“Tacoma City CouncilStudy SessionNoon, Tuesday July 11, 2000Room 16, Municipal Building North728 St. Helens AvenueTacomaJudicial Role ReviewSome issues require Council members to act as judges instead of their customary role as legislators. Council members have rules for what they can and cannot do in those situations.Council members will receive a review of judicial rules from City Attorney Robin Jenkinson. Jenkinson will provide general information but not legal advice about particular cases. The Council has not reviewed the rules since adding three new members this year.Property Tax ExemptionThe Council will review the property tax exemption law it passed five years ago to promote development of multi-family housing in business districts. Property owners can earn an exemption for property taxes normally paid against improvements made to the property – either new construction or rehabilitation of existing units. The exemption does not affect taxes on land.Since 1995, Tacoma has had 259 new units completed, 86 more units under construction and more than 1,200 units in the planning stages that may eventually be developed. The City calls the exemption one of the most effective tools Tacoma has for encouraging developers to provide new housing units.Tacoma City CouncilCouncil Meeting5:00 p.m., Tuesday July 11Room 16, Municipal Building North728 St. Helens AvenueTacomaNew Centralized OfficeThe City is seeking to more closely tie strategic priorities and performance to budget decisions through creation of a new department to oversee planning, budget and performance measurements.The Council will vote on a proposal to create the Office of Management, Budget and Analysis. The new department will shift three positions to join with the Budget Office, currently under the Finance Department.The new department will handle:- Strategic Planning- Operating and capital budgets- Performance measurement process- Ongoing program analysis- Capital projects and special projects- Grant management- Budget-related financial information for labor negotiations- Growth management capital facilities plan.The Council intends to vote on the proposal at its July 11 meeting.Mall Boulevard RezoneThe Hearing Examiner has recommended approval of a rezone of property at 6050 Tacoma Mall Boulevard to allow development of an office retail building.The South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and the Wapato Hills Task Force has appealed the examiner’s recommendation arguing the rezoning is incompatible with other uses in the surrounding area.The Council will decide whether to approve the rezoning recommendation.”