1. City may sell property next to Union Station for $1.2 million
City Council members will consider a resolution Jan. 11 that would authorize the sale of surplus City-owned property adjacent to the Union Station Federal Courthouse, 1717 Pacific Ave., to the federal government for $1.2 million.
The site is located between the courthouse and the Tacoma Art Museum and is presently occupied by a parking lot. According to the U.S. General Services Administration, the site will be used for future expansion of the courthouse.
2. Fire code permit fees could increase under new ordinance
The cost of obtaining various fire code permits or a permit for a fireworks show could increase under a new ordinance that will have its final reading before the City Council on Jan. 11. The fee updates cover such facilities as mobile and marine fueling stations, marine terminals, public fireworks displays and fire inspection fees.
3. Community service organizations would receive funding under resolution
Human services organizations in Tacoma will receive $1,496,782 in funding from the Citys General Fund under a resolution before the City Council Jan. 11. The resolution would authorize contracts with 14 community services agencies to implement specific projects during 2005. The funding was included in the 2005-2006 biennial budget. The organizations that would receive funding include: Boys & Girls Clubs of Pierce County, Catholic Community Services, Centro Latino, Emergency Food Network, Faith Homes, First Place for Children, the MLK Housing Development Authority, Pierce County AIDS Foundation, Tacoma Area Coalition of Individuals with Disabilities, Tacoma Community House, Tacoma Rescue Mission, Tahoma Center Food Connection, Washington Women Employment and Education and YWCA of Pierce County.
4. Murray Morgan Bridge study and legislative update lead study session
The City Council will hear a report on a study of the costs and issues involved with restoring the Murray Morgan Bridge on South 11th Street downtown during the Jan. 11 noon study session. The agenda also includes a federal legislative update from the Citys Washington, D.C. lobbyist, Len Simon. The public may attend the study session in Room 16, Tacoma Municipal Building North, 733 Market St., but the Council will not take public comment. CityPost (Channel 85 on Click!, Channel 77 on Comcast) will air the audio portion of the study session live.
5. Government Leadership Institute begins with Tacoma’s past
The Government Leadership Institute kicks off Jan. 10 with the first in a series of free seminars intended to inform and educate students and citizens on the basics of accessing community programs and services, engaging in the public process and examining the challenges within the community. The first seminar, Tacoma Government: Past, Present and Future, will be held from 6:45 to 9 p.m. in Carwein Auditorium (KEY 102) on the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT) campus, 1900 Commerce St. Featured panelist will include Mayor Bill Baarsma, representatives from the Charter Review Committee and League of Women Voters. The Leadership Institute is a cooperative effort of the City of Tacoma and the UWTs Urban Studies Program. Various topics will be discussed over the next several weeks.
