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Federal Way council approves federal priorities; seeks earmarks for command vehicle and day center relocation
Summary
The council approved a 2025 federal delegation priorities list that requests funding for a mobile incident command vehicle ($2.25M) and possible funding to relocate the day center (up to $2.5M). Federal lobbyist Rick Agnew told the council the timing and amounts are uncertain and that any awarded earmarks could take 1–2 years to materialize.
The Federal Way City Council voted to approve its 2025 federal delegation priorities, including requests for two potential congressionally directed spending items: up to $2.25 million for a mobile incident command vehicle and up to $2.5 million to assist with relocation of the day center, staff told the council.
Brian Davis, the city administrator filling in for the absent economic development director, presented the proposed priorities and said the items were aligned with conversations between city staff, council members and the congressional delegation. “For the congressionally directed spending funding recommendations, we have 2 for you. 1 is a mobile incident command vehicle for 2,250,000.00 and the day center relocation, potential at 2 and a half million,” he said.
Rick Agnew, the city’s federal lobbyist, briefed councilors on the national funding environment and timeline. Agnew warned the incoming federal administration’s policy adjustments make the outlook uncertain: “They will be starting to make the funding decisions, very early on. … The earliest anything could get funded for, like the day center relocation would be this fall for use in 2026,” he said. Agnew also noted that appropriations and administrative changes mean some earmarks that are approved by members of Congress can still take one to two years before money is available for projects.
Council members pressed staff for operational and legal clarifications. Council member McDaniel asked whether the command vehicle purchase included long-term storage and maintenance costs; city staff said those details have not been finalized but the vehicle could be stored in a secured city facility and that the current motor home the city has is a test bed for a future enduring command vehicle. On the day center relocation, staff explained the city does not own the existing day center building and said one legal justification for assisting with relocation is the constitutional exception that permits expenditures in service of the poor and disadvantaged.
Councilors voted to approve the federal priorities list as presented. The vote was recorded in the meeting as unanimous.
Why it matters: the priorities list signals to the city’s congressional delegation what projects Federal Way wants to be considered for earmarked funding. Council members and staff stressed both that earmarks are one tool among many (the city continues to pursue grants) and that even when congressional earmarks are secured the timing and final availability of funds can be delayed.
What’s next: staff and the city’s federal lobbyist said they will continue to work with the congressional delegation and staff to refine project definitions and to track appropriations timing. Councilors were advised that any actual funding awards would require subsequent city-level review and appropriation before the city could spend the money.
