Tacoma City Council Meeting for March 1, 2011

It may be a day late, but here it is. This agenda was fairly light, and Mayor Strickland and Council Member Woodards were absent. 

C O N S E N T   A G E N D A 

RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No. 38207
Accepting a Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (SAFER) grant from the United States Department of Homeland Security, in the amount of $1,566,699; depositing said sum into the Fire Miscellaneous Special Revenue Fund, to pay salaries, benefits, and certain training costs of ten firefighters for two years; agreeing to not lay off commissioned Tacoma Fire Department employees during the period of the grant; and retaining the SAFER-funded firefighters for one full year after the end of the two-year grant.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 27964
Amending Chapter 13.06 of the Municipal Code to reclassify the property located at 6036 and 6040 South Puget Sound Avenue from an “R-2SRD” Single-Family Dwelling Special Review District to a “C-2” General Community Commercial District, to continue to use a portion of the parking lot for South Tacoma Mazda.

Ordinance No. 27972
Providing for the improvement of the structural sidewalk at 739 to 745 Broadway and the standard sidewalk at 1151 Tacoma Avenue South, by reconstructing or replacing the sidewalks for public safety; and directing the levy of special assessments according to the benefits upon the respective abutting properties.

(All ordinances passed)

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
Deputy Mayor Walker proclaimed March 1, 2011, “Sylvia B. Sass Day” in Tacoma and presented the proclamation to Ms. Sylvia Sass. This proclamation honors her work with the national Sister Cities program since its inception in 1956.

Mr. Mike Slevin and the City’s Public Works department presented the council with the National Association of Clean Water Agencies’ 2011 National Environmental Achievement. This award was recognized by Gov. Gregoire, and represents a significant step forward in storm water management for the benefit of the Foss Waterway.

Council Member Fey moved to suspend the rules to consider an additional resolution, Resolution No. 38211, last under Resolutions on the Regular Agenda. Seconded by Council Member Lonergan. Voice vote was taken and carried. The motion was declared by Council Member Campbell, and the text thereof is included in the list of resolutions below. Thereof is a fine word.

PUBLIC COMMENT (Began at 5:19 p.m.; ended at 5:24 p.m.)
Mike Price spoke about Ordinance No. 27973, objecting to the repealing and replacement of the existing code.

R E G U L A R   A G E N D A 

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38208
Awarding contracts to:
1. AHBL, on its bid of $840,520.15, sales tax not applicable, budgeted from the Streets Special Revenue Fund and the Surface Water Fund, for design and construction services on the Pacific Avenue Streetscape Project on Pacific Avenue from South 17th Street to South 7th Street
2. Northwest Forklift, Inc., on its bid of $204,498.00, plus sales tax, budgeted from the Solid Waste Fund, for a hybrid electric yard tractor
3. L.N. Curtis & Sons, in the amount of $206,690.00, plus sales tax, budgeted from the 2010 LTGO Bond D Capital Projects Fund and the Fire Miscellaneous Special Revenue Fund, for 22 Bullard T3MAX Thermal Imaging Cameras and accessories – Sole Source.

Resolution No. 38209
Authorizing the execution of an agreement with Pape & Sons Construction, Inc., in the amount of $1,280,471.36, including sales tax, budgeted from the Public Works Wastewater Fund, to replace the underground wastewater pipes in the vicinity of South 12th Street to 6th Avenue from MacArthur Street to Hawthorne Street. 

(Mike Slevin from Public Works explained the background and implications of this resolution. This project would replace over 1.5 miles of water pipes and a 1.25 miles of sewer pipes, most of which are over 70 years old.)

Resolution No. 38210
Authorizing the execution and conveyance of an easement to Puget Sound Energy
for the installation of a gas line to provide gas services to Cheney Stadium. 

Conor McCarthy from Public Works explained the need for a new 2” gas line to Cheney Stadium along an existing road. Council Member Fey requested clarification as to if the installation would be in compliance with utility installation requirements adopted for this project. The project engineer confirmed that this installation would be consistent with the requirements.

Resolution No. 38211
Authorizing the execution of Amendment No. 1 to the agreement with Catholic Community Services of Western Washington, in the amount of $4,600, for a cumulative total of $359,672, budgeted from the General Fund, to provide emergency shelter for women during severe weather for the period of February 23, 2011 through April 30, 2011.

Debbie Bergthold, from the Human Rights and Human Services Department, spoke about the uses and capacity of the Tacoma Avenue Shelter during times of inclement weather. Council Member Campbell commended Jim Anderson for his assistance in providing the City with a swift solution to the capacity issues. Council Member Mello also spoke about the effectiveness and true need for such measures.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 27973
Continued to March 8, 2011
Amending Title 1 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Code of Ethics, by repealing and reenacting Chapter 1.46 in its entirety. Council Member Manthou moved to continue Ordinance No. 27973 to the meeting of March 8, 2011. Seconded by Council Member Lonergan. Voice vote was taken and carried. The motion was declared adopted.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS
None.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER
No report.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
Council Member Fey gave report on the activities of Environment and Public Works Committee. This committee has reviewed the Shoreline Master Plan, Waste Characterization Program, Commercial Food Waste Pilot Program, Side Sewer Inspection Program, Electric Vehicle charging station issues and Tacoma Dome parking. The Environment and Public Works Committee will hold three meetings next week: March 7, at 8am regarding power rate increases from Tacoma Power; March 8, at 3pm (joint meeting with Economic Development Committee) regarding the Billboard Sign Code; and *March 9, at 3:30pm (joint meeting with Economic Development Committee), regarding the Shoreline Master Plan. 

Council Member Ryan Mello commended the City Manager and Public Works director for keeping the council informed of developments with the Department of Transportation regarding the Sprague Avenue freeway interchange.

Council Member Lonergan invited the public to attend the dedication of a memorial at Stewart Heights on Saturday, March 5th at 10:15, in conjunction with Safe Streets groups and Metro Parks.

Council Member Campbell invited the public to a community conversation regarding food delivery services in the McKinley neighborhood. This meeting was rescheduled due to weather, and will now be held on Thursday, from 6 to 8pm at McKinley Elementary School. 

fin