Street maintenance program equals an ounce of prevention
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  The City's transportation system includes approximately 101 centerline miles of streets with an estimated value of $176 million. From the moment of construction, streets suffer wear and tear from traffic and weather. Streets need ongoing maintenance to preserve conditions. As a rule, an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure - it is less expensive to maintain streets than it is to repair or replace them. The City Council established maintenance of this asset as one of its strategic priorities.
Tumwater uses a pavement management system to assess and prioritize treatment of City streets. Overall, 84 percent of the City's streets are in good or satisfactory condition. However, nine (9) percent of Tumwater roads are in fair condition and seven (7) percent are failing. Without proper maintenance, streets that are now in satisfactory condition will continue to degrade.
The longer maintenance is delayed, the more expensive the repair. The City of Tumwater does
not have a dedicated funding source for a street maintenance program. Over the past few years,
significant amounts of failing roadway surfaces have been replaced in conjunction with large construction projects, mostly funded by grants and impact fees. The ongoing annual costs
to preserve and maintain street infrastructure continues to rise. In addition, funding for street maintenance and construction has been drastically reduced, due to several statewide initiatives and legislative actions, leaving the City with no consistent funding source for maintenance.
This year, City leaders will consider a Transportation Benefit District (TBD), authorized by Chapter 36.73 RCW. A TBD provides for levying additional revenue for transportation system
maintenance and preservation, e.g., a $20 license tab fee or additional sales tax. A TBD would create a consistent, predictable and dedicated funding source for a street maintenance program to protect our public street system asset.
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Permits are required for solicitors in Tumwater
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 All door-to-door solicitors must obtain an Occupational Permit from the City of Tumwater in order to canvass neighborhoods and businesses within the City limits. The permit process was established to improve safety in the community and requires background checks and fingerprinting. Those soliciting must keep the permit in plain view at all times and must produce it when requested by those being solicited, according to Tumwater Municipal Code (TMC) 5.06.
The Business Licensing Clerk is available from 1:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. on Friday to answer questions about Occupational Permits. You may contact the clerk by either calling (360) 754-4136 or stop by City Hall at 555 Israel Rd SW, Tumwater WA.
Please report solicitors without proper permits to the Tumwater Police Department at (360) 754-4200 (daytime) or after-hours on the non-emergency dispatch at (360) 704-2740. Visit the City website for more information about Business Licensing. |
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Pioneer Park service project on Saturday, May 17
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| Join us for a Volunteer Tumwater project on Saturday, May 17. Help prepare Pioneer Park for tree planting this fall!
Tools, gloves, water and light refreshments will be provided. Boots are the suggested footwear.
Interested in more Volunteer opportunities?
Sign up for the City's new Volunteer News email list to learn about future volunteer events and programs.
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 Volunteers remove Scotch broom at Pioneer Park during the March 2014 Volunteer Tumwater service project. |
Please visit the City's website to download an application or call (360) 754-4120 to request a mailed packet.
