Tacoma City Council Meeting - February 21, 2012
CONSENT AGENDA
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No. 38432 Setting Tuesday, March 6, 2012, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on the proposed conveyance of 12,511 square feet of property located within Tacoma Rail Mountain Division railroad right-of-way at Blakeslee Junction, north of Centralia, to the Washington State Department of Transportation. [Dylan Harrison, Senior Real Estate Specialist; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]
PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None. It’s been a while since we’ve had a good proclamation.
PUBLIC COMMENT
The big item here, like last week, was the proposed ordinance making changes to the tax exemption for nonprofit healthcare providers, but unlike last week the majority of comment was in opposition to the changes. 31 _37 people signed up to speak, and we heard a wide spectrum of perspectives, many from doctors and service providers affiliated with the healthcare providers in question or from smaller partnering organizations. A big talking point here was the impact of waiving the tax exemption on the capacity of the hospitals to continue to provide services without concern for ability to pay. For the nine (out of 40 total) speakers in support of the ordinance, the counter to this was that in these tough times everyone needs to do their fair share. And there you have the crux of the disagreement; what is a “fair share” here?_
REGULAR AGENDA
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No. 38433 Authorizing the execution of an interest-free loan agreement between Tacoma Rail and the Washington State Department of Transportation for a term of ten years, in the amount of $612,000, to partially finance rail replacement and related track repairs for two railroad tracks supporting the Port of Tacoma North Intermodal Yard and various other freight rail customers. [Alan Matheson, Roadmaster; Dale King, Superintendent, Tacoma Rail]
Resolution No. 38434 Authorizing the execution of an interest-free loan agreement between Tacoma Rail and the Washington State Department of Transportation for a term of ten years, in the amount of $361,000, to partially finance rail replacement and related track repairs for three railroad tracks located within Tacoma Rail’s main yard. [Alan Matheson, Roadmaster; Dale King, Superintendent, Tacoma Rail]
Resolution No. 38435 Authorizing the execution of a purchase and sale agreement with Burlington Northern Sante Fe Railway Company, for a 4,500-square-foot parcel located near the intersection of East Q Street and East Cleveland Avenue, for a total amount of $54,380, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for the construction of the floodwall proposed under the Central Treatment Plant Flood Protection project. [Troy Stevens, Real Estate Specialist; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]
Resolution No. 38436 Authorizing the execution of an Assignment of Contract Rights and Agreement and other related document, with Pierce County, in the amount of $21,020, budgeted from the Community and Economic Development Special Revenue Fund, for the acquisition of 2.16 acres located near the intersection of South Orchard and South 48th Streets for open space conservation purposes. [Elliott Barnett, Associate Planner; Ryan Petty, Director, Community and Economic Development]
Resolution No. 38437 Authorizing the execution of an agreement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, in the reduced amount of $225,000, budgeted from the General Fund, for the operation of the Topping HOPE Center in South Tacoma, for the period of January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. [Shelly Koeppen, Contract Specialist; Linda Bremer, Director, Human Rights and Human Services]
Resolution No. 38438 Authorizing the execution of an agreement with Metropolitan Parks District of Tacoma, in the reduced amount of $495,000, budgeted from the General Fund, to provide educational and recreational programs for the City, for the period of January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. [Melissa Cordeiro, Contract Specialist; Linda Bremer, Director, Human Rights and Human Services]
Resolution No. 38439 Authorizing the execution of an agreement with Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, in the reduced amount of $338,272, budgeted from the General Fund, for human services programs, for the period of January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2012. [Stacey Gillette, Contract Specialist; Linda Bremer, Director, Human Rights and Human Services]
FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES
Amended Ordinance No. 28051 Amending Chapters 13.05 and 13.06A of the Municipal Code, relating to the Land Use Regulatory Code, to modify the downtown off-street parking regulations as recommended by the Planning Commission. [Ian Munce, Long Range Planning Division Manager; Ryan Petty, Director, Community and Economic Development]
For the most part there seems to be general agreement that this move towards a more “market-based” system of parking is a good thing. Although some might like to see it taken a bit further with the elimination of all parking requirements for development, it’s good to see consensus that this is a move in the right direction.
Ordinance No. 28052 Amending Chapter 6A.30 of the Municipal Code, relating to Business and Occupation Tax, to reduce the exemption and deduction provided to non-profit healthcare providers to 75 percent of their gross income and to remove the exemption provided for trauma-related charges and service fees. [Danielle Larson, Tax & License Division Manager; Bob Biles, Director, Finance]
Oh boy. A substitute ordinance was proposed with changes that continues the full exemption for non-profit healthcare providers with “taxable incomes” under $30 million, and moves up the date changes take effect to March fifth. This change, which lets smaller program like Seamar and Community Healthcare off the hook will mean about $15,000 less for the City in 2012, leaving an estimated $538,000 benefit from the change. Mayor Strickland compared the change to the B&O break recently given to Tacoma’s smaller for-profit businesses. The substitute ordinance passed.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER
City Manager Broadnax reported on the recent successes for Spaceworks.
COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee (Moved to next week due to the length of this meeting.)
Councilmember Boe gave us two parting thoughts:
- Potholes are proliferating after the bad weather, so if you know of a good one, call the City hotline (253) 591-5161 and get it on the list.
- The Sister Cities International Film Festival continues, this week with Fragments from Morocco. Thursdays at the Blue Mouse Theater in Proctor. Doors open at 6:00 p.m.
ADJOURNMENT
Our apologies for being so late with these notes.