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Record of Proceedings

Olympia City Council Regular Business Meeting - January 13, 2026

City Council & Commissions — Wednesday, January 14, 2026
BodyOlympia, Washington
SessionCity Council & Commissions
DateWednesday, January 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 3:07:26

Original source
Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:02

Good evening and welcome to the Tuesday, January 13, 2026, regular business meeting of the Olympia City Council.

0:09

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

0:14

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

0:17

So moved.

0:19

Second.

0:21

All those in favor of the agenda is published, signify by saying aye.

0:24

Aye.

0:25

We have an agenda.

0:27

So our first item tonight is special recognition, a proclamation recognizing Dr.

0:31

Martin Luther King Jr.

0:33

Day, and we will begin with a shared reading of the proclamation beginning with Councilmember Madron.

0:39

Whereas the Reverend Dr.

0:41

Martin Luther King Jr.

0:43

dedicated his life to the nonviolent crusade for human rights for all people and advance the values of equality, justice, and opportunity for all.

0:51

And whereas Dr.

0:53

King's words and vision resonate today, as they did in his lifetime, and incumbent upon us to carry forward his principles of peace, equality, and service and as the forces of hate and oppression rise up in the world, Dr.

1:13

King reminds us that the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice.

1:19

And whereas in his struggle for human rights, Dr.

1:23

King was committed to economic justice as well as social justice.

1:27

And in his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize address, Dr.

1:31

King called out poverty as an evil which plagues the modern world.

1:35

And whereas Dr.

1:38

King encouraged us to act with compassion, saying, as you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love.

1:49

And whereas the federal government recognized Dr.

1:53

Martin Luther King Jr.'s day as a national holiday in law on November 2nd, 1983.

2:01

And now, therefore, be it resolved that the Olympia City Council does hereby proclaim Monday, January 19, 2026, as Dr.

2:10

Martin Luther King Jr.

2:12

Day in Olympia and urges the community to pay tribute to the life and the works of the Reverend Dr.

2:17

Martin Luther King through participation and acts of service to the community on this day and throughout the year.

2:25

Signed in the City of Olympia, Washington this 13th day of January 2026, Olympia City Council, Dante Payne, Mayor.

2:52

All right.

2:53

Thank you, Councilmember Barrett, for initiating that uh getting us up on our feet.

2:59

All right.

3:00

So we have a list of guest speakers today.

3:03

Um so I'm gonna call forward right now.

3:05

We have uh the Reverend David Reeves, who's the senior pastor at New Life Baptist Church, Dr.

3:10

Thelma Jackson, the community engagement leader at New Life Baptist Church, and we also, I believe we have Stephanie uh Shalomandele here as well, who is on a community design advocate for the Rebecca Howard Park.

3:29

Dr.

3:29

Jackson, good to see you.

3:33

Thank you, Mayor Payne, members of the council.

3:37

Thank you so very much for this proclamation that you are again a warning another year.

3:44

You do so in a climate where people such as Dr.

3:48

King some hope would forget about.

3:51

As we look at the 250th year anniversary of this country, and we look back all the way to 1619, over 150 years before this country was actually birthed.

4:04

You had an awful lot of a presence of blacks.

4:09

And then for Dr.

4:11

King in the 50s and the 60s to lead the giant effort that led to the Civil Rights Act, that led to the Voting Rights Act, that led to uh public accessibility, that led to a focus on poverty and the indifference, injustice, and all those things have become such a part and such a fiber of America.

4:34

So as we pause to celebrate his birthday this year, you as a council, I applaud you because you do so under a lot of pressure as a public body to eradicate all holidays that uh recognize people of color, other ethnicities, and other injustices in this country.

4:56

But by way of this proclamation that you make tonight, you're saying no.

5:02

Dr.

5:02

King was not just a dreamer, he was also a doer.

5:07

And you are doing as a city council the things that he articulated in his dream.

5:13

So I applaud you for standing up against the odds for being single out as a community that's standing by its immigrants that's standing by all of its people that are suffering injustice of any way, being denied liberties and freedoms.

5:33

So this is more than just a proclamation for Dr.

5:36

King.

5:36

They are words that you read that stand for what you believe in as a city and as a city council.

5:43

And for that, I say thank you.

5:52

Thank you, Dr.

5:53

Jackson.

5:54

Hi, Stephanie.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Racial Equity████████████████16%
Land Use Planning███████████11%
LGBTQ Rights███████████11%
Immigrant Rights██████████10%
Animal Welfare█████████9%
Urban Agriculture███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Procedural█████5%
Public Safety█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Olympia City Council Regular Business Meeting - January 13, 2026

The Olympia City Council met on Tuesday, January 13, 2026, at 6:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included three special recognitions, public comment, approval of the consent calendar, a first reading of an ordinance updating urban agriculture codes, and a referral to introduce a diverse family structure nondiscrimination ordinance. The meeting adjourned at 9:07 PM.

Special Recognitions

  • Proclamation Recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day (January 19, 2026): Councilmembers read the proclamation. Dr. Thelma Jackson (Community Engagement Leader, New Life Baptist Church) and Stephanie Cholmondeley (Community Design Manager) spoke in support. Councilmembers expressed gratitude and emphasized accountability.
  • Proclamation Recognizing National Day of Racial Healing (January 20, 2026): Councilmembers read the proclamation. Victoria Harmon (Regional Manager, Olympia Timberland Regional Library), Talauna Reed (Vice President, NAACP Thurston County), and Zoe McRae (Program Director, South Sound YMCA) spoke. Councilmembers highlighted the importance of action beyond words.
  • Proclamation Recognizing Immigrant and Refugee Advocacy Day (January 22, 2026): Councilmembers read the proclamation. Ernesto Oliva (Campaign Manager, Washington Immigrant Solidarity Network) spoke about the policy platform and urged continued advocacy. Councilmembers reaffirmed Olympia's sanctuary city status.

Consent Calendar

  • Approved January 6, 2026 meeting minutes.
  • Approved 2026 City of Olympia State Legislative Agenda.
  • Authorized lease agreement with Vantage Financial, LLC for mobile computer terminals and protection warranty.
  • Authorized application for Recreation and Conservation Office Brian Abbott Fish Barrier Removal Board Grant for Ellis Creek Fish Passage Design Project.
  • Adopted unanimously (7-0).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Christina McVeigh (Director, Franklin Street Harm Reduction): Introduced the organization's services (support groups, partnerships). Councilmember Barrett expressed concerns about neighborhood impacts; others offered support and tours.
  • Sarah Hawk (Executive Director, Joint Animal Services): Supported raising pet limits, specifically removing the three-of-any-species restriction. Encouraged a higher cap (8 or 10) to facilitate adoptions/fosters.
  • Terry Ballard: Argued that county seat operations are unconstitutional; provided packets to council. Council directed staff to follow up.
  • Andrelyn Izquierdo (online): Opposed the diverse family structure nondiscrimination ordinance, claiming it would harm heterosexuals and women. Mayor Payne and Mayor Pro Tem Huỳnh responded, emphasizing the ordinance expands protections without taking away rights.

Discussion Items

  • 6A: Ordinance Amending OMC for Urban Agriculture

    • Associate Planner Casey Schaufler presented the proposal to allow urban agriculture as primary/accessory use in additional zones, update pet definitions, and clarify land use processes.
    • Key discussion points:
      • Pet limit: Staff recommended 8 pets (up from 6) and remove the three-of-any-species limit. Joint Animal Services preferred 10 or no cap. Councilmember Madrone proposed keeping 6 but removing the species limit, with future land use committee discussion on fosters, small mammal definitions, breeding, and registration. Motion carried.
      • Animal units: For parcels over 2 acres, USDA animal units apply. For 2 acres or less, non-agricultural animals limited.
      • Nuisance clauses: Code enforcement can address sanitation, noise, pests; voluntary compliance prioritized.
      • Amendment: "No more than six pet animals, and no more than three of any species, are permitted per dwelling unit." (Council later removed the three-species limit)
    • Outcome: Approved on first reading (forward to second reading) by voice vote.

  • 8A: Referral for Diverse Family Structure Nondiscrimination Ordinance

    • Councilmember Vanderpool moved to refer the introduction of an ordinance adding "family and relationship structure" as a protected category in city code, based on model legislation, with City Attorney review and public comment.
    • Councilmembers expressed support, noting it expands civil rights protections for diverse family structures (e.g., single-parent, multi-generational, chosen, non-monogamous, polyamorous).
    • Outcome: Motion carried unanimously (7-0).

Key Outcomes

  • Urban Agriculture Ordinance: Approved on first reading; second reading scheduled for a future meeting.
  • Diverse Family Structure Nondiscrimination Referral: Approved; staff will draft ordinance for council consideration.
  • Council Retreat Follow-up: Council calendar and interjurisdictional assignments to be brought forward on January 27.
  • Public Comment Follow-up: City Manager Burney will organize tours of Franklin Street Harm Reduction; staff will review Terry Ballard's concerns.

Council Reports

  • Mayor Payne reported on the council retreat and attending the governor's State of the State address.
  • Councilmember Gilman reported on the Thurston County Board of Health meeting, noting reduced fatal overdoses and flu season updates.
  • Councilmember Barrett reported on attending a protest against ICE activity, the Coalition of Neighborhood Associations meeting, and signing up for the point-in-time count.
  • City Manager Burney thanked law enforcement for Law Enforcement Appreciation Day and provided retreat follow-up updates.

Meeting Transcript

Good evening and welcome to the Tuesday, January 13, 2026, regular business meeting of the Olympia City Council. For the record, we have a quorum with all council members present tonight. So with that, I need a motion to approve tonight's agenda. So moved. Second. All those in favor of the agenda is published, signify by saying aye. Aye. We have an agenda. So our first item tonight is special recognition, a proclamation recognizing Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and we will begin with a shared reading of the proclamation beginning with Councilmember Madron. Whereas the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. dedicated his life to the nonviolent crusade for human rights for all people and advance the values of equality, justice, and opportunity for all. And whereas Dr. King's words and vision resonate today, as they did in his lifetime, and incumbent upon us to carry forward his principles of peace, equality, and service and as the forces of hate and oppression rise up in the world, Dr. King reminds us that the moral arc of the universe is long, but it bends towards justice. And whereas in his struggle for human rights, Dr. King was committed to economic justice as well as social justice. And in his 1964 Nobel Peace Prize address, Dr. King called out poverty as an evil which plagues the modern world. And whereas Dr. King encouraged us to act with compassion, saying, as you press on for justice, be sure to move with dignity and discipline, using only the weapon of love. And whereas the federal government recognized Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s day as a national holiday in law on November 2nd, 1983. And now, therefore, be it resolved that the Olympia City Council does hereby proclaim Monday, January 19, 2026, as Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day in Olympia and urges the community to pay tribute to the life and the works of the Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King through participation and acts of service to the community on this day and throughout the year. Signed in the City of Olympia, Washington this 13th day of January 2026, Olympia City Council, Dante Payne, Mayor. All right. Thank you, Councilmember Barrett, for initiating that uh getting us up on our feet. All right. So we have a list of guest speakers today. Um so I'm gonna call forward right now. We have uh the Reverend David Reeves, who's the senior pastor at New Life Baptist Church, Dr. Thelma Jackson, the community engagement leader at New Life Baptist Church, and we also, I believe we have Stephanie uh Shalomandele here as well, who is on a community design advocate for the Rebecca Howard Park. Dr. Jackson, good to see you. Thank you, Mayor Payne, members of the council. Thank you so very much for this proclamation that you are again a warning another year. You do so in a climate where people such as Dr. King some hope would forget about. As we look at the 250th year anniversary of this country, and we look back all the way to 1619, over 150 years before this country was actually birthed. You had an awful lot of a presence of blacks. And then for Dr. King in the 50s and the 60s to lead the giant effort that led to the Civil Rights Act, that led to the Voting Rights Act, that led to uh public accessibility, that led to a focus on poverty and the indifference, injustice, and all those things have become such a part and such a fiber of America. So as we pause to celebrate his birthday this year, you as a council, I applaud you because you do so under a lot of pressure as a public body to eradicate all holidays that uh recognize people of color, other ethnicities, and other injustices in this country. But by way of this proclamation that you make tonight, you're saying no. Dr.

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