Tacoma City Business Preview - Week of June 18, 2013

2012 Financial Report

The agenda for this week’s City Council study session includes an update on the 2012 Comprehensive Annual Financial Report Summary. The City is required to develop and submit a CAFR annually. The CAFR serves as a key document describing the City’s financial position and activity. Tacoma received an unqualified opinion from the State Auditor on the 2012 CAFR, which is synonymous with a “clean” opinion, meaning that the City’s financial statements are fairly presented in accordance with professional standards.

MLK Subarea Plan

Also on the agenda for this week’s study session is an update on the MLK Subarea Plan and Environmental Impact Statement process, including an overview of the project schedule, community outreach and input to date, some of the key redevelopment strategies, implementation actions being taken, and next steps. 

Tacoma is required by the Puget Sound Regional Council to plan for 60,000 new jobs and 70,000 additional people in the city by 2030. Mixed-Use Centers are central to plans for accommodating this growth by encouraging denser, more transit-oriented development, and by serving as Transfer of Development Rights receiving areas. The City received a $100,000 grant from the EPA to develop a Subarea Plan and area-wide EIS for the MLK mixed-use center to help plan for this growth. The subarea plan and EIS are being developed, with the help of residents and stakeholders, to prepare for and encourage future growth and development, including the establishment of a more detailed growth and community development plan, and the upfront environmental review provided by the area-wide EIS. Parallel North Downtown and South Downtown subarea planning and EIS processes will complete the plan for the entire downtown area. Public hearings  for all three plans are expected this fall, followed by adoption by year’s end.

Mental Health Funding

A third item on the agenda for this week’s City Council study session is a presentation on the Human Services Commission recommendations for competitive funding allocations under the 0.1% Mental Health sales tax passed in 2012. The City received 32 applications from programs providing mental health services for a total of $7.4 million. The HSC is recommending 11 programs split the $1.7 million available. 

Drive-Thru Regulations & Other Land Use Code Amendments

An ordinance scheduled for a first reading this week would make amendments to the Tacoma Municipal Code. Amendments to the code are considered on an annual basis, in two parts. This first ordinance considers the Code amendments, which would revise regulations pertaining to drive-through facilities, platting and subdivisions, signs, and adoption and amendment procedures, and correct minor errors, address inconsistencies and enhance clarity of the Code. The May 21 public hearing for the proposed changes drew some practical questions on drive-through amendments from Councilmember Boe, and more questions from Robert Hill (we’ll see if there have been any adjustments to take either strippers or Segways into account…). 

Environmental Justice & Other Comprehensive Plan Amendments

A second ordinance scheduled for its first reading this week would amend the Comprehensive Plan. Like the previous ordinance, amendments to the plan are considered on an annual basis, and presented in two parts. This second ordinance proposes Comprehensive Plan amendments to modify the land use designation systems, incorporate “Environmental Justice,” update unfunded transportation projects, establish a new land use designation framework, and endorse review of the Countywide Planning Policies for Pierce County. These changes didn’t get quite the attention at the May 21 public hearing that the code amendments did, but the changes to the project priority lists for bike, sidewalk, intersection, and other roadway projects are worth perusing, just to see what’s on the (perhaps distant) horizon.

Purchase Resolution

Just two items on this week’s purchase resolution:

1. $1,057,010 budgeted from the 2010 LTGO Bond Series D Fund, for parapet bracing and repairs to the 12th floor roof of the Tacoma Municipal Complex; and
2.  $305,000 budgeted from the Information Services Fund, for the annual renewal of the hardware and software maintenance support of the Cisco computer data network through August 10, 2014.

A 2010 assessment of the Tacoma Municipal Complex found significant structural issues with the 12th floor roof, which is beyond its “useful life,” allowing water to enter the building; and its parapets, which pose a “significant hazard during seismic events.” Item 1 would fund parapet bracing and repairs to this section of the roof. A full re-roofing and cleaning of the building has been included in the Capital Facilities Plan for future funding. The recommended award for this project came in at 16% below the pre-bid estimate.

Item 2 would renew ongoing support for the existing Cisco network, as well as for expected future growth. 

Other Items

On this week’s consent agenda is an item setting Thursday, July 11 as the date for a hearing by the Hearing Examiner on the assessment rolls for two LIDs for the Harold E. LeMay Museum (that’s the LeMay, America’s Car Museum). The LIDs would provide long-term financing for the installation of a water main and underground primary electrical distribution, utilities, telephone, and cable TV lines already constructed to serve the LeMay Museum. The LeMay will pay the full costs of the self-imposed LID.

At this week’s City Council meeting, we will hear the proclamation of Wednesday, June 19, 2013, as Walk Tacoma Day in the City of Tacoma, and the presentation of the American Public Works Association 2013 Public Works Project of the Year Award.

A final ordinance scheduled for a first reading this week would implement rates of pay and compensation for approximately 32 budgeted, full-time positions, represented by the United Transportation Union, Switch Crew Unit.