Tacoma City Council Meeting - September 23, 2014

This week the City Council voted to express support for Initiative 594, requiring background checks for all gun sales. The Council also heard public concerns related to two ordinances it will decide on next week, related to regulation of marijuana and for-hire transportation companies.

CONSENT AGENDA

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28248 An ordinance amending Chapter 13.06 of the Municipal Code to reclassify a 5.38-acre parcel located at 1502 South Orchard Street from an “R-2” Single-Family Dwelling District to an “R-4-L” Low Density Multiple-Family Dwelling District to allow for future construction of a 121-unit apartment complex. (John Wise; File No. REZ2014-40000223041) [Phyllis Macleod, Hearing Examiner]

The consent agenda was adopted; the ordinance will get a final reading at a date to be determined.

PROCLAMATIONS/RECOGNITIONS/PRESENTATIONS/ANNOUNCEMENTS

Mayor Strickland proclaimed the week of September 21-27, 2014 as Deaf Awareness Week, and September 27, 2014 as Museum Day Live!

There was also a presentation for Gun Safety Awareness Week, and the announcement of an appointment to the Tacoma Housing Authority Board of Commissioners.

The Mayor and Council took the Gun Safety Pledge, and encouraged all Tacomans to do the same at cityoftacoma.org/gunsafet, pledging to teach your kids what to do if they see a gun, and to keep your own guns safe.

PUBLIC COMMENT

For-hire transportation regulations and the extension of the interim medical marijuana regulations were the main topics of conversation during public comment this week. One commenter also spoke in favor of Council support for I-594, saying that it will help keep guns out of the hands of the wrong people.

One of the three speakers on the for-hire transportation regulations voiced concerns relating to requirements around insurance, wheelchair accessible cabs, and an English language requirement for drivers. Another commenter spoke in support of “rideshare” companies, suggesting that Tacoma align its regulations with Seattle to improve compatibility for all those rides that cross jurisdictional boundaries. He suggested that background checks, car conditions, and insurance requirements be regulated, and that the market be allowed to determine the rest. We also heard from a representative of Uber, who stressed the company’s talking point that their services are very different from traditional cab companies, and therefore they should not be subject to the same regulations.

Four residents and business owners spoke of their concerns regarding marijuana regulations. The commenters voiced their concerns related to the impact of marijuana businesses on Tacoma’s neighborhood business districts. They shared concerns about the impact of the retail establishments on other existing businesses and residents, and on the attractiveness of the districts to potential future businesses and residents. Speakers from the 6th Ave area focused their concerns on the new recreational marijuana retail business going in where Chopsticks used to be.  There were also concerns over the potential for clusters of marijuana businesses to have additional adverse impacts.

REGULAR AGENDA

RESOLUTIONS

Resolution No. 39012 A resolution authorizing the execution of a Collective Bargaining Agreement and Letter of Understanding with District Lodge #160, on behalf of Local Lodge #282, of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Wastewater Treatment Plant Supervisors’ Unit, covering three full-time positions effective January 1, 2013 through December 31, 2016. [Mike Brock, Labor Negotiator; Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The resolution authorizing a four-year collective bargaining agreement for City wastewater treatment plant maintenance supervisors was adopted without Council comment.

Resolution No. 39013 A resolution expressing support for the passage of Initiative Measure No. 594 submitted for the November 4, 2014 General Election which reads as follows:

GENERAL ELECTION - INITIATIVE MEASURE NO. 594

Initiative Measure No. 594 concerns background checks for firearm sales and transfers.

This measure would apply currently used criminal and public safety background checks by licensed dealers to all firearm sales and transfers, including gun show and online sales, with specific exceptions.

Should this measure be enacted into law?

[ ] Yes

[ ] No

There was a lot of discussion on this resolution, with Mayor Strickland, Deputy Mayor Woodards, and council members Ibsen, Mello, and Walker voicing confident support for the resolution and support for I-594, while other council members were a little more conflicted.

Mayor Strickland emphasized the Council’s commitment to improving safety, saying that this initiative will simply extend to all sales of firearms the requirements currently applied only to gun dealers. Deputy Mayor Woodards called it an easy decision, as she considered the families who have lost loved ones at the hands of people who shouldn’t have had guns. Councilmember Walker also referenced the impacts of the wrong people having access to guns, calling the initiative not the only answer, but a tool in the toolbox to addressing the problem. Councilmember Mello emphasized the importance of continuing conversations on gun safety.

 Councilmember Campbell was a little more conflicted on his vote, pointing to shortcomings he sees in the initiative, but after reflecting on his own experiences as a gun owner, a small business owner, and Tacoma’s unfortunate history with the misuse of firearms, Campbell voted in favor.

Councilmember Lonergan was the only no vote, expressing his discomfort with the wording and structure of I-594, ultimately deciding that he feels that although it comes from a place of good intentions, Lonergan said, he believes that the initiative goes too far. Councilmember Boe abstained from voting, calling the initiative process flawed, and describing himself as conflicted over I-594, particularly as it fails to differentiate between rural and urban, and fails to resolve questions around short-term loans such as for hunting excursions.

The resolution passed seven to one, with one abstaining.

Resolution No. 39014 establishing a Commission on International Relations to foster positive international relations for education, the arts, tourism, and economic development. 

This resolution gives the Mayor the authority to create a commission on international relations to help develop a unified approach for all Tacoma organizations that have an international component. The commission will bring together representatives of organizations including Tacoma’s Sister Cities program, the Port, the World Trade Center, Tacoma Public Schools, and others to develop a coordinated approach to international relations. The commission will help Tacoma be prepared for the upcoming launch of a new Global Cities Initiative, in which Tacoma, along with Seattle, Bellevue, and Everett, will work to promote the region as a unified package for global foreign direct investment, and to improve access to foreign markets for local businesses.

FIRST READING OF ORDINANCES

Ordinance No. 28249 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 District Lodge #160, on behalf of Local Lodge #282, of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Wastewater Treatment Plant Maintenance Supervisors’ Unit, covering three full-time employees. [Mike Brock, Labor Negotiator; Joy St. Germain, Director, Human Resources]

The ordinance implementing the rates of pay and compensation as executed by the earlier resolution will get a final reading next week.

Ordinance No. 28250 An ordinance extending the interim land use regulations concerning the production, processing, and retail sale of recreational marijuana through May 16, 2015. [Brian Boudet, Planning Division Manager; Peter Huffman, Director, Planning and Development Services Department]

The current interim regulations were put into place last November after the passage of I-502. The interim regulations were set to expire after a year, giving the City a chance to evaluate impacts and respond to state and federal rulings. Delays at the state level and a lack of resolution of issues between medical and recreational rules and between state and federal laws leave important questions unresolved.

In the last year the state received 100 applications for recreational marijuana production and processing facilities within Tacoma, and about the same number of applications for retail businesses. Three licenses were issued for production and processing and four for retail; all of those businesses are operating under the interim regulations. A handful of new businesses are expected to come up for review soon, potentially adding to the number operating in Tacoma.

This ordinance, if passed, would extend Tacoma’s interim regulations as currently written for another six months.

Council members expressed a preference for resolving multiple issues around regulations, including concentration of the businesses, and revisiting a way to address the unpermitted, unregulated medical facilities operating in Tacoma. There seems to be a general agreement that the interim regulations are imperfect, so we can expect more discussion in the coming months of ways to tighten the rules before permanent regulations are put into place.

Ordinance No. 28251 An ordinance repealing and reenacting Chapter 6B.220 of the Municipal Code, relating to Taxicab Regulations, to change the title to “For-Hire Regulations,” to address regulation of taxi service and other types of for-hire transportation services, and continue to provide for the safe, fair and efficient operation of all for-hire vehicles and for-hire drivers in the city. [Danielle Larson, Division Manager, Tax & License; Andy Cherullo, Director, Finance]

This ordinance, if passed, would repeal the entire existing taxi code, and replace it with a broader for-hire transportation code, attempting to create a level playing field between traditional taxi companies and the new breed of app-based transportation network companies. The City has been meeting with industry stakeholders as it developed the proposed new code, and although it acknowledges the difference in business models, has decided to handle the businesses under one code, as the end user result of providing transportation services is the same.

The proposed new code would

• Reduce overall fees for taxi companies
• Allow TNCs to pay an upfront fee for driver costs, and in the future convert to a per-trip fee
• Extend license renewal for drivers from annual to every-other-year
• Would extend vehicle age requirements from nine years to 10
• Would lower insurance requirements to increase options
• Remove some of the more strict rules for vehicles, including the security camera requirement
• Allow some driver requirements such as tests and exams to be done through the companies, rather than the City
• Still require all vehicles to be certified as mechanically safe through an annual inspection, and to be insured while operating as a for-hire vehicle
• Still require drivers to submit to a background check, and to be knowledgeable of the area

The ​City emphasizes that compromises have to be made, and that although not everyone is happy with every decision, most were agreed to by the stakeholders. City council members had quite a few questions still for staff, especially regarding insurance requirements, and a proposed fee for vehicles not wheelchair accessible. Councilmember Walker also had questions about what kind of anti-discrimination policies might be in place, particularly regarding the app-based services. The ordinance was amended to fix a clerical error, and will get a final reading next week.

PUBLIC HEARINGS AND APPEALS

This is the date set for a public hearing by the City Council on the surplus and negotiated sale of approximately 0.85 of an acre of surplus land located near the intersection of Canyon Road and 172nd Street East in Pierce County to Fretoc, LLC for $50,000. [Gloria Fletcher, Senior Real Estate Officer; Linda McCrea, Superintendent, Tacoma Water]

The proposed sale would be of a small parcel of Tacoma Water property to the adjacent landowner. The small wedge of property has little value to Tacoma Water, or to anyone else, as it is cut off from the rest of the Tacoma Water property by Canyon Road. There was no comment on the matter.

COMMENTS AND COMMITTEE REPORTS OF THE CITY COUNCIL

Councilmember Boe shared several, mostly bike-related events.

• It’s Fall Bike to Work Week. Bike commuters are invited to “embrace the hills,” and join other cyclists in figuring out how to get up out of downtown via a different hill climb for every p.m. commute this week.
• As part of Fall Bike to Work Week, the public is invited to ride with City Council members this Thursday, September 25, following the official opening of the UWT Station section of the Prairie Line Trail.
• On Sunday cyclists, runners, and walkers are invited to the second year of the big Downtown to Defiance event. This year the event starts in the bowl at Point Defiance Park, and heads out along Ruston Way, and up a closed off lane of Schuster Parkway, along the Foss Waterway to 21st Street Park, and back. There will be food trucks, and this will be your chance to experience a little bit of what the eventual Downtown to Defiance path might feel like.
• Farmers’ Markets continue, and this Saturday the Fall Garden Festival at Point Defiance will be a free opportunity to learn about horticulture.

Councilmember Campbell invited everyone to see the results of the recent Tacoma 2025 community visioning event next Monday, September 29 at Bates. Come out and see some of the results, and give more feedback.

 Councilmember Walker will introduce the keynote speaker at the University of Puget Sound's National Race and Pedagogy Conference. The event goes through Friday and Saturday, with speakers, arts installations, a youth summit and other events.

ADJOURNMENT

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