Pierce County Council adopts 2026 federal priorities and approves one‑year legal‑notice contract with The News Tribune

At its April 7 meeting the Pierce County Council approved two formal measures: a one‑year contract with The News Tribune to publish official county legal notices and a resolution adopting the county’s federal legislative priorities for 2026.

Susan Long, Pierce County chief counsel, told the council that state law requires the county, at its first April meeting, to contract with a qualified legal newspaper and that The News Tribune is the only qualified newspaper in the county meeting circulation and publication frequency requirements. Long said the proposed contract term begins July 1, 2026, and the contract maximum is $135,000. She told the council the newspaper guarantees a daily circulation of about 11,590 and a Sunday circulation of about 14,148. The council approved Proposal R2026‑122 by roll call (6 ayes, 0 nays).

Mister Taylor, the county’s chief of staff, briefed the council on Proposal R2026‑129, the county’s adopted federal priorities. He said the priorities list (Exhibit A) groups federal funding requests and federal policy priorities and directs the executive and government relations staff to support and report on these priorities through the year. Funding priorities Taylor highlighted include early‑childhood education funding, Chambers Bay Estuary restoration (phase 1), Orville Road floodplain improvements at Kapowsan Creek, the Millroy Bridge replacement project, McCutcheon Road improvements, Canyon Falls Creek roadway and culvert improvements, and the Lackey‑Jackson intersection improvement on Key Peninsula. Taylor said the list aligns with the county’s capital plans; the council adopted R2026‑129 by roll call (6 ayes, 0 nays).

Votes at a glance: • R2026‑122 (legal‑notice contract with The News Tribune): moved by Vice Chair (speaker 6); adopted 6‑0. Contract maximum: $135,000; term begins 2026‑07‑01. Publication frequency cited: digital daily, print Sunday/Wednesday/Wednesday (as read into the record). Circulation guarantees: ~11,590 daily, ~14,148 Sunday. • R2026‑129 (Pierce County federal priorities for 2026): moved by Council member Denson; adopted 6‑0. Includes capital project priorities and policy priorities (Exhibit A attached to the proposal).

The council’s action implements both measures immediately. Staff said they would provide handouts for the council’s congressional visits in May and that the government affairs team will carry the priorities to federal partners.