Tacoma City Business Preview - Week of October 9, 2012
Departmental Changes
Up for a first reading this week is an ordinance approving departmental changes proposed by the City Manager as a part of last week’s budget recommendations The changes would establish three new departments: Planning and Development Services, Neighborhood and Community Services, and Environmental Services; renaming the Legal Department as the City Attorney’s Office; and amending the TMC to align with the newly established Environmental Services Department.
Politics
Two resolutions on this week’s City Council agenda relate to upcoming elections. The first asks City Council to express support for Referendum 74, and to encourage Tacoma voters to approve the measure. In case you’ve been holed up with the original Never Never Land critters, and not keeping up with current events, Referendum 74 is the measure that asks voters to decide whether to keep a bill allowing same-sex couples to marry under state law. An “approved” vote would be a vote for gay marriage.
The second resolution asks Council to express support for and to encourage voters to approve Proposition No. 1. Again, in case you missed it, Prop 1 would increase the sales tax in Pierce County by 0.3% to fund the restoration and provision of Pierce Transit services including those for people with disabilities, capital improvements, and special event and commuter service.
Since neither one of these issues is remotely controversial, we’re not expecting much comment at all…
Pacific Avenue Streetscape
This week’s Purchase Resolution awards contracts to
- Tucci & Sons, Inc., on its bid of $6,998,320.77, sales tax not applicable, plus a
10 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $7,698,152.85, budgeted from
the Real Estate Excise Tax Fund, the 2010 LTGO Bond D Fund, and state and
federal grants, for the “Pacific Avenue Streetscape-Phase 1 project”: , and - AHBL, Inc., in the amount of $271,695.33, sales tax not applicable, budgeted
from the Streets Special Revenue Fund, for a cumulative total of
$1,433,355.02, to increase the contract for additional design and construction
support services requested by the City for the Pacific Avenue Streetscape
project through December 31, 2013.
… which leads us to another item on this week’s agenda:
Goodfellow Bros., Inc., is appealing the decision to award Tucci & Sons, the bid for the Pacific Avenue Streetscape project. According to last week’s City Manager’s report to Council:
… The Contracts & Award Board recommended awarding the contract to Tucci & Sons, Inc. Although they were not the lowest bidder, they were the only bidder that completed the required Disadvantaged Business Enterprise document; therefore, they were the lowest responsive bidder. The lowest non-responsive bidder, Goodfellows Bros., Inc., is appealing the C&A Board’s recommendation …
Options were discussed with WSDOT, and their recommendation due to the City’s funding shortage was to re-bid the project or provide additional City funds and award to the responsive low bidder.
If the project were to be re-bid, a reduction in scope would be needed to reduce costs, and the project would be readvertised in October delaying construction start to January 2013. That would jeopardize the City’s commitment to have the project substantially complete prior to the 2013 holiday season.
In light of these factors, the Public Works Engineering Division recommends increasing the construction funding by $1,250,000 to cover costs, and going with the original decision to award the contract to Tucci & Sons.
The recommendation is to use a portion of the 2010 LTGO Bond funds originally designated for the 2011 Potholes projects that are mostly either complete, nearly complete, or on hold for other reasons.
So that’s interesting.
As for item 2, the City is requesting additional design services to accomodate changes to add the new wing to the Tacoma Art Museum as well as in response to WSDOT and Pierce Transit comments and requirements, additional structural engineering for the vaulted walks, extended contract time for project management, modifications to wayfinding to incorporate the art component, and support services.
Budget
This week there will be a Joint City Council/Public Utility Board Study Session, with the main item being a presentation on the Tacoma Public Utilities 2013-2014 Biennial Budget. Also this week there will be a City Council Study Session Budget Workshop this Thursday, October 11, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Foreclosure Relief
A resolution on the consent agenda this week accepts a $3,860,000 grant from the State Attorney General’s Foreclosure Remedies Fund Committee, to be used by the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority for the Blight Prevention – Revitalization of Foreclosed, Vacant Houses Program.
The Program will provide homeownership opportunities to buyers of foreclosed, vacant houses in the City’s neighborhoods with the highest foreclosure rates (Hilltop, the Eastside, the South End, and South Tacoma). A portion of the grant will go directly to fund down payment assistance to buyers for purchasing foreclosed, vacant houses in the four designated neighborhoods. Most of the money will be split between Habitat for Humanity; the Homeownership Center of Tacoma; and the Tacoma Housing Authority. Those organizations will use their respective funds to acquire, refurbish, and resell foreclosed houses in the four designated neighborhoods, to assist buyers in purchasing homes.
Other Items
Also on the agenda for this week are the final readings of two ordinances relating to the Tacoma Employees Retirement System that got their first reading at last week’s City Council meeting
Oh, and it’s Citizens’ Forum. Have at it.
Filed under: City Council, Legislation, City Government
23 comments
F fred davie October 9, 2012
The city council should not be offering voting advice to the citizens. Tacomans should be free to express their preferences at the ballot box without their influence. I personally believe this is an abuse of process.
Regarding the comment that “neither of these issues (Ref. 74 or Prop. 1) is remotely controversial”: nothing could be further from the truth. These issues are lighting up the airwaves and blogs. Even a blind person can see that.
A Albert October 9, 2012
Let’s get these houses cleaned up in the South End and responsibly get them in the hands of homeowners.
A AreteTacoma October 9, 2012
Mr. Davie, I believe that the”…” punctuation after the statement that they are not controversial was meant to imply sarcasm, because we all know that they are very controversial with some members of the public and may inspire some to comment. On the other hand they probably are not controversial at all with our council members.
K Karen October 9, 2012
I agree with Fred. City Council has no business endorsing any ballot issue. Prop 1 is backed by our Mayor and Jake Fey because they are commissioners on the Pierce Transit board. Gee, ya think there will be an impartial vote??
M Michael October 9, 2012
People are free to believe that city councils should stay focused on only the most strict interpretation of city business, but it’s also totally within a council’s right to pass resolutions weighing in on whatever they want to. I assume Karen and Fredo won’t vote to re-elect those who support progressive resolutions, but me and a whole bunch of my friends will because we like living in a city that reflects and stands up for the values of most of its citizens (if you don’t believe that, I’ll bet you $10,000 of Mitt Romney’s money that Tacoma residents pass Prop. 1 and R74 by a large margin).
Karen, Mayor Strickland and Council Member Fey considered Prop. 1 as volunteer Pierce Transit board members and were under no obligation to support it. They decided it was the right thing to do, and it’s their prerogative as council members to reinforce their take on the importance of providing PT enough funding to make it a useful system for the many people who depend on it.
Fredo, since your sarcasm detector is malfunctioning today, I hereby inform you that my post is dripping with sincerity.
F fred davie October 10, 2012
“People are free to believe that city councils should stay focused on only the most strict interpretation of city business, but it’s also totally within a council’s right to pass resolutions weighing in on whatever they want to. I assume Karen and Fredo won’t vote to re-elect those who support progressive resolutions, but me and a whole bunch of my friends will because we like living in a city that reflects and stands up for the values of most of its citizens “ michael
Translation: It’s OK with me if the council abandons it’s focus and it’s mission and provides voting advice ….because they are on the same side of the political spectrum as I am.
Michael, I doubt if you would have the same supportive attitude regarding the council’s advice-giving if the council was giving voting advice that you DISAGREED with.
C Chalky White October 10, 2012
Right Treedo. Passing two resolutions in an evening is abandoning focus. Let’s ban citizens from requesting proclamations, prohibit council members from serving on boards and commissions and secede from the rest of the state.
F fred davie October 10, 2012
Congress doesn’t give voting advice nor does the Washington State Legislature.
Obviously those elected officials aren’t as enlightened as our own council members.
K Karen October 10, 2012
Prop 1 is not the issue. Directing voters is the issue. As if they didn’t have enough trouble on their hands with the budget for 2013-2014. They DO need to focus on the business of the city not on their pet projects. I support one of these issues but the council’s opinion means nothing. The time wasting proclamation must be a wonderful diversion from the business at hand.
F fred davie October 10, 2012
Karen, that’s a good posting.
Here’s the message I’m getting from the council:
You voters are so confused/apathetic/stupid that you couldn’t possibly form a decision on ballot issues… that’s why we, the nine economic elves who have plunged Tacoma into a multi million dollar budget deficit, are here to provide you with guidance.
C chalky white October 10, 2012
For a group of people you seem to despise so much, you sure pay a LOT of attention to the city council Treeguy. Is the TNT not as much fun to troll these days because of the Facebook app?
F fred davie October 11, 2012
chalky, I don’t despise anybody on the council. Perhaps they are merely trying to boost the Tuesday night TeeVee audience by attracting the Jackass viewers.
Nevertheless, I prefer that they spend 100% of their council time on council matters
Individual council members are free to dispense their political advice gibberish when they get off work.
J John October 11, 2012
Fred, you said in #8 that Congress and the Washington State Legislature doesn’t give voting advice… huh? Nothing could be further from the truth. They spend half their term campaigning for their next term, and when they’re not doing that, they’re endorsing other politicians and/or issues. Every word they say is intended to advise, coerce, and cajole their constituency into voting a certain way.
As far as the matter of whether or not they should be passing resolutions, or voicing opinion on issues that affect such a huge number of Tacoma’s citizens, I think that the Council Meeting, with the body speaking as a whole, is the ideal forum. The citizens of Tacoma want to know the direction that the council is trying to take the city. Like it or not, that’s part of their job. There is other work to accomplish in the city besides your sacred cow, the budget.
It has been said before by others, and I’ll say it again. If you think the city is being run so poorly, run for office. You are obviously very passionate about one or two of the issues, and you appear to have a lot of spare time on your hands. Like my Grandpa used to say, “Put your money where your mouth is!”
F fred davie October 11, 2012
John, since you are easily confused I’ll lay out my position again.
I never said that INDIVIDUAL elected officials should not make their opinions known. I said that ORGANIZED bodies of elected officials (like the Tacoma City Council) should not be giving voting advice.
Please review the resolutions the council passed and then show me some similar resolutions passed by the Washington State Legislature or the US Senate or US House of Representatives. I’ll bet you can’t find any example of those bodies giving voting advice. According to your posting, that’s “part of their job.” Why aren’t they doing their job?
My grandpa once told me, “don’t let anonymous posters drag you down to their level with their illogical straw man arguments!”
J Jesse October 11, 2012
I personally think it’s great to have leaders in positions of power as opposed to managers. Do you know the difference? A manager plugs along with logical agenda in mind. A leader does this as well but also ads aspects that get people motivated and inspired toward their vision. A leader uses psychology and charisma with their logic to create an atmosphere of excitement and cohesion. Managers are good with stuff that requires high intelligent quotient while a leader blends that intelligent quotient with emotional quotient.
I think Fred is looking for the City Council members to just be managers where the rest of most of the commenters look for them to be leaders.
F fredo October 11, 2012
“A leader uses psychology and charisma with their logic to create an atmosphere of excitement and cohesion.” jesse
You just described Jim Jones and Adoph Hitler. Nice!
J John October 11, 2012
Fred, sorry about the confusion on my part. I just got back from a quick jaunt to the Cayman Islands to make a small deposit. That’s where we ‘limousine liberals’ as you called me recently, like to keep our piles of money. But I digress.
I guess the first thing I want to say is, that I disagree with you wholeheartedly, and that I stand by my prior comments. I think it’s imperative that our leaders make stands on issues that affect all of us. It doesn’t matter to me that the state and federal governments operate differently than the Tacoma City Council.
You stated earlier that you “prefer that they spend 100% of their council time on council matters”. You don’t think that public transit is an issue that they should weigh in on? You don’t think that the council is the appropriate forum to declare our support of civil rights? Contrary to what you may think, our financial situation is not the only item on the agenda, nor should it be. Your budget one-trick pony is getting very boring.
Is everything all right with you these days? You seem to be a little angrier than normal, and lashing out in rather silly ways. Blasting the use of words like ‘leaders’ is pretty lame, especially when you start dropping “Hitler” bombs. It seems that when folks start to strike out with inane blurbs like “Adolph Hitler!, and Muslims!, and Socialists!”, people just quit listening except for the entertainment value.
J jamie October 11, 2012
Everyone is tightening their belts. It’s about time the city councel does to. They should have been planning for tough times like every family has to put there. Vote NO on prop 1 and vote NO on REF 74
J John October 11, 2012
Jamie, what does the city “councel” (sic) making a non-binding, revenue neutral, proclamation supporting marriage equality have to do with “everyone is tightening their belts”? And what in the heck does your second sentence even mean?
Come on people, quit bitching about your pet issues without providing some ideas to fix the problem. We’ve got problems that need addressed, and we’ve got a lot of smart folks with original and clever ideas out there. Responses like, “don’t do other stuff” and “vote NO” aren’t solutions. They don’t prompt intelligent debate, nor do they prompt civil, thoughtful conversation.
F fred davie October 12, 2012
“Come on people, quit bitching about your pet issues without providing some ideas to fix the problem.” john
Maybe you have a learning disability John,
1. A problem was identified and it involves the city council trying to bully the citizens of Tacoma Washington into voting the way they prefer.
2. A solution was presented. Folks want the council to stop with the voting advice and attend to council business like fixing the city budget.
Your declared disinterest in the city budget and your aversion to honest debate is sad but not unexpected in city which is dominated by a sort of liberal McCarthyism.
J jamie October 12, 2012
Apparently just signing my comments “jamie” was a bad idea. For the record, jamie@18 is not me; I will unquestionably be voting yes on Prop 1 and Ref 74 and encourage you all to join me in making our city and state a better place to live.
- jamie AKA jamie from thriceallamerican AKA thricejamie
J John October 12, 2012
Jamie @ 21, I didn’t think for a second that you were Jamie @18. I liked your response. You know that I’ll be voting a couple of big ‘yeses’ on those liberal McCarthyistic propositions.
Fred, you’re getting highly imaginative in your interpretation of what people are saying. Your anger and desperation are starting to show through. But you bore me. Catch you on the next topic. I’m off to attend a rally to raise taxes for my socialist agenda. Peace, out.
T the usual jamie October 12, 2012
(name field change fail)