“The Tacoma City Council is accepting applications from citizens interested in serving out the remainder of Mayor Mike Crowley’s term as an at-large council member starting immediately.To qualify for the anticipated at-large opening, a citizen must have lived in Tacoma for two years. The other open council positon was filled by Councilman Steve Kirby who is leaving city government to join the State House of Representatives serving the 29th Legislative District.Kirby’s open seat on the city council services Council District No. 5.For the district position, a citizen must have lived in Tacoma for two years and lived at least one year within Council District No. 5 immediately before filing.Eligible citizens may apply for both seats using the same application.The nine-member Tacoma City Council enacts all legislation, develops policies and makes general policy decisions for governing the city.Council duties include adopting and amending city laws; approving the budget, establishing city policies and standards, approving contracts and agreements, and representing the city.The two new city council members will receive an annual salary of $18,000 in 2001. The city council members will evaluate the applications and may schedule public interviews with some of the applicants prior to voting on the appointments at a regular or special council meeting.The newly appointed council members will serve until Dec. 31, 2001.The two positions will be filled for standard four-year terms in the November 2001 general election. “