Tacoma City Council Meeting - December 11, 2012

This next-to-last City Council meeting of 2012 includes several opportunities for public comment, including the public hearing for the next round of human services funding.

CONSENT AGENDA

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES
Ordinances 28116 through 28211 were continued to the December 18 City Council meeting.

Ordinance No. 27879 Vacating a portion of the South Hosmer Street right-of-way between the Sound Transit rail right-of-way and South Tacoma Way, to be used as a driveway between facilities on the east and west side of Hosmer Street, and for vendor deliveries. (Bradken-Atlas Castings & Technology; File No. 124.1303) [Troy Stevens, Senior Real Estate Specialist; Phyllis Macleod, Hearing Examiner]

Ordinance No. 28116 (First and Final Reading) Approving and confirming the Assessment Roll for LID No. 3967 for the construction of sanitary sewer mains located within the Town of Ruston and the City of Tacoma to serve the Point Ruston development. [Ralph Rodriguez, L.I.D. Administrator; Phyllis Macleod, Hearing Examiner]

Ordinance No. 28117 (First and Final Reading) Approving and confirming the Assessment Roll for LID No. 5728 for the construction of 12-inch water mains located within the Town of Ruston and the City of Tacoma to serve the Point Ruston development. [Ralph Rodriguez, L.I.D. Administrator; Phyllis Macleod, Hearing Examiner]

Ordinance No. 28118 (First and Final Reading) Approving and confirming the Assessment Roll for LID No. 6980 for the installation of street lighting located within the Town of Ruston and the City of Tacoma to serve the Point Ruston development. [Ralph Rodriguez, L.I.D. Administrator; Phyllis Macleod, Hearing Examiner]

Ordinance No. 28119 (First and Final Reading) Approving and confirming the Assessment Roll for LID No. 7726 for the installation of underground primary electrical distribution, utilities, telephone, and cable TV lines located within the City of Tacoma to serve the Point Ruston development. [Ralph Rodriguez, L.I.D. Administrator; Phyllis Macleod, Hearing Examiner]

Ordinance No. 28120 (First and Final Reading) Approving and confirming the Assessment Roll for LID No. 7727 for the installation of underground primary electrical and distribution feeder systems located within the Town of Ruston in the Point Ruston neighborhood. [Ralph Rodriguez, L.I.D. Administrator; Phyllis Macleod, Hearing Examiner]

Ordinance No. 28121 (First and Final Reading) Approving and confirming the Assessment Roll for LID No. 8656 for the installation of concrete curbs and gutters, storm drain lines and stormwater catch basins, sidewalks, and a multiuse path and landscaping located within the Town of Ruston and the City of Tacoma in the Point Ruston neighborhood. [Ralph Rodriguez, L.I.D. Administrator; Phyllis Macleod, Hearing Examiner]

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
A representative from Greenroads presented awards for Tacoma projects that have received Greenroads certification. The Cheney Stadium project received silver certification earlier this year, and the Alaska Street project has received bronze certification. Wapato and Asotin projects are currently being evaluated for bronze status as well.

PUBLIC COMMENT
There was no comment this week.

REGULAR AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS

Resolution No. 38579 Appointing and reappointing individuals to the Audit Advisory Board, Board of Ethics, Foss Waterway Development Authority, Tacoma Arts Commission, and Tacoma Housing Authority. [Mayor Marilyn Strickland]

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38580 Awarding contracts to:

1. Redflex Traffic Systems, Inc., in the amount of $3,283,200.00, not including sales tax, budgeted from the Tacoma Police Fund, for maintenance and monitoring of automated traffic safety cameras, the performance of traffic safety, and enforcement services, for an initial five-year contract with the option to renew for one additional two-year period, for a projected contract total of $4,596,480.00 – Specification No. PD12-0386F [Lieutenant Mark Fedderson, Tacoma Police Department; Chief Don Ramsdell]; and
2. Wilkens Industries, Inc., on its bid of $1,182,909.71, plus sales tax, budgeted from the Solid Waste Fund, for 12 solid waste transfer trailers and for an initial one-year contract, with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods, for a projected contract total of $3,548,729.13 – Specification No. PW12-0657F [Gary Kato, Acting Division Manager, Solid Waste Management; Michael P. Slevin III, P.E., Interim Director, Environmental Services].

Resolution No. 38581 Recognizing the dissolution of Tacoma 360 created by an interlocal agreement with Metro Parks Tacoma and Tacoma School District No. 10; and directing the City Manager to negotiate a contract with the Foundation for Tacoma Public Schools for similar services, including redirection of assets returned to the City pursuant to Section XII of the interlocal agreement. [Tansy Hayward, Assistant City Manager; City Manager T.C. Broadnax]

When Tacoma 360 was evaluated at the end of its initial three year trial period, the recommendation was to dissolve the program and consolidate its functions under the Foundation for Tacoma Schools.

Resolution No. 38582 Declaring surplus and authorizing the conveyance of the South End Neighborhood Center located at 7802 South L Street; and authorizing the execution of a Purchase and Sale Agreement with the Tacoma Cambodian Evangelical Church District of the Christian and Missionary Alliance, in the amount of $430,000. [Conor McCarthy, Assistant Division Manager, Real Property Services; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]

The property in question has been owned by the City, but managed by Metro Parks. Metro Parks programming that had operated out of the center has been relocated, but the building currently has three tenants: a daycare, a Puget Sound Clean Air air monitoring facility, and a cell tower. A request for proposal process was used to sell the property, and was designed to keep the use consistent with benefitting the community. TCEC was the only bidder. As a part of the sales agreement, they have agreed to operate the facility consistent with community uses for a minimum of five years.

Resolution No. 38583 Adopting the 2013 State Legislative and Federal Policy Agendas and necessary amendments of the City’s Legislative Policy Manual. [Randy Lewis, Government Relations Officer; City Manager T.C. Broadnax]

As Councilmember Mello pointed out, adopting this resolution is one step; the next step is to communicate and advocate for these priorities.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28122 Adopting the Six-Year Comprehensive Transportation Improvement Program for amended year 2012 and 2013-2018. [Kurtis Kingsolver, Assistant Director/ City Engineer; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]

The RCW requires each city to annually update its plan for transportation projects, as a necessary piece of attaining funding. The Six-Year plan includes a list of both motorized and non-motorized capital projects, with 14 new items this year. The final adoption is scheduled for next week.

PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPEALS
This is the date set for a public hearing by the City Council on the recommendations of the Human Services Commission for community services funding for local human services programs. [Diane Powers, Assistant Director; Tansy Hayward, Assistant City Manager/Interim Director, Human Rights and Human Services]

Mayor Strickland spoke first to remind the audience of the $90 million in cuts the City has had to make to its budget in the four years covered by the 2011-12 and 2013-14 budgets. Choices have been made based on City objectives, including three strategic priorities for this funding: preparing children and youth for success, increasing adult employment and self-sufficiency, and meeting the basic needs of Tacoma residents. The first category of youth programs makes up the majority of funding recommendations. About twenty commenters came forward to either express appreciation for a recommendation for funding a program, or to encourage reconsideration of funding. Two of the names that came up repeatedly were the DASH Center for the Arts and the Oasis Youth Center. Supporters of both these programs referenced the positive impact both have on youth in Tacoma. The resolution to approve community services funding recommendations is on the pending agenda for December 18.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None this week.

CITIZENS’ FORUM
One speaker, who we’ve seen at several previous Citizens’ Forums came forward to continue his … complicated … complaint against a number of individuals and government agencies, including the police department, court systems, and the former Pierce County Executive.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER
City Manager Broadnax reported that the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board has awarded the City of Tacoma a $500,000 grant to help fund a portion of the waterfront Esplanade project adjacent to sites 10 and 11 between the Balfour Dock and Murray Morgan Bridge.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Councilmember Boe reminded us of a couple of festive events this month:

• First Night is coming up on December 31. Buttons for the downtown Tacoma celebration of the New Year are on sale now.
• Tickets are still available for the 20th year of the Christmas Revels at the Rialto Theater; a celebration of the Winter Solstice featuring musical variety and audience participation.

Councilmember Campbell also had a couple of holiday-related reminders:

• There’s ice skating in Tollefson Plaza
• And as you do your holiday shopping, remember that 20 to 25% of Tacoma’s budget comes from sales tax revenue, when possible, make the decision to buy in Tacoma, keep your tax dollars local.

Mayor Strickland closed by thanking everyone who came to speak at the human services funding hearing.

A motion was made to excuse Councilmember Fey’s absence. Councilmember Campbell objected and Councilmember Boe called for a roll call vote. The motion failed … awkward paper shuffling followed.

ADJOURNMENT

One more meeting down, only one more left in 2012. Where does the time go? There will be no Council meetings on December 25 or January 1, so you’ll have to look for your Tuesday night kicks elsewhere for a couple weeks.

(For more on the items on this week’s agenda, see our City business preview for the week.)