City Council Work Session

MEETING MINUTES TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION October 14, 2025 CONVENE: 6:00 p.m. PRESENT: Mayor Debbie Sullivan and Councilmembers Peter Agabi, Michael Althauser, Joan Cathey, Leatta Dahlhoff, Angela Jefferson and Eileen Swarthout. Excused: Councilmember Kelly Von Holtz Staff: City Administrator Lisa Parks, Assistant City Administrator Kelly Adams, City Attorney Karen Kirkpatrick, Fire Chief Brian Hurley, Finance Director Troy Niemeyer, Information Technology Director Lance Inman, Communications Director Jason Wettstein, Parks & Recreation Director Chuck Denney, Water Resources & Sustainability Director Dan Smith, Associate Planner Dana Bowers and Deputy City Clerk Tracie Core. R2025-015, FOOD Planner Bowers presented an overview of Resolution R2025-015, SYSTEM PLAN: Food System Plan which addresses food insecurity at the local level by focusing on how to provide healthy food for all members of the community, reduce food waste and support local food production and processing. Councilmembers asked clarifying questions and made suggestions on how to better meet the needs of the community by creating new partnerships to help reduce food waste. Resolution R2025-015 was recommended to be placed on the November 3, 2025, City Council considerations calendar. O2025-017 TO Assistant Administrator Adams gave a presentation on ESTABLISH EQUITY Ordinance O2025-017 to Establish an Equity Commission. The COMMISSION: purpose of this commission is to: TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – OCTOBER 14, 2025 1  • Identify and promote activities related to city services that foster a more welcoming community; • Enhance participation from underrepresented community members; • Address existing gaps and barriers that may prevent full engagement in the city governance and public policy; • Provide recommendations to the City Council to improve local government practices and policies. Councilmembers shared positive feedback on moving forward with the ordinance. It was recommended that Ordinance O2025- 017 be placed on the October 21, 2025, City Council considerations calendar. STRATEGIC PLAN Administrator Parks presented an updated draft of the Tumwater DESCUSSION – Strategic Plan 2026-2032 and invited feedback, noting that REVIEW DRAFT: revisions are ongoing. Councilmembers requested additional time to review and provide input before the plan is scheduled for Council considerations. The draft will be revisited at the Council Work Session on October 28, 2025. MAYOR/CITY Administrator Parks shared that the City continues to promote ADMINISTRATOR’s the new Emergency Response Mobile Team, as well as the REPORT: George Bush features on our website and in our newsletter Tumwater on Tap. Administrator Parks commended the Fire, Communications and Administrative Services Departments on their excellent collaboration on recruitment events for firefighters and emergency management services. In addition, she reported that the Deschutes Valley property purchased from LOTT officially closed and the City is now the owner. Mayor Sullivan shared that the senior picnic was a great success. The event had an excellent turnout and everyone seemed to really enjoy it. ADJOURNMENT: With there being no further business, Mayor Sullivan adjourned the meeting at 8:24 p.m. Prepared by Tracie Core, Deputy City Clerk TUMWATER CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION – OCTOBER 14, 2025 2