Lacey City Council Worksession - July 14, 2026

The City of Lacey held a City Council work session on July 14, 2026, focusing primarily on environmental conservation partnerships and community development funding. Representatives from the Thurston Conservation District presented on their ongoing and future projects, including a proposed increase in local parcel rates and charges from $5 to $25 to generate an additional $2 million annually, with $1 million dedicated to farmland preservation. They also discussed plans for a new conservation education center and opportunities for collaboration on urban agriculture, stormwater management, and habitat restoration. The council discussed potential partnerships for local habitat reserves and community gardens. Additionally, the council reviewed the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan, proposing to allocate approximately $303,749 towards infrastructure improvements at Huntermore Park, with the Virginia S. Clark Senior Center as a contingency project. The plan includes 10% of funds for administrative costs and aims to reduce impact on the general fund. The council also considered designating the Nisqually Valley News as the city's official newspaper to replace the Olympian, citing significant cost savings and better local accessibility for legal notices and public information. No formal votes were recorded in the transcript, but consensus appeared to support these procurement and funding initiatives.