Tacoma City Council Meeting - September 11, 2012

This week we learned a little more about the plans for the lease of the Balfour Dock Building to be Tacoma’s maritime heritage museum.  Citizens’ Forum was a little sparse, but we also learned a little more about one gentleman’s plans for his backyard…

PROCLAMATIONS, RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS, AND ANNOUNCEMENTS
None this week.

PUBLIC COMMENT
We heard two commenters speak in favor of the long-term lease deal for the Balfour Dock Building.  It sounds like there’s a lot of support for this project all around.  The new glass wall should be completed in early October.  The new lease agreement will help secure private investments in the museum to fund the next phases of development.

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Purchase Resolution No. 38534 Awarding contracts to:

1. Asphalt Patch Systems, Inc., on its bid of $538,035, sales tax not applicable, budgeted from the Street Special Revenue Fund through a federal aid grant and property owner contributions, to improve pedestrian access and reconstruct sidewalks at approximately 200 locations citywide – Specification No. PW12-0336F [Chris Larson, Engineering Division Manager; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works]; and
2. Goodfellow Bros., Inc., on its bid of $316,500, plus a 10 percent contingency, for a cumulative total of $348,150, excluding sales tax, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for modifications and construction at three wastewater pump stations in the vicinity of Northeast Tacoma and the Tideflats – Specification No. PW12-0350F [John O’Loughlin, Science and Engineering Division Manager; Dick McKinley, Director, Public Works].

Although there are more sidewalk patch projects in the queue than the 200 included in the first item of this resolution, thanks to the favorable bid environment, the City will be able to address more locations than it otherwise would for the same money.  That should also translate to slightly cheaper prices for the homeowner portion of costs.  The money comes from a special fund, and as such no gas tax or general fund dollars are involved.

Resolution No. 38535 Authorizing the execution of a long-term lease agreement and a project development agreement between the Foss Waterway Development Authority and the Foss Waterway Seaport for the reuse and redevelopment of the Balfour Dock Building as a waterfront maritime heritage museum. [Martha Anderson, Assistant Director; Ricardo Noguera, Director, Community and Economic Development]

The Balfour building, located on the northwest side of the Foss Waterway, was built in 1900 as a part of the mile of waterfront building that once stood on that part of the Tacoma waterfront.  If you’ve been down along Dock Street, you’ve seen work under way at that site to fix up the building, including an impressive glass wall that replaces the less welcoming existing north face of the building.  The site is the only building in the plans for the Foss that has been identified for public use, and the planned museum will also serve as an event space.  The Seaport is moving forward with improvements in five anticipated phases, each of which will come with its own funding plan.  The 50 year term of the lease also comes with an option to renew for two 10-year periods if the terms of the initial lease are upheld.

FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28084 Amending Chapter 1.12 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Compensation Plan, to amend rates of pay and compensation for approximately 239 budgeted, full-time positions represented by Teamsters Local Union No. 117, General Unit, and approximately five budgeted, full-time positions represented by District Lodge No. 160, on behalf of Local Lodge No. 297 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Yard Clerk Unit. [Mike Brock, Labor Negotiator; Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The ordinance passed without further comment from Council.

UNFINISHED BUSINESS

CITIZENS’ FORUM
The only speaker at this month’s Citizens’ Forum wanted to speak to the Council about a storage container he wants to put in his backyard, and let them know that he’s under a little bit of a time crunch, so it would help him out if the Council could talk about it…  (We’re not entirely convinced he was in the right place.)

REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER
City Manager Broadnax introduced the City’s new Community and Economic Development Director, Ricardo Noguera, who comes to us most recently via Visalia, California.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Councilmember Ibsen gave a reminder that there will be a community clean up this Saturday from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the parking lot at Hunt Middle School.

Councilmember Fey was absent this week.

ADJOURNMENT

So there you have it.  The real action this week was at the study session review of the City Manager’s plans to balance the 2011-2012 budget…