Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon, Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Science Building, Room 309
UW Tacoma
1900 Commerce St.
UW Tacoma master plan update
The City Council will go to school to learn about the University of Washington Tacoma’s current progress and future plans. University Chancellor Vicky Carwein and other university representatives will provide an overview of the campus’ history, highlight new academic programs – especially the Institute of Technology – and review the campus master plan which covers future uses of the school’s 46-acre property. Council members will hear the university’s preliminary 2003-2005 budget request and tour the new Science and Keystone Buildings.
Proposed EMS levy
John Lendosky, assistant chief for the Emergency Medical Services (EMS) division of the Tacoma Fire Department, will discuss the department’s request to place an increased EMS levy on the September ballot. Raising the current tax from 42 cents per $1,000 to 50 cents per $1,000 would allow the department to maintain and enhance the current EMS program with more firefighter/paramedics and education personnel. The increased levy would not only place additional paramedics on the street, but would also allow an increase in specialized training for EMS personnel, as well as citizens. The council will vote on placing the proposed levy on the ballot at a future meeting. The ballot measure would take 60 percent “yes” votes to pass.
The public may attend the study session, but the council will not take comment.
Tacoma City Council
Regular Meeting
5 p.m., Tuesday, June 18, 2002
Council Chambers
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St.
Possible name change for bridge
The Chihuly Bridge of Glass would become the Bridge of Glass under a resolution up for public comment and a vote by the City Council. World-renown artist and Tacoma native Dale Chihuly, who directed the project’s artistic development and is overseeing the art installation, requested the name change in an effort to recognize the full partnership that took place in the bridge’s design with architect Arthur Andersson of Andersson Wise Architects. The two first partnered in the collaborative endeavor in 1994. Chihuly, while personally dedicated to the urban revitalization of Tacoma, also wants to provide full acknowledgement to everyone who played a role in creating the Bridge of Glass – a significant project that, nearly a decade after its inception, is on the verge of becoming an integral part of Tacoma’s redeveloping waterfront.
Police agreement up for review
The council will review a tentative agreement with the Tacoma Police Union, Local 6. The agreement would provide for 2001 wage increases for all bargaining unit employees – except sergeants – while contract negotiations continue. The tentative agreement would include a 3.5 percent wage agreement retroactive to Jan. 2001 and a $300 payment for current bargaining unit members who were also members on Dec. 31, 2001. Public testimony will be taken, with a vote scheduled to vote June 25.
2001-2002 budget amendments review
The council will vote on amending the 2001-2002 biennial budget, providing more money for the Convention Center, the Business Systems Improvement Project (BSIP), contracts and other adjustments. The amendment would create the Convention Center Fund, which will pay for marketing efforts that are separate from construction costs; authorize a $200,000 interest-bearing interfund loan from the Endangered Species Fund to the Building and Land Use Services (BLUS) Demolition Building Fund; appropriate $2.5 million from the 1997 Bond Issue Construction Fund for construction of Fire Station No. 8; and help to fund BSIP until the end of the biennium. The council took comment June 11.
Development resolution
After voting to discontinue pursuing a development deal with Bellevue-based Cosmos for the Tacoma Dome parking lot area, the council wants to gather more ideas for how to best use the area. The council wants to collect Requests for Proposals (RFP) from other developers to see what kind of creative and economically beneficial projects they may suggest. Possible uses could include an entertainment complex, mixed-use, office, residential or retail. The council will take public comment and vote on a resolution that would support the best use of the city-owned land next to the proposed LeMay car museum site, and direct the City Manager to start the RFP process.
Housing, shelter grants ready for nod
Each year Tacoma receives federal Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), HOME Investment Partnership (HOME) and Emergency Shelter Grant (ESG) funds from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) for housing and shelter, community and economic development activities. The council will vote on the planned allocations for fiscal year 2002-2003. If approved, Tacoma would receive $3,311,000 of CDBG funds and $119,000 of ESG funds. In addition, the Tacoma/Lakewood HOME Consortium would receive $2,278,000 of HOME funds. The money would fund a variety of projects identified in the Consolidated Plan for 2002-2003. The council took comment June 11.
Fleet Services building to be leased
Council members will vote on a lease agreement with Caracol Design to lease the upper floors of the Fleet Services building – with an option to purchase the building if it becomes available. Fleet Operations relocated from the old facility to 3639 S. Pine St. in October. Caracol Design, creators of tile, commercial art and architectural finishes, wants to move into the building within the next few months. The company won’t have far to travel. Its current location is down the street at 2514 S. Holgate St.
Public hearing: transportation
Citizens can comment on elements of the Six-Year Comprehensive Transportation Program for 2003-2008, and amendments to the 2002 transportation plan, during a 5:30 p.m. public hearing. The council is considering changes that would add up to $31 million worth of new projects to the city’s six-year transportation program. New proposed projects and revisions to the plan include:
– Full funding for East 48th Street, McKinley to Portland Avenue.
– Full funding for improvements to a portion of the Puyallup River Bridge on Puyallup Avenue.
– Proposed Tacoma Mall/I-5 direct access.
– Proposed Lincoln Avenue grade separa-tion.
– Proposed pedestrian improvements in the vicinity of LINK Light Rail.
– Proposed traffic signal at North 30th and Pine streets, and two pedestrian signals on South Hosmer Street.
Public hearing: animal control
You can share your opinions on streamlining the city’s animal control ordinance at a public hearing immediately following the regular council meeting. In April, the council reviewed and took public testimony on a proposed ordinance that would have consolidated regulations relating to animal control. The measure did not come up for a vote. The new ordinance includes a temporary 13-week free license for previously unlicensed dogs and cats, and an exemption of licensing of animals in the care of a recognized animal rescue agency. Other changes:
– Incorporate the recent changes to the state’s dangerous dog statutes.
– Change the fines for minor violations from misdemeanors to civil infractions.
– Make it easier to lodge complaints about barking dogs.
– Make spaying or neutering mandatory after a second impound.
– Reduce the maximum number of pets in homes not licensed as kennels to five.