Tacoma City Council Meeting - March 13, 2012

This week’s agenda was on the short-ish side with no final readings of ordinances, so we didn’t hear as much from the Council as we do some weeks.  On the other hand, between Citizens’ Forum, and a fair amount of public comment on two ordinances up for first reading, we got to hear quite a few other voices, which is always nice. 

Councilmember Fey was absent.

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Two proclamations and one presentation this week.  Mayor Strickland proclaimed 2012 to be the Year of the Girl in Tacoma, in honor of the 100th anniversary of the formation of the Girl Scouts of America, and the involvement of the Girl Scouts in our community.  In celebration of another centennial, the Mayor proclaimed March 19th 2012 to be Tacoma Mountaineers Day.  The Council heard a presentation on the American Heart Association in which City employees were thanked for their support of the organization. 

PUBLIC COMMENT
Public comment focused on the two tax-related ordinances up for a first reading this week, with some fairly heavy hitters in the community, including Jeannie Darnielle and representatives of many nonprofit organizations, boards, and commissions coming forward to share their thoughts.

Ordinance 28056 (see below) proposes the removal of the ticket tax exemption for nonprofit organizations.  The majority of comment on this topic came from the arts community, with most speakers asking the Council not to pass the ordinance.  The formal statement from the Tacoma Arts Commission is that, while disappointed that it has come to this, the Commission supports the ordinance as long as the revenue collected goes to stabilize city arts programs.  Representatives of the affected organizations commented on the negative impact the tax would have on their organizations in particular, on the people they serve, and on the larger perception of Tacoma’s character when it comes to support for the arts. 

Ordinance 28057 (see below) proposes the implementation of a 0.01% sales tax to support mental health and chemical dependency services.  The majority of commenters, including Representative Darnielle, were in support of this increase.  Many speakers testified to the importance of the funded services to individuals and the organizations serving them, and to the value of long-term case management for individuals needing such treatment.  We repeatedly heard that treatment mental health services represent the most important need for many individuals receiving other human services.  Another message was that aside from the compassionate reasons, providing these services means a bottom line reduction of need for other services, including law enforcement, emergency room visits, and others.

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38451 Awards a contract to:  AHBL, Inc., in the amount of $158,100, sales tax not applicable, for a cumulative contract total of $303,420, budgeted from the 2010 LTGO Bond D Fund, to increase and extend the contract for engineering design, surveying, and construction-related services for Americans with Disabilities Act access improvements to City-owned facilities through September 30, 2013 – Specification No. CT10-0029F.  [Chris Larson, Engineering Division Manager; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]
Councilmember Boe recused himself from voting due to a professional relationship with AHBL.

Resolution No. 38452 Authorizes the execution of an interagency agreement with the Washington State Department of Ecology, in the amount of $100,000, for a Nitrogen Removal Study associated with the sustainability and water quality of Commencement Bay; and accepting and depositing said sum into the Wastewater Fund, to reimburse the City for consultant fees. [John O’Loughlin, Science and Engineering Division Manager; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]

This agreement authorizes a study on the cost and effectiveness of removing nitrogen from the output of wastewater treatment plants as a means to remedy low oxygen levels in water to improve water quality.

Resolution No. 38453 Declares surplus and authorizes the 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 for the amount of $28,400. [Dylan Harrison, Senior Real Estate Specialist; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]

Resolution No. 38454 Authorizes the execution and conveyance of non-exclusive construction access easements across two City-owned parcels located near the Puyallup River Bridge, to the Washington State Department of Transportation, for the construction, maintenance, and operation of temporary access roads to support the replacement of the northbound and southbound bridges across the Puyallup River at Interstate 5, for a cumulative amount of $30,700. [Rich Price, Senior Real Estate Officer; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28055 Amending 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]
Funding for the changes here comes mostly from TPU.  Only two affected employees are funded through the general fund, at a cost of about $4,000.

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; 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]

This ordinance is the product of several months of conversations between the City and affected nonprofit organizations.  The ordinance removes the ticket tax exemption for nonprofits over the mentioned thresholds, with a few changes from what we initially saw proposed back in December.  The exemption will remain in effect for smaller organizations, as well as for events that fall into certain categories, including school functions, fundraisers, free admissions, and other events.  Eight organizations currently would be affected by the change. 

Ordinance No. 28057 Amending 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]

This proposal is based on the RCW code that allows for counties to collect a tax for mental health services.  Because Pierce County has chosen not to collect that tax, the RCW allows Tacoma to do so.  The proposed 0.01% tax, which would work out to be one penny on a $10.00 purchase, is projected to bring in over $1 million the first year.  This is a part of phase two of Tacoma’s quest to raise revenue to fix the budget gap. 

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.

CITIZENS’ FORUM

Several citizens came forward to ask the Council to consider a resolution in support of a constitutional amendment declaring that corporations are not citizens, that campaign contributions are not speech, and that congress and the states have the authority to regulate corporate campaign contributions.  The now year-old Citizens United decision that is the impetus for this movement will also be the focus of a demonstration in Tollefson Plaza this Saturday from 1:00 to 3:00 p.m. 

Other comments addressed a show of Tacoma Artists opening in Ellensburg, a trash walk this Friday (with attendees encouraged to dress as animals), and a request for the Council to look into police accountability, particularly as it relates to treatment of minorities and excessive use of force.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER
Cheney Stadium is the site of Tacoma’s first porous road, which was completed last week.  The road and parking lot, along with rain water gardens still under construction are part of the Stadium’s rainwater treatment plan.  The Rainiers preseason party is coming up, as is the season opener.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Boe reminded us of the Sister Cities International Film Festival movie coming up this Thursday at the Blue Mouse.  This week’s film is Happy Happy from our sister city in Norway.  Doors open at 6:00, the film starts at 7:00.  He also mentioned two other events: Puget Sound Revels songs of the season pub sing at King’s Books on March 21st, in celebration of the first day of spring, and Tacoma Opera’s spring opera, La Bohème March 30 and April 1.

Councilmember Campbell thanked the commenter who shared information about this week’s cleanup, and asked the Mayor about the possibility of more opportunities for the Council to dress up as animals…

Councilmember Mello reminded us that the Tacoma Art Museum special exhibit HIDE/SEEK – the only West Coast stop for the exhibit – opens this Saturday. 

Councilmember Woodards voiced support for the Tacoma Titans as they head off to nationals.

And last, but certainly not least, Mayor Strickland commented on two transportation-related topics:  the March 19th re-opening of the south end of Pacific Avenue open to traffic with the completion of the overpass, and the study Sound Transit will be conducting to explore possibilities to extend light rail in Tacoma. 

ADJOURNMENT

With two tax-related items on the agenda, and drawing public comment, we heard a few common themes.  A central issue that keeps returning to the conversation as the city deals with its budget concerns is the question of what kind of a city Tacoma wants to be.  Of course there isn’t one voice or one identity for Tacoma, and there are differing opinions on the message sent by a tax increase (or the removal of an exemption).  It’s a tough conversation to have, but a necessary one.