[{"_1":2,"_111":-5,"_112":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87,99],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6299625,"mediaKeyId","2496284-fbdcacd90cb0560c8fdf6ddd2a505ac8","parentId",2496284,"title","Residents urge pause on Ryan House demolition, raise deed and preservation questions","audioSeconds",606,"startMs",1721000,"endMs",2327000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496284-fbdcacd90cb0560c8fdf6ddd2a505ac8&start=1721&end=2327","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496284-fbdcacd90cb0560c8fdf6ddd2a505ac8/thumbnail_1721000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6299625/Sumner-City/Pierce-County/Washington/Residents-urge-pause-on-Ryan-House-demolition-raise-deed-and-preservation-questions","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299625-23131976b0bdbb75998a9195f01efa8a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184498&Signature=SCa99NnFwNkqlMoJTNZD87xNwf8bNMO8Rlf-iTFwvUSoJWvs~0Vhdcb-0q1Jpskl0UiAyyACHvxUiYUasXJtyub0exVfajqJF3nC8WhHdBINGrMx94xw-p0x-3R~ygHz2hVJ3KnfvGy0FMgYqJSO8Hb6JUl3FV17R3AZpfl7jJqinqC0zWgOEdOB-1crPaTKSVQv2~WPOKi3tJOrqej5LsFI8Z5E9S0QEAfNNiIvyfdj78SaFsSh66FS4bv5EAGvzLAUEA-lga1~oQwCDaQ7K2M1bRy0Dz32EdItnKwUfwlZ9DzJXn4eCL~G5WtnarluF2pDAdNgnyeu8L-K5jx-6A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Sumner, WA","date","2025-03-04T15:20:32Z","article","Multiple residents used the public-comment period at the March 3 Sumner City Council meeting to press the council on the Ryan House, demolition timelines and related property concerns.

Resident Randall Adams said the city attorney had previously told the public a second deed was invalid and that a later city attorney recorded an excise affidavit in 1996; Adams argued the city should explain why it believes it still has ownership rights given decades without a library on the parcel. He also asked whether the city would pursue revisions to a demolition decision in response to a letter from the State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation and cited consulting firm WJE’s assessment and Sumner Connect materials as disputed or incomplete representations of the building’s condition.

Nick Bierman, speaking for a group he identified as the St. Bridal House Group, said the demolition notice had been posted that day and urged the council to work with his group on alternatives. Bierman said the group is actively seeking solutions and noted a public comment period is open through March 18; he invited the city and other community members to meet with the group to develop viable options.

Resident Tina Burnett said she was frustrated with the city’s earlier instruction that the group needed $2.2 million in cash to save the house, which she said constrained the nonprofit’s fundraising options. Burnett said her organization had legal counsel review pledge mechanisms and that the city’s timeline had not given advocates adequate opportunity to finalize pledges; she asked the city to stop or delay demolition while the group pursues pledged commitments. Burnett also raised a separate neighborhood concern about an abandoned house next door whose overgrown vegetation and apparent vacancy she said pose a safety and nuisance problem; she said she reported it July 1 and has seen no remedy.

Merilee Hill Anderson, representing the Sumner-Bonney Lake School District, used her time to thank city staff and council members for meeting with students and to invite council members to the district’s community summit; her remarks were not about the Ryan House specifically.

No formal council action on the Ryan House was recorded at the meeting. City staff previously noted a public comment period is open through March 18; commenters asked the city to consider pledges, clarify the deed record and correspondence with state historic preservation authorities, and address neighborhood abandoned-property complaints.

","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","03/03/2025 Council Meeting","oneSentenceSummary","Several residents and preservation advocates told the council the Ryan House demolition notice went up March 3 and urged the city to allow time for fundraising, clarify deed history, and address concerns about an adjacent abandoned property.","taxTitle","Sumner City, Pierce County, Washington","taxId",71857,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299631,"Council adopts consent agenda, approves sidewalk, inmate housing interlocal and park contract",63,524000,587000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496284-fbdcacd90cb0560c8fdf6ddd2a505ac8&start=524&end=587","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496284-fbdcacd90cb0560c8fdf6ddd2a505ac8/thumbnail_524000.jpg","/articles/6299631/Sumner-City/Pierce-County/Washington/Council-adopts-consent-agenda-approves-sidewalk-inmate-housing-interlocal-and-park-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299631-8534aa1b345d2957b2fe1d69873774f2/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184498&Signature=SPwuFWeBAfgjEx~SjDH6Y8CFMvAn8HIr5P4lR52SfGPNPJEj6N3HqVt7W6drY3uNHMF0OF8UDvKlYBCi5kPndS8gM9KaskfHY7XA9QFaHeb5uEiauYwj-RqOuL70DPCsxdWdiUje~VyS0mWGACX0IxKkww67F07HQO~KUWkXo8mZrIpqDxVR4X11QGaPDN7Qi4CENrzUWWh~BROS~LVcrTGwbOKouhY0BAbCq5NMKvnY-i4IDaJ~~WMWg97PRmLsiTfe-PGkdYYKDiUz9kcanUwvYy9XCBm~E7Vhrl-Z4Hbfta8UWnVRXf6aigM~outMMLle~3A~NbcoyHuZttPpig__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At its March 3 meeting, the Sumner City Council unanimously adopted the consent agenda.

Deputy Mayor Carla Bowman moved to adopt the consent agenda; a second was given by Council member Elfers. The clerk called the roll and council members voted in favor. The motion passed without objection.

Items listed on the consent agenda and approved were: a construction change order for Elm Street sidewalks; Resolution 1714, an interlocal agreement for inmate housing with the SCORE jail; approval of the Feb. 18, 2025 regular meeting minutes and the Feb. 24, 2025 study session minutes; and the award of the Hop's Alley and Heritage Park Phase 2 construction contract.

No council member asked to remove an item from the consent agenda and no public comments were made on those items before the vote.","The Sumner City Council unanimously approved the consent agenda, which included an Elm Street sidewalk construction change order, Resolution 1714 interlocal inmate housing agreement, approval of recent minutes, and the Hop's Alley and Heritage Park Phase 2 construction contract award.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299634,"Sumner council approves first-quarter amendment to 2025–26 biennial budget",611,2453000,3064000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496284-fbdcacd90cb0560c8fdf6ddd2a505ac8&start=2453&end=3064","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496284-fbdcacd90cb0560c8fdf6ddd2a505ac8/thumbnail_2453000.jpg","/articles/6299634/Sumner-City/Pierce-County/Washington/Sumner-council-approves-first-quarter-amendment-to-202526-biennial-budget","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299634-fe06c1334b9706da02935df7c94ec348/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184498&Signature=KnE8MB~e8lRqYfxw3Jia0dT2xL3WBtfUgkVV1rU2WoCr2qnHp8kEEW278XTqPgv4D28IQaaW4L3FNZ36AsYVLmLag0s0~tW~A0JyX2XvfSgnqMLpyNAzzRLgHUYgQc3EK3HVYPw1CRbx8PNj15hnhJhXYltXjH-C-7LmP6sVs1ut0IPPve-xzPjVSG69Ty--IG5Su~7Kj9fPdYUc9kTQCqS5uLLcq6-psJvIl24cT~oe02~J7WuWgIpbfn-3aENb4zc3MDzeRlzdt2Wn-Jz0YRbw1lfuuz6clPcCkA8LKPaAuJ7KPk48nS4LZN-6BTP~Aaqw66AQi1xxEhDaRtlfWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Sumner City Council unanimously approved Ordinance 29-21 on March 3, amending the 2025–26 biennial budget to carry over unfinished projects and recognize new grants and program needs.

Cassandra Raymond, chief financial officer, described the amendment as a routine first-quarter update. The amendment recognizes $1,383,000 in additional revenues (including a $37,000 transfer) and requests authority for $5,542,000 in expenditures, primarily carryovers from 2024 project appropriations and several new grant-funded projects. Raymond said common reasons for carryovers include project timing, delayed invoices and newly awarded grants after the December budget adoption.

Major items cited include: carryover for the Transportation Improvement Board sidewalk repair and a new Main Street crossings grant; a Department of Commerce grant to add a solar panel array at City Hall; roughly $2.0 million carried for an earthquake control valve project and about $1.5 million carried for tank painting in the utility funds; staffing adjustments at the wastewater treatment facility to cover retirements and leaves; and authority to purchase two patrol vehicles that were omitted from the adopted budget but for which replacement funds were accrued.

Council member Beteto moved approval of Ordinance 29-21; Council member Matt Kenna seconded. The clerk called the roll: Elfers — yes; Cole — yes; Reinking — yes; Pateto — yes; Bowman — yes; Clargett — yes; Kenna — yes. The ordinance passed 7–0.

Raymond and utility staff said the wastewater facility’s planned building study will be deferred and incorporated into a future utility rate study or the 2026 budget cycle to prioritize immediate personnel needs.

","Council adopted Ordinance 29-21, a first-quarter amendment recognizing $1.383 million in additional revenues and $5.542 million in expenditures mainly to carry over prior biennium projects and new grants; vote was 7–0.",{"_33":100,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":101,"_41":102,"_43":103,"_45":104,"_47":105,"_49":106,"_51":107,"_53":108,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":109,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":110,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6299637,"Sumner opens public hearing on proposed changes to multifamily tax-exemption program",751,604000,1355000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2496284-fbdcacd90cb0560c8fdf6ddd2a505ac8&start=604&end=1355","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2496284-fbdcacd90cb0560c8fdf6ddd2a505ac8/thumbnail_604000.jpg","/articles/6299637/Sumner-City/Pierce-County/Washington/Sumner-opens-public-hearing-on-proposed-changes-to-multifamily-tax-exemption-program","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6299637-5fec2cb869920eb7cdd520fe97a7d3a3/orig.mp4?Expires=1771184498&Signature=PscV6lD4xTbPeenlX6MTPsudcLb4RN8ou4T60t2xlF9OrEbOy3or62-bn23f83eI-6TWXMketO~LRJYYs~APKIes0Jyq9-1Dyz-t6pwuBs8t-I4a1pDnuMK5CQo60xKQlUbsmpTP335DZHt6eqW3VtaMV4zeRXwqfcAYBc--Fkr7EhQTGSyK2khMJaKqEr0xYxgMrwmTWjYgCGs2q38wxghLnMAuEfo8LD7~fb24jvh~y5AI30-gsmvrLde4aBO88UBTm8IPsriH8j4vECaI9hWeYo2msyFYdFjm92OJB-6A0jdhXh8qruFhRGQp-qNdaZMDk5Shq9W5kbpo4Qnb7A__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sumner Mayor Hayden opened a public hearing Monday on Ordinance 29-22, which would amend the city’s multifamily tax-exemption (MFTE) rules (SMC 3.52) to expand eligibility in the East Sumner neighborhood and limit the town-center exemption to projects that include affordable units.

Ryan Windisch, economic and community development director, told the council the MFTE exempts taxes on the increase in assessed value for improvements and said Sumner currently offers an eight-year exemption for market-rate projects and a 12-year exemption for projects that reserve at least 20% of units for low- and moderate-income households. Windisch said Ordinance 29-22 would expand the East Sumner boundary — where only the 12-year affordable option would be allowed — and remove the eight-year market-rate exemption from the town center so the MFTE there applies only to affordable projects.

Windisch outlined recent local projects that used MFTE benefits: Sumner Mill Apartments (62 units, 33 designated affordable under the 12-year option), Riverfront Apartments (about 20–27 units, approved for an 8-year market-rate exemption), and Kinkade Apartments (about 80 units, applied for an 8-year market-rate exemption). He also warned that exemptions reduce tax revenue on the improvement value and that the lost revenue can either shift to other nonexempt properties or reduce total revenues, sometimes affecting other taxing districts such as schools, libraries and fire districts. He noted exempt projects still pay fees such as building permits, impact fees and real estate excise tax.

Two members of the public spoke. Resident Randall Adams warned that lost property tax revenue can create additional infrastructure costs — traffic impacts, for example — that the city must still serve. Adams asked for clarification about the town-center change; Windisch confirmed developers would only receive the exemption if they provide the affordable units required by the 12-year option. Resident Randall Adams’s comments and a later question confirmed there was no developer currently requesting MFTE for a large development across from the YMCA; Windisch said that market-rate developer elected not to seek an exemption and will be fully taxed.

Council members asked technical questions about income bands and qualifying levels; Windisch said the MFTE requires rentals be offered to low- and moderate-income households and gave Sumner’s median household income ($83,285) and illustrative 80% and 60% AMI figures that correspond roughly to $66,600 and about $49,000 respectively.

The hearing was closed at 6:20 p.m. Windisch and Mayor Hayden said formal action on Ordinance 29-22 is scheduled for the council’s March 17 meeting.

","City staff presented ordinance 29-22 to expand the multifamily tax exemption (MFTE) area in East Sumner and restrict the town center MFTE to projects that include affordable units; the council opened a public hearing and scheduled action for March 17.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Residents urge pause on Ryan House demolition, raise deed and preservation questions

Council adopts consent agenda, approves sidewalk, inmate housing interlocal and park contract

Sumner council approves first-quarter amendment to 2025–26 biennial budget

Sumner opens public hearing on proposed changes to multifamily tax-exemption program