Tacoma City Council Meeting - April 30, 2013

In the category of better-late-than-never, and with apologies for the delay, here are last week’s City Council meeting notes. Councilmember Woodards joined us telephonically.

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

As a general rule there’s a two-item per meeting quota on proclamations, but due to very special circumstances, that rule has been waived, so this week brings three proclamations.

Mayor Strickland proclaimed April 30 and May 1, 2013 as Alaska, Tacoma’s North Star Day, in recognition of the important working relationship Tacoma, particularly the Port, has with Alaska. We <3 Alaska. Alaska <3s us.

The Mayor also proclaimed the month of May 2013 as Bike Month, noting “Tacoma’s bronze-level bike-friendly status, the positive impacts of bicycling on the health of the rider and the climate, and just how darn fun it is. And don’t forget, we’ve got a whole line-up of fun bike-related events to celebrate Bike Month.

The third proclamation added to the agenda welcomes State Farm to Tacoma. Mayor Strickland noted that State Farm is the 43rd largest company, and largest auto insurance company in the U.S., and as such will bring many benefits to Tacoma’s economy.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Due to the large number of citizens who showed up to speak their piece on the selection of a preferred Link expansion alternative, comment time was reduce from five to three minutes. All but one of the nearly 20 speakers were present to comment on the light rail. More than half spoke in favor of the Stadium-to-MLK E1 option named as the Council favorite, but the C1 Eastside option had a good showing of support too.

Eastside advocates asked the Council to switch its support to the C1 alternative, citing a number of points. We heard from some younger Eastside residents who explained the importance of transportation to their families, including parents and siblings needing to get to work, school, and other destinations downtown. We also heard from Eastside residents who feel invisible and isolated by the decision. A couple speakers also referenced the potential for leveraging Tribal investments in the expansion, and the extensive opportunities for development and growth on the Eastside.

Among those speaking in support for the E1 option, a common theme was that it is time; the Hilltop is ready for investments in transportation to push it forward. We heard a lot about what the investment in the Hilltop/MLK corridor could do for Tacoma; as one speaker put it, it’s not that Hilltop needs the Link, it’s that Tacoma needs the Link in Hilltop as a success on which to build future projects.

—— At this point, the Council meeting was suspended to allow for the scheduled meeting of the Transportation Benefit District Board ——

PUBLIC COMMENT

No comment.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. TBD 004 Approving the 2013-2014 Transportation Benefit District Spending Plan.

This is the plan that will govern the spending of the $20 vehicle license fee that will be collected from Tacoma residents, beginning this summer. Pothole repair is included in the plan, as are curb ramps and replacement or repair of failing traffic signal vehicle detection equipment. Councilmember Mello announced that in addition to this plan, the City has found $500,000 to begin the process of creating a transportation master plan to guide future investments in transportation in Tacoma. The TBD money spent on roads will be augmented by an additional $30 million in grants the City has been awarded. Now if only we could find another $750 million, we might be getting somewhere_… _but every little bit helps.

COMMENTS OF THE TACOMA TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT GOVERNING BOARD

No comment.

ADJOURNMENT

—— We now return you to your regularly scheduled meeting. ——

REGULAR AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS

Resolution No. 38662 Reappointing individuals to the Human Rights Commission, the Human Services Commission, and the Sustainable Tacoma Commission. [Mayor Marilyn Strickland]

Councilmember Walker recused herself because of the Human Rights Commission. Thanks all around to the individuals who give their time and effort to serve on the City’s Commissions, etc.

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38663 Awarding a contract to:

AHBL, Inc., in the amount of $239,784.50, sales tax not applicable, for a cumulative total of $439,339.53, budgeted from the 2010 LTGO Bond D Fund, to increase and extend the contract for engineering design, land surveying, and construction phase services for the Tacoma’s Bikeways project, a 13-mile active transportation corridor from South 96th Street and Park Avenue to North 26th and Pearl Streets, through December 31, 2013 – Specification No. PW10-0496F. [Chris Larson, Engineering Division Manager; Kurtis Kingsolver, Interim Director, Public Works]

Councilmember Boe recused himself in order to avoid any potential for the appearance of a conflict of interest on this one. With a little coaxing from Councilmember Mello, we heard an explanation of the project. The original project was broken up into two phases, with the phase 1 bikeway already completed. During the bid process for phase 2, which will complete the northern half of the trail, the City was awarded a $1.5 million grant. That grant changed the nature of the project from a simple bike path, to one that includes significant upgrades to infrastructure along the entire length of the bikeway. The bikeway will now include bike boulevards, bike lanes, sharrows, pedestrian crossings and flashing beacons, new curb ramps, route signage and design enhancement to trail signage and crossing in and around Wright Park, among other upgrades..

Resolution No. 38664 Expressing support for the North Downtown Central (E1) corridor as the preferred alternative for the Tacoma Link Light Rail system expansion project to create a significant and important investment in Tacoma and an important addition to the regional transit system. [Alisa O’Hanlon, Government Relations Coordinator; T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

The resolution expresses Council preference for the E1 route that would head up the hill from the north end of the existing Link to the Stadium mixed-use center, before heading west and then south, running the length of the MLK mixed-use center.

Councilmember Campbell offered an amendment that attempted a compromise. Campbell’s amendment would have named H2 as the Council’s preferred alternative, but kept the segments of E1 first in line when the $150 million funding is raised.

Be it further resolved that all segments of E1 are the priority for funding and completion. The remaining segment shall undergo study needed to apply for additional funding opportunities and construction when funding is secured.

The amendment would have taken a step towards the Eastside expansion that we heard so much public comment for, but not gone all the way. Campbell noted that the E1 would be the priority, just as in the original resolution, but the Council would be signaling its intent to reach further east. If a study of the eastward expansion could be funded, it would also provide the Tribe with part of what they would need if the project were to be considered for tribal grants. The amendment failed in a close four-to-five vote (Campbell, Boe, Lonergan, Walker in favor, the remaining five against), but not before we heard a litany of points in favor of rethinking the E1 alternative, primarily from Councilmember Boe.

• There are concerns over how it interacts with Tacoma’s transportation system long-term
• E1 is not part of a long-term plan
• Light Rail design is a heavy transportation option – the system we have is for going fast on flat ground
• You can’t go directly south from Hilltop – the E1 route cuts off half the city – we’re painting ourselves into a corner for long-term planning
• At least going to the lower Portland Avenue center builds towards a long-term plan – the best option from a planning standpoint
• The goal of Sound Transit is to be regional player in transportation – MLK and Stadium are both located in downtown Tacoma – connecting the Eastside to downtown makes it more of a regional connection
• MLK and Stadium are neighborhood mixed-use centers – an Eastside expansion could get you to a community mixed-use center – there will be pressure will be to upzone neighborhoods around the Link, where as the Lower Portland area is already a community mixed use center, with better ability to accommodate big buildings
• The Urban Land Institute said don’t get tied into the north/south corridor, but instead focus on east/west connections and getting up the hill from downtown
• There is no real development benefit to going up Stadium Way, other than getting up the hill to Stadium
• C1 gives the potential to look at feeding in block by block for potential development
• Only one entity has come forward towards partnering on funding, and that’s for the C1 option – the project will require such a partnership, and here we actually have an interested party
• E1 doesn’t relieve, but instead creates congestion – rail where freeway entrance ramps come into the city will create congestion
• The original Link wasn’t laid out as a system, it was put in as a shuttle – we’re expanding off of a poor decision from a long-term standpoint – going to only E1 adds another poor decision on top of that
• C1 doubles capacity for people arriving at events at the Tacoma Dome and Convention Center – we need to look at ways to leverage investments in transportation to help these City assets, including connections to hotel rooms
• C1 has ability to take the development pressure. This will create gentrification. Rents will go up. Some businesses will have difficulty staying where they’re at.
• We need to have a vision that says Tacoma can see development like Portland’s Pearl District – C1 has that potential.

Of course, Boe isn’t the only one with arguments, and we heard from council members in support of E1 as well. The main arguments centered on the view that E1 has existing density, development, and ridership numbers to make expansion in that direction a success. The other main point we heard in favor of the E1 option without the hybrid inclusion of the eastward spur was that when applying for grants, the project needs to have a clean, clear focus, without the distraction of the additional direction. In the end E1 took the day, with all council members but Boe voting in favor of the resolution naming E1 as the Council preferred alternative. That decision will now go to Sound Transit for a final approval, then into the design and environmental review phase for specific street selection and engineering and cost calculations, before we start the search for funding to fill out the rest of the $150 million budget. This isn’t the end of the road on this one by a long shot.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28145 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 International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 483, Court Clerk’s Unit, which covers 26.8 budgeted, full-time positions. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The ordinance passed without comment.

Ordinance No. 28146 Providing for the issuance and sale of the City’s Electric System Revenue and Refunding Bonds, Series 2013, not to exceed $375,000,000, to provide funds to finance capital improvements and allow for the option of refund or defease a portion of the City’s outstanding Electric System bonds; and appointing the City’s designated representative to approve the final terms of the sale of the bonds.[Bill Berry, Rates, Planning, and Analysis Manager, Ted Coates, Superintendent, Tacoma Power]

This ordinance also passed without comment.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28147 Amending Chapters 1.07 and 1.90 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Local Employment and Apprenticeship Training Program (LEAP), to change the federal Renewal Community designation to Washington State Community Empowerment Zone, revise the definition of a LEAP-qualified participant to include youth and veterans, and eliminate the City of Tacoma Target Area designation. [Peter Guzman, LEAP Program Manager; Ricardo Noguera, Director, Community and Economic Development]

The ordinance would adopt the recommendations of the LEAP advisory committee, following a 2012 biennial review acknowledging the success of the program.

Ordinance No. 28148 Amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to implement a change in pay for approximately 398 non-represented Tacoma Public Utilities positions and 17 non-representative General Government positions; and correct a pay range for one classification represented by Teamsters Local Union No. 117, Public Assembly Facilities Unit, which covers 31 positions. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

Changes are requested to implement market-based pay increases for some non-represented employees, and to correct a couple other inconsistencies. An amendment was also made to the ordinance, dropping the language that would have set up a one-time, lump-sum payment of $2,500 for eligible non-represented TPU employees.

Ordinance No. 28149 Amending Chapters 2.01 and 2.17 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Minimum Building and Structures Code, to shorten timeframes for enforcement, clarify cost recovery mechanisms, address concerns raised about elevator accessibility, enhance language related to historic preservation, clarify the role of the Board of Building Appeals, and ensure consistency with other sections of the Municipal Code. [Lisa Wojtanowicz, Community Services Division Manager; Tansy Hayward, Director, Neighborhood and Community Services]

The changes in this ordinance would align definitions in the code for consistency, strengthen historic building preservation efforts by providing for flexibility for repair standards, shorten timelines for compliance, clarify cost recovery per the RCW, broaden the number of maintenance issues addressed, and clarify the ability of the Board of Building Appeals to modify decisions of the Hearing Examiner. As Councilmember Boe described it, these changes are about instituting an early warning system to strengthen the City’s position to intervene before a building becomes dangerous, and not waiting until historic structures have been ruined to do something.

Ordinance No. 28150 Amending Chapter 11.05 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Model Traffic Ordinance, to remove reference to the Parking Management Advisory Task Force to enable implementation of the City’s Committees, Boards, and Commission review recommendations. [Nadia Chandler Hardy, Assistant to the City Manager; T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

This will be the first of several items to come before Council related to the citizen boards and commissions review. The review provided feedback, including the request for the establishment of a transportation commission and accompanying technical advisory groups. This ordinance, which will be followed by the establishment of that commission, removes language about the parking task force from the TMC. Following recommendations from staff, that task force would become a technical advisory group to the Transportation Commission, continuing its current work, and providing expertise on parking. City Manager Broadnax clarified that the changes to the reporting structure would not keep the group from providing recommendations to the City Manager.

Ordinance No. 28151 Amending the 2013-2014 Biennial Budget to appropriate funds from the 2011-2012 budget to cover contract obligations, transfers, and other budget adjustments. [Tadd Wille, Budget Officer; Andrew Cherullo, Director, Finance]

The City’s Budget Office has preliminarily closed the 2011-2012 biennium budget with a positive balance of $4.5 million. $1.1 million of that would be re-appropriated for other needs, not least of which is the $500,000 identified for a consultant to begin work on a transportation master plan for Tacoma. The remaining $3.4 million would be added to the City’s reserve fund.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER

No report.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Environment and Public Works Committee – Councilmember Mello reported on the work of the committee.

• Heard updates on plans for the Prairie Line Trail, including information on the recently approved donation agreement with BNSF, design concepts, and the possibilities of connections or extensions if the City is able to acquire more land. Expect a lot more public outreach on this project.
• Received an overview of the 2013 Comprehensive Plan Amendment, which is scheduled for a May 14 study session presentation and May 21 public hearing.
• Received a presentation on the Schuster Parkway corridor shared-use trail, a multi-use trail planned to improve connectivity from downtown Tacoma to the Ruston Way Waterfront, also known as the Dome to Defiance Trail. The Committee heard about outreach findings, trail alternatives, and next steps.
• The Committee also heard updates on driving development in mixed-use centers, and on complete streets implementation.
• The next meeting will include a briefing on live/work amendments, state building code changes, and continuing conversation about the annual Comprehensive Plan amendment.

Councilmember Boe gave us our weekly Bike Month update –

• Bike Month has kicked off with the bike commuter challenge at Piercetrips.com. Boe renewed his challenge to his fellow councilmembers to bike to work this month, with the added incentive of a personalized Boe bike escort.
• Bike events this week include Bike to Market Day on Thursday for the Downtown Farmers’ Market
• Free bike maintenance classes every monday at Tacoma Bike in Proctor
• Beginning bike rides on Tuesday evenings
• A Gentleman Rides is this Friday at the Broken Spoke
• A kids event at the Saturday Proctor Farmers’ Market

Boe also reminded us that May 1 is May Day, and invited everyone to join the Puget Sound Revels for their annual maypole event at Fireman’s Park (safely away from the totem pole). And we got a reminder that Sunday is the Tacoma Marathon, so watch out for road closures.

Oh, and one more thing; an early plug for this year’s City of Neighborhoods event on how to improve your quality of life by creating a better neighborhood.

Councilmember Campbell announced the neighborhood clean up this weekend at Mann Elementary, and mentioned last weekend’s Comcast in the Park Day at McKinley Park, where 2,000 people showed up to clear ivy and plant flowers.

Councilmember Lonergan made note of the hard work done last weekend at the Edison neighborhood clean up, including the work of Rebuilding Together South Sound, and 60 TPU employees who gave a home makeover. This weekend there will be a clean up at St Ann’s Catholic Church. Lonergan also mentioned that Governor Inslee had been in town at Birney Elementary to sign the anti-stalking law passed after the murder of a Birney teacher.

Councilmember Ibsen mentioned the spring sharing fair and open house this Saturday at 9 a.m., and community garden event at 13th and Yakima at 10:30 a.m.

ADJOURNMENT

A quick 3 hours later…

For more on the items on this week’s agenda, read our City Business Preview for the week.