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Puyallup council prioritizes stormwater project, Van Leer parking and Meridian gateway arch in 2026 capital requests; legislative agenda approved
Summary
Council ranked three capital budget requests — downtown stormwater main (Phase N2B) first, Van Leer Park parking lot second and the Meridian gateway arch third — and approved the city’s state and federal legislative issues of importance for 2026.
The Puyallup City Council on Oct. 7 approved the city’s 2026 capital budget requests and a package of state and federal legislative priorities, placing the downtown stormwater main project first, the Van Leer Park parking lot second and a Gateway Arch on North Meridian third.
Public affairs staff presented three projects for state capital funding: final design money for a roughly 55-stall Van Leer Park parking lot ($350,000 requested toward design); $1,000,000 requested for construction of the north Meridian gateway arch and related streetscape work; and $1,000,000 toward Phase N2B of the Fourth Street Northwest stormwater project, a large-diameter storm main to connect downtown with the Puyallup River.
Staff described the stormwater Phase N2B scope as the next trenchless-bore segment under the railroad tracks from Stewart Avenue to the Sound Transit garage area; staff estimated total Phase N2B cost at about $3 million (to be refined during final design). Van Leer Park construction was given a preliminary 3–4 million estimate for the full project, noting that the $350,000 request was for design engineering only.
Council discussion focused on local priorities and fund sources. Several council members argued the stormwater phase should be top priority, citing downtown drainage needs and the project’s potential to unlock private development. Council member Gilliam questioned the per-stall cost of the Van Leer design estimate and staff explained the request includes adjacent roadway, curb, gutter, sidewalk and landscaping work in addition to stall construction. Members also discussed possible Tourism (LTAC) funding for portions of the Gateway Arch and other funding buckets for trail-related amenities.
After debate, councilors voted to rank the capital requests with stormwater first, Van Leer parking second and the Meridian gateway arch third. A motion to approve the capital requests in the recommended order was moved and seconded and passed by the council; the legislative issues of importance (a list including public-defense support, maintaining SR 167 funding, opposition to state-mandated local zoning, behavioral and mental health supports, condominium liability reform, funding for BLEA, and infrastructure/transportation funding priorities) were adopted in a separate motion.
Why this matters: The stormwater project is both a utilities investment (reducing localized runoff and risk) and an enabler for future downtown redevelopment; the Van Leer parking lot and gateway arch are smaller, locally focused projects intended to support parks, wayfinding and economic development.
Next steps and timing: staff said Van Leer design would proceed in 2026 with potential construction in 2027; Gateway Arch design/engineering would be negotiated for 2026 with construction anticipated in 2027; stormwater Phase N2B design is planned for 2026–27 with construction targeted for 2028. Council asked staff to pursue matching grants where appropriate and to coordinate LTAC and other funding opportunities for the archway and park amenities.
