City Council

MEETING MINUTES TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL May 5, 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: City Administrator Paul Simmons, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Adams, Administrative Services Director Michelle Sutherland, Community Development Director Brad Medrud, City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick, Finance Director Troy Niemeyer, Information Technology Director Lance Inman, Communication Director Jason Wettstein, Parks & Recreation Director Chuck Denney, Water Resources & Sustainability Director Dan Smith, Medical Services Officer AC Bates and Deputy City Clerk Tracie Core. Others: Thurston County Affordable Housing Program Manager Alex Persse, President Lin Crowley Asian Pacific Islanders Coalition of South Puget Sound (APIC SPS), and Ali Fuller Intercity Transit. SPECIAL ITEMS: PROCLAMATION: Councilmember Swarthout read a proclamation declaring May ASIAN AMERICAN, 2026 Asian American, Native Hawaiian, and Pacific Islander NATIVE HAWAIIAN, Heritage (AANHPI) Month. It was officially designated in 1992 to AND PACIFIC celebrate the historical and cultural contributions of AANHPI ISLANDER HERITAGE communities across the United States. MONTH, MAY 2026 Mayor Dahlhoff presented the proclamation to Asian Pacific Islanders Coalition of South Puget Sound (APIC SPS) President Lin Crowley. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – MAY 5, 2026 1 PROCLAMATION: Councilmember Von Holtz read a proclamation declaring May BICYCLE MONTH, 2026 Bicycle Month. Bicycling is one of the most energy-efficient MAY 2026 forms of transportation and is a mode of transportation well suited to urban environments. Bicycle commuting reduces energy consumption, pollution and congestion and has been demonstrated to improve people’s health, well-being and quality of life. Mayor Dahlhoff presented the proclamation to Ali Fuller from Intercity Transit and resident Bonnie Blessing. PROCLAMATION: Councilmember Sullivan read a proclamation declaring EMERGENCY Emergency Medical Services Week, May 17 – 23, 2026. MEDICAL SERVICES Emergency medical services is a vital public service that provides WEEK, MAY 17 – 23, lifesaving and supporting care to the people of Tumwater 24- 2026 hours a day, seven days a week. Access to quality care dramatically improves the survival and recover rate of those who experience sudden illness or injury. Mayor Dahlhoff presented the proclamation to Medical Services Officer AC Bates. PUBLIC COMMENT: Public comment was given by resident and community member Blessing. CONSENT a. Approval of Minutes: City Council Meeting, April 21, 2026 CALENDAR: b. Payment of Vouchers c. 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 d. Acceptance of Barnes Lake Management District Budget & Work Plan MOTION: Councilmember Weedon, moved, seconded by Councilmember Swarthout, to approve the Consent Calendar as published. A voice vote approved the motion unanimously. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – MAY 5, 2026 2 COUNCIL CONSIDERATIONS: 2026 COMMUNITY Assistant Administrator Adams gave a presentation on the 2026 DEVELOPMENT Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding BLOCK GRANT recommendations. Sharing some background, fiscal (CDBG) FUNDING information and the selection process, Assistant Administrator RECOMMENDATIONS: Adams recommended that Council give the award to the Thurston County Board of Commissioners based on the Budget and Finance Committee’s funding recommendation at their April 24, 2026, meeting. County Manager Persee helped answer questions that Council had. MOTION: Councilmember Von Holtz moved, seconded by Councilmember Jefferson, to approve the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding recommendations. Councilmember Sullivan abstained. ORDINANCE NO. Director Medrud shared a presentation on Ordinance No. O2026- O2026-002, 2026 002, 2026 Housekeeping. He shared that the amendments to the HOUSEKEEPING Tumwater Municipal Code 18.56 are intended to bring the City’s AMENDMENTS: essential public facilities regulations into compliance with state law. The amendments cover the following sections: • Housing – State Department of Commerce • Child Care Centers • Signage • Essential Public Facilities MOTION: Councilmember Swarthout moved, seconded by Councilmember Von Holtz, to approve Ordinance No. O2026- 002, 2026 Housekeeping Amendments. A voice vote approved the motion unanimously. EMPLOYEE BENEFITS Director Sutherland gave a presentation on the Employee POLICY UPDATE: Benefits Policy Update. She shared why this update matters, the strategy behind the update, where Tumwater is compared to other local agencies and what the organizational impact would be. Director Sutherland answered questions from Council and requested Council action to approve the Employee Benefit Policy Updates. TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – MAY 5, 2026 3 MOTION: Councilmember Swarthout moved, seconded by Councilmember Jefferson, to approve the Employee Benefits Policy Update. A voice vote approved the motion unanimously. MAYOR/CITY Mayor Dahlhoff and Administrator Simmons had no report. ADMINISTRATOR’S REPORT: COUNCILMEMBER Councilmember Jefferson, Sullivan, Swarthout, Von Holtz, REPORTS: Weedon gave reports. Councilmember Agabi and Cathey had no reports. Councilmember Jefferson gave a report and shared that the Public Works Committee met on April 23, 2026, with some of those items being on tonight’s Consent Calendar. The committee will be meeting on May 7, 2026, to discuss the following: • Interlocal Agreement with City of Olympia, City of Lacey, and Thurston County for Implementing the South Sound Green Program • Canopy Equity Program • Additional Construction Funds Request with Active Construction Inc. for the 2nd Avenue Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements project ADJOURNMENT: With there being no further business, Mayor Dahlhoff adjourned the meeting at 8:27 p.m. Prepared by Tracie Core, Deputy City Clerk TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL – MAY 5, 2026 4