Tacoma City Council Meeting for February 22, 2011

Today’s meeting was neither long nor short. There will be no graphic this week (sorry – I considered providing a non-sequitur doodle, but did not want to try anyone’s patience). Deputy Mayor Lauren Walker was absent. Here is our summary:

C O N S E N T A G E N D A

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38201
Authorizing the submittal of an application to the United States Department of Housing and Urban Development for a Community Development Block Grant Section 108 Guarantee loan, in the amount of $3,904,000 to Horizon Holdings I, LLC, to assist with tenant improvements and refinancing for the property located at 1441 Court A occupied by DaVita.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 27918
Amending Chapter 13.06 of the Municipal Code to reclassify the property
located at 1101 South 28th Street from an “R-2” Single-Family Dwelling District to
a “C-1” General Neighborhood Commercial District, for the development of a
20-stall parking lot to serve Evergreen Fire and Security.

Ordinance No. 27949
Amending Chapter 13.06 of the Municipal Code to reclassify the property located
at 5201 and 5205 Pacific Avenue, from an “R-4” Multiple-Family Dwelling District
to a “C-2” General Community Commercial District, to allow for the construction
of a commercial retail and office building with associated parking.

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Strickland proclaimed February 26, 2011 Tacoma Concert Band Day. Robert Musser of Tacoma Concert Band (and professor emeritus at University of Puget Sound) gratefully accepted the honor on behalf of the concert band and spoke about its achievements.

The Mayor also announced this year’s selection for Tacoma Reads Together, after significant difficulty with the A/V system. In 2011 (the 10th year of the event), Tacomans all over Tacoma will together enjoy reading The Boy Who Harnessed The Wind, by William Kamkwamba. Erik Hanberg (a friend of Exit133), newly appointed chair of Tacoma Reads Together, spoke about the inspiring ingenuity of the author, which is recounted in the book.

PUBLIC COMMENT
(Comments were not to be accepted on Ordinances or Communication Items forwarded to the City Council by the Hearing Examiner for which a public hearing has already been held. On tonight’s agenda that includes Ordinance Nos. 27918 and 27949)

Troy Goodman of Sound Pipeline spoke regarding ordinance 27974, and his company’s efforts for competitively priced renewable fuels for the marine market.

Mark Van Cooney, Convention and Visitor Board Chair, spoke in favor of Resolution 38204.

Timothy Smith of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council, the Tacoma Historical Society and the Tacoma Outreach Center (another friend of Exit133), spoke regarding Resolution 38201, stressing the adaptive uses made possible by historic preservation. He expressed the unique potential of the unused Gray Middle School Building as a veteran’s outreach center and the effort to make it reality.

R E G U L A R A G E N D A

APPOINTMENTS

Resolution No. 38202
Removing the appointment of Council Member Woodards, and appointing Council Member Mello to serve on the Government Performance and Finance Committee.

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38203
Awarding a contract to: Western Peterbilt, Inc., in the amount of $284,097.86, plus sales tax, budgeted from the Solid Waste Fund, for the one-time purchase of an automated side loader collection vehicle with a hydraulic launch assist system – Sole Source.

Resolution No. 38204
Authorizing the execution of a two-year agreement with the Tacoma Regional Convention & Visitor Bureau, in the amount of $700,000, budgeted from the Convention Center Operating Fund, to assist in furthering the City’s convention
and tourism industry through 2012.

Resolution No. 38205
Declaring surplus and authorizing the negotiated disposition of approximately 18,000 square feet of city-owned open space land located at 1101 South 28th Street, to 3215 Building, LLC, in the amount of $54,000, for the future expansion of
its business.

(Council Member Jake Fey clarified the benefits to the City from this resolution, and commended the Public Works Staff. Council Members Mello and Boe also commended the arrangement and its benefit to Evergreen Fire and Security.)

Resolution No. 38206 [This resolution was not on the agenda, but was read and followed by comments regarding its relation to the recent tragic shooting in Tucson, AZ] Pledging to restore civility to our communities by exhibiting and encouraging the kinds of personal qualities that are emblematic of civil society, and endorsing the Civility Accord adopted the United States Conference of Mayors on January 19, 2011.

The text of the Civility Accord can be read here.

All resolutions were adopted.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 27973 Amending Title 1 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Code of Ethics, by repealing and reenacting Chapter 1.46 in its entirety.

Sean Armentrout of the City’s Board of Ethics spoke about the details of this ordinance and the reasons for the change.

Ordinance No. 27974
Granting the nonexclusive right, privilege, and authority through a limited franchise to Sound Pipeline Company, LLC, to install four petroleum product pipelines within the East 11th Street right-of-way as part of their Renewable Fuels Expansion Project, contingent upon approval of all applicable permits.

A representative from the City’s Public Works Department came forward to explain the benefits of the pipeline installations. Final reading will be held March 22nd.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER

The Deputy City Manager thanked Shane Petit, management fellow, for his service to the City.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Economic Development Committee chair Council Member Manthou gave an update regarding the committee’s meetings and activities, including those regarding the Shoreline Master Plan. A meeting will be held tomorrow February 23rd to hear public comment regarding the shoreline plan. The next regular meeting of the Economic Development committee on March 8th at 3:00pm will focus on the billboard sign code and parking requirements.

Council Member Campbell announced a community conversation on February 23rd (tomorrow) at the Portland Ave. Community Center regarding short and long term goals of food delivery services in the McKinley neighborhood.

Mayor Strickland spoke about the Performance Management 2010 Report to Citizens. For more info, visit here. Apparently, our city won an Emmy. We will allow you to unravel that mystery for yourselves (we’ll give you a hint – it involves TVTacoma).

The Mayor also encouraged citizens to attend the Sister Cities International Film Festival every Thursday at 7pm at the Blue Mouse Theater.