City Council Meeting - July 22, 2008

Tonight’s meeting was rather uneventful – even with a scheduled Public Hearing. There was, however, some discussion on the contract between Centerplate and the Tacoma Dome, and the Mason Plaza Project.

Resolutions
Resolution # 37544 was adopted to authorize a ten year agreement with Centerplate to provide food and beverage services at the Tacoma Dome, to construct limited capital improvements, and to purchase food service related equipment. This will further waive competitive bidding requirements for capital projects and equipment purchases at the Tacoma Dome.

Although waiving competitive bidding may not seem very prudent, apparently the contract with Centerplate is a very good deal. It will involve an investment of $1.95 million, $1.3 mil coming from Centerplate and the other $650,000 from Tacoma. Hopefully this will be the best way to improve the Tacoma Dome and increase revenue. Also, Centerplate may have a deal with Charlie’s Produce, a company that contracts with local farmers.

Resolution # 37545 was adopted to authorize an agreement with the Tacoma Historical Society, in the amount of $75,000, budgeted from the General Fund, for the Mason Plaza Project, located on the southeast corner of North 26th and Adams Streets at the Wheelock Library site.

$75,000 is a lot of dough, but the entire council seemed just tickled about this project. Joe Quilici, chairman of the Mason Plaza project, and Jim Hoard, President of the Tacoma Historical Society, were present to speak briefly about the project and Allen Mason’s accomplishments.

Final Reading of Ordinances
Ordinance # 27734 will provide for the formation of L.I.D. # 8651, for the construction of permanent pavement, including the installation of concrete curbs and gutters, and storm drainage with storm water catch basins on:

• N 29th St, from Proctor to Monroe
• N 28th St, from Union to Washington
• Verde St., from N 37th to N 40th
• S 94th St., from Alaska St. W to the dead end

Whitman St., from N 37th to N 40th, was removed because the neighborhood apparently didn’t want the new construction.

The meeting ended with an announcement from Deputy Mayor Manthou that Tacoma has received a Platinum Award from the National Association of Clean Water Agencies for meeting all standards for having clean water. Ah, straight from the tap. Delicious.