Tacoma City Council Meeting - March 20, 2012

Though not the longest meeting in recent memory, this week’s meeting was chock full of important decisions and thoughtful comment from all sides.  The two big-ticket items on the agenda were tax-related – the admissions tax on and for (depending which program we’re talking about) arts programs, and the sales tax for mental health services.  When taxes are on the agenda, we sometimes hear the debate turn un-nuanced and hostile, but this week’s comment was generally free of sweeping generalizations and phrases like “you people” that do more to shut down than to advance the dialogue. 

CONSENT AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38455 Setting Tuesday, April 3, 2012, as the date for a public hearing by the City Council to consider amending the Six-Year Comprehensive Transportation Program for amended year 2011 and 2012-2017, to include the Puyallup Avenue Multimodal Improvement project. [Chris Larson, Engineering Division Manager; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Strickland proclaims March 24, 2012 to be Clan Gordon Day in the City of Tacoma.  A bunch of gentlemen in kilts received the proclamation in honor of Tacoma’s own Clan Gordon Pipe Band, which has been around for over 50 years and has represented Tacoma around the Northwest and even internationally.  And they’ve got a sense of humor – check out the bagpiper jokes on their webpage.  Who knew? 

The Clan Gordon Pipe Band in action – with a little more commentary on them.

PUBLIC COMMENT
The most popular topic for public comment this week was the proposed 0.1% sales tax increase for mental health services.  Several service providers spoke, emphasizing the importance of mental health services as a fundamental part of the network of support many individuals need, and the role such services play in preventing the need for longer-term services and incarceration.  Several service recipients also spoke, sharing their stories of illness, addiction, and recovery thanks to access to the kinds of services that this tax would fund.  One small business owner was the only voice against the tax increase, which he worries will drive sales to other municipalities with lower tax rates.

We also heard comments on the proposed nonprofit admissions tax.  Most notably, Phil Phibbs, 80-year old former UPS president, criticized the plan to tax nonprofit arts organizations in order to support City-funded arts programs as, unfair, unjust, and not fully thought through. 

Comments were also made in support of the continuation of the downtown BIA.

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38456 Adopts the 2012 Washington State Department of Transportation Standard Specifications for Road, Bridge, and Municipal Construction. [Kurtis Kingsolver, Assistant Director, Public Works; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28055 Amends Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to increase rates of pay and compensation for certain represented employees and reduce the number of pay steps for two classifications. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

Ordinance No. 28056 Amending Chapter 6A.20 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Admission Tax, to remove the exemption provided to non-profit organizations and to require non-profit organizations with annual earnings of more than $300,000 or assets in excess of $50,000,000 to collect a 5 percent tax on all admission charges effective July 1, 2012 October 1, 2012; and establish specific exemptions to the collection requirement for fundraising activities and school-related events. [Danielle Larson, Tax and License Division Manager; Bob Biles, Director, Finance]

Councilmember Woodards, who said she would be voting against the ordinance, proposed an amendment moving effective date from July to October so that tax collection would be pushed out to start in 2013, rather than the final quarter of 2012. The amendment passed. Then, after lengthy discussion on the pros and cons of the ordinance as amended, it failed with a five to four vote against.  The debate among council members could be boiled down to what Tacoma’s philosophy was for its arts community.  The prevailing sentiment among the “no” votes was that balancing the future of the City Arts program on the backs of a handful of larger private nonprofit organizations is not the message we want to send.

Ordinance No. 28057 Amends Chapter 6A.70 of the Municipal Code, relating to Local Option Taxes, to impose an additional sales tax of one-tenth of one percent to fund the provision of mental health services, effective July 1, 2012. [Linda Villegas Bremer, Director, Human Rights and Human Services]

Almost every member of the Council expressed frustration with the Pierce County Council, which was the only so-called urban county in the state to not pass the tax at that level.  As Councilmember Boe pointed out, the State set up the tax to be implemented at the county level to minimize the problem of price competition, which has been a major objection raised by opponents of the increase.  In the absence of leadership at the county level, however, the Council unanimously passed the ordinance.  The implementation process will move forward in three steps, with the advice of a panel of experts from the community on which services should be funded.  The first step will be allocation of the funding for existing services (what we’re hearing called “supplantation” in reference to the use of funds generated to supplant existing funds from other sources).  Second, proposals will be evaluated for the allocation of the portion of funding marked for new programs.  The third phase will be the implementation phase, in which Tacoma will have the benefit of the experience of other jurisdictions that have already implemented and devised funding strategies.  Read more on this in the City press release.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28058 Continuing the downtown Business Improvement Area (BIA) for the 25th year; providing for the levy of assessments and other income, in the amount of $822,665; and approving the renewed work plan, budget, and assessment of rates from May 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013. [Bob Levin, Private Capital Division Manager; Ryan Petty, Director, Community and Economic Development]

With the presentation of this ordinance we got some background on BIAs in general, and Tacoma’s in particular.  There are about 1,000 BIAs nationwide, with many located in New York City (including the BIA with the largest budget of $17 million) and California (which has the most for any one state).  We were reminded that the BIA levy is a self-imposed tax levyed by the area on itself.  The rates for Tacoma’s BIA haven’t changed in years, and for the program has run successfully, with successful audits for 24 years.

Ordinance No. 28059 Amending Chapter 12.09 of the Municipal Code, relating to Solid Waste, Recycling, and Hazardous Waste, to clarify the definition of solid waste to include unwanted vegetation or debris and abandoned or junk vehicles or parts on City-owned property and improved rights-of-way. [Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]

This small but important change expands the definition of solid waste to allow for more efficient clean-up of the city’s property and public right-of-ways. 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER
City Manager Broadnax reported on a remote “Stormwater Rapid Assessment Program” that Tacoma has been the first in the country to use.  The city’s use of the exploration technique, which is up to five times faster than whatever the alternative was, appeared in Municipal Sewer and Water Magazine*, and has caught the attention of cities like Seattle and Paris, France, which will be looking to Tacoma for expertise. 

*Now that’s what you call a niche publication.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Government Performance and Finance Committee

Councilmember Campbell broke the good news that an anonymous donor has given the City $103,000 to clean Tacoma Dome roof, with the stipulation that it must be completed by May 8 of this year.  That’s a pleasant surprise.

Councilmember Boe reminded us all that we’re invited to celebrate Spring with the Puget Sound Revels Spring Sing at King’s Books March 21 at 7:00 p.m.  He also made his weekly plug for the Tacoma Sister Cities International Film Festival, which this Thursday will feature a film from Cuba at the Blue Mouse, and another reminder about the Tacoma Opera’s La Bohème at the Rialto March 30 and April 1.  And his parting comment was a thank you to City Manager Broadnax, and Curtis Kinsolver and Dick McKinley from the City for helping out with the recent changes at the Washington State History Museum.

Councilmember Lonergan brought to our attention that this Saturday the Daffodil princesses will be at public libraries around Tacoma, reading for Read With a Princess storytime. 

Councilmember Walker encouraged Tacomans to see HIDE/SEEK at the Tacoma Art Museum.

And last, but not least, Councilmember Ibsen reminded us all of the Clan Gordon Tartan Ball at the Puyallup Fair Pavilion this Saturday, March 24.

ADJOURNMENT

Well, that’s all, folks. 

Oh, and also, we want to sign up for the “Helen McGovern Reads the TNT” program when that gets off the ground.