City of Tumwater Mayor's Office

06/17/2026

Today, the Thurston County Board of County Commissioners voted to send the proposed Homeless Services Contracts back to the Regional Housing Council (RHC) for further review and discussion.

The City of Tumwater supports this action because we believe important questions remain unanswered about how limited regional housing and human services resources are being allocated, how outcomes are being evaluated, and whether participating jurisdictions are receiving equitable representation and measurable benefits from the investments they help fund.

Tumwater is actively working to address housing instability and support individuals through programs such as our Mobile Outreach Team (MOT) and Law Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD) program. We are engaged regional partners, investing time and resources to better understand what is working, where improvements are needed, and how regional efforts can produce positive outcomes for all communities.

Let me be clear…our concerns are not about whether these services should exist…they should. Our concern is whether participating jurisdictions have enough information to understand how limited regional resources are being prioritized, what outcomes are being achieved, and whether the current approach is delivering the results our communities expect.

Questions raised by Tumwater include:
• How many shelter beds, housing units, treatment beds, or service slots are being supported?
• How are participating jurisdictions benefiting from these investments?
• How many Tumwater residents are being served?
• What performance measures are being used to evaluate success?
• How were funding recommendations prioritized and selected?

Asking these questions should not be controversial. Good governance requires transparency, accountability, and a clear understanding of how public resources are being invested.

Today's vote allows those conversations to continue before contracts move forward.

For those interested in watching the discussion, the June 16, 2026 Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Business Meeting is available online.

The Thurston County Board of County Commissioners Business Meeting ...

06/15/2026

The Tumwater City Council meets Tuesday, June 16.

Highlights include:
🔹 Swearing-in of the City's new Police Chief
🔹 Recognition of Juneteenth through a City proclamation
🔹 An Economic Development Quarterly Update on efforts to support local businesses and community growth

Also worth noting: Council will consider several infrastructure and utility-related consent calendar items, including the X Street Roundabout, Southeast Water Reservoir design work, Trosper Road Sewer Extension, and the Deschutes Valley Trail project. While these are on the consent calendar, they represent substantial ongoing capital investments in the community.

View the full agenda and meeting materials at: https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=cdd1e7e7341b4488a2d8e22e8024d956&ip=True

06/12/2026

Next week, during our Council meeting, we will once again proclaim June 19 as Juneteenth in Tumwater. We will also raise the Juneteenth flag at City Hall as part of that recognition.

For me, recognizing Juneteenth is not about politics or checking a box. It is about acknowledging our shared history and affirming the values we want to live by as a community—respect, dignity, belonging, and care for one another.

Juneteenth marks the end of slavery in the United States, one of the darkest chapters in our nation’s history. While that history cannot be changed, we can choose to remember it honestly and recognize the lasting impact it continues to have on individuals, families, and communities today.

Over the years, these recognitions have sometimes drawn criticism from people online. If that happens again, I hope we can keep our focus where it belongs: on treating one another with compassion, understanding, and humanity. Those values have always made Tumwater stronger, and they continue to guide us as a community.

If you’d like to learn more about Tumwater’s work to foster belonging and inclusion, you can find information here:
https://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/Home/Components/News/News/9796/554

https://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/government/commissions-advisory-boards/equity-commission

To learn more about the history and significance of Juneteenth, please visit this page:
https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/historical-legacy-juneteenth

06/06/2026

🏛️ Join Us for the Tumwater City Council Work Session – June 9

One of the key topics of discussion will be code enforcement in Tumwater. City staff will provide an overview of current code enforcement practices, priorities, challenges, and opportunities to improve community responsiveness and compliance. This presentation will help inform future Council discussions and policy considerations.

Council will also receive:
⚡ A briefing on Battery Energy Storage Systems (BESS), including safety, land use, and regulatory considerations.
📋 Updates from the Mayor and City Administrator on current City initiatives and upcoming activities.

Community members are encouraged to stay informed and engaged. Attend the meeting in person or watch live online.

📅 Tuesday, June 9
📍 Tumwater City Hall
💻 Watch live or view meeting materials on the City's website.

We welcome your interest and participation in local government!

https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=0925798a7e4a44e99f409c6073877321&ip=True

06/05/2026

Hello neighbors,

I want to share an update on an important discussion happening at the City.

Last Tuesday, the City Council unanimously directed staff to explore the possibility of purchasing an existing building at 310 Israel Road to serve as a future City Hall.

To be clear: no decision has been made to purchase the building. The Council has authorized staff to pursue an option agreement that would give the City six months to conduct a thorough evaluation before making any decision.

During that time, staff will analyze costs, financing options, operational impacts, space needs, permitting requirements, and other factors to determine whether this opportunity makes sense for Tumwater.

Why are we exploring this now? Simply put, our current City Hall has reached its limits. Departments are spread across multiple locations, office space is crowded, meeting rooms are limited, parking is constrained, and we are already paying additional costs to house staff in leased facilities. A new City Hall could also create room for the Police Department to expand within the current building and better meet future community needs.

As your Mayor, I believe it is our responsibility to carefully evaluate opportunities that could improve service to residents while being good stewards of taxpayer dollars. That's exactly what this next phase is about: gathering facts, asking questions, and doing our due diligence before any decisions are made.

If you'd like to learn more, I encourage you to watch the City Council discussions and review the staff report available on the City's website.

I'll continue to keep you informed as this process moves forward.

06/01/2026

Tomorrow, the Tumwater City Council will consider several important items that help shape our community's future:

🏘️ Black Lake Belmore Road Annexation – A significant step in planning for future growth and service delivery within Tumwater's urban growth area.

👮 Police Chief Confirmation – Council will consider confirmation of the City's next Police Chief, helping guide the future of public safety and community partnerships.

🏢 310 Israel Road Option Agreement – A strategic opportunity to evaluate future City facility and space needs as Tumwater continues to grow.

View the full agenda and meeting materials here: https://tumwater-wa.municodemeetings.com/bc-cc/page/city-council-77

05/29/2026

A word about code enforcement ... and about community responsibility.

Being a good neighbor matters. If something would be unacceptable for you to live next to, you should not expect your neighbors to accept it either.

Our community has standards for a reason: public safety, health, sanitation, property values, and quality of life. Those standards apply equally to everyone. Permits matter. Safe utility connections matter. Proper land use matters. And maintaining property in a way that does not create hazards or public nuisances matters.

There is a particular property that has been the source of ongoing concern, complaints, and code issues for many years. Residents nearby have lived with uncertainty, safety concerns, and deteriorating conditions for far too long.

Previous approaches did not resolve the problem. Current City leadership is taking a different approach: consistent enforcement, clear expectations, and follow-through.

Earlier this week, the City observed activity on Trosper that raised serious concerns. In response, stop work orders were issued for unpermitted grading activity, and structures on the property.

RVs and self-built units were posted as uninhabitable due to insufficient power, sewer, water, and related safety concerns. Police made an arrest as well.

Let me be clear: long-term noncompliance will no longer be ignored simply because it has gone on for years. The passage of time does not exempt anyone from the law, from safety standards, or from their responsibility to the surrounding community.

At the same time, I want to be equally clear about something else: no one should be living in unsafe, unstable, or inhumane conditions. Being houseless is not acceptable to me ... not because people without housing are unwanted, but because every person deserves safety, dignity, sanitation, and a real path toward stable housing. Allowing dangerous or unlawful living conditions to continue unchecked is not compassion. It is failure.

We are not interested in punishing people for struggling. We are interested in protecting the community while also insisting on better outcomes than unsafe encampments, illegal utility hookups, or unpermitted habitation.

05/25/2026

🇺🇸 This Memorial Day, we honor and remember the courageous individuals who made the ultimate sacrifice in service to our country. Their bravery, dedication, and selflessness will never be forgotten.

Today, we reflect with gratitude and stand united in remembrance of those who gave everything for our freedom.

Wishing everyone a safe and meaningful Memorial Day. ❤️🤍💙

05/22/2026

Heads up Tumwater! City Hall Space Needs

Next Tuesday at 6 p.m., the Council, staff and I will discuss ongoing space needs at City Hall during a public work session. After nearly 40 years, the current City Hall building has reached the limits of its ability to serve our growing community.
Here’s why we need this conversation now:

• Crowded offices and limited privacy impact daily operations
• Departments are split across multiple locations—costly and inefficient
• Limited meeting space and parking can restrict public participation
• Facilities need updates to better meet ADA, safety, and accessibility standards
• Currently, City Hall is missing key spaces like training areas, wellness rooms, and lactation accommodations

Earlier this year, the City contracted with Artisans Group to explore solutions. On Tuesday, they’ll present several options, including:

• Expanding the current City Hall
• Building a new City Hall
• Building a new police facility
• Purchasing and renovating an existing building

** Important: No decisions will be made at this meeting. The goal is to review options and provide direction to City staff on what option or options to study further.

We invite you to learn more in person at City Hall or online:
https://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/Home/Components/Calendar/Event/9887/340

05/18/2026

Tomorrow night’s Tumwater City Council meeting has several important items on the agenda:

🚓 A proposed update to the ordinance governing the Police Chief position
🚲 Additional funding request for the 2nd Avenue pedestrian & bicycle improvements project
🤝 Regional partnership agreements involving sustainability efforts, public safety data sharing, and emergency response coordination

The meeting starts at 7 p.m. at Tumwater City Hall and online via Zoom. Stay informed and engaged with the decisions shaping our community.

Interlocal Agreement with Cities of Olympia and Lacey and Thurston County for Implementing the South Sound Green Program (Public Works Committee)