City Council

CITY OF UNIVERSITY PLACE MINUTES Regular Meeting of the City Council Monday, October 6, 2025 1. CALL REGULAR MEETING TO ORDER Mayor Figueroa called the Regular Meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. 2. ROLL CALL Roll call was taken by the City Clerk as follows: UCouncilmember Boykin Present N Councilmember McCluskey Councilmember Flemming Councilmember Grassi Present Excused Present O Mayor Pro Tem Wood Mayor Figueroa Present Present FF Staff Present: City Manager Sugg, City Attorney Kaser, Public Works Director Ecklund, Administrative Services Director Petorak, Police Chief Burke, Public Safety Director Hales, and City Clerk Genetia. 3. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE ICIA Mayor Pro Tem Wood led the Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA L MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Wood, seconded by Councilmember McCluskey, to approve the agenda. The motion carried. D 5. PRESENTATIONS O C Deputy Sydney Davis Recognition – Police Chief Burke presented Deputy Sydney Davis with a U Certificate of Recognition for her exceptional accomplishments and unwavering resilience. M Deputy Chris Rather’s Retirement – On behalf of the City Council, Police Chief Burke presented a proclamation to Deputy Chris Rather for his unwavering dedication, exemplary service, and outstanding achievements. Deputy Rather has devoted the majority of his career – 26 years – to service the University Place community. EN Indigenous Peoples’s Day Proclamation – Mayor Pro Tem Wood presented a proclamation to Desiree Fagan, recognizing October 13, 2025 as Indigenous Peoples’ Day, acknowledging this history and T contributions of Native American communities and the ancestral homelands of the Coast Salish people. Bridgeport Place Assisted Living & Memory Care’s 25th Anniversary – Mayor Figueroa presented a Certificate of Recognition to Amber Olomon, Executive Director of Bridgeport Place Assisted Living & Memory Care, in recognition of its 25 years of service and its significance as a longstanding community institution. 6. PUBLIC COMMENTS – The following individual provided comments: Dan Novogrodsky, 9415 Columbine Circle, University Place.  City Council Minutes of October 6, 2025 Page 2 7. CONSENT AGENDA MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Wood, seconded by Councilmember McCluskey, to approve the Consent Agenda as follows: A. Approve the minutes of the 09/15/25 Council meeting as submitted. B. Receive and File: Payroll for periods ending 08/31/25 and 09/15/25; and Claims dated 09/15/25. C. Pass an Ordinance amending Section 5.05.060 of the University Place Municipal Code, relating to Business License Exemptions. (ORDINANCE NO. 790) D. Pass an Ordinance amending the Franchise Agreement with U.P. Refuse Services, Inc. to replace references for specific seasonal events with language that allows for broader option considerations as agreed to by the Company and the City. (ORDINANCE NO. 791) E. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Sponsorship Agreement with UP for Arts substantially in the U form attached hereto. F. Authorize the City Manager to execute a Sponsorship Agreement with Dance Theatre Northwest N substantially in the form attached hereto. O The motion carried. FF PUBLIC HEARING AND COUNCIL CONSIDERATION 8. PARKS, RECREATION AND OPEN SPACE (PROS) PLAN AMENDMENT IA Staff Report – Public Works Director Ecklund presented a resolution to amend the City’s Parks, Recreation, IC and Open Space Plan (PROS) to facilitate property acquisition for Kobayashi Preserve and Adriana Hess Wetland parks. The amendment addresses previously identified needs, including additional parking, trail improvements, and expanded park amenities. To support this initiative, Director Ecklund detailed the necessary revisions to Section 6 of the PROS Plan. Funding for acquisitions will come from Park Impact L Fees and surplus revenues, ensuring no immediate impact on the general budget. Public Comment – The following individual provided comments: Ellen Kohjima D Council Consideration – MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Wood, seconded by Councilmember McCluskey, to C adopt a Resolution amending the Parks, Recreation and Open Space (PROS) Plan. The motion carried. (RESOLUTION NO. 1072) O 9. REAL PROPERTY PURCHASE – FREDERICK PROPERTY U M Staff Report – Public Works Director Ecklund presented the proposed acquisition of the Frederick property located at 6428 Chambers Creek Road West, adjacent to Kobayashi Park. The negotiated purchase price EN of $735,000 is below the property’s appraised value of over $800,000. Director Ecklund stated that a formal budget allocation has not yet been made, and a budget adjustment will require an appropriation process. It is anticipated that approximately 50% of the funding will come from the Park Impact Fee, which has sufficient resources available. The remaining funds are expected to be sourced from the general fund, as T confirmed by the Finance Director. This strategic acquisition aligns with the City’s long-term objectives for land use, parks development, and community infrastructure, as outlined in its comprehensive planning documents. Public Comment – None. Council Consideration – MOTION: By Mayor Pro Tem Wood, seconded by Councilmember McCluskey, to approve the purchase of real property located at 6428 Chambers Creek Road West, University Place, WA 98467 currently owned by Joann D. Frederick, and authorize the City Manager to execute all necessary documents to complete the purchase. The motion carried.  City Council Minutes of October 6, 2025 Page 3 10. CITY MANAGER AND COUNCIL COMMENTS/REPORTS City Manager Sugg informed Council that the City will be holding a Housing Development Forum, co- sponsored by the City of Lakewood, to discuss affordable housing strategies with developers, architects, and housing professionals, aiming to explore ways to expand housing opportunities in University Place and Lakewood. The event, which will be held at the City Council Chambers on November 13, 2025, aligns with the Council’s 2025-2026 goals to address affordable housing, providing a platform for discussion and collaboration with industry stakeholders. Councilmember Grassi thanked attendees and gave special recognition to Officer Rather for his service, Officer Davis for her resilience and leadership, and Ms. Fagan for her work on the Indigenous Peoples Day proclamation. She attended the ribbon cutting event of Pizza Pizzazz and Rainier Animal Eye Clinic and reminded residents about Friday’s Oktoberfest at Market Square. She also highlighted her role in the Unified U Regional Approach to Homelessness committee, stressing the need for awareness and practical solutions in Pierce County. N Councilmember McCluskey attended the University Place Historical Society’s banner unveiling, O commemorating its 25th anniversary. She also participated in the Pierce County Regional Council meeting, where she shared updates on the Alliance for Sustainable Action’s presentation, the county’s homelessness FF report, legislative priorities, the Park Authority’s status, and committee discussions related to federal housing legislation. She also shared details about UP for Arts’ upcoming concert and provided an update on the railroad crossing improvements at 6th Avenue and 19th Street. IA Mayor Pro Tem Wood thanked community members for their input, assuring their concerns will be reviewed. IC He highlighted the proclamations as a reflection of the city’s diversity and strengths. He expressed enthusiasm for the upcoming Housing Development Forum with Lakewood. Mayor Pro Tem Wood announced the October 13 ribbon cutting for the 36th Street and Grandview Roundabout, a project driven by community feedback. He also reported on the Alliance for Sustainable Climate Action’s quarterly L meeting, covering climate grants, EV roadmap planning, climate goals, and a draft legislative agenda. Councilmember Boykin expressed gratitude for the evening’s recognition event affirming what the City is D all about. He reported attending the final meeting of the Economic Development Corporation of Pierce County and acknowledged PC Councilmember Ayala's contributions. Councilmember Boykin also C participated in AWC advocacy session, attended the ribbon cutting event for Pizza Pizzazz and the first O Puget Sound Regional Council transportation planning meeting. He concluded by addressing the U.P. Refuse proposal, reassuring residents that service levels will remain unchanged. STUDY SESSION U 11. 2026 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA M EN City Manager Sugg, along with Public Works Director Ecklund, led a discussion on the 2026 legislative agenda, referring to Assistant City Manager Faison’s memo outlining the legislative session structure and key considerations, noting that the length of the session impacts the legislature’s ability to pass bills and complete business. City Manager Sugg highlighted policy ideas for Council consideration which include T financial support for public safety expenses, infrastructure funding for streets, sidewalks, and utilities— particularly for maintenance, operations, and expansion due to zoning mandates—and incentives to address state limitations on design standards. He also emphasized the importance of supporting partner organizations such as the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) and the South Sound Housing Affordability Partners (SSHĀ³P). He referred to a copy of last year’s legislative briefing sheets and AWC’s 2026 legislative priorities noting that the list is more concise due to the short session and limited funding, focusing on four key areas: indigent defense, transportation, housing supply, and shared revenues. Policy advocacy is generally a collective effort among cities through AWC. He indicated that while the City typically aligns with AWC’s collective policy efforts, Council may choose to highlight specific local issues if needed. Public Works Director Ecklund discussed the project list which includes four items carried over from last year, which did not receive funding at the time. These are: Day Island Bridge Design; Traffic Signal Upgrade Project (which now include updates to unsupported video detection systems in addition to battery backups  City Council Minutes of October 6, 2025 Page 4 and ADA improvements), Alameda Drive Street Lighting Improvements, and enhancements to Day Island Spit Road (including seawall improvements and elevation adjustments to address flooding and drainage issues). In addition, two new projects from the earlier Cirque Park improvement study were proposed: Cirque Park spray pad and an additional restroom, and construction of multi-use sport courts. These projects stem from a year-and-a-half-long effort by the Commission. The final recommended project is an emergency management initiative to install a battery backup system at City Hall, ensuring consistent power during outages. Director Ecklund noted that while the list is broader than in previous years, it allows flexibility to respond to any funding opportunities that may arise. City Manager Sugg added that Council has the option to prioritize, modify, or remove projects from the list. He stressed the importance of presenting these projects to Olympia representatives, as repeated visibility can help build support and increase the chances of future funding. Although the probability of receiving funds this year is low, both City Manager Sugg and Public Works Director Ecklund expressed readiness to act quickly should any opportunities present themselves. U Council reviewed a list of eight projects for potential state funding, agreeing to keep all projects on the list N to maximize funding opportunities. They discussed five policy issues, with consensus to prioritize advocacy for local control over design standards, support AWC and SSHĀ³P priorities, and streamline the list to avoid O diluting their message to legislators. 12. FF ADJOURNMENT - The meeting adjourned at 8:31 p.m. No other action was taken. Submitted by, Emy Genetia City Clerk ICIA L D OC U M EN T