Fife previews February council retreat; lodging‑tax, capital funding and federal requests on agenda

City Manager Matheson previewed a one‑and‑a‑half day city council retreat scheduled for Friday and Saturday in February at the Aldabrook Resort in Union, Washington, and outlined topics the council will consider, including lodging‑tax revenues, capital projects and legislative priorities.

“Some of the topics include comprehensive plan implementation,” City Manager Matheson said, listing items staff intends to present during the retreat. He told council members the session will provide an opportunity to discuss the city’s roughly 45 acres on Levy Road and to consider options for partnering with a developer if the council adopts a neighborhood vision for the Firwood area.

Matheson said the retreat will cover several policy and program areas: park interior element naming and related municipal code guidance; a report on progress under the 2024 city strategic plan and a look at the draft 2025 plan; potential changes to voucher review and the quarterly financial report format; and recommendations from last year’s external communications audit, including whether to continue a twice‑a‑year magazine or shift to other communications formats.

A substantive policy item for the retreat will be lodging‑tax funding. Matheson said Fife has seen lodging‑tax revenue declines as some hotels convert to apartments and that the lodging‑tax advisory commission may need guidance on priorities. Council Member Hulsey raised whether the existing 20% set‑aside for capital should continue in light of falling revenues; Matheson said the retreat will include discussion of whether to preserve the set‑aside or change how funds are prioritized.

Capital‑project topics will include discussion of a square‑footage tax proposal the council previously considered and a status update on several legislative priorities staff plans to advance during the upcoming legislative session. Matheson listed requests that staff will pursue in Washington, D.C., including funding for a railroad grade separation at 50th Avenue, work on the I‑5 and 50th interchange, the Sheffield Trail and the community center. He also mentioned a local request to name the 30th Avenue overpass after Russ Blunt.

Matheson outlined logistics and timing for the retreat and said the council will set a city manager work plan for 2025 and reserve time for an executive session to complete a 2024 performance evaluation if necessary.

Council members discussed travel to Washington, D.C., for federal outreach. Two possible travel weeks were identified: the week of Feb. 24 and the week of March 3, with the council generally preferring travel near the end of the first window. Council members who expressed willingness to travel included Mayor Roscoe, Deputy Mayor Murphy, Council Member Quentin Gathers and Council Member Halsey; one member offered to serve as an alternate if family or scheduling conflicts arise. Matheson said staff will check congressional availability and proposed beginning scheduling with the Feb. 24 window.

Matheson also noted several items tied to upcoming council meeting agendas: a proclamation for Black History Month at the next regular meeting, updates to Parks Advisory Board and Arts Commission work plans in February, a presentation on the jobs program (quarterly report), and a new‑business item presenting a preferred alternative for a city‑center draft environmental impact statement. He said applications for the city council vacancy for Position No. 1 are due at noon on Feb. 18; the council will need to schedule interviews and selection meetings once that deadline and council travel dates are resolved.

Ending: The council did not change the retreat schedule at the study session; staff will finalize logistics, check federal contacts for the D.C. trip and bring retreat materials and proposed agendas to the council in advance of the February sessions.