Federal Way council delays decision on Day Center funding after hours-long public debate

The Federal Way City Council on Tuesday voted to delay a decision on 2025 Human Services grant funding for the Federal Way Day Center, directing staff to return with the item for council consideration in the second quarter of 2025.

The action followed more than two hours of public testimony from more than three dozen speakers, a staff briefing and a presentation by Catholic Community Services, the nonprofit that operates the Day Center. Opponents — many nearby business owners and residents — described repeated problems they attribute to the center’s site, including trash, open drug use and overnight encampments. Supporters, including faith leaders, service providers and people with lived experience, argued the Day Center provides essential services such as mail, showers, laundry, case management and health referrals and that closing it would harm people who lack shelter.

Why it matters: Council members said they want to preserve services for people experiencing homelessness while holding the Day Center to compliance standards and protecting adjacent businesses and public safety. Council and staff repeatedly said the real long‑term fix is shelter and permanent supportive housing, projects that remain stalled or uncertain at the county level.

City staff and Catholic Community Services described recent steps taken at the center. The agency said it has increased outreach coordination, added staff, changed security contractors and recently paid roughly $24,000 in private security costs to keep people off the property overnight. Catholic Community Services directors said the center served more than 1,100 unique visitors in 2024 and that 84% of those visitors identified as Federal Way residents; the operator said about 350 people are frequent visitors (defined as visits on 90 days or more in a year).

Public comment: Vivian Alexander, a Human Services Commission member, described the Day Center as lifesaving and urged the council “to fund the day center like the human services recommended.” Lisonbee Eisinger, director of the Seattle/King County Coalition on Homelessness, told the council “without shelter and day services, people will die,” and urged continued support of Catholic Community Services. Multiple residents and business owners described property damage or safety concerns; Jackie Muth, a commercial property owner on 13th Place South, listed incidents including theft and defecation on private property.

Agency response and context: Catholic Community Services agency directors Bill Hallerman and Dan Wise said they have been working with city staff, police and King County partners to reduce impacts to neighbors and to connect clients to treatment and housing. They noted the city historically contributed a modest portion of the Day Center’s budget while most operations are funded by private donations and county/state programs. City staff said the Human Services Commission ranked the Day Center among recommended 2025 awardees but that complaints prompted council to delay funding action.

Shelter and projects countywide: City staff and council members pressed King County and other partners for faster progress on two county projects intended to provide places to sleep: a planned “health through housing” conversion of the former Extended Stay hotel on 320th (permitting mostly issued by the city) and a proposed emergency housing conversion of the former Red Lion on 348th. City staff reported they are coordinating with Sound Transit after the agency’s draft environmental impact statement for the Tacoma Dome Link extension showed potential impacts to the Red Lion property; staff said they have asked Sound Transit for an expedited determination because the uncertainty hinders county work to develop the site.

Council action and vote: Councilmember McDaniel moved and the council approved a motion to allow the Day Center additional time to bring the property and operation into compliance and to return the item to council in Q2 2025. The motion passed by roll call 6–1 (Aye: Councilmembers Safa Dawson, McDaniel, Honda, Tran, Walsh and Council President Kochmeier; Nay: Councilmember Dobie). The mayor had recommended delaying a final funding decision to allow more time for compliance and coordination.

What the delay means: The council did not rescind or cut funding at Tuesday’s meeting; it postponed the final approval so members can monitor compliance steps and get clearer timelines from county partners on shelters and housing. Council members and staff said they expect continued coordination among Catholic Community Services, the police department, code compliance and the county to reduce impacts to surrounding businesses. Several council members pressed for a faster county timetable to open emergency housing and to deliver the “health through housing” conversion.

Next steps: Council directed staff to continue oversight and return the item to the council in the second quarter of 2025 for reconsideration. City staff said they will post updates on progress and noted they are in direct contact with county and Sound Transit staff about Red Lion and Extended Stay status.

Ending: The meeting closed with the council saying it seeks a balance between maintaining Day Center services and addressing neighborhood and business impacts while urging King County to accelerate shelter and housing projects that council members described as the only sustainable solution to the city’s growing unsheltered population.