Council authorizes feasibility study contract for Soundview stormwater park, citing grant funding

Gig Harbor City Council on May 26 authorized the mayor to sign a professional services contract with Parametrix not to exceed $125,000 to complete a feasibility study for a proposed stormwater park at 7601 Soundview Drive. The motion passed on a 7–0 vote.

NPDES/stormwater permit coordinator Michael Abood told the council the study is designed to address two problems: pollution in the harbor and the future use of city‑owned property at 7601 Soundview Drive. “This project is trying to tackle 2 problems at the same time. 1 is obviously the pollution in the harbor,” Abood said, noting water‑quality data show elevated metals, PCBs, PAHs and nutrients in the harbor.

The study, Abood said, will provide a preferred concept plan, basic design sketches, and community outreach to inform public use of the site; the grant does not obligate the city to construct the facility. “There is no obligation to construct as part of the grant,” he said.

Staff described the funding breakdown as $125,000 total: $110,000 provided by a Puget Sound grant program (reported in the staff presentation) and the remaining amount from city utility funds to cover a land survey and other tasks that the grant does not fund. Staff later clarified the city’s net cost for the feasibility phase is $15,000 and that a pending local Lou Windsor grant could reduce that to about $12,000 if awarded; the land survey paid for by the city would be usable regardless of whether the council proceeds after the study.

Council members pressed staff on scope and public engagement. Abood said the city will lead outreach and Parametrix will support events and data collection: “So the city would be the primary outreach. Noticed it. So that’s on us,” he said. He also said Parametrix will provide two options for the site—one that includes the existing house on the property and one that does not—so the council can later direct staff on next steps.

Council members also asked about the portion of runoff the park would treat and potential costs for construction. Staff said the feasibility study is necessary to answer those questions and noted a permit requirement to manage at least 2 acres of retrofits each permit cycle; they cautioned that construction costs will vary widely depending on the treatment approach (for example, rain gardens versus engineered filtration).

The contract approval authorizes staff to sign and begin predesign work and community outreach; staff said, given financing and permitting, construction—if the council later approves it—could be timed to start in 2027. The council vote was 7–0.