Mayor of Federal Way Jim Ferrell held a State of the City public meeting to discuss the state and future of the city. He went over various topics such as the light rail, tourism, and focusing on making Federal Way the economic powerhouse of South King County.

The Feb. 19 meeting was held at the Federal Way’s Performing Arts Center. At 6 p.m., the mayor started speaking and introduced himself and his team. He then transitioned into talking about the first subject – the light rail. He said that he was proud of this achievement and that Federal Way finally has a system connected to the other cities in King County. 

He later connected this with another city in the U.S. (Atlanta) as he wanted to grow Federal Way using the light rail, similar to how Atlanta grew due to its dependence on the local train system.

This ties to the main idea of this State of the City, which was the local government’s intention to make Federal Way a central spot for tourism. This is why the light rail was so important to the city, as many people get off and simply spend time walking around Federal Way. This tourism can stimulate the economy of the city, which is why, during the World Cup, Ferrell plans to promote major events in the city to push for tourism and for people to visit Federal Way.

On the topic of tourism and business, Ferrell also talks about the booming business world in Federal Way and how many businesses are opening up or continuing to renew their licenses. This includes restaurant spots like Dave’s Hot Chicken and Dick’s Burgers. There is also a Korean park opening up in collaboration with Federal Way’s sister city in Korea, Donghae. 

Another large part of the State of the City was the plan to build many more buildings in Federal Way. The projected growth in population of the city brings excitement but also concern, as many more homes are needed currently and even more in the future. This could mean many different things for the city, like cutting down trees and natural life to make space, more compact apartment buildings, and more homes/neighborhoods being built.

He then moved on to talk about what the city’s staff and government have done in the past year focusing on the major reductions in crime, pollution, and graffiti. He also talked about the economic budget they have been following since 2025. He credits this budget and his team for being the main reason the city was able to grow in the past year.

Throughout the State of the City, Mayor Ferrell went on to talk about staff and specific teams/members of the Federal Way community who have been helping in the last year. Specifically mentioned was Chief Police Officer Andy Hwang, who has been a major factor in the reduced crime rate with his leadership skills. Or Jerry Haynes, a ray of sunshine in the community who has recently passed away – an ovation was given for his efforts and impact throughout his life.

Then, some members of the city’s government and other organizations were given credit. Such as John Hutton, who was credited with the lush and lively nature of the city, as he advocates for the growth and preservation of greenery in the city. Ending this section with a thanks to the community and his sincere gratitude. 

Overall, the State of the City addressed various topics and issues in Federal Way. Highlighted by the major focuses of how to grow the economy of the city, improve the light rail, and promote tourism. It will be interesting to see how the local government tries to push these ideas forward to the population and how they will act on them. 

If you live in Federal Way, or in any city, come to public meetings and events to learn more about where you live. It might give you context on what changes could be made to your life.