Council approves permit-system analyst position and sewer-service transfer to Pierce County

The Puyallup City Council on Sept. 23 approved two separate items: a resolution placing a permit system business analyst position on the city's employment portfolio and an interlocal agreement to transfer sanitary sewer service for 13 parcels to Pierce County.

The first action approved a resolution to add a permit system business analyst to the Development and Permitting Services (DPS) department and set pay placement on the city's pay scale. City Manager Steve Kirkley told the council the hiring would not increase the city's full-time equivalent count or require additional budget; the city plans to use budgeted funds from an unfilled permit center supervisor position and said the change would reduce costs by an estimated $20,000 to $30,000 because the new classification is a lower pay grade. "This is not a request for a new FTE," Kirkley said during his presentation.

Kirkley said the new analyst would maintain and optimize CityView, the city's electronic permitting system the council purchased in 2019, act as backup at the permit counter and lead continuous improvement and reporting tasks. Councilmember Dean Johnson moved approval; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

The second action approved an interlocal agreement authorizing the city manager to execute a transfer of sanitary sewer service area for 13 parcels south of 30 Ninth Avenue Southeast to Pierce County. Ken Cook, the city's development engineering manager, said the parcels are in Pierce County but lie within the city's designated sewer service area and that, because of topography and distance, it is more economical and feasible for Pierce County to provide service. "The closest city sewer connection is quite a ways away," Cook said, and serving the parcels from the city would have required a lift station and higher long-term costs. Notice of the proposed change was mailed to owners of the 13 parcels and no responses were received; both city and county staff supported the transfer. Councilmember Johnson moved approval; the motion was seconded and passed by voice vote.

Votes at a glance: - Resolution: Add Permit System Business Analyst to position portfolio. Motion: moved by Councilmember Dean Johnson; seconded. Outcome: approved by voice vote (ayes recorded as "aye"). No roll-call tally recorded in the meeting transcript. - Interlocal agreement: Transfer sanitary sewer service area for 13 parcels to Pierce County. Motion: moved by Councilmember Dean Johnson; seconded. Outcome: approved by voice vote (ayes recorded as "aye"); no roll-call tally recorded in the meeting transcript.

Mayor David Castellan closed debate on both items before the council took voice votes. The city manager and staff said the actions are intended to improve permitting predictability and to avoid costly infrastructure for a small group of parcels by using the county's nearer system.