Inside the City of Tumwater

Date: April 10, 2023

To: Mayor Debbie Sullivan

City Councilmembers

City Employees

From: John Doan, City Administrator

People

City Receives Planning Award

The Washington Chapter of the American Planning Association has announced that Tumwater has received the 2023 Excellence in Planning Award in the Sustainability Category for the Urban Forestry Management Plan The Awards will be presented at the Planning Association of Washington Conference in April.

Congratulations to our Planning and Sustainability Team, Planning Commission, Tree Board, City Council, and consultant.

City Clerk Served on WMCA Board

Melody Valiant, the City Clerk, has completed three years of service on the Executive Committee of the Washington Municipal Clerks Association. Melody had also co-chaired the bylaws committee and served on and led several other committees. Thank you, Melody, for your service to the profession.

ERP Crosses Major Milestone

One of the City biggest projects is happening right now with no barricades, construction inspectors, or permits. The City Enterprise Resource Planning system (ERP) is replacing our operations' 15-year-old computer software backbone

After more than two years of planning and cleaning up data, the first phase of the conversion from EDEN to MUNIS went live on Monday, April 3. This included the general ledger, accounts payable, contracts, and budget.

Next up, later this spring/summer, will be accounts receivable and general billing. Project accounting, human resources, and payroll will move forward in October. The final phases will happen over the next two years, including utility billing, cash receipting, asset maintenance, and permitting.

Huge thanks to Matt Ames, our in-house project manager, the ERP leadership team, Troy Niemeyer, Shelly Carter, Bill Sampson, and everyone who has been involved with getting this phase of the ERP up and running! I know it is a big change, but eventually, EDEN will be a distant memory.

Events

Eggs, Eggs, Eggs

The City Egg Dash hatched perfectly on Saturday. Even the rain stayed away. Great crowds, a fun/safe event, a Mayor who took the mic away from Todd, lots of kids, and 20,000 eggs all made a special event.

Interested? Take the Farm Share Interest Survey so we can gauge if there are employees who might participate in this voluntary program. Answering the survey does not obligate you to participate in this wellness program; your responses are anonymous.

Earth Day Volunteer Work Party

Tumwater Parks & Recreation is teaming up with the PARC Foundation to celebrate Earth Day with a fun and rewarding volunteer work party. Help remove invasive plants and debris at Tumwater Historical Park. Tools, gloves, water, and light refreshments will be provided. Please wear appropriate clothing and shoes for working outdoors.

9 a.m. – 12 noon | Saturday, April 22, 2023

Tumwater Historical Park | 802 Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater, WA

Employees of the WSECU (Washington State Employee Credit Union) who helped stuff eggs in support of the Dash. These volunteers and others at Old Town Center helped stuff the 20,000 eggs which were distributed at the Tumwater High School stadium.

This event will be held rain or shine! Pre-registration is required. Register online.

Fresh vegetables at a farm stand.

It’s the Wellness!

The Wellness Committee is looking at offering a Farm Share Program to City employees in partnership with WSU Extension Thurston County. The program is similar to a Community Supported Agriculture or CSA program, where you pay for a weekly box of produce through the growing season. This program is fed by over 25 local farms instead of just one, spreading the love to our many local farmers.

City staff at the 2022 Earth Day work party.

Celebrate Arbor Day

Find a seedling to take home and plant while you learn more about trees! Enjoy free tree-related giveaway items, activities for kids, tree planting instructions, and tree care information. The Tree Board provides a selection of tree species, and participants may select a free seedling while supplies last.

10 a.m. – 12 noon | Saturday, April 22, 2023

Tumwater Historical Park | 802 Deschutes Way SW, Tumwater, WA

For more information on the Arbor Day Celebration, contact Sustainability Coordinator Alyssa Jones Wood