10/20/2026 Federal Way City Council - Special Meeting

The City of Federal Way City Council held a special budget workshop and study session on October 20, 2026. Staff reviewed proposed budget adjustments, including adding $50,000 over the biennium for municipal court security and $50,000 for the neighborhood traffic safety program. Council discussed restarting a storefront broken-window recovery grant, with $30,000 raised as a possible allocation and discussion of whether to increase it; program rules and funding were not finalized, and no budget vote is recorded. Staff reported about 37 broken-window or door incidents through September and outlined possible eligibility, insurance, replacement, and window-upgrade requirements. The council also discussed a possible $30,000 chamber sponsorship, but it remained undecided. A proposed swim-safety program for second- and third-grade students received positive initial feedback from the school district; staff said it may have no budget impact if transportation is covered.

The police department’s nearly $3.3 million state grant was reviewed. It is reimbursement-based through July 2028 and covers, among other items, $935,000 for $5,000 retention bonuses for police employees, plus eligible equipment, uniforms, and training; the state excluded vehicle purchases but would reimburse equipment for three vehicles. The city’s 0.1% sales-tax increase was estimated to generate $2.4 million annually, with the first monthly remittance reported at $217,000. Council members also raised requests to increase human-services funding and consider additional employee-retention support; staff said the proposed human-services grant budget is $629,000 per year, excluding one-time ARPA funds. Staff cautioned that the balanced budget defers about $2.5 million in vehicle needs and $2 million in non-represented employee compensation, among other needs. No procurement award or final spending action was identified; the council recessed for an executive session on collective bargaining.