“Tacoma City CouncilStudy SessionNoon, Tuesday May 2, 2000Room 16, Municipal Bldg. N.728 St. Helens AvenueTacomaLegislative RecapCity of Tacoma Government Relations Officer Randy Lewis will present a recap of the recently ended legislative session. Lewis will describe what bills passed that will impact Tacoma – for better or worse.Mall Area DevelopmentCity staff will also update the Council on future development plans around the Tacoma Mall. Plans include commercial development, including a new Costco store, and housing development.The presentation will also address street and transportation improvements aimed at reducing congestion.Tacoma City CouncilCouncil Meeting5:00 p.m., Tuesday May 2Room 16, Municipal Bldg. N.728 St. Helens AvenueTacomaKids Can’t Pull the PinSelling or giving a deactivated hand grenade to children under 18 would violate a proposed ordinance up for a vote. Violation of the ordinance would be a misdemeanor, punishable with a fine up to $1,000, 90 days in jail, or both.Under current law it is illegal to own a grenade for unlawful purposes or to put a grenade in an improper location. It is also illegal to maliciously place a look-alike or deactivated grenade anywhere it would give the impression it is real or activated. But there is no law to address the sale of deactivated non-functioning grenades to minors.Recently, three teens brought a rebuilt grenade to Mount Tahoma High School. The three boys were charged with unlawful possession of an incendiary device and two with possessing a dangerous weapon on school grounds.Green Lights AheadPierce Transit patrons may soon find taking the bus to be faster than before. A contract worth $230,000, up before the Council for comment and a vote, would install signal priority equipment at 83 intersections on Pierce Transit routes.The traffic signal controller receives a signal emitted from a transit bus. When it is detected, the signal will extend the green light for the bus. Signals will not extend green lights past a maximum pre-programmed time.Extending the green light for buses will not alter traffic signal progression.The project, funded by federal grants to Pierce Transit, would install the equipment on stoplights in the corridors along South 19th Street, Sixth Avenue, South 56th Street, South Tacoma Way, Jackson Avenue, Pacific Avenue and Puyallup Avenue.The project would also equip Tacoma Fire Department vehicles with high-priority emitters. The emitters would change and hold a light at green until emergency vehicles clear the intersection.If approved, traffic engineers plan to begin installation in June.”