Exit133

April 22, 2015 · Exit133

Tacoma City Council Meeting - April 21, 2015

CONSENT AGENDA

APPEALS

Nigel S. Malden representing the appellant Matthew Austin appealing the recommendation of the Hearing Examiner regarding the Assessment Roll for Local Improvement District No. 8648 for the placement of permanent pavement with curbs and necessary storm drainage on South 69th Street, from Durango Street to South Madison Street, and on South Proctor Street, from South 69th Street north approximately 225 feet. 

Setting Tuesday, June 16, 2015, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the date set for the appeal by the City Council.

The consent agenda was adopted without comment.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Wednesday, April 22, 2015 was proclaimed as Earth Day in the City of Tacoma. Mayor Strickland encouraged all citizens, businesses, and institutions to use Earth Day to honor and celebrate Earth, and to commit to building a sustainable future together

Sunday, April 26, 2015 was proclaimed as Domestic Violence Awareness Day in the City of Tacoma in recognition that domestic violence isn’t a private family matter, but a crime. The Mayor encouraged everyone to pause for a 26 second moment of silence at noon on the 26th to remember Crystal Judson Braime and to reflect on our individual responsibilities as community members to help end the epidemic that is domestic violence.

PUBLIC COMMENT

A youth representative serving on the Sustainable Tacoma Commission spoke about her experience on the board, and the importance of taking care of the environment. She’s a student at SAMI and a mentor for younger students in Science Club.

REGULAR AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS

Resolution No. 39172 A resolution appointing Keith Stone to the Foss Waterway Development Authority.

Councilmember Campbell described the FWDA board as a small board, and a very specialized board, so when an unexpected vacancy came up, in the interest of finding an appropriate candidate and maintaining quorum on the board, a former board member was brought back to fill it in an interim capacity that fills the board through the end of the year.

PURCHASE RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39173 A resolution awarding a contract to Gary Merlino Construction Co., Inc., in the amount of $9,060,856.39, plus a 5.5 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $9,559,752.00, including sales tax, budgeted from the Transportation Capital Fund, for the reconstruction of Port of Tacoma Road from Marshall Avenue to East 11th Street, including a new water main from Lincoln Avenue to East 11th Street.

Resolution No. 39174 A resolution awarding a contract to Avertra Corporation, Sage Group Consulting, Inc., Apex Systems, Inc., and Phoenix Business, Inc., in a total amount not to exceed $1,900,000, budgeted from the Information Systems Fund, for SAP Technical and Functional Consulting Services, for the period of May 1, 2015 through May 1, 2018, with possible extensions through May 2020.

Both purchase resolutions were adopted without comment.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39175 A resolution adopting the 2015-2020 Region 5 Hazard Mitigation Plan for emergency management planning and mitigation funding.

This resolution approves the 2015-2020 Homeland Security plan, which identifies risks and hazards, as well as strategies for dealing with them. The plan is an update to the previous plan, with no substantial changes.

Resolution No. 39176 A resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with the Metropolitan Development Council, in the amount of $890,000, budgeted from the Mental Health Substance Use Disorder Fund, for the treatment and housing needs for those experiencing homelessness, for the period of January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016.

This resolution authorizes a contract for two direct-funded programs providing funding for MDC’s Housing First and new shelter and co-occurring disorder program. The programs provide specific services that align with the City’s efforts to create a coordinated system of care for addressing mental health and substance abuse issues.

While the other programs in these two resolutions are funded for the full biennium, MDC’s Housing First programs are only funded for one year, due to program administrative costs not covered by City funding. The City will be evaluating the program and looking for new partners.

Resolution No. 39177 A resolution authorizing the execution of an agreement with the Metropolitan Development Council, in the amount of $370,000, budgeted from the Mental Health Substance Use Disorder Fund, to support individuals struggling with mental illness by providing co-occurring disorder treatment services and additional support for individuals housed in secure housing units, for the period of January 1, 2015 through December 31, 2016.

This resolution approves competitively funded programs run by MDC, which will provide treatment services to individuals with co-occurring disorders, and address gaps in chronic homelessness services in Tacoma.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28294 An ordinance amending Title 6 of the Municipal Code, entitled “Tax and License Code,” establishing an amnesty program for taxes imposed under various chapters, and offering a specific time period for application and payment to benefit unlicensed businesses and businesses with delinquent accounts in Tacoma.

An amendment was proposed and adopted, making changes to lower the threshold at which a business owner qualifies for the six month payment plan option from the original $7,500 to $1,500, and adding a provision allowing for a short extension of the program at the discretion of the Director of Finance.

The decrease in the payment plan threshold was made in hopes of making the program workable for more businesses, giving them six months to come up with the higher amounts owed. The original timeframe, which still applies to amounts under $1,500, gives business owners only until the end of July to pay.

The provision allowing for an extension was added just in case the City is inundated with applications for the program. The additional time would allow for the City to manage the deluge of applications, should that happen. Because this has never been done before, and because the City doesn’t know exactly how many unlicensed business owners are out there who might take advantage of the opportunity to avoid collections, they also don’t know how many applications to expect.

The ordinance was adopted as amended. Expect outreach to start in May on social media, TV Tacoma, and other traditional media sources, including local newspapers in Tacoma and surrounding communities.

Ordinance No. 28295 An ordinance authorizing a new issue of bonds to be known as the City of Tacoma Electric System Subordinate Revenue Bonds, and fixing the terms, provisions, and covenants of the City.

Ordinance No. 28296 An ordinance approving a Supplemental Bond Ordinance; and authorizing Tacoma Power to execute a short-term drawdown direct note purchase agreement with Wells Fargo Bank, in the amount of $100,000,000, to provide funds to finance or refinance costs of capital improvements to the Electrical System.

Ordinance No. 28297 An ordinance approving a Supplemental Bond Ordinance; and authorizing Tacoma Power to execute a short-term liquidity note purchase agreement with KeyBank, in an amount not to exceed $50,000,000, to provide general credit, including liquidity, for the Electric System.

The last three ordinances were adopted without comment.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Government Performance and Finance Committee – Councilmember Lonergan shared recent topics covered by the committee.

  • Heard a presentation from Tacoma Power on the 2015 financing plan and revisions to rate and financial policies, adopted earlier in this meeting.
  • Tax and License reviewed the tax amnesty program also adopted tonight.
  • Heard from human resources on municipal health clinic models for a possible future program from the City.
  • Heard presentations on a franchise fee renewal contract and SAP services contract.
  • The Office of Management and Budget shared the 2014 year-end budget report and Tacoma 24/7 year-end report.

At its next meeting the committee will hear a presentation on Click! rates.

Deputy Mayor Boe reminded us that Bike Month 2015 is almost here, and announced a few events to help get you ready for Bike Month in the #YearOfTheBike in Tacoma.

  • On Wednesdays the Bike Committee of Downtown on the Go will be hosting a series of “bike trains” – casual bike rides starting downtown and exploring various interesting locations. The first will be this Wednesday, April 22. Start from 11th and Pacific at 5 p.m., and take a “geolographic” tour of Tacoma’s geographic and geologic features with a local licensed geologist and senior environmental scientist who works downtown.
  • Then, mark your calendars for Saturday May 2; it’s the 2015 annual bike swap at UPS.

​And don't forget to get your bike blessed at the annual Blessing of the Bikes on April 29! For details of these events, and to find even more bike-related events (or post your own) visit bike253.com.

Councilmember Ibsen had a handful of public meetings to remind us about.

Councilmember Campbell had several Eastside events to share

  • Tacoma’s Farmers’ Market is expanding to the Eastside. For those who want to be involved in helping to develop the market, there will be a meeting this Thursday, April 23 at 6 p.m. at at Lister Elementary School.
  • On Saturday, April 25, beginning at 9 a.m. everyone is invited to come out for a McKinley Park cleanup for Parks Appreciation Day.
  • On Monday 27th a listening session is scheduled for Salishan residents at the Family Investment Center for those with concerns about governance for the community going forward.
  • A “community café for discussing plans for the new Eastside Community Center will be held at the Portland Avenue Community Center on Tuesday, April 28 at 6 p.m.
  • Dining Out for Life is coming up on April 30th – dine out at a participating restaurant to support Pierce County AIDS Foundation.

Mayor Strickland asked the City Manager to put together a briefing on current status of the Pierce County services building project.

ADJOURNMENT

For more on the items on this agenda see our City Business Preview for the week.

Filed under: City Council, Legislation, City Government