Tumwater committee forwards five-year emergency-management agreement with Thurston County to council

The Tumwater Public Health and Safety Committee voted Feb. 10 to send a five-year interlocal agreement with Thurston County for emergency management to the City Council’s consent agenda.

Chief Hurley, introducing the item, said the agreement would give the city access to county planning, training, outreach and response support while preserving the city’s local authority. "The compensation of the county is $80,000 per year, which will be adjusted by a CPI or actual operating cost, whichever is less," Hurley said, and noted the city budgeted for the expense in the current biennium but did not expend the funds in 2025.

Kyle Busted, Thurston County’s emergency management manager, described the county’s role as supportive: "We are advisors and facilitators, not commanders of city operations," he said. Busted said the county would provide an assigned emergency-management coordinator and a 24/7 duty officer who can assist the city with situational awareness, resource coordination and connections to state partners.

During questioning, Busted explained the escalation of requests for resources: cities are expected to exhaust local resources first, then seek county help; if the county cannot meet a need it may request state or federal assistance. He also said the county coordinates routine planning, training and exercises with neighboring jurisdictions and state agencies to ensure integrated response capabilities.

Chief Hurley summarized the agreement’s key terms: a five-year term with a 90-day termination notice for either party; CPI or actual-cost escalation for the annual compensation; and county support for recovery activities including damage assessments and assistance applications.

Council member Weeden moved to put the agreement on the council consent agenda; Council member Agabi seconded the motion. The committee voted in favor to forward the item to the council consent calendar.

The committee’s action does not itself execute the agreement; the item will appear on the council consent agenda at the next council meeting for final approval.