Inside the City 12 December 2022 Edition

Inside the City of Tumwater Date: December 12, 2022 To:

Mayor Debbie Sullivan City Councilmembers City Employees

From: John Doan, City Administrator

New Firefighter/Paramedic Joining Us

PEOPLE

Paul Porter has been a paramedic since 2010 and was most recently with the South Beach

Regional Fire Authority. He has completed the fire academy and holds basic structural and

wildland firefighting certifications. He lives in

Olympia with his wife and children. Welcome, Paul!

Transportation Pierce County

Engineer

Coming

from

Bernie Gertj is a graduate of the Evergreen State College and has worked for Pierce County Planning

and Public Works in various roles over the past 4 years. He is looking to work closer to home and will be joining Tumwater in the Transportation part of

the Transportation and Engineering Department starting December 16.

Another Engineer Comes from Aberdeen

Daryl Epstein has joined the Engineering side of

Transportation and Engineering. Daryl is a WSU Cougar graduate and started his career in the City of

Aberdeen where he has done project design, construction

inspection,

administration,

consultant management. Mayor Sullivan and I met Daryl last week and welcomed him to our Team.

and

EVENTS Tumwater Christmas Tree Lighting Festival

Thank you to everyone who made the Tree Lighting wonderful. The well-planned event along with perfect weather (for the season) brought out record crowds. Big thanks to all who made it happen: Parks, Recreation, Police and Fire!

Everyone loves our unique Tumwater holiday performance space – the apparatus bay.

United Way Campaign Wraps Up

The City’s United Way Campaign is completed and

we raised just over $2000. Thank you to everyone

who contributed and pledged. The lucky winner of our drawing was Dan Smith who received the Costco gift card.

Port Airport Master Plan Meeting Scheduled The Port of Olympia is in the final stages of updating the Olympia Airport Master Plan. A public Town Hall meeting will be 6-8 p.m., January 18, 2023, in the Port’s Olympic Room. This is NOT the Plan for the additional airport in Thurston County, although opponents to that additional airport have been invited to participate and answer questions.

PLACES Projects Reviewed at DRC

The Development Review Committee has kept up the

pace

reviewing

potential

development

proposals. Most recently, their work has included: •

Preliminary review of a 7,665 s.f. flooring and cabinet showroom at 1710 Lake Park Dr.

•

Formal review of a 6,840 s.f. metal automotive detailing and service shop for Rainier Dodge at 2520 Mottman Ct. SW.

•

Feasibility of the “Littlerock Apartments” – 63

units at 7223 Littlerock Road SW.

INSIDE THE CITY Illustrating our Mission, Vision, or Beliefs in Action.

After 13 years as the City Administrator in Tumwater, I am announcing my retirement effective April next year. I’ve discussed this with Mayor Sullivan, and we will be hiring a search firm to help find the next administrator to help guide the City into the future.

I’m committed to working with the Mayor, Management Team, City staff, and new administrator to help ensure a smooth transition.

It is a good time for this transition. We have adopted a new budget to guide the next two years. Our Council, working in collaboration with the City of Olympia, is proposing to the voters a plan for ensuring sustainability for fire and emergency medical services.

I am optimistic about the success of this ballot measure. If the proposition passes, it means an opportunity to reset the priorities and expenditures for other city services. Regardless, the City will always need to work to ensure revenues keep up with the valued services we provide. We have assembled an extraordinary Management Team with whom I’m so proud to have had the chance to work over these years and through the pandemic.

Mayor Sullivan is firmly committed to the future of Tumwater, building a great organization, and having excellent relationships with our community partners.

This City Council has shown extraordinary dedication to the community and the complex and difficult work required to govern a growing city.

My 36 years of experience in local government has been rewarding, and I value the time in Tumwater. In new employee orientations I often say, “this is a community with great people and an organization with amazing people.” We’ve had much change in 13 years – the City has more people and more employees.

I’m confident the right people are on board to move the City into an exciting future.

My cousin talks about our lives divided into thirds. The first two thirds have been good, and I’m looking forward to the adventure of the third, third. I have no particular plans, although I look forward to time with family and friends and reading a book where I don’t make notes in the margin.

Mayor Sullivan and I will keep you informed as we move along in this hiring process and transition.

I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with each of you, support the important work you do, and continue to make Tumwater a great community.

Thank you -John