Inside the City December 2023 Edition

Inside the City December 2023 Edition

PEOPLE Welcome to Tumwater!

In the last 6 months, we have brought on some amazing new members to our team. Please join us in welcoming our newest hires of 2023.

Patrick Soderberg | WRS | June 5, 2023 Gerig Hanson | TFD | August 1, 2023 Anothony Dominguez | TPD | August 1, 2023 Matt Middleton | ASD | August 16, 2023 Nathaniel Rylaarsdam | TFD | August 16, 2023 Zach Winter | TED | August 21, 2023 Barrett Brown | TFD | September 1, 2023 Michelle Sutherland | ASD | October 2, 2023 Christine (CJ) Johnson | FIN | October 2, 2023 Alyssa McClain | TED | October 2, 2023 Kristina Kirkley | TFD | November 16, 2023 Megan Elkins | TPD | November 16, 2023 Justin Stewart | WRS | November 20, 2023 Jeremy Causey | TFD | December 1, 2023 Nick Bugajski | WRS | December 1, 2023

Hurley and Crimmins Earn Chief Officer Designation

Chief Brian Hurley and Assistant Chief Shawn Crimmins have earned the professional designation of “Chief Fire Officer” (CFO). Achieving this designation signifies a career commitment to the fire and emergency services. This voluntary program recognizes individuals who demonstrate excellence in seven measured components, including experience, education, professional development, professional contributions, association membership, community involvement, and technical competence. In addition, all applicants are required to identify a future professional development plan.

How Green Are We?

Reducing the impact on the planet is one of the Council's Strategic Priorities.

City Sustainability Coordinator Alyssa Jones Wood and the Green Team invite you to take this quick online survey. Your input will help the Green Team learn what is important to you regarding sustainability, how we can improve our programs, and what has changed from last year.

This survey is a good step in understanding what we know, and there’s no studying required. The Survey closes on January 12, 2024.

New in 2024!

Starting in January, all City offices will be open to the public, 8 a.m.—5 p.m.; Monday—Friday. This includes City Hall, Fire and Police Departments, Facilities and Operations.

EVENTS Chill with Parks & Rec this Winter

Winter programs and events run through February.

Check out the Parks & Recreation online brochure with offerings for youth and adults—from health and fitness classes, and arts, music, and history programs.

There’s even a ukulele class!

History Talks Return to the Schmidt House

The Old Olympia Brewery: The Non-Beer Years 12 noon – 1:00 p.m. | January 4, 2024 Schmidt House Schmidt House curator Karen Johnson will discuss the evolution and varied uses of the old Olympia Brewery Buildings at the base of the lower Tumwater Falls.

From 1916 through 1964, the old brewery did not make beer. What other businesses existed on the site, and what buildings did they construct? Are any existing buildings original to the brewery? Karen will answer these questions and debunk a few myths along the way.

History Talks are free; seating is limited. Doors open at 11:45 a.m.

Police Master Plan

The Tumwater Police Department (TPD) is creating a Master Plan to guide the Department as the City grows and changes. The Plan will help TPD determine the level of resources it needs and how to deploy them to meet the public safety expectations of the community.

Community involvement is essential to the Police Master Plan. TPD held focus groups with community members to help define what public safety looks like in Tumwater. Visit the Police Master Plan webpage to learn more about the Plan and how you can be involved.

Guide the next 20 years in 15 minutes

Every ten years, the City is required by the state to conduct a periodic update of its Comprehensive Plan and related development regulations to ensure that they comply with the Growth Management Act and respond to changes in the City since the last update in 2016. The updated Comprehensive Plan will lay the path for development and growth in our City from 2025 to 2045 by addressing equity and inclusion for all our residents.

The 2025 Comp Plan Update will address Tumwater's biggest challenges today and set our City up for longterm growth and success. Residents of Tumwater can participate by completing a short online survey.

PLACES DRC Looks at Projects

The following projects came before the City Development Review Committee: •

Preliminary review of an indoor training facility in an existing facility

•

Preliminary review of two single-story office/storage warehouse buildings totaling 34,639 sq. ft.

•

Preliminary review of a proposed development of 56 townhouse units on Littlerock

•

Preliminary review of a proposed 68,251 sq. ft. self-storage facility with 445 storage units on Old Hwy 99

Feasibility Review takes place in the early stages when projects are under consideration. Formal review is the last step before submitting for a building permit.

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

Happy Holidays, Everyone!

What a year 2023 has been! A lot has happened over the past 12 months, and we’ve experienced what most communities do: we’ve had successes, and we’ve had our share of challenges. There have been very visible “wins,” such as record attendance and participation in our many City-sponsored events, and we’ve had other less visible successes, like the significantly improved stormwater facility inspection and maintenance program developed by the WRS operations and GIS teams. We’ve had positive outcomes, like $700,000 worth of grant funds to assess environmental contamination at the Brewery properties and the old WSDOT headquarters building; and we’ve seen other outcomes that didn’t turn out the way we had hoped, such as the RFA vote in April.

“Change is the only constant in life” and in local government public service, which makes our work to serve our community interesting, challenging, and rewarding!

As we wrap up 2023, I would like to take this opportunity to express my gratitude for the opportunity to be part of Team Tumwater! In my short six months here, I have come to appreciate how dedicated our staff are and how committed everyone is to providing high-quality public service to the people in our community. Across the many and diverse departments providing a full range of public facilities and services, the key to our success is each of you, our employees. Thank you!

Wishing each of you and your families the happiest of holiday seasons!

Lisa

Police Department Monthly Report

To:

Lisa Parks, City Administrator

From:

Jon Weiks, Chief of Police

Date:

December 15, 2023

Re:

November 2023

CRIMINAL ACTIVITY 2023-1944 Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Possession of Stolen Property (debit/credit cards), Narcotics (Fentanyl) - A Tumwater officer was patrolling the parking lot of a local retail store when he observed a Toyota Rav4 parked in the east side of the lot. The officer observed a male standing in front of the car with the hood up as he drove past.,. The male appeared to be working on the engine. The officer ran a check of the vehicle’s registration to determine ownership and learned the vehicle’s license plate had been reported stolen to the Olympia Police Department. The officer asked for additional officers to respond as he positioned his vehicle to block the male from being able to drive away. The driver moved to the area of the open driver’s door as the officer approached. The male shut the door and tried to walk away, at which time the officer contacted the suspect. The male cooperated with the officer’s orders. The officer detained the male for investigation for possession of a stolen license plate, and possibly a stolen vehicle when another officer arrived on scene to assist. The male positively identified himself to the officer and agreed to talk to the officer about the vehicle, at which time he told the officer he was never in possession of the vehicle, he was only prowling it. The suspect’s story was inconsistent and did not appear to be the truth since the suspect was in possession of the vehicle’s keys. The officer ran the vehicle’s VIN and discovered it had been reported stolen from Oregon. The suspect was advised he was under arrest for possession of a stolen vehicle and possession of stolen vehicle plates. A search incident to arrest of the suspect’s person revealed a container of a white powdery substance believed to be Fentanyl which the suspect admitted was Fentanyl. Additionally, the officer located four debit/credit cards that did not belong to the suspect. The suspect reported he grabbed them from the vehicle when he was prowling it. The suspect maintained his story that he prowled the vehicle, he did not possess the stolen vehicle. The suspect was transported and booked at the Thurston County Jail for Possession of a Stolen Vehicle. The officer later spoke to the owners of three of the debit/credit cards. They advised they were each a victim of a vehicle prowl and/or a vehicle theft and the suspect did not have permission to be in possession of their cards. The fourth card belonged to an acquaintance of the suspect. The officer later referred additional charges to the Prosecutor’s Office for consideration for two counts of Possession of Stolen Property 2nd degree (credit/debit cards), Possession of Stolen Property 3rd (license plate), Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance, and Possession of Narcotics Paraphernalia.

2023-1964 Harassment (Road Rage) - Tumwater officers were dispatched to a report of a weapons violation on Tumwater Boulevard at I-5 Northbound. The reporting party stated that the suspect was in a gold Ford Focus and was last seen traveling northbound I-5. An officer called and talked to the reporting party, who reported he watched the driver of the Focus tailgate the vehicle in front of it. The reporting party said that at a stoplight, he yelled at the driver of the Focus to drive more carefully, and the driver yelled back at him. As they approached the roundabout at New Market St and Tumwater Blvd, the reporting party yelled at the driver again for his reckless driving, but then noticed there were two young children in the suspect vehicle and stopped. As they approached the stoplight at Tumwater Blvd and Center St, the Focus came to a stop and the driver exited the vehicle. The driver had his hand on the grip of his Glock style pistol, which the reporting party quickly identified based on his training and experience.

The driver walked back toward the reporting party and wrapped his hand around the grip of his firearm, but the gun stayed in the holster on his hip. The suspect yelled at the reporting party and threatened, “I’m gonna blow your brains out!” Not knowing the suspect, the reporting party feared he was capable of doing so. There were other people yelling at the suspect to get back in his car and he returned to his car and took off, last seen headed northbound on I-5.

A second witness called and reported the road rage incident. She reported she watched the whole incident that started back on Old Highway 99. This witness was a few cars back and could see and hear most of the argument while at the Tumwater Boulevard / Center Street traffic light. There were other vehicles and witnesses present and both males and females yelling. The witness observed the suspect put his hand on his gun, but thought she saw him start to draw it from the holster, then re-holster it, never pointing it at the reporting party.

Both the original reporting party and the witness provided descriptions of the suspect, which matched the description of the registered owner of the Focus. The reporting party also provided photos of the suspect’s vehicle which contained an image of the suspect in the side mirror. The image matched that of the registered owner.

The investigating officer contacted the registered owner of the Focus who admitted to having been involved in an earlier road rage incident and claimed the reporting party was the one tailgating and harassing him. The suspect also admitted to getting out of his vehicle with the gun on his hip and his hand on the grip. The suspect admitted the gun was an airsoft gun but could easily have been mistaken for a real pistol. The suspect stated he carries an airsoft because he is a convicted felon and legally not allowed to possess a real firearm. The suspect responded to the police department request and turned over the airsoft gun that looked identical to a real Glock. The suspect reported he was angry at the reporting party for tailgating him and he “saw red.” He also admitted that he was so angry he could have possibly made the threat toward the reporting party but could not recall if he did. The suspect provided a recorded statement and then he was advised he was under arrest for Felony Harassment and booked at the Thurston County Jail.

2023-1981 Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance (Fentanyl) - A Tumwater officer was patrolling the parking lot of a shopping center when he observed a truck backed into a parking stall, taking up multiple parking spots. The officer y observed a male out of the vehicle, rummaging around the interior.

The officer conducted a vehicle check and retrieved the identity of the registered owner, who did not match the description of the male rummaging around the cab of the truck. The officer identified himself and inquired about the male’s activities to determine if he was authorized to be rummaging around the cab of the truck. e. The subject advised he had just purchased the truck from a parking lot in downtown Olympia, then later changed his story and said he bought it from someone off Facebook Marketplace.

While talking to the male, Dispatch notified the officer the registered owner of the vehicle had been reported missing. The officer questioned the male about his identity and the male refused to identify himself. Based on the suspicious nature of the male’s possession of the truck, the fact it was registered to a missing person, and the man appeared to be manipulating the ignition, the officer detained the male until he could be identified and confirm he was allowed to possess the vehicle. Once the male finally identified himself, officers discovered he had a Department of Corrections felony escape warrant for his arrest. The warrant was confirmed and the suspect was advised he was under arrest. The suspect advised he had money in the truck that he wanted to go to jail with him. The money was suspiciously packaged in Ziploc bags, and there was loose currency in the pocket on the door. The officer obtained the suspect’s permission to enter the truck to collect the money. As the officer reached into the door pocket to collect the bags of money, he also pulled out a Ziploc that contained a white substance suspected to be Fentanyl. The portion of the suspected narcotics was more than a typical user amount and the substance presumptively field-tested positive for Fentanyl. Additionally, there were packaging materials and various denominations of loose currency. Based on the officer’s training and experience, he recognized these were all signs the suspect was in possession of narcotics with the intent to deliver. The suspect was read his Miranda Rights and questioned about the narcotics. The suspect acknowledged knowing the Fentanyl was present, but reported it was for personal use, not for distribution. The suspect was transported and booked at the Thurston County Jail for Unlawful Possession of a Controlled Substance with the Intent to Distribute and his arrest warrant. The suspect’s cellphone was collected and logged as evidence, pending the application of a search warrant.

PRESCRIPTION DRUG DROP BOX The public deposited 45 pounds of prescription drugs in November. The total deposited for the year is 775 pounds.

K-9 STATISTICS Officer Russ Mize & K9 James • Narcotics o Assisted the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office with a free-air sniff of a vehicle at a traffic stop.

Officer Mize responded to the scene and was advised by the deputy the driver of the vehicle was in custody for several outstanding arrest warrants. The driver was found to be in possession of a large amount of cash on his person and was believed to be involved in the distribution of narcotics. Officer Mize deployed K9 James outside of the vehicle and provided a search command. While circling the vehicle, K9 James provided alerts to the presence of narcotics in several areas of the vehicle. Officer Mize completed and provided the deputy with a probable cause statement to support a search warrant application. Officer Mize then cleared the scene.

Officer Mize was advised later that a search warrant had been granted for the vehicle. The deputy recovered approximately ¼ pound of cocaine, thirty fentanyl pills, a small amount of heroin and narcotic paraphernalia.

•

Tracking o Assisted the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office with tracking an Assault 4th – Domestic Violence suspect, who also had a warrant for his arrest for Child Molestation 2nd. Officer Mize responded to the scene and learned the suspect was last seen fleeing on foot from the residence and believed to be hiding in a nearby field. Although it had been over an hour since the suspect was last seen, Officer Mize deployed K9 James due to the belief he was hiding nearby. K9 James was able to detect the suspect’s scent and tracked the suspect up to the outer perimeter of deputies set up in

the area. Due to the amount of time that had lapsed, the number of people and animals in the area, and the suspect breaking containment, the track was terminated.

Officer Chase Grimmett & K9 Thor • De-escalation/Apprehension/Search o Assisted the Olympia Police Department with contacting a felony assault suspect who had retreated into his apartment and was refusing to exit. Officer Grimmett responded to the scene and learned OPD had applied for and was granted a search warrant to enter the apartment.

Officer Grimmett was also given a briefing of the suspect’s history and then agreed to deploy K9 Thor as part of a contact team. The team approached the apartment and when the suspect refused to come to the door, forced entry was made into the apartment. The suspect was located inside a bedroom sitting on a bed and talking on his cell phone. Officer Grimmett advised the suspect he was under arrest and provided him a K9 warning. Officer Grimmett noted the suspect did not appear to be armed and did not appear to understand what was going on. The suspect just continued to sit on the bed calmly using his cell phone. Given the totality of the circumstances, Officer Grimmett decided not to use K9 Thor to apprehend the suspect. Once the suspect was safely placed in custody by other officers, K9 Thor was removed from the scene.

•

Building/Evidence Search o Assisted the Lacey Police Department with a commercial burglary in progress. A subject had been seen on video surveillance cameras inside the restaurant by the owner, who reported there being no delay. Officer Grimmett responded to the scene and was advised there was no sign of forced entry, but the back door was found to be unlocked. Officer Grimmett deployed K9 Thor and approached the business as part of a contact team. Officer Grimmett provided K9 warnings and then deployed K9 Thor into the business when the warnings went unanswered. During a search of the business, K9 Thor kept trying to exit the business through the back door. A search of the business was completed with no one located inside. It was learned through further review of the video footage that the suspect was seen exiting the door prior to the arrival of law enforcement.

Officer Grimmett deployed K9 Thor at the back door to conduct an evidence search. K9 Thor led officers to a nearby intersection where they found food containers that had come from the restaurant. No attempt to track the suspect further was made, as there was no longer law enforcement containment in the area.

•

Tracking o Assisted the Thurston County Sheriff’s Office with tracking a wanted felon who fled on foot from deputies at the scene of a collision. Officer Grimmett responded to the scene and deployed K9 Thor at the suspect’s vehicle. K9 Thor was able to detect the suspect’s scent and began tracking the suspect after several K9 warning announcements went unanswered. K9 Thor led officers into a heavily wooded area, through several backyards, through wooded hillsides, and across a creek before losing the scent in the driveway leading to a residence.

SRO ACTIVITY School Resource Officer Rosco Rollman assisted with lockdown drills at Black Lake Elementary, Tumwater Hill Elementary and Michael T. Simmons Elementary.

School Resource Officer Tyler Boling assisted with a lockdown drill at Tumwater Middle School.

SRO Rollman attended and assisted with the Michael T. Simmons Elementary Thanksgiving Feast.

SRO Boling provided a tour of the police department to several special needs students from Olympia.

SRO Rollman was contacted by a parent of a Black Hills High School student who has been sneaking around to vape. The parent and the student were seeking support and help, as the student believes he has a problem. SRO Rollman talked to both the student and the parent to develop a plan, and a referral was sent to a local substance abuse treatment resource to get the student the help he needs.

SRO Rollman responded to assist staff at Tumwater Middle School with a student who was in crisis and throwing furniture. SRO Rollman assisted staff with de-escalating the student, who calmed down and then went home with his mother.

SRO Boling had a conference with a Tumwater High School student who wanted to talk to him about his own negative behaviors and poor grades. The student was seeking advice on how to deal with it. SRO Boling provided guidance and instruction on how to deal with his emotions.

SRO Rollman responded to New Market Skills Center to assist staff with a student who was not allowed on campus, except to attend a meeting. The student arrived early and was wandering the campus. The student was escorted into the meeting room to wait, but then became agitated. During the meeting, the student escalated and left. He then returned and became escalated again and left. The student would not listen to the staff, and he threw food, and eventually began running around the campus. SRO Rollman corralled the student, escorted him off school property and he was issued a trespass warning at the school’s request. The student hung around the library campus, continued with his outbursts, and refused services offered to him by SRO Rollman. The student eventually left the area on an Intercity City Transit bus.

SRO Rollman investigated a report of a repeated attempt of vandalism to a vending machine by a student at Black Hills High School. The student was warned about his efforts to get free items.

SRO Boling investigated a report of a possible sex offense involving the recording of a Bush Middle School student undressing while on FaceTime. At the conclusion of the investigation, it was determined no crime had been committed and there were no sexually explicit images. SRO Boling counseled the involved students and then the matter was referred to the school administration.

SRO Boling investigated a report that a Tumwater High School student had sent messages to a group of friends that contained threats that they would shoot up the school. Upon further investigation, SRO Boling learned the messages were old, and the student denied being the one to post them. The student reported others had his password and had posted the threats as a joke. An assessment was completed by staff and SRO Boling. The matter was referred to the school administration.

A Tumwater Middle School parent requested to meet with SRO Rollman to talk about their student’s behavior. SRO Rollman and school administration met with the parent, and SRO Rollman discussed options for the parents on how to handle their communication with the disorderly student.

SRO Boling investigated a harassment incident of a Bush Middle School student on a school bus. The student alleged she was harassed for the color of her skin and her teeth. The incident was also witnessed by the bus driver. The student accused of the behavior was confronted by SRO Boling. The student denied the allegations and SRO Boling counseled the student. The matter was then referred to school administration.

SRO Boling investigated a report of a Black Hills High School student driving recklessly through a nearby neighborhood. SRO Boling was able to identify the student and met with the student at school, where he learned the student was observed driving recklessly on campus as well. SRO Boling counseled the student about their driving behavior and referred the student to the school administration to handle any school related consequences. SRO Boling also spoke with a parent of the student, who expressed gratitude for the intervention.

2023-1931 Assault 4th Degree - SRO Rollman received a report of a physical assault between two students at Black Hills High School. One student approached the other and pushed her hard enough for her to fall five feet backwards, the suspect then punched her two times. The assault was allegedly the result of online bullying the suspect was receiving from the victim. This incident was initially investigated by the school administration and handled internally, because the victim did not want to pursue charges.

The following week, SRO Rollman received a call from the suspect’s mother, who reported her daughter had been harassed online by the assault victim for three months prior to the assault. That harassment had gone unreported but is what led to the assault. The mother reported she believed the harassment to be racially motivated. A few days later SRO Rollman was contacted by the father of the assault victim, and he advised he wanted to pursue charges. SRO Rollman tried to refer the father to the school, as they were handling the consequences of the assault. He also advised the suspect had withdrawn from the school because she technically did not reside in Tumwater. After a conversation with his family, the father again requested to pursue charges against the girl who assaulted his daughter and advised they would be petitioning for a protection order. SRO Rollman reviewed the video of the assault and confirmed it happened as explained. He then referred the charge of Assault 4th to the Thurston County Juvenile Prosecutor’s Office for review.

School Resource Officers Boling and Rollman provided security for the Tumwater High School football playoff games.

CODE ENFORCEMENT Code Enforcement did not open any cases this month.

Code Enforcement closed three cases this month: • Tree branches from a commercial property extending over the sidewalk and into the bike lane on Trosper Road were trimmed back after a notice of violation was issued.

• Garbage bags were removed from the front of a residential property after a courtesy letter was issued.

• A damaged vehicle partially blocking a shared alley was moved after a courtesy letter was issued.

Code Enforcement has 16 open cases.

QUANTIFIABLE ACTIVITY

Calls for Service Self-Initiated* Arrests Citations Issued New Cases – Investigations Public Disclosure Requests CPL/Gun Transfers Court Documents Evidence Overtime Annual Leave Sick Leave

*

2023 1,521 970 36 25

Monthly 2022 1,353 923 30 19

% Changed 12% 5% 20% 32%

2023 17,511 10,985 481 263

16

20

-20%

118

95

58 104 43 578 397 261

Year to Date 2022 17,202 10,966 404 271

% Changed 2% 0% 19% -3%

220

251

-12%

24%

1,251

1,009

24%

100 81 74

-42% 28% -42%

1,078 1,038 996

1,411 874 1,654

-24% 19% -40%

658 385 290

-12% 3% -10%

5,320 5,787 2,629

5,051 6,046 2,803

5% -4% -6%

Self-Initiated includes investigative follow-ups, civil paperwork service, area checks, business checks, school visits, resident contacts, traffic stops and back-up activity.

PERSONNEL • • •

Jennifer Heath, Evidence Tech – 18 years of service Charles Lett, Sergeant – 9 years of service Megan Elkins, PSS I – hired November 16

TRAINING • • • • • • •

Two members attended a two-day Street Level Narcotics class Two members completed the BLEA Two member completed seven days of post-BLEA department training One member entered the Field Training Program One member began and continues in the BLEA Twenty-seven members completed department training (1st Aid, Naloxone update, Defensive Tactics, and Less Lethal) Four TPD members of Thurston County SWAT attended monthly training

805 total training hours COMMUNITY ACTIVITY Officer Seth Stauffer spent time at the Serendipity Children’s Center at the Valley Athletic Club interacting with the children and talking to them about being a police officer.

Transportation & Engineering December 2023

PERSONNEL UPDATES & ANNIVERSARIES Georgianna Hupp GIS Analyst | 12/16/19, 4 Yrs. Bernie Gertje Engineer I | 12/16/22, 1 Yr.

PROJECTS IN CONSTRUCTION

Israel Road/Linderson Way Water Main Project The installation of the water main on Israel Road and Linderson Way is complete. Pressure testing and disinfection of the water main has been successful, and final service conversions from the old water main to the new water main are in progress. Semi-permanent paving and restoration will occur after all critical work is complete.

WSDOT, Puget Sound Energy, and other private utility companies will soon begin the work of moving their existing overhead utilities underground, improving safety and reliability.

Interstate 5/Trosper Road/Capitol Boulevard Reconfiguration Project Work is currently focused on completion of the Trosper Road and 6th Avenue roundabout, commencing on the south side of the roundabout with traffic routing to the north side of Trosper Road. Once the south side of the roundabout is complete, traffic will be shifted south, and work will commence on the north side. It is expected that this roundabout will be completed in early 2024.

Following completion of the Trosper Road roundabout, the contractor’s efforts will focus on constructing the Capitol Boulevard roundabout. The phased construction approach to this roundabout will require multiple traffic control configurations to facilitate the work, constructing the outer perimeter before constructing the interior portion of the roundabout. Substantial Completion of this project is estimated in July of 2024.

One lane of traffic in each direction will be maintained on Capitol Boulevard, Trosper Road, and 6th Avenue during the day, through all remaining phases of the project. Flaggercontrolled, alternating single-lane traffic will be limited to night-time work and will be utilized as needed.

Israel Road Service Tie-In

Active Construction grading the southern portion of Trosper Road

2|P a g e

Transportation & Engineering | December 2023 PROJECTS IN DESIGN Linwood Avenue Sidewalks, Susitna Lane to 2nd Avenue The design of the new sidewalks, curb ramps, driveways, and channelization along Linwood Avenue is nearly complete. Staff are working to complete the contract documents and prepare the project for construction bidding. The project is estimated to break ground in summer of 2024.

Tumwater Boulevard, Northbound I-5 On/Off Ramp Intersection (Phase 1) The City is currently in the process of finding a qualified consultant to manage the design of a new roundabout at the intersection between Tumwater Boulevard and the NB I-5 On/Off Ramp. The current intersection is unable to meet the traffic demand resulting from new development in Tumwater. The Request for Qualifications for design

CITY PURCHASES ELECTRIC TRUCKS On November 27, 2023, the City received the first of 10 electric pickup trucks, some of which have been on order for nearly 2 years. Seven will replace aging Internal Combustion Engine (ICE) vehicles, and three are being added to the overall fleet.

The Fleet Electrification Assessment created by the Tumwater Green Team was used to select these vehicles.

Resolution R2018-015 set goals to reduce communitywide greenhouse gas emissions 45% by 2030 and 85% by 2050.

The trucks will be a good test basis for determining how Electric Vehicles (EV’s) fit into the City’s future and what is needed to support them.

services on this project can be found on the City website.

Old Highway 99 and 79th Avenue SW Roundabout Design The design of a new roundabout at the intersection of Old Highway 99 and 79th Avenue SW will be completed as part of the Old Highway 99 Corridor Study and the future Operations & Maintenance Facility. The City’s consultant, HDR Engineering, Inc., is expected to complete the design in early 2024.

2nd Avenue Pedestrian and Bicycle Improvements The City is looking for a qualified consultant to manage the design of a new roundabout at the intersection of 2nd Avenue and Linwood Avenue, as well as sidewalk and roadway improvements along 2nd Avenue between Linwood Avenue and B Street. Selection for a consultant will take place in January 2024, with anticipated construction starting in 2025. The Request for Qualifications for design services on this project can be found on the City website.

First electric pickup truck.

TUMWATER FIRE DEPARTMENT

Message from the Chief

November 2023

Community Outreach

Have you or someone you know ever considered a career as a firefighter?

Firefighters today protect life and property from a variety of hazards. This includes fire suppression, emergency medical response, and hazardous incident response. Firefighters also work in the community to reduce risk through fire prevention and risk reduction programs. If community service with care and compassion appeals to you, then please consider learning more about the Tumwater Fire Department. Information is available on the City website, and the Department will be hosting a career discovery event at the headquarters fire station at 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, January 6, 2024.

Brian Hurley In November, Tumwater crews helped serve Michael T, Simmons students during the annual Thanksgiving Lunch.

On November 27, Firefighter/Paramedic Roger Causey was recognized with the Lifesaving Award.

During a track meet for his daughter, Roger assisted with the resuscitation efforts of a runner from another school.

Medical Services Officer On November 21, we provided compression-only CPR to 15 residents. People can sign up through Thurston County Medic One. Classes are held monthly at 6 p.m. on the third Tuesday.

Crews ran on five cardiac arrest calls. Crews have been busy visiting local middle and high school students teaching compression-only CPR.

TUMWATER FIRE DEPARTMENT NEWS | November 2023

Suppression Report

2

Fire Prevention

Winter holidays are a time for families and friends to get together, but that also means a greater risk for fire. Following a few simple tips will ensure a happy and fire-safe holiday season.

• • • • Crews responded to a structure fire in the early afternoon on November 26.

Once on scene, crews found a working attic fire and began to extinguish and pull the ceiling.

• • •

Crews responded to a local truck stop for a semi-truck that was on fire on November 17 i early in the morning. Light smoke was coming from the cab when crews arrived. The manager and other bystanders awoke the driver and suppressed the fire with two extinguishers.

Choose decorations that are flame-resistant or flame-retardant.

Keep lit candles away from decorations or other things that can burn.

Replace any string of lights with worn or broken cords or loose bulb connections.

Use clips, not nails to hang lights so the cords will not be damaged.

Test your smoke alarms and tell guests about your home fire escape plan.

Keep children and pets away from lit candles.

Stay in the kitchen when cooking on the stovetop.

Water Resources & Sustainability

THERE ARE NO SILOS IN SUSTAINABILITY

SPILL RESPONSE TRAINING

A SolSmart Certified Community

A Multi-Department Effort

This month we highlight a recent success story that involves the teamwork and cooperation of staff from Community Sustainability,

Development,

Water

Transportation

&

Resources

December 2023

&

Engineering,

Communications, and the City Attorney’s office. From December 2022 until August 2023, staff from those five departments joined forces to complete an action in the Thurston Climate Mitigation Plan, gain national recognition as a SolSmart Silver-certified community, and advance the City Council Strategic Priority to streamline permitting for green projects. This interdepartmental effort was a success because it leveraged the unique roles, skills, and perspectives of each department and staff member involved. Ultimately, this is a win for our residents, who will have an easier permitting process for successful solar projects to help reduce our community’s reliance on fossil fuels further.

During the month of November, the Water Resources Team held spill response training for all field staff who may encounter spills as part of their daily work. Quick spill response is an important aspect of maintaining stormwater infrastructure and helps protect our waterways and drinking water. Internal communication was highlighted as a vital piece of the spill response process to make sure City efforts are efficient and both property and the environment are protected. This year, we had a special demonstration by Patrick Soderberg, Water Resources and Sustainability Program Manager. Patrick has decades of experience responding to hazardous waste clean-up sites while working for Thurston County. He demonstrated the procedure for testing unknown materials to determine the appropriate clean-up and disposal methods. Thanks to Patrick and the attendees for this year’s training!

Thank you to the following staff members who were involved in the SolSmart designation effort: Dan Smith, Mike Matlock, Karen Kirkpatrick, Ann Cook, Alyssa Jones Wood, Alex Baruch, Tami Merriman, Brad Medrud, Al Christensen, Jen Radcliff, Georgie Hupp, Brianna Feller,

Program Manager Patrick Soderberg conducting contaminant detection training with City Employees.

City employees presented with SolSmart Certification plaque.

(Pictured, l-r: Mick Uffelman, Eric Heide, and Rod Shaw)

EDUCATION IN WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT Partnership with Tumwater School District and LOTT The City of Tumwater has joined forces with the Tumwater School District and the LOTT Wastewater Treatment Facility to create and launch a groundbreaking Water Resource Management STEM summer program aimed at

P a g e |2

Water Resources & Sustainability | December 2023 fostering environmental education and inspiring future

Daniel

leaders in STEM fields for high school students. This

requirements as well as keeping the streets swept and

exciting initiative, spanning five weeks and 180 credit

facilities maintained.

hours, is designed to immerse students in the critical intersections of science, technology, engineering, and mathematics

while

focusing

on

water

resource

management—an increasingly vital aspect of sustainable

are

learning

stormwater

regulations

and

“UNREGULATED CONTAMINANT” SAMPLING COMPLETE Keeping Our Water Safe

urban development.

Operations staff perform daily sampling of our drinking

The program offers a unique hands-on experience,

safe. This year alone they took over 850 samples!

water to ensure it is delivered to our customers clean and

allowing students to explore real-world challenges and solutions

in

water

conservation,

treatment,

and

distribution. With the support of experienced professionals from

municipal

government

and

the

wastewater

treatment facility, participants will engage in Interactive projects, site visits, and laboratory experiments, gaining valuable insights into the complex web of issues surrounding water resources. By fostering a direct connection between classroom learning and practical applications, this collaborative effort equips students with essential STEM skills and cultivates a deeper understanding of the crucial role they can play in shaping a sustainable future for their community. The City of Tumwater, Tumwater

School

District,

and

LOTT

Wastewater

Treatment Facility are pioneering this initiative to inspire the next generation of environmentally conscious leaders and problem solvers.

OPERATIONS CREW HUSTLE AND BUSTLE New Staff, Training, and a Full Schedule The month of November finished out with some significant changes in Operations staffing. Amy Morris and Justin Stewart were appointed to vacant Maintenance Tech positions in the Water Distribution and Stormwater maintenance crews. Filling these vacancies created opportunities for existing staff to transfer to other crews allowing them to develop new skills and experiences. Levi Loewen, Jeff Cota and Tim Bell have transferred to the Water Distribution crew working with Mike Erickson and have hit the ground running with the Israel Rd water main improvement project getting close to wrapping up. Kahle Waters and Daniel Sullivan have transferred to the Stormwater crew working with Mark Teigen. Kahle and

In addition to our routine sampling, every five years the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) chooses 30 different unregulated contaminants for water systems to test for in their drinking water. These chemicals have been seen in the environment and may be found in water, and sampling is required to determine how widespread the chemicals are and determine potential risks for our communities. For 2023-24, EPA focused on 29 PFAS, or “forever chemicals,” and lithium.

The City recently completed the 2023 EPA sampling, detecting only Perfluorobutane sulfonic acid (PFBS). PFBS is a chemical that has been in use since 2002 in the manufacturing of water and stain-repellant materials, firefighting foam (not currently used by the Tumwater Fire Department), and food packaging products, to name a few.

PFBS

replaced

another

forever

chemical

called

perfluorooctane sulfonic acid, or PFOS that had been in use since the 1950s.

Forever chemical research suggests that exposure can lead to negative health effects. More studies continue to understand the health risks better. However, our current concentration of PFBS is 53 times less than the level requiring treatment by the Washington State Department of Health and over 300 times less than the EPA’s level of concern. Tumwater is fortunate to have great water quality.