OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Olympia City Council Meeting - October 8, 2025 (Convened Oct 7): Resolution Opposing Prop 1 & Plan Chapters

City Council & Commissions — Wednesday, October 8, 2025
BodyOlympia, Washington
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateWednesday, October 8, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 4:27:05

Transcript — Verbatim
0:05

Good evening and welcome to the Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 regular business meeting of the Olympia City Council.

0:12

For the record, we have a quorum with all council members present tonight.

0:16

So before we move on to adoption of the agenda, I would like to just mention that we obviously have a full house, so I would ask that you please keep our aisles clear and that you keep all exits clear, um, entrances and exits clear, uh, because uh our fire chief uh would very much appreciate that you do so.

0:34

So uh please keep them clear throughout uh the duration of our meeting tonight.

0:40

Um so we are it is kind of a Murphy's law kind of night when it comes to technology.

0:46

Um so you'll see that there is a microphone here at the podium because unfortunately our regular mic isn't working tonight.

0:55

Uh so please use that mic that you see there on the stand uh for your comments when you speak tonight.

1:00

Um and I also just uh want to mention that if there are any people here in in the chambers tonight that have a disability or that needs to take a seat, um, if you could please come forward and and uh please uh make it known to staff here um that you need a place to sit.

1:19

Um and um so thank you for being here tonight.

1:23

Uh we will dig right in as soon as we get to that part of our agenda.

1:27

It's it's pretty much at the top.

1:28

Uh we have a few things to celebrate tonight, and then we'll get right into it.

1:32

Uh so with that, I need a motion to approve tonight's agenda.

1:37

So moved.

1:39

Second.

1:41

Uh we have a motion in a second, but I see the mayor pro tems hand.

1:45

Yeah, thank you, Mayor.

1:46

I'd like to uh make a motion to or suggest that we amend tonight's agenda so that we can move up public comment.

1:54

We just have one public commenter and hate to have them go after uh the long list probably of public hearing.

2:02

Second.

2:08

Okay.

2:10

As okay.

2:12

As I said, it's a Murphy's Law kind of night when it comes to technology.

2:16

Um how about in the back?

2:18

Can you hear me in the back?

2:22

Yes.

2:23

Okay.

2:27

Wow, this is a first.

2:29

Okay.

2:29

Can you hear me now?

2:33

You can't hear me now.

2:35

Okay.

2:35

Okay.

2:36

How about now?

2:38

Wow.

2:39

Okay.

2:42

All right.

2:43

So uh the mayor pro tem just made a motion to amend tonight's agenda to place public comment ahead of the hearing because we have one person who is signed up in chambers uh to speak.

2:54

Uh so that way we can hear that public commenter and let them get on with their evening.

2:59

Uh so uh Mayor Pro Tem has made that motion.

3:02

I second it.

3:03

So uh all those in favor of adopting the agenda as amended, signify by saying aye.

3:10

Aye.

3:11

Aye.

3:15

Yes.

3:16

Thank you, Councilmember Cooper.

3:17

So that was the vote on the amendment.

3:19

So uh I need a motion to approve tonight's agenda.

3:31

All those in favor of the vote signify by saying aye.

3:34

Aye.

3:35

Motion passes.

3:37

Okay, so we have an agenda.

3:39

So we'll move on to special recognition this evening, which is a proclamation uh recognizing Indigenous People's Day.

3:47

Um, and we have a shared reading of that proclamation.

3:54

We're passing the microphone.

4:01

Whereas Indigenous People's Day was first proposed in 1977 by a delegation of Native Nations to the United Nations sponsored international conference on discrimination against indigenous populations in the Americas.

4:14

And whereas Indigenous People's Day is a day to recognize and celebrate rich Indigenous heritage, culture, and history while honoring past, current, and future generations.

4:26

And whereas Indigenous People's Day is also a time to reflect on the strength, resilience, and determination of Indigenous peoples who have carried their cultures forward with vitality and pride, despite enduring generational harms that continue to impact present-day Indigenous communities and whereas the City of Olympia honors and acknowledges the indigenous people who have stewarded this land since time immemorial, and who still inhabit the area today, the Stachass Band of the Indigenous People of the Squawkson Island tribe.

5:03

And whereas today the State OS Squawkson people continue to steward these ancestral lands from the Deschutes watershed and what is now Bud Inlet, and the Squawks and continue to call themselves people of the water because of the bounty of the region's waterways and Artesian waters, which have sustained the people for millennia.

5:26

And we're at whereas both the Squawkson Island tribe and the City of Olympia honor the Medicine Creek Treaty and have established a strong government-to-government relationship between the sovereigns and whereas on October 7th, 2021, the City of Olympia re-signed and reaffirmed their accord with the Squaxon Island tribe in the spirit of understanding and mutual respect and committed to the following long-term actions.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Workforce Development█████████████████17%
Economic Development███████████████15%
Procedural██████████████14%
Minimum Wage████████████12%
Public Engagement███████████11%
Labor Standards████4%
Tribal Relations███3%
Community Engagement███3%
Business Licensing███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Olympia City Council Meeting - October 8, 2025 (Note: Meeting convened on October 7, 2025, per minutes and transcript)

The Olympia City Council held a regular business meeting on October 7, 2025 (agenda date listed as October 8, 2025), addressing a full agenda including proclamations, public comment, a public hearing on a labor standards initiative, consent calendar items, and acceptance of comprehensive plan chapters. The council passed a resolution opposing Local Initiative Proposition No. 1, approved routine items, and accepted updated drafts of the Public Safety and Transportation chapters of the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved minutes of September 30, 2025.
  • Authorized a Design/Build agreement with Forma, Inc. for the Hands On Children’s Museum Expansion Project.
  • Authorized a Professional Services Agreement with Parametrix, Inc. for the same project.
  • Authorized an Interagency Agreement with Washington State Department of Commerce for the Encampment Resolution Program - Housing division.
  • Authorized purchase of real property from the Estate of Margaret E. Long.
  • Authorized the City Manager to accept a donation from The Angela J. Bowen Conservancy Foundation for the property purchase.
  • Approved an ordinance (first and final) accepting a gift and donation from the Foundation for park/conservancy purposes.
  • Approved an ordinance (first reading) amending Ordinance 7434 (Third Quarter Budget Amendment), moving to second reading.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Comment (before hearing): Nolan O'Connell, Chair of the Olympia Youth Council, spoke as a resident urging the council to continue funding the Youth Council, highlighting its low cost and high impact.
  • Public Hearing on Proposition 1: Over 40 speakers testified. Positions were divided:
    • Support for Prop 1 / Opposing the Resolution: Many union members, workers, and community activists argued that the initiative provides fair wages, predictable scheduling, and safe workplaces. They stated that low-wage workers are struggling, and the initiative would boost the local economy. Some criticized the council for not letting voters decide without interference. Speakers included Caleb Geiger, Nick Quijas, Nicholas Hefling, Morgan Nichols, Seamus Petrie, Tom Crawford, Krag Unsoeld, Paris McClusky, Nat Degen, Ben Peterson, Chris Fergus, Andre Newcomb, Gabe Salzetti, Isaac Wagnitz, Sam Davis, Keadrin Cain, Will Smith, Charlotte Crawford, Michael Whalen, Robin Crawford, and Alex Ketter (positive), among others.
    • Opposition to Prop 1 / Supporting the Resolution: Small business owners, nonprofit leaders, and some residents argued the initiative was poorly written, would increase costs, reduce flexibility, and harm small businesses and nonprofits. They cited concerns about scheduling penalties, civil lawsuits, and unintended consequences for industries like healthcare and hospitality. Speakers included Sharon Turebel (mixed), Brandon Weedon, Nicole Butigan, Cheryl Selby (former mayor), Mindy Roberts (Olympia Union Gospel Mission), Pam Oates, Elizabeth MacLean, Dan Merscher, Jason Lee, Barry Kocher, and others.

Discussion Items

  • Resolution Opposing Local Initiative Proposition No. 1: Council deliberated at length.
    • Mayor Pro Tem Huỳnh and Councilmembers Green and Madrone supported the resolution, citing concerns about the initiative's complexity, lack of stakeholder input, potential harm to small businesses and nonprofits, and that the city cannot amend the initiative if passed.
    • Councilmembers Cooper, Gilman, and Vanderpool opposed the resolution, arguing that workers deserve dignity, the initiative is a modest step, and the council should not sway voters. Councilmember Vanderpool gave an emotional speech about labor dignity.
    • A motion to "call the question" (end debate) was made by Councilmember Cooper, seconded by Gilman, and passed 6-1 (Madrone abstained).
    • The main motion to approve the resolution opposing Prop 1 passed 4-3 (Aye: Payne, Huỳnh, Green, Madrone; Nay: Cooper, Gilman, Vanderpool).
    • A substitute motion to modify the resolution to support Prop 1 failed 3-4.
  • Acceptance of Public Safety Chapter: Director Susan McLaughlin presented the updated draft of the Public Safety Chapter of the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan. Council discussed and approved it unanimously (6-0, Huỳnh excused).
  • Acceptance of Transportation Chapter: Principal Planner Michelle Swanson presented the Transportation Chapter, highlighting multimodal policies and integration with the Transportation Master Plan. The council approved it unanimously (6-0, Huỳnh excused).

Key Outcomes

  • Resolution Opposing Proposition 1: Passed (4-3). The council will formally oppose Local Initiative Proposition No. 1 on the November 2025 ballot.
  • Consent Calendar: Approved unanimously.
  • Public Safety Chapter: Accepted (6-0).
  • Transportation Chapter: Accepted (6-0).
  • Note on Date: The meeting took place on October 7, 2025, per minutes and transcript, though the provided agenda date was October 8, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the Tuesday, October 7th, 2025 regular business meeting of the Olympia City Council. For the record, we have a quorum with all council members present tonight. So before we move on to adoption of the agenda, I would like to just mention that we obviously have a full house, so I would ask that you please keep our aisles clear and that you keep all exits clear, um, entrances and exits clear, uh, because uh our fire chief uh would very much appreciate that you do so. So uh please keep them clear throughout uh the duration of our meeting tonight. Um so we are it is kind of a Murphy's law kind of night when it comes to technology. Um so you'll see that there is a microphone here at the podium because unfortunately our regular mic isn't working tonight. Uh so please use that mic that you see there on the stand uh for your comments when you speak tonight. Um and I also just uh want to mention that if there are any people here in in the chambers tonight that have a disability or that needs to take a seat, um, if you could please come forward and and uh please uh make it known to staff here um that you need a place to sit. Um and um so thank you for being here tonight. Uh we will dig right in as soon as we get to that part of our agenda. It's it's pretty much at the top. Uh we have a few things to celebrate tonight, and then we'll get right into it. Uh so with that, I need a motion to approve tonight's agenda. So moved. Second. Uh we have a motion in a second, but I see the mayor pro tems hand. Yeah, thank you, Mayor. I'd like to uh make a motion to or suggest that we amend tonight's agenda so that we can move up public comment. We just have one public commenter and hate to have them go after uh the long list probably of public hearing. Second. Okay. As okay. As I said, it's a Murphy's Law kind of night when it comes to technology. Um how about in the back? Can you hear me in the back? Yes. Okay. Wow, this is a first. Okay. Can you hear me now? You can't hear me now. Okay. Okay. How about now? Wow. Okay. All right. So uh the mayor pro tem just made a motion to amend tonight's agenda to place public comment ahead of the hearing because we have one person who is signed up in chambers uh to speak. Uh so that way we can hear that public commenter and let them get on with their evening. Uh so uh Mayor Pro Tem has made that motion. I second it. So uh all those in favor of adopting the agenda as amended, signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Yes. Thank you, Councilmember Cooper. So that was the vote on the amendment. So uh I need a motion to approve tonight's agenda. All those in favor of the vote signify by saying aye. Aye.

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