1. City Council seeks volunteer for Planning Commission
Citizens wanting to have an impact on Tacoma’s economic development – and who have the right qualifications – can now apply for a position on the Tacoma Planning Commission.
The Planning Commission has an opening for a resident in Council District No. 3 which includes Tacoma’s central area and southwest neighborhoods. The term for this position will be for the year of 2005, with the opportunity for reappointment.
Members of the Planning Commission advise the City Council on issues that impact the City’s Comprehensive Plan, neighborhood planning, land use and development regulations, and other land use issues.
To ensure eligibility for the vacant Council District No. 3 position, citizens may obtain a map illustrating the boundaries from the City Clerk, or view the map online at www.cityoftacoma.org by clicking on City Hall, Tacoma City Council Districts.
The Planning Commission meets at 4 p.m. on the first Wednesday of each month in the first floor Council Chambers of the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St.
Citizens must submit applications to the Mayor’s Office by Monday, Feb. 14, 2004. To apply, contact Dio Neris, Mayor’s Office, Room 1200, Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Tacoma, WA 98402, or call (253) 591-5100.
2. City and Port of Tacoma to hold joint workshop Jan. 19
The City Council and Port of Tacoma Commissioners will hold a joint workshop at 4 p.m. Jan. 19 to discuss infrastructure funding and economic development issues, as well as issues related to the Puyallup Peninsula on the east side of the Thea Foss Waterway. The meeting will be held at the Port Business Center, 3600 Port of Tacoma Rd., Room 104.
3. Council to discuss comprehensive plan fees at study session
A review of new comprehensive plan fees and discussion of the City Councils budget allowances for travel and food will be the main topics at the Jan. 18 noon study session. 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.
4. Tacoma receives national award for innovative housing program
A program for first-time home buyers in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, run by the Homeownership Center of Tacoma and aided by the City of Tacoma, has been given a national award from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). Tacoma will receive the award Jan. 18 at HUD’s HOME 15th Anniversary Local Government Celebration in Washington, D.C. Out of a total of 20 national awards for affordable housing programs, Washington took two, including Tacomas award and an award given to Spokane County.
5. Government Leadership Institute session to focus on public safety
On Jan. 19, the Government Leadership Institute will resume its 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 second seminar, A Duty to Protect: Public Safety and Criminal Justice, 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 panelists will include Darlene Picon with Safe Streets; Police Chief Don Ramsdell; Pierce County Prosecutor Gerry Horne; Judge David Ladenburg; and Jim Blodgett with the Department of Corrections. 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.
