City administrator outlines Transportation Benefit District ballot committees and FD CARES partnership with Olympia Fire

TUMWATER, Wash. — City staff told the Tumwater City Council on Feb. 4 that a renewal of the city’s Transportation Benefit District (TBD) will appear on the April ballot and that the city is recruiting members for the two committees that will write statements for the local voters pamphlet.

The City Administrator said the council previously authorized placing the TBD renewal on the April ballot and is now taking letters of interest from residents who wish to serve on either the pro committee or the con committee. Each committee may have up to three members; committee statements for the voters pamphlet are due to the county Auditor’s Office by Feb. 28. The deadline to submit a letter of interest to the city clerk’s office is Tuesday, Feb. 18, by 1 p.m., the administrator said.

The administrator also updated the council on the FD CARES program. Effective Jan. 1, Tumwater began contracting with the Olympia Fire Department to participate in FD CARES, a community assistance, referral and education service intended to reduce non-acute 911 calls by connecting residents with resources. The administrator said the city has already used FD CARES for one frequent 911 caller and that interviews for a FD CARES staff member dedicated to Tumwater (20 hours per week) were completed on the day of the council meeting.

Training of Tumwater fire personnel on referral procedures will continue in the coming weeks, the administrator said, and the goal is to have the part-time FD CARES position filled and operating within weeks. City offices will be closed on Presidents' Day; staff also highlighted a youth showcase program and other community events in February.

The update was provided as part of the city administrator's regular report; no council action or vote was taken at the meeting on either the TBD committees or the FD CARES staffing status.