Council approves $40,000 in human services grants, waives park permit fees for small parks projects

The City Council on April 15 approved the human services grant awards recommended by a review subcommittee and passed a separate motion to waive certain city building and planning permit fees for small parks projects.

Human services grants

City Clerk John Batero presented the review subcommittee’s recommendations. The subcommittee received more applications than in past years and recommended awarding $40,000 across applicants. Council moved to approve the awards as listed in the committee report; the motion passed by voice vote (no roll‑call tally recorded in the public record).

Park permit fee waiver

Public Works staff requested a policy waiver that would exempt the city from paying building and planning permit fees levied by the Duvall Municipal Code or consolidated fee schedule for park development and signage projects valued up to $150,000. Public Works noted that when the city is the applicant for park capital work, paying city permit fees can be an administrative loop—essentially moving funds between city accounts—and the waiver aims to let capital dollars go to equipment and construction rather than internal permit fees. The council approved the waiver for park projects under $150,000, with the caveat that consultant review fees (where outside consultants are used) would still be charged.

Economic development/tourism grants

Staff presented a summary of several event and tourism grant requests (Duval Days, farmers market, historical society and others). The council discussed recommendations from its subcommittee and noted that no budget appropriation had been made for those grants; staff said a budget amendment would be needed before any payment. Council asked staff to return with a final package and an agenda bill at a subsequent meeting.

Why it matters

Human services grants provide operating support to local nonprofits and programs that serve Duvall residents. The park permit waiver is intended to reduce soft costs on small park capital projects so more funding goes to physical improvements or equipment rather than internal processing fees.

Votes at a glance

- Human Services grants (agenda bill 25‑17): Approved by council; total awards $40,000 as recommended by the grant review committee. - Parks permit fee waiver (agenda bill 25‑18): Approved; council waived building and planning permit fees for parks projects and signage under $150,000; consultant review fees to remain payable when outside consultants are used.

Next steps

Staff will prepare a follow‑up agenda bill to appropriate funds for any tourism/economic development grants council chooses to fund and will publish the detailed human services award list and any resulting grant agreements.