Tacoma City Business Preview - Week of February 17, 2015
Tacoma Power
This week Tacoma City Council meets for a joint study session with the Public Utility Board to discuss Tacoma Power resource planning and conservation accomplishments. Tacoma Power will present an overview of its Integrated Resource Plan, the goal of which is to identify a portfolio of resources to meet customer needs at the lowest cost and risk. Power Conservation staff will also talk about their accomplishments and successes so far.
Marijuana
Last week the council heard the first reading of an ordinance that would establish permanent land use regulations for the production, processing, and retail sale of recreational marijuana. That ordinance is up for its final reading this week. If adopted, the permanent rules would replace the interim rules currently in effect before they expire in May.
Enforcement of unlicensed marijuana businesses - whether medical or recreational - continues to be an issue. The main topic of conversation at this week's council Committee of the Whole meeting will be enforcement strategies the City can take on marijuana businesses operating without a license.
Welcoming Cities
The most recent census reported that 13.4% of Tacoma's population is foreign-born, primarily from Asia (45%), followed by Latin America (28%), and Europe (21%). A resolution on this week's regular council meeting agenda would authorize Tacoma's membership in the Welcoming Cities and Counties Initiative. The Welcoming Cities initiative encourages communities to create more welcoming, immigrant-friendly environments, with a goal of maximizing opportunities for economic growth and cultural vitality. It's an effort to build immigrant leadership, engagement, and inclusion; and aligns with the City's Equity and Empowerment Initiative adopted last year.
Commute Trip Reduction
Since 1996 the City of Tacoma has offered bus passes and vanpool subsidies for its employees as part of its Commute Trip Reduction program to decrease single occupancy vehicle commuting. Since 2009 those benefits have been provided via subsidies for ORCA cards, which give employees access to Pierce, Metro, Kitsap, Everett Community, and Sound Transit Systems including Sound Transit Link Light Rail, Seattle Streetcar and the Sounder, as well as vanpool and vanshare services from these systems. Currently about one-third of the City's workforce participates.
A resolution on this week's agenda would authorize $384,976, budgeted from the General Fund, to be used for the purchase of ORCA business cards, and other ORCA services for 2015.
Other Items
A purchase resolution on this week's agenda would award a $409,995 contract from the Fire Grant Fund to supply, deliver, and assemble a Live-Fire Training Simulator at the Tacoma Fire Training Center. A significant part of the cost of the project will be covered by a FEMA grant.
This week the Council is scheduled to hear the first reading of an ordinance amending the Municipal Code to incorporte gender-neutral terminology, and updating City titles, policies, practices, and procedures. The changes, in line with a Charter amendment and the new equity and empowerment initiative adopted last year, have been approved by the City's Civil Service Board.
Also on the agenda this week are three items - one resolution, the final reading of one ordinance, and the first reading of another ordinance - relating to collective bargaining agreements with represented City employees.