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Committee forwards memorandum of understanding with Washington Native Plant Society to support park restoration
Summary
The committee unanimously forwarded a two‑year memorandum of understanding with the Washington Native Plant Society to the May 20 consent agenda; the project uses a DNR grant and volunteer stewards to remove invasive species and replant natives in Federal Way parks with limited ongoing city costs.
The Federal Way Parks & Public Safety Committee voted unanimously to forward to the May 20, 2025 consent agenda a proposed memorandum of understanding (MOU) partnering the city with the Washington Native Plant Society (WNPS).
Parks and facilities manager George Richard told the committee the partnership leverages a Washington Department of Natural Resources (DNR) grant that funds a 100‑hour native plant stewardship training program and volunteer‑led restoration projects in city parks through May 2026.
Richard said the grant covers training and planting; the city’s contribution is time, staff support, staging areas in parks and donated materials such as arborist wood chips. He told members the partnership requires no new budget appropriation and will use the parks operations budget for staff time. He said the DNR grant will pay most direct program costs and that WNPS trained about 25 stewards who have been working on sites since February.
Council Member Buceff Adas asked whether sites had been identified; Richard listed three Steel Lake Annex locations and areas at Celebration Park and provided to committee members that he would send a map. Council Member Honda asked how the city would meet maintenance obligations after the two‑year project; Richard said the MOU asks the city to support maintenance “to the best of our ability,” relying primarily on volunteers and other local partnerships. Richard also noted a prior requirement from DNR that the city provide acceptable proof of insurance; that had been resolved with a letter of self‑insurance accepted by DNR.
Committee members expressed support for the volunteer‑led restoration work and for linking the stewardship projects to the Steel Lake master plan and other park planning efforts. The committee moved to forward the MOU to the May 20 consent agenda and recorded a unanimous voice vote in favor.
Staff said ongoing costs after project completion would be minimal but that the city will help with up to two years of upkeep through volunteer coordination and occasional maintenance support.
