Tacoma City Business Preview - Week of April 2, 2013

It’s a fairly short agenda this week for the City Council meeting. We’ve learned from experience that doesn’t necessarily translate to a short meeting, but it is spring break for a lot of Tacoma this week…

Department of Corrections Housing Program

At this week’s study session staff will present a Memorandum of Understanding between the City and the Department of Corrections regarding an Earned Release Date Housing Pilot Program. The ERD Housing program provides housing vouchers to offenders unable to leave prison due solely to a lack of funds for housing. It’s not an early release program. The MOU includes considerations that would increase tools and accountability for ERD Housing providers and voucher recipients in an attempt to minimize negative effects of the program on Tacoma neighborhoods. The City currently has limited control over the siting and operation of the 80+ housing providers in Tacoma who accept the earned release voucher.

Planning & Development Services Plans

A second item on this week’s study session agenda is the presentation of Planning and Development Services’ Strategic Plan for Development Services. Planning and Development Services was created as a part of the departmental changes passed earlier this year. The department was created to improve the delivery of core planning and permitting services. The strategic plan staff will present on Tuesday will give us an idea of how they’d like to go about doing that. The PDS plan is intended to guide the department as it works to improve the planning and permitting system for the City. The goals of the plan are to improve customer service and cost effectiveness by focusing on pre-application services, electronic permitting, consodlicated staffing and streamlined code reviews.

Foss Waterway Funds

A resolution on the agenda this week would authorize the execution of an amendment to the agreement with the Foss Waterway Development Authority to extend the term by three years, through April 2016; amend the list of projects; increase the funds allocated to the design and development of the public Central Park; and provide flexibility to distribute unused funds. The FWDA is requesting two amendments to its current operating agreement: first, a three year extension to complete the draw down of funds for projects; second, the expansion of the project list to include a Site 6 public storm drain subsidence and possible environmental remediation, 2151 Street Park improvements in conjunction with private upland investment in Site 1, an increase in the allotment amount for the Central Park, Site 10 public esplanade. The expanded list does not represent an increase in the amount of bond funds allocated to the FWDA, but it would allow remaining funds to be directed to new critical infrastructure projects, which directly impact redevelopment activities already underway.

Strategic Direction

The other resolution appearing on this week’s agenda would approve the City of Tacoma Strategic Direction for 2013-2014. The objectives are designed to give staff a clear sense of direction for the short-term, and to set priorities for the Council that are both important and achievable.

Mark Your Calendars: Link Alternatives Open House

For those of you following the Link expansion alternative debate as it has heated up in recent weeks, you might want to mark your calendar for this: Sound Transit has announced an open house to present and discuss two new alternatives, along with the three that were originally selected for final consideration.

Other Items

A resolution on this week’s consent agenda sets Tuesday, April 16, 2013 as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on the recommendations for the proposed 2013-2014 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development.

The Mayor will proclaim April 2013 as National Poetry Month, and the Council will hear a presentation by the Boys and Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound, Keystone Club.