Tacoma City Business Sneak Peek - Week of June 11, 2012

Study Session Canceled
Last week’s study session was pretty full of content, focusing on budget-related issues, but sadly, we will have to wait until next week for more of that, as the June 12th study session is canceled.

Citizens’ Forum
So, no study session, but don’t worry, we’ve got Citizens’ Forum to keep us entertained this week. This is your chance to revel in your 15 minutes 3 minutes of fame, and tell the Council, staff, and the whole world of TV 12 viewers exactly what’s on your mind. Make the most of it.

Medical Cannabis
A resolution on this week’s meeting agenda sets June 26, 2012 as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on the proposed amendments to the Land Use Regulatory Code regarding medical cannabis collective gardens and dispensaries, as recommended by the Planning Commission. We got a little preview of the issue in the Tacoma Medical Cannabis Task Force report, and based on last week’s Planning Commission meeting, it sounds like they will be recommending Alternative A, which largely embodies recommendations made by the citizen task force on the topic, with a few modifications and qualifications.

Potential Changes to Environmental Review Exemption Requirements
An item on this week’s agenda could increase the size of certain projects that could be exempt from environmental review. The resolution would direct City staff to use the highest levels of categorical exemptions allowed under the State Environmental Policy Act to raise the maximum thresholds for dwelling units and parking spaces.

Pacific Avenue Streetscape Funding
Another resolution on the agenda would accept a $978,300 FHA grant and a $3 million grant from the state for upgrades to Pacific Avenue streetscape upgrades. The project has been a little behind its planned schedule, which expected completion by the end of 2012. This $3 million would complete the funding for the project and allow the bid request process get underway soon. The new timeline would put completion out to the end of 2013.

Purchase Resolutions
Three items on this week’s purchase resolution.

1. $392,452.48, including sales tax, less a trade-in value of equipment in the amount of $43,077.70, for a contract total of $349,374.78, budgeted from the 2010 LTGO Bond D Fund, for the replacement of fiber optic equipment used in the General Government radio system;
2. $4,015,962.00, including sales tax, budgeted from the Streets Special Revenue Fund, for a cumulative contract total of $53,229,462.00, to increase the contract for additional work on the Murray Morgan Bridge Rehabilitation Design-Build Project; and
3. $88,102.00, sales tax not applicable, budgeted from the 2009 LTGO Bond B and E Funds, for a cumulative total of $437,992.00, to increase the contract for additional design services to replace the existing Old Town Dock restroom facility.

Item 1: would upgrade existing equipment that has reached the end of its life, and needs to be replaced.

Item 2: The increase in the contract scope of work includes:

• Constructing an elevator with attached stairs from the north side of the bridge deck to the east side of Dock Street to replace the existing deteriorated stairs; providing ADA access from 11th Street to Dock Street, and providing a link between downtown and the west side of the Thea Foss Waterway;
• Relocating Tacoma Power and Tacoma Fire facilities on the City approach (to be funded by these two agencies);
• Procuring and installing additional steel repairs to the bridge determined necessary during inspections following removal of the existing paint system; and,
• Procuring and installing superstructure seismic enhancements to the City approach and truss spans.

Item 3: This is a step forward for those of you who miss having a restroom at the Old Town end of Ruston Way. Don’t hold your breath, because construction isn’t expected to start until spring 2013, but this would bring it one step closer.

Final Readings
Finally on the agenda this week are the final readings of the ordinances on this year’s annual amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulatory Code. We’ve been talking about those for a while, and the deadline for 2013 amendment applications is already looming at the end of June, so it seems like it’s about time to close the book on these.

First Readings
We see two ordinances up for first readings this week, both amending the Municipal Code relating to the Compensation Plan to provide for a wage increase; one for employees represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, and the second for employees represented by the United Transportation Union, Switch Crew Unit, which cover 20 and 28 budgeted, full-time positions, respectively, effective July 1, 2012.

New Tenant?
Also on this week’s agenda for Council approval is an agreement to lease 250 square feet of office space in the Tacoma Municipal Building to the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency for $423 per month for two years. The PSCAA has seen increased activity in Tacoma due to “non-attainment concerns,” and would like a satellite office in the area. The money from this agreement would go into Public Works’ Property Management fund.

Phew, that seems like a fair amount of action, despite the lack of study session. And we’re certain next week will only be more thrilling, with the continuing budget discussion…