Tacoma City Business Preview - Week of August 27, 2013

Back to School

With the return to the classroom looming large for Tacoma students and teachers, it seems fitting that the City Council is scheduled for a joint meeting with the Tacoma School Board this week. On the agenda: 

1. Tacoma School District Strategic Plan - Tacoma Schools staff will present the Tacoma School District's Strategic Plan 
2. Summer Youth Pilot. Program - Over the summer the City, the school district, and community services providers implemented a pilot program aimed at enriching summer work experience to help Tacoma youth learn and develop skills for success in the workplace. City staff will share program outcomes.

Shoreline Master Program

At the regular City Council Study Session the main topic of discussion will be the Department of Ecology's response to Tacoma's Shoreline Master Program. The SMP outlines goals, policies, and development regulations for all shoreline areas within the city limits. Tacoma adopted a revised Shoreline Master Program in November 2011. Since then that document has been under review by Ecology, which issued its conditional approval last week. The City has 30 days from the day it received the response to formally accept/reject/propose alternatives to the department's findings, conclusions, and required/recommended changes. Staff will share the details of Ecology's "conditional approval" of Tacoma's SMP, along with City response options and a tentative schedule. Read more from the City or previously from Exit133.

Marijuana & Drug Paraphernalia

An ordinance on the agenda for a first reading at this week's Council meeting would amend the Tacoma Municipal Code as it relates to narcotics and drug paraphernalia. State law has been revised to make public use and display of marijuana and medical cannabis a class three civil infraction, which comes with a $50 fine (the total penalty with public safety and education assessments is a maximum of $103). Penalties for the use, possession, and sales of drug paraphernalia used for marijuana-related purposes have been eliminated. The proposed ordinance would make the TMC consistent with this change in state law.

Final Readings

Two ordinances that got first readings at last week's Council meeting are up for final readings this week. The first would allow City employees to donate unused accrued paid time off to the United Way of Pierce County as a cash donation. The second would allow the City to implement a pilot project to encourage and maintain rain gardens in Tacoma by offering qualifying property owners a rebate and giving a rate break to volunteers who adopt and maintain City-owned rain gardens.

Other Items

This week's City Council meeting agenda includes the presentation of the College Success Foundation Leadership 1000 Scholarship students.

A resolution on this week's agenda would appoint two more individuals to the City's recently formed Events and Recognitions Committee. 

The September 3 Council meetings have been canceled due to the Labor Day holiday. The next meeting will be September 10. Enjoy the long weekend.