Yelm council approves budget amendment, code updates and grading permit; updates fee schedule

The Yelm City Council approved four items in the meeting’s legislative calendar: a first‑quarter budget amendment, amendments to Title 18 of the Yelm Municipal Code, a new clearing and grading permit ordinance and a planning fee schedule update.

Why it matters: the budget amendment closes a long‑outstanding local improvement district fund and adds anticipated grant revenue; the code and fee changes affect development review, construction permitting and routine fees that developers and property owners pay.

Key votes at a glance

Ordinance 1129 — First quarter budget amendment: Council approved the city’s first budget amendment for the biennium. The amendment adds several items and project carryovers, including a $62,500 grant to the police department from the Nisqually Scribe, the closure of the Killian Road Local Improvement District (LID) and the transfer of $259,878 from that LID fund to the general fund, and an anticipated veterans memorial grant and corresponding expenditure of $3,500,000 (project contingent on grant award). The council approved the ordinance by voice vote; the motion carried.

Ordinance 1124 — Title 18 updates: The council adopted amendments to Chapter 18 of the Yelm Municipal Code to remove a bicycle requirement and to remove an upfront fronting‑door requirement for new construction on Yelm Avenue. The ordinance was moved by Councilor Crossman and seconded by Councilor Hess and approved by voice vote.

Ordinance 1133 — Clearing and grading permit (new section 18.12.055): The council adopted an ordinance to add a clearing and grading permit requirement to the Yelm Municipal Code. The ordinance sets a permit fee comparable to civil plan review; staff described a $200 planning fee plus an approximate $250 staff fee for inspections and review. The threshold requiring a permit was described as moving or filling roughly 50 cubic yards of soil. Councilor Crossman moved the ordinance; Councilor Palmer seconded. A roll‑call vote recorded one No (Councilor Richardson) and six Yes votes (Councilors Wood, Crossman, Kinghiser, Hess, Palmer and Kaminski); the ordinance passed.

Resolution 654 — Fee schedule update: The council adopted a resolution updating planning and public‑service application fees, a review staff said reflects higher average staff hours since 2015 and aligns some fees with comparable jurisdictions. Councilors voted by roll call; the measure carried with recorded Yes votes.

What the council and staff said: Finance and planning staff told the council the Killian Road LID is finalized per an RCW requirement and remaining LID funds must be transferred to the general fund. Planning staff said the clearing and grading ordinance aligns Yelm with Thurston County thresholds and is intended for larger earthwork (the 50‑cubic‑yard threshold was cited as an example). Planning and building manager Gary Cooper said many planning fees had not changed since 2015 and the update reflects staff time and local comparables.

Ending: Councilors discussed making the budget transfer’s ultimate use (reserves or earmark) a topic for the next budget amendment; staff and council agreed that if the large veterans memorial grant does not materialize the associated project will not begin.