City Council Work Session April 22 2025

The Tumwater City Council Work Session on April 22, 2025, focused primarily on regional transportation planning and a significant urban growth area (UGA) swap proposal. The Regional Transportation Plan (RTP) presentation detailed long-term transportation goals, including safety, congestion mitigation, greenhouse gas emissions reduction, and infrastructure improvements such as roadways, trails, and transit expansions. The council discussed the financial constraints impacting electric vehicle infrastructure funding and the importance of regional cooperation. The Sage Landing project was introduced as a proposed development involving a UGA swap to remove approximately 60 acres from the UGA and add about 40 acres more suitable for development, including extending city water and sewer utilities to currently underserved parcels. This project is expected to generate housing units, jobs, and tax revenue, with ongoing environmental and transportation impact studies by Thurston County. The council was informed that final legislative decisions on the UGA swap rest with the county, with potential future city annexation as an option. Additionally, the police department presented its 2024 annual report, highlighting staffing levels, technology initiatives including body-worn cameras and license plate reader systems, and community engagement efforts. Budget constraints were noted, with requests for additional officers not funded in the 2025-26 budget. Discussions included potential partnerships with the Thurston County Sheriff's Office and the status of technology projects. The meeting also included updates on city events and strategic planning efforts. No formal votes or contract awards were reported during this session, but several ongoing projects and budget considerations with procurement implications were discussed.