News & Announcements

Study session: Purchasing Policy update

At its Sept. 8, 2026 Study Session the Peninsula Metropolitan Park District Board of Park Commissioners reviewed proposed amendments to the district’s Purchasing Policy. The purpose of the review was to explain updates and answer questions before the policy is in front of the board for formal action.

The purchasing policy outlines standards that promote proper stewardship of public funds and provides for open, transparent and fair public contracting processes. Ultimately it identifies and outlines the methods the District uses to purchase goods, services and secure public works projects. The policy complies with all applicable procurement laws, regulations, policies and procedures.

Proposed updates to the policy include:

• Adding a section to identify procurement market research requirements and due diligence. If adopted, the policy would be amended to include a requirement that procurement market research must be done for all purchases over $50,000. This includes gathering and analyzing data on suppliers, vendors, products and industry trends to optimize purchasing decisions, reduce risk to the District and ensure best value.
• Updating Section IV to clarify the selection process to acknowledge that price might be the most important criteria for some basic services. But, in other instances, there may be other criteria to consider including: fees or other costs, ability and reputation, quality of previous performance, ability to meet deadlines, responsiveness, personnel availability for the project, experience and reputation and compliance with statutes and rules relating to contracts or services.
• Adding a section on procurement methods for purchased services.
• Adding a section on procurement methods for art.
• Adding exemption authority language identifying the board’s ability to authorize the Executive Director to approve all exemptions from competitive building and outlining requirements that must be met if that is done.
• Adding language to identify what records should be maintained for procurement purposes.

The proposed updates are the result of additional review of the existing policy by legal counsel and professional accounting services to ensure the policy aligns with current best practices.

The amended draft will be reviewed by the District’s Finance Committee at its Sept. 16, 2026 meeting. The first reading of the proposed amendments is scheduled for the board’s Sept. 22, 2026 regular meeting. Final action is expected at the board’s Oct. 6, 2026 regular meeting.

Regular Meeting Summary

The meeting started with a report by Executive Director Ally Bujacich, who summarized recent highlights from across the District.

Executive Director Report. Highlights include:

• Registration numbers for fall youth sports, including Flag Football and Soccer, are exceeding estimates by 10%.  This includes co-ed kindergarten soccer with a focus on practices and skill development and the JR All Stars Pre-K program focused on skills and fun.
• Registration is open for our adult sports leagues: Indoor Soccer and 4v4 Basketball.
• The Adult Softball season just wrapped with 23 teams competing.
• Friday, Sept. 18, the PenMet Parks Recreation Center campus will be the site of the Bridge to Hope 5K event and suicide prevention awareness event hosted by Pierce County. The down and back 5K will leave the campus via the Cushman Trail to the Tacoma Narrows Bridge. Workshops and other activities for healthcare professionals, first responders and mental health professionals will be offered at the Rec Center.
• Inclusion Task Force launch: Next week the District is launching an Inclusion Task Force. The focus is on assessing current practices, facilities and programs, identifying areas for growth and developing recommendations and a call to action for implementation of those recommendations to make PenMet Parks an inclusive organization. The board will receive updates during the process. Ed Bronsdon, former longtime executive director of the Outdoors for All Foundation, will facilitate this work.

Special presentations. Finance Director Jessica Wigle presented an overview of the District’s July 2026 financials. Highlights include:

• General Fund revenue is trending slightly behind budget through July at 53% earned.
• Interest rates were higher in July than in June.
• General Fund Expenditures are trending below budget at 55% expended.
• Recreation Enterprise Fund (REF): Revenue is ahead of budget through July at 63% earned. Top revenue earned through July includes:
  • Camp revenue exceeded budget estimates by 118%.
  • Events are at 84% of budget estimates.
  • Sports and Fitness are at 60% of budget estimates.
• REF Expenses are trending under budget at 48% expended.
• Facility Enterprise Fund (FEF): Revenue is 39% of budget through July. Revenue is expected to increase with more facility rentals through end of year. Top revenue earned through July includes:
  • $58,000 for Athletic Fields (up year-over-year from $51,000 in July 2025)
  • $12,000 for Athletic Courts (up year-over-year from $8,000 in July 2025)
  • $101,000 for Recreation Center rentals
  • $30,000 for Sehmel Homestead Park Pavilion rentals (up year-over-year from $16,000 in July 2025)
  • $11,000 for Arletta Schoolhouse rentals (up year-over-year from $7,000 in July 2025)
• Expenses are slightly above budget at 59% expended through July.
• Capital Fund: There were five projects budgeted for 2026 at a cost of $3.65 million. Of that, $1.2 million is spent through July.

Amending the Capital Budget. The board had its first reading of Resolution R2026-005 Amending the 2026 Capital Budget.

The board adopted the capital budget in 2025. Since then, several projects were completed under budget, and others were consolidated. The District also received additional grant funding for its DeMolay Sandspit Park accessibility improvements. And project timelines changed.

In light of these changes, the board needs to update the 2026 Capital Budget.

For the projects completed under budget, it is recommended that $294,442.75 – the combined savings – be returned to the Capital Fund to support future capital priorities.

The District recently learned it was awarded $1,078,888 in grant funding from the state Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) for DeMolay Sandspit Park accessibility improvements. This additional funding allows for the full build out of the park, as approved in the master plan developed in coordination with the community.

By completing the improvements now, the District can save $3.5 million in “future” anticipated capital expenses. It also reduces future disruption at the park and the public’s access to the site.

The District bumped up a project from its 2027 Capital Improvement Plan list to 2026. This project will add a pedestrian crossing at 14^th Avenue NW at the PenMet Parks Recreation Center to provide safe crossing for pedestrians and cyclists who are accessing the site from the neighborhoods on the east side of 14^th Avenue NW.

The board will hear a second reading of the resolution at its Sept. 22, 2026 regular meeting, before final action at its Oct. 6, 2026 meeting.

Committee reports. Commissioners provided updates on the most recent committee meetings. Including:

• Park Services Committee: The committee met Aug. 28. Items reviewed include:
  • A Little Free Library project proposal.
  • An updated on the Butterfield Forrest property and the work being done to prepare it for opening.
  • Ongoing work on the Signage Master Plan
  • Updated timing for DeMolay Sandpit Park improvement project.
  • Update on development of a forestry management plan.

The next committee meeting is Sept. 25.

• PenMet Parks Foundation (external committee): The nonprofit board met Aug. 28 and approved its July meeting minutes – the first formal action of the newly created committee. The committee reviewed IT staff recommendations for next steps on the website and setting up email. The board reviewed a draft of the proposed 2027 Foundation budget.

What’s on deck. The Board of Park Commissioners will meet Tuesday, Sept. 22, 2026 at 5 p.m. for a study session followed by a 6 p.m. regular meeting.

The Board of Park Commissioners met Tuesday, Aug. 11, 2026 for a study session followed by a regular meeting. The study session was an executive session. No board action followed the session.

The regular meeting kicked off with a report by Executive Director Ally Bujacich, who summarized recent events and summer happenings within the District.

Executive Director report. The Summer Concert series expanded this year to August. New this year, Harborstone Field at the PenMet Parks Recreation Center is the location for the Friday night concerts. The first concert was Aug. 7 and saw a good turnout. The next concert is Aug. 14 when My Guilty Pleasure takes the stage. Concerts run from 6:30-8 p.m.

On Friday, Aug. 21 The Shy Boys will perform, followed by a showing of “The Goonies” for a Summer Movie Night on Harborstone Field. The Recreation Center is also open that night from 6-9 p.m. for families and visitors to enjoy free drop-in play.

Summer camp programming continues for three more weeks, including two more weeks of the FREE Summer Play Mobile Rec program that brings free organized play opportunities to select Peninsula School District sites and the Recreation Center during the week. Families are encouraged to drop in during 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. FREE lunch is served starting at 12 p.m. for everyone.

Accountability Audit & Financial Audit. The Office of the Washington State Auditor recently conducted both financial and accountability audits for PenMet Parks from Jan. 1, 2023 through Dec. 31, 2024.

For both audits the State Auditor’s Office found PenMet Parks complied with applicable laws, regulations and District policies and provided adequate controls to safeguard public resources.

No deficiencies were found in PenMet Parks’ internal control over financial reporting, or any instances of noncompliance or other matters that are required to be reported under the Government Auditing Standards.

READ MORE

Bond Policies Review. Commissioners reviewed a presentation outlining the District’s policy on bond procedures and post compliance, Policy P40-103, and Policy P10-104 which covers federal tax law.  These policies provide guidance on meeting legal obligations, regulations and documentation requirements around public and private placed securities and tax-exempt bonds or other tax-advantaged obligations.

The policies also identify who is responsible for monitoring compliance.

See the presentation slides starting on page 3 of the packet.

June 2026 Financial Review. Director of Finance Jessica Wigle provided a financial update to the board that reviewed year-to-date data from the first two quarters. Currently revenues are trending slightly ahead of schedule of what was forecasted for the general fund. Expenditures are trending slightly under budget from what was forecasted.

Other highlights include:

• Summer camp registration exceeded revenue projections at 113%.

• The District has its first look at what rental income looks like for the PenMet Parks Recreation Center – a new revenue stream for 2026. Rental income from various facility rentals at the center is $85,094. This amount is expected to continue to increase as more rental payments are processed for the summer months.

See the complete presentation on page 14 of the packet.

Resolution P2026-006 Authorizing the purchase of property and casualty insurance and commercial general liability insurance from Enduris Washington.  The Board unanimously approved the resolution authorizing the purchase of insurance. The insurance is renewal of the existing coverage offered by Enduris Washington.

Consent Agenda. Items approved by the board on the consent agenda include:

• Resolution C2026-015 Approving Vouchers from June and July 2026
• Resolution C2026-016 Accepting Contract Number PS-2025-221 with J.A. Morris Construction, LLC for District Headquarters HVAC
• Upgrades Project Number 2024-01B as Complete

What’s on deck. The next board meeting is Tuesday, Sept. 8 with a 5 p.m. Study Session followed by a 6 p.m. Regular Meeting.

Some people make a difference by showing up once. Others make a lifetime of showing up for their community.

That is Gig Harbor resident Pat Schmidt.

Earlier this month the Peninsula Metropolitan Park District Board of Park Commissioners celebrated Schmidt’s longtime commitment of serving Gig Harbor by naming her the recipient of the 2026 Betty Lilienthal Advocacy Award.

Named in honor of community advocate Betty Lilienthal, this award recognizes individuals or organizations whose leadership, service and advocacy have made a lasting impact on PenMet Parks’ mission and vision while strengthening our community.

For years, Schmidt has been a familiar face behind many of the organizations, events and initiatives that make Gig Harbor such a special place to live. Whether volunteering her time, bringing community partners together, or championing causes that support children, families, veterans and seniors, Schmidt leads with kindness, generosity and a genuine desire to help others.

She played an instrumental role in helping establish the Gig Harbor Veterans Day Celebration, which has grown into one of the largest indoor Veterans Day events in Washington. She is a passionate advocate for seniors, serving on the steering committee that explored the feasibility of creating a dedicated senior center and continuing to support efforts to expand services for older adults in our community.

Schmidt’s impact extends beyond any single project. Through her volunteer leadership with PenMet Parks, the Rotary Club of Gig Harbor, Kiwanis Club of Gig Harbor, Altrusa and many other civic organizations, she has helped strengthen partnerships, elevated community events, and inspired others to get involved. Her dedication has connected more people to the parks, programs and opportunities that enrich the quality of life on the Peninsula.

At PenMet Parks, we believe parks are about more than places, they’re about people. People like Schmidt, whose generosity, compassion and tireless advocacy continue to make our community stronger, more connected and more welcoming for everyone.

The Park Board congratulates Schmidt on this well-deserved recognition and thanks her for her continued support of PenMet Parks and for the countless ways she inspires others through service. Her commitment to this community truly embodies the spirit of the Betty Lilienthal Advocacy Award.