07/07/2026 Federal Way City Council - Regular Meeting

The City of Federal Way held its regular City Council meeting on July 7, 2026, with significant focus on procurement and regulatory matters. A key procurement-related action was the unanimous adoption of a 12-month moratorium on the siting, creation, and expansion of data centers within the city, effective immediately upon passage with at least five votes. This moratorium aims to allow city staff to study data center impacts, including power and water usage, environmental effects, and infrastructure capacity, before considering amendments to development codes. Additionally, the council approved acceptance of a $105,679 state grant to relaunch the community court program, which includes hiring a coordinator to manage participants and reduce recidivism. The council also confirmed appointments for parks director Jason Gerwin and economic development director Tanya Carter, with the latter confirmed by a 5-2 vote despite some opposition advocating for a national search. The council enacted a new massage business ordinance designed to regulate licensed massage therapists and combat illicit massage businesses, including provisions for limited exemptions and inspections. Furthermore, the council approved the 2026 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) annual action plan, outlining funding allocations for public services and capital projects. Discussions also included the proposed response letter to the Seattle Sustainable Airport Master Plan under the State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), emphasizing concerns about noise and environmental justice impacts. The meeting featured extensive public comments on various community issues but procurement and contracting decisions centered on the moratorium, grant acceptance, appointments, and ordinance enactments.