Council gives first reading to 2025 stormwater comprehensive plan; second reading set for May 13

Puyallup — The City Council gave first reading April 29 to the city’s 2025 Comprehensive Stormwater Plan, a multi‑year program staff says will prioritize capital projects and new maintenance programs required under the city’s municipal stormwater permit.

Stormwater engineer Kelton Parker summarized the plan and the schedule, telling council “the stormwater comp plan has analyzed, and, found over a hundred, projects.” He said the plan lays out a six‑year implementation program of priority projects and updates operations programs to reflect new permit requirements.

Why it matters: The plan maps investment needs to maintain and upgrade stormwater infrastructure — culverts, pump stations and treatment facilities — and to meet evolving regulatory obligations. Council approval of the plan initiates the ordinance process and lets staff move to project prioritization and budgeting.

Parker told the council the plan grew out of work that began in July 2023 and included two planning‑commission reviews; staff completed a study‑session presentation April 15 and presented the plan to council for first reading on April 29. He listed new permit and program elements the plan addresses, including tree‑canopy mapping, upgraded street‑sweeping requirements and a renewed emphasis on renewal‑and‑replacement programs for aging infrastructure.

Council took no public testimony on the plan at the hearing and approved first reading by voice vote; staff recommended adoption and asked council to deliberate and set a second reading. Parker said staff intends to return May 13 for the ordinance’s second reading.

What comes next: If the council adopts the ordinance at second reading, staff will proceed with the six‑year implementation plan and bring project‑level cost estimates and budget requests forward during the city’s capital‑planning process.