Gig Harbor meeting summaries, agendas, and minutes

Gig Harbor council wraps two weeks of budget talks and housing hearings; one vote on record

Gig Harbor's City Council spent much of the past two weeks in discussion-only study sessions on the proposed 2027–28 biennial budget and on city departments and capital projects, then met Oct. 12 with public hearings scheduled on housing rules and a multifamily property tax exemption. Minutes for those meetings have not been published, so what the council ultimately did — or did not do — is not established in the record available this week.

The only decision recorded in official minutes during the period was the Planning Commission's unanimous approval of its Sept. 3, 2026 meeting minutes.

Budget study session, Oct. 6

The council met at the Eddon Boat Park Boatyard House for a study session on the proposed 2027–28 biennial budget. Staff presentations covered a budget overview and department-by-department reviews of housing, health and human services, communications, information technology services, municipal court, community development, police and the city clerk. No votes or formal decisions were listed on the agenda. Public comment was taken during each discussion item, limited to two minutes per speaker, with written comment accepted at [email protected].

Departments and capital projects, Oct. 8

A second study session, scheduled for 1:00 PM, covered Human Resources, a Public Works overview, Engineering, Capital Improvement Projects, Operations, Streets, Storm, Parks, Water and Sewer. The agenda listed no action items, ordinances, resolutions, contracts or dollar amounts. Public comment was taken after each staff report and clarifying questions, limited to two minutes per speaker and tied to the discussion item. The meeting was accessible via Zoom (Meeting ID 932 1605 6382) or by phone at (253) 215-8782.

Oct. 12 agenda: housing, tax exemption, payments

The council's Oct. 12 agenda listed two public hearings: an ordinance amending GHMC Title 17 for housing diversity, and a resolution establishing a Residential Target Area for the Multifamily Property Tax Exemption Program. Also listed were approval of vouchers and ACH payments totaling $975,061.54, Resolution 1370 regarding 2027 Lodging Tax Grant Expenditures, and Resolution 1371 adopting the 2027 Legislative Agenda. The meeting summary also listed consideration of a transit sales tax increase. Because no minutes have been published, whether the council approved, rejected or continued any of these items is not established.

Planning Commission

The Planning Commission approved the minutes of its Sept. 3, 2026 meeting on a unanimous vote. The commission also received a presentation and held a discussion on the Phase 2B Development Code Update. No action on the code update was recorded in the minutes summary.

Parks Commission

The Parks Commission met Oct. 7 to discuss property management for Phase 3 of the Txʷaalqəł Conservation Area. The meeting also included a Parks Division update from Parks Manager Jennifer Haro. Minutes have not been published.

Coming up

Oct. 20 — Hearing Examiner Hearings. A public hearing on the Burnham Heights Plat Alteration (PL-PALT-26-0001), a proposal by Larson & Associates, covering a boundary adjustment to Lot 38 and conversion of Lot 49 from a single-family residence to a recreation park.

Oct. 20 — Arts Commission. The commission is scheduled to approve minutes from its July 21, 2026 meeting and hold a discussion regarding Love Locks.

Gig Harbor: Lift Station 1A replacement approved; council weighs housing code, tax exemption and $975,061.54 in vouchers

The Gig Harbor Hearing Examiner approved a Shoreline Conditional Use Permit and three variances to replace and expand Lift Station 1A in Crescent Creek Park, according to official minutes from the Sept. 29 hearing. It is the only formal decision among the meetings reviewed here. The City Council sessions that followed were study sessions or agendas for meetings whose minutes have not yet been published.

Lift Station 1A approved with 19 conditions

The approved project replaces and expands the existing lift station at its current site, a location the minutes attribute to gravity-flow requirements, and includes a new 600-square-foot building and infrastructure. The approvals were:

• Shoreline Conditional Use Permit for a public utility facility
• Shoreline Variance reducing a buffer from 100 feet to 22 feet
• Critical Areas Variance reducing a wetland buffer from 150 feet to 75-80 feet
• General Variance reducing a front yard setback from 35 feet to 16.5 feet

Approval is subject to 19 conditions, including a required Cultural Resource Study prior to ground disturbance.

Council reviews proposed 2027-28 budget

The City Council held study sessions on the proposed 2027-28 biennial budget on Oct. 6 at the Eddon Boat Park Boatyard House, and on city departments and capital projects on Oct. 8 at 1:00 PM. Neither agenda listed votes, ordinances, contracts or dollar amounts; both were discussion-only sessions. Topics included housing, health and human services; communications; information technology; municipal court; community development; police; the city clerk; human resources; public works; engineering; capital improvement projects; operations; streets; storm; parks; water; and sewer.

Public comment is taken during each discussion item, limited to two minutes per speaker. The Oct. 8 meeting was accessible via Zoom (Meeting ID 932 1605 6382) or by phone at (253) 215-8782. Residents can also email [email protected].

Oct. 1 study session topics

An Oct. 1 study session listed staff reports on a Rotary Tree Program Services Agreement (Parks Manager Jennifer Haro); Phase 2a Code Development - Housing Diversity (Community Development Director Eric Baker); stormwater and sewer maintenance agreement amendments with the Harbor Hill Resident Owner's Association (Public Works Director Jeff Langhelm, PE); 2027 lodging tax grant funding recommendations (City Clerk Tiffany Aliment, CMC); and updates on the wastewater discharge permit and water rights. The agenda text states no dollar amounts, ordinance numbers or decisions.

Oct. 12 agenda: housing, tax exemption, vouchers

The council's Oct. 12 agenda lists public hearings on an ordinance amending GHMC Title 17 for housing diversity and on a resolution to establish a Residential Target Area for the Multifamily Property Tax Exemption Program. Also listed are approval of vouchers and ACH payments totaling $975,061.54, Resolution 1370 regarding 2027 Lodging Tax Grant Expenditures, and Resolution 1371 adopting the 2027 Legislative Agenda. The meeting summary states the council will also consider a transit sales tax increase. These are agenda items; no minutes have been published, so no outcomes are established.

Parks Commission

The Parks Commission met Oct. 7 to discuss property management for Phase 3 of the Txʷaalqəł Conservation Area, along with a Parks Division update from Parks Manager Jennifer Haro.

Coming up

• **Oct. 15 — Planning Commission:** election of a Vice Chair, and a presentation and discussion on the Phase 2B Development Code Update by Community Development Director Eric Baker.

Gig Harbor council set to weigh three-year strategic plan, intersection restriping contract

Gig Harbor's City Council had the busiest stretch of the past two weeks, with a regular meeting July 27 and a study session July 30. Because minutes have not yet been published for any of the recent meetings, this roundup reports what was on each agenda — not what was ultimately decided.

City Council — July 27

The council's July 27 agenda centered on Resolution 1365, which would adopt the city's Three-Year Strategic Plan for 2026–2029. Also listed was a contract with Specialized Pavement Marking, LLC for restriping the Hunt and Skansie intersection, with a cap of $128,757.50.

Other agenda items:

• Approval of vouchers and ACH payments totaling $1,066,662.13.
• Resolution 1364, declaring a city vehicle surplus.
• An amended interlocal agreement for the Pierce County Tourism Promotion Area.

City Council — July 30 (study session)

The July 30 study session was set for discussion rather than action. Council members were scheduled to review the Multi-Family Tax Exemption (MFTE) Program and municipal budget basics, discuss city-sponsored special events, and introduce new appointees to the Historic Preservation, Planning, and Salary commissions.

Arts Commission — July 21

The Arts Commission agenda listed four discussion items: Love Locks, Harbor Arbor Art, the Brandani‑Killilea Creative Endeavor Grant, and signage. The meeting also included approval of the May 19, 2026 minutes and a public comment period.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee — July 23

The Lodging Tax Advisory Committee had a single item on its agenda: review of Direct Marketing Organization services applications. No other decisions or actions were listed.

Coming up

Two meetings are scheduled for August 6:

• **Planning Commission** — staff presentation and commission discussion on Site Design & Development Regulations, plus approval of minutes from July 16, 2026.
• **Civil Service Commission** — consideration of a request for continuous examination authorization, plus approval of previous minutes.

Note: All recent meetings listed above are marked "agenda only" in city records, with minutes not yet published. Outcomes, vote tallies, and any changes from the posted agendas will be reported once minutes are available.

Gig Harbor roundup: Council weighed $1.9M sewer contract; Planning Commission picks temporary chair

The Gig Harbor Planning Commission appointed a temporary chair and approved prior meeting minutes at its July 16 session, the only local body with official minutes published in the past two weeks. Several other meetings — including City Council sessions that placed a $1.89 million sewer contract and a regional homelessness resolution on the agenda — have not yet produced minutes, so outcomes are not yet confirmed.

City Council — July 13

The City Council agenda listed several items for consideration, but minutes have not been published, so it is not yet known what was decided.

Items on the agenda included:

• **Public Works Contract Award for Lift Station #5 Basin Improvements** — $1,891,794
• **Resolution 1363** — Adopting a Unified Regional Approach to Homelessness
• **Approval of Vouchers** — $913,425.86
• **Resolution 1362** — Approving Gracie Place Short Plat Wastewater Technical Amendment
• **Professional Services Contract Amendment #5** for Commercial Fishing Homeport

City Council Study Session — July 16

The council held a study session to discuss Commercial Fishing Homeport Moorage Agreements and related regulations. The agenda also included a review and ranking of 2027–28 Parks and Streets Capital Projects. Staff reports were to be presented by Public Works Director Jeff Langhelm, PE, followed by public comment and council deliberation. Minutes have not been published.

Hearing Examiner — July 7

The Hearing Examiner scheduled public hearings on two land-use requests. Minutes have not been published.

• **Chatman Pier Extension (PL-SDP-26-0001):** Proposed 25-foot extension of a joint-use pier serving two single-family residences.
• **Dorland Reasonable Use Exemption (PL-RUE-22-0001):** Request to reduce a wetland buffer from 300 to 240 feet and a stream buffer from 50 to 20 feet for a single-family residence.

Planning Commission — July 16

The Planning Commission took three recorded votes, all unanimous:

• Appointed Commissioner Henderson as temporary chair.
• Approved minutes from the June 18, 2026 meeting.
• Approved a motion to reopen public comments.

The meeting adjourned at 6:55 p.m.

Coming up

• **Arts Commission — July 21, 2026:** Discussion items include Love Locks, Harbor Arbor Art, the Brandani‑Killilea Creative Endeavor Grant, and signage. The commission will also consider approval of May 19, 2026 minutes and hold a public comment period.
• **Lodging Tax Advisory Committee — July 23, 2026:** Review of Direct Marketing Organization Services Applications. No other decisions or actions are listed on the agenda.