Tacoma City Council Meeting - August 20, 2013

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Strickland proclaimed August 22, 2013 as Tacoma Link Day. The Link carried over 1 million passengers in 2012, and is on track to carry its 10 millionth rider in 2013.

The Mayor also proclaimed September 2013 as Alzheimer’s Awareness Month, encouraging everyone to show their support for those who have been diagnosed and their families, care givers, and advocates by wearing purple during this time.

We also heard an announcement from the Executive Director of the Daffodil Festival about Tacoma's "First Annual" Celebrating Military Service Parade coming up this Saturday.

PUBLIC COMMENT 

One commenter came forward with what sounded like a slight misinterpretation of the resolution granting ingress and egress across Tacoma Rail right-of-way. Regardless, he asked Council to seriously consider whether we need more rail - give it consideration, pray on it...

REGULAR AGENDA

A motion was considered and adopted to authorize the City’s full and final settlement of all violations of the Toxics Substance Control Act alleged by the Environmental Protection Agency relating to used oil management activities at the Tacoma Landfill upon payment by the City in the amount of $40,000.

A motion was considered and adopted to authorize the City’s full and final settlement of all claims against the City in the matter of Terri Coe vs. City of Tacoma, Pierce County Cause No. 2-2-09484-1, upon payment by the City in the amount of $87,500.

A motion was considered and adopted to authorize the City’s full and final settlement of all claims against the City by Margaret Wilkins, Claim No. 14409, upon payment by the City in the amount of $37,658.35.

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38719 Awarding contracts to:

1. Global Contractors, LLC, on its bid of $367,165.00, sales tax not applicable, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $403,881.50, budgeted from the CDBG Fund and the Neighborhood Business District REET Fund, for Business District Sidewalk Improvements in the Dome Business District, McKinley Hill Business District, Pacific Avenue Business District, and install ADA curb ramps at the corners of South 6th and South I Streets – Specification No. ED13-0359F; and [Carol Wolfe, Program Development Specialist; Ricardo Noguera, Director, Community and Economic Development]
2. Sage Group Consulting Inc., on its bid of $292,400.00, plus applicable sales tax, budgeted from the Information Systems Fund, for a four-month contract to conduct a strategic assessment of the City’s core Enterprise Resource Planning systems – Specification No. IT13-0379F. [Alan Alvarez, Business Solutions Functional Manager; Jack Kelanic, Interim Director, Information Technology]

The purchase resolution passed without comment.

Resolution No. 38720 Approving the expansion of the Tacoma Water service area by 14.7 acres and authorizing the execution of an agreement to extend the water mains to 15 residents served by the Fennel Heights Maintenance Water System. [Ryan Flynn, Senior Principal Engineer; Linda McCrea, Superintendent, Tacoma Water]

The resident-owned well currently serving these 15 customers has arsenic levels above what is permitted by the Clean Water Act, so the residents of Fennel Heights have elected to request an extension of Tacoma Water service to their neighborhood, which is completely surrounded by Tacoma Water service area. The work will be funded by a federal grant, and any amount above that grant will be covered by the 15 residents as a surcharge on their water bills. The old well will be decommissioned, and the new customers will pay the non-resident rate for Tacoma Water, which is slightly higher than that paid by residents of Tacoma.

Resolution No. 38721 Authorizing the execution and conveyance of a non-exclusive perpetual easement to Robin Bueche, individually and as Successor Trustee of the O'Donnell Family Revocable Living Trust, in the amount of $10,000, for ingress, egress, and utilities over and across the Tacoma Rail Mountain Division right-of-way in the Ashford area of Pierce County. [Dylan Harrison, Senior Real Estate Specialist; Kurtis Kingsolver, Interim Director, Public Works]

In 1957 Tacoma Rail's predecssor granted revocable license for access through the rail right-of-way to private land, this would make that access permanent for the fair market assessed value of $10,000, providing access to two homes.

Resolution No. 38722 Approving and designating the property owned by Norma J. Sands and Linnea C. Sands, located at 615 South 82nd Street, as open space for property tax purposes under the City and Pierce County's Open Space Current Use Assessment program. [Cheri Gibbons, Associate Planner; Peter Huffman, Interim Director, Planning and Development Services]

The request to designate seven of nine lots as open space went to a public hearing on July 30, and received no public comment. The application received 20 of 25 possible points, for an 80% reduction in tax rates. The open space current use designation is part of a program that helps to preserve privately held open space. The applicant may withdraw at any time after paying back taxes and a penalty fee.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28165 Amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to implement rates of pay and compensation for Municipal Court Judges and Court Commissioners, effective September 1, 2013. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The ordinance passed without further comment.

Ordinance No. 28166 Amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to implement rates of pay and compensation for employees represented by District Lodge No. 160, on behalf of Local Lodge No. 297, of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Rail Mechanics and Track Workers Units, which covers approximately 18 budgeted, full-time positions. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

This ordinance also passed without further comment.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28167 Amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Leave-Based Contribution Plan, to provide eligible employees an opportunity to voluntarily contribute the cash value of accrued vacation and/or personal time off to the United Way of Pierce County. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The amendment would allow City of Tacoma employees to convert accrued and unused vacation or personal paid time off hours to cash donations to the United Way of Pierce County. The donation would go to United Way as a cash donation, and employees would claim it as income. As with other United Way giving, employees would be able to designate specific agencies to receive the donation.

Ordinance No. 28168 Amending Chapter 12.08 of the Municipal Code, relating to stormwater and surface water systems, to authorize the Environmental Services Director to establish a pilot program to offer and evaluate the use of rebate payments to eligible customers, in an amount up to $2,000, who construct and/or maintain City-owned low-impact development rain gardens and bioretention facilities through December 31, 2014. [Geoffrey M. Smyth, P.E., Science and Engineering Division Manager; Michael P. Slevin, III, P.E., Director, Environmental Services]

The proposed pilot program would offer two approaches to encouraging and supporting the construction of rain gardens in Tacoma. The first would offer desing assistance and/or rebates for residnets who wish to construct rain gardens on their own property. Rebates would be per square-foot of rain garden installed, up to $2,000. The second approach would offer surface water rate breaks in exchange for assistance with the maintenance of City-owned rain gardens, including picking up trash and other basic upkeep. More significant maintenance would still be handled by the City. The pilot program would last through 2014, at which time it would be evaluated and adjustments made as necessary. The program would initially focus on the Flett and Leach watersheds, with residents in those areas qualifying for the rebates, and others qualifying for design assistance and soil testing.

PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPEALS (Will begin at approximately 5:30 p.m.)

Jameson Babbitt Stites & Lombard, P.L.L.C., representing the appellant H&P Tacoma Acquisition, LLC, by appealing the recommendation of the Hearing Examiner regarding the request to reclassify approximately 1.78 acres/75,000 square feet of the southeast corner of a larger property located at 4601 South Orchard Street from a “R-2” Single-Family Dwelling District to a “M-1” Light Industrial District, to be developed with a stormwater detention facility requiring approximately 15,000 cubic yards of grading, landscaping, and up to 100 passenger car parking spaces; and to develop a driveway across the parcel for commercial and passenger vehicle access to South 48th Street. (Paul McCormick, Innova Architects on behalf of H&P Tacoma Acquisition, LLC; File No. REZ2013-40000199731)

The hearing was continued to the September 24, 2013 business meeting.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER

The 2% utility tax earnings increase proposed in Tacoma's Propostion 1 is generating a lot of conversation and a lot of questions. To address these the City has scheduled a series of community meetings modeled after the budget workshops last year. A total of 10 meetings, two per council district, will be held in neighborhoods throughout Tacoma, beginning next Monday, August 26, and continuing through October 30. Attendees can expect a brief five minute video laying out the basics of the City's case for the new tax, further information from the City Manager, a Q&A session, and materials with information on how the revenue could impact specific districts.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee – Councilmember Mello shared topics covered by the Committee.

• Conducted interviews for Tacoma’s new Transportation Commission and the Sustainable Tacoma Commission.
• Discussion of the proposed rain gardens pilot program.
• Heard a presentation on the expansion of the Tacoma Water service area to Fennel Heights residents.
• Discussed the Planning Work Program for 2013 to 2015, which includes projects and planning activities already initiated by Council or mandated elsewhere, such as a possible new Point Ruston mixed-use center, affordable housing regulations and incentives, land use designations, and Point Defiance land use policies.

The next meeting will include a presentation on the Public Works Department's Six Year Transportation Plan.

Councilmember Ibsen announced three upcoming events.

• The American Credit Union ribbon cutting this Thursday, August 22 at 11:30 a.m. celebrating the new branch inside Tacoma's new Walmart.
• LeMay Family Foundation fundraiser this Saturday, August 24 at 5:30 p.m.
• Healthy Tacoma, the campaign for paid sick leave in the city, will host a family-friendly business owners for paid sick leave parking lot party at 2502 6th Avenue

Councilmember Boe also shared a couple events:

• This Saturday, August 24, Tacoma Rail will open its doors on North Frontage Road in the Tide Flats, offering free train rides and tours from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. There will be a free shuttle from Maritime Fest, and they will be collecting donations for FISH Food Bank.
• On Saturday and Sunday the 24th and 25th, you can enjoy Tacoma Maritime Fest at the Foss Waterway Seaport, with food, music, acitivites, and ships, including Argosy Cruises free guided boat tours.
• Also on Saturday is the Stadium District Art & Wine Walk from 4 to 9 p.m.

Deupty Mayor Campbell reminded us that the first sustainable transportation funding info session on Prop 1 will be next Monday, August 26 at Lincoln High School. All are welcome.

Councilmember Thoms announced that August 24 is the date for the neighborhood clean-up at Jason Lee Middle School.

ADJOURNMENT

For more on any of the items on this week's agenda, see Exit133's City Business Preview for the week.