Tacoma City Council Meeting - April 2, 2013

The agenda was short, as was this week’s meeting. We were hoping for a little more discussion around the Council’s strategic direction for the City, but after several meetings on the topic, they’re probably tired of talking about it. Councilmember Walker was absent, missing all 29 minutes of Council meeting fun.

CONSENT AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38650 Setting Tuesday, April 16, 2013, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on the recommendations for the proposed 2013-2014 Annual Action Plan for Housing and Community Development. [Carey Jenkins, Housing Division Manager; Ricardo Noguera, Director, Community and Economic Development]

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Strickland proclaimed April 2013 as National Poetry Month, and invited everyone to the poetry reading and official awarding of the title of Tacoma’s next Poet Laureate on April 23.

The Council heard a presentation from the Boys and Girls Club of South Puget Sound Keystone Club. The club is a youth leadership program that involves members in service to the community. The South Puget Sound chapter is fairly new, but has achieved a gold level charter – the highest awarded by the Boys and Girls Club of America.

PUBLIC COMMENT

We heard from Su Dowie from the Foss Waterway Development Authority speaking in favor of the resolution to amend the agreement with the FWDA. Dowie commented that the agreement has contributed to attracting recent private development to the Foss, and that the extension will continue that, allowing funds to be used as grant matches and other leverage for investments in public infrastructure and access to the waterway. A second commenter also spoke in favor of the FWDA resolution, and in favor of the resolution approving the strategic direction for the City of Tacoma.

REGULAR AGENDA

The Council considered and unanimously rejected a motion to authorize the full and final settlement of all claims agains the City in the matter of Thomas McCarthy et al vs. City of Tacoma et al upon payment of $100,000 by the City.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38651 Authorizing the execution of an amendment to the agreement with the Foss Waterway Development Authority, to extend the term by three years, through April 30, 2016; amend the list of projects; increase the funds allocated to the design and development of the public Central Park; and provide flexibility to distribute unused funds. [Martha Anderson, Assistant Director; Ricardo Noguera, Director, Community and Economic Development]

In January 2011 the Council approved a resolution for the disbursement of funds to the Foss Waterway Development Authority for public improvements and infrastructure. That original agreement expires at the end of the month. The amendment extends the agreement for three years, through 2016, and amends the list of projects that could be eligible for the funds, allowing more time and flexibility for the leveraging of the funds for improvements.

Resolution No. 38652 Approving the City of Tacoma Strategic Direction for 2013-2014. [T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

The City Council’s Strategic Direction items come out of a series of priority setting meetings between the Council and City Manager’s office. The strategic priorities and objectives will give staff direction and guide policy-making efforts. Mayor Strickland described the document as a long-term way to address the City’s revenue challenges, while continuing to provide services.

The Council’s Strategic Policy Priorities are:

 

• Strengthen and maintain a Strong Fiscal Management position.

 

• Strengthen and support Human Services, Public Education, and Diverse Higher Learning opportunities in Tacoma.

 

• Foster Neighborhood, Community, and Economic Development Vitality and Sustainability.

 

• Plan for and improve Public Infrastructure that meets the Transportation needs of all Tacoma residents and visitors.

 

• Encourage and promote an Open, Effective, Results-oriented Organization.

The Council’s Strategic Objectives are:

 

• Create a Fiscal Sustainability Task Force to examine the City’s revenue structure and structural budget deficit.

 

• Implement the Economic Development Action Plan.

 

• Develop and implement a marketing/communication campaign.

 

• Make Tacoma more physically attractive.

 

• Develop and implement a comprehensive transportation plan.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER

City Manager Broadnax announced the City’s community clean up program, which kicks off on April 20 with a clean-up in the Franklin Elementary neighborhood requested by the Friends of South 12th. All the clean-ups were requested via an application process by neighborhood groups, and are free to participate in for residents of those neighborhoods. Find out more, including the full schedule of clean-ups at www.CityofTacoma.org/cleanup.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Neighborhoods and Housing Committee – Councilmember Lonergan reported on the work of the committee:

 

• Issued a do pass recommendation to changes to the minimum building and structures code, updating the code for consistency, strengthening historic building preservation, shortening timelines for compliance, and clarifying and strengthening cost recovery.

 

• Issued a do pass recommendation for an MOU for the Department of Corrections offender housing voucher program that would be the first of its kind in the state, setting new levels of accountability for housing providers and the DOC.

 

• Held a joint meeting with the Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee to discuss the consolidated action plan, for which a public hearing is scheduled for the April 16 Council meeting.

 

• Heard a presentation on existing voluntary AIAs in Seattle and White Center and discussed possible policy goals of City Council to address the problem of chronic public inebriation.

 

• Heard updates from Neighborhood and Community Services on their windshield survey, proactive code enforcement, and key corridors

 

• Heard an update on the Crime Free Housing program.

Councilmember Boe gave us an update on the Pacific Avenue Streetscape project. Work continues, with sidewalks paved and historic Tacoma streetlights in and getting electrified, and preparations beginning for rain gardens in the strip of Pacific between 9th and 13th. Boe also reminded us that the 80th annual Daffodil Parade is just around the corner, inviting everyone to come downtown on Saturday, April 18th for the festivities.

Councilmember Campbell announced this week’s Sister Cities International Film Festival film, Boiling Dreams representing Tacoma’s sister city of El Jadida, Morocco. That’s this Thursday, April 4, at the Blue Mouse Theater in Proctor. Doors open at 6:00, followed by cultural programming at 6:15, and the movie starts at 7:00 p.m.

ADJOURNMENT

So there you have it.

For more on any of the items on this week’s agenda, see our City Business Preview for the week of April 2, 2013.