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Pierce County Council unanimously authorizes BRIC, habitat grant applications and adopts watercraft and director-code updates
Summary
The council voted 7–0 to authorize FEMA BRIC and state Puget Sound grant applications for flood-risk and habitat projects, approved updated watercraft regulations with a technical amendment, and adopted code changes on appointed department director recruitment and oaths.
At its May 5 meeting the Pierce County Council adopted several measures addressing flood mitigation, habitat restoration, county code and watercraft rules.
Grant authorizations: Council approved resolution R2026-143 authorizing submission of a $20 million Federal Emergency Management Agency BRIC (Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities) grant application for the 128th Corridor project along the Puyallup River; staff said the BRIC request requires a 25% local match of roughly $6.7 million for a total estimated project cost of $26.6 million and identified construction in 2027–2030. Paul Bokey, principal policy analyst, told the council that hydraulic modeling shows certain levee sections overtop in 2–10 year floods and that the funds would repair levees and improve channel capacity. The council approved the measure on a roll-call vote of 7–0.
The council also approved resolution R2026-144 to submit an $8 million Puget Sound acquisition and restoration grant (PAR) for Clear Creek phase 1 to increase flood storage and restore salmon-bearing habitat. Bokey said Clear Creek includes bull trout and other species, that prior phases have used partners including the Port of Tacoma and NOAA, and that construction would start as funding allows. The vote was 7–0.
Watercraft regulation update: On final reading the council adopted ordinance O2026-511S amending Chapter 8.88 of the Pierce County Code to update watercraft operation rules, reclassify penalties (from class 4 to class 1 civil infractions) and align the code with state statute. Andrea Kelly, council staff, outlined a technical amendment restoring an inadvertently removed provision and clarifying the approach to artificial wake enhancements; the amendment passed and the ordinance was approved 7–0. Staff noted an estimated fiscal impact of about $27,000 in additional revenue associated with the penalty change and said enforcement will be handled by sheriff marine patrol.
County code on appointed directors: The council adopted ordinance O2026-512 to modernize Pierce County’s code governing qualifications, recruitment and appointment of executive department directors. The ordinance codifies open and competitive recruitment, creates provisions for selection committees for the Department of Assigned Counsel and the Public Defense Conflict Office, sets a one-year limit for acting directors, and prescribes an oath of office for appointed directors. Julie Murray, executive counsel, said the changes remove redundancies and make appointment processes more consistent; the council adopted a technical (scrivener) amendment and approved the ordinance, 7–0.
Votes at a glance: - R2026-143 (BRIC 128th Corridor) — Adopted, 7 ayes, 0 nays. - R2026-144 (Clear Creek PAR grant) — Adopted, 7 ayes, 0 nays. - O2026-511S (Watercraft regulations) — Adopted as amended, 7 ayes, 0 nays. - O2026-512 (Appointed director qualifications and oath) — Adopted as amended, 7 ayes, 0 nays.
Next steps: Staff indicated grant applications will proceed to the respective state or federal agencies; project design and construction timelines depend on award decisions and available matching funds.
