Tacoma City Council Meeting - Oct. 6th, 2009
With Citizen’s Forum and a public hearing regarding the D to M Street Sound Transit connector, there was tremendous potential for an epic meeting. At 2 hours and 15 minutes … no problem. Here are our notes:
REGULAR AGENDA
APPOINTMENTS
Resolution No. 37880 appoints Council Members Ladenburg and Strickland to Tacoma 360 for a term consistent with their remaining service on the City Council, or as subsequently identified through Tacoma 360 bylaws.
RESOLUTIONS
Resolution No. 37870 which was continued from the meeting of September 29, 2009 has been moved to a date to be determined. It authorizes the execution of a Hazardous Substances Indemnification Agreement with the Foss Waterway Development Authority, and Hollander Investments, LLC, for property located at 1543 Dock Street.
Purchase Resolution No. 37881 awards a contract to:
Western Peterbilt, Inc., in the amount of $1,236,300.45 to increase the contract and purchase five automated side-loader collection trucks.
Resolution No. 37882 authorizes the execution of an addendum to the collective bargaining agreement with District Lodge 160, on behalf of Local Lodge 282 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Wastewater Treatment Plant Maintenance Supervisors Unit, which consists of three budgeted full-time positions, and provides in part for a wage adjustment to the 70th percentile of the comparable labor market and an increase to base wages for 2010, effective January 5, 2009 through December 31, 2010.
FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES
Ordinance No. 27833 has been moved to the October 20th, 2009 meeting for final reading. It authorizes the execution of a Right of Use Agreement with Sound Transit for its nonexclusive use of specific City rights-of-way in relation to the development of the Lakewood to Tacoma commuter rail project, located from East D Street to South M Street, within the Tacoma City limits.
FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES
Ordinance No. 27837 providing for the sale and issuance of the water system revenue bonds in the aggregate principal amount not to exceed $82,000,000, to provide funds to finance or refinance costs of capital improvements to the water system, and specifying the terms and covenants of the bonds.
Ordinance No. 27838 amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to implement rates of pay and compensation for employees represented by District Lodge 160, on behalf of Local Lodge 282 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Wastewater Treatment Plant Maintenance Supervisors Unit, which consists of three budgeted full-time positions, effective January 5, 2009 through December 31, 2010.
PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPEALS
This is the date set for a public hearing by the City Council on the proposed development agreement with Sound Transit relating to the development of the Lakewood to Tacoma commuter rail project. The primary elements of the development agreement provides for vesting to Sound Transit in the land use and permit rules, team design meetings, reimbursement to the City for design meetings, and includes the design elements already passed by the City Council.
Twenty three people signed up to speak about post versus beam design issues. Let’s just say that there weren’t a lot of pro-berm folks at this meeting.
Filed under: City-Council, City-Council
13 comments
A andre October 7, 2009
I followed this to a degree, but will reference a commenter on the TNT who saw the same thing: “At 11:45 on a sunny Saturday the score was 17 berm, 14 post and beam. One hour and forty five minutes later, the score was 114 post and beam, 22 berm. In short, 100 to 5 in a short period of time.”
The obvious conclusion is that this is a political football for some, and others are interested in bigger issues. Those that have an investment in this are willing to trump up numbers, but everyone else has moved on.
F frizzlebee October 7, 2009
Looking at the artist’s rendering of the post-and-beam vs. berm structures posted on the TNT, the structures look almost identical in size. The only difference seems to be a few yards of dirt on either end instead of shrinking posts (that would most likely serve the sole purpose of housing our homeless population). Granted it’s only a drawing, but the height of the rail seems the same and wouldn’t really cut off anything.
Is it just calling it a berm that has people hating it? Perhaps if we relabeled it “wall o’ fun” people would accept it.
M Mofo from the Hood October 7, 2009
“wall o’ fun!”
Okay, you got my attention.
N Nick October 7, 2009
@andre
I have to agree, I don’t think an online poll should be considered for anything beyond its entertainment value.
That being said, the “poll” (as represented by the 25 or so public comments) at the city council meeting last night would suggest an even stronger citizen preference for the post/beam solution (being that the only comments in favor of the berm design were representing Sound Transit). At least among those who care enough to speak at a city council meeting, that gives us a 100% ratio in favor of the post/beam design (or whatever the proper nomenclature would be).
T Tacoma1 October 7, 2009
This issue has, unfortunately, morphed away from what is the best design for transit/transportation purposes, into a Tacoma Dome activist’s and a Mayoral candidate v.s. Sound Transit, the Tacoma City Council, and everyone that lives or has ever lived in Seattle.
The poll that the TNT has is obviously unscientific and totally useless to anyone that has an open mind. If the TNT had actually gone out on the street, asked the same question to random citizens, with the two photos and price tags, the result would undoubtedly be different. Perhaps even the berm would have been the preferred choice. We’ll never know of course, the TNT has fired most of their reporters.
And frankly, 20 plus people speaking out against the berm, in a city of 200,000 residents is only 1/10th of 1 percent. A passionate 1/10 of 1 percent granted, but that truly leaves 99.99 percent that had other things more important to do.
R RR Anderson October 7, 2009
anyone notice the dude talking about telepathy and nazi scientists during citizens forum?
T Tacoma1 October 7, 2009
@RR,
Yes, I noticed him, but who’s to say that he’s wrong. I’m not saying that he’s right, but I certainly would only say that he is wrong telepathically, not to his face(s).
R RR Anderson October 7, 2009
Tacoma1, yeah I was intrigued by his request from the city council for 200 more food stamps so that his followers could afford to spread his discoveries.
T Tacoma1 October 7, 2009
Would that be 200 food stamps for him, or 200 for each of the voices in his head? If that’s the case, who’s in charge of counting the voices? This could get really expensive.
T T-town October 7, 2009
I am just glad Tacoma one graduated from calling us the car lobby and transit haters to just say we have Seattle envy and we are a portion of a percent of a percent. As far as 99 % having more important things do than attend a city council meeting for an important issue: just could be that apathy got in the way. Looking back at past blunders we always wonder why…
T Tacoma1 October 7, 2009
If your going to quote me, might as well use the right number. That would be 99.9% who didn’t comment.
And if you manage to delay this project long enough that ST and Pierce County, loses over $20 million of fed funds………..well then, that may even kill the project all together. It will certainly delay it for several more years. If that happens, you might as well go work for the car lobby, you did their work for them.
P pegsterdtown October 7, 2009
yes I did see that RR. Sad that there are some people out there that really need help. My question why do they always show up at council meetings?
T T-town October 8, 2009
Apathy is .9 % greater than first thougt..