Council approves streamlined interlocal agreement for Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative
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Summary
Tumwater approved an updated interlocal agreement that streamlines administration of the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative, changes greenhouse‑gas inventory timing and adds funding‑reallocation provisions to allow jurisdictions flexibility during budget shortfalls.
Tumwater’s City Council voted Nov. 3 to approve an updated interlocal agreement to continue participation in the Thurston Climate Mitigation Collaborative and to authorize the mayor to sign the revised agreement.
Alyssa Jones Wood summarized the proposed changes, which include folding regional initiatives into a biennial work plan (reducing the need for a separate interlocal agreement for each initiative), revising greenhouse‑gas inventory frequency to three to five years (to align with Department of Commerce reporting), and adding language to permit reallocation of funds if a participating jurisdiction reduces or withdraws funding. Wood said these changes aim to reduce administrative burden and free staff time for implementation; she also cited potential savings of about $50,000 by avoiding unnecessary annual inventory updates.
Council discussed scope (the ILA clarifies that base funding is tied to a biennial work plan and allows jurisdictions to contract services as needed) and approved the authorization for the mayor to sign the interlocal agreement. Council member Swarthout moved the approval; the motion passed unanimously.
Wood said the collaborative will retain an executive committee, a community advisory work group and a staff team, but gave the executive committee narrower authority to make routine adjustments to the regional implementation guidance so small administrative changes need not return to each council.
Council members noted the collaborative’s work on programs such as Energize Thurston and praised the effort to reduce duplication and administrative costs.
