State awards $100 million for local public-safety grants; delegation urges portfolio of responses

State lawmakers told the Federal Way City Council on July 15 that the 2025 legislative package included a one-time, $100 million allocation to support local public-safety needs, and urged cities to design grant requests that include a range of responses beyond traditional policing. The funding, described by Representative Christine Reeves as a governor-backed statewide grant program, was intended to give local jurisdictions flexibility to pursue a portfolio of public-safety options, Reeves said: “This isn’t just about new cops. This is about ensuring that we provide a portfolio of public safety options.” Why it matters: Council members said Federal Way has repeatedly identified public-safety supports as a top priority and may seek some of the state grants to supplement local efforts. The delegation stressed that the program is a one-time infusion and that local jurisdictions should coordinate requests and demonstrate partnerships across agencies. During the briefing, lawmakers recommended proposals that combine law-enforcement capacity with nonpolice responses, such as social-worker partnerships and domestic-violence response programs. Senator Claire Wilson and Representative Christine Reeves framed the grants as similar in intent to federal COPS-style grants but with flexibility for community-based responses. Council members raised specific local requests that were not funded in 2025, including a $200,000 ask for automated license-plate reader systems (“Flock” cameras). Council President Asafo Dawson described the cameras as a tool to track vehicles across jurisdictions after pursuits, and asked the delegation to renew the request in future budget cycles. Discussion only: Lawmakers did not commit state funds to any specific Federal Way project during the briefing. They asked the city to prepare clear, timely applications tied to the grant program’s deadlines and to demonstrate partnerships with nonprofits, county agencies and law enforcement. Representative Reeves emphasized responsiveness to mid-session deadlines: budget requests must meet legislature timelines to be considered. Next steps: The delegation invited Federal Way staff to coordinate with legislative aides and to submit refined grant requests for the next budget cycle. Council members said they would continue local advocacy and discuss how to combine state grants with local, federal or private funding.