Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon, Tuesday, January 7, 2003
City Council Chambers
Tacoma Municipal Building North
733 Market St.
Fire Department audit update
The City Council will hear an update on the Fire Department performance audit, which wrapped up in May 2002. Carroll Buracker & Associates of Harrisonburg, Va., performed the audit and facilities study. This presentation will provide the first update to the City Council since the conclusion of the audit. The public may attend the study session, but the council will not take comment.
Puyallup Tribe fire services
If the City Council approves, the city will recoup nearly $54,000 from the Puyallup Tribe for fire services. The City Council will consider a memorandum of understanding with the tribe that would authorize the payment for fire services incurred at the Emerald Queen Casino in 2001. Because of an agreement with the state, the tribe has a fund to assist local governments with impacts resulting from the Casino’s operation. The tribe reviewed the departments 2001 claim for assistance and agreed to pay $53,881.09. The casino operations have an annual impact to the Fire Department in excess of $100,000. The council will take public testimony on the agreement and expects to vote Jan. 14.
Re-zone of St. Joseph land parcels
The City Council will consider Franciscan Health Systems request to reclassify 62 parcels in the vicinity of its St. Joseph Medical Center from multiple zoning districts that include various residential, commercial and transitional districts to the HM or Hospital-Medical District. The area is west of the hospital, between South 15th, South J, South 20th streets and Martin Luther King Way. One additional rezone area is nearby on the corner of South 16th Street and Yakima Avenue. If approved, the reclassification will bring the zoning into compliance with the existing medical use of the health systems properties. The council will take public comment and expects to vote Jan. 14.
Bil Moss likely next deputy mayor
The City Council plans to elect its next deputy mayor. Citing her interest in serving and her seniority on the council, the council will nominate and expects to appoint Member Bil Moss to the office of deputy mayor to serve a one-year term expiring Dec. 31, 2003. According to a city ordinance, the council elects the deputy mayor at the first meeting after the position becomes vacant. If appointed, Moss will succeed Council Member Sharon McGavick whose term expired Dec. 31, 2002. Mayor Bill Baarsma and Council Members McGavick, Bill Evans, Connie Ladenburg, Mike Lonergan, Doug Miller, Kevin Phelps and Rick Talbert are sponsoring the resolution and will take public comment before voting.
Grant money for Thea Foss cleanup
The Department of Ecology has awarded the City of Tacoma more than $600,000 to help pay for early cleanup work on the Thea Foss and Wheeler-Osgood Waterways. If the council approves the proposed resolution, the grant money will pay for cleanup-related activities in the Thea Foss and Wheeler-Osgood Waterways, including the installation of a sheet pile retaining wall, debris removal, timber piling removal and capping. The money comes from the Department of Ecologys Model Toxics Control Act Remedial Action Grant program.
This is an incomplete agenda. The Index prints as much as space allows.
