Yelm council authorizes Fuller Footpath contract amendment and accepts federal grant for footpath and alleyway work

The Yelm City Council on May 12 voted to authorize a services amendment and to accept federal funding aimed at advancing the Fuller Footpath project.

Council approved amendment number eight to the city’s professional services agreement with SCJ Alliance to provide project manual updates and construction management for the Fuller Footpath. Staff presented the amendment as the step needed to take the project to bid; the meeting record shows the amendment’s not-to-exceed amount reported as "$426,7605" and that the council authorized the mayor to execute the amendment (the transcript figure appears garbled in one place; meeting materials should be consulted for the definitive contract amount). The motion passed by voice vote with at least one recorded nay.

The council also adopted Resolution 669 to apply for and accept a congressional-directed federal award to fund the Fuller Footpath alleyway work. Staff described this as a $1,000,000 congressional-directed allocation that will pay for the alleyway and related construction elements. The resolution was moved, seconded and adopted by voice vote with one recorded nay.

Why it matters: staff said the amendment and the grant are linked — the city needed the services authorization in place before accepting the federal funds and moving to bid. Council discussion clarified funding sources and the account from which the city will pay its portion of costs (road and street/building fund account 316 was cited for local funds and real estate excise tax proceeds as part of the local financing). Staff indicated construction bids are expected later in June with a construction contract to return to council in late June or early July.

The council took both actions by voice vote and did not amend the projects’ scope at the meeting. Public comment on these items was not recorded in the transcript provided.