Tacoma City Council Meeting - August 14, 2012

Well, better late than never. Sorry about the delay, but hopefully you were out there enjoying the heat, and not sitting at home hitting refresh on Exit133 over and over until City Council notes came up… Nah, who says you can’t do both?

CONSENT AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38521 Setting Tuesday, August 28, 2012, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on the proposed amendments to the Land Use Regulatory Code to allow greater flexibility for infill development and the reuse of existing buildings, and to streamline the City’s building and environmental review processes, as recommended by the Planning Commission. [Ian Munce, Long Range Planning Division Manager; Martha Anderson, Interim Director, Community and Economic Development]

Resolution No. 38522 Authorizing the submittal of a grant application to the 2012 Community Revitalization Grant Program of the State Community Economic Revitalization Board, for the amount of $500,000, to complete funding for the construction of Phase 2 of the Thea Foss Waterway Site 11 Esplanade and the northern segment of the adjoining Site 10 Esplanade. [Ian Munce, Long Range Planning Division Manager; Martha Anderson, Interim Director, Community and Economic Development]

The grant would leverage federal funds to complete funding for the project and create local jobs.

Resolution No. 38523 Accepting a 2012 COPS Hiring Program grant from the Department of Justice, Office of Community Oriented Policing Services, in the amount of $4,957,620; and depositing said sum into the Police Special Revenue Fund, for approved entry-level salary and fringe benefits for 15 newly-hired or rehired police officers for a three-year term. [Assistant Chief Kathy McAlpine; Chief Don Ramsdell, Tacoma Police Department]

$16.1 million was the original target for police department budget reductions. Doing the math, this grant will bring that number down to $12.8 million, so while this helps, there is still a lot of work to do.

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Strickland proclaimed August 20, 2012 to be Veteran’s Training and Appreciation Day in the City of Tacoma, and encouraged everyone to pay a visit to the Vet Tech Café, which will be celebrating its grand opening at 10:00 a.m. that day.

The Mayor also proclaimed January 7, 2013 (and the same day every year going forward) to be Unite Tacoma Day, in honor of the consolidation of New Tacoma with the City of Tacoma in 1884.

PUBLIC COMMENT
Anyone? Anyone? Bueller?

REGULAR AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS

Resolution No. 38524 Appointing and reappointing individuals to the Human Rights Commission, the Planning Commission, the Sustainable Tacoma Commission, and the Tacoma Arts Commission. [Mayor Marilyn Strickland]

Resolution No. 38525 Appointing Council Member Mello to the Pierce County Flood District Advisory Committee. [Mayor Marilyn Strickland]

The committee will advise the Pierce County Council on matters relating to flood planning for the recently created Flood Control District.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38519 (Continued from the meeting of August 7, 2012) Authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement with Teamsters Local Union No. 117, General Unit, which consists of approximately 239 budgeted, full-time positions, and provides in part for zero wage increases in both 2011 and 2012, a Consumer Price Index-based increase in 2013 between 2 and 4 percent, a market study increase in 2014, and creates a new classification, effective January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2014. [Mike Brock, Labor Negotiator; Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

This resolution was continued to a date TBD, as was the following resolution, and the related ordinance below. Although the negotiations began before the current budget mess was realized, Council wishes to take a bit more time to consider the matter in light of what we know now, and wait until the budget picture for the next biennium is a little clearer.

Resolution No. 38520 (Continued from the meeting of August 7, 2012) Authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement with District Lodge No. 160, on behalf of Local Lodge No. 297 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Yard Clerk Unit, which consists of approximately five budgeted, full-time positions, and provides in part for an $0.11 wage increase for 2012 and a $0.12 wage increase in 2013, to be deferred to cover increased costs for the Western Metal Industry Pension Fund; and a Consumer Price Index-based increase in 2014 through 2016 between 2 and 4 percent, effective January 1, 2012 through December 31, 2016. [Mike Brock, Labor Negotiator; Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

Also continued to a date TBD. Although the contract affects the rail utility, not the general fund, Council wants to send a consistent message, and consider the issue in context.

Purchase Resolution No. 38526 Awarding contracts to:

1. ARAMARK Uniform Services, on its bid of $370,547.94, plus sales tax, budgeted from various departmental funds, for the supply and laundering of garments, linens, and other articles for use by various General Government and Tacoma Public Utility departments and divisions, for an initial two-year term, with the option to renew for three additional one-year terms, for a projected contract total of $982,000.00 – Specification No. CT12-0309F; [Kathy Katterhagen, Procurement and Payables Manager]
2. WAT, Inc., in the amount of $250,000.00, plus sales tax, budgeted from the General Fund, for semi-ruggedized computer laptops and accessories on an as-needed basis, for an initial one-year term, with the option to renew for up to six additional one-year terms, for a projected contract total of $1,050,000.00 – Specification No. PD12-0194F; [Clay Krauss, Information Technology Supervisor; Chief Don Ramsdell, Tacoma Police Department]
3. Right! Systems, Inc., on its bid of $344,235.68, plus sales tax, budgeted from the Information Services Fund, for hardware and software maintenance support for the City’s Cisco SMARTnet data network equipment – Specification No. IT12-0358F; [Steve Taylor, Networks and Communications Manager; Michelle Lewis-Hodges, Director, Information Technology]
4. Wm. Dickson Co., on its bid of $664,654.55, plus sales tax, budgeted from the Streets Special Revenue Fund, for the North Waterview Street Road Repair project – Specification No. PW11-0617F; [Chris Larson, Engineering Division Manager; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works] and
5. R.L. Alia Company, on its bid of $1,770,988.80, excluding sales tax, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $1,948,087.68, budgeted from the Wastewater and Tacoma Water Funds, for the replacement of approximately 4,400 linear feet of existing wastewater pipe and 3,200 linear feet of water pipe at North 49th to North 42nd Streets from Bristol to Visscher Streets – Specification No. PW12-0331F. [John O’Loughlin, Science and Engineering Division Manager; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28084 (Continued from the meeting of August 7, 2012) Amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to amend rates of pay and compensation for approximately 239 budgeted, full-time positions represented by Teamsters Local Union No. 117, General Unit, and approximately five budgeted, full-time positions represented by District Lodge No. 160, on behalf of Local Lodge No. 297 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Yard Clerk Unit. [Mike Brock, Labor Negotiator; Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

This ordinance was removed from the agenda as the resolutions it relates to have been held over to a future date.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.

CITIZENS’ FORUM

The first speaker of the night set the tone for public comment; we saw this gentleman at the January Citizens’ Forum, and he was back, once again requesting a restraining order and protection from a variety of government entities.

From there it only got better. Another commenter raised two points, first suggesting that a local police officer who runs a physical fitness program for youth be recognized for his service, and second requesting that the City Manager do an assessment of the treatment of police officers of color in Tacoma.

We also heard from a couple commenters on the issue of taxi cab regulations which the City is beginning to enforce this year. Concerns raised were over the requirements for digital security cameras and radio communication devices required in cabs.

We also heard comments on the NW Detention Center, Citizens United, and a reminder that the Hilltop residents who spoke at the July Citizens’ Forum are still concerned over how things are progressing with the potential halfway house in their neighborhood.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER
The City Manager had two reports this week:

• Mr. Broadnax reported on the enforcement strategy the City plans to pursue relating to the medical cannabis ordinance passed two weeks ago. The City will take a two-pronged approach, in which it will proactively enforce the ban on dispensaries in any area of Tacoma, but will take a complaint-driven approach to collective gardens, enforcing the nuisance code against any collective garden within restricted areas, and against those outside the restricted area that are perceived to be negatively impacting the surrounding area.
• The second report was on the City’s intention to enter into a standstill agreement with Clear Channel Outdoor relating to litigation associated with the company’s billboards. Mr. Broadnax explained that the goal here is to control litigation costs in light of the City’s current budget situation, while still reducing the number of billboards in Tacoma. The agreement will commit Clear Channel to removing 31 existing billboards, maintaining 15 more, and to give up relocation rights for 170 more. Meanwhile, the City and the company will work towards a “viable solution.” Future litigation is not ruled out by this agreement, and digital billboards will not be considered.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Councilmember Campbell thanked Broadnax for both updates, calling the Clear Channel agreement the “most significant” move toward removal in the past 30 years. he also invited everyone to a get together at McKinley Park, where Sound Transit will share information about mitigation efforts at the park, including the project elements and timeline.

Councilmember Boe also thanked the City Manager for the Clear Channel agreement, and reminded us of the work that had been done to draft the relevant code that brought us this far, which he called solid.

Councilmember Ibsen invited everyone to a restoration event at Titlow Park hosted by Pierce Conservation District and Forterra this Saturday morning. Tools will be provided, as will lunch.

Deputy Mayor Lonergan noted that this weekend’s community clean-up will be at Birney Elementary School. Lonergan also thanked everyone who participated in National Night Out, and reminded us that Sound Transit will be running test runs of the new Sounder extension to Lakewood, beginning slowly, but increasing in speed up to 60 mph, so watch out.

Councilmember Mello requested that the City Manager include an update on the halfway house situation in this week’s report to Council, along with an update on the questions relating to the taxi cab code.

ADJOURNMENT

So there you have it. Stay cool and hydrated out there kids.