Government

Gig Harbor Now provides citizens the information they need to oversee and participate in the city of Gig Harbor, Pierce County and smaller governing bodies.

Impact fees delayed but en route to PenMet Parks

Jan 31, 2024 | By:

Pierce needed to change some code wording to allow properties not owned by the county to receive funds. PenMet is budgeted to get the $472,000 that was pegged for 2023, plus $300,000 in each of 2024 and 2025.

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City Council reinstates Creative Endeavor grants

Jan 30, 2024 | By:

The city of Gig Harbor’s $35,000 Creative Endeavor grants program is back on.  During a study session in November 2023, the council unanimously agreed to suspend the five-year-old grant program, which supports the arts. But a crowd turned out to criticize the move at the Dec. 11, 2023 council meeting. Many others emailed or called

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Gig Harbor City Council accepting online comments again

Jan 25, 2024 | By:

The Gig Harbor City Council voted unanimously to reinstate online public comment on Monday, Jan. 22. The council previously suspended commenting by people attending meetings via Zoom in December, after learning of obscene and racist comments submitted in other cities. The council also moved the period allotted for public comment on non-agenda items to later

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Vandals damage Our Fisherman, Our Guardian statue

Jan 24, 2024 | By:

Vandals broke a canoe off the Our Fisherman, Our Guardian carved statue at Austin Park at txʷaalqəł Estuary late Monday or early Tuesday, Jan. 22 or 23.  The city of Gig Harbor believes the damage occurred when someone tried to climb on the statue, carved by renowned artist and Quinault Tribal Chairman Guy Capoeman and

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County reaches, then scraps impact fee deal with PenMet Parks

Jan 22, 2024 | By:

The interlocal agreement would have shared $472,000 with the local parks district for 2023, plus more going forward.

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Billy Sehmel sworn in, following dad’s PenMet footsteps

Jan 10, 2024 | By:

Billy Sehmel, who grew at the site of what’s now PenMet’s Sehmel Homestead Park, becomes a park district commissioner like father Bill Sr. before him.

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How to contact your legislators as 2024 session begins

Jan 09, 2024 | By:

The state Legislature convened on Monday, Jan. 8, to begin a 60-day session scheduled to end March 7. Among the chief tasks lawmakers must complete in the next two months is passing a supplemental budget. Washington operates under a two-year budget cycle, approving the overall spending plan in odd-numbered years and adjusting it in even-numbered

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State legislators discuss priorities for short session

Jan 04, 2024 | By:

Sen. Emily Randall and Reps. Michelle Caldier and Spencer Hutchins spoke during the annual legislative sendoff at TCC-Gig Harbor.

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Waterfront Alliance pitches downtown playground

Dec 27, 2023 | By:

Editor’s note: Before publishing this story, Gig Harbor Downtown Waterfront Alliance executive director Carrianne Ekberg told Gig Harbor Now that plans for a downtown playground are “on hold.” Soundview Park is also no longer the preferred location for a downtown playground. Images previously presented with this article, which were included in information provided to the

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State grants boost Gig Harbor road projects

Dec 26, 2023 | By:

The state Transportation Improvement Board awarded $1.1 million to help fund a stoplight at Wagner Way and Wollochet Drive, and is contributing $1.5 million to a shared-use path along Burnham Drive.

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