The City Council met on Tuesday, September 1, 2026, at 6:30 PM. The meeting included presentations, public comments, adoption of the consent agenda, a second reading of the Critical Areas ordinance, adoption of the Hazard Mitigation Plan, a discussion on Key to the City criteria, and a presentation on the Road Safety Action Plan. All votes were 7-0 in favor.
Multiple citizens spoke on various topics:
Second Reading of Ordinance Amending PMC Chapter 21.06 – Critical Areas Development and Permitting Services Director Courtney Brunell introduced the ordinance. Councilmembers emphasized that the ordinance does not include changes to riparian management zones or stream buffers, which will be studied further. Councilmember Kastama noted the importance of not expanding buffers without local science. Councilmember Smolko asked about financial responsibility if mitigation fails; Brunell said it varies and will provide more details later. The motion passed 7-0 on a roll call vote.
Resolution Adopting Pierce County Regional Hazard Mitigation Plan, 2025–2030 Edition, and the City of Puyallup Jurisdictional Annex Emergency Management Manager Kirstin Hoffmann presented the updated plan, a result of three years of collaboration among city departments and external partners. Key revisions include a new name, consolidation of 21 hazards into 14, expanded mitigation strategies, and increased public engagement via surveys. Councilmembers discussed the city's autonomy in emergencies (confirmed), most pressing hazards (winter storms, flooding, lahar, wildfires, earthquakes), and plans for populations with access and functional needs. The resolution passed 7-0.
Key to the City Policy Discussion Mayor Witting initiated discussion on whether to establish formal criteria for awarding the Key to the City. City Manager Steve Kirkelie explained the current process: requires five councilmembers (supermajority) both to place a nomination on the agenda and to approve the award. Councilmembers largely supported retaining flexibility and the supermajority requirement. Some favored informal written guidance as a "north star." Mayor Witting concluded he would consult with the City Manager to determine if a majority wants to bring a formal resolution to a future meeting.
Puyallup Road Safety Action Plan Presentation City Engineer Hans Hunger introduced Michael Houston of Tool Design, the consultant for the federally funded Safe Streets and Roads for All (SS4A) planning grant. The 16-month process includes crash data analysis, development of a high-injury network, identification of safety improvements, and public engagement through events and listening sessions. Councilmembers emphasized proactive analysis of school zones and areas with potential risks even without crash history. Houston noted the analysis will consider lighting and similar risk characteristics. The plan will return in spring 2027 for council review.
Good evening. The Puyallop City Council meeting for September 1st is called to order. Will everyone please rise for the Pledge of Allegiance? Thank you. Will the city clerk please call the rule? Councilmember Smoker? Present. Councilmember Adler. Present. Councilmember Castamo. Present. Councilmember King. Present. Councilmember Gilliam. Present. Deputy Mayor Johnson. Present. Mayor Whitney. Present. Moving right along, uh, do we have a motion to approve the agenda? Motion to approve. Second. All those in favor? Aye. Motion passes. Uh moving along to presentations and proclamations. Uh we have a proclamation regarding the nine eleven twentieth fifth anniversary memorial proclamation. And it goes as follows. Whereas September eleventh, twenty twenty six marks the twenty-fifth anniversary of the terrorist attacks of September eleventh, two thousand one, when nearly three thousand lives were lost in New York City, and the Pentagon and aboard Flight 93. And whereas we honor the firefighters, law enforcement officers, emergency medical personnel, military members, and civilians, and selfless whose courage and selfless actions demonstrated the very best of our n of our nation. And whereas we remember the survivors, families, first responders, and recovery workers whose lives were forever changed and recognize the lasting sacrifice made in the years that followed, and whereas September 11 is observed as Patriot Day and a national day of service and remembrance, reminding us to honor those we lost through remembrance, service to others, and a commitment to strengthening our communities. And whereas 25 years later, we reaffirm our commitment to preserve the stories of September eleven so future generations understand the lives lost, the acts of courage and sacrifice, and the importance of standing together in times of ad of adversity. Now therefore, I, Ned Whitting, Mayor of the City of Puallop, to hereby proclaim September eleventh, 2026 as a day of remembrance, service, and unity, and encourage our community to pause in remembrance of those who lost their lives, honors those honor those who answered the call to serve, support those who continue to carry the impacts of that day, and renew our commitment to unity, compassion, and service. And I'd just like to ask for a moment of silence in recognition and remembrance of those that served us on that day. Thank you. Our next agenda item is a presentation from Forever Green Trails and Foothill Rails to Trails Coalition for the 15,000 for the Puallop Riverwalk Trail Phase Five project. And we have Larry Levin, Brianna Folk here to make the presentation. And I'd like to call up Cody Geddes as well. He's our parks and rec director. Thank you, Council. To present this donation. And Larry talked about this TAP fund drive and how helpful this could be. Unfortunately, we weren't quite ready for it for that grant, but the TAP fund drive came through, and Larry and Bree are here to present. Good evening. I'm Larry Levine, the executive director of Forever Green Trails. We're a Pierce Countywide Trail Advocacy Organization. Our role is to help local governments throughout Pierce County build out our planned regional trail system. And when we talk with our partners, we hear our government partners, we hear that they need two things. It's actually the same thing. They need funding.