City of Tumwater Mayor's Office

08/31/2026

Here are the Top 3 for Tuesday’s Tumwater City Council meeting:

1. Economic development and the Brewery
We’ll receive an update on business recruitment, the Brewery properties, and the Economic Development Element of our Comprehensive Plan. Fog & Fern Coffee is preparing to join the Craft District, initial environmental testing found no major barriers to redevelopment at the Brewery Warehouse property, and the City is seeking state funding to develop a redevelopment roadmap.

2. Investing in public safety
Council will consider a new three-year agreement with the Tumwater Police Guild. The proposed agreement is intended to help Tumwater recruit and retain highly qualified officers in an increasingly competitive regional market while supporting professional development, wellness, and operational readiness.

3. Infrastructure, habitat, and City operations
We’ll consider several actions that keep important work moving forward, including the Percival Creek Fish Passage Barrier Removal Project. This project will replace the fish-blocking culvert beneath Sapp Road, improve the roadway and multimodal crossing, and restore important habitat for salmon, steelhead, and trout.

Other actions include additional workspace for our growing Water Resources and Sustainability team, temporary shower facilities while Fire Station T1 is renovated, and approval of regular City payments.

We’ll also recognize National Hispanic Heritage Month and National Voter Registration Day.

The meeting begins at 7:00 p.m. Tuesday, September 1. As always, the public is welcome to attend in person at Tumwater City Hall or virtually.

View the agenda and meeting information:

https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=96288a661281463c896832eb214e9e9a&ip=True

08/28/2026

Earlier this month, we talked about the Falls Terrace Restaurant property. I promised we would follow up with the owner, and I wanted to circle back and let you know that we did.

City Administrator Simmons and I had a really nice conversation with the owner about the property, its history, and what might be next.

Falls Terrace is a special place in Tumwater. There is a unique history tied to that beautiful space, and the owner and his family are very much a part of that history. So many people in our community have memories there — wonderful meals, celebrations, milestones, and time spent with family and friends.

So, where did we land?

The owner shared that he would like to reopen Falls Terrace. That is great news. There is not a timetable for reopening at this point.

It was a very positive conversation, and I am glad we had the opportunity to sit down, listen, and better understand where things stand.

Thank you to everyone who reached out, asked questions, shared memories, and expressed how much you care about Falls Terrace and our community.

Sometimes the best thing we can do is simply have the conversation, listen, and keep the lines of communication open. And that is exactly what we did.

08/24/2026

Tuesday’s Tumwater City Council work session includes three important conversations about good governance, managing growth, and housing affordability.

Here are the Top 3 for Tuesday:

1. Council best practices and protecting the City

The Council will receive training from the Washington Cities Insurance Authority about the boundaries between the Council’s legislative role and the administration’s executive responsibilities.

2. Community Development’s workload and priorities

Staff will provide a midyear update on housing and transportation codes, impact fees, urban forestry, annexations, battery energy storage systems, habitat conservation, code enforcement, and long-range planning.

Most major projects remain on schedule, while some have been deferred because of staffing capacity and competing priorities.

3. What should our Multifamily Tax Exemption program accomplish?

Tumwater’s MFTE program has helped encourage multifamily housing development. Since 2017, six approved projects have represented 687 housing units, including 114 designated affordable units.

However, the preliminary analysis raises an important concern: Tumwater’s current market rents are generally already below the affordability thresholds required under the 12-year exemption. That means the City may be providing a tax benefit without securing significantly lower rents in return.

The Council will begin discussing some fundamental questions:

Should the program focus on producing more housing, creating deeper affordability, or balancing both? Should the eligible areas change? How do we preserve older housing that already offers lower rents? What additional tools would be needed to reach households with lower incomes?

The work session begins Tuesday, August 25, at 6:00 p.m. The public may attend in person at Tumwater City Hall or watch and participate online.

View the agenda, meeting link, and supporting materials here:
[https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=d2b7cb64aca047408585576f6d0935be&ip=True](https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=d2b7cb64aca047408585576f6d0935be&ip=True)

08/21/2026

Today is National Senior Citizens Day. Older adults have a profound impact on our community and our society. Seniors are people who love others, mentor others, care for each other and care for this community. I hope we all can take some quality time to celebrate the love, kindness, wisdom and massive contributions to family, the workforce, and our community of our favorite older people today – and every day. And, for those seniors who are new to our community or perhaps have not gotten over there yet, Tumwater’s Old Town Center, formerly the community’s fire station and City Hall, is now a community center, offering a wide range of free and low-cost programs and activities to area seniors every weekday.

Please click on one of these links to learn more.

https://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/departments/parks-recreation-department/city-facilities/old-town-center

https://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/departments/parks-recreation-department/classes-programs-sports/senior-programs

08/16/2026

Top 3 for the August 18, 2026, Tumwater City Council meeting

Here are three items to watch on Tuesday’s agenda:

1. 2026 Drought Briefing and Public Outreach
An update on current conditions, response planning, and public communication.

2. Parking Lot Lighting Standards
Council will consider an amendment intended to balance site safety with impacts on surrounding properties.

3. Council Rules and Procedures
Council will consider updated rules that guide how meetings are conducted and how we work together.

The agenda also includes a presentation from the Thurston Conservation District, an International Overdose Awareness Day proclamation, and a resolution related to charitable partnerships.

City Council meetings are always open to the public. You may join us in person at Tumwater City Hall or attend virtually.

View the full agenda, packet, and meeting information:

https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=25778f205de34c5bb1be78eac8a58eff&ip=True

08/14/2026

I care about everyone in this community, including those who may be especially susceptible to illness, as well as our youngest and oldest -- everyone. As kids get ready for school, and before the next season of the next iteration of the next bug arrives, please consider getting immunized to help us all sniffle and cough a little less this next fall and winter. Thurston County is just one among many government, non-profit and private sector health care organizations who can help us out.

Learn more about immunization clinics at their website.

Immunizations A Message from our Thurston County Health Officer “You have the power to protect your child.”  You can be confident that Thurston County Public Health and Social Services shares the recommendations of the American Academy of Pediatrics and the pediatricians who use decades of safe...

08/14/2026

A quick note about rumors and getting the facts.

There’s a lot of conversation circulating right now about the Falls Terrace Restaurant property, and unfortunately, some of what is being shared simply isn’t true.

To be clear: The City of Tumwater has no plans to develop a museum at the Falls Terrace site, and the claims that the City is withholding permits in order to do so are untrue and inaccurate. Staff are scheduling a meet-and-greet with the owner and new leadership in August. We will provide an update to the meeting.

I understand why people care deeply about this property and its future. Questions, concerns, and even disagreements are absolutely fair. But before rumors turn into accusations and people start attacking one another—or City staff and Council—please take a moment to check the facts.

If you see something on Nextdoor, Facebook, or elsewhere that concerns you, ask the City directly before assuming it’s true or sharing it as fact. City staff are available to answer questions and provide accurate information.

You can reach the City at [email protected].

We can have passionate conversations about the future of our community without letting misinformation drive the conversation. Ask questions. Check the source. Get the facts. Then let’s have the discussion.

08/07/2026

In 1895 a German brewmaster named Leopold Schmidt chose a site at the foot of Tumwater Falls as the location to define and build Tumwater’s brewing culture.

Celebrate that historical legacy and current craft at Tumwater Artesian Brewfest, ***Saturday, August 15.*** Sip craft beers from 50+ NW breweries along with cider and spirits; Savor food from local vendors and restaurants; Enjoy live music; and Play super-sized beer pong, co****le, enter stein holding competitions, and more! 21 and over event.

It’s still the water! . . . and also, super-sized beer pong.
www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/brewfest

07/31/2026

Rev those engines -- or power up those alternative fuel vehicles -- and come to the Chrome on the Range Car Show & Concert Tonight!

Join us tonight, at the Tumwater Valley Golf Course for an all-ages celebration featuring a car show alongside a live concert experience with headliner LANCO. Guests can also visit food vendors and a 21+ beer garden.

Whether you're a car enthusiast, a music fan, or just looking for a great summer night out, this will be an excellent chance to have some fun. I will be there and will be announcing the Mayor’s Choice Award, based entirely on non-expert criteria likely determined in the moment 😊.

This event comes to us through a partnership with Lacey, Capital, Chehalis, and Extreme Collision Centers. Celebrating 50 years of collision repair.

Proceeds benefit First Tee youth golf at Tumwater Valley.

For more details and a link to purchase tickets, please visit the event page: https://www.ci.tumwater.wa.us/departments/parks-recreation-department/events/chrome-on-the-range

** Disclaimer: Please only rev metaphorical engines to comply with local noise ordinances 😊.

07/27/2026

🌳 Top 3 for Tuesday: Urban Forestry in Tumwater

On Tuesday, July 28, the Tumwater City Council will join the Planning Commission and Tree Board for a bus tour focused on updating the City’s Urban Forestry Code.

The tour will leave City Hall promptly at 6:00 p.m. and return at approximately 8:00 p.m. The public is welcome to attend. This is a discussion item only, and no action will be taken.

Here are three things we will be considering:

1. Balancing trees, housing, and development

We will visit residential, commercial, industrial, and multifamily areas to examine how tree preservation, critical areas, infrastructure, and development come together. Our goal is to establish clear, achievable standards that protect meaningful tree canopy while supporting responsible growth.

2. The right tree, the right place...and clear responsibility

Trees can affect sidewalks, utilities, streets, stormwater systems, and neighboring properties. Residents deserve clarity about whether maintenance and repair responsibilities belong to the City, an HOA, a developer, or an individual property owner. Better planning can prevent future damage, expense, and safety concerns.

3. Heat, climate resilience, and our long-term canopy

Trees provide shade, reduce heat, help manage stormwater, and contribute to the character of our neighborhoods. Our urban forest is important public infrastructure, and our regulations should reflect its long-term value.

Tumwater’s tree and vegetation regulations were adopted in 1989 and last substantially updated in 2002. This tour will give us a shared, firsthand understanding of what is working, what is not, and where clearer rules are needed.

View the agenda and tour itinerary here: https://meetings.municode.com/adaHtmlDocument/index?cc=TUMWATER&me=731668647843419e8fefb4d67f2d48ac&ip=True

I look forward to learning together and asking thoughtful questions about the future of Tumwater’s urban forest. 🌲