The Pierce County Council on July 22 adopted Resolution R2025-170 authorizing the Planning and Public Works Department to apply for Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) lead-entity funding for the Pierce County Lehi Equity 2025–2027 cycle.

The resolution renews county authorization to serve as a salmon-recovery lead entity and permits designated county officials to submit the application. Mr. Swanson, representing Planning and Public Works, told the council the Washington State Salmon Recovery Act of 1998 created watershed-based lead entities and that the county’s prior authorization expired June 30, 2025.

Swanson said both a fiscal and equity analysis are included in the council packet and that the grant for the next two-year period is expected to be roughly $300,000. He also noted the county may bill for eligible work performed after July 1 once the resolution is approved by doing a look-back to the start of the grant cycle.

A rules-committee public hearing forwarded the proposal with a do-pass recommendation. The council called for public comment; no members of the public spoke. Council member Ayala moved adoption; the clerk called the roll and the resolution passed on a 6-0 vote.

The resolution reauthorizes the county to apply for RCO lead-entity funds for July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027. Planning and Public Works staff and Lisa Spurrier are available to manage the application if the county accepts the grant award.