Lacey City Council adopts fee and code updates, approves budget amendments

The Lacey City Council on Sept. 16 adopted a set of administrative and budget items, approving a resolution to charge staff time for redacting body-worn camera footage, updating permit fee schedules, adopting the 2021 International Building Codes and approving 2025 budget amendments.

The council voted to adopt Resolution 11-72, which establishes a fee to recover staff time for redacting body-worn video. Anna McBee, records supervisor for the Lacey Police Department, told council the department’s cost analysis showed an estimated staff cost of $0.90 per minute for redaction work. The resolution specifies exemptions required by state public-records law.

The council also adopted Resolution 11-73 to correct and clarify the city’s building and land-use fee schedules; staff said the package removes fees not in code, adds permit processes that were missing from the schedule and clarifies application of rate increases.

On ordinances, council approved Ordinance 16-82 to adopt the 2021 International Series of Building Codes, consistent with Washington Administrative Code Title 51, as required by state law. Councilmember Dunning announced an abstention on that vote and said she believed the state mandate makes the council’s vote largely symbolic; the ordinance passed with the remaining members voting in favor. Councilmembers discussed planning to bring unified local amendment language forward when the state publishes 2024 code updates.

Council also unanimously adopted Ordinance 16-83, the second 2025 budget amendment. Chelsea Arwood, acting financial services manager, summarized key budget changes: grant-funded park projects (Rainier Vista improvements and William A. Bush playground), federal Community Development Block Grant dollars, Highway Planning and Construction funds for the College/16th Avenue right-of-way acquisition, a digital forensics analyst purchase for the police department funded by outside contributions, and $1.3 million planned to purchase water meters in anticipation of a multi-year meter replacement program.

During the vote process the mayor called for motions and each item was moved, seconded and adopted by voice vote. Council recorded one abstention on the building-code ordinance. The list below summarizes the formal motions taken and outcomes.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 11-72 (Body-worn camera redaction fee): Moved for adoption and seconded; adopted. Staff presentation: Anna McBee (Lacey Police Department). Notes: staff analysis estimated $0.90 per minute for redaction work; state public-records exemptions apply (RCW 42.56.240). - Resolution 11-73 (Building and land-use fee schedule corrections and clarifications): Moved for adoption and seconded; adopted. Staff presentation: Vanessa Dolby (Community Economic Development Director). - Ordinance 16-82 (Adopt 2021 International Building Codes): Moved for approval and seconded; adopted with one abstention (Councilmember Dunning). Staff presentation: Vanessa Dolby. Authority referenced: Washington Administrative Code, Title 51; local code will carry required state code changes. - Ordinance 16-83 (Second 2025 budget amendment): Moved for adoption and seconded; adopted. Staff presentation: Chelsea Arwood (Acting Financial Services Manager). Key items in amendment: RCO grants for parks projects, CDBG funds, right-of-way acquisition funding, $1.3M for water meters (meters-only cost; installation labor not included), joint animal services veterinary/medical funding (~$80,000 noted as the city’s portion of a regional increase). - Motion to recommend 2025–26 Youth Council board representatives (table A): Moved and seconded; adopted.

Why this matters These votes update how the city charges for public-records redactions, correct and clarify many development permit fees, and bring Lacey into alignment with the State Building Code — items that affect permitting timelines, cost recovery for public records staff, and building permitting compliance. The budget amendments enable grant-funded park projects and begin procurement for a large meter replacement program; the council flagged that meter procurement (meters-only) is estimated at about $1.3 million and that installation will be phased and involve additional labor costs.

What councilors said Anna McBee noted the redaction fee’s purpose was to recover staff costs and to avoid excessive requests that strain staff time: “The cost analysis ... estimated cost for staff time to redact body worn videos is 90¢ per minute.”

Chelsea Arwood said the $1.3 million meter figure covers meters only and does not include labor for installation: “That’s just for the cost of the meters.” Council members and staff agreed meter ordering lead times and phased installation likely put the full replacement project in a 12–18 month timeframe.

Ending The council’s actions were procedural and budgetary: most changes correct schedules or implement state-required codes, but the budget amendments and the start of the meter procurement are the most consequential near-term items. The city will bring follow-up information — including meter procurement and installation plans, and any proposed local amendments to future state code updates — to upcoming meetings and budget hearings.