Tacoma City Council Meeting - October 7, 2014

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Three citizens were presented with Disability Advocate of the Year awards for their work.

Mayor Strickland proclaimed October 11, 2014 as Arbor Day and Green Tacoma Day.

2014 is Tacoma's 20th year as a Tree City USA community, its 10th year as a Treeline USA community, and 7th year receiving a growth award from the Arbor Day Foundation. Tacoma has committed to growing the tree canopy from 19% to 30% through education, outreach, and partnerships, and the City's new tree nursery at the Tacoma landfill. Everyone is invited to join in Green Tacoma and Arbor Day festivities at on Saturday, October 11.

The Mayor also proclaimed the week of October 5-11, 2014 as Public Power Week; and the week of October 13-18, 2014 as Careers in Energy Week.

PUBLIC COMMENT

The only comment came from Denny Faker, once again expressing to the Council that he and the rest of the North Downtown Subarea Planning Committee are honored and pleased to have been part of the process.

REGULAR AGENDA

PURCHASE RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39020 A resolution awarding a contract to Northwest Cascade, Inc., in the amount of $1,637,036.90, plus sales tax, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $1,800,740.59, budgeted from the Transportation Capital, 2009 LTGO Bond-E, Surface Water and Water Funds, for realigning the intersection of Jefferson Avenue, Broadway and South 17th Street and improving pedestrian amenities - Specification No. PW14-0087F. [Chris E. Larson, P.E., Division Manager; Kurtis D. Kingsolver, P.E., Director, Public Works]

The project, a partnership between UWT and the City, will realign South 17th between the UWT campus and Tollefson Plaza to improve pedestrian safety.

Resolution No. 39021 A resolution awarding a contract to R.L. Alia Company, in the amount of $280,234, excluding sales tax, plus a 15 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $322,269.10, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for the replacement of approximately 1,000 linear feet of 8-inch diameter underground wastewater pipe in the vicinity of Wright Avenue and East I Street - Specification No. ES14-0150F. [Geoffrey M. Smyth, P.E., Division Manager; Michael P. Slevin III, P.E., Director, Environmental Services]

The resolution was adopted without comment.

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39022 A resolution authorizing the execution of an amendment to the Interagency Agreement with the University of Washington Tacoma for construction and construction management of the South 17th Street realignment between Jefferson Avenue, Broadway, and Commerce Street. [Chris E. Larson, P.E., Division Manager; Kurtis D. Kingsolver, P.E., Director, Public Works]

This resolution makes an amendment to the agreement between UWT and the City for the work covered under this week’s first purchase resolution, which would realign South 17th Street to improve pedestrian safety and traffic flow. The design portion of the work has already been approved, and this amendment clarifies roles for the two entities. UWT will cover the cost of the construction, while the City will provide project and construction management and public outreach. Work is scheduled to begin this fall, and continue through the winter, with a break for the holiday shopping season, and completion expected next spring.

Resolution No. 39023 A resolution authorizing the execution of an interest-free, ten-year loan agreement with the Washington State Department of Transportation, in the amount of $1,037,012, less a one percent administrative fee, to upgrade a segment of railroad track paralleling State Route 509 between Alexander Avenue and Taylor Way. [Alan Matheson, Chief Mechanical Officer; Dale King, Rail Superintendent]

Under this agreement, the City will undertake the loan for the replacement of a section of old and worn track, with a contribution of at least $259,254 From Tacoma Rail.

Resolution No. 39024 A resolution amending and adopting the Legislative Policy of the City of Tacoma for 2015-2016. [Randall Lewis, Government Relations Officer; T.C. Broadnax, City Manager, City Manager’s Office]

The Legislative Policy is not the same as the City’s Legislative Agenda, which it adopts at the beginning of every legislative session; the Legislative Policy covers all kinds of issues that might come up.

Several changes were requested by the Council and by City staff. Council requested changes include a request from Mayor Strickland to adjust language around sprawl and growth management policy; a request from Councilmember Mello to include specific support for a law school at UWT, and reconciling language around recreational and medical marijuana. Council members Walker and Lonergan had concerns related to fiscal home rule language, which has been modified to soften the City’s stance on that topic. Staff requested that language be added in support of the CDBG program and municipal bonds, both of which are under continued threat, and both of which provide funding sources for City programs and operations.

The amended policy was adopted.

Resolution No. 39025 A resolution authorizing the execution of a Multi-Family Housing 12-Year Limited Property Tax Exemption Agreement with David Foster, for the development of four multi-family rental housing units to be located at 1302 South J Street in the MLK Mixed-Use Center. [Debbie Bingham, Program Development Specialist; Ricardo Noguera, Director, Community and Economic Development]

This project, at the corner of South 13th and J, is the first 12-year property tax exemption awarded by the City in several years. The project qualifies for the exemption because it meets the 20% affordable housing threshold with one of the four units designated as affordable housing. All four units will be two bedroom, one bath units. There will be three on-site parking spots included in the development.

The corner lot is currently vacant. Construction is expected to begin this fall, with completion expected next summer. During the 12 years, the property will continue to pay property taxes on the land, with the development going back on the tax rolls at the end of that time period.

Resolution No. 39026 A resolution authorizing the execution of a Multi-Family Housing Eight-Year Limited Property Tax Exemption Agreement with Pacific Opportunities, LLC, for the development of 94 multi-family market-rate rental housing units to be located at 7635 Pacific Avenue in the 72nd and Pacific Mixed-Use Center. [Debbie Bingham, Program Development Specialist; Ricardo Noguera, Director, Community and Economic Development]

Although this project would also qualify for the 12-year exemption based on anticipated rental prices, the developer decided to only ask for the eight-year exemption to allow for greater future flexibility. The development will include 33 one bedroom, one bath units; 61 two bedroom, two bath units/ and 93 onsite parking stalls.

The property is currently undeveloped. As with the 12-year exemption, the land will continue to pay property taxes, and at the end of the tax exemption period, the building will go back on the tax rolls. Construction on the 74 unit project is expected to begin in January 2015, with completion expected June 2016.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28252 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 Teamsters Local Union 313. [Mike Brock, Labor Negotiator; Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The ordinance was adopted without further comment.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28246 An ordinance amending the Comprehensive Plan by adding a new element to be known as the North Downtown Subarea Plan. [Ian Munce, Special Assistant to the Director; Peter Huffman, Director, Planning and Development Services]

At recent public comment opportunities the subarea plan has received positive feedback from the public and stakeholders, following a lengthy public process. The area-wide review represented by the plan allows new project applications to skip studies on individual sites, and go straight to the permitting process.

The plan has also given the opportunity for the public to identify key issues in the area they would like to see addressed. Several such issues came up in the course of developing this plan.

• Re-activation the Stadium Way slope – implementing design standards and re-establishing the Bayside trails down to the Schuster Promenade to open up the space
• Integration of the Link expansion into the existing neighborhoods
• Request from Bates to remove parking minimum requirements from its area, as has been done in other parts of downtown Tacoma
• Support Bates’ downtown campus master plan development
• Parking policy for the Stadium District to address on-street and off-street parking, transit, and bike and pedestrian needs

Once all three Tacoma subarea plans have been approved, they can be submitted to the Puget Sound Regional Council, with certification expected by year-end. That clears one more step toward applications for federal and state level grant funding.

Councilmember Boe proposed an amendment to change the language around parking and street design in the Stadium District to help integrate the mixed-use center into the downtown without setting different expectations for the Stadium District than for the other mixed-use centers in the City.

Councilmember Mello proposed a second amendment changing language to explicitly state the City’s intent to work with Sound Transit to secure funding for the Tacoma Link expansion.

Both amendments were adopted. The amended ordinance will get a final reading next week.

Ordinance No. 28247 An ordinance amending Chapter 13.06A of the Municipal Code, to adjust the boundary of the Reduced Parking Area in downtown Tacoma. [Ian Munce, Special Assistant to the Director; Peter Huffman, Director, Planning and Development Services]

The change here is to expand the reduced parking area to include the Bates downtown campus. This ordinance is also scheduled for a final reading on the 14th.

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER

City Manager Broadnax introduced the newest City Manager intern.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Government Performance and Finance Committee - Councilmember Lonergan shared the recent work of the committee.

• Discussed for-hire transportation services and changes aligning all services under same set of regulations
• Heard a high-level preliminary budget and rate overview for wastewater, surface water, and solid waste
• Held a joint meeting with the Fiscal Sustainability Taskforce where staff presented the General Fund forecast through 2020, and the strategy used to develop the proposed budget for the 2015-16 biennium
• Heard a presentation about the state shared work program

At its next meeting the committee will review the August monthly financial report and hear a presentation on File Local.

Councilmember Boe had several items to share for this week.

• The Broadway Farmers' Market continues through October, up to the final day for the 2014 season on October 30.
• On Friday at 10 a.m. UWT invites everyone to join them for the unveiling of the Japanese Language School Memorial, commemorating the history of the Japanese community in Tacoma. The nine-foot sculpture will sit at the northeast corner of the campus on the Prairie Line Trail. 
• This Saturday and Sunday between 11 a.m. and 5 p.m. at 37 different locations around Tacoma, artists will open the doors of their studios to the public for free tours, opportunities to try different art mediums, purchase local art, and talk with artists.
• The Proctor Farmers' Market continues every Saturday through December.
• This Sunday is CPR Sunday. Tacoma Fire Department will be offering free CPR training at sessions between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Foss High School.

Councilmember Thoms reported that Tacoma's Yachtoberfest on Foss Waterway last weekend was a big success, with hundreds of boaters from around the sound. If you missed it this year, you can look forward to Yachtoberfest 2015.

Councilmember Ibsen reported that the Tacoma Waterfront Association monthly meeting at Johnny’s Dock on Wednesday at 11:30 and this Friday from 6 to 8 in the Proctor District an open house will be held following the reopening of Washington Elementary School.

Councilmember Lonergan thanked everyone who participated in the Pierce County Heart Walk at Cheney Stadium. The City of Tacoma was the second biggest fund raiser for the event, raising more than $225,000, pending final tallies.

ADJOURNMENT

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