Tacoma City Council Meeting - February 14, 2012

Well, if you were going to give up several hours of your Valentine’s Day for a City Council meeting, this was a pretty good one.  We had plenty of action, good dialogue, and of course Citizens’ Forum.  It’s always good to see Tacomans showing their love for the city by getting involved (it’s no construction paper and doily heart-shaped card, but we think it’s even better).  Between large-scale retail debates, B&O tax exemption comments, and concerns over sex offenders, there was a little something to keep everyone’s interest.

CONSENT AGENDA

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Nearly 20 people spoke.  The majority of the comments focused on Ordinance No. 28052, which proposes a reduction of the B&O tax exemptions given to nonprofit healthcare providers.  Opinion was split, but more speakers came down in support of the ordinance, some even asked the council to go further and eliminate any tax exemptions for nonprofit healthcare providers.  Much of the argument referenced what may be an overly simplistic equation pitting firefighters against hospitals.  That doesn’t sound like an situation where anyone wins.  The deceptively objective-sounding phrase “doing their fair share” came up repeatedly.  Of course all sides want what’s “fair,” the problem comes when you try to define that…

Other comment topics included Click! rate changes, downtown parking and large-scale retail zoning changes.

REGULAR AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS

Resolution No. 38428 Appoints and reappoints individuals to the Citizens Recognition Committee and the Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities.

This resolution adds two new community volunteers to the Citizens Recognition Committee and one new appointment and two reappointments to the Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities.  Thanks to the community volunteers who have stepped up to fill these spots.

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38429 Awards contracts to:

1. Rodarte Construction, Inc., on its bid of $916,704.25, sales tax not included, plus a 20 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $1,100,045.10, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund and the Surface Water Fund, to replace 3,500 linear feet of wastewater, surface water, and water pipe for the South 15th Street and Fawcett Avenue Utilities Improvement Project –

2. BergerABAM, on its bid of $709,965.00, sales tax not applicable, budgeted from the REET Capital Project Fund and the 2010 LTGO Bond D Fund, for an initial one-year term, for preparation of the SR 509/East D Street Slip Ramps Interchange Justification Report.

After some mild confusion when Councilmember Mello asked questions regarding a “sustainable purchasing policy,” it was clarified that although the City can include certain criteria in the bid process that might favor local companies, it can’t arbitrarily favor local businesses.  And there still has to be a good reason for the criteria, but the contract in question is a hard one to make that argument for.  For more on this, see previous discussion on preference for local bidders from Exit133.

Resolution No. 38430 Establishes the membership of the South Downtown Sub-Area Plan Station Working Group for the purpose of guiding the development of the South Downtown Sub-Area Plan/Environmental Impact Statement.

This is a broad-based group of local stakeholders that will serve as a check-in for consultants and City staff as a requirement of a $5 million grant received in partnership with UWT to build sustainable communities.

Resolution No. 38431 Declares surplus and authorizes the conveyance of approximately ten acres of land, including a single-family home, owned by Tacoma Power located at 1670 Spencer Road in Onalaska, to John and Ashlee Remmereid, for the amount of $185,000.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 27681 Vacates a portion of air rights over the 1600 block of South J Street to construct a skybridge to connect a planned medical center building (Olympic Medical Center) with St. Joseph Hospital. (Sisters of St. Francis; File No. 124.1281)

A substitute ordinance passed, including clarifications of specific height, location, etc for the skybridge project between two medical buildings.  The first reading of this bill was about four years ago, and the project is finally getting underway after a not so slight delay.  The City will be paid a little over $10,000 by Franciscan for the rights to build the sky bridge in the air over South J Street.  Councilmember Campbell abstained from voting, as he did not feel he had enough information, not having been on the Council four years ago when this process started.

Ordinance No. 28049 Amends Chapter 12.13 of the Municipal Code, relating to Click! Network Cable TV Products, to increase rates for cable television products and related services, effective April 1, 2012.

It looks like your rates are going up if you’re a Click! customer, but Councilmember Mello pointed out that Click! customers still save money compared to Comcast, and encouraged more people to be Click! customers.

Ordinance No. 28050 Amends Title 13 of the Municipal Code, relating to Land Use, and Title 1, relating to Administration and Personnel, to modify the zoning provisions for large retail uses by instituting a new Conditional Use Permit requirement, increasing associated notification and community input opportunities, and increasing the use of size limitation in certain districts.

Oh boy.  To use Councilmember Boe’s own words, he got a bit “into the weeds” on several proposed amendments, suggesting a shrinking of the notification perimeter, a change from a “required” to a “recommended” pre-application public meeting, and some other language changes.  There was a fairly spirited back and forth by council members, with Mayor Strickland proposing a “friendly” amendment to the original amendment, which Councilmember Boe politely declined.  When the dust finally settled, Councilmember Boe’s amendments, aimed at creating consistency and clarity to the new ordinance narrowly failed.  The ordinance itself passed.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28051 Amending Chapters 13.05 and 13.06A of the Municipal Code, relating to the Land Use Regulatory Code, to modify the downtown off-street parking regulations as recommended by the Planning Commission.

Ordinance No. 28052 Amending Chapter 6A.30 of the Municipal Code, relating to Business and Occupation Tax, to reduce the exemption and deduction provided to non-profit healthcare providers to 75 percent of their gross income and to remove the exemption provided for trauma-related charges and service fees.

This was the big talking point from public comment, and it got more attention from the Council.  We got clarification that while Group Health is not affected by this particular ordinance, because they are not classified as a nonprofit, they do in fact pay B&O taxes to the City.  What is less clear is the impact that the change would have on the level of services and jobs the nonprofit healthcare organizations will be able to provide to the community.  Although he doesn’t have full Council support at this time, Councilmember Ibsen promised to bring an amendment next week to repeal 100% of the tax exemptions.  That’s sure to spark further conversation.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.

CITIZENS’ FORUM

We heard a plea from a South End resident to save Gas Station Park, and several Hilltop residents appealed to the Council to find a way to address their concerns over criminals being housed in disproportionate numbers in their neighborhood with little supervision.  An Occupy Tacoma rep invited the Council to join WSDOT and the Washington State Patrol in attending their general assembly at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday.  And last, but not least, Justin Leighton thanked the Council for supporting the passage of the marriage equality bill.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER
This week we welcome TC Broadnax.  Apologies to Mrs. B; Valentine’s Day won’t always be on a Tuesday.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Councilmember Boe reminds us that the Sister Cities International Film Festival at the Blue Mouse.  This Thursday will be the 3rd week, featuring _A Matter of Size a film from Israel about sumo wrestling.  Why not?  Doors open at 6:00 p.m.  Tickets are $10._

ADJOURNMENT

Alright, that was worth it, but now its time to break out the champagne and chocolates and see what else is on T.V.