Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon, Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Room 16
Tacoma Municipal Bldg. North
733 Market St.
Legislative priorities
The City Council will discuss the City of Tacomas priorities for the 2003 Washington State Legislature. The City Council sets priorities annually and adopts them formally by resolution. The public may attend the study session, but the council will not take comment.
Tacoma City Council
Regular Meeting
5 p.m., Tuesday, November 26, 2002
Council Chambers
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St.
Revenue-producing tax changes
The City Council will review three proposed tax increases involving gambling, cabaret and service-oriented businesses in Tacoma In a measure to make up a portion of the projected $19 million 2003-2004 budget shortfall, the City Council will consider:
– Taxing non-house-banked card rooms 11 percent of their gross income. The existing ordinance taxes 11 percent for gross income exceeding $10,000.
n Increasing the tax on house-banked card rooms from 11 percent to 15 percent.
– Charging a cabaret/admissions tax for establishments that perform cabaret activities (such as music and dancing) using Class B or Class C cabaret licenses. The council removed the tax from these activities in 1996.
– Maintaining the existing business and occupation tax on the service classification at a rate of four-tenths of 1 percent and eliminating a planned decrease in the business and occupation tax on service-related businesses that would have gone into effect Jan. 1.
The council will take public comment on the proposed ordinances and expects to vote on the measures Dec. 3.
TPU may undergo 10-year review
Tacoma Public Utilities may soon begin its 10-year review process if the City Council approves a $199,500 agreement with Barrington-Wellesley Group, Inc. (BWG). The review would include an overview of governance and management efficiencies and provide recommendations to improve overall services to the citizens and customers of TPU. The citys selection committee received nine proposals and unanimously chose Palm Desert, Calif.-based BWG because of its experience and knowledge in both general municipal government and municipal utilities. In addition, BWG has recently performed similar audits and policy reviews of several major agencies, such as the Los Angeles Department of Water & Power. The council will take public testimony before voting.
Speed limit reductions possible
Should traffic slow down on several Tacoma streets? The council will consider an ordinance that will reduce the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph in two Tacoma neighborhoods and along the Link Light Rail transit route. If approved, the speed limit would decrease in the following areas:
– East L Street from Puyallup Avenue to East Fairbanks Street;
– North 15th Street from Steele to Alder streets;
– Pacific Avenue from South 17th to South 26th streets; and
– 25th Street from Pacific Avenue to East J Street.
The council will take comment and expects to vote Dec. 3.
This is an incomplete agenda. The Index prints as much as space allows.
