Tacoma City Council Meeting - December 4, 2012

We’ve entered the final countdown for 2012: after this week, only two left for the year.  But these last meetings tend to be packed with the real action – and this week is no exception – the budget that has dominated so much of the conversation this year was, at long last, up for the final vote…

CONSENT AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38576 Setting Tuesday, December 18 11, 2012, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the date 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; Linda Villegas Bremer, Director, Human Rights and Human Services]

The date of the hearing was changed to December 11, 2012.

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Mayor Strickland proclaimed December 10, 2012 as Human Rights Day in Tacoma, to celebrate human rights in honor of the adoption of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights on December 10, 1948.  The Mayor urged all Tacomans to join in supporting human rights for all.

The Mayor also proclaimed December 31, 2012 as First Night Day in the City of Tacoma, and encouraged everyone to join in the festivities downtown.  First Night is family-friendly, and this year will feature all kinds of events, some involving fire, celebrating the beginning of 2013, the Year of the Snake.  Your First Night Tacoma button will get you into downtown museums and stages all day.

PUBLIC COMMENT
One commenter spoke in reference to the proposed 2013-2014 budget, asking Council to reconsider the fairness of cuts to services, in particular to road maintenance. 

REGULAR AGENDA

A motion was made directing the City Manager to initiate the process to fill the City Council District No. 2 position which will be vacated by Council Member Jake Fey.

This officially begins the process of searching for a replacement to fill Councilmember Fey’s District Two seat on the City Council when he moves on to his new position as State Representative for the 27th Legislative District.  If you’re in District Two, and interested in throwing your hat in the ring for Fey’s seat, applications are now available from the City.  The position will be advertised this month, candidate interviews will be conducted during study sessions in January, with the goal of filling the position by the end of January.  More information and a downloadable application are available on the City website.

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38577 Awarding contracts to:

1. Railworks Track Systems, Inc., on its bid of $370,712.00, plus sales tax, budgeted from the Tacoma Rail Mountain Division Fund, for on-call track and bridge maintenance on an as-needed basis – Specification No. TR12-0244F [Chris Larson, Engineering Division Manager; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]; and
2. Pease and Sons, Inc., on its bid of $3,062,524.00, plus sales tax, and a 10 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $3,368,820.40, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for construction of the Lincoln and Alexander Pump Station Upgrade – Specification No. PW12-0045F [John O’Loughlin, Science and Engineering Division Manager; Michael P. Slevin III, P.E., Interim Director, Environmental Services].

Councilmember Boe recused himself to avoid the potential for the appearance of a conflict of interest.

Resolution No. 38578 Authorizing the execution and conveyance of an easement of City-owned property within Fireman’s Park, located at South 7th and A Streets, to Comcast Communications for existing telecom infrastructure and the installation of high-speed internet and cable TV infrastructure to serve an abutting restaurant. [Rich Price, Senior Real Estate Officer; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]

This resolution authorizes the easement to allow Comcast to supply high speed internet and cable to Pho 701 on Pacific Avenue at no cost to the City.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28108 Amending various sections of the Municipal Code to reflect the elimination of the Human Rights and Human Services Department, align the scope of duties and authority for the new Neighborhood and Community Services Department; and repealing obsolete Chapter 5.20 in its entirety. [T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

The ordinance passed without comment.

Ordinance No. 28109 Amending various sections of the Municipal Code to reflect organizational changes and align the scope of duties and authority for the Planning and Development Services and Public Works Departments.  [T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

The ordinance was amended to strike “Director of the Community and Economic Development” from the first paragraph, replacing it with “Director of the Planning and Economic Services.”  The ordinance as amended passed without further comment.

Ordinance No. 28110 Amending various sections of the Municipal Code to reflect organizational changes and align the scope of duties and authority for the Community and Economic Development Department, including the assignment of oversight of the Historically Underutilized Business Program and Local Employment and Apprenticeship Training Program. [T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

The ordinance passed without comment.

Ordinance No. 28111 Amending Chapter 8.20 of the Municipal Code, relating to minors and alcohol, by repealing Section 8.20.070 in its entirety and enacting a new Section 8.20.071, entitled “Minors and Liquor – Prohibited Acts,” to allow for effective and efficient prosecution consistent with state law. [Keith Echterling, Prosecuting City Attorney; Elizabeth Pauli, City Attorney]

The ordinance passed without comment.

Ordinance No. 28112 Adopting the 2013-2018 Capital Facilities Program.  [Steve Call, Interim Director, Finance]

The ordinance passed without comment.

Ordinance No. 28113 Amending the 2011-2012 Biennial Budget to appropriate funds for contractual obligations, an interfund loan, transfers, and other budget adjustments; and appropriating miscellaneous donations, contributions, and/or fees.  [Steve Call, Interim Director, Finance]

Councilmember Campbell noted that this concludes the budget for the current biennium (finally), and thanked City Manager Broadnax, who had his work cut out for him when he came in midway through the mess process.

Ordinance No. 28114 Adopting the 2013-2014 Biennial Budget for the City of Tacoma; and restructuring the remaining balance of a line of credit note through December 31, 2018. [Steve Call, Interim Director, Finance]

After so much debate, comment, and bargaining, we’ve finally arrived at the moment for the vote.  As council members pointed out, this hasn’t been an easy process for anyone, and a lot of blood, sweat, tears and lost sleep have gone into the process on all sides.  The Council heaped glowing praise on Broadnax for his process and dedication, but as Councilmember Fey pointed out, this was a painful process, and the fat person hasn’t sung yet.  The budgets for the four years of the current and next biennia have been cut by a total of about $94 million, and there’s still work to be done to make the 2015-2016 budget pencil out, and to maintain workable levels of service.  And with that, the 2013-14 budget passed.

Ordinance No. 28115 Amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to create six unclassified titles to implement the reorganization of departments; and to implement wage provisions for employees represented by the United Transportation Union, Switch Crew Unit and Yardmasters Unit, which covers approximately 32 full-time positions. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The ordinance passed without comment.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER
City Manager Broadnax began by thanking everyone who worked on and participated in the budget process, including City staff, Council, and the public.  Broadnax also gave two reports:

• The Public Works Department has been awarded a $1.5 million grant from the WSDOT Improvement Board for the South Tacoma Way Street Project.  That project includes improvements in two sections along South Tacoma Way: an asphalt overlay, new transit stop pads, gutters, sidewalks, curbs and ramps, lighting and landscaping improvements, and the construction of a segment of the Waterditch Trail.
• The City will host an open house on the MLK Subarea planning process this Wednesday, December 5, from 6:00 to 8:00 p.m. at Evergreen State College in Tacoma.  The open house is an opportunity for the public to learn about and provide input on the latest draft plan and EIS.  Public input will inform the final draft of the subarea plan and EIS, scheduled to be presented to Council June 2013.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Neighborhoods and Housing Committee – Councilmember Walker reported on the committee’s work:

• Giving a do pass to changes to the provisional rental license code, setting minimum property maintenance standards, clarifying language, and addressing repeat offenders.
• Hearing a report on the Homeless Prevention and Rapid Rehousing program.
• Giving a do pass to the community mobilization services competitive funding process.  The funds in this program are aimed at developing and promoting healthy neighborhoods and providing community based services.
• Giving a do pass to the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority administrative budget for 2013-14.

Councilmember Boe mentioned a couple of holiday festivities.  December 31 is First Night, and get your button to get into museums during the day.  The Christmas Revels will be at the Rialto for six shows only on December 15, 16, 18 and 19.  Boe described the interactive show as a celebration of the winter solstice that crosses the History Channel with the Carol Burnett Show, and encouraged the City Manager and staff who are new to Tacoma to get out and enjoy the festivities. 

Councilmember Ibsen reminded us of the community input process for the Tacoma Link expansion, including upcoming public open house this Wednesday, December 5 at UWT from 4:00 to 7:00 p.m. and other drop-in sessions.  Ibsen also invited everyone to the Old Town tree lighting ceremony and Santa visit next to Job Carr Cabin this Thursday, December 6, from 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Councilmember Campbell asked us all to remember, as we do our holiday shopping, that the City budget is contingent on sales tax money, so if you can, get your shopping done in Tacoma, preferably from a locally owned store.

Councilmember Mello recognized the milestone for the Central Neighborhood Council of the groundbreaking on the Sprague entrance gateway, and acknowledged all the hard work went into making the project happen.

ADJOURNMENT

Well, there you have it.  One more meeting down, only two more to go in 2012.