City Council

CITY OF UNIVERSITY PLACE MINUTES Regular Meeting of the City Council Monday, May 5, 2025 1. CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER Mayor Pro Tem Wood called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Mayor Pro Tem Wood explained that he is not able to chair the meeting. A motion was made by Councilmember Worthington, seconded by Councilmember McCluskey, to appoint Councilmember Flemming to chair the meeting. The motion carried. 2. UROLL CALL N Roll call was taken by the City Clerk as follows: O Councilmember Boykin Councilmember Worthington Present Present FF Councilmember McCluskey Councilmember Flemming Councilmember Grassi Present Present Present IA Mayor Pro Tem Wood Present (Virtual) Mayor Figueroa Excused IC Staff Present: City Manager Sugg, City Attorney Kaser, Public Works Director Ecklund, Police Chief Burke, Community and Economic Development Director Briske, Senior Project Engineer Mauren, Operations Manager West, and City Clerk Genetia. L 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE D Councilmember Flemming led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA O C MOTION: By Councilmember Worthington, seconded by Councilmember McCluskey, to approve the agenda. The motion carried. U 5. PUBLIC COMMENTS – None. M 6. CONSENT AGENDA EN MOTION: By Councilmember Worthington, seconded by Councilmember McCluskey, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: A. Approve the minutes of the April 21, 2025 Council meeting as submitted. T B. Receive and File: Payroll for periods ending 04/15/25 and 04/30/25; and Claims dated 04/30/25. C. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Sponsorship Agreement with UP for Art substantially in the form attached. D. Confirm Sandy McKenzie’s appointment to the Planning Commission for a term ending January 31, 2027. The motion carried.  City Council Minutes of May 5, 2025 Page 2 7. CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL COMMENTS/REPORTS City Manager Sugg announced the opening of the inclusive playground at Cirque Park, describing it as a "soft opening" with 30 to 40 individuals already using the playground. He indicated that the official ribbon- cutting event is planned for early June. Councilmember Boykin thanked the City Manager for the Inclusive Playground, expressing his appreciation for the project and noting his visit to the playground, which he found impressive. He looks forward for the upcoming ribbon-cutting event. Councilmember McCluskey expressed her surprise at the early opening of the Inclusive Playground and highlighted its popularity and positive impact on youth health and wellness. She wished all mothers a Happy Mother’s Day. U Councilmember Worthington reported on the recent Opioid Abatement Council meeting, discussing the N progress of various jurisdictions and the importance of public outreach and needs assessment. He also wished mothers everywhere a Happy Mother’s Day. O Councilmember Grassi expressed excitement about the Inclusive Playground, sharing that her children FF visited and enjoyed it. She thanked the Park Commissioners and others involved in making the playground a reality. Councilmember Grassi announced the upcoming Sheriff’s Memorial event, scheduled for Wednesday evening, to honor fallen heroes and their families. Lastly, she extended her condolences to the Bailey family. ICIA Councilmember Flemming reported attending the Pierce County Regional Council meeting and the South Sound Housing Affordability Partners meeting where they discussed capital fund recommendations. He echoed the sentiments of all Councilmembers about the Inclusive Playground, indicating that the project was a collaborative effort involving the City, community organizations, and financial support from various L sources. He commended the Public Works Director and his team for their efficient work in constructing the playground. Lastly, he shared the importance of recognizing and honoring mothers. D Mayor Pro Tem Wood wished everyone a happy Cinco de Mayo and Mother’s Day. He reported attending the Pierce County in-district meeting, held at the City’s Council Chambers, where he shared the new C Inclusive Playground and other community projects, including sewer and road work. He also attended the state financial audit meeting. O STUDY SESSION 8. 27TH STREET BUSINESS DISTRICT PLAN U M Planning and Economic Development Director Briske and Mandi Roberts of Otak, Inc., presented the 27th EN Street Business District Plan, which aims to establish a vision for the area, focusing on creating a community destination with cohesive identity and quality design. The planning process involved extensive community engagement, including surveys and public meetings. The feedback highlighted the desire for local businesses, restaurants, walkability, and greener streets. The plan includes potential development T scenarios which aim to accommodate growth and enhance the area’s vibrancy, and outlines action items for the Council to consider. The presentation covered technical aspects such as land capacity analysis, market research, and existing conditions. The Plan aligns with the City’s form-based code and Comprehensive Plan. Implementation of the Plan will involve regional collaboration, environmental considerations, and economic development tools. Funding opportunities and grants will be explored to support the Plan’s initiatives. Discussion followed with regards to traffic plan to accommodate the projected growth on 27th Street, including modifications to intersections and street capacity; and sewer infrastructure in the area to ensure it is adequate for the proposed redevelopment.  City Council Minutes of May 5, 2025 Page 3 9. COMMUTE TRIP REDUCTION CODE AMENDMENT Public Works Director Ecklund and Senior Project Engineer Mauren presented the updates to the Commute Trip Reduction (CTR) code, which aims to improve air quality, reduce traffic congestion, and minimize energy consumption. Senior Project Engineer Mauren indicated that the CTR updates align with the new RCW references and current standards. The code applies to large employers with 100 or more employees. The City will continue to work with Pierce County to administer the program and encourage alternative commuting options for employees. The updated code has been reviewed and approved by the Puget Sound Regional Council and the Washington State Transportation Board. The Council is required to adopt the plan by June 30. 10. CIRQUE PARK SITE PLAN FINAL REPORT U Public Works Director, joined by Operations Manager West, Paul Curtis of ARC Architecture, and Park Advisory Commissioner Cunningham, presented the final report on the Cirque Park site plan. The report N includes recommendations for development of sports courts, splash pads, an event lawn, restrooms, and walking/biking trails. The recommendations were based on extensive community feedback gathered O through surveys and public meetings. The community expressed strong support for pickleball courts and splash pads. The plan also includes a phased approach to implementation, with estimated costs for each FF phase. The first phase focuses on entry plaza and parking, followed by sports courts, restrooms, splash pads, trails, and the event lawn. The plan’s implementation will depend on available funding and grant opportunities. The phasing is flexible, allowing the City to prioritize projects based on funding availability and community needs. It also allows for future modifications and expansions, including the potential for a IA Community Center. The design ensures that elements can be adapted or repurposed as community needs evolve. IC Council provided feedback regarding the parking requirements for sports courts, the community understanding the trade-off between developing a Community Center and expanding park facilities, design L costs for park improvements, and pedestrian paths across private property. 11. ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 8:38 p.m. No other action was taken. Submitted by, D OC Emy Genetia City Clerk U M EN T