Remarks by Dean Johnson
82 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 3 of 4
- Play at 43:56
“So once the public hearing is set, assuming that Council Member Castema's motion for the 15th is passed, which I'm sure it probably will, could there be action that night or would there be deliberation beyond that 15th in terms of Council potential action?”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 44:19
“Yeah. So with that knowledge in mind, I'd like to make a few more comments on this, Mayor, since potential action could happen on the 15th. It would be good to, I think, get out ahead of this a little bit more. So I want to make a few comments on this. To me, beyond the growth of the campus, which certainly has been indicated that they're growing, looking at some of the school's own data, they had enrollment in 2023 at about 1,600 students, enrollment 2024, 1,700. I don't know what 2025, 26 are, but I suspect it's probably gone. So the campus is increasing. The footprint certainly is small.…”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 49:31
“Yes. Council, I'd like to take a look at that document publicly. We've only seen that once. Is that something that Council would be open to doing? Is there a resistance to that?”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 49:49
“Out of respect, September 15th could be a decision maker. We should look at that now as a preface.”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 50:21
“Mr. Mayor, I made a request. I understand it's up to the council. I'd like to make a motion that we show the video and make it council support or against that. I don't think it could harm to have it here tonight. It is an item on our agenda. We shouldn't be afraid to look at the data. The people here deserve to see this video, and people watching online deserve to see this video, rather than at the day of the 15th when I asked Hans Hunger that we could take action that night. We could. So I'm not convinced that we won't take action that night. We may or may not, but this is a great time. It's…”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 51:12
“Everyone's received it, Council Member Kastema. All council members have received it several weeks ago. And I'm asking it to be viewed publicly so the public can see it.”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 52:59
“And then, Mr. Mayor, I'd like to continue to comment. I made the motion to watch the video, but I still want to continue to talk about that afterwards, so I'd like to continue that after the video, please.”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 54:31
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. As you can see in that time lapse, there's quite a few close calls specifically on some of those trucks coming through and the buses. They were jaywalking all the way up and down that street, all the way through, weaving through traffic. I slowed it down and watched at half speed and still very, very close calls on there. That was just one window of time that we're seeing in here. Keep in mind that the school district prepared that video to make the case that there is a public safety potential here beyond just the expansion of classes. And therefore, to settle for the…”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:10:31
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. You had briefed me on this in our weekly discussion a while back and then recently, I think yesterday, and so I was aware of this. Opportunity that you brought to my attention. I did speak with the city manager as well And if I understand correctly, are you looking for action tonight potentially from the council or what are you looking for Steve?”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:11:07
“But mainly just looking for feedback on my recommendation Well, if you don't need an official motion from the council I certainly like to indicate clear direction that we shouldn't go up an RP We should recap this recoup this these funds and utilize it locally as per our What we feel is best for our city and you rather than let the state absorb that and may never see it so if we have a lot meant to this funds and we can direct that to Providing more affordable housing in our area through whatever organization is providing that I think we should do it So I hope that the council Sees the same…”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:18:41
“Yes, thank you, Mayor. I want to tee up on what Councilmember King stated as an interesting point. I think all of us, it seems like we're open to capturing those funds that are allocated to us and then deciding what to use it for if a good project comes up and there's consensus on that. He raises a question of a hypothetical. So to protect those funds that were reserved for us and the potential that the legislator might pull those funds back and then we're not able to utilize those, is it possible that we could still go for the RFP and then make a decision or not on that, but still pull those…”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:19:59
“To withdraw from our account? I mean, it's been given to us. It's in our account. They would have to bill us? Is that what you're saying back? I don't know how that would work.”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:20:10
“The impression I got is that they're holding it for us. It's in our budget. It's in our budget. We have it in our budget. So, in other words, what is being said here, we've received the money, it's allocated to us lawfully and correctly, but there's a concern that they might bill us and say, you haven't spent it now, so we want it back. Is that what I'm hearing? And is there any precedence for that legally once it's been given and it's still designated for that and hasn't been spent? I'd like to find out if there's any precedence of concern for this. I mean, I hear the talking points, but is…”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:21:03
“We should look at that, yeah, because I'm all about spending it if we find the right one. But if we don't find the right one and we're just spending it because we're concerned that it could be pulled out, I would want to check the legality of that. Can the state do that once it's been allocated and given? And as long as we're keeping that reserved for the intent of what it was given to us for, and if we haven't spent it, they shouldn't be able to pull that back just because there's shortfall. I could see if they were holding it for us, that's why I was a little concerned, if they were holding…”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:29:38
“Are you calling on me now, Mayor? Yes. Thank you. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have some comments. I will touch on that. So it's been a tremendous success, as always. Puyallup has a reputation for putting on a great concert in the park series. Our Parks and Rec team do a great job in picking out the bands. And this year, some new additions is that the Parks and Rec team overseeing that contracted with a new sound company. in a new sound system. And it sounds amazing. Before, it was a little bit tough because we kind of outgrew it. The system that we had before was sufficient when we were kind of…”
City Council · Jul 21, 2026
- Play at 1:01:37
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I want to go back to, I'm glad you differentiated between smaller livestock versus large. So let's go back to that for a moment. I know you talked about some of the mini goats or mini sheep or whatever these type of animals are. This new revised proposal, how does that increase the ratio of how many animals on an acre or under an acre lot? Tell me what that increases it from. Where does it currently now and then where would it go to allow for higher density, taking in light the smaller nature size of the animal?”
City Council · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:02:37
“Yeah, so I get the large animal, but if you're, let's just say you're allowed with this new code, two large animals per half acre or something, if I understand correctly, it would seem to me you would be able to duplicate that to more smaller animals per half acre and not just two.”
City Council · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:03:07
“So here's what I'm thinking, not to put you on the fly. I'm going to go ahead and support this with a contingency that we get that information back before second reading. I'd like to know how many small animals are going to be allowed with this new revision to make sure if we're going to make changes, let's make responsible changes now, then do it again another time later. I know that some of the goats and even some of the sheep, they don't really have a problem with a lot of stinky stuff going on. And even their waist is much like a rabbit pellet, so they're really not very smell-orientated.…”
City Council · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:04:17
“Okay, two per 10,000. Okay, that's great. So that's, yeah, that's plenty, I think, in an acre you're talking about.”
City Council · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:04:31
“Yeah, that's good. So with that contingency in mind, I fully support this ordinance first reading. I'd like to make a motion to do such to entertain approval of first reading as stated here before us in item 4A.”
City Council · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 1:56:41
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Thanks, Stacy. I haven't chatted with you for a while. I remember viewing some of those lockers when you were over at the Highway 410 area. I think I do recall the initiative to get up at Pierce College. Glad those are going well. I'm kind of inclined favorably for this locker, but I guess I'm frustrated because this is really the first time we've ever openly discussed this here. And it seems a little quick moving, not that we talked about bureaucratic sluggishness. I don't think we're quite to that level, but it does seem rather fast. And I think, you know, Council…”
City Council · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 2:04:58
“Well, I'll respond, Mr. Mayor, since I didn't ask for any comments, but you offered them. And then I won't want to comment from this. I want to kind of straighten out the record. When I say pump the brakes, it's the first time that we as a council collectively have discussed this issue, not individually. Oh, I see. So I want to clarify that there's a process, as you may or may not know, with city councils, that we cannot talk about these things with more than three people without considering a violation of the public health act. So when I say pump the brakes, it's the first time this has…”
City Council · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 2:40:04
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. This is a question that I think I learned from my colleague, Council Member Castema. But I'd love to know, and even in future presentations, to know how we're doing compared to other cities within Pierce County in terms of financial health. It's always, I mean, obviously we're focused on responsibility to take care of the needs of Puyallup, but it helps us appreciate to know the storm when other boats are facing headwinds. And it might reassure us that although it may be difficult compared to what it could be in neighboring cities, they're dealing with things much, much…”
City Council · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 2:42:08
“Well, maybe Talika could help with that in terms of some metrics that would take a look at that. So, I mean, again, I'm not looking at analytical exact, but just overall general budget. You know, we're 2% under, 1% under, over, whatever. kind of some good company or in better company is helpful. So anyway, that would be some thoughts on that. But other than that, I think he helps in pretty good shape considering how tough it is. And I will affirm personally that, you know, we're going through some tough times. There's no question about that. And, you know, the pain pinch, at least for a lot…”
City Council · Jul 14, 2026
- Play at 2:44:14
“Yeah, I think our ratio is pretty good. Let's see, I'm trying to think. There's one other thing that's interesting I was going to mention, and blasted, I can't think of it. But overall, I think we're in great shape. So thank you, Barbara.”
City Council · Jul 14, 2026