City of Tacoma News: Tacoma City Council

Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon, Tuesday, November 4, 2003
Room 16
Tacoma Municipal Building North
728 St. Helens Ave.

BIS, mid-biennium budget
The City Council will receive information on two topics. The first agenda item, a presentation on the proposed Business Information Systems (BIS) Department, will review information previously presented to the council covering the selection and implementation of SAP, as well as employee and citizen benefits. Staff will then present information on the proposed BIS organizational structure, staffing, budget and facilities.

Following that, staff will present information on the mid-biennium budget adjustment, including an overview of the status of City of Tacoma funds, particular issues impacting the budget, and proposed adjustments. In addition, staff will discuss the impacts of the Initiative 776 decision, with possible options for dealing with the subsequent lost revenue. The public may attend the study session, but the council will not take any comments.

Tacoma City Council
Regular Meeting
5 p.m., Tuesday, November 4, 2003
Council Chambers
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St.

Property, EMS taxes could increase
If approved, two proposals before the council would increase taxes by one percent. The 2004 Ad Valorem Property tax levy and the 2004 Tacoma Emergency Medical Service tax levy, by state law, can both be increased by the maximum of 1 percent over the previous year’s tax. Citizens can comment on the proposals and the council will vote at its Nov. 18 meeting.

Refinancing the Carlton building
What’s the future for the Carlton building? A proposal before the council would result in the issuance of a Limited Tax General Obligation Line of Credit Note to refinance the Carlton building, 1552 Jefferson. The principal amount would not exceed $2.7 million and the proceeds would be used to repay and redeem the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Section 108 Program loan. The note is planned to be repaid through proceeds from the pending sale of the Carlton building to a private investor.

Additional funding for EMS
Should the City of Tacoma accept an additional $280,000 from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services bringing the total grant award, originally approved by Council in 2001, to $880,000 for enhanced medical response? In 2001, the Office of Emergency Preparedness identified the City of Tacoma as an eligible local government for federal assistance to develop a Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS) plan. The planning, being led by Tacoma Fire, provides for an enhanced county-wide medical response system for mass casualty incidents resulting from terrorist attacks using weapons of mass destruction. If accepted, the additional $280,000 would provide equipment, pharmaceuticals and training for first responder agencies throughout the county, and extends the contract period for another year until Dec. 19, 2005. Citizens may comment. The City Council will vote on the proposal at its Nov.18 meeting.

This is an incomplete agenda for this week’s City Council meeting. The Index prints as much as space allows.