Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon, Tuesday, July 30, 2002
Room 16
Tacoma Municipal Bldg. North
728 St. Helens Ave.
Model B&0 tax code
Although Tacoma stands out in many ways, it could become part of the Business and Occupation (B&O) tax pack.
Government Relations Officer Randy Lewis and Tax and License Manager Duston Jensen will present a model B&O tax ordinance, developed by the Association of Washington Cities and the 38 cities in the state who impose this type of tax.
Later this year, the City Council will be asked to consider adopting the ordinance.
The new, standardized tax code will make it easier for companies that do business in multiple cities to comply with the tax code.
While the effort to revise the code began three years ago in response to complaints by businesses to the Washington State Legislature, the effort to adopt the model code has move forward largely on the initiative of the cities themselves.
Tacoma City Council
Regular Meeting
5 p.m., Tuesday, July 30, 2002
Council Chambers
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St.
Costco congestion
The City Council will consider an ordinance to condemn or purchase right-of-way property from the Metropolitan Park District – property that could help relieve traffic congestion in and around Costco. If the ordinance is approved at a later meeting, the city will lead the effort to extend South Steele Street between the Costco building and South 35th Street. The road would run along the West side of Lincoln Heights Park.
Department of Ecology grants
The council will vote whether to accept two Department of Ecology grants totaling $132,929 for solid waste programs. If accepted, Solid Waste Management will use the grant money, along with a total city match of $44,310, to implement programs to help reduce the levels of mercury found in the citys garbage and sewage and to study the feasibility of establishing a city composting facility. Solid Waste Management will use $152,239 ($114,179 DOE grant; $38,060 city match) to implement a mercury reduction program aimed at residents and the business community, offering proper recycling and disposal services, buy-back programs, and overall mercury and product stewardship education. For the city composting feasibility study, Solid Waste Management will use $25,000 ($18,750 DOE grant; $6,250 city match) to determine if there are savings in having a city composting facility rather than contracting with the private sector.
Public Hearing: 2003-2004 budget
The council will host a special public hearing at approximately 5:30 p.m. to give citizens a chance to comment on their preferences for the citys 2003-2004 budget and to hear their ideas on dealing with the $18 million budget shortfall. The passage last year of statewide Initiative 747 and the resulting decline in property tax revenue has contributed to part of the shortfall. To reconcile the budget shortfall, the council will consider options for generating more revenue and cutting some General Fund programs and services. The Office of Management, Budget and Analysis projects the general fund will bring in $326.6 million over the next two years, while projected expenses will rise to $344.7 million.
