Tacoma City Business Preview - Week of December 11, 2012

Human Services Funding
Today’s City Council agenda includes a public hearing on the Human Services Commission’s recommendation for the 2013-2014 funding of human services programs through the City’s Community Services fund. The City of Tacoma has appropriated funding according to the strategic priorities identified in the City’s 2010-2014 Human Services Strategic Plan. At Tuesday’s Study Session, staff will provide information on the 2013 and 2014 external funding recommendations for human services, community mobilization and economic development.

Study Session
Also on the agenda for today’s study session is an update from staff on the MLK Subarea Plan/Environmental Impact Statement Project, as well as the ever-popular “Other Items of Interest.”

Citizens’ Forum
It’s once again time for your monthly opportunity to address the City Council on any topic that falls under its jurisdiction. You’ve got three minutes.

Tacoma 360 / Foundation for Tacoma Schools
An ordinance on today’s Council agenda would dissolve Tacoma 360, and direct the City Manager to negotiate a contract with the Foundation for Tacoma Public Schools for similar services. Tacoma 360 was created by an interlocal agreement between the City, Metro Parks, and Tacoma Public Schools to advocate and create conditions for increased collaboration of school and community services around the needs of children and families in Tacoma. The initial three-year term for the program has expired, and although progress has been made, the Foundation for Tacoma Schools has been formed. The two programs share overlapping objectives, including increasing cooperation among youth service providers, reducing disparity in student success, increasing graduation rates, and aligning grant and donation resources with areas of need.

State Legislative and Federal Policy Agendas
Also on the agenda this evening is a resolution that would adopt the City’s 2013 State Legislative and Federal Policy Agendas. This annual agenda indicates City priorities on issues that may come before state and federal legislative and congressional bodies.

Six Year Comprehensive Transportation Improvement Program
An ordinance getting its first reading this week would adopt the Six-Year Comprehensive Transportation Improvement Program for Tacoma for the amended year 2012 and 2013-2018. This plan outlines the planned construction projects for the remainder of the six years, and guides project priorities for the City. Inclusion in the plan is necessary if a project is to receive funding through the City, but does not guarantee funding. We heard the public hearing for the plan at the November 27th Council meeting.

Point Ruston
Council is scheduled to hear first and final readings of six ordinances forming LIDs related to development at Point Ruston. These LIDs will generate local funds for sanitary sewer mains; water mains; street lighting; installation of underground primary electrical distribution, utilities, telephone, and cable TV lines; and concrete curbs and gutters, storm drain lines and stormwater catch basins, sidewalks, and a multiuse path and landscaping for the development in Tacoma and Ruston.

Purchase Resolution
Two items on this week’s purchase resolution:

 
1. $3,283,200 budgeted from the Tacoma Police Fund, for maintenance and monitoring of automated traffic safety cameras, the performance of traffic safety, and enforcement services, for an initial five-year contract with the option to renew for one additional two-year period, for a projected contract total of $4,596,480; and

 
2. $1,182,910, plus sales tax, budgeted from the Solid Waste Fund, for 12 solid waste transfer trailers and for an initial one-year contract, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, for a projected contract total of $3,548,729.

Item 1 will provide the Tacoma Police Department with automated red light and mobile speed enforcement systems. Tacoma has a total of 16 such systems – nine red light camera systems and seven “fixed speed systems.” The company providing the systems has assisted the police department in identifying additional sites in the city for consideration, and could be ready to begin construction on those sites within 30 days.

The trailers listed in item 2 will replace existing trailers that have exceeded their life cycles and are significantly worn and no longer cost effective to maintain and keep in service.

Other Items
Another ordinance up for its first and final reading would vacate a portion of the South Hosmer Street right-of-way between the Sound Transit Rail right-of-way and South Tacoma Way.

Individuals will be appointed or reappointed this week to the Audit Advisory Board, Board of Ethics, Foss Waterway Development Authority, Tacoma Arts Commission, and Tacoma Housing Authority.

A resolution on the agenda would authorize the sale of the South End Neighborhood Center located at 7802 South L Street to the Tacoma Cambodian Evangelical Church District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, in the amount of $430,000.