Tacoma City Council Meeting - November 1, 2011

Walmart, Walmart, Walmart.  There, you don’t have to read any further.  But if you want to know the details, here we go… 

CONSENT AGENDA

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Strickland proclaimed November 2011 as Art at Work – Tacoma Arts Month.  The Mayor encouraged all Tacoma’s residents and vistors to “take the opportunity to get out, try new art experiences, and be an active participant in what is happening in Tacoma year-round.”

The Mayor also proclaimed November 2011 to be Pancreatic Cancer Awareness Month.  Several council members spoke about people in their own lives they’ve lost to the disease.  If you’d like to learn more about this common disease, check out the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network.

PUBLIC COMMENT

All public comment was regarding the large scale retail moratorium up for a vote, the majority solidly in favor.  The general spirit of confusion over whether we are or are not allowed/supposed to talk about Walmart in reference to this particular issue continued.  Most commenters decided to ignore any question of pretending that we’re talking about anything other than the big W with this moratorium, and expressed varying degrees of dislike and loathing for the retailer. 

REGULAR AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS

Resolution No. 38356 Appointing Erling Kuester and Jason Pezanowski to serve on the Mobility Stakeholder Funding Task Force.

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38357 Awards a contract to:

1. Solutionwerks, Inc., on its bid of $305,000.00, sales tax not included, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $335,500.00, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for four ambient air vaporizers and associated equipment at the Central Treatment Plant High Purity Oxygen Generation facility;
2. Atlas Copco Compressors LLC, on its bid of $1,276,181.00, sales tax not included, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $1,403,799.10, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for four air compressor/cooling water systems and associated equipment at the Central Treatment Plant High Purity Oxygen Generation facility; and
3. AHBL, Inc., in the amount of $197,430.08, sales tax not applicable, budgeted from the Streets Special Revenue Fund, for a cumulative total of $1,037,950.23, to increase the contract for additional design services for the Pacific Avenue Streetscape project.

Resolution No. 38358 Authorizes the execution and conveyance of an easement within the Tacoma Rail Mountain Division right-of-way to the Washington State Department of Transportation, for the amount of $11,600, for a traffic signal system at the intersection of East Gate Road and State Route 507 located near Joint Base Lewis-McChord.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28026 Amends Ordinance No. 25869, relating to the Employees Benefits Trust Fund, to designate minimum reserve levels for the Police and Fire Relief & Pension Funds and the Police and Fire Health Care Trust Funds.

Ordinance No. 28027 Adopts findings and recommendations of the Planning Commission to justify modification and retention of the emergency moratorium, adopted by Ordinance No. 28014, on the acceptance of applications for new building or other development permits associated with the establishment, location, or permitting of large retail establishments with a floor area greater than 65,000 square feet within the City.

Here’s where it gets interesting

Councilmember Boe explained some of the changes made in the Substitute Moratorium being proposed including retaining the six month time limit for the moratorium, returning to the city-wide ban, and addressing questions relating to boundary line adjustments.  Boe also pointed out that the question addressed with the moratorium is one of land use code, and that code is “company-blind,” meaning it cannot look at particular businesses, but rather types of business.  Mayor Strickland echoed this point, saying that the Council would not give a thumbs up or down to particular business locating in Tacoma, and that this issue is one of land use.

The Council unanimously approved the substitute ordinance language as a replacement for the original, meaning that they would vote on the substitute instead.  Because the substitute included “substantive changes,” the floor was then opened for another round of public comment.  Again, the prevailing sentiment was frustration with the situation and a general desire to chase Walmart out of town with torches and pitchforks.  Several councilmembers also spoke, expressing sympathy with the public frustration at being in this position. 

The vote was six to three in favor of the ordinance.  Lonergan, Manthou, and Walker voted nay, with Lonnergan and Manthou expressing opinions that the moratorium was not the right tool for the job.

PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPEALS

Proposed Ad Valorem tax levies and other General Fund revenues.

No public comment

Recommended revisions to the councilmanic district boundaries following the decennial census. 

Randy Lewis with Government Relations explained that the City must adjust the boundaries of city council districts based on the census to conform to “census blocks.”  The adjustments will occur in two weeks, with the first reading next week.

CITIZENS’ FORUM

Among the speakers were two Stadium High School students with Students for the Shoreline, requesting that the City Council not lose sight of vision for waterfront, and so extend proper zoning to achieve an uninterrupted waterfront walk.  Another speaker countered their comments with a reminder of the jobs and income tied to the industrial waterfront. 

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER

As you set your clocks back this weekend, take the time to also check your smoke alarm batteries, and to prepare for bad weather, particularly by clearing leaves to allow rain water to drain properly

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Councilmember Woodards reported for the Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee.

Several members of the council thanked citizens for their energy and involvement in the large-scale moratorium issue, and encouraged continued involvement.  It’s a good reminder.  The moratorium vote may be over, but this isn’t the end of the conversation.  We’ll be staying tuned…