Thursday, October 1, 2026
The City of Tumwater is planning to establish a communications department.
The Tumwater Budget and Finance Committee endorsed an ordinance that would establish the department at a meeting on Friday, July 25.
The city council is expected to review the ordinance and consider it for approval at its meeting on Sept. 2.
The city currently has a communications division under the executive department, which is led by Communications Manager Jason Wettstein.
City Administrator Lisa Parks said the proposal is intended to address the city’s evolving needs in communications and community outreach.
The ordinance proposes amending the city’s municipal code to include provisions for a communications department, a communications director, and to place the new department under the city administrator’s supervision.
The city does not intend to hire a communications director, as Parks said they would simply promote Wettstein.
The promotion would result in an additional expense of up to $50,000 for the current budget. Parks said the city’s general fund can cover the additional cost without needing any formal amendment.
The administrator said the proposed department highlights the importance of communication and outreach.
“We feel like there's been a lot of conversation in our community, as well as amongst the council members and with staff, about how important communication and outreach are to us as an organization,” Parks said.
“We feel like creating a communications department now is a good way to emphasize the importance of communication and transparency.”
Creating the department also recognizes the expanding work of the communications division, including developing communication protocols, public relations, community engagement and social media management.
Parks added that a dedicated communications department would also clarify who represents the city to the media and in community engagement efforts.
Committee member Eileen Swarthout siad she was surprised the city does not have a communications director.
Parks said the communications function of the executive office is relatively new, as the communications division was formally established around 2022 or 2023.
“It was easier to do communications when we didn't have as many people and as many things going on,” Parks said.
Staff originally proposed putting the ordinance on the city council’s agenda at its next meeting on Aug. 17.
Swarthout suggested moving it to September so other council members would know about the plan first, and to reduce the number of agenda items at that meeting.
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OlyBlues
Wow so a $50K raise to reclass the existing Communications Manager to a new Department Director position? Sounds like an exemplary use of our tax dollars. The city of Tumwater never ceases to amaze me. Constantly begging for new taxes because they don't have enough money and then making wasteful decisions like this. Why not just say this Communications Manager is a favored employee of City Manager Lisa Parks and therefore is getting richly rewarded with our tax dollars for being a good soldier? More corruption at the city.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
ViaLocal
I live in Tumwater and I would n
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
ViaLocal
not say that the city is '"always begging for money for new taxes". I would say though that Olyblues is always looking for something to complain about.
If we can pay taxes for a predator in the white house to play golf and skip the country when it's time for him to face the predator music, we can certainly pay tax money to establish an actual department for our Communications team in Tumwater.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
Southsoundguy
Waste of money.
Thursday, July 31, 2025 Report this
Tumwater_Granny
What an asinine proposal and complete waste of taxpayer dollars. As a small bedroom community, I don't see the need for a communications department. It's not like we need to contact the local news media all the time. The city already has several newsletters you can subscribe to if you want to know what's going to be happening in the city. The Olympian covers Tumwater news jolt covers Tumwater news. A communications department seems a extreme overreach. It sounds like whoever is in charge of communications right now can't do their job effectively and are looking for extras to do the work for them Again, a complete waste of taxpayer money.
Tuesday, August 19, 2025 Report this