Key take-aways from the Mayor’s State of the City on February 14th:

• The city had a “good year” in 2022 during his first year as mayor.
• DePinto underscored, “I’d be lying if I said there wasn’t a steep learning curve. There’s a lot to learn, and reflecting back, there’s maybe some things I would’ve done differently. Yet throughout all the learning, we had a good year here in the City of Yelm. The state of the community remains strong.”
• Proud of expanded relationships with local organizations and businesses like the Nisqually Indian Tribe and the Yelm Senior Center.
• DePinto referenced improvements to city’s storefronts via the city’s beautification grant program, including initiatives like “Pretty City Day,” to “literally” clean-up Yelm.
• 2023 will see the addition of a street sweeper to the Yelm Public Works Department.
• The mayor highlighted filling “critical job openings,” such as police chief, city administrator, and a new building and planning manager.
• Issues he faced included the end of mask mandates, having employees back to in-person work, and the negotiation of labor union contracts.
• DePinto said the city acquired water rights in 2022, providing sufficient water access to future Yelm residents, acknowledging the efforts of former mayors and city council members who put in two decades of work to ensure the city had adequate rights to grow.
• The city council approved a budget focusing on public safety, transportation projects, downtown parking, and financing the renovation of the new water reclamation facility.
• 2023 will see the grand opening of a dog park across from Public Works, a permanent stage at Yelm City Park, and a downtown alley providing accessibility for food trucks and vendors.
• DePinto has been in talks with adding a YMCA location in Yelm, with an estimated coat of $18 million. The next step is to involve the city council.

Click here for the Mayor’s State of the City Q&A.