But you can't open it from this laptop that's attached to that.
» Yeah, you're good. But you'd have to go I'd have to one of us has to go put our
controller >> Yeah.
» We'll do it when >> Okay.
» Okay. Looks good. Okay. Whenever you're ready.
» Okay. Let's call the meeting to order at 6:02. If you'll all stand for the Pledge
of Allegiance. I pledge
» allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the republic
for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and
justice for all. >> You may be seated.
Perkins, call the roll, please. Smith. >> Here.
» Wolfcale. >> Here.
» Arsena. >> Here.
» Burbank. >> Absent.
» Burgerson. >> Here.
» Mazoni. >> Here.
» Green. >> Here.
» Motion to excuse Councilmember Burbank. >> Second.
» It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor?
» Aye. >> Motion carries.
» All right. >> Moving on to agenda modifications.
Council, do you have any agenda modifications for tonight?
» Move to approve the agenda as presented. >> We've got it.
Is that you, Denise? I'm sorry, I didn't hear you.
It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor?
» Aye. >> Motion carries.
Moving on. Moving on to my favorite part of
tonight's council meeting. Announcements, appointments, and
presentations. So, tonight we have uh the volunteer of the year award for
the senior center. So, I'm going to read the information here about our awardees.
Uh tonight I have the honor of recognizing two very special volunteers
from the Buckley Senior Center with the K Skogan Volunteer of the Year Award.
This award was established in remembrance of K Skogan, a long-time
coordinator of the Buckley Senior Center, and recognizes a volunteer who
demonstrates exceptional dedication, leadership, and service to our senior
center and its members. For our inaugural year, the review
committee had a large stack of nominations to review, and after careful
consideration, it was decided that two volunteers were exceptionally deserving.
Our first recipient is Maria Zaffi.
Maria is someone who puts her heart into the Senior Center and its members day in
and day out. She is always there to help, to listen, and to make people feel
welcome and cared for. Her kindness and genuine care for others are exactly what
makes the Senior Center such a special place.
Our second recipient is Nancy Moriarty. Nancy has demonstrated extraordinary
administrative leadership, both at the Senior Center and throughout our
community. She is someone who steps up, gets things done, and is always willing
to use her time and talents to make things better for others.
Maria and Nancy represent our city and the Senior Center so well, both using
their times and talents because they care deeply about the people and the
community that they serve. On behalf of the city, the Senior
Center, and our community, congratulations to Maria Zaffi and Nancy
Moriarty on being our first recipients of the K Skogan Volunteer of the Year
Award.
Um. Hahaha.
» Yes, who's guilty? Ready?
» Oh, oh. >> Ready, two, three.
» Go ahead, right up. Oh, we'll take your picture.
» Picture of the mayor. >> So, that way it's
» Yep, so you can hand it to the mayor. >> These are for me.
» Thank you. >> These are for you.
These are for you. And these are for you.
» No, that's all right. >> Thank you.
» Okay. >> Good job, team.
» Thank you, ladies. Thank you.
» Hey, thank you so much. And I love to see you so much in the
meeting. This is for you. Bless your house and
anybody that's in your house. And I appreciate it.
Thank you so much. >> Thank you. Good night.
» Okay, moving on to public comments. Uh tonight we have three opportunities
for public comment. The first is the normal public comment period, and then
also the one at the end. Thank you. But in the middle, we will have a public
hearing on the PSE energy uh
moratorium. So, I will ask you when you um when you signed up here, did you plan
to testify? It looks like the only person I have
planning to testify is Christine from PSE. And so, she I know wants to be
during the public hearing. So, I will just move on from that unless there is
someone who's decided um that did not sign up that would like
to do public comment tonight. Seeing none, I'm going to move forward.
Uh, mayor's report for tonight. Uh, the only thing I would like to just say is
that council member Mazzoni and I uh, had a great time at the summer
luncheon barbecue for the senior center today. Very well attended. I don't know
how many 70 people there. Lots. And um, Patty and the Traveling Four were the
music today. And I've seen them before a couple times
at the Eagles back in the day. So, they've they were they were a lot of
fun. Um, Parks and Community Services Council Member Green.
» Yes, Parks and Community Services met on August 3rd. Uh, we had a lot of topics
to to go through. Um, one is the ongoing conversations between the city and the
food bank. Uh, we heard about uh, the Pierce County Library and there's an
update or there will be an update uh, forthcoming August 17th, is it?
» our meeting's on the 19th. >> 19th, okay.
Two days off. >> Choice.
» Um, uh, regarding the camping issue that's
been happening at the library. So, mayors from Buckley,
Sumner and Bonney Lake are going to meet with the Pierce County uh, executive
director of the Pierce County Library executive director, rather, to talk
about uh, community values regarding
homelessness and camping in public areas.
Um, Miller Park update. So, uh, see, we heard recently about the
cultural resource survey that was kind of taking a while. Seems like the review
is uh, been sent was sent for consultation. Uh, the tribal consulting
party a request that additional field work be completed. Uh, there's there was
an issue with standing water in the shovel probing process that doesn't
allow them to fully assess uh, any impacts. Um, so, there's unclear
results. Uh, some might say it was clear as mud. Shush. Um,
uh, youth center update. So, uh, we heard that recently heard that like the
the YPV grant funding, we did not get it this year, which was anticipated $45,000
$45,000 revenue that we were expecting and was in our our finances here.
So, we didn't get that. So, we heard about um
what kind of offsets were the city's looking at. There's a $7,500
allocation that we got from Council member Morell.
Uh $4,000 above budget for the TPCHD
donations small grant awards at our 70
7,000 but almost $8,000 above budget. But, there's still a big gap, almost
$26,000 because of that missing $45,000 grant that we didn't get. So, city's
looking at different ways to reduce costs and also looking at a lot of
different applications for grant funding. Some notable ones is Northcliff
Foundation for $40,000. So, that's pending. Hopefully, that goes through.
Another one is Names Foundation for $20,000.
And so, there's a lot of great work and there's some other ones here, too, that
don't have exact dollar figures tied to them, but a lot of great work being done
by the city to to try to bridge this gap. We also heard about three mural
applications that have been received and are under review.
» Thank you, Council member Grave. >> Council member [clears throat] Smith,
admin, finance, public safety. >> Admin, finance, and public safety met
yesterday afternoon. Um
administration items talked about Buckley Food Bank.
Status quo from last meeting uh yet to sign terms of the offer.
The use of Buckley Hall is work in progress.
Administrative Bank shared details of a one-year contract extension for
the IAFF International Association Firefighter
members represented. Uh their local is escaping me, but they
um their contract is coming up. So, he's we will have this on our August 25th
agenda. Share the terms of what is proposed.
Municipal Court, Mrs. Cash advised that the office is working through the
budgeting process. It's that time of the year, and they're preparing for the
implementation of new court management system known as Enterprise Justice.
Police Department, Chief Alfano advised that he has pulled the Civil Service
list for entry-level police officers. So, if
anybody doesn't know, when you apply to be a law enforcement officer in a
municipality, it's uh control It is overseen by a Civil
Service Commission. So, those officers or potential officers
who have applied, they're now on a Civil Service list, and
the department is processing them for uh
potential hire to replace Detective Plaster's spot.
He retired at the end of June. Fire Department, we had no update.
Uh and then Finance, you're going to find uh what we talked
about, the 2026 mid-year adjustments on tonight's agenda.
» Thank you, Council member Smith. And finally,
uh Planning Commission with Council member Wolthausen.
» Yeah. The uh Planning Commission met last Monday. Um the bulk of what was
discussed will be um discussed tonight during the public
hearing. Um one thing that was nice is we were able to get a representative
from PSE to attend our meeting uh virtually and uh answered a lot of
really good questions and kind of um gave us some clarity before uh the
Planning Commission made their recommendation that you guys are going
to be hearing tonight. So, that'll be the
that topic will be what is discussed primarily going forward on the planning
commission. So >> Thank you.
» Mayor Council consent agenda. >> On tonight's consent agenda is approval
of the minutes of the May 26th, 2026 City Council meeting, approval of the
minutes of the July 14th, 2026 City Council meeting and claims and payroll.
» Move to approve the consent agenda as presented. Second.
» It's been moved and seconded. All those in favor?
» I >> Motion carries.
» Mayor, can I say something real quick? Do we should
let Council and the audience know that there are some documents related to code
updates that were stapled or as part of the best hearing. It's not part of the
best hearing. Those documents are related to a staff report later in the
meeting.
» Thank you. Okay, so let's move on to
public hearings. So tonight we have a moratorium on the
development of a uh
batter, is that correct? Battery. Oh, battery. It's just missing a Y. My
» Sorry. That's not the right word. >> Battery energy storage system, BESS.
So we are going to recess the City Council meeting at 6:14 to
enter into that public hearing. And uh
Senior Planner Farnsworth, if you would come up and do your presentation.
» Good evening, Mayor, City Council members. Um so I just wanted to do
elaborate on the work that the Planning Commission has been doing over the month
of July regarding the battery energy storage system moratorium.
Um so on June 23rd, Council approved a moratorium on these battery energy
storage systems and part of that is we need to have a public hearing within 60
days of adopting that initial ordinance. So we we have the opportunity to spend
two full meetings kind of just trying to gain an understanding of
what these energy systems are, how they function and potential implications of
for the community at large. And so after our initial review, we are the planning
commission is recommending it to extend the moratorium for 1 year while we have
an additional opportunity to review materials. And the way I've been
thinking of it is we'll break it into three different sections, environmental
concerns, emergency response and preparedness, and then the final one
will be project siting. Which is a more a little bit more of a
hands-on what does this actually look like in the community. And my goal would
be to provide Council with quarterly updates so you can kind of track our
progress while we work through it. >> Okay.
Thank you, Chris. And I believe we have a representative
here tonight from PSE, Christine Rompa, who wanted to testify during the the
hearing. So please come on up. >> Thank you.
Good evening, Council and esteemed Mayor. My name is Christine Rompa and I
work for Puget Sound Energy as a local government affairs representative.
For over 150 years, PSE has served the region by providing safe, reliable
energy for our customers. Due to a variety of factors, including population
growth, electrification, and changes in state law, we are now
going through the most transformational time in our history and battery energy
storage systems will play a critical role in helping PSE successfully meet
this challenge. Demand for electricity is growing, especially during summer
heat waves and in winter cold snaps. During those peak times, PSE can use the
energy stored in batteries to continue serving our customers instead of buying
expensive power on the market. BESs are an important part of PSE's plans to
provide the reliable power our customers expect while delivering more of the
clean energy required by Washington's aggressive clean energy laws.
Batteries have the potential to solve energy challenges we all care about,
like providing temporary backup power when you experience an outage, to
helping businesses manage their power use. Installing BESs helps employ men
and women in the building trades who live here in Buckley and throughout our
region. PSE has always been a safety-first
company. Safety for our customers, employees, and our systems is paramount
to PSE. Our state's energy code has safety
regulations for these systems that were developed by first responders,
electrical and chemical engineers, and other key subject matter experts in the
energy industry. PSE requires any type of BESs facility
connected to our system to meet stringent multi-layered safety
standards. We'd like to partner with you to create an ordinance that addresses
your concerns and aligns with your comprehensive plan.
CF policy 5.2 calls for the use of renewable energy resources to meet the
region's energy needs. CF 5.3 promotes energy consumption through conservation
and alternative energy forms to extend the life of existing facilities and
infrastructure. BESs infrastructure can eliminate
[clears throat] the need to build costly new overhead transmissions lines, which
can cost two to three million dollars per mile.
CF 5.4 supports investments in low-carbon energy sources.
Buckley's BESs moratorium provides an opportunity to address community
concerns through a thoughtful, thorough, and fact-based review of current best
technology. We believe that you will find that best systems provide
compelling benefits for grid reliability in Buckley, and that best safety has
dramatically improved over the past several years. We are hopeful your
deliberations will provide a permitting pathway for residential, commercial, and
utility-scale bests so we can continue providing safe, reliable, and clean
energies to customers in Buckley. PSE looks
forward to working with you. Thank you very much.
» Thank you. >> Thank you.
» Is there anyone else who did not sign up that wants to speak during the public
hearing related to this moratorium? Seeing none,
I will then uh reconvene the
reconvene Excuse me. I will close the public hearing at 6:19 and reconvene the
council meeting.
Okay. So, ready for ordinances when you are.
» Ordinance number 08-26 amending the 2025-2026
biennial budget. >> Move to approve ordinance 08-26 amending
the 2025-2026 city budget.
» Second.
» Wonderful.
» It's No, it's It's been moved and seconded.
Uh so, what I what we'll do at this point is then ask Director Hines to come
up and and answer any questions that you may have of her related to this.
Now, I'm Councilmember Woodbury. >> No.
» No. >> I [laughter] I told her that I would
call her today and with questions and >> And you did not call
» I did not. I >> [laughter]
» All right. So, I am seeing that Council member Council member Smith
» I just there's no question. I just like to state that this happens every year.
We go to the mid part of the budget and we have to
adjust. We have to This is we cannot run a deficit or a
debt like the federal government or like
other places. We have to live within our means and this was this is a
I've been here this is my ninth year. This happens all the time. This is not
new. This is good.
» All right. Any other comments? Thank you Director Council.
Okay, so it has been moved and seconded. All those in favor?
» No, this will be a roll call. >> Oh, sorry. Ordinances, I keep
forgetting. Yes, go ahead. >> Smith
» I >> Green
» I >> Arsenaul
» I >> Wolfel
» I >> Burgerson
» I >> Mazoni
» I >> Motion carries.
All right. Moving on then to staff reports. So,
let's start with uh City Engineer Miller and the A Street
and Main four-way stop.
You're up. >> Okay.
Good evening everybody. Um
We are Let's first I'll give you some
background. Um >> [clears throat]
» Back in April of 2025 um the city initiated a intersection
evaluation for the intersection of Main Street and A Street. And the intent of
the evaluation was to determine whether it was warranted to convert it from the
existing two-way stop to a four-way stop.
And there are there is a warrant analysis. There are five criteria that
you go through on these um
evaluations, and I won't go through every one, but two of the five warrants
were met, meaning um that
the recommendation is yes to convert it to a four-way stop. Um the significant
issues, one was for southbound traffic on A Street. There is a sight distance
issue looking east. So, as you approach
from the north, and you are looking to your left, there's a building right
there. And it's hard to see.
So, the um official um
sight distance required there is 250 ft. What is available is 160 ft.
So, it's not available. Um and what drivers do is they stop at
the stop bar, some of them, and then they creep forward in order to see
before they go. And when you creep forward, they enter
into a crosswalk, which is where people walk. So, it's an unsafe situation. And
then the second major um item pointed out in the analysis that
was conducted is that um the presence of heavy
pedestrian traffic, just cuz of the proximity of the schools.
Um it talked about uh account of 71 pedestrians during a peak hour period,
which um is significant.
And um so, the recommendation is to convert it
to a four-way stop. Um
there are some drawbacks that I want you guys to know about. And what the
negative impact of making it a four-way stop is that
um there will be queuing and um backups on Main Street because everybody's used
to going straight. So, when
uh during the I think it's more in the PM
peak hour or well, it it's usually during um after-school pickup. They're
going to be coming west on Main and they're going to have to stop now.
So, the backup that's anticipated is not as long as the backup that's
currently on Main Street for people coming south, but
it's like a lot of things. It's not a perfect solution, but um it is um our
recommendation that the city go forward with it and because the safety of the
pedestrians and the um the overall uh it's called level of service, the
operation of the intersection is enhanced by switching it to a four-way
stop. Um so,
if you have any questions, I can try to answer them.
» This This just for you guys to know, this isn't a like a
formal voting deal, but it's looking for a head nod from council on which
direction we should move forward with. Um there is Dom, if
you correct me if I'm wrong, but once we do these evaluations
and there is a recommendation,
we do carry a certain liability moving forward by not taking that
recommendation. Meaning if we leave it as is and
we have a a recommendation and somebody gets hit
there, there is a certain amount of liability to the city.
» Yeah.
» For the record, uh Engineer Miller is nodding his head yes.
» [laughter] >> Yes. I
» Councilmember Smith. >> This was brought up by me
from a lot of uh
information.
People already try to treat that as a four-way stop. Sometimes it's it's
but there's a lot of stuff going there. City Hall,
the hair salon, Scoop, Anchor House, kids walking to school,
and the back up has to be the trade-off for the people who've been screaming
about this intersection. And uh just my um
educated guess is there's about 300 pickups
and drop-offs in the morning and drop-offs and pickups in the afternoon
from there. Not everybody's going west.
However, to make that safer, this is what they've been asking for, and this
is what it's going to have to be. And I think it's going to be safer for
everyone, especially
with all the other challenges we have with the e-scooters and all this other
stuff. Four-way stop,
everybody takes a left and right and go. And let's hope
that there's we can eliminate issues. >> I will say too, on behalf of the
business community, I did reach out to uh President Taylor Stark, who said he
could not be here tonight, but wanted Council to know that that he is fully in
support of this. I also spoke to Bill and April Ratray at the Scoop. They said
there's been numerous times uh that they have picked up car parts in their
parking area there because people get into accidents and one day he said it
was a bumper, another was another car part in their parking lot when they came
in on the following day. So, he's very also supportive of this and he's right
there on that. >> There's two quick things I'd add. One, I
believe Okay. I believe the timing is intended if there's the head nod
to be done toward the end of the month, so before school starts.
And the second thing I would say is
there is the potential for other effects besides right here at A and Main. So, we
are going to have our eye on two specific other intersections being C and
Main and C and Mason.
Um you haven't authorized
those formal studies to happen, but we didn't think it was a fair
representation to evaluate those intersections now because
they will be very much affected by this conversion if it happens. So, it's
better data to figure out um because human nature is
if I'm stopping too long on Main, I'm finding another way. And so
that can have ripple effects, which we're sensitive to and want to
to make sure um that that is accommodated as well. So,
that will be our Keep our eyes out for that as well. So, just I don't
Let me step on your toes for that. >> That's what I was going to ask, but one
of the since I've been on the council and on
the the utility commission, the biggest
complaint I've gotten is A Street that intersection. Every time someone
gets in a wreck, they send it send it to us about the what can we do
to make it a four-way stop? And that's what initiated the
study in 2025 for part of it. So, I mean, I really don't think there's
much of an option not to put a four-way stop there.
» So, I'm hearing council support. So, we will reach out to
» We will reach out Yeah, we'll reach out to the school district. We'll get stuff
out on social media, website. Plenty of advanced warning that this
will happen. >> Right. And Chris, you mentioned to me
today that there is a process for we put this in that there will be signage up
that says there's a a change in >> traffic or
» Yeah, John, do you want to speak to that?
» Speak with Speak to what that looks like.
» Yep, that's that's an advanced sign. It's approximately 100 ft in advance.
They are orange signs, so they they look like construction signs, but it is a
traffic modification. Um
The requirement is that stays up for a month, but cities municipalities can
decide to keep it longer if I don't know, people don't get the hint.
You can leave it up for 2 months, but um And then, our recommendation is that be
done in all four directions even though the stop sign's not changing for A,
it's still is notifying them that, "Hey, this intersection's changing." So,
Go ahead. Oh. >> No, I was just going to ask you, does
that impact leaving cars? If we put a stop sign there, does that impact our
handicap stalls? That was the only thing I seen that.
» Uh >> Because you can't park within 25 ft of
the stop sign, right? >> We may have to move it.
They act They handicap stall. >> They may have to shift the handicap
» Yeah.
» Council member Bergerson. So, the stop signs that we have on
Brandy Street >> Sure, flashing lights.
» Are those much more expensive than just a regular stop sign? Would it be
» So, those run I I
they're going to be between $800 and $1,000.
» Compared to >> Uh
Councilmember Arsenao might have a better idea what a normal stop sign
costs, but couple hundred bucks, 300 bucks, 400 bucks.
» Just I'm just thinking that with the big change
never having a four-way stop there before, those with the lights might be
» You you can see them from a long ways away. It might be worth the extra money
to make them flash.
» Councilmember Wohlfeil? Councilmember Messina? Thumbs up. Okay.
Flashing lights, four-way stop it is. We will move forward. We'll note that.
» Thank you. >> This real quick, I don't want to put our
police department on the spot, but do they have Does the police chief or
assistant chief have any comments to make?
» No, I I think >> Please come to the microphone. Thank
you. >> I don't mean to put you on the spot, but
» Yeah, no, just the it's plugging a hole, right? And so,
that's what I wanted Council to be aware of. You're plugging a hole here, but we
it will likely create problems on our side streets.
Um there's other intersections, like Don said, that need to be addressed. Um
and one of them not even one we talked about is Spiketon
and Ryan Road. That intersection in the last 2 months,
we've had four accidents at intersection, where we've had zero at A
and Main. And so, um we can attribute that to probably
speed coming down Ryan Road.
So, a shift in speed limit from Ryan Road could help that intersection. But
also a four-way stop. And so, if the council wants to do an evaluation,
that's my suggestion there. So, cuz we're getting a lot of accidents there.
But, you will have we will have other issues that will we'll need to address.
And And Dom was very clear in that, you know, it's going to impact side streets.
Uh specifically, there's a lot of kids that walk down Mason and those things.
And so, cars are going to skirt Main Street, so
they don't have to stop. And they might head down Mason or C
Street. That could turn into a raceway. So,
that's going to be a big big impact is C and Mason is going to need to be
addressed next, I would believe. >> Chief, you brought to my attention what
you alluded to today, which I think is a very valid point and no cost involved
other than us preparing an ordinance, which would be, as I understand it,
changing the speed limit on Ryan to 25. >> All the way down.
» All the way around. Love that. Collins, the whole list.
» So, right now, it I think it adjusts right at Belvins. So, so, we probably
Dom should weigh in on the cost of that. I don't know if we have to evaluate that
or >> Yeah. We have to do a study.
» You do. So, there is some cost associated with
it. >> Okay. Well, we'll get more information
on that and the cost associated and then we will bring that probably to
Transportation Committee and see what we think.
Thank you, Chief. Okay. So, yes.
» um I I believe um the
uh speed study on Ryan and the intersection evaluation of Ryan and
Spiketon can be the same study. It's collecting similar information. So, it
can be a a twofer evaluation.
» [laughter] >> Well, feel feel free to use the accident
report from the mayor's uh uh >> Earlier this year
» Earlier today. Get Yes, traffic accident. I was not at fault, for the
record. >> We'll see, for the record.
» [laughter] >> That's to be determined.
» Well, Officer Frazier has it on camera. Okay, so moving on, I think we're going
to move on to um Senior Planner Farnsworth
and we're going to talk about code updates.
» Okay. So this is our first uh code update
package for 2026 and um everything included in this memo, we
are addressing other state law compliance aspects and so that's really
what this is and I'm just here to answer any questions you guys might have.
Um one thing that is not in the packet, but I wanted to verbalize is so when we
did our big rezone and code update in the first part of 2026, there was an
oversight with one of the parcels being rezoned incorrectly. So 720 Park Ave,
you guys might be more familiar with as Bark of the Town. Um it was originally
zoned neighborhood mixed use and so when that business went in there, that was
absolutely permitted. That's an allowed use. Um it was an oversight, but it was
changed to R6000. And so as part of this initial update
package, I would like to include that rezone to bring it into uh central mixed
use, which will allow the business to continue to operate.
» And Chris, if I understand correctly, NMU, when we updated the comp plan,
everything that was NMU went to CMU. >> Yes, went to CMU. There were a couple of
parcels farther south that are still residential and will most likely
continue to be residential. Um and you know, we re we rezoned
over a hundred parcels and so we just did have an oversight with this
particular one.
» Questions? Council Member Smith. >> I can say that uh I live close to 720
Park and 760 Park.
Um they have been whatever the city's
asking them to do, they seem to be doing it. And I've been watching I see it
every day. And I don't I don't believe
I think they want to be in compliance. >> Yep.
» Chris, just for edification, to make sure I understand
this correctly, in your update, one of the things you
quote uh in that floor area ratio discussion is code from the city of
Issaquah. >> Yep.
» And what would they consider the green necklace amenity
that they reference? Item C.
I've never heard that before.
If you're not sure, we you can follow up with me.
» Yeah, I'll I'll follow up with you about that.
» before. [clears throat]
» Yeah, I I can follow up. Green necklace My My assumption would be it would be
like a green belt. >> Okay.
» Something similar to that. >> Okay.
And as Chris stated, these are requirements from state law that we are
having to move into with unit lot subdivisions and the
church property allowances for housing on sites.
So.
That That did not come from us. That came from the powers that be.
» Yep. And even the the ADU code updates, those were just it's just tying up some
odds and ends. Um for example, there's a section in here about the impact fee
reductions for the ADUs we permitted since we adopted the updated code. We
have been following state law, so this is just enshrining it in our own
municipal code.
» When can council expect to see this package of code coming back to them,
Chris? >> Well,
I'm not getting a lot of comments here, so I would like to move rather quickly
with getting it to getting it to the Department of Commerce for their 60-day
review, and hopefully look for an adoption sometime in October.
» Any concerns, council? No, I'm not seeing any, Chris. Nice job.
» Thank you. >> And then finally, I'm adding Chief
Skogen with an update for us on a couple of items.
» Good evening, Mayor and Council. Uh, just a handful of things here to share
with each of you. We are in the thick of fire season. We currently have a crew
deployed to the Little Giant fire in Chelan County.
They're doing well. As of this morning, they are in the thick of it performing
structure protection. It looks like they'll be staying the
full 14 days with possibly a a swap of crews occurring this Friday.
Um, so three personnel over there, one of our volunteers, uh, is working as a
contract timber faller assigned to the Grasshopper fire in Oregon.
So, while fire danger remains high here, it's not as bad as other parts of the
state, um,
but we did put out on our social media earlier today that because of the
continued dry pattern, a week from or Monday, August 17th,
we're going to join Pierce County and ban all outdoor fires until further
notice. So,
it's [clears throat] very confusing for the public. It's very confusing for
firefighters when we hear words of countywide burn ban or a governor's
proclamation of a statewide burn ban. None of that has affected us at all up
until this point. So, in any city or town in Pierce County,
um the only fires that are allowed at any time of year is a recreational fire.
So, it has to be firewood, 3 ft by 3 ft by 2 ft tall contained in a
fire pit or a fireplace. All of the other bans that have been
implemented at the county or the state level up until this point, um have
banned everything other than recreational fires. So, Monday, August
17th, countywide,
all outdoor fires will be banned until further notice.
Um we anticipate that it'll probably remain in place until we get measurable
rainfall that reduces fire danger. I'm not a weather person, but I can
guess probably October sometime.
Possibly later. Um the good news is is at this point
charcoal, pellet, and gas grills will continue to be okay.
Um so, any questions on burn ban or fire danger currently?
Okay. Um
last piece of really good news that we found out this morning, the fire
department was notified from Department of Labor and Industries. For the third
year in a row, we were awarded a grant, and this is for our voluntary
participation in a firefighter injury and illness
reduction program that we are a part of. Our grant award is for five sets of
turnout gear in the amount of $23,190
with a 0% match from the city. So, I just wanted to say thank you to Captain
Connor Smith. He is the department's health and safety
officer. He administers our program with L&I, and
he also authored and submitted the grant. So.
» Great job. Thank you, Chief. >> Thank you.
» City Administrator update. >> So, earlier today we
» [sighs and gasps] >> had a visit from our next Public Works
Director, Mr. Jake Waldo. Stopped by City Hall, stopped down at Public Works,
met few people. Um is meeting with IT on Thursday.
Um to go through his IT training and get his laptop and phone. His first official
start date will be Monday, August 17th. Um he will be attending the Development
Services meeting on August 18th. And then he will come to Council on
August 25th to meet and greet all you folks and say a few words. So.
It's exciting news. Um sad but exciting news. Um for me. Um
» No going back. >> No going back.
But this is a great job, too. So. >> [laughter]
» So, um Spruce Street update Spruce
Spruce Spruce Street improvement update. Dom, correct me if I'm wrong, but water
improvements are done. In and done.
Um they're currently installing sewer. The natural gas main has been relocated
by PSE. So, they're moving right along.
Um South Prairie Creek crossing status. Uh
Grant Osborne and some city staff met um with some permitting agencies down in
the canyon a week ago.
Um so, we're still working through that permitting process. Dom has been in
contact with a contractor that we are familiar with that has performed that
type of work previously up there, so they're aware of
of the obstacles that it presents. Um and then lastly, we are starting
police negotiations with the guild um on Wednesday, August 18th.
» And for the community, the Spiketon Ditch discussion is a transmission line
that goes across the for our water system.
» South Prairie Creek crossing. Yeah, yeah, it's the water transmission line
that crosses. >> damaged during
» the flooding events in December of '25. >> Right. So, we are replacing that and
getting that up and running and ready to go.
» And if any council member is ever wanting to take a tour, I'm more than
willing to give you a tour. >> You have [clears throat] to take your
volume >> [laughter]
» Pretty steep. >> I'll let you know.
» Okay, that's all of the stuff. >> I will say.
» It's okay. So, I I have one more option for public
comments. If anyone that didn't sign up or decided they have something to say.
Also, excuse me. >> Chamber president.
» Taylor.
» Hi there. This is Taylor Stark, the president of the
chamber. Uh I am a Buckley resident outside of city limits.
Uh just wanted to say thank you for
considering the four-way stop and the stop signs at A and Main.
Uh and also the talk of adding flashing lights to that. Being a business owner
for a construction company, any chance that we can uh make
ourselves more visible uh uh, is a heck of a lot better for the general public
and the the family members crossing the street
because seems like everyone has their head in their phone and not paying
attention looking down there. Uh, a lot of the businesses have talked
to me directly about how fast people drive down Main Street and it's becoming
an issue for them, their clients, their customers. Uh, and
so adding a stop sign would help them out
uh, and their clients feel safer. Uh, one of our next events is the
trick-or-treat event down on Main Street this fall.
Uh, and keep an eye out for that permit
which will start. Other than that, thank you for being there and and have a good
night and thanks for your time. >> Thanks, Taylor.
Okay, anyone else? >> I see you.
» Seeing none, uh, council member comments in good of
the order. >> [clears throat]
» Council member Smith.
» Well, I thought it was quite, uh, ironic when
the gentle lady from PSE, um, presented around the best moratorium.
And one of the things she said is, "Washington's aggressive clean energy
laws." So, that people in Olympia
passed the climate commitment act and we're paying 60 some cents a gallon
at the pump for that. For clean energy laws, but here we are
in a municipality within the state of Washington that
passes laws that is asking for a moratorium
for clean energy stuff. I thought that was just ironic.
And it it I ain't appreciated her presentation,
but here we are. It is not just Buckley, it is it over in
Enumclaw, Maple Valley, everybody because
the kings and queens in Olympia and the
fewer who signs these laws
then it gets kicked down to municipalities and we don't know what to
do. And people don't know what to do.
And here we are. And then at the same time, we've had
hydroelectric on rivers
creating hydroelectric energy that ignored the 1854
treaties with the tribes about their salmon
what they're entitled to that at Point Elliott and the others what was agreed
to. So, here we are in a conundrum about energy.
I just thought I'd throw that out there. If you pay attention, you know what time
it is. Secondly, I would just like to say
that I was very heartened this afternoon to see a post from the owner of Rainier
Fresh on 410 right next to Blue Max
who said that their Good Roots Northwest truckers
served 400 families in July with over 1,200
pounds of food. And of course, July is a long month, 31
days. 400 families they served them right
there. They can they can show up whenever. I'm sure that there's an app
and they say that this is here or there what time it is
and they can go get it. I thought that was absolutely good news serving the
community. Thank you.
» Anyone else? Okay. So, if not, I'll accept a motion
to adjourn. >> Motion to adjourn.
» Second. >> All those in favor?
» Aye. >> Motion carried.
We are adjourned.
So, you can always send an email. >> They steal the information.
» I have no problem with that.