Tacoma City Council Meeting - September 22, 2015

Mayor Strickland was absent from this week’s meeting, so Deputy Mayor Boe took over the running of the show.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

October 1, 2015 was proclaimed as Denny Faker Day in the City of Tacoma in recognition of Faker’s contributions to the quality of life in the City of Tacoma. The proclamation comes as Faker retires from his position as manager of the Stadium Historical District Business Association after 17 years in the role.

October 2, 2015 was proclaimed as Tacoma-Pierce County Manufacturing Day in the City of Tacoma in recognition of the creation of family wage jobs by this sector.

The council also recognized the 75th anniversary of Bates Technical College.

PUBLIC COMMENT

Every one of the three dozen comments this week was on the topic of the reconfirmation of Bill Gaines as Director of Tacoma Public Utilities. A few spoke up in support of Gaines' work as director, but the vast majority of commenters asked the council not to reconfirm him. We hear concerns about his honesty and his methods of getting things done, particularly as it relates to his management of Click! network and the proposal to lease the network to a private company. Commenters expressed frustration and even anger with Gaines, almost entirely related to the handling of Click!, asking the council to not reconfirm him.

REGULAR AGENDA

Motion to consider the reconfirmation of William A. Gaines as the director of Tacoma Public Utilities.

Despite the passionate public comment session, the council ultimately reconfirmed Gaines, with Councilmember Ibsen casting the one nay vote. Council members explained their votes, acknowledging that most of the utility had been well run, and promising to develop a clearer direction for Click!, which they would ask Gaines to implement, and against which he will be evaluated next time he comes up for reconfirmation.

PURCHASE RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39270 A resolution awarding a contract to SvR Design Company, in an amount not to exceed $292,500, sales tax not applicable, budgeted from the Surface Water Fund, for design and construction engineering services associated with the South Tacoma Way Greenscape Project through December 2017 -

Resolution No. 39271 A resolution awarding a contract to Carollo Engineers, Inc., in the amount of $299,930, sales tax not applicable, budgeted from the Wastewater Fund, for consultant engineering services associated with the update and calibration of the Central Treatment Plant wastewater collection system model update and capacity evaluation.

Both resolutions were adopted without comment.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28321 An ordinance amending Chapter 8.66 of the Municipal Code, relating to Weapons, to permit the possession of air guns, air rifles, B-B guns, and slingshots, while preserving the misdemeanor offense of discharging or shooting such items in the City; and allow for a limited exception for the discharge of air guns, air rifles, and B-B guns for recreational purposes in an indoor, licensed business facility.

The ordinance would make changes to the Tacoma Municipal Code regulation of the items listed. 

• Possession would no longer be a criminal offense
• Discharging these items in public would remain a crime.
• An exception would be made in the case of indoor facilities of business licensed for such activities 

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REPORTS BY THE CITY MANAGER 

The City of Tacoma and Pierce County have been awarded $257,000 to be divided equally between the City and the County, with Tacoma’s portion divided between Tacoma Police and the Neighborhood and Community Services Department.

 COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

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

• Briefed by IT on emergency radio services access fees and by Tacoma Fire on the current status of the fire inspection fee implementation. Committee requested a follow-up on the second item in 6 months.
• Discussed PSE renewal for pipelines in rights-of-way
• Heard a briefing on fiscal home rule, including a recommendation that Tacoma should look into this with other cities

At its next meeting the committee will get an update on the Tacoma information management system and on ISP charging methods. 

Councilmember Campbell reminded us that the Eastside farmers market continues on Wednesdays. Campbell also announced Chinese President Xi’s visit to Lincoln High School.

Councilmember Lonergan noted that 21 years ago, before he was president, Xi signed the sister cities agreement between Fuzhou, China, and Tacoma. Lonergan announced that Fuzhou has an exhibit on the relationship through Thursday at the old Post Office downtown, free of charge.

Deputy Mayor Boe noted that with the last full day of summer, the Puget Sound Revels would be hosting their Bridge Sing this Thursday on glass bridge at Museum of Glass.

ADJOURNMENT

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