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Tumwater council adopts 2026 legislative agenda seeking habitat, EIS and design funds
Summary
The council approved its 2026 legislative agenda with three capital priorities: $2,000,000 for habitat conservation (HCP) land, $550,000 for a planned‑action EIS on the Brewery District and design funds for an East Street connection (rough estimate $6,000,000). Lobbyists warned of a multi‑billion statewide deficit but said capital opportunities remain.
Lobbyists Katie Whittier (CFM Advocates) and Brian Enslow (Arbutus Consulting) briefed the council on Tumwater’s 2026 state legislative priorities and the broader fiscal picture: legislators are facing an estimated multi‑year deficit but capital requests can still be considered.
Top funding requests: Whittier described three top funding priorities the city will pursue in 2026—restoring Habitat Conservation Plan funding with a $2,000,000 request to secure and restore parcels for future development; $550,000 for the planned‑action EIS for the Brewery District to move the EIS into the next phase; and design funding for the East Street connection, an early phase estimated at roughly $6,000,000.
Fiscal context: speakers said the state’s four‑year outlook includes a significant deficit (discussed as a multi‑billion figure). Whittier and Enslow recommended continuing to pursue capital requests despite tight operating budgets because capital lists and provisos are still commonly used to fund local projects.
Council action: the council voted to approve the 2026 legislative agenda and authorized staff to proceed with outreach and advocacy; Council member Michael Althauser abstained from the vote due to his role as a legislative employee.
