City Council spends round of ARPA funds, signs off on townhouse project at old Bally’s property

By Alex Bruell • October 6, 2022 1:40 pm
Federal Way City Council (from left to right): Lydia Assefa-Dawson, Erica Norton, Hoang Tran, Susan Honda, Linda Kochmar, Jack Walsh, Jack Dovey. Courtesy photo
Federal Way City Council (from left to right): Lydia Assefa-Dawson, Erica Norton, Hoang Tran, Susan Honda, Linda Kochmar, Jack Walsh, Jack Dovey. Courtesy photo

Federal Way City Council members unanimously approved roughly $7.7 million in spending another round of federal ARPA funds during their Oct. 4 public meeting.

The money, which comes by the congressionally approved American Rescue Plan Act, is intended to help cities, households and small businesses bounce back from the negative economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic and invest in critical infrastructure.

Here’s how the city will be spending the biggest chunks of that $7,703,853:

  • $3.750 million (nearly half) for social services and economic development.
  • $2.15 million for streetlights.
  • $800,000 for a project on the roundabout at 373rd Street.
  • $650,000 for ARPA administrative costs.
  • $341,853 for HVAC upgrades at City Hall, the community center and the PAEC to improve indoor air quality.
  • $217,000 to update the city’s court and prosecutor’s software systems.
  • $150,000 for the Saghalie Park sports track.
  • $100,000 for IT security upgrades.

Also factoring into the final amount, the city also elected to reduce its grant-writing services request by $400,000 and its retention bonus request by $100,000.

The council also unanimously approved an ordinance to modify the city comprehensive plan and accept a development agreement that will turn the former Bally Total Fitness property (32818 1st Avenue South) from Office Park zoning to Multi-Family Residential zoning, paving the way for a townhouse development to go in at the property.

The council also approved the development agreement with First Avenue South Apartments, which is another step in allowing the developer Intracorp to begin work on the townhouse community.

Also on Oct. 4, the council proclaimed October 2022 as Domestic Violence Awareness month in Federal Way.

For your calendar:

The city will hold two town hall meetings, from noon to 1:30 p.m. Oct. 11, and from 6 to 7:30 p.m. Oct. 13, to solicit feedback on broadband and internet needs in the city. The meetings will be held at the city council chambers and can also be accessed virtually via Zoom. More information, and an online survey, is available on the city website.