Title
Briefing on the Waste ReSources Carpenter Road Facility
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
The Finance Committee recommended the project be forwarded to the full City Council for a briefing and discussion at a Study Session.
City Manager Recommendation:
Receive a briefing on the Carpenter Road Waste ReSources Maintenance Facility.
Report
Issue:
Whether to receive a briefing on the Carpenter Road Waste ReSources Maintenance Facility.
Staff Contact:
Mark Russell, P.E., Director, Public Works, 360.753.8762
Presenter(s):
Mark Russell, P.E., Public Works Director
Ron Jones, Interim Waste ReSources Director, Public Works
Background and Analysis:
On March 16, 2026, staff briefed the Finance Committee regarding the Carpenter Road Waste ReSources Maintenance Facility. The briefing included why the new facility is proposed, the total cost, estimated debt service, and potential customer rate implications. The Committee requested follow-up research on comparable cities’ solid waste services and customer rates, with findings to be presented to the full Council at a study session.
Existing Facility
Waste ReSources staff are currently housed in the Public Works Maintenance Center at 1401 Eastside Street SE. While the site has served the City for almost 50 years, there are several constraints and site conditions that will require significant resources to address:
• Public Works Operations and Maintenance staff have outgrown the space.
• The building is no longer operationally efficient.
• Major systems and buildings are deficient or at the end of their useful life.
• Steep slopes and wetlands limit usable space.
• The building does not meet seismic requirements, which could impact the City’s ability to deliver 24-hour service in the event of an earthquake.
Previous building condition assessments identified more than $15 million in deficiencies on the campus that require repair or replacement, including addressing environmental and stormwater concerns. A feasibility assessment completed in 2017 by Opsis Architecture concluded that the most cost-effective course of action for the City was to relocate Waste ReSources operations to a new facility at the City-owned site on Carpenter Road. After that, build a new maintenance center to support the rest of Public Works operations at the existing site on Eastside Street.
The Carpenter Road Site
Since 2017, significant progress has been made toward a new Waste ReSources facility at the Carpenter Road site:
• KPFF Consulting Engineers hired to complete 10% conceptual design and site preparation work.
• Land-use approval received from Thurston County.
• Former firing range demolished.
• Site remediation completed and approved by the Department of Ecology.
• Miles Sand and Gravel currently removing rock material under agreement with the City to help provide rough grading of the site.
• Site expected to be shovel ready by the end of 2026.
Staff will give Council an update on the current status of this project, including background on what is driving the need for a new facility, the latest cost estimate, preliminary debt and rate implications, how other cities manage solid waste, and next steps.
Climate Analysis:
Incorporation of green technology, like solar energy, and meeting design standards that mitigate climate risks will be assessed during project design.
Equity Analysis:
The project could provide opportunities for disadvantaged businesses to participate during construction and could also provide local jobs.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There have been no neighborhood/community interests identified yet at this early project phase related to the Carpenter Road site.
Financial Impact:
The preliminary cost estimate for the new Waste ReSources Carpenter Road Facility is approximately $40 million. Work completed to date for conceptual design and site preparation has cost approximately $2.6 million. Funds spent to date have come from the Waste ReSources Utility capital fund.
Options:
1. Receive a briefing on the Carpenter Road Waste ReSources Maintenance Facility.
2. Do not receive a briefing on the Carpenter Road Waste ReSources Maintenance Facility.
3. Receive the briefing at a later date.
Attachments:
None