Milton council adopts comp plan, zoning updates and a package of operational changes; approves Murray’s rate increase

The Milton City Council on Jan. 21 adopted a multi-part package of land-use and operational measures, including the city’s 2024 comprehensive plan and corresponding zoning updates, a fee increase request from Murray’s Disposal, an update to the employee handbook purchasing policy, and housekeeping agreements for police and victim-advocacy services.

The council voted 5-0 to adopt Ordinance 2104-25, the city’s Growth Management Act periodic update, and Ordinance 2105-25, amendments to Title 17 and the 2025 zoning map, with one change: four parcels listed in the council packet (parcel IDs ending in 0450, 0460, 0471 and 0472) remain designated and zoned as light manufacturing (M-1) rather than being redesignated to residential. Planning Manager Stahlnecker told the council the change followed discovery that the owners of those parcels had not received notice of the proposed redesignation and one owner had filed an objection. “We did double check everyone else… those four properties did not get our letters,” Stahlnecker said, and staff provided an alternate recommendation to leave those parcels as-is.

On solid-waste charges the council approved Resolution 25-1983, adopting Murray’s Disposal’s 2025 rates, after a presentation from Brad Smith, assistant district manager for Murray’s Disposal, and Steven Hockney, district manager. Smith described three components underpinning the change: the contractually allowed annual CPI adjustment (he cited a 5.02% figure for the Water, Sewer and Trash index); an increase in the landfill disposal rate the company uses (from $17,484 to $18,499 per ton, effective March 1); and an additional, council-approved pass-through tied to the state’s Climate Commitment Act (which Murray’s terms a “carbon fee”) under section 8(d) of the franchise agreement. Smith said the CCA-related per-customer charge was $0.19 per month in 2024 and is projected to be $0.16 per month for 2025. After brief council discussion praising Murray’s service, the motion to adopt the resolution carried 5-0.

Council also considered Resolution 25-1982, a revision to the employee handbook that updates the city’s purchasing policy to align with recently changed state thresholds for competitive bidding. Interim Finance Director Robec said Washington state raised the statutory competitive-bidding threshold from $15,000 to $40,000; the handbook update aligns the city’s competitive-bidding threshold with that state level and adjusts authorization limits for department directors and the mayor. Robec explained the change is not mandatory for the city but would remove a burdensome competitive-bidding requirement for purchases between the city’s former threshold and the new state threshold. After debate about oversight and efficiency, the council approved the update; the meeting record shows the motion carried (recorded as “Carried 41” in the transcript).

Other actions taken by the council included: - Approval of the 2025 Planning Commission work plan (moved by Council Member Strader; carried 5-0). Planning Manager Stahlnecker summarized nine topics on the list — including required code text changes, unit-lot subdivisions, co-living rules for a multifamily zone, critical-area updates, landscaping/tree-code refinements and a review of short-term rentals — and noted the commission and staff will prioritize among them in 2025. - Approval of Amendment No. 1 to the professional-services agreement for victim-advocacy services with Nancy Shattuck (moved by Council Member Seeder; carried 5-0). Chief Hernandez described the contract as a refresh of an existing advocacy agreement. - Authorization for the mayor to execute an interlocal agreement (ILA) with Pierce County for specialized law-enforcement services (moved by Council Member Strader; carried 5-0). Chief Hernandez described the ILA as a routine, “back-pocket” resource the city can call on if needed; he said the county’s price list was included in the packet.

Why it matters: The comprehensive-plan and zoning approvals set Milton’s land-use policies and map for the next 20 years, following the state-mandated 10-year review under the Growth Management Act. The purchasing-policy change reduces procedural burdens for many purchases by aligning city thresholds with the state’s higher competitive-bidding threshold. The Murray’s rate action implements scheduled cost adjustments tied to contract CPI indexing, higher landfill charges and a statutory carbon-fee pass-through; the city approved the company’s request to pass those components through to customers.

Council and staff said they will follow up on a few items: Planning staff agreed to provide clearer, more current aerial imagery when presenting mapping items; staff will continue outreach to affected property owners if the city reopens the zoning question for the four parcels in the future; and the finance office will continue to present voucher and budget reports to the council for oversight.

Votes at a glance - Resolution 25-1983 (Murray’s Disposal 2025 rates): moved by Council Member Whelan; seconded by Council Member White; outcome: approved, 5-0. - Resolution 25-1982 (employee handbook purchasing updates): moved by Council Member Whelan; seconded by Council Member Cedar; outcome: approved (recorded in minutes as Carried 41). - Ordinance 2104-25 (2024 comprehensive plan, Vol. 1 & 2, with revision to keep four parcels M-1): moved by Council Member Cedar; seconded by Council Member White; outcome: approved, 5-0. - Ordinance 2105-25 (Title 17 zoning code and 2025 zoning map to match comp plan, with same four parcels retained as M-1): moved by Council Member Cedar; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Whitaker; outcome: approved, 5-0. - 2025 Planning Commission work plan: moved by Council Member Strader; seconded by Council Member Cedar; outcome: approved, 5-0. - Amendment No. 1 to Nancy Shattuck professional services (victim advocate): moved by Council Member Seeder; seconded by Council Member Whelan; outcome: approved, 5-0. - ILA with Pierce County for specialized services: moved by Council Member Strader; seconded by Mayor Pro Tem Whitaker; outcome: approved, 5-0.

Public comment: Several residents spoke during the public-comment period and during the comprehensive-plan item. Susan Johnson (Milton) urged council to reduce staff time on repetitive approvals and voiced support for raising purchasing thresholds; Joe Dimincic (Porterway) and Jerry Poliam (Juniper Street) spoke about the four contested parcels and asked that their properties remain commercial where applicable. Those statements were recorded as part of the public record.