The City works collaboratively with local, state, and federal legislators to achieve the legislative priorities of the City Council. This includes advocating for, securing, and managing policies, programs, and grants that help the greater community.
The City annually develops legislative priorities, coordinates strategic advocacy plans, builds relationships at all levels of government, and reviews impacts of potential legislation on the City.
Federal
Federal Priorities
The City’s 2023 Federal Priorities include:
Community Projects
- College Street Corridor Safety Improvement Project
- Emergency Operations Center Project
- Septic-to-Sewer Conversion Program
- Future: Lacey Museum and Cultural Center in Depot District
- Future: Early Child and Youth Learning Center
Policy Positions
- Support I-5 Corridor from Tumwater to Mounts Road and the Nisqually River Delta
- Support the Puget Save Our Sound (SOS) Act
- Support Build America, Buy America
- Support a National Housing and Homeless Outreach Strategy to Help Communities Address an Ongoing and Growing Crisis of Unsheltered Populations
- Support the Defense Community Infrastructure Program.
- Continued Support of Community Programs, such as Community Development Block Grant Program, COPS Grants, and more
- Support the Homes for Every Local Protector, Educator, and Responder (HELPER) Act
To view the full 2023 Federal Legislative Priorities brochure, click here.
Federal Legislators
State
State Priorities
Capital Budget Requests:
- Accessibility Improvements at the New Greg Cuoio Park
- Emergency Operations Center
The City’s 2023 State Priorities include:
- Commercial Airport Siting
- Long-term Funding Solutions to Support Rights of Way Initiative Housing Acquisitions
- Continue to focus on the I-5 Corridor between Mounts Road & Tumwater
- Address Law Enforcement Vehicle Pursuits
Recent State Successes
During the 2022 Washington State Legislative session, several significant City championed achievements were accomplished, including:
- Securing $75 million in the Move Ahead Washington package for the Nisqually River Delta preliminary design, engineering, and ROW acquisition.
- Securing $103K for Public Electric Vehicle Infrastructure throughout Lacey parks and public facilities for public use.
- Securing $515K for purchasing an Oxford Housing Program Pilot with non-profit partner in the Lacey community.
- Helped address public safety concerns by returning less lethal options, providing clear definitions of imperative public safety terms, such as “physical force,” and clarifying and amending circumstances in which the use of force is authorized, including lawful temporary investigative detentions.
- Providing continued state leadership on the homeless crisis by approving additional strategies and tools to address the growing unsheltered population, including securing $5 million in the supplemental transportation budget to help address public health and safety risks associated with homeless encampments on state owned rights-of-way of which $2 million is to be used for addressing litter and debris along freeways that serve as the gateways to our communities; providing $45 million in the operating budget for rental assistance, and eviction prevention; and providing $383 million in the capital budget for rapid and supportive housing efforts across the state.
State Legislators
District 22 Legislators:
District 2 Legislators (Lacey UGA):
Local
Thurston County Board of County Commissioners
Lacey and its Urban Growth Areas (UGA) are largely located within District 1.
Nisqually Indian Tribe
The City and its Urban Growth Area exist on the traditional territories of the Coast Salish people, specifically the Nisqually people of Medicine Creek treaty (Nisqually Indian Tribe). Lacey and the South Puget Sound region are encompassed by the Treaty of Medicine Creek, which was signed under duress by Tribal representatives in 1854. The City works with the Nisqually and Squaxin Island tribes in government-to-government partnerships.
On March 4, 2014, the Lacey City Council and the Nisqually Tribal Council participated in a ceremonial event to sign an historic agreement, the Nisqually Indian Tribe and City of Lacey Accord.
The Accord acknowledges the partnership and mutual interests shared between the City and the Nisqually Tribe. The Accord provides a framework for future meetings and collaboration. As a symbol of the partnership, the Tribe presented the Lacey City Council with a carved totem pole, which is now displayed in the lobby of Lacey City Hall. A rededication ceremony occurred on July 9, 2015.
The City and Nisqually Tribe aspire to meet on an annual basis to work on issues of mutual importance.
