Tacoma City Business Preview - Week of November 4, 2014

It's that time of the biennium when all we really want to talk about is the budget. Or at least that's what it looks like from the week's agenda. The public as well as the City and its departments will all get in on the conversation this week, as we wind our way closer to the final budget for City services over the next two years. There are a few other things on the agenda this week, and of course and election...

Budget Work Session

This week's City Council study session again focuses on a budget work session, with presentations and discussion on budgets for Tacoma Fire and Police. The work session will be televised live on TV Tacoma at noon this Tuesday.

The first of two public hearings on the proposed 2015-2016 biennial budget is scheduled for this week's regular Council meeting. The budget situation in general looks significantly better than it did two years ago, but we're not out of the woods yet. The budget as proposed so far has ongoing expenditures balanced against ongoing revenues with some funds set aside for infrastructure improvements, economic development projects, and some deferred maintenance projects, among other things.

The budget does set aside some funds for much-needed pothole and pedestrian improvements, and for economic development projects like improvements to streetscaping in the Lincoln Business District and a new catalytic economic development fund. It does not, however, come close to covering all identified road repairs and deferred maintenance needs. It also does not include funding for Broadway Center improvements, or for several projects that are on the horizon beyond the next two years, such as a new Eastside community center or the Tacoma Link expansion. More on the proposed budget here from Exit133, and here from the City.

The date for the second public hearing on the budget will be set by a resolution on this week's consent agenda for Tuesday, November 25, 2014, at approximately 5:30 p.m. If there's something that is or isn't on the budget that you care about, these public hearings are your chance to share your opinion. Think of it as a warm-up for Thanksgiving dinner... that is if your family likes to sit around and discuss budget minutiae over turkey and mashed potatoes... What? You don't do that? Yeah, us neither...

Public Hearings

Aside from the budget, two other items are scheduled for public hearings during this week's Council meeting. The first is the surplus and proposed sale of approximately 867 square feet of land owned by the Department of Public Utilities, located near the intersection of Bridgeport Way and 21st Street West in University Place. The narrow strip of property would be sold to the City of University Place for $11,900 so that City can use it for improvements to Bridgeport Way. The third and final hearing scheduled for this week is on the setting of the proposed Ad Valorem tax levies and other General Fund revenues for 2015. 

Transportation Benefit District

The Transportation Benefit District Governing Board (a.k.a. the Tacoma City Council) meets again this week on Tuesday at 5:30 p.m. (conveniently scheduled to coincide with the Council meeting). The main item on the agenda is a resolution that would set two dates for public hearings on the TBD's proposed 2015-2016 Budget and Spending Plan.

The TBD was established in 2012 for the purposes of acquiring, constructing, improving, providing, and funding transportation improvements in Tacoma. What the funding portion of that mandate looks like so far is that $20 car tab fee for maintenance, preservation, and improvements to Tacoma's roads.

Since 2013 TBD funds have gone to fund things like chip sealing and repaving of residential roads, ADA curb ramps, and traffic signal repairs and upgrades. Looking ahead, the TBD is forecast to collect nearly $4.8 million in revenues in the 2015-20 16 biennium. In creating its budget and spending plan, the governing board will look for transportation improvements that are cost effective in improving safety, travel time, air quality, modal connectivity, freight mobility, daily and peak period trip capacity, and reducing the risk of transportation facility failure.

The two public hearings will be opportunities to hear a little more about the TBD's proposed plans, and to share comments on your priorities for how you'd like to see that $20 car tab fee spent.

Purchase Resolutions

A resolution on this week's regular Council meeting agenda would award a $1,746,290 contract for to provide asphalt patching and concrete repair services for utility cuts and miscellaneous areas for two years. The citywide contract would cover as-needed asphalt patching and street and sidewalk repairs related to utility cuts for departments including Tacoma Water, Tacoma Power, Environmental Services Sewer Maintenance, and Public Works Streets and Grounds. The individual repairs are generally small, but costs could range from as low as $600 to as high as $10,000, depending on the repair.

A second purchase resolution would award a $12,503,497 contract, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, to completely upgrade the computer control system that governs operations at the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant and the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant. The existing system at both of the City's wastewater treatment plants is described as "functionally obsolete and unreliable." The updated system would provide more automated plant operations and monitoring.

Other Items

Also of potential interest this week is a scheduled City Council Committee of the Whole discussion on Tuesday regarding Tacoma's proposed participation in Tall Ships 2017

A second resolution appearing on this week's Council meeting consent agenda would set Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on the 2015-2020 Capital Facilities Program.

November 2 - 8, 2014 will be proclaimed as Chief Leschi Week, and there will be a presentation from Forever Green Trails at this week's Council meeting.

A resolution on this week's regular Council meeting agenda will appoint one individual to the City's Events and Recognition Committee.

Another resolution on this week's agenda would authorize a one-year extension of lease and operating agreements with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad, to continue shortline rail services between South Tacoma and Nisqually, St. Clair and Quadlock, and Olympia and Belmore, Washington. Tacoma Rail has been the preferred operator for BNSF for these shortline freight rail services since 2004.

This week the council is scheduled to hear the final reading of an ordinance that would correct a mistake in wage calculations from an ordinance passed in August. The correcting ordinance got its first reading last week.

And last, but certainly not least, don't forget to vote before ballot drop boxes close on Tuesday!