Public Meetings - Olympia, Washington

This was a special meeting of the Olympia Metropolitan Park District Board held on October 21, 2025, at 5:30 PM. President Jim Cooper presided with four members present (Cooper, Vanderpool, Green, Payne) and three excused (Gilman, Huỳnh, Madrone). All actions were taken unanimously. The board received a compliance report, held public hearings on the 2026 preliminary budget and ad valorem tax, and approved related motions. Consent Calendar - Approval of Agenda: Approved unanimously without amendment. - Approval of April 29, 2025, Meeting Minutes: Approved unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony - No members of the public signed up or spoke during any public comment period or public hearing. Discussion Items - OMPD Advisory Committee Annual Compliance Report: Chair James Reddick presented the 2024 Compliance Report, confirming that the district remained in full compliance with the interlocal agreement. He noted that the program is now running smoothly and is regarded as a model for other cities in Washington. President Cooper thanked Reddick for his years of service and commitment to parks. - 2026 Preliminary OMPD Budget: Parks, Arts and Recreation Director Sylvana Niehuser presented the proposed budget totaling approximately $5.9 million. Key allocations included approximately $4 million to the operating budget, with the remainder supporting capital projects, insurance, and audit costs. A new green slice represented the bond payment for the Armory and Yum Highway. The budget fully funds the stewardship and ranger program, partially funds planning and design overhead, and half of parks maintenance. On the capital side, $750,000 is allocated for ADA/asset management (50% of the ADA transition plan complete), $160,000 for Percival Landing, and $500,000 for Lily Road neighborhood park. The proposed levy rate is estimated at 48 cents per $1,000 assessed value, within the voter-approved cap of 54 cents. President Cooper noted that the statutory maximum is 75 cents but the district has chosen to collect less, and declining assessed values are reducing the rate. - 2026 Ad Valorem Tax: Senior Budget and Finance Manager Joan Lutz explained that state law limits property tax growth to 1% (or the implicit price deflator, whichever is less). The 2025 assessed valuation for 2026 collections is nearly $12 billion. The highest lawful levy amount is $5.5 million; with the 1% factor and allowable add-ons for new construction, state-assessed properties, and refunds, the proposed levy is $5,760,213, translating to a rate of 48.17 cents per $1,000 assessed value – a slight decrease from 2025 due to a large refund amount. Key Outcomes - Public Hearings: The board opened and closed public hearings for both the 2026 preliminary budget and the 2026 ad valorem tax. No testimony was received. - Procedural Correction: The board initially voted to direct staff to prepare a budget resolution before opening the public hearing. Upon realizing the error, the board reopened the public hearing, then re-voted and approved the budget ($5,919,004) and directed staff to prepare a resolution for final approval on November 10, 2025. - Ad Valorem Tax Resolution: The board voted to direct staff to prepare an ad valorem tax resolution in the amount of $5,760,213 for board approval on November 10, 2025. - Next Steps: The board will meet on November 10, 2025, to consider and adopt the formal budget resolution and ad valorem tax resolution.

The Olympia City Council Finance Committee met on October 20, 2025, from 4:05 p.m. to 6:58 p.m. in Council Chambers. All three members (Chair Clark Gilman, Committee members Jim Cooper and Kelly Green) were present. The committee approved the September 15, 2025 minutes and received presentations on the property tax snapshot and the Tax Review Team’s progress. The main action was a unanimous vote (3-0) to forward to the full City Council a package of recommended 2026 utility rates, general facility charges, impact fees, and special revenues covering Inspire Olympia, lodging tax, Parking & Business Improvement Area (PBIA), and Housing/Homeless Response program budgets. The Finance Director also briefed the committee on budget-balancing recommendations from the October 14 Council Study Session. Consent Calendar - Approval of the September 15, 2025 Finance Committee meeting minutes. Public Comments & Testimony - No public comment was offered. Discussion Items - Property Tax Snapshot (6.A): Senior Budget & Finance Manager Joan Lutz presented Washington State’s property tax system, explaining that the levy rate is a pure math equation (levy amount ÷ assessed value ÷ 1,000). State law caps annual property tax growth to 1% or the implicit price deflator, whichever is less. For the City of Olympia, the city’s direct levies (including the fire bond and Olympia Metropolitan Park District) account for about 24% of total property taxes. The committee discussed the inverse relationship between levy rate and property values. - Tax Review Team Update (6.B): Accounting Manager Thomas Donnelly, Tax and License Lead Brandie Andrews, Auditor Nathan Wilkinson, and Program Assistant Sierra Jorgensen reported on the team’s first 18 months. Compliance efforts: In late 2024, 543 notices generated $143,000 in revenue; in 2025 through September, over 1,500 notices generated nearly $600,000. Tax reviews: 21 completed with 20 in pipeline, producing about $475,000 in assessments. The non-filing rate fell from 44% (2023) to 41% (2024) overall; quarterly filer non-compliance dropped from 16% to 12%, annual filers from 50% to 45%. On-time filing improved: quarterly filers from 44% to 58%, annual filers from 42% to 48%. The team is re-engaging with the Boltz online filing system and budgeted $50,000 for education and outreach. Discussion included the revenue’s treatment—committee members noted that compliance revenue is not new money (it was always owed) and expressed interest in directing funds to Olympia Strong economic development, though no formal commitment was made. - 2026 Rates, Fees, and Special Revenues (6.C): Presenters covered multiple areas. - Utility Rates: Interim Water Resources Director Gary Franks presented wet utility budgets. Budget drivers included HRCC salary increases, higher insurance costs, and reduced capital transfers. Proposed rate increases: Waste 4%, Drinking Water 3%, Wastewater 3%, Storm & Surface Water 7.5%. The average residential bi-monthly bill would rise $12.04 (3.74%) to $334. GFCs increase 5% across the board. A multi-year rate study is beginning. - Impact Fees: Tim from CPED explained transportation impact fees (proposed 10% increase, single-family to $5,271, multifamily to $2,982), park impact fees (2.9% inflationary increase), North Thurston Public Schools fees (decrease to $1,847 for single-family, with bedroom-based reductions), and Olympia School District fees (remain at $0). Transportation fees are about 33% below the state average of $5,486. - Parking Services: Ton Jeffers proposed a 25-30% increase in citation fees (first increase since 2020) to cover rising costs and reduce general fund subsidy. The committee discussed PayByPhone app outages and pop-up ads; staff will seek reimbursement for lost revenue and explore ad-free options. - Lodging Tax & Inspire Olympia: Amelia Leighton reported on lodging tax: 39 applications (largest ever) requesting $1.77M; LTAC recommends funding 31 for $1.00M plus $234k in multi-year contracts, drawing on reserves. Inspire Olympia Manager Mary Grace Good presented the cultural access fund: revenue $3.4M, with a planned spend-down of surplus from $600k to $500k by 2029. Challenges include grant cycle alignment and growing administrative volume. - PBIA & Housing/Homeless: The PBIA rate is proposed at $0 for 2026 pending consultant evaluation; flower baskets were not yet included but could be added. Housing Division Manager Cinda Stelchis and Homeless Response Coordinator Kim Condrat reviewed fund 142 (home fund) where expenses outpace revenues by $700k due to reduced commerce grants. CDBG funds are blocked by new federal grant agreement language; the city intends to join a lawsuit to access $341,000. Homeless response faces unbudgeted cleanup costs (e.g., $190k for hazardous tree removal, $100k+ per phase at Percival encampment) and the need to relocate Plum Street Village tiny homes. The “Jungle” encampment remains unfunded; a regional work plan is under development. - Reports and Updates (7): Finance Director Michael Githens summarized the October 14 Council Study Session consensus: moving forward with a public safety sales tax (ordinance Nov 3) and a B&O tax increase (Scenario Four: all categories to 0.002, retail to 0.0015, threshold to $500k). Proposed budget balancing includes $1.5M from REET, $1.2M in reductions, and revenue-neutral enhancements (e.g., additional firefighter, climate coordinator). Enhancements include bunker gear funding, jail cost increase, emergency manager, sidewalk repair team, and $200k for Olympia Strong. Key Outcomes - Vote: Committee Member Green moved, Cooper seconded, to approve and forward to full Council the recommended 2026 Utility Rates, General Facility Charges, Impact Fees, and Special Revenues (including Inspire Olympia, Lodging Tax, PBIA, and Housing/Homeless Response budgets). The motion passed 3-0. - Next Steps: The Finance Director will prepare ordinances for the public safety sales tax and B&O tax increase for first reading on November 3, 2025. The full Council will hold public hearings on the utility budgets and operating budget on November 3 and 18, with final adoption scheduled for December 16, 2025. - Directives: Staff will research options to cover CDBG grants during the federal dispute, seek reimbursement from PayByPhone for app outages, and explore removing pop-up ads from the parking app. A comprehensive parking rate study is planned after the citation fee adjustment.

The Community Livability and Public Safety Committee of the Olympia City Council held a special meeting on Wednesday, October 15, 2025, from 5:30 PM to 7:53 PM. The meeting covered wayfinding entrance signage design concepts, the naming of three park properties, and a preview of the 2026 committee work plan. Consent Calendar - The agenda was approved unanimously. - The minutes from the September 24, 2025 meeting were approved unanimously. Public Comments & Testimony Five members of the public spoke, all in support of the recommended park names: - Karen Fraser (representing the Remembering Jolene Unsoeld Steering Committee) urged the committee to endorse the park naming for Jolene Unsoeld and submitted a letter with 78 endorsers. - Mark Foutch supported naming the Olympia Armory after Bill Daley (Daley Arts Center). - Rita Robinson supported naming Kaiser Woods Park after Marge Young (Marj Yung), noting that only three parks in Olympia are named after women. - Holly Gattan (note: the transcript lists the name as "Holly Gadbaugh") supported both the Daley Arts Center and Marge Young Park. - Kathy McCormick supported all three names, highlighting the contributions of Bill Daley, Jolene Unsoeld, and Marge Young. Discussion Items - Wayfinding Entrance Signage Design Concepts (Item 6A): Assistant City Manager Stacey Ray and consultants from Tangram Design LLC presented six design concepts for gateway entrance signs. Committee members provided feedback: Clark Gilman expressed dissatisfaction with all designs, finding them too similar to mall entrances and lacking a sense of place; Dontae Payne liked concepts 2 and 3, supported inclusion of the Squaxin Island language, and emphasized the importance of lighting and maintenance. Chair Yến Huỳnh favored a stone base, lighting flexibility, and a design that feels timeless. The committee decided to have Tangram return with revised concepts based on the feedback, and no motion was made. - Park Naming (Item 6B): Parks Planning & Design Manager Laura Keehan, Parks Planner Sarah Giannobile, and other staff presented recommendations from the Parks and Recreation Advisory Committee (PRAC) for three park properties: the Olympia Armory as "Daley Arts Center", Yelm Highway Community Park as "Jolene Unsoeld Community Park", and Kaiser Woods Park as "Elk Ridge Trails Park". The committee discussed the names: Gilman and Payne supported the first two but expressed reservations about "Elk Ridge Trails Park" for Kaiser Woods, preferring "Marge Young Park" (or "Marj Yung Park" per the minutes). Chair Huỳnh noted that two of three PRAC recommendations were acceptable. A motion was made to approve the PRAC recommendations for the Armory and Yelm Highway, and to recommend Kaiser Woods be renamed "Marge Young Park" (minutes record the name as "Marj Yung Park"). The motion passed unanimously (3-0). - 2026 Work Plan Topics (Item 6C): Assistant City Manager Debbie Sullivan presented the draft 2026 work plan. Committee members suggested adding topics: an update on the municipal court transition to the county court commissioner (Gilman), an emergency management briefing (Payne, supported by City Manager Jay Burney), and a potential "Just Serve City" designation (Payne). The discussion was completed; staff will incorporate feedback and finalize the work plan at the January retreat. Key Outcomes - Wayfinding signage: No decision; Tangram Design LLC will produce revised concepts based on committee feedback. - Park naming: Motion passed to recommend to the full City Council the following names: the Olympia Armory as "Daley Arts Center", Yelm Highway Community Park as "Jolene Unsoeld Community Park", and Kaiser Woods Park as "Marge Young Park" (noted as "Marj Yung Park" in the official minutes). Vote: 3-0 in favor. - 2026 work plan: Staff will finalize the work plan in January 2026, incorporating topics discussed, including the municipal court update, emergency management, and the Just Serve City designation. Note on discrepancies: The minutes and transcript differ on the name of one public commenter: the minutes list "Holly Gattan" while the transcript says "Holly Gadbaugh". Additionally, the motion for Kaiser Woods Park used the name "Marge Young Park" in the transcript, but the official minutes record the name as "Marj Yung Park".

This study session held on October 14, 2025, covered three major agenda items: the 2026 operating budget, the Olympia 2045 Climate Action and Resilience chapter, and the Housing chapter of the Comprehensive Plan. Key decisions included use of one-time REET funds, selection of a B\&O tax increase scenario, agreement on budget reductions, and support for several enhancements. Council also discussed the draft climate and housing chapters. Discussion Items 2026 Operating Budget (Item 2A) - City Manager Jay Burney and Finance Director Michael Githens presented the budget update. - A $6.3 million gap needed to be closed. - Council agreed to use $1.5 million in one-time Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) to bridge the delayed public safety sales tax revenue (starting mid-2026). - Four B\&O tax increase scenarios were considered. Council expressed consensus for Scenario 4: raising rates to 0.002 for most business classifications except retail (kept at 0.0015), with a $500,000 threshold. This is expected to generate $1.7-1.8 million. - Several enhancements were discussed: funding for expanded downtown guides (supported for one year), a shared emergency manager with another jurisdiction (supported to explore), home energy score program (council supported funding the city's share, around $25,000), and creation of a sidewalk repair crew (supported, funded from Transportation Benefit District revenue, estimated $830k first year). - Jay Burney presented $1.2 million in proposed reductions: 2.5 FTE in communications, city manager support position, legal position (vacant), economic development support (vacant), delay of new familiar faces position, climate programs position (vacant), elimination of federal lobbyist contract, and attrition of a senior planner retiring. Council accepted the reductions list. Olympia 2045 Climate Action and Resilience Chapter (Item 2B) - Dr. Pamela Braff and Natalie Weiss presented the draft chapter. - The chapter integrates climate goals across all comprehensive plan chapters, addressing both mitigation (emissions reduction) and resilience (adaptation to heat, wildfire smoke, sea level rise, etc.). - Council commended the work and expressed gratitude. No votes taken, but direction to proceed to acceptance. Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan Housing Chapter (Item 2C) - Associate Planner Casey Schaufler presented the draft housing chapter. - Key updates include housing needs analysis (14,295 new units by 2045), displacement and racially disparate impacts analysis, new goals on racial equity and tenant protections. - Council had several questions and suggestions, including adding language referencing the city's reparations resolution. Staff agreed to incorporate that. - No votes, but set for acceptance on November 18, 2025. Key Outcomes - REET Use: Council concurred to use $1.5 million in one-time REET to cover the first six months of public safety sales tax. - B\&O Tax: Consensus on Scenario 4 (0.002 for most, 0.0015 for retail, $500k threshold). - Reductions: The proposed $1.2 million in reductions were accepted, with efforts to reassign affected employees. - Enhancements supported: Downtown guides, shared emergency manager, home energy score (city share), sidewalk repair crew. - Climate and Housing Chapters: To proceed to formal acceptance at future council meetings. Note: The provided timestamp indicates the meeting occurred on October 15, 2025, but the minutes and transcript consistently show the date as October 14, 2025. This summary uses the date from the source materials.

The Olympia Planning Commission met on October 8, 2025, for a business meeting that included a public hearing on proposed code amendments tied to the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan, approval of a comment letter on the 2026–2031 Capital Facilities Plan financial plan, staff announcements, and a report on a downtown walk audit. No agenda was available for this meeting; the following summary is drawn from the meeting minutes and transcript. Note: The source metadata dates this meeting to 2025-10-08, but the minutes and transcript state the meeting occurred on Monday, October 6, 2025, at 6:30 p.m. in Room 207 of Olympia City Hall; the discrepancy is noted per source-conflict guidance. Attendance and Approvals - Chair Greg Quetin called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Present: Chair Greg Quetin, Vice Chair Daniel Garcia, Commissioner Raphael Garcia, Commissioner Jessica Grubb, Commissioner Shawna Mershon, Commissioner Aaron Sauerhoff, and Commissioner Jason Taellious (7 present). Commissioner Zainab Nejati was excused (1 excused). - The October 6, 2025 meeting agenda was approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Sauerhoff, seconded by Commissioner Taellious). - The September 15, 2025 Planning Commission meeting minutes were approved unanimously (motion by Commissioner Taellious, seconded by Commissioner Grubb). Staff Announcements - Associate Planner Casey Schaufler announced that Commissioner Adams had formally resigned from the Planning Commission after more than six years of service, having joined in June 2019. - Schaufler highlighted the quarterly Development Project Summary report, available to the public on the City of Olympia's permit portal, which lists active land use permits, building permits, and tenant improvement projects and their current phase. Public Comments & Testimony - No general public comments were offered during the public comment period. One speaker, Fred Yancy, reserved his remarks for the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan public hearing later in the meeting. Discussion Items Code Amendments for the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan — Public Hearing (Item 6A) - Long Range Planning Manager Joyce Phillips presented the proposed development regulation amendments, which are part of the Growth Management Act periodic update with a deadline of December 31, 2025. The proposal is split into two parts. - Part 1 (items 1–7) addresses new state requirements, including: notice requirements for properties located within a certain distance of designated resource lands (none currently exist inside city limits, but could arise if portions of the urban growth area are annexed); revising the definition of essential public facilities to reference state statute; adding provisions to allow organic materials maintenance facilities in very limited instances (in industrial zones under a conditional use permit when associated with a solid waste management plan); updating the definition of development activity in the impact fee ordinance to align with state law; clarifying that local transportation concurrency does not apply to state-owned highways of statewide significance; and addressing tribal participation in regional, countywide, and local planning processes. - Part 2 (items A–B) maintains consistency between the comprehensive plan and development regulations. This includes allowing designated neighborhood centers in the neighborhood retail zone to be up to three acres in size (the zoning code currently limits the zone to one acre; the previously adopted comprehensive plan allowed up to ten acres). It also includes consolidating three land use designations into a single urban residential designation on the future land use map, with related amendments to the zoning code table identifying implementing zoning districts and rezone provisions. - The public hearing opened at 6:48 p.m. and closed at 6:52 p.m. Fred Yancy, a volunteer board member of the Ken Lake subdivision on Olympia's west side, expressed concern that the proposed code amendments do not address conflicts between private HOA covenants—which preserve the single-family structure of lots and prohibit accessory dwelling units (ADUs)—and city-issued permits. He stated that property owners can obtain ADU permits from the city despite covenants, putting the burden on HOA board members to police every property for covenant violations. He proposed that the city require permit applicants to check a box acknowledging they have reviewed their HOA covenants, or otherwise put permit holders on notice, to protect neighborhood character. He also asked whether the quarterly permit report includes ADU and detached dwelling unit permits. - Staff response: Casey Schaufler acknowledged the issue comes up regularly at the front counter, but stated the city has no authority to interpret or administer private covenants and issues permits when they meet city code. She noted that new covenants are not allowed to exclude ADUs or middle housing, but several existing HOAs within the city retain such restrictions. She said she had already worked with the city's permit software administrator (SmartGov) to request adding a note or acknowledgment to the application process indicating the property owner is responsible for knowing any covenants that apply, with support from permit and building staff, and offered to provide a status update. - Commissioner Jessica Grubb expressed support for adding an application question requiring applicants to confirm they have checked with their HOA or a title company about covenants, while observing that planning staff should not be expected to read potentially hundreds of pages of recorded covenants. She noted that many property owners do not understand that they agreed to covenants when they purchased their home, and most HOAs have architectural design committees that property owners must approach before building. - Motion: Commissioner Sauerhoff moved, seconded by Vice Chair Daniel Garcia, to recommend approval to council as proposed. The motion passed unanimously. Capital Facilities Plan 2026–2031 Financial Plan Comment Letter (Item 6B) - Vice Chair Daniel Garcia reported that the Capital Facilities Plan Finance Subcommittee met twice and incorporated edits from Commissioners Taellious, Mershon, and Quetin. The resulting comment letter was presented to the full commission for edits. - Staff recommended approving the letter with any final revisions, coordinating with Vice Chair Garcia to finalize it by the end of the week, and forwarding it to City Council. - Motion: Commissioner Sauerhoff moved, seconded by Commissioner Grubb, to approve the Finance Subcommittee letter related to the 2026–2031 Preliminary Capital Facilities Plan, pending edits by the Chair, and forward it to City Council. The motion passed unanimously. Reports - Vice Chair Daniel Garcia reported on a Downtown Walk Audit of Fourth Avenue held the previous Saturday in conjunction with the "Week Without Driving" campaign, organized with Chair Quetin and community member Janae. Attendees included Planning Commission members, BPAC members, city staff, city council members, wheelchair users, and non-drivers. Feedback forms were collected, and Garcia expressed hope for a future joint event with the city to increase turnout next year. Key Outcomes - The Planning Commission unanimously recommended approval to City Council of the proposed code amendments for the Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan as proposed. - The Planning Commission unanimously approved the Finance Subcommittee's comment letter on the 2026–2031 Preliminary Capital Facilities Plan, pending final edits by the Chair, to be forwarded to City Council. - Staff will provide a status update on adding a covenant-acknowledgment note to the city's permit application process. - The meeting adjourned at 7:07 p.m. The next regular Planning Commission meeting is scheduled for October 20, 2025.

Note: The meeting minutes and transcript indicate the actual meeting date was October 1, 2025; however, the provided summary date is October 8, 2025. The board met at 6:14 PM, chaired by Jacob David. Six members were present (Jacob David, Alden Davis, Sophia Landis, Monique Ossa, Timothy Zohn, Cher Hobick), one excused (Oliver Stormshak), and four absent. The agenda and minutes from September 3, 2025 were approved unanimously. No public comments were made. Announcements - Monique Ossa mentioned a city proclamation encouraging walking/biking/public transportation for a week starting October 4. - Sophia Landis noted Arts Walk. - Jacob David announced Nineveh's anniversary party on November 1. - Other business anniversary events were shared. Discussion Items - Zero Rate for 2026: The board discussed maintaining a $0 rate for the Parking and Business Improvement Area in 2026. Timothy Zohn moved, seconded by Cher Hobick, to approve the $0 rate. The motion passed unanimously. - Selection of Evaluation Consultant: The board reviewed ten proposals (including a late entry from Focal Point Strategies). Using a scoring criteria sheet, they evaluated each proposal. After discussion, the top three scores were Uncommon Bridges (81.5 average), Vivid Company (81.16), and D-Fine Concepts (67). The board decided to invite these three for 15-minute Zoom interviews on Monday, October 6, 2025, to assess fit. A special meeting was scheduled for that purpose, and the final selection will be made at that time. Reports - Jennica Machado (staff liaison) informed the board that Oliver Stormshak is stepping down as he no longer owns a downtown business. Board members are asked to assist in recruiting a replacement for the remaining term. Other Topics - Cher Hobick raised concerns about homeless outreach occurring simultaneously in multiple parking lots near her business. The board discussed the lack of enforcement and suggested speaking with other businesses (e.g., Old School Pizza) and building partnerships with harm reduction organizations like the one on Franklin Street. Potential strategies include consolidating services and advocating for permit enforcement. Key Outcomes - Unanimously approved a $0 rate for the PBIA in 2026. - Shortlisted Uncommon Bridges, Vivid Company, and D-Fine Concepts for evaluation consultant interviews on October 6, 2025. - Noted the vacancy left by Oliver Stormshak and initiated recruitment efforts. - Identified the need to address homeless outreach coordination and agreed to explore partnerships and policy angles. The meeting adjourned at 8:16 p.m.

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.

Note: The meeting minutes and transcript indicate the meeting occurred on September 24, 2025, but the provided metadata states the meeting date is October 8, 2025. This summary uses the metadata date as instructed, while acknowledging the discrepancy. The Olympia Heritage Commission met on October 8, 2025, from 5:38 PM to 6:28 PM. Chair Garner Miller presided. Six commissioners were present (Chair Miller, Vice Chair Hicks, Commissioners Bowman, Cotter, Knight-Malek, Patrick); three were absent (Becker, Shepard, Stedman). The meeting focused on scheduling volunteer shifts for upcoming community events, planning a December retreat, and receiving committee reports. Consent Calendar - The agenda was approved by consensus. - The minutes from the August 27, 2025 meeting were approved by consensus. Public Comments & Testimony - None. Discussion Items - Volunteer Shifts (Item 6A): Staff presented a spreadsheet for upcoming events: - Window Workshop: Scheduled for Saturday (likely September 27). Commissioner Melissa Patrick and her husband will lead the event with support from Eco Woodworks. Approximately 20 attendees have registered. A simple kids' craft (coloring pages) is planned. Commissioners encouraged attendance for education and community engagement. - Arts Walk (October): Two-day event (Friday and Saturday). Commissioners signed up for shifts; craft activity will be leaf-themed crowns with a tie-in to historic home maintenance. Commissioner Patrick is purchasing materials; Commissioner Michael Bowman suggested pooling $25 contributions to reimburse her. - Veterans Day Tree Memorial Event (November 8, 2–4 PM): In partnership with the Big Little House Museum and Olympia Historical Society. Commissioners Garner and Knight-Malek committed to staffing a booth. Handouts will focus on Legion Way trees. Staff noted a draft flyer may be shared at Arts Walk. - Housekeeping (Item 6B): - Retreat Planning: The annual retreat was scheduled for December 11, 2025, at 3:00 PM (replacing the regular December 24 meeting). A potluck dinner is planned. The November 26 meeting will be moved to November 12, 2025, to allow retreat preparation and potential business (e.g., a pending tax valuation application). - Elections: Officer elections (chair, vice chair) and committee assignments (Heritage Review, POG, etc.) will be discussed at the retreat. Staff will send a refresher on committee roles before the October meeting. - Budget Update: Staff informally noted that the city budget for next year appears tighter, which may limit future spending on commission events. - Committee Reports: - Marketing/Outreach: Reported on Arts Walk and Window workshop details. - Heritage Review Committee: An upcoming joint review of the Carnegie Library renovation project was announced; the project has been pending for about five years. A special tax valuation application is also pending but incomplete. - POG Committee: Agreed to lead retreat planning. A preliminary planning meeting was proposed for October 22, 2025, before the regular commission meeting. Key Outcomes - The agenda and August minutes were approved. - The retreat was scheduled for December 11, 2025, 3:00 PM, with a potluck dinner. - The November meeting was rescheduled to November 12, 2025. - Commissioners will sign up for volunteer shifts via the shared spreadsheet. - The POG Committee will take the lead on retreat planning; a planning session is set for October 22. - Officer elections and committee assignments will be addressed at the retreat. - The Heritage Review Committee will review the Carnegie Library renovation project. - Staff noted city budget constraints for the coming year.

The Olympia City Council met on September 30, 2025, to address special recognitions, public comments, consent calendar items, and key business items, including the 2026 operating budget balancing scenario and the acceptance of comprehensive plan chapters. The meeting included a proclamation for Week Without Driving, recognition of student artwork on street sweepers, and a proclamation for Walk to School Month. Extensive public comment focused on preserving crisis response and climate action funding. The council directed staff to move forward with a modified budget balancing scenario. Consent Calendar - Approved minutes from September 9 and September 16, 2025. - Approved appointments to the Community Policing Board. - Authorized an interlocal agreement with Olympia School District for Cultural Access Tax Transportation Funding. - Authorized an interlocal agreement with LOTT Clean Water Alliance for a Class A+ Reclaimed Water Demonstration Pilot Project. - Authorized an amendment to an agreement with the Department of Enterprise Services for the Armory Solar Project. Public Comments & Testimony - Jaden Walsh urged the council to maintain funding for crisis response programs, noting that 952 people were counted as homeless in January 2024 and that cuts would undo progress. - Gene Sims opposed cuts to the crisis response team (CRT), stating that it represents a positive vision for Olympia and that armed police should not be the only response to mental health crises. - Eric Calleson shared a personal story about his daughter's suicide attempt and expressed frustration that police felt unable to intervene due to legal protections concerns. - Richard Burgess complained about air quality issues and safety concerns in his neighborhood, requesting relocation assistance. - Paris McCluskey (Thurston Climate Action Team) urged the council not to cut climate action funding, warning that proposed cuts of $570,000 would harm climate mitigation and resilience efforts. - Whitney Winestock (virtual) opposed budget cuts to climate initiatives and suggested increasing Business & Occupation (B&O) tax on large corporations like Walmart and Microsoft, or reducing the police budget. Discussion Items 2026 Operating Budget Balancing Scenario - City Manager Jay Burney, Finance Director Michael Githens, and other staff presented the budget outlook, highlighting a projected $6.5 million gap due to rising costs and revenue constraints (e.g., the 1% property tax cap). - Options to close the gap included a new public safety sales tax (0.1% increase, estimated $1.5 million in 2026, $3 million ongoing) and a B&O tax increase (retail rate from $1 to $2 per $1,000 revenue, with zero-filer threshold raised from $20,000 to $500,000, estimated net $1.9 million). - Economic Development Director Jenica Machado reported that business outreach (49 businesses) showed the B&O proposal was perceived as poorly timed and excessive, with businesses citing cumulative cost pressures. - Four scenarios were presented: Scenario 1 (both revenues, leaving $1.5M gap), Scenario 2 (sales tax only, $3.5M gap), Scenario 3 (B&O only, $4.5M gap), Scenario 4 (no new revenues, $6.5M gap). - Councilmembers debated the trade-offs. Mayor Pro Tem Huỳnh and Councilmember Green favored Scenario 2, citing business concerns and regressivity of sales tax. Councilmembers Madrone, Gilman, Cooper, Vanderpool, and Mayor Payne supported Scenario 1 or a hybrid, emphasizing the need to protect climate, equity, and public safety programs. - Councilmember Madrone moved to direct staff to move forward with Scenario 1 with modifications to B&O tax (spreading increases across all categories). The motion carried 5-2, with Mayor Pro Tem Huỳnh and Councilmember Green dissenting. Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan Introduction Chapter - Planning Manager Joyce Phillips presented the draft Introduction Chapter, updated based on public feedback and council input from a September 16 study session. - The chapter was accepted on a 6-0 vote (Councilmember Madrone excused). Olympia 2045 Comprehensive Plan Community Values and Vision Chapter - Phillips presented the Community Values and Vision Chapter, which consolidates values from all chapters and includes a land acknowledgement, equity language, and new statements for housing and climate. - Councilmembers discussed specific language regarding religion, gender identity, and family structure. Councilmember Cooper requested simplification of terms; Mayor Pro Tem Huỳnh suggested adding "diverse family structure." - The chapter was accepted on a 6-0 vote (Councilmember Madrone excused), with staff directed to refine wording before final adoption in December. Key Outcomes - Budget Direction: Approved motion (5-2) to adopt Scenario 1 (both revenue options) with modifications to the B&O tax structure, directing staff to present a refined scenario and reduction options at the October 14 study session. - Comprehensive Plan Chapters: Accepted the Introduction Chapter and the Community Values and Vision Chapter, both to be included in the final plan adoption by December 31, 2025. - Proclamations: Recognized Week Without Driving, street sweeper decal artists, and Walk to School Month. - Consent Calendar: Approved all items as presented. - Next Steps: The council will meet on October 7 for a public hearing on a ballot measure, and on October 14 for a study session on budget reductions and refined revenue scenarios.