Tacoma City Council Meeting - November 4, 2014

Everyone must have been in a hurry to get out of the meeting to keep an eye on election results, because they clicked through the agenda at a pretty good pace.

CONSENT AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39040 A resolution setting Tuesday, November 18, 2014, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the date for a public hearing by the City Council on the 2015-2020 Capital Facilities Program. [Tadd Wille, Budget Officer; Andy Cherullo, Director, Finance]

Resolution No. 39041 A resolution setting Tuesday, November 25, 2014, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the date for the second public hearing by the City Council on the proposed 2015-2016 Biennial Budget. [Tadd Wille, Budget Officer; Andy Cherullo, Director, Finance]

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Strickland Proclaimed November 2 - 8, 2014 as Chief Leschi Week in the City of Tacoma, in honor of the last chief of the Nisqually Tribe. Leschi was named chief of the tribe to sign the Medicine Creek Treaty in 1854, but refused to do so when he discovered it would remove his people from their land, taking them away to a reservation with neither their sacred fishing area nor a place for their horses. Leschi, who was wrongfully accused and hanged for the murder of a white settler, is remembered for trying to promote peace between the native people and the settlers, and for working for the liberty and rights of his people.

Forever Green Trails presented the City of Tacoma with an award for its 13 Miles of Bikeways project, which creates non-motorized transportation connections from south Tacoma to north Tacoma. Forever Green Trails formed in 2000 with an initial mission of creating a county-wide system of parks with coordination between city, county, state, federal, and other managing organizations to create a seamless system of parks for the public. In 2004 the organization changed its focus to exclusively overseeing the implementation of countywide trails system. The organization works to advocate for improvements to the trails system, and offers support to other organizations working to make contributions to the trails. In 2011 the City of Tacoma was awarded the FGT government organization award for its Mobility Master Plan.

PUBLIC COMMENT

No comment.

 

REGULAR AGENDA 

APPOINTMENTS

Resolution No. 39042 A resolution appointing Betty Popenuck to the City Events and Recognitions Committee. [Doris Sorum, City Clerk; Elizabeth Pauli, City Attorney]

The committee organizes the City of Tacoma’s Martin Luther King Jr. Day, and City of Destiny awards recognition events, and addresses other events-related topics

PURCHASE RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39043 A resolution awarding a contract to Asphalt Patch Systems, Inc., in the amount of $1,343,300, plus sales tax, plus a 30 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $1,746,290, budgeted from various departmental funds, for a two-year contract to provide asphalt patching and concrete repair services for utility cuts and miscellaneous areas - Specification No. CT14-0059F. [Bob Hinzman, Operations Manager; Kathy Katterhagen, Procurement and Payables Division Manager, Finance]

The purchase resolution was adopted without comment.

Resolution No. 39044 A resolution awarding a contract to Technical Systems, Inc., in the amount of $10,419,581.00, sales tax not included, plus a 20 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $12,503,497.20, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, to completely upgrade the computer control system that governs operations at the Central Wastewater Treatment Plant and the North End Wastewater Treatment Plant - Specification No. ES14-0302F. [Geoffrey M. Smyth, P.E., Division Manager; Michael P. Slevin III, P.E., Director, Environmental Services]

The $12 million purchase will allow for the replacement of the computer systems that monitor and control the highly complex series of treatments that happen at each of Tacoma’s two wastewater treatment plants. The existing computer systems date back to the 1980s, and are described as “obsolete.” Their replacement with up-to-date technology will ensure the continued safe treatment of water from all over Tacoma and all of its customers.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39045 A resolution authorizing the execution of a one-year extension to the lease and operating agreements with Burlington Northern Santa Fe Railroad to continue providing shortline rail services between South Tacoma and Nisqually, St. Clair and Quadlock, and Olympia and Belmore, Washington. [Alan Matheson, Chief Mechanical Officer; Dale King, Rail Superintendent]

Tacoma Rail has provided shortline services to BNSF on this section of rail since 2004. The one year extension will allow for operational continuity and additional time for the negotiations to renew the original 10 year contract.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28254 An ordinance amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to correct wages contained in Ordinance No. 28238, for employees represented by District Lodge #160, on behalf of Local Lodge #297, of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, General Unit, retroactive to January 1, 2014. [Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The ordinance was adopted without further comment.

Ordinance No. 28255 An ordinance repealing and reenacting Chapter 2.01 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Minimum Building and Structures Code, to provide consistency with state and national codes, allow for abatement under the substandard property section, and add a section on derelict building registration; and amending Chapters 8.35, 8.122, 11.05, and 13.05 of the Municipal Code to update section references. [Lisa Wojtanowicz, Division Manager; Nadia Chandler Hardy, Director, Neighborhood and Community Services]

This ordinance was also adopted without further comment.

PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPEALS

This is the date set for a public hearing by the City Council on the surplus and proposed sale of approximately 867 square feet of land owned by the Department of Public Utilities and located near the intersection of Bridgeport Way and 21st Street West in University Place, to the City of University Place in the amount of $11,900. [Gloria Fletcher, Senior Real Estate Officer; Ted Coates, Power Superintendent]

The proposal would transfer an 8.5-foot-wide strip of a wider section of landscaping owned by Tacoma to UP for improvements to Bridgeport Way. Tacoma Power doesn’t have any foreseeable need for the land, but will retain easement rights for overhead power lines. There was no comment on this issue.

This is the date set for a public hearing by the City Council on the 2015-2016 Biennial Budget. [Tadd Wille, Budget Officer; Andy Cherullo, Director, Finance]

The proposed budget includes “revenue adjustments and enhancements” along with strategic reductions and enhancements, to achieve a balanced budget. Mayor Strickland emphasized that although the budget is in a more stable place than it has been, cuts to services and increases in revenue are still necessary to continue to provide services and cover deferred maintenance. The Executive Director of Safe Streets spoke, thanking the City for its investment in the program, and asking that support be maintained at a higher level than what she sees in the budget right now.

If you have your own comments to share, the second public hearing is scheduled for November 25. Assuming all goes as planned, the City Council is scheduled to hear the first reading of an ordinance adopting the final budget on December 2, with the final vote scheduled for December 9.

This is the date set for a public hearing by the City Council to set the proposed Ad Valorem tax levies and other General Fund revenues for 2015. [Tadd Wille, Budget Officer; Andy Cherullo, Director, Finance]

The City needs to set the property tax levies for both the regular property tax, which goes to the General Fund; and the EMS levy, which funds Emergency Medical Services. There was no public comment on this item.

On November 18 the Council will hear the first reading of ordinances setting the percent and dollar amounts for both property tax levies. The final reading for both is scheduled for the following week.

This was the date and time set for a special meeting of Tacoma's Transportation Benefit District Governing Board (a.k.a. the City Council), so a brief recess was taken from the regular agenda for that meeting.

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Transportation Benefit District Governing Board Agenda - SPECIAL MEETING

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. TBD 006 A resolution setting Tuesday, November 18, 2014, and Tuesday, November 25, 2014, at approximately 5:30 p.m., as the dates for the first and second public hearings on the proposed 2015-2016 Transportation Benefit District Budget and Spending Plan. [Rae Bailey, Division Manager; Kurtis D. Kingsolver, P.E., Director, Public Works] 

This will be the chance for the public to hear about how TBD money is being spent, and for anyone with opinions to weigh in with their thoughts

ADJOURNMENT

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COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee – Deputy Mayor Woodards shared the recent work of the committee.

Public Safety, Human Services, and Education – Woodards

• Had a presentation from WA Department of licensing on scrap metal, including an update on new scrap metal business licensing requirements and associated compliance.
• Tacoma Police Department presented on proposed changes to animal code, including recommended changes for adequate care of animals, clarifying the definition of “animal shelter,” and eliminating the $100 appeal fee.
• Heard a presentation on mental health disorder and substance abuse program efforts and results.

At its next meeting the committee will hear a presentation on Human Services funding recommendations, and conduct interviews for the Human Rights Commission.

With no Council meeting next Tuesday, Councilmember Boe shared several upcoming arts events for November.

• Craftsman Tuesdays in Old Town - next Tuesday, November 1 at 7 p.m. It’s a free event at Slovonian Hall with a performance by the Mosaic Brass Quintet.
• Puget Sound Poetry Connection distinguished writer series and open mic – November 14 at 7 p.m. at King’s Bookstore.
• Admission to the new Haub Gallery at the Tacoma Art Museum is free with TAM admission on November 15 from 9:30 to 5 p.m. in conjunction with the grand opening of the new gallery and the Go West exhibit.
• Wolfgang at the Gates at the Rialto – On November 15 NW Sinfonietta performs Beethoven.
• Tacoma Youth Symphony Orchestra performs November 16 at the Rialto.

There will be no City Council meeting next Tuesday in observation of Veterans Day, so Citizens’ Forum will be moved to Tuesday, November 18, 2014.

ADJOURNMENT

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

With next week off and several public hearing opportunities, plus Citizens' Forum scheduled, we're expecting a longish Council meeting on the 18th. Show up and share your opinion to keep it interesting for us...