City of Tumwater Mayor's Office

09/15/2026

Here are my Top 3 for the Tumwater City Council meeting on Tuesday, September 15:

1. Timberland Regional Library levy lid lift
Council will hold a public hearing and consider whether to support the library district’s levy proposition on the November ballot. The measure would replace the existing levy and fund library services, operations, and maintenance in 2027 and 2028.
Why it matters: The public hearing gives our community an opportunity to weigh in before Council takes a position.

2. Financial policy and bond authority
Council will consider two related actions that would give the City greater flexibility to finance future projects. One would align the City’s debt limit with state law. The other would authorize staff to prepare for the potential sale of up to $65 million in general obligation bonds, with an interest rate not to exceed 7%.
Individual projects and bond issuances would still require Council approval.
Why it matters: These are significant financial decisions. We must carefully consider the flexibility they provide, the safeguards that remain in place, and their long-term effect on the City’s finances.

3. Franz Anderson Road permanent supportive housing
Council will consider an amended regional agreement for permanent supportive housing in Olympia. Tumwater previously committed $275,000, and the amendment does not require additional City funding.
The amendment adds affordability requirements, project deadlines, occupancy priorities, and protections allowing Tumwater to withdraw and recover its contribution if key milestones are not met.
Why it matters: This is a significant regional housing investment, and the amendment provides greater accountability for Tumwater’s contribution.

Our Council meetings are always open to the public. You may attend in person at Tumwater City Hall or participate virtually. Public comments may also be submitted before the meeting.
Review the full agenda and participation information here:
https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=0fe4279eca61456b8c4cd9942a265e9f&ip=True
Tuesday, September 15
7:00 p.m.
Tumwater City Hall, 555 Israel Road SW

09/11/2026

Today many of us are remembering the heroism of the firefighters, police, rescue crews, and medical personnel who responded during the September 11, 2001 attacks. While there are many in Tumwater who are too young to have lived through this day, many people do remember the fear, confusion and profound sadness of that Tuesday.

Twenty-five years ago, people across the world experienced and responded to a moment that affected communities in many different ways. This anniversary can be an opportunity to reflect on our shared humanity, honor those who were impacted, and recognize the many perspectives and experiences people carry with them. It can also remind us of the value of compassion, curiosity, listening, and working together across differences. Whether our contribution is large or small, we each have opportunities to help build communities where people feel respected, included, and valued.

09/07/2026

Tuesday’s Tumwater City Council work session includes two significant conversations about our community’s future.

Costco Development Agreement
Staff will brief the Council on the proposed Costco project and a potential development agreement covering the new warehouse, fuel station, car wash, and first phase of the outlots.
The agreement would establish legally binding responsibilities for water, sewer, transportation improvements, tree protection, traffic impact fees, and other public infrastructure.
One important distinction: Costco’s land-use applications are being reviewed administratively under the City’s existing codes. The development agreement is a separate process that will come before the Council for a public hearing and potential approval later this fall.

2027–2028 Budget Workshop No. 1
This is the first of four planned workshops on the City’s proposed budget.
We begin with a clear financial challenge. Maintaining current service levels produced an initial projected gap of approximately $8.25 million. Departments also identified more than $25 million in additional staffing, services, capital investments, and other needs.
We cannot fund everything requested. The proposed budget reflects difficult choices involving reductions, limited enhancements, new revenue options, long-term investments, and the use of reserves.
This first workshop begins the Council’s public review of how we arrived here, the assumptions behind the proposal, what is being reduced or deferred, what is being recommended, and how we move Tumwater toward a more sustainable financial future.

The work session begins Tuesday, September 8, at 6:00 p.m. The public may attend in person at Tumwater City Hall or virtually through Zoom.

https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=f478ef47462f48c9bf2936a506414802&ip=True

09/04/2026

In July, I shared a message about code enforcement at the brewery properties. I am circling back to share where we are now.

• We gained the ability to access the property to better gauge the ongoing challenges there.
• We completed the second phase of environmental assessments of the brewery properties and did not identify new environmental challenges to add to the list.
• The property owners have begun seeking permits to abate and tear down some of the smaller outbuildings.

The City’s preference is always to achieve compliance through cooperation with property owners. But cooperation does not mean accepting continued delays or a lack of meaningful progress.

We expect to see steady, visible progress at the brewery properties — and at a faster pace than we have seen in the past. These properties have been a concern in our community for far too long, and a better outcome has already been delayed too long.

There is still significant work ahead, but the work is moving forward. We will continue to push for progress, hold the property owners accountable to City requirements, and keep the community updated.

This is happening.

08/31/2026

Here are the Top 3 for Tuesday’s Tumwater City Council meeting:

1. Economic development and the Brewery
We’ll receive an update on business recruitment, the Brewery properties, and the Economic Development Element of our Comprehensive Plan. Fog & Fern Coffee is preparing to join the Craft District, initial environmental testing found no major barriers to redevelopment at the Brewery Warehouse property, and the City is seeking state funding to develop a redevelopment roadmap.

2. Investing in public safety
Council will consider a new three-year agreement with the Tumwater Police Guild. The proposed agreement is intended to help Tumwater recruit and retain highly qualified officers in an increasingly competitive regional market while supporting professional development, wellness, and operational readiness.

3. Infrastructure, habitat, and City operations
We’ll consider several actions that keep important work moving forward, including the Percival Creek Fish Passage Barrier Removal Project. This project will replace the fish-blocking culvert beneath Sapp Road, improve the roadway and multimodal crossing, and restore important habitat for salmon, steelhead, and trout.

Other actions include additional workspace for our growing Water Resources and Sustainability team, temporary shower facilities while Fire Station T1 is renovated, and approval of regular City payments.

We’ll also recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month and National Voter Registration Day.

The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 1. As always, the public is welcome to attend in person at Tumwater City Hall or virtually.

View the agenda and meeting information:

https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=96288a661281463c896832eb214e9e9a&ip=True

08/28/2026

Earlier this month, we talked about the Falls Terrace Restaurant property. I promised we would follow up with the owner, and I wanted to circle back and let you know that we did.

City Administrator Simmons and I had a really nice conversation with the owner about the property, its history, and what might be next.

Falls Terrace is a special place in Tumwater. There is a unique history tied to that beautiful space, and the owner and his family are very much a part of that history. So many people in our community have memories there — wonderful meals, celebrations, milestones, and time spent with family and friends.

So, where did we land?

The owner shared that he would like to reopen Falls Terrace. That is great news. There is not a timetable for reopening at this point.

It was a very positive conversation, and I am glad we had the opportunity to sit down, listen, and better understand where things stand.

Thank you to everyone who reached out, asked questions, shared memories, and expressed how much you care about Falls Terrace and our community.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is simply have the conversation, listen, and keep the lines of communication open. And that is exactly what we did.

08/24/2026

Tuesday’s Tumwater City Council work session includes three important conversations about good governance, managing growth, and housing affordability.

Here are the Top 3 for Tuesday:

1. Council best practices and protecting the City

The Council will receive training from the Washington Cities Insurance Authority about the boundaries between the Council’s legislative role and the administration’s executive responsibilities.

2. Community Development’s workload and priorities

Staff will provide a midyear update on housing and transportation codes, impact fees, urban forestry, annexations, battery energy storage systems, habitat conservation, code enforcement, and long-range planning.

Most major projects remain on schedule, while some have been deferred because of staffing capacity and competing priorities.

3. What should our Multifamily Tax Exemption program accomplish?

Tumwater’s MFTE program has helped encourage multifamily housing development. Since 2017, six approved projects have represented 687 housing units, including 114 designated affordable units.

However, the preliminary analysis raises an important concern: Tumwater’s current market rents are generally already below the affordability thresholds required under the 12-year exemption. That means the City may be providing a tax benefit without securing significantly lower rents in return.

The Council will begin discussing some fundamental questions:

Should the program focus on producing more housing, creating deeper affordability, or balancing both? Should the eligible areas change? How do we preserve older housing that already offers lower rents? What additional tools would be needed to reach households with lower incomes?

The work session begins Tuesday, August 25, at 6:00 p.m. The public may attend in person at Tumwater City Hall or watch and participate online.

View the agenda, meeting link, and supporting materials here:
[https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=d2b7cb64aca047408585576f6d0935be&ip=True](https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=d2b7cb64aca047408585576f6d0935be&ip=True)

08/21/2026

Today is National Senior Citizens Day. Older adults have a profound impact on our community and our society. Seniors are people who love others, mentor others, care for each other and care for this community. I hope we all can take some quality time to celebrate the love, kindness, wisdom and massive contributions to family, the workforce, and our community of our favorite older people today – and every day. And, for those seniors who are new to our community or perhaps have not gotten over there yet, Tumwater’s Old Town Center, formerly the community’s fire station and City Hall, is now a community center, offering a wide range of free and low-cost programs and activities to area seniors every weekday.

Please click on one of these links to learn more.

https://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/departments/parks-recreation-department/city-facilities/old-town-center

https://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/departments/parks-recreation-department/classes-programs-sports/senior-programs

08/16/2026

Top 3 for the August 18, 2026, Tumwater City Council meeting

Here are three items to watch on Tuesday’s agenda:

1. 2026 Drought Briefing and Public Outreach
An update on current conditions, response planning, and public communication.

2. Parking Lot Lighting Standards
Council will consider an amendment intended to balance site safety with impacts on surrounding properties.

3. Council Rules and Procedures
Council will consider updated rules that guide how meetings are conducted and how we work together.

The agenda also includes a presentation from the Thurston Conservation District, an International Overdose Awareness Day proclamation, and a resolution related to charitable partnerships.

City Council meetings are always open to the public. You may join us in person at Tumwater City Hall or attend virtually.

View the full agenda, packet, and meeting information:

https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=25778f205de34c5bb1be78eac8a58eff&ip=True

08/14/2026

I care about everyone in this community, including those who may be especially susceptible to illness, as well as our youngest and oldest -- everyone. As kids get ready for school, and before the next season of the next iteration of the next bug arrives, please consider getting immunized to help us all sniffle and cough a little less this next fall and winter. Thurston County is just one among many government, non-profit and private sector health care organizations who can help us out.

Learn more about immunization clinics at their website.

Immunizations A Message from our Thurston County Health Officer “You have the power to protect your child.”  You can be confident that Thurston County Public Health and Social Services shares the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the pediatricians who use decades of safe...