Tacoma City Council Meeting - March 17, 2015

CONSENT AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39132 A resolution authorizing the execution of an Interlocal Agreement with the Pierce County Flood Control Zone District, in the amount of $6,000,000; accepting and depositing $1,000,000 annually for six years, for the years 2014 through 2019, into the Wastewater Fund, for reimbursement of costs related to the Central Treatment Plant Flood Protection Improvement Project.

Resolution No. 39133 A resolution approving the final plat of Hidden Creek Estates, an 11-lot residential subdivision located at 5036 South Tyler Street.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

March 20, 2015 was proclaimed as Helping Overcome Personal Emptiness’ Victim Advocacy and Education Day in the City of Tacoma.

HOPE is victim advocacy agency that supports African American victims of intimate partner violence. African American women are 35% more likely to experience violence from an intimate partner, and homicide at the hands of a current or former partner is the number one killer of African American women ages 15 to 34.

Mayor Strickland encouraged everyone to recognize the problems addressed by HOPE, and to support efforts to reduce them.

The public is invited to join HOPE for a community conversation and dialogue on healthy relationships between men and women at Pacific Lutheran University on March 20.

PUBLIC COMMENT

One of the members of HOPE’s leadership shared her personal story of why the work of HOPE is important. The story involved her granddaughter being the victim of intimate violence, and an interaction with the police, which she described as lacking respect and sensitivity, and an unwillingness to file a report. 

REGULAR AGENDA

A motion was made to accept and adopt the 2014 performance evaluation of the City Manager as prepared and submitted by the City Manager Performance Review Committee.

Several members of the council had nice things to say, including Councilmember Mello, who said that City Manager Broadnax has elevated levels of service to the public, including increasing opportunities for public feedback on citywide planning and budgeting efforts.

Resolution No. 39141 – A resolution to amend the City Manager’s employment agreement was added to the agenda.

This gives City Manager Broadnax a 5% total increase in compensation, bringing his base salary to $243,000, plus additional deferred compensation. Mayor Strickland described the increase as market-based, and “clearly deserved,” coming in at slightly lower than the 6% increase other non-represented City employees received.

The Mayor listed several cost-savings accomplishments by Broadnax that more than pay for the raise, including improvements in Tacoma’s bond ratings, a restructuring of payments for work on the Murray Morgan Bridge that saved the City $10 million on the $20 million loan, and the implementation of a jail services contact with Fife that saves the City $1 million, among other savings.

APPOINTMENTS

Resolution No. 39134 A resolution appointing Sarah Irish to the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees for a five-year term beginning March 17, 2015 through March 17, 2020.

The annual $22 million budget for libraries is administered by the Library Board. Sarah Irish, the new appointee, has a background in early education, including working for Stand for Children, a Kindergarten teaching certificate, and being a family support worker in Pierce County.

PURCHASE RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39135 A resolution awarding a contract to Atlantic Machinery Inc., in the amount of $362,000, plus sales tax, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for one combination jet/vacuum sewer cleaner.

Resolution No. 39136 A resolution awarding a contract to J & D’s Hydraulic and Repair Company, Inc., in the amount of $750,000, plus sales tax, budgeted from the Fleet Equipment Rental Fund, for work truck and cargo van.

Resolution No. 39137 A resolution increasing the contract with Systems for Public Safety Inc., in the amount of $300,000, plus sales tax, for a cumulative total of $450,000, budgeted from the Fleet Equipment Rental Capital General Fund, for law enforcement vehicle.

The first three purchase resolutions were adopted without comment.

Resolution No. 39138 A resolution increasing the contract with Tucci & Sons, Inc., in the amount of $152,000, sales tax not applicable, for a cumulative total of $1,354,912.40, budgeted from the Transportation Capital Fund, for unforeseen overages associated with the Water Flume Line Trail Phase II Project.

Councilmember Boe asked for clarification on the work, which he described as additional work that seemed necessary once the trail was close to operational. The work was mostly safety-related, including additional lighting for portions of the trail, new sidewalk and ADA ramps. It was also discovered that motor vehicles were using a portion of the trail, so changes will be made, including fencing, bollards, and other modifications to protect the non-motorized corridor. A new connection was also established at the city limits with Lakewood.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39139 A resolution accepting a donation of property located at 1401 East 34th Street from the Maybell H. Phillips Living Trust; and authorizing the execution of a Statutory Warranty Deed and a Real Estate Donation Agreement, in the amount of $271.83, budgeted from the Surface Water Fund, to pay the property taxes for 2014 and the first half of 2015.

The donation agreement accepts the donation of property to the City from the property owner, and commits the City to pay the $271.83 in back property taxes for 2014 and the first part of 2015. The property will be added to protected open space property owned by the City.

Resolution No. 39140 A resolution authorizing execution of a Letter of Agreement negotiated with the Tacoma Police Union, Local 6, IUPA.

The agreement provides for the restoration of a 1% wage reduction for a group of active employees, and extends an agreement allowing eligible employees to retire in 2015 under the terms of the agreement. No new employees will be allowed to enroll in the program.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28285 An ordinance amending Chapter 12.06 of the Municipal Code, relating to electric energy regulations and rates, to adjust rates for services provided by Tacoma Power, effective April 1, 2015.

Ordinance No. 28286 An ordinance amending Chapter 12.10 of the Municipal Code, relating to water regulations and rates, to provide for two rate adjustments for water services provided by Tacoma Water, effective April 1, 2015 and January 1, 2016.

Both ordinances got a first reading at the March 3 city council meeting. Both were adopted without further comment.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES 

Ordinance No. 28287 An ordinance amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to implement rates of pay and compensation for employees represented by the Tacoma Police Union, Local 6, IUPA, effective retroactive to January 1, 2015.

A substitute ordinance would provide for implementation of the letter of agreement with Tacoma Police employees as discussed in the earlier resolution. In addition, the substitute ordinance would also provide for the salary increase for the city manager as discussed earlier in the agenda.

CITIZENS’ FORUM

We heard from two commenters keeping the conversation about non-subscriber advertising distribution from The News Tribune, affectionately dubbed “Zeeck bags,” which they complained are still piling up on Tacoma streets, showing a failure of the voluntary “opt out” policy. Both commenters asked the council to do something to reduce the corporate litter on city streets, which they said has negative impacts on neighborhoods, the environment, and city recycling facilities.

We also heard from a citizens’ forum regular with a number of concerns – starting with the state of the city address, before moving on to we’re all people, to “We the people…” to a professed confusion over racial tensions, to serving God, to liking libraries, to computers, to the need for less traffic in neighborhoods… 

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER

City Manager Broadnax had several items to share.

• The Washington Industrial Energy Leaders Program is recognizing the City of Tacoma’s Central Wastewater Treatment Plant with an award from Governor Inslee for improved energy performance. In 2013 and 2014 efforts by the City’s Environmental Services Department led to a 15% increase in energy efficiency without additional capital investment. Adjustments to processes led to savings in energy, maintenance, and labor costs.
• In recognition for the International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination on March 21, 2015, the City of Tacoma Human Rights Commission and the Office for Equity and Human Rights, along with community partners will host a free community workshop. The community is invited to participate in the conversation at the Tacoma Urban League from 10:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. For more information, and to register, contact the Office for Equity and Human Rights at 253-591-5162 or email equity@cityoftacoma.org.
• Broadnax also thanked the council for his review process, and the feedback given.

Deputy Mayor Boe shared several arts events.

• Tacoma Symphony performs Songs from the Emerald Isle this Sunday at the Pantages
• Tacoma Musical Playhouse presents Pippi Longstockings this Saturday and Sunday
• Puget Sound Revels invite everyone to join them for Spring Sing March 18 at 7 to celebrate the approaching beginning of spring at B Sharp Coffee House on Opera Alley.

Councilmember Walker shared some of her experiences from Selma last week, where she joined the events honoring the voting rights march across the Edmund Pettus Bridge that led to the Voting Rights Act, and heard President Obama speak.

Councilmember Woodards shared about the Selma solidarity march here in Tacoma, across the Murray Morgan Bridge. She thanked Miriam Barnett of the YWCA for the idea, and Dennis Flannigan, former Tacoma Mayor Harold Moss, and numerous other leaders and community members from who participated in the event.

Woodards also shared an event from Washington Engage, as a part of ongoing work to eradicate human trafficking. The event, titled “Cultural Grooming,” was held on March 17 at PLU from 7 to 8:30 p.m., it addresses vulnerabilities to human trafficking in our communities.

Councilmember Campbell shared several upcoming dates.

• March 28 he will lead a “Discover Dometop” urban hike around McKinley Hill and the neighborhood above the Tacoma Dome. It’s a part of Tacoma’s Healthy Homes, Healthy Neighborhoods initiative.
• On Monday, March 30 the first of the district-by-district town halls on updates to Tacoma’s Comprehensive Plan will be held at Lincoln High School at 6 p.m. It’s a chance to learn about the plan that guides decisions on what gets built where from a planning and zoning perspective. It’s also a chance to weigh in on the first draft of Tacoma’s new Transportation Master Plan.
• On April 6 the year-long closure of Pacific Avenue Bridge over I-5 begins. During that time the overpass will be torn down and rebuilt as part of the WSDOT project to widen and add HOV lanes to I-5.

ADJOURNMENT

For more on the items on this week's agenda, see our City Business Preview for the week.