Tacoma City Council Meeting - May 7, 2013

CONSENT AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 38665 Setting Tuesday, May 21, 2013, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on the proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulatory Code, as recommended by the Planning Commission for the year 2013. [Lihuang Wung, Senior Planner; Peter Huffman, Interim Director, Planning and Development Services]

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Strickland proclaimed the month of May 2013 as “Puget Sound Starts Here Month” in recognition of the importance of healthy waterways to Tacoma’s culture, economic resources, quality of life and legacy. Puget Sound Starts Here was launched by municipalities, tribes, and agencies to raise public awareness and engage residents in stewardship of the health of the Puget Sound. Tacoma alone has more than 35 miles of shoreline, and PSSH encourages residents to reduce our cumulative and individual negative impacts on the health of the Sound by taking simple steps like washing your car at a car wash or on your lawn, picking up after your dog, using fewer chemicals or instead using TAGRO on your lawn. You’re also all invited to Puget Sound Starts Here night at Cheney Stadium on Thursday, May 16.

PUBLIC COMMENT

The bulk of public comment this week was regarding proposed changes to Tacoma’s committees, boards, and commissions. All those who spoke this week voiced support for changes, with the formation of the Transportation Commission drawing the most comment. We also heard support for changes to implement youth positions on certain commissions, among other changes.

Supporters of the Transportation Commission resolution described it as a way of ensuring that the City is best positioned to make informed decisions with citizen buy-in in its transportation planning processes. The Chair of the Bicycle and Pedestrian Action Committee, which will become a Technical Advisory Group to the commission thanked City staff and council for including the BPAC and its interests in the process and expressed a hope that active transportation interests would be represented with a seat or two on the new commission. The BPAC had initial concerns regarding the process of reviewing and revising citizen involvement in City Hall, but the group came away inspired by the vigor of the process and excited by the community-building potential.

Other commenters also had opinions on the make-up of the Transportation Commission. We heard a request that the commission have a number of members with working knowledge of both Tacoma’s existing transportation system, as well as of other systems elsewhere. Chamber representative David Schroedel expressed support for the resolution creating the Transportation Commission, but also asked the Council to consider ensuring that manufacturing and industrial sector interests are represented on the Transportation Commission in recognition of the important role those businesses play in the Tacoma economy. Another speaker also spoke in favor of the establishment of the Transportation Commission, but added a request that Council do what it can to ensure that Tacoma’s diverse population is represented on the commission, particularly residents of minority and lower socio-economic communities, who might not already be engaged in the process.

REGULAR AGENDA

A motion may be considered to authorize the City’s full and final settlement of all claims against the City in the claim of Shaub-Ellison Company and Continental Western Insurance Company, Claim No. W-082-12, upon payment by the City in the amount of $60,978.65.

The motion was made. Councilmember Boe recused himself to avoid the potential for any appearance of a conflict of interest on the issue. The motion carried without comment.

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38666 Awarding a contract to:

Michels Corporation, on its bid of $1,168,433.75, not including sales tax, plus a 15 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $1,343,698.81, budgeted from the Surface Water Fund, for the rehabilitation of 28,400 linear feet of 8-inch to 21-inch diameter stormwater sewer pipes using Cured-In-Place pipe technology, as part of the Stormwater Sewer Rehabilitation Project – Specification No. ES13-0043F. [Geoffrey M. Smyth, P.E., Science and Engineering Division Manager; Michael P. Slevin, III, P.E., Interim Director, Environmental Services]

The resolution carried, awarding the bid, which was 31% below the pre-bid estimate on what Councilmember Boe called a very complicated project.

Resolution No. 38667 Authorizing the submittal of the 2013-2014 Annual Action Plan to the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development by the deadline of May 15, 2013 for funding various agencies. [Carey Jenkins, Housing Division Manager; Ricardo Noguera, Director, Community and Economic Development]

The public comment period for this plan, which included a public hearing on April 16, ended April 30 with no public comment received. Next steps incude the submission of the plan to HUD by May 15.

Resolution No. 38668 Supporting the Citizen Committee, Board, and Commission Review recommendations of setting term limits at ten consecutive years; adding two-year youth positions for those between the ages of 16 and 18, to the Human Services Commission, Tacoma Arts Commission, Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities, and Sustainable Tacoma Commission; and revising the age requirement for participation on all committees, boards, and commissions to 16 years. [Nadia Chandler Hardy, Assistant to the City Manager; T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

Councilmember Mello highlighted the full voting status youth positions in particular as an important step towards a truly inclusive City government. The 10-year term limits will not be retroactive, but the City is still looking into whether current terms should count towards the total.

Resolution No. 38669 Establishing a Transportation Commission to advise the City Council on transportation-related matters; and establishing one or more staff-appointed technical advisory groups to provide specific technical expertise on various transportation policy areas. [T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

The resolution was adopted with an amendment proposed by Councilmember Mello recommending that members appointed to the commission reflect certain categories of special interest/discipline: the professional engineering sector, construction/private business sector, bike and pedestrian/mass transit sector, planning/urban growth sector, environmental/sustainability sector, general community, and ADA community. The amendment is intended to provide clarity around the kinds of backgrounds and expertise that should be represented on the commission.

Resolution No. 38670 Establishing a City Events and Recognitions Committee for the purpose of planning and fundraising for City-hosted observation and recognition events; and establishing one or more staff-appointed subcommittees to assist in the planning and implementation of various events. [T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

The resolution was adopted without Council comment.

Resolution No. 38671 Amending the Council Standing Committee Process Manual by revising Section 2 to include the function and purpose of the Council standing committees; adding a new Section 3 which defines the committees’ specified legislative oversight and guidance responsibilities; and adding a new Appendix D: List of Citizen Committees, Boards, and Commissions by Recommended Committees; and addressing inconsistencies and correcting minor errors contained therein. [T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

The resolution was amended to include language changing the name of the Environment and Public Works Committee to be the Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee to better reflect the scope, roles, and responsibilities outlined in the Council Standing Committee Process Manual. The resolution passed without further comment.

Resolution No. 38672 (First Reading) Amending the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the City of Tacoma as follows:

• Rule 1.E.1 to include telephonic participation at Council meetings and special meetings;
• Rule 8.D.4 to allow flexibility in the number of proclamations presented at a Council meeting;
• Rule 15.A.1 to remove the Appointments Committee effective after July 1, 2013, and renumber the list of Committees; and
• correct inconsistencies and minor errors contained therein.

[T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

The resolution was amended to include a recommendation to replace “Do Pass” and “Do Not Pass” in standing committees reports with “Recommend for Adoption” and “Not Recommended” in committee reports. A second amendment was made to account for the name change of the Environment and Public Works Committee to the “Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee.” Because any resolution changing Council rules requires a second reading, the item will be held over until next week.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28147 Amending Chapters 1.07 and 1.90 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Local Employment and Apprenticeship Training Program (LEAP), to change the federal Renewal Community designation to Washington State Community Empowerment Zone, revise the definition of a LEAP-qualified participant to include youth and veterans, and eliminate the City of Tacoma Target Area designation. [Peter Guzman, LEAP Program Manager; Ricardo Noguera, Director, Community and Economic Development]

The ordinance passed without comment.

Amended Ordinance No. 28148 Amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to implement a change in pay for approximately 398 non-represented Tacoma Public Utilities positions and 17 non-represented General Government positions; and correct a pay range for one classification represented by Teamsters Local Union No. 117, Public Assembly Facilities Unit, which covers 31 positions. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The ordinance was split into two substitute ordinances:

28148 A, dealing with compensation for the 17 non-represented General Government positions. Changes to pay rates in this category were mostly dealing with issues of “compression” in which non-represented supervisor positions were paid close to or less than those they supervised, including some fire and police positions. This section also included adjustments to compensation for the Assistant to the City Manager position. This substitute ordinance passed unanimously.

28148 B, dealing with the 398 non-represented TPU positions. This section was separated from the other to allow Council to consider the different groups of employees separately. The compensation increases included in this section were based on an assessment of the job market for the positions involved, and a recent decision by the City to aim for rates of pay in the 60th percentile of the market rate. Citing the tough budget situation, and issues of fairness across all non-represented City employees, the Council unanimously voted down this section of the ordinance.

Ordinance No. 28149 Amending Chapters 2.01 and 2.17 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Minimum Building and Structures Code, to shorten timeframes for enforcement, clarify cost recovery mechanisms, address concerns raised about elevator accessibility, enhance language related to historic preservation, clarify the role of the Board of Building Appeals, and ensure consistency with other sections of the Municipal Code. [Lisa Wojtanowicz, Community Services Division Manager; Tansy Hayward, Director, Neighborhood and Community Services]

The ordinance passed without comment.

Ordinance No. 28150 Amending Chapter 11.05 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Model Traffic Ordinance, to remove reference to the Parking Management Advisory Task Force to enable implementation of the City’s Committees, Boards, and Commission review recommendations. [Nadia Chandler Hardy, Assistant to the City Manager; T.C. Broadnax, City Manager]

The ordinance passed without comment.

Ordinance No. 28151 Amending the 2013-2014 Biennial Budget to appropriate funds from the 2011-2012 budget to cover contract obligations, transfers, and other budget adjustments. [Tadd Wille, Budget Officer; Andrew Cherullo, Director, Finance]

The ordinance passed without comment.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

City Manager Broadnax clarified an answer given during the discussion of Resolution 28148 A, distinguishing between the General Government impact of $363,072 and the General Fund impact, which was $188,797 for the compensation changes under consideration.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER

Broadnax deferred his report to next week to allow the Council to make it to the City of Destiny Awards ceremony.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Government Performance and Finance Committee_ – Councilmember Campbell shared issues addressed by the committee.

• Taxi cab vehicle license amendments – the committee issued a do pass for changes to the taxi cab license code, including allowing cab operators to self-certify vehicle cameras and adding the ability to conduct federal background checks on drivers.
• Key citywide performance measures – staff will be reporting on a quarterly and monthly basis on a list of key performance measures tracked through Tacoma 24/7.
• Fiscal Sustainability Task Force – the committee discussed appointments to the task force, which has been tasked with determining possible short- and long-term solutions to both enhance revenues and/or reduce expenses for the City.
• Update on Q1 purchasing report
• Presentation on the TPU plan passed last week

At the next meeting the committee will receive a public assembly facilities quarterly update and an update on the scope of work for the Fiscal Sustainability Task Force. To quote Councilmember Campbell, “sounds like it’ll be an exciting meeting.”

Councilmember Boe gave us a quick update on Bike Month: find out more at piercetrips.com/bikemonth, and put a note on your calendar to make it to the downtown library next Tuesday, at 6 p.m. for a talk on Tacoma’s remarkable bicycling history.

Mayor Strickland reminded us that the City of Destiny awards ceremony would start at 7 p.m.

Council members Lonergan and Woodards were absent from the meeting.

ADJOURNMENT

And with that, the Council was off to the City of Destiny awards to thank all the Tacoma volunteers being recognized this year for their work in the community.

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