MONTH, APRIL 2026 1968 by Congress to provide fair housing and equal housing opportunities. Mayor Dahlhoff presented the proclamation to Dawn Baker, President of Thurston County Realtors Association & Chris Lester, Manager from Thurston County Title. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 21, 2026 1 PROCLAMATION: Councilmember Swarthout read a proclamation declaring May 3- 57th MUNICIPAL 9, 2026, 57th Municipal Clerks week. The proclamation calls upon CLERKS WEEK, the people of the City of Tumwater to celebrate Municipal Clerks MAY 3-9, 2026 for the vital services they perform and for their exemplary dedication to the communities they represent. Mayor Dahlhoff presented the proclamation to Melody Valiant, City Clerk. SERGEANT Acting Chief Quiles introduced Sergeant Navarro and Sergeant PROMOTION BADGE Johnson who had recently been promoted to Sergeant. He PINNING CEREMONY: presented them with their new badges and pins. Both Sergeant Navarro and Sergeant Johnson thanked the Council, the Police Department and their families for celebrating the special ceremony with them and they are looking forward to their newly promoted positions. LIFE SAVING & Acting Chief Quiles presented the Life Saving Award to Sergeant POLICE STAR Tressler, Sergeant Baughn, Officer Grimmett, and Officer AWARDS Battumur (absent) for their teamwork, decisiveness, training, and PROMOTION: quick response to a critical incident that occurred in September 2025 when they intervened and administered first aid to a pregnant suicidal female in crisis and saved her life. Acting Sergeant Rios was awarded one of the department's highest awards, the Police Star Award, in recognition of his exceptional competence, leadership, compassion, and professionalism during the same incident. PUBLIC COMMENT: Public Comment was given by residents and community members Johnson and Nicandri. CONSENT a. Approval of Minutes: City Council Meeting, March 17, 2026 CALENDAR: b. Approval of Minutes: City Council Work Session, March 24, 2026 c. Approval of Minutes: City Council Joint Meeting with Tumwater School District, April 14, 2026 d. Payment of Vouchers e. Resolution No. R2026-007, Surplus Property f. Service Provider Agreement with Pioneer Technologies Corporation for Professional Environmental Services g. Advisory Board Appointment of Troy Patience to the Barnes Lake Management District Steering Committee TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 21, 2026 2  h. Advisory Board Appointment of Vanessa Arita Reyes, Tina Crary, Sarah Ellison, Ellen Matheny, Michael Snow, Vonny Turner, and Lisa Gorski to the Equity Commission ADVISORY BOARD Assistant Administrator Adams introduced those in attendance APPOINTMENT TO on the City’s newly formed Equity Commission and encouraged EQUITY them to say a few words to the Council. Councilmembers shared COMMISSION: their appreciation and excitement for the newly formed Commission. The Equity Commission’s first meeting will be held on April 27, 2026, at 6:00 p.m. MOTION: Councilmember Sullivan, moved, seconded by Councilmember Von Holtz, to approve the Consent Calendar. Motion carried unanimously. COUNCIL CONSIDERATIONS: RESOLUTION NO. Assistant Administrator Adams presented Resolution No. R2026- R2026-006, 006, supporting Tumwater’s Opportunity Zone Application. She SUPPORTING summarized the program which is a federal tax incentive for TUMWATER’S capital gains. The City has two tracts of land that are eligible for OPPORTUNITY ZONE nomination. As part of the application the city will submit to the APPLICATION: Department of Commerce, a Resolution from the local jurisdiction expressing support for the program is a highly suggested component. Assistant Administrator Adams is requesting adoption of Resolution No. R2026-006, Supporting Tumwater’s Opportunity Zone Application which will be included in our application to the Department of Commerce. MOTION: Councilmember Sullivan, moved, seconded by Councilmember Weedon, to adopt Resolution No. R2026-006, Supporting Tumwater’s Opportunity Zone Application. Motion carried unanimously. BREWERY WELLFIELD Manager Soderberg presented a Public Works Contract with INSTALLATION AND Schneider Equipment, Inc. for the Brewery Wellfield Installation DEVELOPMENT and Development project. He explained that this has been a long PROJECT – PUBLIC project spanning over 20 years. This contract approval will be for WORKS CONTRACT the well installation later this year. This project began as a AWARD WITH partnership with the cities of Lacey and Olympia to purchase the SCHNEIDER brewery water rights from the Department of Ecology. In 2023, EQUIPMENT, INC.: we purchased Lacey’s water rights and now the City owns two TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 21, 2026 3  thirds of the water rights and Olympia owns one third. Manager Soderberg talked about the next steps once the wells have been installed including water quality analysis. Councilmembers asked questions about the project and process to install the wells. MOTION: Councilmember Von Holtz, moved, seconded by Councilmember Cathey, to approve the Public Works Contract with Schneider Equipment, Inc. for the Brewery Wellfield Installation and Development project. Motion carried unanimously. MAYOR/CITY Assistant Administrator Adams had no report. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT: Mayor Dahlhoff reported that the Budget & Finance Committee will meet on April 24, 2026. COUNCILMEMBER Councilmembers Agabi, Swarthout, Sullivan, Von Holtz and REPORTS: Weedon gave reports. Councilmember Cathey had no report. Councilmember Jefferson gave a report and shared that the Public Works Committee will meet April 23, 2026, to discuss the following: • NPDES Stormwater Permit Annual Report Update • Acceptance of Barnes Lake Management District Budget & Work Plan • Resolution No. R2026-005 Receipt Authority for the Water Quality Combined Financial Assistance Agreement (WQC-2026-Tumwat-00294) with the Department of Ecology for the Trosper Sewer Extension Project ADJOURNMENT: Mayor Dahlhoff adjourned the meeting at 8:36 p.m. Prepared by City Clerk, Melody Valiant TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – APRIL 21, 2026 4