Tacoma City Business Preview - Week of February 26, 2013

Study Session
This Tuesday’s City Council study session has several items on the agenda.

Council will hear legislative updates from updates from City Government Relations staff, and the Pierce County Community and Technical College Presidents will share their legislative agenda updates with Council.

Sound Transit will give an update on the Tacoma LINK Expansion Alternatives Analysis. The goal of the analysis is to narrow choices for expanding the LINK to one preferred alternative by this spring. Sound Transit’s presentation will update the Council on community input and research that is bringing staff closer to identifying the preferred corridor.

Neighborhood and Community Services staff will provide a summary of the recommended modifications to the Human Services Strategic Plan to prepare for the Mental Health and Chemical Dependency funding process and update Council on the projected revenue.

Narrows Marina Master Plan
A resolution on this week’s consent agenda would authorize an interlocal agreement with the City of University Place for review and authorization of cooperative permitting for the Narrows Marina Phased Master Site Plan. The Narrows Marina, located partially in Tacoma, and partially in University Place, is creating a new master plan, which will include new piers and docks, boat houses, boat sales and service, water front restaurants, retail sales, office, residential and public access uses. Because the planned mixed-use development straddles the border between the cities, Tacoma and U.P. have come up with an action plan to guide the permitting and other processes as the project moves forward.

HUB Name Change
On February 27 the Public Utility Board will be discussing a number of items, including the sale of utilities bonds, and an amendment that would change the name of the Historically Underutilized Business program to Small Business Enterprise. The City’s HUB program is designed to “promote equitable participation by historically underutilized businesses in the provision of supplies, services, and public works to the City.” Those items are expected to go before Council on March 5 and 19.

Final Readings
Four ordinances that we heard a first reading of at last week’s meeting are up for a final reading this week. Three pertain to public utility rates and policies. The fourth, which received the most comment both from Council and the public at last week’s meeting, would create an Alcohol Impact Area in west and north Tacoma, with the goal of curbing public inebriation in the area.

Other Items
A pair of resolutions on this week’s agenda would authorize collective bargaining agreements relating to 18 International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers positions with Tacoma Rail. The agreements call for wage and reimbursement increases. An ordinance up for a first reading this week would amend the TMC to implement those rate changes, along with changes in rates of pay for several other categories of represented City employees, per other agreements.

Also on the agenda this week is the introduction of the 2013 Daffodil Festival Royal Court.