Tacoma City Council Meeting for March 30th, 2010

Tonight’s City Council meeting was a relatively quick event with just one person coming to the podium during public comment. There seemed to be a lot more recusals than we’re used to … a few more than we even mention below. Maybe this is a new trend. Here are our notes:

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

RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No. 38003 sets Tuesday, April 20, 2010, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on the proposed 2010-2011 Annual Action Plan and the 2010-2015 Five Year Consolidated Plan for Housing and Community Development.

PROCLAMATIONS
Mayor Strickland proclaimed April 10th through April 12th as Imperial Sovereign Court of Tacoma Mr., Miss and Ms. Gay Washington Pageant Days in the City of Tacoma.

PUBLIC COMMENT

• Willie Painter from the Tacoma Rainbow Center in support of the Mayor’s proclamation.

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

APPOINTMENTS
Resolution No. 38004 appoints and reappoints individuals to the Arts Commission, Citizen Review Panel, and the Human Rights Commission.

• Reppoints Traci Kelly Arts Commission
• Appoints Amie Mell to the Arts Commission
• Reappoints John LaFond to the Citizen Review Panel
• Appoints Joyce Miles to the Human Rights Commission

RESOLUTIONS
Purchase Resolution No. 38005 awards contracts to:

1. Public Financial Management, Inc., in the amount of $170,000.00, to be paid using bond proceeds, for financial advisory services for future bond issues for an initial three-year term, with the option to renew for three additional one-year terms, for a projected contract total amount of $240,000.00;
2. Rognlin’s, Inc., on its bid of $484,582.96, budgeted from the Tacoma Rail Mountain Division Capital Projects Fund, for upgrades along the Chehalis section of the Tacoma Rail Mountain Division;
3. Rodarte Construction, Inc., on its bid of $465,690.53 budgeted from the Wastewater and Water Bond Funds, for a sanitary sewer trunkline reroute and water main extension in North 51st Street and North Bennett Street;
4. K&L Gates LLP, in the amount of $190,000.00, to be paid using bond proceeds, for legal services relating to bond issues for an initial three-year term, plus the option to renew for three additional one-year periods, for a projected contract total amount of $260,000.00; and
5. Construct Company, LLC, in the amount of $230,000.00, for a cumulative total of $956,815.49, budgeted from the Paths & Trails Fund, to increase the contract for additional project work on the Water Ditch Trail.

Resolution No. 38006 authorizes the execution of an agreement with the Tacoma-Pierce County Employment and Training Consortium, in the amount of $325,105, budgeted from the Youth Building Tacoma Fund, for the implementation of the Youth Building Tacoma comprehensive job-training and pre-apprenticeship program for 2010. Two young men that have gone through the program came before council and spoke about their experiences.

Resolution No. 38007 authorizing the execution of Amendment No. 4 to the Agreement for Legal Services with GordonDerr LLP, in the amount of $50,000, for a cumulative total of $430,000, budgeted from the General Fund, to provide legal advice and services relating to various public works and land use matters. This will carry the “remaining two matters” through the rest of their appeals.

Resolution No. 38008 authorizes the execution of Amendment No. 257 to the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority (TCRA) agreement, authorizing the TCRA to administer $162,338 of Lead Hazard Control Grant Program funds to provide lead hazard control to approximately 24 eligible units. These funds will be combined with other grant funds to be used at the YWCA domestic violence center at 401 St. Helens – Wilsonian Apartments.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES
Ordinance No. 27752 amends Chapter 13.06 of the Municipal Code to reclassify five parcels from a combination of “C-1” General Neighborhood Commercial District, “C-2” General Community Commercial District, “R-2” One-Family Dwelling District, and “R-4-L” Low-Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District to a “C-2” General Community Commercial District on the westerly portion of the site and a “T” Transitional District on the easterly portion of the site, located at 8431 Pacific Avenue, with a small retail use, a commercial car wash, and multi-family dwellings on the east.

Ordinance No. 27881 amends Chapter 12.08 of the Municipal Code, relating to Wastewater and Surface Water Management, to broaden the eligibility for participation in the Septic Amnesty Program to include commercial premises not connected to the municipal sanitary sewer system.

Ordinance No. 27882 amends Ordinance No. 27696, relating to the Business Improvement Area (BIA), to comport with chapter 35.87A RCW, which requires a public hearing only when there are changes in the assessment rates, modification of the boundaries, and/or establishment or disestablishment of the BIA. Councilmembers Boe and Campbell recused themselves as their businesses are located in the BIA district and while they don’t pay into the BIA, their landlords (probably) do. Mayor Strickland recused herself as she lives within the BIA district.

Ordinance No. 27883 continues the Business Improvement Area (BIA) for the 23rd year and providing for the levy of assessments and other income in the amount of $855,941; and approving the work plan, budget, and assessment of rates from May 1, 2010 through April 30, 2011. The recusals were the same as on Ordinance No. 27882.

That’s it for this evening. Good night.