Lakewood council adopts 2026 federal, state and county legislative agendas after debate over Fort Steilacoom advocacy

The Lakewood City Council voted to adopt its 2026 federal, state and Pierce County legislative agendas and accompanying policy manual during its Oct. 20 meeting.

The council's action (motion 2025-73) followed staff redline changes from a prior study session and a brief discussion about whether to include historic Fort Steilacoom Park as a state advocacy priority. Assistant to the city manager Michael Vargas said staff recommended not listing Fort Steilacoom for state advocacy in 2026 because there had been no movement on the project since mid-2023, but that the site remained part of the city's work plan.

Mayor Whelan, Councilmember Brandstetter and other council members said the omission did not represent abandonment of preservation goals, but reflected the council's intent to prioritize items likely to gain traction in the 2026 legislative session. Brandstetter said the council should include the silos and other historic structures in future asks once an overall legacy plan and funding path are clearer. Vargas said the federal agenda was updated to leave room for a major capital facility request, and the state agenda now lists funding for the implementation of parking standards rather than a narrower parking-study grant. The county policy manual was edited to remove a dated library analysis and to express support for Pierce County Library System study of a permanent downtown Lakewood library site; it also added support for modernization of the Raymond Hall juvenile facility and Lakewood representation on the juvenile task force.

Councilmember Bell moved adoption; Councilmember Bokey seconded. The motion passed by voice vote. No roll-call tally was recorded in the public transcript.