Tacoma City Council Meeting - April 16, 2013

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Strickland proclaimed May 6 through 10, 2013 as Senior Corps Week in honor of the volunteers over the age of 55 who volunteer in the community.

The Mayor also proclaimed April 22, 2013 as Earth Day, and encouraged everyone to celebrate the day and the work that goes on all year long to protect the earth.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No comment.

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38655 (Continued at the meeting of April 9, 2013) Authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement with the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, covering 19 budgeted, fulltime positions assigned to Tacoma Public Utilities, Tacoma Rail Division, retroactive to July 1, 2012 through June 30, 2017. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

After some procedural back and forth to get the item considered on the night’s agenda, the resolution passed without Council comment.

Purchase Resolution No. 38656 Awarding a contract to:

Carollo Engineers Washington, P.C., in the amount of $600,412, sales tax not applicable, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for a total of $1,661,482, to increase the contract for the planning, design, and procurement phases of the Wastewater Treatment Plant Computer Control System Upgrade project – Specification No. PW11-0422F. [Geoffrey Smyth, Science and Engineering Division Manager; Michael P. Slevin III, P.E., Interim Director, Environmental Services]

The purchase resolution also passed without Council comment.

Resolution No. 38657 Authorizing the execution of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Washington State Department of Corrections for the creation of a pilot program related to the Earned Release Date Housing Voucher Program. [Tansy Hayward, Assistant City Manager]

The City has limited authority over where offenders live, but this resolution is an attempt to address community concerns. The strategies included in the MOU are designed to help the City and DOC better manage the vendors who accept ERD vouchers in order to improve the standards for housing in the program and minimize negative impacts on the surrounding community. According to the MOU, the DOC will set up standards for all vendors accepting the vouchers; and will require that vendors comply with Tacoma rental license and zoning requirements, as well as the landlord tenant act and fair housing laws. Vendors will also be required to participate in the City’s crime free housing program, and will not receive referrals for new residents while they have unaddressed violations. The MOU also sets up ongoing outreach and education, and ongoing communications and collaboration on proactive licensing and code enforcement actions between DOC and the City. This resolution accepts the MOU, which will be signed by the City Manager. Once signed, within 30 days the City and DOC will begin to implement the pilot program.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28144 (Continued at the meeting of April 9, 2013) Amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to implement rates of pay and compensation for employees represented by the Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen, covering 19 budgeted, full-time positions assigned to Tacoma Public Utilities, Tacoma Rail Division. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

Again we had some procedural back and forth before we heard the first reading of the ordinance, which will implement the earlier resolution. Final vote next week.

PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPEALS This is the date set for a public hearing by the City Council on the recommendations for the 2013-2014 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development. [Carey Jenkins, Housing Division Manager; Ricardo Noguera, Director, Community and Economic Development]

The Draft Action Plan proposes a plan for allocation of federal grant funds to various Housing and Community Development supported programs in Tacoma. A final action plan incorporating feedback from committees and the public will come before Council May 7 prior to submission to HUD by May 15. No one came forward for public comment.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER

City Manager Broadnax reported that the City of Tacoma is one of 13 teams nationwide selected for a scholarship to the Virginia Technical Institute advanced training on developing environmental and sustainable management systems. City staff will participate in the series of workshops, which will provide tools to more effectively manage and measure environmental performance.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee – Councilmember Woodards reported on the work of the committee.

 

• Received a presentation on the impacts of federal funding lost by the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department, which will affect the Health Department’s ability to provide services.

 

• Heard a presentation on the evaluation results from the City’s 2013-2014 community services application process, which was done fully online for the first time.

 

• Did planning work to set areas of interest for future Committee work.

Councilmember Boe made a couple announcements.

 

• Mark your calendars for the 5th annual Bike Swap at UPS: Saturday, April 27 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at the University of Puget Sound Field House, the free event will feature workshops, helmet fitting, and all sorts of other bike-related fun. This is in preparation for Bike Month 2013, which kicks off May 1 with events continuing well into June this year. More info at www.piercetrips.com/bike-month.

 

• Pacific Avenue Streetscape work is continuing with sidewalks in, trees going in, lighting, etc on the first stretch between 9th and 13th. A decision was made to accelerate work on the west side of Pacific between 9th and 13th, and to extend that phase to include work all the way up to 7th.

Councilmember Walker announced that she will be joining Boe for Bike Month this year, with her new bike. Walker also encouraged everyone to read Wonder, the Tacoma Reads book for this year, and to participate in upcoming discussions at King’s Books and the Main and Fern Hill libraries.

ADJOURNMENT