[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-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],{"_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",6109218,"mediaKeyId","2762811-804b630e226e27ff9c82b5d032af36b0","parentId",2762811,"title","Sumner staff outline potential sale/partnership with school district for Bill Heath Sports Complex; skate park closed, repairs estimated at $182,000","audioSeconds",3170,"startMs",3176000,"endMs",5293,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2762811-804b630e226e27ff9c82b5d032af36b0&start=3176&end=5","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2762811-804b630e226e27ff9c82b5d032af36b0/thumbnail_3176000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6109218/Sumner-City/Pierce-County/Washington/Sumner-staff-outline-potential-salepartnership-with-school-district-for-Bill-Heath-Sports-Complex-skate-park-closed-repairs-estimated-at-182000","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109218-78f0069cd9795de073479b48c37ba9b9/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195432&Signature=Fx2IeyTqKouCXw2uj3o1-0CqeJYriddfRfiVUc5I6IbpxM-SEmUKjuR8QKejgNt-0bwOfuwJsO9lnalN8tG36RQMGVYKqkOjESouxFM4hSRtCY7k-P1QfjUTAHojChyx1~TwMCZ8wjFBbcx3bOwn9~GTnKTXM8FtUsnHIgOJek4EsmKND-O~5nA1UiC0oCTixC7z47zqCW~VScGBwLFF1Hs6HeuNin4niNTxWtjNxlEimQfG1pcAJXcuoTQKSLFB9tP9Hf9DUPeMBrnCrjDfE-BJUdwi7JhMZd4oDirfkDru32ik40FHA31Z8dFFKjVNN6QVlfCKjIwodGjjO2Wgsg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","City of Sumner, WA","date","2025-03-25T16:55:04.883Z","article","City staff presented council with a proposed partnership and possible purchase-and-sale approach with the local school district to fund major improvements at the Bill Heath Sports Complex, a seven‑acre facility that the city said is worn, underfunded and requires near‑term capital work.

Jason (city staff) summarized the property history, ownership pattern and current conditions. The city owns approximately seven acres on the south side of the complex, including the baseball field, concession stand and skate park; the school district owns adjacent parcels on the north side near Daffodil Valley Elementary. Jason said the complex’s primary users are the school district and the Wolfpack football program.

Skate park condition: staff reported the skate park “has widespread structural issues that require immediate attention. It’s currently in poor condition and end of life,” and the facility has been closed since November. The contractor Grindline, which built the original park, inspected the site and estimated roughly $182,000 would be needed to address the immediate structural failures shown in photos; full replacement on the site would cost about $1 million, staff said. The immediate repairs estimate does not include required drainage improvements beneath the bowl that staff said also must be resolved.

School district proposal and scope: staff said the district has approached the city seeking additional field space and is proposing new synthetic turf fields, lighting upgrades, restrooms and concession improvements, a toddler playground, and reconfiguration of tennis and pickleball courts. Jason said the district’s planned capital work on its parcels would be in addition to the city’s portion and that the district is the logical partner or purchaser for the site if the city wants to see turf and lighting installed quickly.

Constraints and legal context: the city noted that the parkland was donated in earlier decades with deed restrictions that require the land to be used for playground or recreational facilities. Any transfer to the district would require a public process for an intergovernmental transfer; staff said price negotiations would occur in executive session. Nonmonetary terms staff recommended for inclusion in any purchase-and-sale agreement included: the property must remain parkland, the Bill Heath name must be retained, the facility remain open and available to the public, the district must prioritize capital improvements on a defined schedule and the skate park must be mitigated (demolished and restored to grass) if it cannot be rebuilt in place.

Operations and maintenance: staff said maintenance of the complex currently consumes about a quarter of a full-time equivalent staff year and that the YMCA has handled reservations and gate access while city crews perform field prep and maintenance tasks. The city also cited an existing 30‑year fiber lease with Astound that staff said could be moved to Rainier View Park if the city transferred the complex to the district.

Council feedback and next steps: council members voiced split views. Several council members supported a partnership that would deliver turf fields and other improvements without a city capital levy; others raised concerns about relinquishing city ownership of a valued park, the need for public outreach and the city’s ability to ensure ongoing maintenance standards. Staff proposed a loose timeline: negotiate a purchase-and-sale agreement over the next months, conduct public outreach (including the April open house), set a public hearing (anticipated in June), and, if approved, pass an ordinance to surplus and transfer care and control to the school district. Staff said they would begin negotiations and outreach and return to council with specific documents and a public hearing schedule.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","March Council Meetings","oneSentenceSummary","City staff presented a proposal to negotiate a partnership or sale of the seven‑acre Bill Heath Sports Complex to the local school district so the district can finance and build synthetic turf, lighting, restrooms and other improvements.","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},6109223,"Sumner staff to pursue citywide transportation benefit district; council backs 0.1% sales-tax option as a first step",1511,1678000,3189000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2762811-804b630e226e27ff9c82b5d032af36b0&start=1678&end=3189","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2762811-804b630e226e27ff9c82b5d032af36b0/thumbnail_1678000.jpg","/articles/6109223/Sumner-City/Pierce-County/Washington/Sumner-staff-to-pursue-citywide-transportation-benefit-district-council-backs-01-sales-tax-option-as-a-first-step","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109223-d84dfc89c89e1dfd4bdb2eac52f47982/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195432&Signature=Sq0eV3r95wHFAIDG2eFxnRmVvO6CB7IcxpMyMMJywjX6sdWndcBLrfh2wfoA6AGC1JXtK~rH7IukfqYBJLwe2TtGd~Mn46Zdkp-BYVCgF8TyKek6T2X5olix3t-2j6zDdNwVpR-2camq92UbwfuKbZbtIvDUY9ExlRj6CKBEWQENiFZgc8CAf-jCSYwmuerVp6RBFqOXOTzPRZzzwAQPCZzIA9-lesaByjO4HbFpk2w3nWHwuJyossfpPuWSq3FaiSptQQVm0ZDzl2sFNARYg9BuQ8whM-BjbVSMQRYMwvOTXZ-uTzgRLHx6qLBOAmailDAYCeCKW0zG-S24X-m4oQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","City staff told the Sumner City Council they will begin steps to form a citywide Transportation Benefit District (TBD) and recommended a 0.1% sales tax as an initial funding mechanism that the council could adopt without a public vote.

Communications Director Carmen Palmer and Public Works staff summarized pavement-condition maps, funding gaps and the TBD options. “The staff recommendation is that you pursue looking at forming a transportation benefit district for all of Sumner, not just a portion. We recommend the 0.1% sales tax option that is available with a council vote. That would generate an estimated 800 to $850,000 per year,” Palmer said.

Why it matters: staff showed that approximately 10% of the city’s roadways currently require maintenance or full reconstruction (the presentation identified those segments in yellow and red on a road-condition map). Staff estimated a 15‑year preservation budget need of about $13.7 million and said the proposed 0.1% TBD over 15 years would yield roughly $12.75 million. Council members and staff noted that the city’s current annual road budget is about $400,000 and sidewalk tree‑repair funding is budgeted at $250,000 per year.

Program details and trade-offs: staff explained the TBD sales-tax option is regressive by design because it is not based on income, but that vehicle fees are also regressive. The presentation noted the state does not permit an income-based local option. Staff also said the TBD revenue can be used for construction, maintenance and operations, and that pursuing a roundabout earlier in the meeting could improve grant competitiveness for construction funding on projects such as the Tacoma–Puyallup intersection.

Council feedback and direction: several council members expressed support for a modest initial 0.1% TBD as a “baby step,” while others emphasized the importance of clear public messaging about how the funds would be used and the long‑term consequences of underfunding roads. Council members asked about the maximum levy rate available without a public vote, and staff replied that the council can set up to 0.1% by council action and can go up to 0.3% only by voter approval.

Next steps and timing: staff said formation of a TBD involves three steps—forming the district, assuming the powers of the district (recommended), then adopting an ordinance to fund the TBD—and that they will return with implementation materials. Council directed staff to begin the steps outlined in the presentation and to bring the TBD back for scheduling and ordinances within roughly 45–60 days. No formal vote was recorded during the study session.","City staff recommended forming a citywide Transportation Benefit District (TBD) funded by a 0.1% sales tax that staff estimated would generate $800,000–$850,000 per year; council gave direction to begin the three-step formation process and public outreach and to return with implementation materials within weeks to months.",{"_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},6109228,"Sumner staff push for roundabout design at Tacoma–Puyallup intersection, request $210,523 for additional consultant work",1326,298000,1624000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2762811-804b630e226e27ff9c82b5d032af36b0&start=298&end=1624","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2762811-804b630e226e27ff9c82b5d032af36b0/thumbnail_298000.jpg","/articles/6109228/Sumner-City/Pierce-County/Washington/Sumner-staff-push-for-roundabout-design-at-TacomaPuyallup-intersection-request-210523-for-additional-consultant-work","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6109228-bf459be154f1fede86553af48eaa4c3a/orig.mp4?Expires=1771195432&Signature=EQtqglWIiJdq0VOYhpKPGLlUYD4ndxkXRzeRtHFBRmWqf-WE9-9pg3vOvv3ocJ~SScC0nbMCiiq4gZp8-QBJ85DmMWSKlchp0ZRHZW9l6yoARN8oRam4~9PN92yGRn1zTZEyOZKEbmIWCPDDRoTfcNbLTLs7SHHcAPpHjU-qe29W0Gv1ZO0v40m-Y4LvgzAHKiHtYl3Id5HlPO1dGBctUF8BwYWSQ7vV4CGaiSnD5WzT7CuEJNFPNV2GAGDNG9TCZGDTejmLggIAH8fFJHWLB2nQTZl16qhXtn0G-nKbdB6VmY8ANLtYd2Nppus3Hhx7GpY9gtcggI7K678RG2j3bQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Sumner City staff asked the City Council to authorize additional design work and a consultant agreement as they pursue a roundabout at the Tacoma Avenue and Puyallup Street intersection.

The presentation, led by a project presenter and Public Works Director Michael Khosa, described the project as construction of a roundabout plus Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) curb-ramp upgrades, sidewalk widening and an overlay of approximately 0.25 miles of Tacoma Avenue pavement to extend service life. Staff said the project is intended to improve traffic flow, reduce congestion and enhance safety for pedestrians and other road users.

The consultant’s traffic study compared a roundabout and a traffic signal under projected future traffic conditions. “Roundabouts give higher level of service,” the presenter said, and the consultant’s modeling showed the roundabout would maintain a Level of Service A with an average delay of about 9.2 seconds, while a signalized intersection would degrade to a much higher average delay (the presentation cited an average delay of 92 seconds for a signal). The staff presentation also listed environmental and right-of-way factors that would require more design work for a roundabout than for a signal.

Why it matters: staff said a roundabout can reduce delay and collision severity, lower long-term maintenance costs compared with signalized controls and, on the consultants’ numbers, slightly reduce total project cost. The presentation showed the design phase is currently funded through PSRC (the Puget Sound Regional Council) but right-of-way and construction are unfunded. Staff estimated a preliminary construction cost for the signal option at about $2,280,000 and for the roundabout at about $2,190,533 — roughly $89,000 lower overall for the roundabout after accounting for phases shown in the slide deck.

Environmental permitting and costs: Michael Khosa explained that because of federal funding attached to the project, a roundabout would trigger a broader NEPA-type environmental review and additional permitting steps beyond an overlay or signal option. “Once you start to get into something like this, we’re essentially changing the whole intersection… we will go over the threshold for the need to go through an environmental permitting process, because of the federal funding we have in place,” Khosa said, adding that the review could require stormwater treatment or detention measures if impervious surface is replaced.

Right-of-way and truck geometry: staff said roundabout footprints typically require small permanent or temporary right-of-way takes (staff described “very minor, right-of-way acquisitions, very minor little strip takes, you know, 5 feet, 10 feet”) and that additional acquisition maps and legal descriptions would be needed. Designers also noted heavy truck traffic in the corridor and the need for turning‑vehicle simulations; staff said a truck apron would allow large semis to negotiate turns and that durable surfacing would be provided for aprons to avoid early deterioration.

Budget request and next steps: staff asked council to authorize a consultant agreement amendment in the amount of $210,523 to fund additional roundabout design effort, including advanced traffic modeling, environmental permitting support, right‑of‑way mapping and noise analysis. Council members asked questions about the nature and cost of environmental permitting, the need for traffic modeling for semis, and service-life and surfacing choices. Council did not take a formal roll-call vote in the study session. Instead, staff said they would “initiate the change order on the design, and then we’ll catch it at a quarterly budget amendment,” indicating staff direction to proceed with the design change and to include the amendment in the next budget cycle.

What remains unresolved: construction funding and right-of-way acquisition costs remain unfunded; staff said they expect to seek construction-phase grants or other funding later. The presentation did not commit to a construction schedule; staff estimated a multi-year timeline and said the design was at about 10–15% complete. The council’s questions and staff responses focused on clarifying environmental triggers, right-of-way needs and freight geometry rather than on the underlying selection of the roundabout versus signal.

Tally of formal actions: no formal motion or recorded vote was taken during the study session. Staff were directed to initiate a design change order and include the consultant amendment in a forthcoming budget amendment.","City staff presented a conceptual plan to replace signals with a roundabout at the Tacoma Avenue–Puyallup Street intersection, arguing it would improve level of service, safety and lifecycle costs. Staff requested authorization of a $210,523 consultant amendment to complete roundabout design and said right-of-way and construction remain unfunded.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Sumner staff outline potential sale/partnership with school district for Bill Heath Sports Complex; skate park closed, repairs estimated at $182,000

Sumner staff to pursue citywide transportation benefit district; council backs 0.1% sales-tax option as a first step

Sumner staff push for roundabout design at Tacoma–Puyallup intersection, request $210,523 for additional consultant work