Tukwila Mayor Thomas McLeod said during his “State of the City” address on April 29, 2026 that the city is preparing for major growth, regional transportation needs, public safety investments, the arrival of World Cup visitors and more.
World Cup Preparations
McLeod said Tukwila is already a global community and will play a key role as the region prepares for FIFA World Cup 2026 matches in Seattle. City Administrator Marty Wine said Tukwila will serve as a gateway for visitors because of its hotels, shopping, airport access, transit connections and businesses.
“The World Cup is coming to our doorstep and it’s going to spark energy and fun,” Wine said.
McLeod said the city is also advocating for South King County transportation priorities, including more Sounder commuter trains through Tukwila, Kent and Auburn and a light rail station near Boeing Access Road in the Allentown area.
“Let’s be heard that Tukwila deserves a light rail station,” McLeod said.
The mayor said Tukwila Public Works had a busy 2025, including rebooting the neighborhood traffic calming program, assessing more than 100 requests, adopting a local road safety plan, completing a traffic signal assessment and winning $13.8 million in grants for projects including Gilliam Creek enhancement, East Marginal Way asphalt work and the Green Riverfront Master Plan.
McLeod also highlighted cleanup work ahead of the World Cup, saying public works staff picked up more than 500 bags of trash, appliances, tires and vehicle parts during a staff field day. The city also finalized a contract to clean 15 freeway ramps three times before July and is restoring its Adopt a Road program.
Flood Response and Cleanup Efforts
The mayor said Tukwila responded to a major flood event Dec. 8, 2025, after atmospheric rivers drenched Western Washington and damaged multiple locations along the levee system. The flood caused road and trail closures, business closures, levee damage, structural damage and damage to a pedestrian bridge, McLeod said.
McLeod said the city dedicated more than 2,000 staff hours to flood response in less than a month and continues to work with the King County Flood Control District and the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers on repairs.
Public Safety and Policing
Public safety was another major focus of the address. McLeod said the Tukwila Police Department is fully staffed with commissioned officers, allowing the city to restore specialty units, reinstitute the school resource officer and increase attention to traffic enforcement.
McLeod said several crime categories were down in 2025 compared with 2023 and 2024, including aggravated assault, robbery, commercial burglary, residential burglary, auto theft and theft from vehicles. DUI cases rose from 22 in 2023 to 59 in 2025, with more than 37 cases so far in 2026.
“People, please no drinking and driving,” McLeod said. “But if you do, we’re going to catch you.”
The city is also using 28 automated license plate reader cameras, which McLeod said have helped solve a fatal hit and run involving a pedestrian, recover more than 300 stolen vehicles, investigate an armed robbery and assist other agencies with homicide investigations. He said the city does not use the cameras for surveillance or share the data with the federal government.
Chief Eric Drever, who is retiring after 32 years with Tukwila police, told the audience the city’s fully staffed department means more services, visibility and community engagement.
“We make sure that we are hiring people that share your values, that are there for you, that care about you,” Drever said.
Tukwila Promise & People’s Project
McLeod also highlighted the Tukwila Promise, a city partnership with the Washington State Opportunity Scholarship that allows Foster High School graduates to attend Highline College for free. He said Foster High students enrolled at Highline College increased from 16 students in 2024 to 53 students from the 2025 graduating class.
The city is looking to expand the program to Renton Technical College and Seattle Colleges, McLeod said.
McLeod also announced the top five ideas for the city’s People’s Project, Tukwila’s first participatory budget program. The city committed up to $100,000 for at least one community selected project. Ballot options include the Green River Wellness Trail, a free outdoor fitness area, a community chill and play zone, Bicentennial Park refresh and trail access improvements, and a portrait wall celebrating Tukwila heroes.
Voting began during the event and will run through May 31, with the city planning to complete the winning project before the end of the year.
Possible Budget Shortfall
McLeod also said the city is preparing for a possible budget shortfall of up to $6 million in the 2027 and 2028 budget cycle. He said city leaders are reviewing revenues, program costs and possible savings while seeking to avoid relying on one time funding.
McLeod said lower 2025 expenditures allowed the city to set aside $2 million for future capital projects, and a proposed refinancing of public safety bonds could save about $1.6 million over 10 years.
Housing and Economic Development
Housing and economic development were also major themes. McLeod said HealthPoint broke ground in 2025 on a medical, dental, behavioral health and child care facility on Tukwila International Boulevard near South 146th Street, with an opening expected in fall 2026.
The mayor said the city needs more housing and will ask the City Council to extend and expand the multifamily tax exemption program. He cited housing possibilities on Tukwila International Boulevard and in the Prato District, where a development agreement approved in November 2025 could allow up to 10 million square feet of development and as many as 2,000 housing units.
McLeod said Tukwila has built 356 housing units and 1,800 apartments in the past 12 years, but that pace is not enough to meet King County growth targets requiring 6,500 new homes between 2019 and 2044.
Parks and Rec
In parks and recreation, McLeod said the Green Tukwila initiative generated 2,093 volunteer hours in local parks, representing about $97,000 in savings. He said the city has distributed nearly 1,000 trees and is working toward 29% tree canopy coverage by 2034.
The city also secured $7.2 million in parks and recreation grants, including funding for community center heating and air conditioning repairs, park improvements and trail projects. McLeod said the Tukwila Community Center will receive improvements including turf fields, a riverwalk and canoe launches.
McLeod closed by calling on residents to volunteer and stay involved in shaping the city.
“You hold the power to change the world around you,” McLeod said. “Acts of kindness, investing in your city, volunteering in community, taking time to know your neighbor, building bridges for your neighbors. You hold the power to change the world that we live in.”
Video
Below is full video of McLeod’s speech, courtesy the City of Tukwila:
