Maple Valley council denies Chamber 5K fee waiver as residents urge ADU incentives and expanded Youth Advisory invitations

At its May 26, 2026 regular meeting, the Maple Valley City Council rejected a request by the Chamber of Commerce for a fee waiver for a community 5K event and heard public comments pressing the council to consider incentives for accessory dwelling units (ADUs) and to extend Youth Advisory Committee alternate invitations to students who attend Tahoma schools but live outside city limits.

Councilmember Syd Dawson presented a Finance Committee update on the Chamber of Commerce 5K fee waiver request. A motion to approve the fee waiver (moved by Councilmember John Herbert and seconded by Mayor Sean P. Kelly) was recorded in the minutes as failing 6–0. The minutes do not include the council’s stated rationale for the vote.

During public comment, Elisa Foreman (Maple Valley) thanked council and staff for posting meeting videos online and suggested the city re-evaluate ribbon-cutting procedures; Foreman later asked that Youth Advisory Committee alternate invitations be extended to students who live outside city limits but attend Tahoma schools. Lucian Caprar (Maple Valley) asked whether the city had considered offering payments to homeowners who add ADUs as a mechanism to increase affordable housing supply; the minutes record the question but do not note a staff response.

The meeting also included staff updates: City Manager Laura Philpot confirmed that Recology’s recycling drop‑off location moved to the Community Center, and Chief of Police Tony Lockhart provided a brief update on the Flock camera program. Separately, the council reappointed Steve Thurin to the Lake Wilderness Advisory Commission (motion carried 6–0). The minutes record that a proposed budget amendment and a Community Grants Program were introduced and will return to the June 8 consent calendar for formal action.