Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon, Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Room 16
Tacoma Municipal Bldg. North
733 Market St.

Public Works service rates

The Public Works Department will present its proposed 2003-2004 rates for garbage and recycling pick-up, and sewer and groundwater services. The presentation will include an overview of each utility, rate increase history, as well as rate comparisons with neighboring municipalities. The public may attend the study session, but the council will not take comment.

Tacoma City Council
Regular Meeting
5 p.m., Tuesday, October 22, 2002
Council Chambers
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St.

Final adjustments to 2001-2002 budget

The City Council will review final adjustments to the 2001-2002 budget. The amended budget will reflect additional contractual obligations, transfers and other budget adjustments, including approximately $81 million in appropriations that come from outside funds. Most of the appropriations come from the City functions such as Fleet Services, Graphics Services, the Asphalt Plant, Parking Fund, and others receiving more money from their customers then anticipated. It also includes donations and other miscellaneous revenue. Among other things, it creates the Public Facility District Fund, combines the Stadium & Convention Center Trust Fund and the Visitor & Convention Center fund into the Hotel/Motel Tax Fund, and combines and eliminates other funds. On Oct. 29, City Manager Ray Corpuz will present the proposed 2003-2004 Biennial Budget to the City Council during the noontime study session. The council expects to vote on the measure Oct. 29.

Public hearing: Steele Street

Should business owners who develop property within the Tacoma Mall retail area, along Steele Street between South 35th and Idaho streets, have to share in area street construction expenses? The city wants to establish a boundary assessment reimbursement area so that developers-in this case, Costco – that make street improvements have a means to recoup costs from other businesses that benefit from those improvements. The Costco project includes construction of a 40-foot wide asphalt street with cement concrete curb and gutters and sidewalks. In September, the council approved an ordinance that requires commercial developers of projects that would increase traffic above the current level to make road improvements, such as adding a traffic signal, improving or adding a road or making sidewalk improvements. The measure also paved the way for the council to consider latecomers’ agreements in specific areas. If the council approves the agreement at a future meeting, improvement costs will be recovered from owners developing in the reimbursement area within the next 15 years who contribute to traffic congestion and benefitfrom the street improvements. These developers would be required to provide similar street improvements as they would in other areas in accordance with city ordinances.