10/06/2026 Federal Way City Council - Special Meeting

The Federal Way City Council held a special budget workshop on October 6, 2026, to deliberate on proposed budget items and remaining ARPA funds. Staff identified approximately $256,000 in ARPA balances associated with projects that had not started or were not required. The mayor recommended using $50,000 over the biennium for full-time court security and $30,000 for the neighborhood traffic safety program, with the remaining balance directed to the fund balance; no spending decisions or votes were made. Council members discussed restarting a storefront broken-window recovery grant, with amounts of $30,000 or $50,000 over the biennium raised for further consideration. They also debated whether to continue the Chamber of Commerce’s $15,000-per-year Pivotal Partnership sponsorship, but deferred a decision pending further discussion and information on deliverables and a meeting with Chamber representatives.

Staff said they would bring a future proposal to reallocate about $25,000 in leftover municipal court software funds to website accessibility upgrades and about $200,000 set aside for an ADA transition-plan consultant toward elevator work. The elevator project was estimated at roughly $348,000, with the city expecting to cover the cost using the existing $140,000 ARPA allocation and the proposed $200,000 reallocation; the contract and funding proposal remained pending. Staff also described a possible second- and third-grade swim-safety program, estimating transportation at about $50,000, while a lifeguard program was estimated at $250,000 or more. The school district’s participation and any budget implications remained unresolved.