Committee advances CDBG plan, accepts arts grant funds and state EV award; resident artists warn of shortfall

The Federal Way Parks, Recreation, Human Services and Public Safety Committee on April 8 voted to send the draft 2025'029 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) consolidated plan to a second public hearing and forwarded several grant acceptances and staff authorizations, while arts groups warned of a looming funding shortfall for resident artists at the Performing Arts and Events Center (the PAC).

The committee moved to forward the draft CDBG consolidated plan to the April 15 meeting for the required second public hearing; the plan includes an estimated annual HUD allocation of about $813,000 and four funding priorities: economic development, affordable housing, homelessness and establishing/maintaining suitable living environments. Community Development Director Keith Niven told the committee the money is being recommended across Community Economic Revitalization funding (CERF), administration and public services and that three proposed projects did not score high enough to receive awards (ACHD small business support, PimpSavvy microenterprise expansion and Upwards Boost), totaling $609,000 in requests that exceeded available funds.

Why it matters: The CDBG allocation shapes grant awards for local nonprofits and social services for 2025 and the consolidated plan process requires two public hearings and a public comment period; the committee's action keeps the schedule that would bring final council action on May 6.

Resident artists and PAC operations drew extended attention during public comment and staff presentations. In public comment, Brandon Moak, president of the Everway Symphony, urged continued city support for the PAC resident artists, saying, "The support for the resident artists is crucial and it's very important now." Moak described that earlier MOUs covering resident artists' rent-free days at the PAC had been renegotiated last year on more affordable terms but that those new MOUs expire in August and that the city currently lacks funds to renew them beyond the current cycle.

Autumn Gressett, the city's contract administrator, told the committee the city had been awarded a for-culture sustained support grant that totals $180,000 over three years (Autumn: "we were awarded $60,000 in '25, $60,000 in '26, and $60,000 in '27"). The award will be split each year: $30,000 to the Arts Commission for the Arts Explosion event and $30,000 to the PAC for resident artist programming. Gressett and PAC staff said the $30,000 annual allotment will not cover the full cost of resident-artist support; staff estimated the program will cost roughly $130,000 through the end of the current season and that the city will need additional funding sources to sustain multi-year support.

Committee members pressed staff about alternatives and noted ongoing fundraising by the Arts Foundation Federal Way and grant applications submitted by the PAC and the foundation. Gressett said the city and Arts Foundation were pursuing additional private and tribal grants (Muckleshoot, Snoqualmie and others) but cautioned that results take time and are not guaranteed. The committee voted unanimously to forward acceptance of the for-culture award and to forward the Arts Commission 2025 work plan (with a minor wording change about the commission chair's role) to the April 15 consent agenda.

Smaller grants and operations items also moved forward. Recreation staff asked permission to apply for a $28,000 King County Healthy Communities and Parks grant to fund a 10-trip summer experience program for youth at risk; staff said the program would be free to participants and had run previously with positive attendance among middle-school-aged participants. The committee authorized the grant application by unanimous vote.

On infrastructure, the committee agreed to accept a $300,000 Department of Commerce grant to install EV chargers at the Federal Way Community Center. Parks staff said the grant covers installation at no cost to the city and will fund three dual-outlet chargers (six charging stalls). The committee heard that operations policy on pricing and whether charging revenue will offset maintenance costs has not yet been set; staff will return with recommended fee policy.

Separately, the committee approved an interagency agreement with the Washington Department of Enterprise Services to obtain free energy audits from ESCO contractors to help meet Washington's Clean Buildings Performance Standard (WAC 194-50). Staff said City Hall faces a June 1, 2026 deadline for compliance and that the audits are intended to identify cost-effective measures; any construction or retrofit work identified would be a later decision and could require matching funds or contract approvals.

Committee members also heard reports from Dumas Bay Center and PAC managers on 2024 operations. PAC General Manager Stacia Winters reported increased attendance and ticket sales in 2024, expanded sponsorships, and a growing calendar of rentals, but noted the PAC still operates with a net city subsidy and that the recent decision to host resident artists contributed to that gap. Dumas Bay staff presented preliminary year-to-date revenue and expense figures and said bookings and catering trends were improving.

What the committee decided: all motions on the April 8 agenda were moved, seconded and approved unanimously. Several items were forwarded to the April 15 council agenda for public hearing or consent approval so the full council can take final action.

What comes next: The CDBG consolidated plan public comment period remains open through April 21 with a second hearing April 15 and council action expected May 6. Staff will return with recommendations on EV charging fees, updates on grant searches and a report on PAC operations and the resident-artist funding plan as additional grant results or budget options are identified.