Duval finance and public works update: DRS compliance review, grants and street projects
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Summary
Finance director Beth Regan summarized a Washington Department of Retirement Systems compliance review dated January 2026 and said staff will correct reporting issues; public works Director Steve Legzeski described upcoming park installations, grant applications for storm and conservation projects, and progress on the 3rd Avenue design and Safe Routes pieces.
Duval — At the Feb. 3 council meeting, Finance Director Beth Regan briefed council on a January compliance review by the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS). Regan said the city’s reported contribution rates and actual employer/employee payments were accurate, but the review identified reporting and procedural issues from prior years that staff will correct and document.
Why it matters: Accurate DRS reporting affects retiree eligibility and the city’s long‑term liabilities; the finance team said it is already working to implement DRS recommendations and to train staff on reporting procedures.
Regan told council that LEOFF and PERS reporting require detailed, sometimes manual, data entry and that prior staff turnover contributed to historical errors; the city will respond to DRS and make corrections through the reporting system.
Public Works Director Steve Legzeski outlined operational updates including sports‑court and batting‑cage installations, AED and camera installations, procurement of a used electric vehicle for utility locating, and active grant applications: a Conservation Futures grant for the ballfield‑adjacent parcels (25% local match required if awarded), storm‑related funding for Miller Street, and a CO (construction) grant application in April. He also described the city’s strategy to break the 3rd Avenue project into grant‑friendly components to improve chances for funding.
Legzeski said the city worked with the county to host a county‑run debris‑removal event following December floods and that the city drafted an MOU to clarify roles and liabilities.
What’s next: Finance will finish corrections noted by DRS; public works will continue grant applications and bring design updates for ballfields and 3rd Avenue to council in coming months.
