City Council Meeting - Nov 25, 2008

We had a nearly full house last night; you’d think the council was hosting an early screening of The Transporter 3. But no, the mass turnout was for a public hearing on proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulatory Code. If you think that’s not as exciting as Jason Statham jumping an Audi over a train, you’ve never seen Mayor Baarsma talk down a commenter who goes over time.

REGULAR AGENDA
Purchase Resolution 37659 Awards a $393,363 contract to Motorola for upgrades to the software of the public safety radio system, and a $269,948 contract to American Construction to build the Waterway Park Kayak Float on the Thea Foss Waterway. We note this resolution because the city was forced to reject two lower bidders on the Kayak Float project who submitted the wrong form. This was deemed an “unfortunate error.”

Resolution 37660 Authorizes Historic Preservation Special Valuation Agreements for rehabilitating 8 historic properties. This resolution is designed to encourage private investment in historic properties, which has been a major source of preservation funding over the past 10 years.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES
Ordinance 27755 Amends the municipal code to define public nuisance vehicles and make the process for abating such vehicles consistent with the process for dealing with other public nuisances. This broadens the definition of what constitutes a “junk car,” so the city should be able to remove more abandoned vehicles than before. Judging by the comments in support of this ordinance, it’s quite a popular move.

Ordinance 27756 Authorizes an increase in the 2008 general property tax revenue in terms of both dollars and a percentage increase of one percent; and also fixes the 2009 Ad Valorem property tax levy. This will provide the City with $46 million in new money in the next biennium.

PUBLIC HEARING
The annual amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Code address a broad range of topics that affect people all over Tacoma. Residents from the Browns Point neighborhood packed the house in opposition to the United Methodist Church’s plan to re-zone a parcel of land it owns in that area, which would potentially allow the Wesley Homes company to develop a 120-unit retirement community on the property. The residents claim that the increased traffic would cause problems, and that removing the trees from the now-wooded land would decrease property values. They also complained of receiving no notification from the city regarding the Church’s actions. A representative from Wesley Homes defended the still-hypothetical development, claiming that the company builds attractive facilities that help retired folks and benefit the surrounding community.

Also contentious was the issue of non-attached accessory dwelling units (ADUs), which are secondary structures on a property that are used as residences, like cottages. The proposed amendment will allow non-attached ADUs on multi-family properties—apartments, triplexes—but not on single-family properties—houses. Most testimonies on this topic supported the new amendment, claiming that non-attached ADUs bring unwelcome increases to a neighborhood’s density. However, some speakers discussed purchasing a property years ago, using the ADU as housing, only to have the city boot them out recently. The supporters of the amendment counter that such usages have always been illegal, just not enforced.

The open space habitat and recreation plan received nearly unanimous support, though some property owners affected by the plan had questions about developing roads on their land. The parking-related debate over the update to the downtown plan flared up briefly again, though the update also had its supporters. Some South Tacoma residents spoke in favor of an amendment that would more clearly reserve the industrial center for industrial uses, which seems fitting.

And there you have it. If you would like to give your opinion on any of the issues raised in the public hearing, the amendments will be on the docket for the next two council meetings. Drop by during public comment and go on the record—just be sure to keep it under 5 minutes.