Sumner adopts ordinance to cut transportation impact fees for early learning centers

Sumner City Council on July 6 unanimously approved Ordinance 2971, which reduces transportation impact fees for early learning facilities by up to 80%.

Development Services Director Doug Beagle told the council the city’s peak‑period trip hour cost used in the fee calculation is $7,314.23 (last updated January 2025) and that staff evaluated four options, recommending an up‑to‑80% reduction. “This may encourage new development for early learning facilities in our community,” Beagle said, adding that the option balances lower facility costs with retaining some transportation revenue and imposes no ongoing monitoring burden on staff.

Beagle said the city faces a childcare shortage: about 63% of residents live in what staff termed a “childcare desert,” and state law provides mechanisms for local governments to reduce or exempt fees for early learning facilities. Staff noted that a 100% fee exemption would require either local revenue backfill or recorded covenants guaranteeing at least 25% state‑subsidized enrollment; the 80% option avoids those requirements.

Using staff examples, Beagle said a 600‑square‑foot addition would see fees fall from about $48,800 to $9,760 under an 80% reduction; a new daycare example dropped from roughly $162,000 to $32,000. Councilmember Kenna asked when the reduction would take effect; staff said the ordinance language sets an effective date of January 1.

Councilmember Hockstetter moved adoption of the ordinance; Councilmember Evers seconded. The motion passed 5–0.

The ordinance is intended to lower the cost barrier for new early learning providers and supplement other state efforts to expand childcare capacity. No additional local funding was authorized to backfill lost fee revenue under the adopted option.