Tacoma City Council Meeting - February 19, 2013

The big conversation this week was around the Alcohol Impact Area proposed for north and west Tacoma.  If it passes, more than half of Tacoma would be covered under AIAs. 

CONSENT AGENDA

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

The Mayor proclaimed March 17, 2013 as University of Puget Sound Day in the City of Tacoma, in honor of the 125th year of the University in Tacoma. 

The Mayor also recognized the work of the Tacoma chapter of the NAACP on the occasion of its 100th year in Tacoma, for its accomplishments, achievements, and contributions.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Public comment this week focused on the proposed Alcohol Impact Area for the West End of Tacoma (including North Tacoma).  Speakers were split about half-half for and against.

We heard several speakers opposed to the AIA, most from the alcohol distribution and sales community.  A representative of the Washington Beer and Wine Distributors Association offered the idea of a voluntary AIA, as has been tried in Seattle.  Speakers in support of the AIA spoke about the need for action, the challenges of chronic public inebriates, and pointed to the successes of Tacoma’s existing AIAs. 

REGULAR AGENDA

APPOINTMENTS

Resolution No. 38626 Appointing Susan Warner to serve on the Greater Tacoma Regional Convention Center Public Facilities District Board of Directors for a four-year term commencing March 1, 2013 through October 31, 2016.  [Mayor Marilyn Strickland]

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38627 Awarding contracts to:

1. Sprint Solutions, Inc., in the amount of $1,700,000, plus sales tax, budgeted from various departmental funds, for cell phone airtime services, wireless data services, and related equipment purchases on an as-needed basis, from March 1, 2013 through October 31, 2016 –  Washington State Contract No. T12-MST-685;  [Kathy Katterhagen, Procurement and Payables Manager; Steve Call, Interim Director, Finance] and
2. Verizon Wireless, Inc., in the amount of $3,400,000, plus sales tax, budgeted from various departmental funds, for cell phone airtime services, wireless data services, and related equipment purchases on an as-needed basis, from March 1, 2013 through October 31, 2016 –  Washington State Contract No. T12-MST-687.  [Kathy Katterhagen, Procurement and Payables Manager; Steve Call, Interim Director, Finance].

The purchase resolution passed without comment.

Resolution No. 38628 Amending the Water Rate Policy by updating the title to read Water Rate and Financial Policy; and amending Section III of the Policy to improve transparency to all stakeholders, facilitate responsible fund management, and increase potential revenue stability. [Linda McCrea, Superintendent, Tacoma Water]

This resolution is related to the framework which guides the rate-setting process.  Proposed changes to the framework relate to the creation of a capital reserve fund, and other changes designed to increase stability of revenue and debt service minimums to keep borrowing costs low.

Resolution No. 38629 Amending the Electric Rate and Financial Policy to include a new section entitled Rate Stabilization Fund. [Bill Berry, Rate Planning and Analysis Section Manager; Ted Coates, Superintendent, Tacoma Power]

This resolution represents changes to the electric rate and financial policy to comply with bond ordinances.

Resolution No. 38630 Authorizing the execution of an agreement with Pierce Transit, in the amount of $333,859.52, budgeted from the General Fund, to purchase One Regional Card for All (ORCA) Business Cards as part of the City’s Commute Trip Reduction Program for 2013. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The resolution authorizes the annual agreement with Pierce Transit for bus and vanpool services for City employees.  The 2013 rate has been negotiated to be less than the 2012 rate.  As a side note, does anyone else think the “One Regional Card for All” has a bit of a “Lord of the Rings” sound to it?

Resolution No. 38631 Authorizing the execution of an agreement with the Tacoma-Pierce County Employment and Training Consortium, in the amount of $650,210, budgeted from the Youth Build Tacoma Fund, for implementation of the Youth Building Tacoma comprehensive job training and pre-apprenticeship program from January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014. [Christopher Wright, Contract and Program Auditor; Tansy Hayward, Director, Neighborhood and Community Services]

The resolution allocates biennium funding for the program jointly funded by General Government and Tacoma Public Utilities, with contributions from WorkForce Central.  Youth Building Tacoma is a training program aimed at creating a pool of qualified employees for TPU, and providing young people with skills and experience to make them competitive job seekers.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28132 Amending Ordinance No. 24489, Substitute Ordinance No. 25656, and Ordinance No. 27560, which created and established the Department of Public Utilities Water Assurance Fund, to repurpose the fund, rename the fund to the Water Capital Reserve Fund, and expand the use of fund revenue to all capital projects. [Linda McCrea, Superintendent, Tacoma Water]

This ordinance to authorize the creation of a capital reserve fund is intended to simplify the funding structure and improve the ability to manage funds.

Ordinance No. 28133 Amending Chapter 12.10 of the Municipal Code, relating to water regulations and rates, to add a new section entitled Franchise Hydrant Service Fee; and adjust rates, charges, and fees for services provided by the Water Division, effective April 1, 2013 and January 1, 2014. [Linda McCrea, Superintendent, Tacoma Water]

Tacoma Water has identified a need for a 6% rate increase annually for the current biennium.  Revenue sources are down, and costs are up for the utility which faces the dual costs of reacting to regulatory mandates that require capital investments, such as covering water reservoirs, and the need to repair and replace aging infrastructure.  The utility has worked to improve its finances by downsizing operations, reducing capital spending, borrowing for current capital needs to take advantage of low interest rates, and increasing sales in the wholesale market.  The proposed rate increase will result in a $2 per month average increase for residential customers within the city, and an additional $5 per month increase outside the city to pay for hydrant service.  Tacoma customers still pay significantly less – about half – what their counterparts in Seattle or Bellevue pay.

Ordinance No. 28134 Amending Chapter 12.06 of the Municipal Code, relating to electric energy regulations and rates, to adjust rates, charges, and fees for services provided by the Power Division, effective April 1, 2013 and April 1, 2014. [Ted Coates, Superintendent, Tacoma Power]

Tacoma Power has also identified the need for rate increases – 4.2% system wide in 2013 and 2014.  The key drivers include an increased cost for purchased power.  Steps have been taken to decrease costs, including downsizing, cutting capital costs, and using a portion of the rate stabilization fund to keep rates down.  The average residential customer will see about a $4 per month increase for the next two years.

Ordinance No. 28135 Creating an Alcohol Impact Area within the West End of Tacoma, and requiring a report to the City Council by August 31, 2013, regarding voluntary efforts to reduce chronic public inebriation.  [Lieutenant Dan Still, Tacoma Police Department; Chief Don Ramsdell]

The ordinance is a response to a request by neighborhood groups for action on problems relating to alcohol sales and consumption; calls to Tacoma fire and police for service in the area have increased in recent years.  37 businesses in the proposed area would be impacted by the restrictions on sales – bars and restaurants where alcohol is consumed on the premises would not be affected.  The presenting police representative described results from Tacoma’s existing AIAs, including decreased calls for service with no additional personnel or cost for enforcement, and (despite what we heard from a couple commenters during public comment, no businesses closed as a result).

If the AIA is passed next week, an initial period of “voluntary” compliance would give businesses six months to clear the affected products from their shelves before the liquor board steps in to enforce compliance.  That six-month period would end September 30 of this year.

The police representative described “voluntary AIAs,” as suggested by representatives of the alcohol distributors, in unfavorable terms.  Council raised questions about voluntary AIAs and concerns that creating an AIA in one neighborhood only forces the problems into another.  Several council members expressed a desire that independent of the AIA, the problem be considered on a city-wide scale.  It’s likely that the root causes of chronic public inebriation are a bit more complicated than access to high octane malt liquor, but the question at hand here is whether creating another AIA in Tacoma is a step in the right direction.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

None this week.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER

The City will be offering a crime free housing class as part of a public safety partnership to help property owners and managers keep drug and other illegal activity off their property.  The class will be March 13 and 14 at Tacoma Police Department headquarters.  Register online at www.cityoftacoma.org.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee Councilmember Woodards reported on the work of the committee.

• Heard a presentation of the gap analysis for Tacoma’s mental health and chemical dependency services from the Pierce County Health Department.
• Heard a report on the mental health and chemical dependency funding process and priorities, including how and when applications for funding will be evaluated, and recommendations on how spending of the mental health tax should be prioritized.
• Gave a do pass to changes to the human services strategic plan.
• Heard a presentation on Tacoma gang assessment priorities, including closing gaps in data collection, reducing gang member access to guns, and improving the success of middle school youth.
• Other presentations, including a demonstration of TPD’s new PredPol predictive policing program.

Councilmember Ibsen reminded us that the Sister Cities International Film Festival continues this week at the Blue Mouse theater in Proctor.  The movie this Thursday will be The Beauty from Alhambra from our sister city of Cienfuegos, Cuba.  Doors open at 6:00 p.m.  Enjoy the cultural programming, the movie, and great popcorn.  And if you’re looking for a little something else to do that night, Giardini’s is closing, and the going away party will be held just before the movie at Umpqua bank.  There will be a replacement retail store going in where Giardini’s has been. 

ADJOURNMENT

Well, that ‘bout does it for us.

For more on any of the items on this week’s agenda, read this week’s Tacoma City Business Preview from Exit133.