Council approves Veterans Memorial Park design contract and sets study-session recording, seating rules

The Yelm City Council approved three formal items during the meeting: (1) the consent agenda (approval of minutes from the Aug. 12, 2025 regular meeting); (2) a professional services agreement with LDC Incorporated for design and engineering of the Veterans Memorial Park not to exceed $652,648; and (3) motions addressing study-session logistics, including seating at the round table and rules for recording and streaming study sessions.

Contract for Veterans Memorial Park

Cody (public services) introduced Elizabeth “Liz” Jones, the city’s project and grants manager, as the staff lead for the Veterans Memorial Park project. Council considered a professional services agreement with LDC Incorporated, selected through an RFP process from four firms. Staff described the contract as a design-and-engineering agreement to create a complete park design that can be phased for construction. The first construction phase described by staff includes realignment and widening of Mill Road to add a left-turn lane, new sidewalk connections and an initial parking/entry area. Council was told the city has approximately $600,000 from the Department of Commerce available for construction and that design funding would come from the city’s capital fund (identified as the 03/2002 fund).

The motion to authorize Mayor Pinto to sign a professional services agreement with LDC Inc. not to exceed $652,648 for design and…