Hybrid U.P. City Council Meeting, October 19, 2026

The University Place City Council meeting on October 19, 2026, included a presentation on Tacoma Public Utilities’ proposed 2027–28 rate adjustments and the city’s proposed biennial budget. TPU proposed annual increases of 6.3% for power and 5.6% for water, citing rising infrastructure, labor, technology, and regulatory costs; its board is scheduled to consider the package before Tacoma City Council makes the final decision. TPU also reported $23 million in identified savings for the biennium and discussed expanding income eligibility for customer assistance. University Place’s proposed budget was described as balanced, with one new assistant city attorney FTE to bring certain prosecution work in-house, a 0.25 FTE shift to support recreation, and $1.5 million in new-item requests, mostly one-time costs. The council discussed—but did not resolve—whether to retain or revise the $10,000 annual community-grant allocation and its recipient-selection process.

Capital and funding items included a proposed $500,000 for Alama lights, offset by grant revenue; legislative funding priorities for a Cirque Park sports-court project ($1.12 million), Day Island Spit Road design and drainage work ($300,000), a potential Homestead Park senior/community center ($500,000), and a 57th Avenue roadway and sewer connection ($500,000). Staff also reported that the city and Ruston had issued a joint RFQ/RFP for indigent-defense services, with proposals due soon; no vendor selection or award was made. The consent agenda was approved, but the transcript does not identify its individual items. No other procurement award was recorded.