Tacoma City Business Preview - Week of October 30, 2012

Budget
The main topic at this week’s City Council study session will once again be the state of Tacoma’s budget. This week’s session will include an update on the City’s third quarter financial status, giving us the latest idea on how the 2012 budget is holding up. Also on the agenda is discussion of budgets for the Tacoma Public Library system, Community and Economic Development, and Planning and Development Services. Once again this session will be held in Council chambers so you can view it on TV Tacoma.

A special budget work session to discuss the Tacoma Police Department is also scheduled for Wednesday, October 31, at 1 :00 p.m. That session will also be televised.

The City will be hosting two more community budget input meetings this week.

 
• Monday, October 29, 6-8pm, Main Library, 1102 Tacoma Ave., Olympic Room

 
• Thursday, November 1, 6-8pm, Lincoln High School, 701 S. 37th

These meetings are your chance to hear more details on the planned budget changes, to ask questions of City staff and council members, and to voice your opinion on the proposed 2013-2014 budget. And don’t forget, there’s a video explaining the proposed budget too…

And last, but certainly not least, a resolution on the consent agenda this week schedules a public hearing on the 2013-2014 biennial budget and the 2013-2018 capital facilities program for Tuesday, November 13 at 5:30 p.m.

Pawnbrokers, Garage Sales, & Scrap Metal Haulers
The first readings of two ordinances appear on this week’s City Council meeting agenda; one pertains to “pawnbrokers, secondhand dealers, and garage sales,” and the second to scrap metal and recyclable material dealers.

The first would amend the relevant chapter of the Tacoma Municipal Code, adding and clarifying definitions, time frames, and other details.

The second would amend the TMC to update the type of marking required on vehicles used for hauling scrap metal from a window sticker to a small license plate with a current year sticker. Other changes would amend reporting requirements for scrap metal dealers to align with State requirements.

Purchase Resolution

 
1. $52,358.74, budgeted from the Solid Waste Fund, for janitorial services for all of the facilities located at the Solid Waste Management Division for an initial one year period with the option to renew for four additional one-year periods, for a projected contract total of $261,793.70.

 
2. $50,000.00, plus sales tax, budgeted from the 2009E LTGO Bond Fund, for a cumulative total of $1,150,976.00, to increase the contract for additional project work on the Foss Waterway Seaport North Wall.

 
3. $226,346.00, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for a cumulative total of $612,771.00, to increase and extend the contract for additional design and construction management services on the Lincoln and Alexander Pump Station Upgrade project through December 31, 2014.

Item 1 would provide cleaning services for all facilities located at 3510 South Mullen Street, including cleaning of Administration Building office space, restrooms, lunchrooms, and locker rooms; Fleet Shop 3; the EnviroHouse; the Recycling Center; White Goods Building; Recovery & Transfer Center; South Compactor; and Flare Station Trailer.

Item 2 would add to the contract for the demolition and replacement of the exterior north wall of the historic Balfour Dock building. The additional costs cover additional work needed to correct or remediate existing conditions discovered during upgrades. The conditions discovered are the kinds of things that happen to 100+ year old buildings on the waterfront: voids left by deterioration of original pilings, existing structures requiring exploratory excavation, shifting of original trusses requiring additional bracing, and replacement of structural elements that were removed or had suffered dry rot. The project is still expected to be completed in 2012.

Item 3 would fund additional design and construction services to the project upgrading a 1973 wastewater pump station located in the Tideflats. The project is needed to bring the station into compliance with Washington Department of Ecology requirements. Upgrades to the project are needed to prevent periodic sewer overflows during peak flow. The project is scheduled for construction in 2013.

Other Items
Council is scheduled to vote on the ordinance amending the 2011-2012 budget to add $6.2 million to allow Tacoma Rail to meet its anticipated operating requirements for the remainder of 2012. We heard a first reading of this ordinance last week.

A first and final reading of an ordinance on the consent agenda this week would vacate the west 20 feet of the Court G right-of-way, between South 25th and South 27th Streets, for general use and surface parking associated with the redevelopment of the adjacent housing project, Hillside Terrace.

Another item on the agenda would appoint Councilmember Boe as the City’s alternate representative on the Pierce County Regional Council; and Councilmember Woodards as the City’s representative on the Foundation for Tacoma Schools.

With an election next week and the impending destruction of the east coast via a few storm clouds, is anybody paying attention?