[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-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",[32,75,86,98],{"_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",6215832,"mediaKeyId","3655982-d82ddbc615e535e4d3d9d89201aab28e","parentId",3655982,"title","Council approves design contract and multiple transportation plans; federal grant to fund rail crossing removals","audioSeconds",305,"startMs",9868000,"endMs",10173000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3655982-d82ddbc615e535e4d3d9d89201aab28e&start=9868&end=10173","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3655982-d82ddbc615e535e4d3d9d89201aab28e/thumbnail_9868000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6215832/Shelton/Mason-County/Washington/Council-approves-design-contract-and-multiple-transportation-plans-federal-grant-to-fund-rail-crossing-removals","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215832-f81fc30063ba74d6dd8e331902ffe7d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175073&Signature=Af8lnDMuLdJlG-d-86Jr6HeYEedpzuOuouC0UZJEie2smppQTd04XXa3rne6jpnrv4tV1C1m~-evrBMX0eCe7teiVvtahENNv8elPCzeo7nKnn9TWe1gazlxR~Gar2po078Se4dR~dfwkr~KXnQvH-4cGt9~NndtL9sEacga7fnIL1cRjXGuyOUD9FlvARSN49BDFMt~7PIn3Spg9ZXPBQUkmz6LyxEbQ5Q65BEKE5DAZpQj-BXxhFasZ6NDaXJkhdZvOOdV1IH7DTAwSZhrXFa~ErwLvkDHJ~rqVyLMTkhJR0BFqUE5yyI8sMFV-pwbBvhDbCKNRpfb1d4f3us66w__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Shelton City, WA","date","2025-06-04T16:18:28Z","article","The Shelton City Council took a series of transportation and infrastructure actions on June 17, approving design services, adopting a six-year project list and authorizing cooperative work with Mason County.

Rail-crossing removal design contract

Public Works Director Jay Harris told the council the city was awarded a $674,000 Federal Highway Administration safety grant in 2023 to cover construction costs for three railroad crossing removals. The three locations include SR‑3 near Goldsboro Creek/Park Street, the Seventh Street area near Park Street, and the Sandy/Hooper Road area. After a qualifications process, the city selected Pertit Incorporated (listed in the agenda packet as “Pertit Incorporated”) for design services.

Harris said the design agreement will carry the project through engineering into late 2025 or early 2026 with the goal of issuing a construction bid package in 2026. Donna (the clerk) read Resolution 1378-0425 authorizing the city manager to enter agreement number 25‑002‑PSA with Pertit Incorporated; the council approved the resolution by voice vote.

Six‑year Transportation Improvement Program

The council also adopted the city’s six-year Transportation Improvement Program (TIP) covering 2026–2031 by Resolution 1383-0425. Harris said the TIP is updated annually, follows the state-required format and helps the city prioritize capacity projects and remain eligible for state funding streams. The list includes pedestrian and trail projects and design funding for gateway and connectivity improvements.

Interlocal agreement with Mason County

Council members approved Resolution 1386-0525 authorizing an interlocal agreement with Mason County for roadway and utility maintenance and installation projects. Harris said the expanded interlocal allows the city and county to share personnel, equipment and materials for multi-day projects — for example, a planned overlay in the West Mountain View neighborhood — and cited recent mutual aid when county crews and the city assisted on pump-station work.

Why it matters

The FHWA safety grant provides a dedicated funding source to remove rarely used or unsafe railroad crossings, a measure intended to improve safety and reduce future maintenance liability. The TIP adoption keeps the city eligible for state and federal transportation funding, and the interlocal agreement formalizes resource sharing — an approach intended to control costs and accelerate maintenance work.

Next steps

- Execute the design services agreement with Pertit Incorporated and complete design work toward a 2026 construction bid.
- Implement TIP priorities, pursue state funding where eligible, and continue coordination with regional partners.
- Use the interlocal agreement to schedule multi-day county-assisted work and to coordinate equipment and staffing for upcoming overlays and utility projects.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council June 3rd, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Shelton approved a federal grant-funded design contract for railroad crossing removals and adopted its six‑year Transportation Improvement Program for 2026–2031, while formalizing an interlocal maintenance agreement with Mason County.","taxTitle","Shelton, Mason County, Washington","taxId",56703,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":79,"_47":80,"_49":81,"_51":82,"_53":83,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":84,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":85,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215838,"Shelton proclaims June 2025 LGBTQ+ Pride Month; pastor and council highlight inclusion",0,1634000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3655982-d82ddbc615e535e4d3d9d89201aab28e&start=1634&end=1634","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3655982-d82ddbc615e535e4d3d9d89201aab28e/thumbnail_1634000.jpg","/articles/6215838/Shelton/Mason-County/Washington/Shelton-proclaims-June-2025-LGBTQ-Pride-Month-pastor-and-council-highlight-inclusion","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215838-8a97b0da372f1924a896d8f021cdfc24/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175073&Signature=nhGs2EejFZ6tZdexP7oYgrs6DiTTUjk8OfuBSxSpuV15mRbAe5reR-HlR0WhL5vlssNiFmTQ4f7JQcTH-aCsYmPBGt~j8-MU7f-9oHI7yZ8gIeqBdbQQNuqDU~9HhgdLCNKnCIqaMOXE2PgWSMVemTOnXXAhhfLUcocw5bR3RQWMu4IxmsebTZkOChL9FycyRDZHKrVAbApX3dsRF6eQ8xv9qIXl0EqQ3ZIE0kg4t8cCI7zaNQAPTp6jo5bHVa59PLGviToiIfLwmo2QbwYxKEsBBSujFUCp7h6fdBXdkhtPx20RQv45fo6TJKThFr5hb4gQJmFsXhCrc2826gUNIA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shelton City Council issued a proclamation recognizing June 2025 as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer-plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month in the city of Shelton.

Council Member Gutierrez read the proclamation on behalf of the council, saying the city “recognizes and proclaims the month of June 2025 as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer plus, LGBTQ plus pride month.” The proclamation encourages residents to celebrate diversity and reduce discriminatory policies or practices.

Pastoral support and public remarks

Kelly, who identified herself as the pastor of Shelton United Methodist Church, spoke during public comment in support of the proclamation. Speaking to fellow Christians in the room, she said she is “tired of the blasphemous use of Jesus’ name to attack my LGBTQIA” and urged a focus on scriptures that call people to care for the poor, strangers and the oppressed. “Let's be proud of Shelton. Let's make sure everyone is welcome, and let's celebrate pride,” she said.

Council process

Council Member Gutierrez noted the council received written public comment on the proclamation; staff said the comment will be posted to the city website. The proclamation will be signed by the mayor, according to the reading delivered at the meeting.

Why it matters

The proclamation is a formal recognition by the city government intended to affirm inclusion and to encourage community events and dialogue during Pride Month. It signals municipal acknowledgment of the contributions of LGBTQ+ residents and organizations and is largely ceremonial but carries local civic importance for community relations and events.","Shelton City Council issued a proclamation recognizing June 2025 as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer-plus (LGBTQ+) Pride Month. The statement was read by Council Member Gutierrez and supported in public comment by Kelly, pastor of Shelton United Methodist Church.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_47":92,"_49":93,"_51":94,"_53":95,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":96,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":97,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215842,"Shelton moves to add Mason Conservation District outreach plan to action agenda; $56,000 grant-backed stormwater education proposed",492,1796000,2288000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3655982-d82ddbc615e535e4d3d9d89201aab28e&start=1796&end=2288","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3655982-d82ddbc615e535e4d3d9d89201aab28e/thumbnail_1796000.jpg","/articles/6215842/Shelton/Mason-County/Washington/Shelton-moves-to-add-Mason-Conservation-District-outreach-plan-to-action-agenda-56000-grant-backed-stormwater-education-proposed","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215842-4ffb4c1229b03c32df183bde262c60f5/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175073&Signature=W5kHxRAMhH7gQ3IfWsVKVhOTl-QQg61Do~mlUBFS~GxPUImEaSpBLsBmg7bePyejFjJTDS96ob3Zq1KgU2yufgDNzCybKW6SjdwyPvN3Q3Xeye1iTRuUW46BfqRpew4cv65Ykbp0fzKniSrP38~rDeXfnPgX48JnDB~dxxVvjsGWIbnkwfnn08zm-3tdPOFCU8Jcbri-JypeZPcLYR8mkcYS5bRXrsydZ6jCEWEjqzUQyrcuqMY8r5Y0ETTy3fC6kZqbMhxjeJIEmiHnCpmlnfWT9o-n-~gvS89Y5Ezv11nEYnhzM5EMo5gdZ0EiXGaPSUpgPMuTIwFCwvhmWtmXWA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shelton City Council on June 17 voted to place Resolution 1387-0525 on the meeting’s action agenda for consideration of a proposed public education and outreach partnership with Mason Conservation District under the Western Washington Phase 2 municipal stormwater permit.

City engineering staff said the work is required by the municipal stormwater permit, which traces to the federal Clean Water Act and implementation authority delegated to the Washington State Department of Ecology. Kenny Oberg, who identified himself as an engineering technician in the city’s engineering department, told the council the City intends to use a Department of Ecology noncompetitive grant to fund the work.

Mason Conservation District presentation

Jen (last name given as Zirman Williams), an environmental specialist with Mason Conservation District, described programs the district would run under the grant: school outreach (all Shelton sixth-grade classes to Hillman Preserve field days), native-plant sales and yard-care kits, invasive-weed removal events, Earth Day and Orca Recovery volunteer service projects, an augmented-reality sandbox demonstration for watershed education, and surveys tied to the district’s plant sale. “We promote native plants and activities for residents and community partners to conduct stewardship activities,” she said.

Budget and mechanics

Oberg told the council the grant-funded budget proposal is “just shy of $56,000” and would cover two years of outreach activity; the city’s role would be to authorize staff to enter a memorandum of understanding consistent with an existing interlocal agreement. The proposal builds on past work the city and district have done together and would continue school-based education and community outreach required under the Phase 2 permit.

Council action and comments

After the reading of Resolution 1387-0525, a council member moved to place the resolution on the June 17 action agenda; the motion was seconded and carried. Council members thanked the conservation district for school programs and pollinator gardens maintained near the Civic Center and asked staff to continue coordination with local partners, including the National Park and Forest Service.

Why it matters

The Western Washington Phase 2 municipal stormwater permit requires municipalities to run public-education programs addressing stormwater runoff, erosion and water-quality impacts. The proposed two-year outreach plan emphasizes classroom field trips, free community events, native-plant promotion and hands-on demonstrations to teach residents about watershed protection. Using a targeted Ecology grant reduces the immediate budget burden on the city while advancing permit compliance.

Next steps

City staff will finalize the memorandum of understanding with Mason Conservation District and bring the implementation agreement and budget to the council for formal action when the resolution is taken up on the action agenda.","The council voted to place Resolution 1387-0525 on the action agenda to authorize a strategy, schedule and budget with Mason Conservation District for Western Washington Phase 2 municipal stormwater permit public education and outreach; the proposed program would use a roughly $56,000 Department of Ecology grant over two years.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_47":104,"_49":105,"_51":106,"_53":107,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":108,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":109,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6215847,"Shelton council adopts ordinance banning public camping; enforcement tied to policy development",4500,4040000,8540000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3655982-d82ddbc615e535e4d3d9d89201aab28e&start=4040&end=8540","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3655982-d82ddbc615e535e4d3d9d89201aab28e/thumbnail_4040000.jpg","/articles/6215847/Shelton/Mason-County/Washington/Shelton-council-adopts-ordinance-banning-public-camping-enforcement-tied-to-policy-development","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6215847-ef4ecc7959f8e9de9fab184eb9f49527/orig.mp4?Expires=1771175073&Signature=LQiSVBSgO1Mx~wfzPH5udKtzFRNLWG9GzR4Bkfcl9xqBoX0n8DhA6UxVjrNvqYZvgJBmbkQp~5mlqa6-0E9BAjEGQp0lkMOXkOvrF~LLFfBZ4otl4tCplLZzB1PatZu9dzSbFjY4mmnMvomSUKxYxrlAisw1Yq1d-3N27WZ5q7JRNzg6PxkONI~H4eeIbNyJSW-qRjB66~mYclNCbi3iB4QJreR74pgG5pmpiYZNLw07~98Uq0LnLvAZjtXGamqMbr9gNupP0cbrr1WGUYESqKGKgMu68ysAn1SlhIFqdRa45945SW8CpQR~X1s7aJiFh2CHgYg3NeHJA4sfsy4jvQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Shelton City Council voted to adopt Ordinance 2029-0525 on June 17, 2025, amending Shelton Municipal Code Chapter 8.74 to prohibit “to reside or sleep in a tent, hut, lean-to or other temporary shelter or structure” on public property and establishing misdemeanor penalties for violations.

The ordinance defines camping, sets a maximum penalty of up to 90 days in jail and a $1,000 fine, and says a misdemeanor will not be charged if law enforcement has offered resources and the person accepts the offer or agrees to relocate. City Manager Mark Ziegler told the council that “the policy shall include the procedures for the removal of personal property associated with camping, and this ordinance shall not be enforced until the policies have been developed and finalized.”

Why it matters: The ordinance touches daily life in downtown Shelton — including Brewer Park — and sets a new local criminal prohibition while tying enforcement to an implementing policy the city must still write. That combination prompted extensive public comment and debate over public safety, fiscal cost, and alternatives to criminalization.

Council action and next steps

The council took a formal vote on the ordinance after a lengthy public hearing. Recorded votes in the roll call included Council Member Julie Blush (aye), Council Member Jan Gilmore (no), Mayor Eric Nesco (no), Deputy Mayor Sherman (aye) and Council Member Sapp (aye). The motion carried and the ordinance was adopted as presented. Ziegler and city attorneys said the city will not begin enforcement until the manager’s policies and procedures are complete.

Public comment: concerns, data and alternatives

More than two dozen members of the public addressed the council. Judith Whitaker, a nearby resident, said, “I am not in favor of public camping. However, a more realistic approach of dealing with the problem is necessary,” and urged the city to identify a site that could be used as a managed temporary camping area with rules and services.

Danielle Bland, who identified herself as a Salvation Army service expansion coordinator, told the council that “criminalizing the homeless population currently residing within the Shelton City” will push people into worse situations and urged the council to consult established service providers before adopting policy.

Colleen Carmichael, executive director of New Horizon Humanities, cited research during public comment: “22 different cost studies show that chronically homeless people cost taxpayers an average of $35,000 a year,” and urged investment in permanent supportive housing and services as a more cost-effective alternative to incarceration.

Other commenters represented a range of views. Business owners and downtown residents described impacts they attributed to encampments and drug activity; outreach workers and case managers warned that citations, fines or jail time will not address underlying mental-health and addiction needs and may increase costs for the community.

Council discussion and legal context

City Manager Mark Ziegler said the draft ordinance follows current legal developments and local counsel’s review. He noted the city originally adopted shelter- and camping-related rules in 2021 and that recent federal jurisprudence has shifted: city staff referenced U.S. Supreme Court guidance since 2024 on whether local penalties for public camping are permissible when alternative shelter exists.

Ziegler also explained a substantive wording change in the ordinance: the definition of camping was changed from “remaining overnight” to “to reside or sleep,” to reduce ambiguity about when enforcement could apply. He said enforcement procedures and property-removal rules will be set by the city manager’s implementing policy.

What the ordinance does and does not do

- Establishes a misdemeanor for residing or sleeping in a temporary shelter on public property, punishable by up to 90 days in jail and up to a $1,000 fine.
- States that criminal charges will not be pursued if an officer offers resources and the person accepts or agrees to relocate.
- Directs the city manager to develop enforcement policies and property-removal procedures; the ordinance will not be enforced until those policies are finalized.

What proponents and opponents said

Supporters said the ordinance gives law enforcement clearer authority to address repeated public-safety problems downtown and to require behavioral accountability for people engaging in criminal conduct. Opponents said the ordinance penalizes people without housing, will be costly to implement, and risks criminal records that make housing and employment harder to obtain. Outreach providers repeated that citations and incarceration frequently fail to produce long-term stabilization.

Outlook

Council members asked for additional work on logistics, including where people would be relocated, storage for personal property, cost estimates for enforcement and potential litigation risk. Several council members and members of the public urged the city to pursue mitigation and shelter options in parallel with ordinance implementation. The council adopted the ordinance but placed enforcement on hold pending the city manager’s policies.","After hours of public comment, the Shelton City Council on June 17 adopted Ordinance 2029-0525 amending Shelton Municipal Code 8.74 to prohibit sleeping or residing in temporary shelters on public property. The ordinance creates misdemeanor penalties but delays enforcement until the city manager finalizes policies and procedures.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Council approves design contract and multiple transportation plans; federal grant to fund rail crossing removals

Shelton proclaims June 2025 LGBTQ+ Pride Month; pastor and council highlight inclusion

Shelton moves to add Mason Conservation District outreach plan to action agenda; $56,000 grant-backed stormwater education proposed

Shelton council adopts ordinance banning public camping; enforcement tied to policy development