Tacoma City Council Meeting - February 10, 2015

CONSENT AGENDA

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28248 An ordinance amending Chapter 13.06 of the Municipal Code to reclassify a 5.38-acre parcel located at 1502 South Orchard Street from an “R-2” Single-Family Dwelling District to an “R-4-L” Low Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District to allow for future construction of a 121-unit apartment complex.

The consent agenda was adopted without comment.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

2015 was proclaimed as the Year of the Bike in the City of Tacoma. Everyone is encouraged to get out and experience Tacoma on a bike. The #YearOfTheBike officially kicks off this Thursday at 6:30 p.m. at The Grand Cinema with a free screening of AfterMass, a documentary that looks at cycling in a post-critical mass Portland. The screening will be followed by a discussion. Watch bike253.com all year for bike-related events, and get in on the action – local bike groups want to see more of their friends and neighbors out on two wheels.

Tacoma Wheelmen’s Bicycle Club presented the 2014 Paths to Mount Tacoma award to the City of Tacoma for all its work to make Tacoma a more bicycle friendly area and a more bicycle aware community. The Wheelmen cited a list of accomplishments over the last year, including work on the Water Ditch/Flume Line Trail, the Prairie Line Trail, the Swan Creek mountain bike trail, the Pipeline Trail, and the completed 13.1 miles of bikeways.

PUBLIC COMMENT

The main subject of comment this week was City support for putting the Warhol Flower on the Tacoma Dome. Three commenters spoke in favor of the idea, calling it a unique opportunity to put Tacoma on the map as a significant arts community - even if the installation only gives us that legendary 15 minutes of fame. One resident of the Dometop neighborhood spoke against the installation, saying that she didn't want to have to look down on the brightly colored flower, prefering instead the existing "harmonious" blue and grey color palate.

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39111 A resolution authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 483, Clerical Unit, which consists of approximately 169.1 budgeted, full-time equivalent positions, and provides for a wage increase of 2.2 percent, effective retroactive t  January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.

The resolution was adopted without council comment.

Resolution No. 39112 A resolution authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, Local 483, Supervisors’ Unit, which consists of approximately 13 budgeted, full-time equivalent positions, and provides for a wage increase of 2.2 percent, effective retroactive to January 1, 2015, through December 31, 2015.

This resolution was also adopted without council comment.

Resolution No. 39113 A resolution directing the City Manager to work with staff to incorporate the “Theater District” label and brand in its future community and economic development efforts, as described in the North Downtown Subarea Plan of the Comprehensive Plan.

With this resolution the council gives the City Manager the go-ahead to start using the “Theater District” designation to market the area as an arts and cultural destination to both Tacoma residents and visitors to the city. It’s a marketing strategy outlined in the North Downtown Subarea Plan adopted last year; no new business district or neighborhood council area will be created with this resolution.

A minor amendment was made to add an explicit acknowledgement of the contributions of the Broadway Center for the Performing Arts to the revitalization and ongoing vitality of the area and its arts scene. This comes on the heels of council support for the Broadway Center’s ambitious fundraising goals for improvements to both the Rialto and the Pantages in anticipation of the theaters’ upcoming 100th anniversary in 2018.

Resolution No. 39114 A resolution expressing support for the concept of the installation of Andy Warhol flower art on the Tacoma Dome roof, to be accomplished by a 100 percent private fundraising campaign to cover the total cost of installation, maintenance, cleaning, removal, and fundraising-related expenses; and directing the City Manager to work with the Greater Tacoma Community Foundation.

With the adoption of this resolution the council expresses support for the concept of putting the original 1980s Warhol-designed, vibrant orange flower on the Tacoma Dome, but does not commit any City funds to the project. The $5 million price tag, which supporters would be responsible for raising in full, includes cleanings and maintenance for the three years of the warranteed life of the vinyl product planned to be used for the 6.5-acre art installation.

Comments from the council were largely supportive of the installation plan, with Councilmember Thoms saying he hoped the bold move of installing the original Warhol design would serve as a catalyst for improvements for the next three decades of the Dome.

Councilmember Lonergan raised some concerns regarding unforeseen expenses, particularly around the ultimate removal of the design, and any additional cleaning or maintenance that extends beyond three years. Staff responded that they feel confident that the $5 million total includes enough contingency funding to cover potential additional costs. The resolution was ultimately adopted with a unanimous yes vote.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28280 An ordinance 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, Clerical and Supervisors’ Units.

The ordinance implementing the resolutions adopted earlier in the meeting will get a final reading at next week's council meeting.

Ordinance No. 28281 An ordinance amending Title 13 of the Municipal Code, entitled “Land Use Regulatory Code,” to establish permanent land use regulations concerning the production, processing, and retail sale of recreational marijuana; superseding interim regulations enacted pursuant to Substitute Ordinance No. 28182.

This ordinance would implement recommended permanent land-use regulations on marijuana-related businesses. The new permanent rules would replace interim regulations currently in place, which are scheduled to expire this May. The proposed permanent rules would largely retain the existing standards, with small changes for clarification, and to expand areas where production and processing, as well as Urban Horticulture uses are allowed.

Councilmember Thoms proposed an amendment, which was adopted, adding a stipulation that if changes at the state level around recreational and/or medical marijuana raise new concerns around the number of businesses allowed or other issues, the city should convene a joint meeting of the City Council and the Planning Commission to discuss possible modifications at the local level. The ordinance, with that amendment, will get a final reading next week.

CITIZENS’ FORUM

Public displeasure with The News Tribune's advertising circulars (a.k.a. "Zeekbags") is back. We heard from several commenters complaining that the “opt-out” process wasn’t working, and that the bags were turning into neighborhood litter and environmental issues when they travel further down the line, ending up in waterways. Another commenter spoke regarding services for women veterans, and we heard a commenter with concerns about how black police officers and fire fighters are treated.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Councilmember Ibsen shared some information regarding the Point Defiance master planning process currently underway. Metro Parks will host a series of town halls open to the public. All of these meetings are currently scheduled for 6 p.m. at the Point Defiance Zoo and Aquarium Education Center. The next meeting is scheduled for February 26. Learn more here.

Councilmember Campbell spoke on the recent violent attack on a woman in Tacoma, inviting everyone to join him at a public forum in response to the anti-LGBTQ hate crime. The forum will be held at the Rainbow Center on Saturday February 14 from 10 a.m. to noon. Campbell asked everyone to turn out to say that hate is not a value that we will tolerate as a community.

Councilmember Mello echoed Campbell’s sentiments, describing this sad event an anomally for Tacoma. Mello also shared some good news. Tacoma has been under an EPA order on poor air quality for some time now, but that this week the EPA had certified Tacoma's plan for addressing the issue, and has taken the city out of "unattainment" status. This means that Tacoma's air is getting better, but that there's still work to be done.

ADJOURNMENT

For more on the items on the agenda see our City Business Preview for the week.