JUST A SECOND.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: WE WILL GET EVERYONE SWORN IN SO WE CAN
BEGIN OUR COUNCIL MEETING HERE
THIS EVENING.
THIS EVENING.
>>
>> HELLO
>> HELLO EVERYONE.
>> HELLO EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR JOINING US THIS EVENING.
HOW ABOUT NOW?
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: NICOLE, HOW ABOUT YOU TAKE THIS ONE.
HOW ABOUT YOU TAKE THIS ONE. OKAY, HOW ABOUT NOW? OKAY!
OKAY EVERYONE.
OKAY, HOW ABOUT NOW? OKAY! OKAY EVERYONE. THANK YOU FOR
JOINING US THIS EVENING FOR OUR
FIRST COUNCIL MEETING OF THE
YEAR. MY NAME IS NICOLE EMERY,
CITY CLERK AND I GET THE HONOR
OF KICKING THE MEETING OFF
TONIGHT. AS YOU MAY NOTICE THE
DICE BEHIND ME IS A LITTLE
EMPTY AND BEFORE THE MEETING
OFFICIALLY GET STARTED, WE WILL
SWEAR IN COUNCILMEMBER
BUSHNELL, PALMER, RUMBA,
SADALGE
BUSHNELL, PALMER, RUMBA, SADALGE AND MAYOR IBSEN. AFTER
EACH MEMBER COMPLETES THEIR
OATH THEY WILL MAKE THEIR WAY
UP TO THE SEAT ON THE DAIS.
ONCE THE COUNCIL IS AT THE
DAIS, MAYOR IBSEN WILL CALL THE
MEETING TO
DAIS, MAYOR IBSEN WILL CALL THE MEETING TO ORDER AND SHORTLY
AFTER THEY WILL MAKE SOME
REMARKS. WHICH WILL BE
FOLLOWED BY A SHORT RECESS
WHICH WILL ALLOW EVERYONE TO
LEAVE IF THEY DESIRE TO DO SO.
SO, TO KICK OFF THE FIRST ONE I
WOULD LIKE TO INVITE UP
COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE WHO WILL
BE SWORN IN BY SPEAKER LAURIE
JINKINS. PLEASE MAKE YOUR WAY
UP TO THE FRONT. [APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
>>
>> I
>> I AM
>> I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE
>> I AM VERY HAPPY TO BE SWEARING YOU IN ALONG WITH THE
CUTEST MEMBER OF THE AUDIENCE
AND THE MOST BEAUTIFUL, TOO.
[LAUGHTER] I UNDERSTAND I GET
TO MAKE A COUPLE OF COMMENTS
BEFORE I SWEAR YOU IN AND I
WILL BE BRIEF. I SO CLEARLY
REMEMBER THE DAY THAT YOU
CALLED ME AND ASKED ME FOR AN
ENDORSEMENT FOR YOUR RUN. I
TOLD YOU THAT I WOULD NOT
ENDORSE YOU AND TELL YOU HAD
KNOCKED ON 1000 DOORS IN YOUR
DISTRICT. AND YOU WENT TO
WORK. YOU DID THAT AND THEN
YOU KEPT ON REPORTING THE
NUMBERS AS THEY WERE
RISING.[LAUGHTER] AND THEN, YOU
CALLED ME AND SAID I HAVE HIT
THE THOUSAND, WILL YOU ENDORSE
ME? AND I SAID NOW THAT YOU
HAVE HIT 1000 YOU DON'T NEED MY
ENDORSEMENT BECAUSE YOU KNOW
WHAT YOUR COMMUNITY NEEDS. AND
YOU UNDERSTAND YOUR COMMUNITY
AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE MY
AND OF COURSE YOU HAVE MY ENDORSEMENT. BUT I URGE YOU TO
CONTINUE LEARNING ABOUT YOUR
COMMUNITY AND THAT IS EXACTLY
WHAT YOU DID OVER THE COURSE OF
THIS RACE AND THAT'S EXACTLY
WHAT YOU HAVE DONE OVER THE
COURSE OF YOUR SERVICE SO FAR.
I AM SO EXCITED TO HAVE YOU SIT
ON THIS COUNCIL AS A FULLY
ELECTED MEMBER HAVING KNOCKED
ON AS MANY DOORS AS YOU HAVE
AND REALLY UNDERSTANDING AND
KNOWING YOUR DISTRICT AND WHAT
THE PEOPLE OF YOUR DISTRICT
NEED. I AM HONORED TO BE HERE
TO BE ABLE TO SWEAR YOU IN.
PLEASE REPEAT AFTER ME. I,
SANDESH SADALGE DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL
SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES AND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. I WILL COMPLY WITH
THE CITY CHARTER AND ALL
ORDINANCES OF THE CITY. AND
THATT I WILL FAITHFULLY AND AND
IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE
DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OFFICE OF
COUNCILMEMBER DISTRICT 4
ACCORDING TO THE LAW AND TO THE
BEST OF MY ABILITY.
CONGRATULATIONS ON BEING SWORN
IN AS A COUNCILMEMBER.
IN AS A COUNCILMEMBER. [APPLAUSE]
AS
AS A
AS A COUNCILMEMBER. [APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Clerk:
>> Clerk: NEXT UP I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER
BUSHNELL WHO WILL BE SWORN IN
BY HIS FATHER, JOE BUSHNELL.
BY HIS FATHER, JOE BUSHNELL.
>>
>> THANK
>> THANK YOU, EVERYBODY FOR COMING HERE TONIGHT. IT IS
SUCH AN HONOR TO BE SWEARING IN
MY SON AND HIS GRANDFATHER WAS
VERY
MY SON AND HIS GRANDFATHER WAS VERY BIG INTO POLITICS AND
WANTED SO BADLY TO GET INVOLVED
IN POLITICS. THIS WOULD'VE
BEEN THE LATE 60S AND EARLY
70S. TO SEE US STANDING HERE
NOW IN FRONT OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, I BET HE IS BUSTING
HIS BUTTONS RIGHT NOW IN
HEAVEN. THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
SO, IF YOU WILL REPEAT AFTER
ME, RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I, JOE BUSHNELL DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR
AND AFFIRM THAT I WILL SUPPORT
THE CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON THAT I
WILL COMPLY WITH THE CITY
CHARTER AND ALL ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY. AND I WILL
FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY
DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE
OFFICE OF E OFFICE OF
COUNCILMEMBER DISTRICT NUMBER 5
ACCORDING TO THE LAW AND THE
BEST OF MY ABILITY.
>>
>> THANK
>> THANK YOU. CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]
CONGRATULATIONS. [APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: THIS IS MY BEAUTIFUL WIFE. THE
FIRST TIME SHE HAS SEEN A
SWEARING IN.
SWEARING IN.
>>
>> WE
>> WE HAVE ONE MORE DUTY HERE.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: OH.
>>
>> RIGHT
>> RIGHT THERE WHERE IT SAYS JOE BUSHNELL. SIGNED THEIR.
YOU'VE GOT IT.
JOE BUSHNELL. SIGNED THEIR. YOU'VE GOT IT. THE OTHER JOE
BUSHNELL GOES HERE.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: IS VERY CONFUSING BECAUSE WE HAVE
THE SAME NAME.[CHUCKLE]
>>
>> THANK
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
>> THANK YOU VERY MUCH! [APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Clerk:
>> Clerk: NEXT UP I WOULD LIKE TO CALL UP COUNCILMEMBER PALMER
TO BE SWORN IN BY HER DAUGHTER,
NAYELI VASQUEZ. [APPLAUSE]
NAYELI VASQUEZ. [APPLAUSE]
>>
>> HI
>> HI MOM.[LAUGHTER]
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer: HI BABY.
BABY.
>>
>> SO,
>> SO, IT
>> SO, IT IS VERY NICE TO SEE YOU HAVE A LOT OF INTELLIGENCE
AND TO SEE YOU GROW. A LOT OF
PEOPLE WITH THAT INTELLIGENT
DON'T GROW AS MUCH AS YOU CAN.
AND AS A CITY COUNCILMEMBER IT
IS JUST THE START BECAUSE YOU
CAN GROW MANY MORE AND YOU CAN
ACHIEVE A MUCH MORE THAN YOU
CAN. THIS IS JUST A START.
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer: THANK YOU BABY.
>> Councilmember Palmer: THANK YOU BABY. [APPLAUSE]
>>
>> REPEAT
>> REPEAT AFTER ME.
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer: I LATASHA PALMER DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL
SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES AND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF HE
STATE OF WASHINGTON THAT I WILL
COMPLY WITH CITY CHARTER AND
ALL THE ORDINANCES OF THE CITY
AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND
IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE
DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF
COUNCILMEMBER AT-LARGE NUMBER 6
ACCORDING TO LAW AND THE BEST
OF MY ABILITY. [APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Clerk:
>> Clerk: NEXT WE WILL HAVE COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH WHO WILL
BE SWORN IN BY THE HON. JUDGE
STANLEY RUMBAUGH.
BE SWORN IN BY THE HON. JUDGE STANLEY RUMBAUGH. [APPLAUSE]
>>
>> SO
>> SO WE
>> SO WE ARE HAVING A CONTEST FOR THE CUTEST BABY, MY
GRANDDAUGHTER TALIA IS HERE.
SARAH, ARE YOU READY TO TAKE
THE OATH OF OFFICE?
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: YES.
>>
>> WHEN
>> WHEN YOU TOLD ME YOU WERE GOING TO RUN FOR REELECTION
DIDN'T TO ASK WHY.
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer:
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: YOU SHOULD'VE ASKED WHY!
>>
>> BECAUSE I KNEW. YOU ARE COMMITTED TO SERVICE AND THE
PRINCIPLES YOU STAND FOR. YOU
GIVE THOUGHTFUL CONSIDERATION
TO EVERYBODY! OF VIEW AND ONCE
YOU HAVE WEIGHED YOUR DECISION
YOU STICK WITH IT. SO ARE YOU
PREPARED TO TAKE THE OATH OF
OFFICE?
OFFICE?
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: YES.
>>
>> RAISE
>> RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND AND REPEAT AFTER ME.
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: I, SARAH RUMBAUGH DO SOLEMNLY
SWEAR OR AFFIRM THAT I WILL
SUPPORT THE CONSTITUTION OF THE
UNITED STATES AND THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE STATE OF
WASHINGTON. THAT I WILL COMPLY
WITH THE CITY CHARTER AND ALL
ORDINANCES OF THE NCES OF THE
CITY AND I WILL FAITHFULLY AND
IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE
IMPARTIALLY DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE OFFICE OF
COUNCILMEMBER DISTRICT NUMBER 2
ACCORDING TO THE LAW AND TO THE
BEST OF MY ABILITIES.
[APPLAUSE]
]
] [APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Clerk:
>> Clerk: LAST THIS EVENING WE HAVE MAYOR IBSEN WHO WILL BE
SWORN IN BY PUYALLUP
COUNCILWOMAN ANNETTE BRYAN.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
>>
>> HELLO.[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]. I AM REALLY HONORED
TO COME HERE ON BEHALF OF THE
PUYALLUP TRIBE BUT ALSO ON HALF
OF MYSELF. WE HAVE BEEN
WORKING TOGETHER SINCE I
STARTED ON THE COUNCIL ALMOST
10 YEARS AGO. AND MY, HOW
THINGS HAVE CHANGED. YOU HAVE
SOME REALLY BIG SHOES TO FILL
AND I BELIEVE THAT YOU ARE
GOING TO BE ABLE TO FILL THE
SHOES OF MAYOR WOODARDS IN NOT
ONLY ESTABLISHING BUT
MAINTAINING A REALLY GOOD
RELATIONSHIP WITH THE WALLOP
TRIBE OF INDIANS. YOU
HAVE
HAVE REALLY TRIED AND REALLY GONE OUT OF YOUR WAY TO LEARN
ABOUT OUR CULTURE, TO GET TO
KNOW US AND TO GET TO KNOW ME
AND THAT IS SO APPRECIATED.
ONE OF THE REASONS WHY, YOU CAN
SEE OUR FLAG HERE TODAY AND YOU
CAN SEE A WHOLE DIFFERENT
FEELING THAN WE DID 10 YEARS
AGO BETWEEN THE TRIBE AND THE
CITY AND I THINK YOU FOR THAT
AND YOUR ROLE IN THAT. I KNOW
YOU ARE GOING TO CONTINUE TO
HAVE THAT ROLE. ARE YOU READY
TO TAKE THIS OATH OF OFFICE?
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: YES.
>>
>> PLEASE
>> PLEASE RAISE YOUR RIGHT HAND.
HAND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: I ANDERS IBSEN DO SOLEMNLY SWEAR AND AFFIRM
THAT I WILL SUPPORT THE
CONSTITUTION OF THE UNITED
STATES AND THE CONSTITUTION OF
THE STATE OF WASHINGTON. THAT
I WILL COMPLY WITH THE CITY
CHARTER AND ALL ORDINANCES OF
THE CITY AND THAT I WILL
FAITHFULLY AND IMPARTIALLY
DISCHARGE THE DUTIES OF THE
OFFICE OF MAYOR. ACCORDING TO
LAW AND TO THE BEST OF MY
ABILITY. .
[CHEERING]
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: WE ARE GOING TO DO SOME AWESOME STUFF. THANK
YOU.
HANK
HANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING OF JANUARY 6, 2026.
[APPLAUSE]
MEETING OF JANUARY 6, 2026. [APPLAUSE] [CHEERING] CLERK,
WILL YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLL?
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell:
PRESENT.
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: PRESENT.
>>
>> Councilmember Diaz: HERE.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: HERE.
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer: I AM
HERE.
>> Councilmember Palmer: I AM HERE.
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh:
HERE.
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: HERE.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: HERE.
>>
>> Councilmember Scott: HERE.
>>
>> Councilmember Walker: HERE.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: HERE.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: WILL YOU PLEASE JOIN ME IN LISTENING TO THE
LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT AND FLAG
SALUTE LED BY COUNCILMEMBER
SCOTT, FOLLOWED BY A MOMENT OF
SILENCE.
SILENCE.
>>
>> Councilmember Scott: WE GREATLY HONOR AND ACKNOWLEDGE
THAT WE REST ON THE TRADITIONAL
LANDS OF THE PUYALLUP PEOPLE
WHERE THEY MAKE THEIR HOME AND
SPEAK THE LUSHOOTSEED LANGUAGE.
PLEASE STAND FOR THE FLAG
SALUTE AND REMAIN STANDING FOR
A MOMENT OF SILENCE. I PLEDGE
ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND TO
THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT
STANDS ONE NATION UNDER GOD
INDIVISIBLE WITH LIBERTY AND
JUSTICE FOR ALL.
[RAPS
[RAPS THE
[RAPS THE GAVEL]
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: I WILL KEEP MY COMMENTS BRIEF BECAUSE I HAVE
FOUR OTHER COLLEAGUES WHO WOULD
LIKE TO SPEAK ABOUT EITHER
RE-UPPING OR JOINING FOR THE
FIRST TIME OUR CITY COUNCIL.
BUT SPEAKING TO SO MANY FRIENDS
HERE IN THIS ROOM BOTH NEW AND
ESTABLISHED
HERE IN THIS ROOM BOTH NEW AND ESTABLISHED SOME LONG TIME,
OTHERS NEW FRIENDS, I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY MOST PROFOUND
GRATITUDE FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SERVE YOU. TACOMA IS THE
JEWEL OF THE SOUTH SOUND. A
BEAUTIFUL AND AMAZING PLACE.
WHILE THE CHALLENGES WE FACE
ARE
WHILE THE CHALLENGES WE FACE ARE STARK THE OPPORTUNITIES ARE
SO MUCH GREATER. WORKING
TOGETHER I AM SO EXCITED BOTH
WITH MY COLLEAGUES AND THE
COMMUNITY AT LARGE. I WANT TO
EXPRESS MY EXTREME GRATITUDE.
THE WORK IS GETTING STARTED BUT
I LIKE WORK SO WERE GOING TO
HAVE A GREAT TIME. WHO ELSE
WOULD LIKE TO COMMENT?
COUNCILMEMBER BUSHNELL?
COUNCILMEMBER BUSHNELL?
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: THANK YOU MAYOR AND I WANTED TO THANK
EVERYBODY FOR COMING OUT TO THE
SWEARING-IN AND MINE AS WELL.
I WANT TO SAY AYE APPRECIATE MY
FATHER I WOULD BE THE MAN I AM
TODAY IF IT WASN'T FOR HIM. I
LEARNED THE VALUE OF HARD WORK
AND VOLUNTEERISM AND SERVICE
THROUGH HIM. I HOPE TO
CONTINUE TO MAKE HIM PROUD. I
KNOW HE IS VERY PROUD. I AM
ALSO VERY PROUD OF THE
CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY. I'VE A
LOT OF THE MEMBERS OF THE
CAMBODIAN COMMUNITY CARE MY
MOTHER I WAS A REFUGEE FROM
CAMBODIA. BEING MIXED
CAMBODIAN MYSELF IS REALLY
IMPACT WILL. THE STORIES FROM
MY MOTHER'S SIDE AND THE FAMILY
AND HOW THEY GOT TO THE UNITED
STATES AND THEN TO BE ABLE TO
RISE IN THIS POSITION. I WANT
TO BRING MY COMMUNITY ALONG
WITH ME AS MUCH AS POSSIBLE.
[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE]
[SPEAKING NATIVE LANGUAGE] THANK YOU. THANK YOU EVERYBODY
AND THANK YOU ALL FOR
EVERYTHING. I CANNOT BE
EVERYTHING. I CANNOT BE PROUDER AND I LOVE THIS CITY
AND I LOVE TO SERVE AND I AM SO
HAPPY THAT I HAVE THE
OPPORTUNITY TO CONTINUE TO
SERVE HERE. THANK YOU.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER BUSHNELL. ARE
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS?
THERE ANY OTHER COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE?
COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE?
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: THANK YOU. I DIDN'T ACTUALLY PREPARE
ANY SUM GOING OFF THE CUFF
HERE. FIRST I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE BOTH MY FATHER AND MY
MOTHER. I APPLIED FOR THIS
POSITION TO FULFILL THE LATE,
GREAT, CATHERINE USHKA'S
REMAINING TERM AFTER MY MOTHER
DIED WANTING TO DO SOMETHING
REALLY MEANINGFUL. I HAVE BEEN
ABLE TO DO THAT THIS LAST YEAR
AND 1/2. I ALSO WANT TO
RECOGNIZE MY BROTHER WHO
ANSWERED A
RECOGNIZE MY BROTHER WHO ANSWERED A CALL HE FOUND WITHIN
HIMSELF AND WENT INTO THE
MILITARY AND SPENT 21 YEARS
OVER THERE WHO REALLY
INFLUENCED ME OVER MY LIFETIME
AND MY SISTER WHO HERSELF LEFT
ACADEMIA AND BECAME A
COUNCILMEMBER IN NORTHERN NEW
JERSEY. I AM ALSO PROUD OF
BEING THE
JERSEY. I AM ALSO PROUD OF BEING THE FIRST SOUTH ASIAN,
SOMEONE BEING FROM SOUTH ASIA
ON THIS COUNSEL. I THINK IT'S
IMPORTANT TO REFLECT THE
DIVERSITY OF PEOPLES ON THIS
COUNCIL AND TO SEE SO MUCH
DIVERSITY HERE MAKES ME PROUD.
AND LASTLY I AM JUST
ABSOLUTELY, NO, SECOND TO LAST.
THE LAST ONE WILL BE A VERY
IMPORTANT PERSON. SECOND TO
LAST, MY NEIGHBORS IN DISTRICT
4 WHO HAVE BEEN ABSOLUTELY SOME
OF THE MOST KINDEST, WELCOMING
PEOPLE I HAVE EVER INTERACTED
WITH. SOMETIMES YOU HAVE HARD
CONVERSATIONS WITH ONE ANOTHER
AND THEN YOU JUST LOVE EACH
OTHER MORE. 4337 IS THE TOTAL
NUMBERS I ACTUALLY HIT. NOT
EVERY CONVERSATION WAS
EASY.[CHUCKLE] BUT I THINK
EVERY SINGLE CONVERSATION I
LEFT FEELING MORE CONNECTED TO
THE PEOPLE IN MY DISTRICT. AND
LAST BUT NOT LEAST I ABSOLUTELY
HAVE TO THANK MY WIFE BECAUSE I
COULD NOT DO ANYTHING THAT I
HAVE DONE IN THESE LAST 16
YEARS THAT WE HAVE BEEN
TOGETHER IF IT WASN'T FOR HER
STRENGTH AND HER SUPPORT. SO I
AM BEYOND GRATEFUL TO BE HERE
AND I LOOK FORWARD TO WORKING
WITH ALL OF MY COLLEAGUES AS WE
LOOK TO MOVE TACOMA FORWARD.
THANK YOU. [APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU FOR YOUR COMMENTS COUNCILMEMBER.
COUNCILMEMBER PALMER?
COUNCILMEMBER PALMER?
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer: THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO FIRST
THANK MY FELLOW COUNCILMEMBERS
FOR SUCH A WARM WELCOME. WE
HAVE KNOWN EACH OTHER FOR A
LITTLE BIT NOW BUT IT HAS BEEN
GREAT. YOU GUYS HAVE BEEN SO
HELPFUL. TODAY WAS A LOT. IT
WAS MY FIRST DAY HERE AND SO I
REALLY APPRECIATE ALL THE HELP.
I WANTED TO THANK MY CAMPAIGN
TEAM WE HAVE SHERRY AND
JONATHAN HERE AND MIGHT
CAMPAIGN AUNTIES.
JONATHAN HERE AND MIGHT CAMPAIGN AUNTIES. MY FAMILY,
MY SISTER TANISHA, MY BROTHER
DEVON HELPING ME OUT WITH MY
KIDDOS AND MY KIDDOS. NAYELI
VASQUEZ, THANK YOU FOR ALMOST
MAKING ME CRY. AND I WANT TO
THANK TACOMA. I FEEL SO
SUPPORTED. AND EVERYONE SHOULD
KNOW POSITION SIX IS A SEAT FOR
EVERYONE. I THINK, I
HOPEFULLY, THAT IS MY JOB TO
MAKE SURE THAT YOU CONTINUE TO
FEEL THAT WAY. AND LET ME KNOW
IF I DON'T. [CHUCKLE] PLEASE,
HOLD ME ACCOUNTABLE, THAT'S
FIRST OFF. AND IN THAT VEIN, I
KNOW SOME OF YOU LIKE TO LOOK
BACK AT SOME OF THE COUNCIL
MEETINGS TO SEE WHAT WE SAY SO
I WANTED TO LET YOU GUYS KNOW
AND SHARE MY GOVERNING
PRINCIPLES AND WHAT I PLAN TO
BASE MY DECISIONS ON SO THAT IF
I STRAY FROM THAT YOU GUYS CAN
SAY HEY LATOSHA, WHAT ARE YOU
DOING. I'M SORRY,
COUNCILMEMBER PALMER, WHAT ARE
COUNCILMEMBER PALMER, WHAT ARE YOU DOING? [CHUCKLE] I BELIEVE
OUR WORK SHOULD BE MEASURABLE
AND TRANSPARENT. I BELIEVE WE
CAN ENSURE THAT EVERY RESIDENT
HAS DIGNITY AND THE CHANCE TO
FEEL SAFE AND BELONG. THIS
INCLUDES PEOPLE HAVING REAL
OPPORTUNITIES TO REMAIN IN AND
MEANINGFULLY DISSIPATE IN THEIR
COMMUNITIES TO SHARE EQUITABLY
IN BOTH THE COST AND BENEFITS
OF BOTH AND TO BUILD AND KEEP
WEALTH IN WAYS THAT STRENGTHEN
COMMUNITY WELL-BEING AND
STABILITY. I COMMIT TO SEEKING
THE MOST EFFICIENT AND
EFFECTIVE SOLUTIONS WHETHER
CONVENTIONAL OR INNOVATIVE AND
TO PLANNING, INVESTING AND
PROBLEM SOLVING TOGETHER WITH
RESIDENTS, WORKERS AND
BUSINESSES GUIDED BY A
RESPONSIBILITY TO FUTURE
GENERATIONS AND THE HEALTH OF
OUR ENVIRONMENT. SO AGAIN, I
CANNOT DO THIS ALONE. THANK
YOU ALL FOR THE SUPPORT AND
HOPEFULLY YOU WILL STICK BY ME
AS I GO THROUGH THIS
EXPERIENCE. LET'S CHANGE SOME
THINGS UP BLOCK BY BLOCK.
[APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PALMER.
COUNCILMEMBER PALMER. COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH?
COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH?
>>
>> Councilmember
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: THANK YOU. I WANT TO THANK
EVERYONE WHO IS HERE TONIGHT
AND I ESPECIALLY WANT TO THANK
MY FAMILY WHO HAS ALWAYS BEEN
SO SUPPORTIVE. MY DAUGHTER WAS
HERE WITH MY GRANDDAUGHTER
WHICH WAS EXCITING TO SEE ME BE
HERE. AND I WANT TO THANK MY
HUSBAND. I WANT TO THANK STAND
BECAUSE AS A JUDGE I HAVE SEEN
HIM AS A PERSONAL INJURY
ATTORNEY AND SERVE ON THE
PIERCE COUNTY SUPERIOR COURT
FOR MANY YEARS NOW. AND HE FOR
ME IS AN EXAMPLE OF AN
UPSTANDING PUBLIC SERVANT TO
OUR COMMUNITY. SO THAT IS SORT
OF MY LENS. I KNOW WE HAVE
SOME JUDGES HERE IN THE
AUDIENCE TONIGHT. I WANT YOU
TO KNOW HOW PROUD I WAS TO BE
ABLE TO PICK OUR -WE WILL BE
ABLE TO VOTE ON OUR NEXT
MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE. THAT'S
A BIG DEAL TO ME. HAVING OUR
OWN COURT HERE IN OUR OWN CITY
IS IMPORTANT AND THE WORK THEY
DO EVERY DAY TO PROVIDE THE
SAFETY THAT WE NEED AS A
COMMUNITY IS IMPORTANT. I JUST
WANT TO THANK EVERYONE WHO
WORKS FOR THE CITY FOR
BELIEVING IN US WHO ARE SITTING
UP HERE AND DOING THIS WORK.
WE DON'T GET THIS WORK DONE BY
OURSELVES WE WORK TOGETHER AND
WE HAVE NEW MEMBERS TODAY AND
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO HAVE THE
NEW MEMBERS BUT I ALSO WANT TO
SAY THAT LEADERSHIP ISN'T ABOUT
DOING THE THINGS IS ABOUT DOING
HARD THINGS. DURING MY LAST
FOUR YEARS I DID A LOT OF HARD
THINGS AND THEY MAY NOT HAVE
BEEN WHAT YOU ALL WANTED DONE
BUT IT DOESN'T MEAN THAT THERE
WEREN'T OTHER PEOPLE THAT
NEEDED THOSE THINGS DONE.
WEREN'T OTHER PEOPLE THAT NEEDED THOSE THINGS DONE. I
HOPE WE CAN WORK TOGETHER AS A
COMMUNITY AND BE HONEST WITH
EACH OTHER AND I KNOW I HAVE
HAD -SOME PEOPLE HAVE NOT BEEN
HAPPY BUT I THINK ALSO ONE
THING THAT I THINK IS IMPORTANT
IS THAT WE CONTINUE TO HAVE
CONVERSATION AND CONTINUE TO
TALK TO EACH OTHER AND THAT'S
REALLY WHAT THIS IS ABOUT IS
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE
FOR AN
THE OPPORTUNITY TO COME HERE FOR AN OPPORTUNITY FOR YOUR
VOICE AND AN OPPORTUNITY TO
HEAR FROM US. I WANT YOU TO
KNOW THAT WE ARE HERE FOR YOU
AND WE CARE WHAT YOU THINK AND
I WANT YOU TO
AND WE CARE WHAT YOU THINK AND I WANT YOU TO THINKABOUT WHY WE
ARE HERE TONIGHT. [APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH AND
THANK YOU WHO HAVE CONTINUED TO
SERVE OR WHO ARE JOINING THE
COUNCIL FOR THE FIRST TIME.
ALL OF YOU ARE WELCOME TO STAY
FOR THE REST OF THE MEETING
ALTHOUGH I THINK THERE'S A FAIR
AMOUNT WHO ARE NOT HERE TO TALK
ABOUT PURCHASE RESOLUTIONS AND
SALES TAX. YOU ARE WELCOME TO
STAY HERE BUT WE ARE GOING TO
TAKE A BRIEF RECESS FOR PEOPLE
TO LEAVE AND GET ON TO BETTER
THINGS. IS THERE A MOTION TO
HAVE A RECESS OF FIVE MINUTES?
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO TAKE A RECESS FOR 5
MINUTES.
MINUTES.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SAY AYE ALL THOSE OPPOSED
SAY NO. WE WILL RECESS FOR 5
MINUTES. [RAPS THE GAVEL]
[RAPS
[RAPS THE
[RAPS THE GAVEL]
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: I WOULD LIKE TO CALL TO ORDER THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING OF JANUARY 6. THERE IS
A MODIFICATION TO THE AGENDA
THIS EVENING. WE HAVE A
PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND ITEM
26
PROPOSED MOTION TO AMEND ITEM 26 RESOLUTION 418412 AT
CANCELLATION OF APRIL 7TH AND
SEPTEMBER 1 STUDY SESSION AND
COUNCIL MEETINGS. WOULD ANYONE
LIKE TO
COUNCIL MEETINGS. WOULD ANYONE LIKE TO COMMENT -YOU MAY DO SO
DURING PUBLIC COMMENT. ARE
THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
MODIFICATIONS TO THE AGENDA
THIS EVENING? SEEING NONE WE
WILL MOVE ON TO THE CONSENT
AGENDA. IS THERE A MOTION TO
APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA?
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT THE CONSENT
AGENDA INCLUDING RESOLUTION
41827
AGENDA INCLUDING RESOLUTION 41827 AND 41828 AND FIRST
READING OF ORDINANCE
29090.
41827 AND 41828 AND FIRST READING OF ORDINANCE 29090.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: ARE THERE ANY COMMENTS QUESTIONS OR
CORRECTIONS? IS THERE A
CORRECTIONS? IS THERE A MOTION?
MOTION?
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ACCEPT THE FINDINGS AND
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ORDINANCE
29090.
RECOMMENDATIONS FOR ORDINANCE 29090.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSED SIGNIFY BY SAYING
NAY. ALL IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING
THE CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDING
SENDING ORDINANCE
THE CONSENT AGENDA INCLUDING SENDING ORDINANCE 29090 OVER
FOR A DATE TO BE DETERMINED
SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE. THOSE
OPPOSED SAY NAY. THE CONSENT
AGENDA IS CONSIDERED ADOPTED.
MOVING ON TO PROCLAMATIONS,
RECOGNITIONS, PRESENTATIONS AND
ANNOUNCEMENTS. ITEM NUMBER 12
WE ARE PROCLAIMING JANUARY 26
AS NATIONAL MEN TOURING MONTH.
WE HAVE TWO CEREMONIAL'S
TONIGHT FOR THE MENTORING
PROCLAMATION. I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE THEM IN JOLYNN KENNEY
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HOPE AMB.
INVITE THEM IN JOLYNN KENNEY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR HOPE AMB.,
ALICE MASSARA PEOPLE AND
CULTURE MANAGER TACOMA POWER
AND CASSANDRA ZHU LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT CONSULTANT HUMAN
RESOURCES. COME TO THE PODIUM.
WELCOME. WHEREAS, JANUARY IS
RECOGNIZED NATIONWIDE AS
NATIONAL MENTORING
NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH,CELEBRATING THE
MONTH,CELEBRATING THE TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF
MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS;
MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS; AND
TRANSFORMATIVE POWER OF MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS; AND
WHEREAS, MENTORING FOSTERS
MEANINGFUL CONNECTIONS THAT
SUPPORT PERSONAL GROWTH,
EDUCATIONAL AND CAREER SUCCESS,
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING,
SOCIAL-EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING, AND A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR
BOTH MENTORS AND MENTEES;
AND
AND A SENSE OF BELONGING FOR BOTH MENTORS AND MENTEES; AND
WHEREAS, MENTORS SERVE AS ROLE
MODELS, GUIDING INDIVIDUALS TO
NAVIGATE CHALLENGES AND
ENCOURAGING THEM TO REACH THEIR
FULL POTENTIAL, HELPING TO
SHAPE A STRONG AND RESILIENT
COMMUNITY;
COMMUNITY; AND
SHAPE A STRONG AND RESILIENT COMMUNITY; AND
COMMUNITY; AND WHEREAS, ORGANIZATIONS LIKE
MENTOR WASHINGTON AND LOCAL
MENTORING PROGRAMS PLAY A VITAL
ROLE IN TRAINING MENTORS,
SUPPORTING MENTEES, AND
SUSTAINING THESE INVALUABLE
MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS;
MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS; AND
SUSTAINING THESE INVALUABLE MENTORING RELATIONSHIPS; AND
WHEREAS, NATIONAL MENTORING
MONTH CALLS UPON INDIVIDUALS,
BUSINESSES, SCHOOLS, FAITH
COMMUNITIES, AND CIVIC
ORGANIZATIONS TO ENGAGE IN
MENTORING AND ENSURE PEOPLE OF
ALL AGES HAVE ACCESS TO CARING
AND SUPPORTIVE GUIDANCE;
AND
ALL AGES HAVE ACCESS TO CARING AND SUPPORTIVE GUIDANCE; AND
WHEREAS, THE CITY RECOGNIZES
MENTORING AS A PROVEN STRATEGY
TO INCREASE ENGAGEMENT, IMPROVE
WELL-BEING, AND INSPIRE
LONG-TERM SUCCESS;
LONG-TERM SUCCESS; AND
WELL-BEING, AND INSPIRE LONG-TERM SUCCESS; AND
WHEREAS, MENTORING ACROSS THE
LIFESPAN INCLUDING YOUTH, EARLY
CAREER PROFESSIONALS, AND
EXPERIENCED PUBLIC SERVANTS,
ENRICHES INDIVIDUALS,
ENRICHES INDIVIDUALS, ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES
ALIKE;
ALIKE; AND
ORGANIZATIONS, AND COMMUNITIES ALIKE; AND
ALIKE; AND WHEREAS, TACOMA PUBLIC
UTILITIES AND OTHER CITY
DEPARTMENTS INVEST IN EMPLOYEE
MENTORING TO CULTIVATE
CONFIDENCE, LEADERSHIP
CONFIDENCE, LEADERSHIP CAPACITY, AND A SENSE OF
BELONGING, RECOGNIZING THAT A
SUPPORTED WORKFORCE IS
ESSENTIAL TO SERVING
RESIDENTS
SUPPORTED WORKFORCE IS ESSENTIAL TO SERVING RESIDENTS
WITH EXCELLENCE, CARE, AND
ACCOUNTABILITY;NOW,
ACCOUNTABILITY;NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDERS IBSEN,
MAYOR OF THE CITY OF TACOMA, ON
BEHALF OF THE CITY COUNCIL, DO
HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 2026
ASB
ASB
ASB NATIONAL MENTORING
NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH
ASB NATIONAL MENTORING MONTH
IN THE CITY OF TACOMA AND
ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO
CELEBRATE THE DEDICATED MENTORS
WHO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE
LIVES OF OTHERS, TO CONSIDER
BECOMING A MENTOR, AND TO
SUPPORT LOCAL MENTORING
PROGRAMS THAT STRENGTHEN OUR
COMMUNITY AND FUTURE. PLEASE
SAY A FEW WORDS.
>>
>> Speaker: THANK YOU MAYOR IBSEN AND HAPPY NEW YEAR AND
HAPPY NATIONAL MEN TOURING
MONTH. I LOVE FIRST, MY NAME
IS JOLYNN
MONTH. I LOVE FIRST, MY NAME IS JOLYNN KENNEY, EXECUTIVE
DIRECTOR HOPE AMB. OF
WASHINGTON. I LOVE THAT YOU
ARE SWORN IN TONIGHT WITH
EVERYONE AND THEIR CONTINUED
ROLES. EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU
MENTIONED ANOTHER PERSON WHO
WAS IMPORTANT TO YOU IN SHAPING
YOUR PATHS, YOUR DECISIONS AND
SERVICE. YOUR TRAJECTORY.
SOMETIMES THOSE PEOPLE ARE
YOUNG PEOPLE. SOMETIMES OUR
ROLE MODELS ARE YOUNGER THAN
US. MENTOR WASHINGTON IS A
STATEWIDE RUN NONPROFIT.
US. MENTOR WASHINGTON IS A STATEWIDE RUN NONPROFIT. WE
ARE LEADING THE NATIONAL MEN
TOURING MOVEMENT HERE IN THE
STATE OF WASHINGTON AND I WILL
TELL YOU THAT PIERCE COUNTY AND
THE CITY OF TACOMA HAVE ONE OF
THE STRONGEST PRESENCE OF YOUTH
MEN TOURING ACROSS THE STATE.
WE HAVE SOME OF OUR LOCAL
PROGRAMS HERE TONIGHT. PAUL
PROGRAMS HERE TONIGHT. PAUL TOMORROWPALMER SCHOLARS,
TOMORROWPALMER SCHOLARS, NATIONAL CHILD HOPE CENTER, BIG
BROTHERS BIG SISTERS HAS A
PRESENCE HERE IN TOWN. THE BIG
HOMEY PROGRAM. THERE'S TONS OF
NATIONAL PROGRAMS THAT WE ARE
CELEBRATING SO THANK YOU FOR
HAVING US.
HAVING US.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU.
>>
>> Speaker: GOOD EVENING
>> Speaker: GOOD EVENING MAYOR, NEWLY ELECTED COUNCILMEMBERS
AND COUNCILMEMBERS MY NAME IS
MALACHI CABRERA AND I SERVE
WITH PALMER SCHOLARS. IF YOU
ARE NOT FAMILIAR WITH US WE
BEEN AROUND SINCE 1983, OVER 40
YEARS OF MENTORING YOUTH,
COLLEGE EDUCATION, COLLEGE
READINESS AND
READINESS AND PRE-APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING.
PRE-APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING. TONIGHT IS NOT JUST A
PROCLAMATION. IT IS A MEANING
THAT TACOMA
PROCLAMATION. IT IS A MEANING THAT TACOMA SEES OUR PROGRAMS.
THE YOUTH SEES OUR PROGRAMS AND
THE IMPACT. THANK YOU SO MUCH
FOR ACKNOWLEDGING THIS, FOR
PROCLAIMING THIS MONTH TO BE
NATIONAL MENTOR MONTH. I KNOW
PERSONALLY I HAVE SEVERAL
MENTORS IN MY LIFE. SOME OF
YOU MAY BE HERE TONIGHT. BUT I
AM SO GRATEFUL THAT THE CITY IS
OFFICIALLY RECOGNIZING AND
PROCLAIMING THIS MONTH TO BE
NATIONAL MENTOR MONTH AND I
HOPE THAT WE CAN SEE SOME
PEOPLE HERE TONIGHT ENGAGE WITH
PALMER SCHOLARS. WE HAVE OUR
ANNUAL
PALMER SCHOLARS. WE HAVE OUR ANNUAL LUNCHEON MARCH 26 AND I
WANT TO PUT A PLUG IN THERE. I
WANT EVERYONE TO LEARN ABOUT
OUR PROGRAMS AND BEING MENTOR
TO OUR YOUTH AND COMMUNITY.
THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>>
>> Speaker: HELLO, THANK YOU FOR THE OPPORTUNITY TO BE HERE.
MY NAME IS CASSANDRA AND I AM
THE CITYWIDE LEADERSHIP
DEVELOPMENT. IN MY WORK I HAVE
THE OPPORTUNITY TO CONNECT WITH
EMPLOYEES AND EVERY PSEUDO-
DELAY CITY DEPARTMENT ACROSS
ALL LEVELS AND IT OCCURS TO ME
THAT THERE IS HUGE
ALL LEVELS AND IT OCCURS TO ME THAT THERE IS HUGE LEADERSHIP
ESSENTIAL WITHIN OUR OWN
WORKFORCE. AS CITY EMPLOYEES
WE ARE SURROUNDED BY
INDIVIDUALS WITH A SERVICE
MINDED MINDSET TO LEAD BETTER
THOSE AROUND THEM TOWARDS OUR
COLLECTED SUCCESS. WE AS AN
ORGANIZATION AND CITY ARE
FOCUSED ON THE GROWTH
DEVELOPMENT AND CONTINUOUS
IMPROVEMENT OF OUR ADULT
WORKFORCE. I AM HERE
TO.
IMPROVEMENT OF OUR ADULT WORKFORCE. I AM HERE TO.
>>
>> Councilmember: YOU ABOUT THE LEADERSHIP LAUNCHPAD COACHING
PROGRAM FOR CITY EMPLOYEES
WHICH IS DESIGNED TO GROW
TALENT WITHIN BY BRIDGING THE
GAP BETWEEN INDIVIDUAL
CONTRIBUTORS AND FIRST LEVEL
LEADERSHIP. BY CONNECTING OUR
EMERGING LEADERS WITH
EXPERIENCE ESTABLISHED LEADERS
WE CREATE ACROSS THE
EXPERIENCE ESTABLISHED LEADERS WE CREATE ACROSS THE MENTAL
KNOWLEDGE SHARING AND LEADS TO
A MORE COHESIVE ORGANIZATION
WHICH MORE IMPORTANTLY ALLOWS
US TO BETTER SERVE TACOMA'S
COMMUNITY. WE COMPLETED THE
FIRST COHORT THIS FALL WITH 54
PARTICIPANTS ACROSS 14
DEPARTMENTS. MENTEES HAVE
HIGHLIGHTED A KEY TAKE AWAY
FROM THE PROGRAM IS LEARNING
THAT
FROM THE PROGRAM IS LEARNING THAT ADVANCEMENT MEANS FINDING
OPPORTUNITIES RIGHT WHERE THEY
ARE TO IMPROVE THEIR TEAMS AND
ULTIMATELY IMPROVE THAT THE WAY
THAT WE SERVE THE CITY. IF WE
WANT THE WORK TO BENEFIT TACOMA
WE HAVE TO INVEST IN SUPPORTING
THE DEVELOPMENT OF THOSE WHO
ARE DOING THE WORK. WHEN OUR
EMPLOYEES ARE BETTER EQUIPPED
EMPLOYEES ARE BETTER EQUIPPED WITH SKILLS LIKE RADICAL
THINKING, EMPATHY AND
ACCOUNTABILITY THEY ARE BETTER
PREPARED TO SOLVE THE COMPLEX
CHALLENGES THAT OUR RESIDENTS
FACE EVERY DAY. WE WILL BE
LAUNCHING OUR SECOND COHORT THE
SPRING AND CITY EMPLOYEES
CONFINEMENT MORE INFORMATION BY
SEARCHING LEADERSHIP LAUNCHPAD
ON THE
SEARCHING LEADERSHIP LAUNCHPAD ON THE HUB. THANKS AGAIN FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO SAY A FEW
WORDS.
WORDS.
>>
>> Speaker: THANK YOU MAYOR IBSEN AND MEMBERS OF THE
COUNCIL I WILL KEEP IT QUICK.
WE HAVE MANY OF US BUT WE ARE
JUST EXCITED ABOUT MEN TOURING
MONTH. I WANT TO THANK YOU
SPECIFICALLY FOR HONORING US
AND FOR HONORING THE WORK THAT
NOT ONLY THE PUBLIC DOES WHEN
THEY MENTOR THE YOUTH BUT ALSO
WHAT OUR OWN EMPLOYEES DO WHEN
THEY MENTOR EACH OTHER. I
THINK THAT BUILDS THE
LEADERSHIP PIPELINE AND HELPS
US BECOME UTTER EMPLOYEES
BETTER PUBLIC SERVANTS WE CAN
PROVIDE BETTER PUBLIC SERVICE
TO OUR COMMUNITY. MY NAME IS
ALICE MS. SARAH AND I AM AT
PEOPLES AND CULTURE. THIS IS
THE SEVENTH YEAR WE HAVE
BROUGHT THE TP PROGRAM
ORGANIZATION. OVER THE COURSE
OF THE SEVEN YEARS WE HAVE HAD
UPWARDS OF 650 EMPLOYEES WHO
HAVE GONE THROUGH IT AND EITHER
ACT AS MENTORS, MENTEES, AS
PEERS OR PART OF THE GROUP.
AND WHAT I GET TO SEE EVERY
SINGLE YEAR IS THE JOY IN THEM
AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO GIVE
BACK AND THE OPPORTUNITY TO
GROW AS PROFESSIONALS AND AGAIN
AS SERVANT SO THANK YOU VERY
MUCH.
MUCH.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU AND PLEASE COME FORWARD TO ACCEPT
THE NOMINATION AND PLEASE GIVE
THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: WE NOW MOVE ON TO ITEM 13 RECLAIMING JANUARY
26 AS WHOLE CHILD MONTH. FOR
THE WHOLE CHILD MONTH
PROCLAMATION I WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE LAURA ALLEN FROM TACOMA
PUBLIC SCHOOLS AS I READ THE
PROCLAMATION. WHEREAS, EVERY
CHILD DESERVES TO GROW UP IN A
COMMUNITY WHERE THEY ARE SEEN,
VALUED, AND SUPPORTED, AND
WHERE SCHOOLS, PARKS, AND
NEIGHBORHOODS ARE SAFE, JOYFUL,
AND EMPOWERING PLACES TO LEARN,
PLAY, AND DREAM;
AND
AND EMPOWERING PLACES TO LEARN, PLAY, AND DREAM; AND
WHEREAS, CHILDREN THRIVE WHEN
SURROUNDED BY CARING ADULTS AND
INCLUSIVE OPPORTUNITIES THAT
ALLOW THEM TO PARTICIPATE
FULLY, CONNECT MEANINGFULLY,
AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL,
REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND;
AND
AND REACH THEIR FULL POTENTIAL, REGARDLESS OF BACKGROUND; AND
WHEREAS, EDUCATION IS ABOUT
NURTURING THE WHOLE CHILD,
SUPPORTING NOT ONLY ACADEMIC
SUCCESS, BUT ALSO CRITICAL
THINKING, CREATIVITY, HEALTH,
AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING;
AND
THINKING, CREATIVITY, HEALTH, AND EMOTIONAL WELL-BEING; AND
WHEREAS, STRONG COMMUNITIES ARE
BUILT THROUGH PARTNERSHIPS
AMONG FAMILIES, EDUCATORS,
MENTORS, AND CIVIC LEADERS WHO
WORK TOGETHER TO
CREATE
MENTORS, AND CIVIC LEADERS WHO WORK TOGETHER TO CREATE
ENVIRONMENTS ROOTED IN
BELONGING, WELLNESS, AND HOPE;
AND
BELONGING, WELLNESS, AND HOPE; AND
AND WHEREAS, INVESTING IN THE WHOLE
CHILD STRENGTHENS OUR CITYb
FUTURE BY FOSTERING EQUITY,
COMPASSION, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR
ALL;
COMPASSION, AND OPPORTUNITY FOR ALL;
ALL; NOW,
ALL; NOW, THEREFORE, I, ANDERS
IBSEN, MAYOR OF THE CITY OF
TACOMA, ON BEHALF OF THE CITY
COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM
JANUARY 2026
JANUARY 2026 AS
COUNCIL, DO HEREBY PROCLAIM JANUARY 2026 AS
WHOLE CHILD
WHOLE CHILD MONTH
JANUARY 2026 AS WHOLE CHILD MONTH
IN THE CITY OF TACOMA AND
ENCOURAGE ALL RESIDENTS TO JOIN
IN SUPPORTING THE WELL- BEING,
GROWTH, AND POTENTIAL OF
IN SUPPORTING THE WELL- BEING, GROWTH, AND POTENTIAL OF EVERY
CHILD IN OUR
GROWTH, AND POTENTIAL OF EVERY CHILD IN OUR COMMUNITY. I WOULD
LIKE TO CALL ON LAURA TO SAY A
FEW WORDS.
FEW WORDS.
>>
>> Speaker: THANK YOU MAYOR AND COUNCIL MEMBERS
COUNCIL MEMBERS CONGRATULATIONS. MY FRIENDS,
WHAT WE HAVE JUST DECLARED IS A
PROMISE. A PROMISE THAT EVERY
CHILD IN OUR COMMUNITY IS WORTH
FIGHTING FOR. WORTH BELIEVING
IN AND WORTH SHOWING UP FOR
EVERY SINGLE DAY. LET ME TELL
YOU SOMETHING WHEN WE CHOOSE TO
SEE THE GREATNESS IN OUR KIDS
WHEN WE CHOOSE TO LIFT THEM UP
WE ARE NOT TO SHAPING THEIR
FUTURE WE ARE SHAPING HOURS.
AND THAT IS WORK. THAT IS THE
MISSION AND THE MAGIC. SO
LET'S WALK OUT OF HERE WITH A
LITTLE MORE COURAGE IN OUR
STRIDE A LITTLE MORE HOPE IN
OUR HEART AND MAYBE JUST MAYBE
A LITTLE MORE FAITH IN ONE
ANOTHER BECAUSE WHEN WE STAY
UNITED WE STAY RELENTLESS AND
WHEN WE
UNITED WE STAY RELENTLESS AND WHEN WE SAY THE LEAST DAY KIND
THERE IS NOTHING AND I MEAN
NOTHING THAT OUR CHILDREN WON'T
BE ABLE TO ACHIEVE. THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU. PLEASE JOIN ME TO ACCEPT YOUR
PROCLAMATION.
PLEASE JOIN ME TO ACCEPT YOUR PROCLAMATION. [APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVING ON TO PUBLIC COMMENT. ONCE AND I
SAID YOU KNOW THERE'S ONE
OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO
COMMENT. UNDER PUBLIC, YOU CAN
SPEAK ABOUT MOTIONS,
RESOLUTIONS AND ORDINANCES ON
TONIGHT'S AGENDA EXCEPT FOR
ORDINANCE 29090. THE PUBLIC
HEARING HAS ALREADY BEEN HELD.
THIS FORM IS INTENDED TO GIVE
SPEAKERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO
SHARE
SPEAKERS THE OPPORTUNITY TO SHARE THEIR FEEDBACK WITH THE
CITY COUNCIL TO AID IN OUR
DECISION-MAKING AND IS NOT
MEANT TO BE A BACK-AND-FORTH
DIALOGUE YOUR REMARKS SHOULD BE
DIRECTED TO THE CITY COUNCIL
AND NOT INDIVIDUAL STAFF
MEMBERS. IF YOU ARE ATTENDING
VIRTUALLY AND WANT TO SPEAK
UNDER THE PUBLIC COMMENT
PERIOD, PLEASE RAISE THE HAND
BUTTON NEAR THE BOTTOM OF YOUR
SCREEN ON THE ZOOM WINDOW. OR
á9 ON YOUR PHONE. YOUR NAME OR
THE LAST FOUR DIGITS OF YOUR
PHONE NUMBER WILL BE CALLED OUT
WHEN IS YOUR TURN TO SPEAK.
>>
>> Clerk:
>> Clerk: THIS IS THE TIME TO SET ASIDE FOR PUBLIC COMMENT.
SPEAKERS ARE ASKED TO ADDRESS
THE RESOLUTIONS THEY WISH TO
ADDRESS.
ADDRESS.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: WE STRIVE TO PROVIDE A COMMENT PERIOD WHERE
PEOPLE FEEL RESPECTED WHILE
SHARING A WIDE VARIETY OF
VIEWPOINTS ACKNOWLEDGE THAT WE
MAY HEAR COMMENTS THAT CONFLICT
WITH OUR VALUES. TO ENSURE
THAT ALL SPEAKERS HAVE THEIR
CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHTS WE ASK
YOU TO REFRAIN FROM CLAPPING,
BOOING OR OTHERWISE BEING
DISRUPT THE. YOU HAVE 90
SECOND TO MAKE YOUR REMARKS AND
PLEASE BE MINDFUL OF YOUR
TIMEFRAME. AS ALWAYS YOU ARE
NOT REQUIRED TO USE ALL OF YOUR
TIME. IF YOU GO OFF TOPIC WE
WILL GIVE YOU A WARNING AND IF
YOU CONTINUE TO REMAIN OFF
TOPIC WE WILL IN YOUR TIME DO
WE RECEIVE ANY WRITTEN COMMENT?
>>
>> MAYOR
>> MAYOR WE DID NOT.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: WE ARE MOVING ON TO OUR FIRST IN PERSON
SPEAKER, SHELL RICE. PLEASE
COME FORWARD.
COME FORWARD.
>>
>> Public
>> Public Speaker: MICHELLE RICE. I AM SPEAKING TO 1127
MEN TOURING. FIRST I WISH TO
WELCOME MAYOR IBSEN AND OUR NEW
CITY COUNCILMEMBER PALMER IT IS
A NEW YEAR AND A NEW CITY
COUNCIL AND THE SOCIAL
PSYCHOLOGY THEY CALL IT A NEW
BEGINNING.
PSYCHOLOGY THEY CALL IT A NEW BEGINNING. BACK TO MEN
TOURING. I HAD A MENTOR IN MY
LIFE WHEN I JOINED THE MILITARY
IN 72 WITH A GED AND I JUST
COMPLETED EIGHT MONTHS OF
MILITARY TRAINING AND I GOT TO
MY FIRST STATION. I HAD A
MENTOR AND HE TOLD ME TO GO TO
SCHOOL AND I FOLLOWED ON THAT
AND OVER THE YEARS FROM 1970 TO
2000 I ATTENDED FOR
UNIVERSITIES AND HAD A LOT OF
DEGREES. I'M NOT SMART I'M
JUST EDUCATED. MY MENTOR
SERGEANT TOMPKINS I'VE GOT TO
THANK FOR ALL THOSE YEARS WHERE
I AM TODAY. IF I DIDN'T HAVE
THE TRAINING AND MENTORING I
WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO COME TO
THE CITY COUNCIL ALL THE TIME
AND SPEAK TO YOU ON ISSUES. I
HAVE AN EXTENSIVE BACKGROUND
AND THAT'S WHY YOU SEE ME ALL
THE TIME. THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU MICHELLE. THAT DOES IT FOR OUR
LIFE PEOPLE WHO HAVE SIGNED IN
FOR PUBLIC COMMENT. WE HAVE
ONE VIRTUAL ATTENDEE MISTY ROLE
WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK
WHO WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK VIRTUALLY.
VIRTUALLY.
>>
>> Public
>> Public Speaker: CAN YOU HEAR ME?
ME?
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: YES.
>>
>> Public
>> Public Speaker: THANK YOU THIS IS ADDRESSED TO THE
MEMBERS OF THE TACOMA CITY
COUNCIL. THIS STATEMENT IS
SUBMITTED REGARDING RECENT
EVENTS INVOLVING THE NEW YORK
DEPARTMENT TENANT UNIT. AND
ACTIONS TAKEN IN CONNECTION
WITH THE NEW YORK PROPERTY IN
TACOMA FOLLOWING A NEWS
CONFERENCE CALLS OUTSIDE THE
NEW YORK APARTMENTS SEPTEMBER 6
WHICH IS
WHICH IS SUPPORTED.
NEW YORK APARTMENTS SEPTEMBER 6 WHICH IS SUPPORTED.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MISTY I DON'T
>> Mayor Ibsen: MISTY I DON'T MEAN TO INTERRUPT BUT THE
PURPOSE OF PUBLIC COMMENT IS
FOR ITEMS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA
IS VERY TOPIC ON THE AGENDA
THAT YOU WISH TO SPEAK TO?
>>
>> Public
>> Public Speaker: CAN I SEE THE AGENDA?
THE AGENDA?
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen:
>> Mayor Ibsen: MA'AM HAVE TO RESPECT EVERYONE WHO SIGNED AND
SO YOU MIGHT NEED TO WAIT FOR A
TOPIC OR SPEAK AT AN UPCOMING
COMMUNITY FORM OR IF YOU LIKE
YOU CAN CALL OR EMAIL US AND WE
ARE HAPPY
YOU CAN CALL OR EMAIL US AND WE ARE HAPPY TO RESPOND TO YOUR
CONCERNS.
CONCERNS.
>>
>> Public
>> Public Speaker: I WILL STAY ONLINE AND SEE IF IT COMES UP.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU. >> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU FOR
CARING ABOUT OUR COMMUNITY.
WITH THAT THERE'S NO OTHER
SPEAKERS SIGNED AND SO WE WILL
CLOSE PUBLIC COMMENT AND MOVE
ON TO THE REGULAR AGENDA
STARTING WITH APPOINTMENTS ITEM
14 CLERK, PLEASE READ.
>>
>> RES41829 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING SERGIO FLORES AS
JUDGE TO TACOMA MUNICIPAL
COURT, DEPARTMENT NO. 2,
THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026,
UNTIL A SUCCESSOR IS ELECTED
AND QUALIFIED UNDER THE 2026
GENERAL
GENERAL ELECTION.
AND QUALIFIED UNDER THE 2026 GENERAL ELECTION.
GENERAL ELECTION. THESE SIX I MOVE TO ADOPT
RESOLUTION
RESOLUTION 41829.
THESE SIX I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 41829.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED MUNICIPAL COURT JUDGE
HINCHEY ANNOUNCED HER
RETIREMENT EFFECTIVE DECEMBER
31ST, 25 THIS LEAVES THE
DEPARTMENT TAKEN WITH AN
UNEXPIRED TERM
DEPARTMENT TAKEN WITH AN UNEXPIRED TERM ENDING DECEMBER
26. WASHINGTON STATE LAW
ALLOWS A CITY TO DETERMINE WHAT
PROCESS THEY WANT TO USE TO
FILL A VACANT
PROCESS THEY WANT TO USE TO FILL A VACANT JUDICIAL POSITION
ENDLESS QUALIFICATIONS AND
APPOINTMENTS MUST BE SO LONG AS
AN INDIVIDUAL IS AN ATTORNEY
AND LIVE IN PIERCE COUNTY ON
THE DAY OF APPOINTMENT PIER FOR
THIS APPOINTMENT FORMER MAYOR
WOODARDS HAS ASKED THE COUNCIL
GO THROUGH A PROCESS IN
DECEMBER OF 2025 TO BE
PROACTIVE AND HAVE A CANDIDATE
TO CONSIDER FOR THE FIRST
COUNCIL MEETING WALLOWING THE
FORMAL VACANCY AND POSITION.
THE PROCESS AS THOSE INTERESTED
IN THE POSITION WERE ASKED TO
SUBMIT MATERIAL TO THE CITY
CLERK AND THEN SENT THAT TO THE
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE FINANCE
COMMITTEE FOR INTERVIEWS FOR
THE MAYOR'S CONSIDERATION.
MAYOR WOODARDS INTERVIEWED TWO
FINALISTS FOR THE APPOINTMENT
AND AFTER REVIEWING THE
MATERIAL AND MEETING WITH
CANDIDATES HAS
MATERIAL AND MEETING WITH CANDIDATES HAS FORWARDED SERGIO
FLOREZ FOR CONSIDERATION OF
THIS APPOINTMENT. MR. FOR US
HAS EXTENSIVE AND WELL-ROUNDED
EXPERIENCE AS BOTH A PROSECUTOR
AND JUDGE. MR. FOR US HAS
SERVED AS A JUDGE PRO TEM IN
TACOMA MUNICIPAL COURT SINCE
SEPTEMBER
TACOMA MUNICIPAL COURT SINCE SEPTEMBER 2022. IN PIERCE
COUNTY DISTRICT COURT SINCE
JANUARY OF 2023 OR HE HAS
DEMONSTRATED A CALM DEMEANOR ON
A STRONG COMMAND OF THE LAW AND
CONSISTENT COMMITMENT TO FAIR
AND JUST OUTCOMES. DEVIOUSLY
AS A PROSECUTING ATTORNEY WITH
THE CITY OF AUBURN HE WAS
INSTRUMENTAL IN CREATING THE
AUBURN COMMUNITY COURT IS NOW A
MODEL FOR JURISDICTIONS ACROSS
THE REGION INCLUDING TACOMA
SHOWING PARTICULAR STRENGTH AND
THERAPEUTIC PROBLEM-SOLVING
THERAPEUTIC PROBLEM-SOLVING COURT APPROACHES. OVER THE
PAST THREE YEARS ESTHER FLOREZ
HAS PROVIDED OVER ALL TACOMA
MUNICIPAL
HAS PROVIDED OVER ALL TACOMA MUNICIPAL COURT DOCKETS
INCLUDING THERAPEUTIC OR AND IS
FULLY PREPARED TO ASSUME THE
RESPONSE ABILITIES OF THE
DEPARTMENT ON THE FIRST DAY OF
HIS APPOINTMENT. IF APPOINTED
HE WILL BEGIN AS SOON AS
POSSIBLE AND SERVE THROUGHOUT
THE FALL UNTIL THE GENERAL
ELECTION PROCESS CONCLUDES IN
THE NEW JUDGE TAKES OFFICE.
ARE THERE ANY COUNCIL QUESTIONS
OR COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER
HINES?
HINES?
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: THANK YOU MR. MAYOR I WANTED TO TAKE
A MOMENT TO THINK THE WORK OF
THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE
FINANCE COMMITTEE AS YOU
MENTIONED THIS WAS SENT TO US
BY THE MAYOR AND WE ARE VERY
LUCKY TO HAVE SO MANY AMAZING
APPLICANTS FOR THIS POSITION I
DO WANT TO SAY THAT MR. FLORIST
DID STAND OUT MORE THAN THE
REST AND WE ARE CONFIDENT THAT
HE IS A WONDERFUL CHOICE FOR
TAKING THIS ROLE. WE WERE
HAPPY TO FORWARD HIS NAME TO
THE MAYOR AND WE LOOK FORWARD
TO CONFIRM HIM IN THE CITY
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HINES.
COUNCILMEMBER HINES. COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ?
COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ?
>>
>> Councilmember Diaz: THANK YOU. I ALSO WANTED TO THANK
THE COMMITTEE FOR THEIR WORK.
I'M NOT ON THE COMMITTEE BUT
I'M REALLY GLAD THAT THEY
LANDED WHERE THEY DID. AND
THAT MAYOR IBSEN WILL BE GOING
FORWARD WITH THIS APPOINTMENT
PARTICULARLY FOR THE LATINO
COMMUNITY. I THINK IT'S GOING
TO BE A REALLY IMPORTANT MEMBER
OF THE MUNICIPAL BENCH PROBABLY
A HISTORY MAKER. I DON'T SEE
THE FORMER MAYOR IN THE ROOM TO
CONFIRM THAT BUT I WOULD LIKE
TO ASSUME AS THE FIRST COUNCIL
MEMBER WITH A LATINA BACKGROUND
I AM HAPPY TO BE WELCOMING
JUDGE FLORIST TO THE BENCH.
THANK YOU.
THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT?
COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT?
>>
>> Councilmember Scott: THANK YOU MAYOR. I AM REALLY HAPPY
TO WELCOME SERGIO TO OUR
MUNICIPAL TEAM AND I'M REALLY
HAPPY TO
MUNICIPAL TEAM AND I'M REALLY HAPPY TO KNOW THAT WE ARE GOING
TO BE IN GREAT HANDS AND WE ARE
ADDING SOMEBODY WHO IS
COMPASSIONATE AND EMPATHETIC
AND SMART AND KIND AND WILL
BRING A WHOLE LOT TO THE WORK
WE DO HERE IN TACOMA SO THANK
YOU.
YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SCOTT AND AS A
POINT OF PRIVILEGE I CAN SAY
I'M EAGERLY WAITING TO WORK
WITH SERGIO. I KNOW THE MAN AS
A FRIEND. I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE
2000 SET
A FRIEND. I'VE KNOWN HIM SINCE 2000 SET OF CONSISTENT
DEDICATION FOR NEARLY 20 YEARS
WITH CONSISTENT INTEREST IN
PUBLIC SERVICE MOST OF WHICH
HAS BEEN IN PIERCE COUNTY IS
OUTSTANDING. WELCOME BACK TO
THE CITY OF TACOMA WE ARE
REALLY EXCITED TO WORK WITH
YOU. WITHOUT ALL THOSE IN
FAVOR OF ADOPTING RESOLUTION OR
1829 PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING
AYE. ALL OPPOSED SAY NO.
CONGRATULATIONS JUDGE!
CONGRATULATIONS JUDGE! [APPLAUSE]
[APPLAUSE]
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: BEFORE WE MOVE ON I WOULD LIKE TO GIVE THE
NEWLY MINTED JUDGE SERGIO
FLOREZ A CHANCE TO SPEAK.
>>
>> Speaker: I'M NOT SURE IF I WILL. I'M VERY EMOTIONAL. I
WANT TO THANK YOU ALL FOR
PUTTING YOUR TRUST IN ME. ALL
OF YOU I HAVE SPOKEN TO ALL OF
YOU AT SOME POINT IN THE PAST
FOUR YEARS ABOUT MY PASSION FOR
TACOMA MUNICIPAL COURT AND WHY
I WANTED TO BE A JUDGE IN
TACOMA MUNICIPAL COURT. THAT
PASSION HAS NEVER CHANGED.
ACTUALLY IT HAS CHANGED BECAUSE
IT'S GOTTEN STRONGER. I AM
COMMITTED AND PASSIONATE TO
MAKING SURE THAT TACOMA IN A
CIVIL COURT IS THE COURT OF OUR
PEOPLE AND THAT WE ARE
WELCOMING AND THAT WE ARE
CREATING A PORT AND PROGRAMS
THAT ARE BENEFITING THE
COMMUNITY, THE VIC DEMS AND THE
DEFENDANT AND THAT WE ARE NOT
PART OF THE PROBLEM BUT PART OF
THE SOLUTION FOR THE CITY OF
TACOMA. I AM HONORED. HONORED
TO RECEIVE YOUR CONFIDENCE IN
ME FOR THIS ROLE AND I AM
EXCITED TO WORK WITH THE OTHER
JUDGES
EXCITED TO WORK WITH THE OTHER JUDGES AND THE COUNCIL AND THE
CITY TO DO GREAT THINGS. THANK
YOU VERY MUCH.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU JUDGE.
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU JUDGE. [APPLAUSE] MOVING ON TO
ITEM NUMBER 15, CLERK, PLEASE
READ.
READ.
>>
>> RES41830 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND REAPPOINTING
INDIVIDUALS TO THE COMMUNITYb
POLICE ADVISORY
POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
INDIVIDUALS TO THE COMMUNITYb POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: AND
MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
41830.
MOVED TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 41830.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED I WOULD LIKE TO FIRST
CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH.
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: YOU VERY MUCH ON THE DECEMBER 1125
COMMUNITY VITALITY AND
VERY MUCH ON THE DECEMBER 1125 COMMUNITY VITALITY AND SAFETY
MEETING THE COMMITTEE CONDUCTED
INTERVIEWS AND RECOMMENDED THE
APPOINTMENT AND REAPPOINTMENT
TO THE FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO
THE POLICE ADVISORY COMMITTEE.
KAIA BLACK ME ROBBINS SIN,
CHRISTOPHER PUTNAM, DANIEL
KNOX, MASON HARRIS AND RAO LET
CHURCHILL. I WANT TO SAY THAT
THIS WAS THE BEST PEOPLE THAT
WE HAVE HAD APPLY FOR THESE
POSITIONS AT SEATAC. I WAS
OVERWHELMED, WE WERE AS A
COMMITTEE JUST AS THE
QUALIFICATIONS AND DIVERSITY OF
PEOPLE INTERESTED IN SERVING ON
OUR SEATBACK COMMITTEE.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH. ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING
RESOLUTION 41830 THE SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE. ALL OPPOSED SAY NO
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
MOVING ON TO ITEM 16 CLERK
PLEASE READ.
PLEASE READ.
>>
>> RES41831 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND REAPPOINTING
INDIVIDUALS TO THE LANDMARKS
PRESERVATION
PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
INDIVIDUALS TO THE LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION OR
MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION OR
1831.
MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION OR 1831.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED I WOULD LIKE TO CALL
ON COUNCILMEMBER
ON COUNCILMEMBER WALKER.
SECONDED I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER WALKER.
>>
>> Councilmember Walker: THANK YOU MAYOR IN THE DECEMBER 10TH
MEETING THE COMMITTEE CONDUCTED
REVIEWS, INTERVIEWS, ACTUALLY
AND RECOMMENDED THE APPOINTMENT
AND REAPPOINTMENT OF THE
FOLLOWING INDIVIDUALS TO THE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION. MATTIE
LANDMARKS PRESERVATION COMMISSION. MATTIE LEVESQUE,
ANNA HE DEMO TRICK AND SARAH
HILSON DECKER.
HILSON DECKER.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: WONDERFUL THANK YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER
COUNCIL COMMENTS?
YOU. ARE THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL COMMENTS? EVERYONE IN
FAVOR OF ADOPTING RESOLUTION
41831 SAY AYE. ALL THOSE
OPPOSED SAY NO. ITEM NUMBER 17
THIS ITEM WILL ALSO COVER ITEM
NUMBER 18 CLERK, PLEASE READ.
>>
>> RES41832 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING AND REAPPOINTING
INDIVIDUALS TO THE TACOMA ARTS
COMMISSION.
INDIVIDUALS TO THE TACOMA ARTS COMMISSION.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 418
32.
MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 418 32.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED I WOULD LIKE TO CALL
ON COUNCILMEMBER
ON COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ.
SECONDED I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ.
>> Councilmember Diaz: THANK
YOU MAYOR ON
>> Councilmember Diaz: THANK YOU MAYOR ON THE DECEMBER
MEETING THE COMMITTEE CONDUCTED
INTERVIEWS FOR THE TACOMA ARTS
COMMISSION IN TACOMA CREATES
ADVISORY BOARD AND RECOMMENDED
THE APPOINTMENT AND
REAPPOINTMENT OF THE FOLLOWING
INDIVIDUALS TO THE TACOMA ARTS
COMMISSION LINDSAY DODGE,
DOMINIQUE KAREN, SIERRA McLEAN,
JANESSA POST, EACH ONE PENN
ELIZABETH PANNA MENNO AND SARAH
JANE HOPE. TO THE TACOMA
CREATES ADVISORY BOARD ELAINA
SURE KNOCKED AND INA
CREATES ADVISORY BOARD ELAINA SURE KNOCKED AND INA KNOW.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ ARE THERE
ANY OTHER COUNCIL QUESTIONS ON
THIS ITEM OR ITEM NUMBER 18?
SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
OF ADOPTING RESOLUTION 41832
PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. THE
RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED. ITEM
NUMBER 18, CLERK, PLEASE READ.
RES41833 A RESOLUTION
APPOINTING INDIVIDUALS TO THE
TACOMA CREATES ADVISORY
BOARD
APPOINTING INDIVIDUALS TO THE TACOMA CREATES ADVISORY BOARD
>>
>> .
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
41833.
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 41833.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED. DO WE HAVE ANY
ADDITIONAL COUNCIL RUSSIANS
WERE COMMON? COUNCILMEMBER
DIAZ ARE YOU LOGGED IN? OKAY.
SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
OF ADOPTING RESOLUTION 41833
PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL THOSE OPPOSED SAY NOTE THE
RESOLUTION IS DECLARED ADOPTED.
WE HAVE INVITED THE INDIVIDUALS
BEING APPOINTED AND REAPPOINTED
TO ATTEND THE CITY COUNCIL
MEETING VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON.
WHETHER YOU ARE ATTENDING
VIRTUALLY OR IN PERSON I WOULD
LIKE TO THANK YOU FOR
VOLUNTEERING AND CONTINUE YOUR
SERVICE ON THE ADVISORY
COMMITTEE THE LANDMARKS
COMMISSION TACOMA ARTS
COMMISSION IN TACOMA CREATES
ADVISORY BOARD AND WE REALLY
APPRECIATE YOUR WILLINGNESS TO
SERVE. IS THERE ANYONE IN THE
ROOM WHO IS CURRENTLY
APPOINTED? PLEASE JOIN ME AND
GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
[APPLAUSE]
GIVE THEM A ROUND OF APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE] THANK YOU FOR YOUR
SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY.
MOVING ON TO ITEM NUMBER 19
CLERK, PLEASE READ.
>>
>> RES41834 A RESOLUTION APPOINTING CITY COUNCIL MEMBERS
TO VARIOUS NATIONAL, STATE,
REGIONAL,
REGIONAL, AND
TO VARIOUS NATIONAL, STATE, REGIONAL, AND
REGIONAL, AND LOCAL COMMITTEES, BOARDS, AND
COMMISSIONS, INCLUDING THE CITY
COUNCIL'S STANDING COMMITTEES,
THROUGH DECEMBER 31,
THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026.
COUNCIL'S STANDING COMMITTEES, THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2026.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
41834.
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 41834.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED EACH YEAR WE CONFIRM
OUR APPOINTMENT TO VARIOUS
REGIONAL BOARDS AND COMMITMENTS
INCLUDING OUR OWN DATING
COUNCIL COMMITTEES THESE ROLES
HELP US ENGAGE IN POLICY
DISCUSSIONS ACROSS THE REGION
THAT WILL IMPACT OUR RESIDENTS
AND ENSURE TACOMA IS WELL
REPRESENTED. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? ALSO MEMBER RUMBA?
>>
>> Councilmember
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO SAY
THIS IS WHERE THE REAL WORK
HAPPENS SERVING ON THESE
DIFFERENT BOARD AROUND THE
COMMUNITY AND LIKE STANDING UP
AS A COUNCIL MEMBER FOR THE
CITY OF TACOMA AND REPRESENTING
YOUR VALUES
CITY OF TACOMA AND REPRESENTING YOUR VALUES AND NEEDS. THIS
WORK IS REALLY IMPORTANT AND I
THINK IF YOU ARE LOOKING TO GET
INVOLVED AND TO KNOW WHAT'S
GOING ON THIS IS A GOOD LIST TO
KEEP WITH YOU AND SEE WHAT WE
ARE DOING AND YOU CAN ASK US
ABOUT WHAT GOES ON IN THE
DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES THAT WE
MIGHT SERVE ON OR THE BOARDS.
I WANT TO PUT THAT OUT THERE.
I THINK PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS
TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE
DO
I THINK PEOPLE ARE ALWAYS TRYING TO FIGURE OUT WHAT WE DO
. WE SPEND A LOT OF TIME DOING
OTHER THINGS IN OTHER PLACES
AND OTHER NON-VENUES. MAYBE
OTHER NONPROFITS OR COMMUNITY
LEADERS AND GROUPS LIKE PARK
TACOMA, THE SCHOOLS. JUST
GIVING THAT INFORMATION WE ALSO
SERVE ON THINGS THAT ARE PART
OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON AND
AT THE FEDERAL LEVEL. I
THOUGHT YOU MIGHT BE INTERESTED
IN THAT AND KNOW THAT WE ARE
REALLY WORKING HARD TO SERVE
THE PEOPLE OF TACOMA. B1 THANK
YOU COUNCILMEMBER ARE THERE ANY
OTHER RUSSIANS OR COMMENTS FROM
THE COUNCIL? SEEING NONE ALL
THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING
RESOLUTION 41834 PLEASE SIGNIFY
BY SAYING AYE. THE RESOLUTION
IS DECLARED ADOPTED. ITEM 20
CLERK PLEASE READ. RES41835 A
RESOLUTION NOMINATING AND
ELECTING COUNCIL MEMBER JOE
BUSHNELL TO THE OFFICE OF
DEPUTY MAYOR TO SERVE A
ONE-YEAR TERM TO
EXPIRE
DEPUTY MAYOR TO SERVE A ONE-YEAR TERM TO EXPIRE
DECEMBER 31,
DECEMBER 31, 2026.
ONE-YEAR TERM TO EXPIRE DECEMBER 31, 2026.
>>
>>.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
41835.
>> Councilmember Hines: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 41835.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED THIS WILL APPOINT
COUNCILMEMBER BUSHNELL AS
DEPUTY MAYOR. THE DEPUTY MAYOR
SERVES AS SERVING IN THE
MAYOR'S ABSENCE AND CONTINUING
TO SERVE AS THE MAYOR WHEN THE
MAYOR TAKES A LEAVE OF ABSENCE.
ON A PERSONAL NOTE I WILL SAY
THAT HAVING KNOWN MR. BUSHELL
OVER THE YEARS BOTH AS A FRIEND
AND COLLEAGUE EMMA I HAVE SEEN
TIRELESS REPRESENTATION ON
BEHALF OF OUR COMMUNITY AND
BEHALF OF SMALL BUSINESS. THE
WORK THAT HE HAS DONE IN CORE
DOORS LIKE HOSMER STREET AND
GENERAL ADVOCACY FOR PUBLIC
SAFETY IN OUR NEIGHBORHOODS API
IMMUNITY THE SOUTH END IN
GENERAL CAN SERVE AS HIS
CHARACTER AND DEVOTION OF THE
CITY AND IT IS MY PRIVILEGE TO
NOMINATE HIM. ARE THERE ANY
OTHER QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
JOE?
JOE?
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: THANK YOU MAYOR. I
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANT TO SEND MY
APPRECIATION TO MY COUNCIL
COLLEAGUES FOR THE OPPORTUNITY
TO SERVE IN THIS ROLE. IT
TAKES A MAJORITY OF THE BODY TO
DO SOMETHING LIKE THIS AND IT
REALLY IS A VOTE OF CONFIDENCE.
I ALSO WANT TO THANK THE
COMMUNITY FOR ALSO WANTING TO
INTEREST ME WITH THIS ROLE AS
WELL. I REPRESENT STRICT FIVE
STRONGLY AND I DO MY BEST TO
ALSO REPRESENT CITY OF TACOMA
AS A WHOLE ON MANY OF THE
REGIONAL BOARDS AS MENTIONED BY
COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH. I LOOK
FORWARD TO CONTINUE TO SERVE IN
THIS WAY AND LISTENING TO
EVERYBODY IN THE CITY AND I TRY
TO MAKE THE BEST DECISIONS ON
THEIR BEHALF. THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: VERY GOOD ARE THERE ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS FROM THE COUNCIL?
NONE WAS IN FAVOR OF ADOPTING
RESOLUTION 41835 HE SAY AYE.
OPPOSE SAY NO.
RESOLUTION 41835 HE SAY AYE. OPPOSE SAY NO. THE RESOLUTION
PASSES. PLEASE JOIN ME IN A
RESOLUTE ELITE ROUND OF
APPLAUSE. [APPLAUSE]. MOVING
ON TO ITEM 21 CLERK PLEASE
READ. RES41836 A RESOLUTION
AWARDING A CONTRACT TO PSOMAS
INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF
$2,011,861.72, PLUSPPLICABLE
$2,011,861.72, PLUSPPLICABLE TAXES, BUDGETED FROM THE
TRANSPORTATION CAPITAL FUND,
FOR PLANNING, DATA COLLECTION,
AND DESIGN SERVICES FOR THE
PORTLAND AVENUE VISION ZERO
IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT -
SPECIFICATION NO.
SPECIFICATION NO. PW24-0308F.
IMPROVEMENTS PROJECT - SPECIFICATION NO. PW24-0308F.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 41836.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED DO WE HAVE ANY
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE
COUNCIL?
COUNCIL?
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: I HAVE
HAVE ONE.
>> Councilmember Sadalge: I HAVE ONE.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE? 11 I JUST WANTED TO
ASK IF THIS WAS THE IMPROVEMENT
FROM I-5 TO 56 STREET?
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen:
>> Mayor Ibsen: IS CHARLA KINLOW AVAILABLE?
KINLOW AVAILABLE?
>>
>> Speaker: I AM CHARLA KINLOW AND I AM THE PROJECT MANAGER
FOR THE PORTLAND AVENUE VISION
ZERO PROJECT AND YES,
COUNCILMEMBER THIS IS GOING
FROM I-5 ALL THE WAY DOWN TO
THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY BY 56
STREET.
THE EAST SIDE COMMUNITY BY 56 STREET.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: AND IF I RECALL CORRECTLY IS THIS
THREE YEARS? HOW LONG IS THIS
FOR.[BLEEP]
FOR.[BLEEP] DEE.
THREE YEARS? HOW LONG IS THIS FOR.[BLEEP] DEE.
>>
>> Speaker: THIS IS A PLANNING STUDY. HOW LONG WILL THE
PLANNING STUDY TAKE DUDE
PLANNING STUDY TAKE DUDE ANTICIPATE?
ANTICIPATE?
>>
>> Speaker: IS NOT REALLY PLANNING STUDY IS FOR DESIGNING
THE PROJECT AS WELL. WE
CURRENTLY DON'T HAVE
CONSTRUCTION FUNDING WE DON'T
KNOW HOW LONG IT WOULD TAKE TO
GET THE WHOLE PROJECT
CONSTRUCTED ABOUT TWO YEARS TO
DESIGN.
DESIGN.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: AND IF I'M NOT MISTAKEN THIS WILL
ALSO TAKE A LOT OF COMMUNITY
INPUT INTO THE DESIGN THAT WE
DO COME UP WITH ON PORTLAND
AVENUE?
AVENUE?
>>
>> Speaker: ABSOLUTELY YES.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: TO THE REST OF MY COLLEAGUES HERE
WE ALL KNOW THAT PORTLAND
AVENUE IS ABSOLUTELY A HIGH
RISK FOUR-DOOR IN THIS CITY AND
I AM SO GLAD THAT I AM HERE
WHERE THEY ARE FINALLY PUTTING
MONEY TOGETHER TO MOVE THIS ONE
STEP FORWARD TO EVENTUALLY
CONSTRUCTION. I KNOW WE WILL
HAVE TO END UP ANY MONEY FOR
THAT AND IT HAPPENS BUT I'M
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE
COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
LOOKING FORWARD TO THE COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT AND THE
COOL DESIGNS THAT WE ARE GOING
TO SEE WHAT WE CAN DO ON
PORTLAND AVENUE. THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU FOR YOUR QUESTIONS AND YOUR
EXPLANATION. DO WE HAVE ANY
OTHER COMMENTS ON THIS TOPIC?
SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
OF ADOPTING RESOLUTION 41836
SAY AYE. ALL THOSE WHO SAY
NOTE THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED.
ITEM NUMBER 22 CLERK, PLEASE
READ.
READ.
>>
>> RES41837 A RESOLUTION AWARDING A CONTRACT TO R.L.
ALIA COMPANY, IN THE AMOUNT OF
$4,107,365.00, PLUS A 15
PERCENT CONTINGENCY, BUDGETED
FROM VARIOUS FUNDS, FOR ROADWAY
SURFACE IMPROVEMENTS,
SURFACE IMPROVEMENTS, ADA-COMPLIANT CURB RAMPS,
STORMWATER MAIN REPLACEMENT,
AND A NEW PEDESTRIAN AND
BICYCLE
AND A NEW PEDESTRIAN AND BICYCLE
BICYCLE CONNECTION, FOR A PROJECTED
CONTRACT TOTAL OF
$4,723,469.75, PLUS APPLICABLE
TAXES - SPECIFICATION NO.
PW25-0198F.
TAXES - SPECIFICATION NO. PW25-0198F.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
41837.
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 41837.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED. DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER
COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
I'M SORRY COUNCILMEMBER
RUMBAUGH?
RUMBAUGH?
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: CAN I KNOW WHERE THIS IS GOING? IS
IT ALL OVER THE CITY? I'M JUST
CURIOUS.
CURIOUS.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: ALL RIGHT IS VERONICAH MUNYAO AVAILABLE?
VERONICAH MUNYAO AVAILABLE? GOOD EVENING.
GOOD EVENING.
>>
>> Speaker: GOOD EVENING. I AM VERONICAH MUNYAO ENGINEERING
PROJECT MANAGER LEADING THIS
PROJECT. SO YOU WOULD LIKE TO
KNOW THE LOCATION OF THE
PROJECT? THIS IS GOING TO
COVER VARIOUS STREET.
PROJECT? THIS IS GOING TO COVER VARIOUS STREET. LEADING
UP TO TACOMA MALL BOULEVARD AND
THE I-5 OFFRAMP AND CONNECT 56
AND I WOULD BE HAPPY TO SHARE
OUR VICINITY MAP TO GIVE YOU
THE FULL DETAILS OF THE
LOCATION.
LOCATION.
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: THANK
THANK YOU.
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS? ALL RIGHT HEARING
ON ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF
ADOPTING RESOLUTION 41837
PLEASE SIGNIFY BY SAYING AYE.
ALL OPPOSE SAY NO. THE
RESOLUTION IS DECLARED ADOPTED
MOVING ON TO ITEM 23 CLERK,
PLEASE READ.
PLEASE READ.
>>
>> RES41838 A RESOLUTION AWARDING A CONTRACT TO US OIL
AND REFINING CO., IN THE AMOUNT
OF
AND REFINING CO., IN THE AMOUNT OF
OF $3,218,750.00, PLUS A 35
PERCENT CONTINGENCY, BUDGETED
FROM THE ASPHALT PLANT FUND,
FOR BULK ASPHALT OILS, FOR AN
INITIAL CONTRACT TERM OF FIVE
YEARS, FOR A PROJECTED CONTRACT
TOTAL OF $4,345,312.50, PLUS
APPLICABLE TAXES -
APPLICABLE TAXES -
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
41838.
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 41838.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER
COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCIL MEMBER HINES?
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: I WILL MAKE THIS REALLY QUICK. WE ARE
PURCHASING OIL FROM US OIL FOR
THE ASPHALT THIS IS FOR OUR
ASPHALT PLANT FOR THE CITY OF
TACOMA IS THAT CORRECT?
>>
>> Speaker: CORRECT.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: SO THE
>> Councilmember Hines: SO THE OF THE THAT WE PURCHASED A
SEPARATE?
SEPARATE?
>>
>> Speaker: IT IS SEPARATE.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: YOU VERY MUCH. B1 ANY OTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING
NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF
ADOPTING RESOLUTION 41838 SAY
AYE. THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
ITEM NUMBER 24, CLERK, PLEASE
READ.
READ.
>>
>> RES41839 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING AN INCREASE TO AND
EXTENDING THE CONTRACT WITH
HERRERA
EXTENDING THE CONTRACT WITH HERRERA
HERRERA ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS,
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSULTANTS, INC., IN THE AMOUNT OF
$1,589,181, BUDGETED FROM THE
STORMWATER FUND, TO CONTINUE A
FIELD STUDY TO MONITOR
STORMWATER AND STORM SEDIMENTS
FOR CONTAMINANTS OF EMERGING
CONCERNS, FOR A PROJECTED
CONTRACT TOTAL OF $2,799,468,
PLUS APPLICABLE TAXES, THROUGH
APRIL 30, 2028 - ARCHITECTURAL
AND ENGINEERING
AND ENGINEERING ROSTER
APRIL 30, 2028 - ARCHITECTURAL AND ENGINEERING ROSTER
CONTRACT NO.
CONTRACT NO. CW2265700.
AND ENGINEERING ROSTER CONTRACT NO. CW2265700.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
41839.
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 41839.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED DO WE HAVE ANY OTHER
COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE EVERYONE IN FAVOR
OF ADOPTING RESOLUTION 41839
SAY AYE. ALL OPPOSE SAY NO.
THE RESOLUTION IS ADOPTED
MOVING ON TO ITEM 25 CLERK,
PLEASE READ.
PLEASE READ.
>>
>> RES41840 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE SUBMITTAL OF AN
APPLICATION FOR A LOW-INTEREST
DRINKING WATER STATE REVOLVING
FUND LOAN FROM THE WASHINGTON
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IN
THE
STATE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH, IN THE
THE ESTIMATED AMOUNT OF $1,000,000,
FOR TWO WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT
PROJECTS.
FOR TWO WATER MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECTS.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION OR 18
ZERO.
MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION OR 18 ZERO.
>>
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED I WOULD LIKE TO CALL
ON MR. MARC POWELL.
>>
>> Speaker: GOOD EVENING MAYOR IBSEN AND MEMBERS OF THE TACOMA
CITY COUNCIL MY NAME IS MARC
POWELL AND ANALYSTS WITH TACOMA
WATER. TODAY I AM HERE
REQUESTING YOUR CONSIDERATION
AND APPROVAL OF RESOLUTION
NUMBER 41840 WHICH WOULD
AUTHORIZE TACOMA WATER TO APPLY
FOR LOW INTEREST DRINKING WATER
STATE REVOLVING FUND LOAN FROM
THE DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH. IF
SUCCESSFUL PROCEEDS FROM THIS
LOAN WILL BE USED TO FUND TWO
MAIN REPLACEMENT PROJECTS THAT
WOULD REMOVE GALVANIZED AND
PLASTIC MAIN N ON 8TH ST.,
SOUTH AND SOUTH D STREET AND
REPLACE IT WITH EIGHT INCH
DUCTILE IRON PIPE AND REPLACE
ASSOCIATED VALVES AND FITTINGS
AND ADD FIRE HYDRANTS. THE
BASIC SUITDETAILS OF THE LOAN
THE TOTAL AMOUNT WILL BE
$1,085,298. THE INTEREST RATE
$1,085,298. THE INTEREST RATE IS EXPECTED TO BE WHICH IS A
VERY GOOD INTEREST RATE WHEN WE
LOOK AT OTHER WAYS OF BORROWING
FUNDS WE OFTEN LOOK AT BONDS
WHICH HOVER AROUND A 3% MARK SO
THIS IS A VERY FAVORABLE
INTEREST RATE FOR US. THE
PAYBACK TERM WOULD BE 24 YEARS.
WE EXPECT TO GET A SUBSIDY OF
50% LOAN FORGIVENESS AT THE
CONCLUSION OF THE PROJECT. SO
POTENTIALLY GET $500,000 BACK
FOR THE RATEPAYERS. IF THE
COUNCIL APPROVES THE RESOLUTION
THEN TACOMA WATER WILL RETURN
THE FINAL READING AND THEN IF
THE APPLICATION IS SUCCESSFUL
WE WILL COME BACK AND WORK TO
EXECUTE THAT AGREEMENT WITH YOU
AS WELL AND WITH THAT I'M HAPPY
TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: WE HAVE ANY QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?
COUNCILMEMBER WALKER?
COUNCILMEMBER WALKER?
>>
>> Councilmember Walker: I'M CURIOUS AND MAYBE COUNCILMEMBER
DIAZ KNOWS THIS IS THE FIRST
RANT THAT COMES THROUGH WITH
THE PROCESS OR WOULD THIS HAVE
COME FORWARD ALREADY? I'M
SORRY CITY MANAGER.
>>
>> City
>> City Manager: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WALKER. WE ARE
LOOKING FORWARD TO GETTING THE
PROGRAM LAUNCHED SUCCESSFULLY
SOMETIME THIS YEAR BUT THE
RESOLUTION DIRECTOR DID NOT
EVEN HAVE THE COMPLETE FOR THE
START OF 27 SO THIS IS NOT PART
OF THAT LAUNCH.
>>
>> Councilmember Walker: THANK YOU FOR THAT THIS GRANT WOULD
HAVE COME TO US OR THE
APPLICATION WOULD HAVE COME
FORWARD FOR APPROVAL ANYWAY?
>>
>> City
>> City Manager: CORRECT WE WILL WORK WITH DIRECTOR FLOWERS
THIS
THIS YEAR.
WILL WORK WITH DIRECTOR FLOWERS THIS YEAR.
>>
>> Councilmember Walker: THANK
YOU.
>> Councilmember Walker: THANK YOU.
>>
>> Speaker: AND THIS WOULD BE A LOW INTEREST LOAN SLIGHTLY
DIFFERENT THAN A GRANT.
>>
>> Councilmember Walker: MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE, THANKS.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? THANK YOU MARC
POWELL FOR YOUR PRESENTATION.
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR OF ADOPT
RESOLUTION 18 40 SAY AYE. ALL
THOSE OPPOSED SAY NO. MOVING
ON TO ITEM 26 CLERK, PLEASE
READ.
READ.
>>
>> RES41841 A RESOLUTION APPROVING THE CANCELLATION OF
THE FOLLOWING EIGHT REGULAR
CITY COUNCIL MEETINGS AND EIGHT
REGULAR STUDY SESSIONS IN 2026:
JANUARY 20, FEBRUARY 17, MARCH
17,
JANUARY 20, FEBRUARY 17, MARCH 17,
17, MAY
17, MAY 26, SEPTEMBER 8, NOVEMBER
24, DECEMBER 22, AND DECEMBER
29.
24, DECEMBER 22, AND DECEMBER 29.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION
41841.
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO ADOPT RESOLUTION 41841.
>>
>> Councilmember:
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED WE HAVE A MOTION
BEFORE
BEFORE US.
SECONDED WE HAVE A MOTION BEFORE US.
BEFORE US. > Councilmember Hines: I
MOVE TO AMEND BY INSERTING THE
DATES APRIL 7TH AND SEPTEMBER
1ST.
1ST.
>>
>> Councilmember:
>> Councilmember: SECOND.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: MOVED AND SECONDED I WOULD LIKE TO CALL
ON COUNCILMEMBER HINES AND
COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ.
COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: YES THANK YOU MAYOR. WHAT WE ARE
DOING HERE THANKS TO THE VOTERS
BACK IN 2024 WE CHANGED THE
PROCESS OF EATING SO WE NEED TO
HAVE ANY GIVEN YEAR INCLUDING
US TO NOT COUNTS THAT HE
SESSIONS AND SPECIAL MEETINGS
AS PART OF OUR OVERALL TOTAL
WHICH IS FLEXIBLE FOR WHEN WE
NEED TO HOLD OUR BUSINESS
MEETINGS. WE HAVE MADE PRETTY
CONSISTENT CANCELLATIONS AND
MEETINGS AROUND FEDERAL
HOLIDAYS. IT IS SOMETHING THAT
COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ AND I
DISCUSSED IN THE PAST THE
AUGUST TIME PERIOD TENDS TO BE
SLOWER WHEN IT COMES TO
POLICYMAKING SO WE ARE ALREADY
CHANGING THE SEPTEMBER 2ND FOR
LABOR DAY. WE WANTED TO
LABOR DAY. WE WANTED TO CONDUCT A TWO WEEK BREAK. IT'S
USUALLY THE SLOWER TIME FOR
POLICYMAKING HERE AND A LOT OF
OUR STAFF MAKERS AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS AND CONSTITUENTS ARE
OUT ENJOYING SUMMER BREAK. WE
DO THIS BEFORE WE MOVE INTO THE
INTENSE PERIOD THAT COMES AFTER
BUDGET MAKING. WE ALSO ADDED
THE DATE APRIL 7TH WHICH
COINCIDES
THE DATE APRIL 7TH WHICH COINCIDES WITH TACOMA PUBLIC
SCHOOLS SPRING BREAK WHICH IS
ALSO TIME WHERE WE HAVE STAFF
MEMBERS, CONSTITUENTS AND
COUNCILMEMBERS OFTEN LOOKING TO
TAKE BREAKS AND THERE'S LESS
GOING ON AT THAT COUNCIL
MEETING. TRYING TO BEST
BALANCE THE SCHEDULED
MEETING. TRYING TO BEST BALANCE THE SCHEDULED MEETINGS
WITH WHEN OUR PUBLIC IS PAYING
ATTENTION AND WHEN OUR PUBLIC
IS ENGAGED AND LEADING IT TO
SOME OF THE TRANSPARENCY WE
WANT TO SEE ON THE COUNCIL
GOING FORWARD. I AM PROPOSING
THAT WE HAVE THESE TWO DATES TO
SCHEDULE FOR CANCELLATIONS AND
I WOULD HAVE COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ
AT ANYTHING IF SHE WOULD LIKE
TO JOIN.
TO JOIN.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THESE OVEN MITTS
FORWARD.
BRINGING THESE OVEN MITTS FORWARD. ARE THERE ANY
ADDITIONAL COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? SEEING NONE THE VOTE
IS TO AMEND RESOLUTION 41841
ALL THOSE IN FAVOR SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE. ALL OPPOSE SIGNIFY
BY SAYING NAY. THE MOTION IS
DECLARED
BY SAYING NAY. THE MOTION IS DECLARED ADOPTED. RESOLUTION
41841 AS AMENDED IS BEFORE US.
AS NOTED THIS RESOLUTION WOULD
CANCEL THE FOLLOWING TUESDAYS.
GENERALLY 20TH, FEBRUARY 17,
MARCH 17, APRIL
GENERALLY 20TH, FEBRUARY 17, MARCH 17, APRIL 7TH, MAY 26,
SEPTEMBER 1ST, SEPTEMBER 8,
NOVEMBER 24TH, DECEMBER 22ND
AND DECEMBER 29TH. THE
FOLLOWING TRADITIONAL COUNCIL
MEETINGS FOR TUESDAYS. THEY
FOLLOW A HOLIDAY EACH YEAR.
ARE THERE ANY
FOLLOW A HOLIDAY EACH YEAR. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
SEEING NONE ALL THOSE IN FAVOR
OF ADOPTING RESOLUTION 41841 AS
AMENDED PLEASE SIGNIFY BY
SAYING AYE. ALL THOSE OPPOSED
SAY NO. THE RESOLUTION IS
DECLARED ADOPTED. MOVING ON TO
FINAL READING OF ORDINANCES
ITEM 27 CLERK, PLEASE READ.
>>
>> ORD29079 AN ORDINANCE GRANTING A NON-EXCLUSIVE
TEN-YEAR TELECOMMUNICATIONS
TEN-YEAR TELECOMMUNICATIONS FRANCHISE AGREEMENT TO SQF, LLC
DBA VERTA, TO CONSTRUCT,
OPERATE, AND REPAIR A
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM IN
THE
THE CITY.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM IN THE CITY.
THE CITY. >> Mayor Ibsen: THIS ITEM WAS
PRESENTED DECEMBER 22ND ARE
THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COUNCIL
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
COUNCILMEMBER PALMER.
COUNCILMEMBER PALMER.
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer: WE ARE VOTING ON THIS TONIGHT, RIGHT?
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: CORRECT.
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer: I THINK I WILL ABSTAIN BECAUSE I
WAS NOT AROUND FOR THE
DISCUSSION SO JUST FYI. THANK
YOU.
YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PALMER. DO WE
HAVE ANY ADDITIONAL COUNCIL
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? IF NONE
CLERK, PLEASE CALL ROLL.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Diaz: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: AYE C7
ABSTAINING.
>> Councilmember Hines: AYE C7 ABSTAINING.
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Scott: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Walker: AYE.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: AYE.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THE ORDINANCE IS DECLARED PASSED. ITEM 28
OR, PLEASE READ.
>>
>> ORD29087 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 6A.70 OF THE
MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO
LOCAL OPTION TAXES, BY ADDING
NEW SECTIONS 6A.70.043 AND
6A.70.044, AND IMPOSING A LOCAL
ONE-TENTH OF ONE PERCENT SALES
AND USE TAX, TO FUND
INVESTMENTS
INVESTMENTS IN
AND USE TAX, TO FUND INVESTMENTS IN
INVESTMENTS IN CRIMINAL JUSTICE, EFFECTIVE
APRIL 1,
APRIL 1, 2026.
CRIMINAL JUSTICE, EFFECTIVE APRIL 1, 2026.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED DECEMBER 9TH, 2025
ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL
COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS?
DEPUTY MAYOR BUSHNELL?
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: THANK YOU MAYOR. I JUST WANTED TO
-THIS IS A SALES TAX INCREASE
THAT WILL BE IMPOSED ONTO THE
RESIDENCE OF TACOMA I WANTED TO
MAKE SURE TO LET FOLKS KNOW
THAT WE HAVE VERY LIMITED FUNDS
AND WHAT IS AVAILABLE FOR US IS
DICTATED TO US BY THE STATE
LEGISLATURE THAT THE TOOLS THAT
THE RECENT LEGISLATURE HAS
GIVEN US IN ORDER TO HELP FILL
SOME BUDGET CONSTRAINTS WITHIN
LOCAL GOVERNMENT BUDGETS IN
PARTICULAR AROUND PUBLIC
SAFETY.
PARTICULAR AROUND PUBLIC SAFETY. AND I REALLY
APPRECIATE OUR GOVERNMENT
AFFAIRS TEAM AS A SPILL WAS
GOING THROUGH THE LEGISLATURE
THEY FOUND SOME FLEXIBILITY IN
THE LANGUAGE TO ALLOW MANY OF
OUR DIFFERENT PUBLIC SAFETY
PROGRAMS INCLUDING DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE
AND OTHER
VIOLENCE ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE AND OTHER THINGS. PUBLIC
SAFETY IN THE COMMUNITY IS NOT
JUST A POLICE RESPONSE. IT IS
A WHOLE PICTURE OF COMMUNITY
RESPONSE TO PUBLIC SAFETY
ISSUES THE SALES TAX IS GOING
TO HELP US TO FUND THOSE
VITALLY
TO HELP US TO FUND THOSE VITALLY IMPORTANT PROGRAMS.
WITH THAT BEING SAID THIS IS A
SALES TAX AND I WANT TO
RECOGNIZE THAT A SALES TAX IN
MY OPINION IS A VERY REGRESSIVE
IN NATURE AND CAN IMPACT
COMMUNITY MEMBERS THAT CAN
LEAST AFFORD IT BECAUSE OF THE
WAY IN WHICH THEY ARE IMPOSED
ON OUR COMMUNITY. AGAIN THIS
IS ONE OF THE FEW OPTIONS GIVEN
TO US BY THE LEGISLATURE AND I
WILL BE SUPPORTING THIS
TONIGHT. I DO APPRECIATE OUR
LEGISLATURE FOR GIVING US THIS
OPTION AND WE ARE LOOKING
FORWARD TO OTHER OPTIONS THAT
WE CAN DO WITH THIS. THANK
YOU.
YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER
PALMER.
DEPUTY MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER PALMER.
>>>.
PALMER. >>>.
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer: I ECHO DEPUTY MAYOR BUSHNELL'S
COMMENTS ABOUT TAXES. TAXES
ARE NEVER
COMMENTS ABOUT TAXES. TAXES ARE NEVER FUN. THIS IS ONE OF
THE THINGS THAT WE HAVE
AVAILABLE TO US IN ORDER TO
FULFILL SOME OF THE THINGS THAT
WE ARE TRYING TO DO AT THE
CITY. SO A NUMBER OF
CITY. SO A NUMBER OF COUNCILMEMBERS HAVE REACHED OUT
TO ME WITH SOME QUESTIONS ABOUT
THE TAX AND I JUST WANTED TO
TAKE A SECOND TO ADDRESS THOSE
QUESTIONS. OUR CITY MANAGER
AND DIRECTOR OF FINANCE HAS
ALSO ADDRESSED THIS AND THEY
DID A GOOD JOB OF SPEAKING BUT
I WANTED TO ADDRESS THEM FOR
CLARITY. FIRST THIS
LEGISLATION ONLY AUTHORIZES
LEGISLATION ONLY AUTHORIZES 1/10 OF 1% SALES TAX. WE ARE
NOT DECIDING TONIGHT HOW THE
CITY WILL USE THIS NEW REVENUE
OR WHAT SERVICES IT WILL HELP
FUND. THE STATE DOES REQUIRE
THAT WE USE THE REVENUE FOR
CRIMINAL JUSTICE PURPOSES BUT
THAT DOES NOT MEAN THAT WE ARE
REQUIRED TO USE THIS REVENUE
ONLY FOR OUR POLICE FORCE. THE
STATE HAS GIVEN US A BROAD
DEFINITION OF SERVICES IN THIS
LIST INCLUDES DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE, DIVERSIONS PROGRAMS,
REENTRY WORK FOR INMATES AND
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES AND
PROGRAMS.
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSES AND PROGRAMS. MENTAL HEALTH AND
OTHER SERVICES. THE SECOND
ISSUE I WANTED TO CLARIFY IS
THAT THE STATE REQUIRES US TO
ENSURE THAT OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT PARTICIPATES IN A
VARIETY OF TRAININGS TO BE
ELIGIBLE FOR THIS TAX. THESE
TRAININGS
ELIGIBLE FOR THIS TAX. THESE TRAININGS INCLUDE VIOLENCE
DE-ESCALATION TECHNIQUES MENTAL
HEALTH TRAINING SPECIAL
TRAINING FOR TRAUMA INFORMED
TRAINING FOR TRAUMA INFORMED GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE
GENDER-BASED VIOLENCE INVESTIGATIONS. I KNOW THAT WE
HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD OR YOU
GUYS HAVE BEEN WORKING HARD
BEFORE I GOT HERE TO SET HIGH
STANDARDS FOR OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENTS AND EMPLOYEES THAT
THE STATE IS TYING THIS FUNDING
TO THESE TYPES OF ONGOING
TRAININGS FOR
TO THESE TYPES OF ONGOING TRAININGS FOR OUR POLICE
OFFICERS AND I THINK IT IS
VITAL THAT WE ENSURE OUR POLICE
DEPARTMENT REDUCES HARM AND
VIOLENCE IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I
BELIEVE THIS LEGISLATION AND
TRAININGS THAT ARE REQUIRED
WITH ELIGIBILITY WILL HELP US
ADVANCE TO THAT IMPORTANT GOAL.
I'M LOOKING FORWARD TO
DISCUSSING HOW WE MIGHT USE
THIS REVENUE IN THE FUTURE IN
THE COMING MONTH AND I'M
EXCITED TO HEAR FROM THE
COMMUNITY ABOUT WHAT YOU WANT
US TO PRIORITIZE. THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER PALMER.
COUNCILMEMBER PALMER. COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE?
COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE?
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: THANK YOU. I'M GOING TO BE HONEST.
I WANTED TO BE A VERY STRONG NO
ON THIS. I WANTED TO BE A
STRONG NO ON THIS BECAUSE OF
THOUSANDS OF RESIDENTS THAT I
HAVE TALKED TO ARE JUST TIRED
OF BEING TAXED. OF HAVING
EVERYONE OF THEIR COSTS GO UP.
AND THEN I GOT ANGRY. I GOT
ANGRY BECAUSE WE LIVE IN A
STATE WHICH HAS SUCH A
REGRESSIVE SYSTEM WHERE WE
EXTENSIVELY ARE TAXING POOR
PEOPLE TO HELP POOR PEOPLE
BECAUSE 1/10 OF 1% FOR MANY OF
US IS NOT MUCH OF ANYTHING.
BUT YOU ADD THAT AND YOU BUILD
THAT TO THE NEEDIEST PEOPLE IN
OUR IMMUNITIES AND THAT ADDS
UP. I WISH WE HAD A FAIRER
WAY. OF TAXING. WE HAVE A
REGRESSIVE SYSTEM NOT JUST
BASED ON THE FACT THAT A SALES
TAX CHARGES THE PEOPLE THAT
MAKE THE LEAST AMOUNT OF MONEY
THE HIGHEST PERCENTAGE OF THEIR
TOTAL INCOME. BUT BECAUSE WE
HAVE A STRUCTURE ON A LOCAL
LEVEL THAT STRUCTURALLY ALSO
EFFECTIVELY KEEPS US FROM
KEEPING UP WITH EVEN INFLATION.
WHERE EVEN THOUGH WE HAVE
CERTAIN RATES OF TAXES WE
REALLY AS A CITY THE GENERAL
FUND IS NOT GROWING MUCH MORE
THAN 2% PER YEAR. WE'VE DONE A
REALLY GOOD JOB OF KEEPING THE
INFLATION RATE OR COST INCREASE
RATE OVER 3% BUT THAT'S
LITERALLY AN ENTIRE PERCENT
THAT WE ARE ALWAYS BEHIND. IT
ENDS UP COSTING US SERVICE
LEVELS. AND INVARIABLY WE COME
BACK AND WE FIND A NEW FEE. WE
FOUND SOME OTHER WAY OF FINDING
ADDITIONAL REVENUE AND IT
BECOMES JARRING. IT BECOMES
GALLING AND IT STARTS ERODING
TRUST. WE HAVE TO FACE THAT
BACK THAT THAT IS WHAT HAPPENS
WHEN WE ARE SITTING UP HERE AND
WE ARE SAYING WE NEED THIS
MONEY TO KEEP UP AND SO WE ARE
JUST GOING TO HAVE TO TAX
SOMEONE A LITTLE HIGHER. EVERY
DAY WHEN SOMEONE GOES AND BUYS
A CUP OF COFFEE OR ANYTHING
ELSE THAT THEY ARE BUYING THEY
ARE GOING TO SEE ON THERE
RECEIPT AND OTHER 10TH OF 1%.
THEY ARE GOING TO KNOW THAT WE
ARE THE ONES THAT DID IT,
RIGHT? BUT AT THE END OF THE
DAY WE ARE ALL SITTING UP HERE
BECAUSE WE HAVE TO MAKE HARD
DECISIONS. WHAT I WANT TO
IMPLORE A LOT OF PEOPLE OUT
THERE IF THERE IS A SYSTEM THAT
NEEDS TO CHANGE IN THIS STATE
IT IS THE TAXING SYSTEM. I
HOPE THERE IS AS MUCH ENERGY
AND WANTING TO COME UP WITH A
BETTER MORE PROGRESSIVE SYSTEM
ACROSS THIS STATE THAT CAN HELP
US MANAGE OUR FINANCES
APPROPRIATELY.
US MANAGE OUR FINANCES APPROPRIATELY. AS I SIT HERE,
LIKE I SAID AND I REALIZE MY
JOB HERE IS TO BE A RESPONSIBLE
GOVERNOR FOR THE CITY AND I
LOOK AT THE PROGRAMS THAT WE AS
A CITY, WILL ARE VERY MUCH ON
THE FOREFRONT OF FUNDING
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE MODELS FOR
EXAMPLE. AND PUBLIC SAFETY. I
HAVE TO WEIGH THIS INHERENT
DISTASTEFUL THIS LET'S SAY TO
BE DIPLOMATIC BECAUSE THERE'S A
LOT WORSE WORDS THAT I COULD
USE WITH HOW I FEEL WITH WHAT
THIS MONEY CAN HELP US TO WHICH
CAN HE DO WE KEEP SOME OF THESE
PROGRAMS THAT WE DO NOT HAVE
SUSTAINABLE REVENUE SOURCES TO
KEEP GOING. I IMPLORE EVERY
ONE OF US UP HERE TO BE
CAUTIOUS, TO BE THOUGHTFUL AT
THE BUDGET. TO THINK ABOUT
THIS NOT AS A FUND THAT ALLOWS
US TO EXPAND OUR BUDGET GREATLY
BUT TO KEEP FUNDING IN A
SUSTAINABLE MANNER SOME OF THE
REALLY GOOD PROGRAMS WE HAVE
ALREADY PUT TOGETHER AND TO
MAKE
ALREADY PUT TOGETHER AND TO MAKE THEM BE THE TYPES OF
PROGRAMS THAT MAKE OUR CITY
STRONGER.
PROGRAMS THAT MAKE OUR CITY STRONGER. AT THE END OF THE
DAY I AM GOING TO SAY YES AND
I'M GOING TO FEEL TERRIBLE
ABOUT IT. THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE.
COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE. COUNCILMEMBER HINES?
COUNCILMEMBER HINES?
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: THANK YOU MR. MAYOR. FIRST OF ALL I
WANT TO REITERATE THE FACT THAT
MY COLLEAGUES, NO ONE RUNS FOR
OFFICE WITH THE GOAL OF RAISING
TAXES AND PEOPLE OFTEN STRUGGLE
TO PAY THEM.
TAXES AND PEOPLE OFTEN STRUGGLE TO PAY THEM. WE HAVE A
REGRESSIVE TAX FUND AND THOSE
ARE ALL IMPORTANT POINTS.
FIRST OF ALL THANK YOU TO THE
STAFF AND ALL THE WORK YOU'VE
DONE. THANK YOU TO ALL THE
EMPLOYEES OF WHICH WE IMPLEMENT
THIS IF WE IMPLEMENT IT AND
VOTE BY IT I LOOK FORWARD TO
WORKING WITH THEM BUT HOW DO WE
BETTER ALLOCATE THESE DOLLARS
TO PAY FOR THE SERVICES WE ARE
LOOKING FOR? I DO THINK THIS
CONVERSATION I WOULD MAKE SURE
WE BRING IT BACK IN A FEW
MONTHS WE HAVE A FURTHER
CONVERSATION BECAUSE I DO THINK
THAT WHILE I AM HESITATE TO
RAISE TAXES BECAUSE I KNOW HOW
REGRESSIVE SALES TAXES ARE I
ALSO RECOGNIZE
REGRESSIVE SALES TAXES ARE I ALSO RECOGNIZE THAT ONE OF THE
OTHER REASONS FOR THE COST OF
PROVIDING PUBLIC SAFETY IN OUR
COMMUNITY IS WE HAVE EXPANDED
THE DEFINITION OF WHAT PUBLIC
SAFETY MEANS OVER THE LAST
SEVERAL YEARS I STARTED ON THE
COUNCIL WE HAVE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND FIRE DEPARTMENT
SINCE THEN WE HAVE ADDED A HOPE
TEAM, A HEEL TEAM, WE HAD A
HOPE TEAM BUT WE EXPANDED HOPE
TEAM WE ADDED COMMUNITY SERVICE
OFFICERS, WE ARE LOOKING
TEAM WE ADDED COMMUNITY SERVICE OFFICERS, WE ARE LOOKING TO
ALTERNATIVE RESPONSE MODELS.
WE ARE GROWING WHAT WE ARE
LOOKING TO PAY FOR THROUGH
PUBLIC SAFETY AND ONE OF THE
WAYS WE HAVE TO PAY FOR THAT IS
BY ASKING THE RESIDENTS TO PAY.
I THINK WE CAN TALK ABOUT
LOOKING AT A MORE FAIR SYSTEM
HOW WE TAX PEOPLE AND WE WILL
BE LOOKING AT THAT IN THE NEXT
LEGISLATIVE SESSION. I WOULD
HOPE THAT WE HOLD ONTO THIS AS
WE MOVE INTO THE BUDGET SITE
WILL AND WE START INKING ABOUT
HOW DO WE BEST ALLOCATE THESE
DOLLARS IN A WAY THAT MAKES
SENSE TO THE COMMUNITY. ONE
THING I'VE NOTICED IN MY SIX
ALMOST 6 YEARS ON THE COUNCIL
NO ONE HAS COME TO US AND SAID
I WANT LESS. EVERYONE HAS COME
TO US AND SAID I WANT MORE SO
THIS IS A GOOD CONVERSATION TO
BE
THIS IS A GOOD CONVERSATION TO BE HAD AS WE THINK ABOUT IT,
HOW DO WE BEST MEET THE NEEDS
OF THE COMMUNITY WITH THE
RESOURCES WE HAVE WORKING WITH
THE STAFF AND COMMUNITY IN A
WAY THAT IS TRANSPARENT GETS US
CLOSER AND CLOSER TO THE
COMMUNITY AND SAFETY PLAN WE
HAVE IN PLACE I THINK THAT
SOMETHING WE COULD KEEP AT THE
TOP OF THE MIND. I WILL BE
VOTING IN SUPPORT MOSTLY
BECAUSE THE ONE THING WE HEARD
FROM THE RESIDENT OF THE CITY
OVER THE LAST YEAR THAT THEY
WANTED GREATER PERCEPTIONS AND
A SENSE OF SAFETY. I HAVE VERY
LIMITED FUNCTIONS AND INVESTING
IN MORE SAFETY WHEN THAT'S THE
NUMBER 1 THING I HEAR WHILE I
DO HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT THE TAX
SYSTEM IN WHICH WE ARE
ADDRESSING. THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER HINES.
COUNCILMEMBER HINES. COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH?
COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH?
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANTED TO
THANK YOU MAYOR. I WANTED TO SAY THANK YOU TO ALL OF THE
COMMENTS FOR COUNCILMEMBER
HINES AND COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE
AS WELL. I THINK I SEE THINGS
DIFFERENTLY. THE EROSION FOR
DIFFERENTLY. THE EROSION FOR DOMESTIC
DIFFERENTLY. THE EROSION FOR DOMESTIC VIOLENCE HELP IN OUR
COMMUNITY. I SEE IT TIED TO
YOUTH VIOLENCE AND GUN VIOLENCE
THAT WE SEE IN OUR COMMUNITY
WHAT IS HAPPENING WITH OUR
YOUTH AND THIS IS A WAY TO DO
SOMETHING TENTATIVE. AND THAT
IS WHERE I SEE THIS. I SEE IT
IN OUR COURTS HAVING A COURT
APPOINTED ADVOCATE WHICH WE
DON'T HAVE IN THE MUNICIPAL
COURT BUT I ALSO SEE IT AS
SUPPORTING SOMETHING WE CARE
ABOUT IN OUR COMMUNITY WHICH IS
THE CRYSTAL HUDSON CENTER WHICH
I SIT ON THE BOARD WITH ALONG
WITH MY VICE CHAIR WHICH IS
JAMIKA SCOTT. I WANT TO SAY
THAT THIS IS SO IMPORTANT TO ME
THAT WHEN I FIRST GOT ON THE
COUNCIL THIS IS WHAT I TALKED
ABOUT WHEN THE REPORTER GOT TO
ME AND ASKED WHAT I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT I SAID I WANT TO
TALK ABOUT DOMESTIC VIOLENCE
AND SEXUAL ASSAULT. SHE WAS
NOT INTERESTED IN THE
CONVERSATION BUT I AM AND WANT
TO CONTINUE TO TALK ABOUT IT IN
THIS IS A WAY TO FUND THAT SO
WE ARE NOT LOOKING TO SAY THAT
THIS IS IMPORTANT AND
SIGNIFICANT AND WE SEE IT AND
THIS IS MONEY THAT IS ACTUALLY
FOR THAT AND I LIKE THAT
BECAUSE WHEN IT IS JUST SITTING
IN THE GENERAL FUND MAYBE THAT
MONEY GOES AWAY.
IN THE GENERAL FUND MAYBE THAT MONEY GOES AWAY. I DON'T WANT
IT TO GO AWAY. I WANT TO
CONTINUE TO SEE THIS AS AN
IMPORTANT THING. THE RATES OF
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CONTINUES TO
INCREASE IN OUR COUNTY AND CITY
AND EVERY DAY WHEN WE LOOK AT
THE CRIME REPORT THERE'S SOME
TYPE OF DEATH OR VIOLENCE THAT
HAS HAPPENED THAT IS RELATED TO
DOMESTIC VIOLENCE. I
APPRECIATE MY COUNCIL I AM
GOING TO BE SUPPORTING YES ON
THIS AND I WOULD LOVE TO HAVE A
DIFFERENT TYPE OF SET UP FOR
OUR TAX SYSTEM BUT WE DON'T.
THAT IS UNFORTUNATE. IT'S IN
OUR CONSTITUTION THE WAY IT IS
WRITTEN UP THAT WE DON'T HAVE
AN INCOME TAX WHICH I THINK
DOES CREATE THE PEOPLE WHO
MIGHT BE CREATING THE VICTIMS
WOULD HAVE TO BE THE ONES
PAYING FOR THIS WHICH DOES NOT
SEEM RIGHT. I'M GOING TO
CONTINUE TO BE THE VOICE TO
STAND UP FOR THESE SILENT
PEOPLE WHO ARE OUT THERE
STRUGGLING WITH THIS ISSUE. I
APPRECIATE COUNCIL AND I LOOK
FORWARD TO US PASSING THIS
TONIGHT. THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: AN COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH AND I TO
SHARE THE SENTIMENTS. AT THE
END OF THE DAY PUBLIC SAFETY IS
THE RESPONSIBILITY IF NOT THE
RESPONSIBILITY OF LOCAL
GOVERNMENT. I WOULD BE THE
FIRST TO EXPRESS MY DEEP
FRUSTRATION WITH THE REGRESSIVE
THE AND UNFAIRNESS OF THE STATE
TAX CODE.
THE AND UNFAIRNESS OF THE STATE TAX CODE. THE REALITY IS THAT
VOTERS HAVE EXPRESSED TO US
TIME AND TIME AGAIN MOREOVER
THE LAST YEAR OR TWO THE DESIRE
TO FEEL SAFER IN THEIR
NEIGHBORHOODS. OUR NEIGHBORS
SCHOOLS COMMUNITY MEMBERS FROM
ALL WALKS OF LIFE. WE CAN WALK
AND CHEW GUM AT THE SAME TIME
AND WE CAN ADVOCATE WITH OUR
STATE AND FEDERAL PARTNERS FOR
A FAIR AND MORE JUST SYSTEM OF
REVENUE TO PAY FOR CORE
SERVICES AND AT THE SAME TIME
WE CANNOT HAVE THE LUXURY OF
MAKING THE PERFECT GOOD.
PEOPLE NEED ASSISTANCE AND MORE
SUPPORT AND PEOPLE NEED TO FEEL
EVEN SAFER NOW. TO THE END I
WILL SUPPORT THIS INCREASE NOT
WITH AN EYE TOWARDS THROWING
WITH AN EYE TOWARDS THROWING MONEY AT SOMETHING BROADLY
SPEAKING BUT WITH VERY
INTENTIONAL CONVERSATIONS ABOUT
WHAT THE SPECIFIC RETURN ON
INVESTMENT IS GOING TO BE AND
HOW WE ARE GOING TO
SPECIFICALLY ALIGN THESE NEW
ALLOCATED FUNDS WITH THESE NEW
IMMUNITY SAFETY ACTION STRATEGY
WITH WORKING TOWARDS THE FULL
AND HOPEFULLY EVEN GREATER
STAFFING OF THE POLICE
DEPARTMENT AND ENSURING
ACCOUNTABILITY THROUGH THE
BUDGET PROCESS. THOSE WILL BE
THE FACTORS THAT I MYSELF WILL
BE LOOKING VERY INTENTLY AT.
AND WITH THAT WITH NO FURTHER
QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FROM THE
CITY COUNCIL WILL CLERK, PLEASE
CALL ROLL?
CALL ROLL?
>>
>> Councilmember Diaz: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Scott: AYE.
>>
>> Councilmember Walker:
>> Councilmember Walker: AYE.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: AYE.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: AYE.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THE ORDINANCE IS DECLARED PASSED. MOVING
ONTO FIRST READING OF
ORDINANCES ITEM 29 CLERK,
PLEASE READ.
PLEASE READ.
>>
>> ORD29091 AN ORDINANCE AMENDING CHAPTER 12.10 OF THE
MUNICIPAL CODE, RELATING TO
WATER - REGULATIONS AND RATES,
BY AMENDING SECTION 12.10.310,
ENTITLED SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
CHARGE, FOR CHARGE ADJUSTMENTS
AND ANNUAL INCREASES, EFFECTIVE
FEBRUARY 1,
FEBRUARY 1, 2026.
AND ANNUAL INCREASES, EFFECTIVE FEBRUARY 1, 2026.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: VERY GOOD I WOULD LIKE TO CALL ON MR.
ANDREW ZAREMBA FOR A
PRESENTATION ON THIS MATTER.
>>
>> Speaker: GOOD EVENING MAYOR IPSEN AND MEMBERS OF THE TACOMA
CITY COUNCIL MY NAME IS ANDREW
ZAREMBA AND I'M AN ECONOMIST
WITH TACOMA WATER. WERE HERE
TONIGHT TO ASK FOR YOUR
CONSIDERATION ON ORDINANCE
290912
CONSIDERATION ON ORDINANCE 290912 AMEND TACOMA MUNICIPAL
CODE CHAPTER 10 WATER
REGULATIONS AND RATE SECTIONS
310
REGULATIONS AND RATE SECTIONS 310 SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGE.
THE PURPOSE OF THIS AMENDMENT
IS TO ESTABLISH AN ADJUSTMENT
SCHEDULE FOR THE SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT CHARGES ALSO KNOWN
AS STC BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1, 26
THROUGH JANUARY 1 23.
AS STC BEGINNING FEBRUARY 1, 26 THROUGH JANUARY 1 23. THIS IS
A ONE-TIME CHARGE ASSESSED AT
THE TIME OF CONNECTION FEE TO
THE UTILITY WATER SYSTEM AND IS
INTENDED TO REPRESENT AN
EQUITABLE
INTENDED TO REPRESENT AN EQUITABLE SHARE OF PAST AND
FUTURE INFRASTRUCTURE AND
INVESTMENTS. KEEPING THESE
CHARGES IN LINE WITH ACTUAL
UTILITY COST HELPS ENSURE THAT
EXISTING RATEPAYERS ARE NOT
OVERBURDENED WITH THE COST OF
SYSTEM EXPANSION. TO SUPPORT
THESE RECOMMENDATIONS TACOMA
WATER PRESENTED TO THE TACOMA
PUBLIC UTILITY BOARD AT STUDY
SESSION TO THE MASTER BUILDER
ASSOCIATION THE TACOMA PER
MINUTE ADVISORY GROUP, TACOMA
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE FINANCE
COMMITTEE AND HELD A PUBLIC
HEARING AT THE PUBLIC UTILITY
BOARD EVENING SESSION. I'M
HAPPY TO TAKE ANY QUESTIONS
THAT YOU MAY HAVE.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: ARE THERE ANY OTHER COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER HINES?
COUNCILMEMBER
COUNCILMEMBER HINES.
COMMENTS? COUNCILMEMBER HINES? COUNCILMEMBER HINES.
>>
>> Councilmember
>> Councilmember Hines: THANK YOU MAYOR. WE HAD THIS IN
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND
FINANCE AND AS A REMINDER WHAT
WAS THIS BEHIND MAKING THE
UPDATES? YOU TALKED ABOUT THE
MEETING BUT WHAT IS THE IMPETUS
BEHIND THE CHANGES?
>>
>> Speaker: SURE THERE'S A NUMBER OF REASONS WE DECIDED TO
BRING THIS TO THE COUNCIL. ONE
OF THE REASONS IT'S BEEN FIVE
YEARS SINCE OUR UPDATE IN 2019
AND THERE'S BEEN A NUMBER OF
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS ACTUALLY MADE ON YOUR SYSTEM AS
WELL AS CHANGES IN OUR FUTURE
CAPITAL PLAN AND WE WANTED TO
BE SURE WE ARE INCORPORATING
INTO THE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
CHARGE. WHAT IS ALSO LET'S US
TO IS WITH THE ADJUSTMENT
SCHEDULE WE ARE PROPOSING THE
ORDINANCE GIVES US A NICE MILE
MARKER BY WHICH WE CAN REVIEW
THE CHARGES AGAIN AND DETERMINE
IF THEY ARE APPROPRIATE FOR THE
CHARGES AT THE TIME AND ALSO
TODAY BEING AN OFF BUDGET YEAR
GIVES THE STAFF THE RESOURCES
TO TAKE ON SOME OF THE MODELING
WORK AND WORKING WITH
CONSULTANTS TO ENSURE WE ARE
BRINGING FORWARD THE RIGHT
PROPOSAL.
PROPOSAL.
>>
>> Councilmember
>> Councilmember Hines: THAT'S A GREAT POINT. WE ARE MOVING
INTO THE RATESETTING YEAR
COMING AHEAD IN 2026. THE
REASON IT WAS DONE OUTSIDE OF
THE RATESETTING PROCESS IS THAT
THERE WAS CAPACITY IN 2025 AND
THEN WE PROPOSE A
THERE WAS CAPACITY IN 2025 AND THEN WE PROPOSE A DESIR.[BLEEP]
DEE.
THEN WE PROPOSE A DESIR.[BLEEP] DEE.
>>
>> Speaker: THAT IS ONE OF THE REASONS. IT WOULD BE DIFFICULT
TO DO IT ALONGSIDE BUDGET AND
RATES BECAUSE SOMETIMES IT
REQUIRES A CONVERSATION WITH A
CONSULTANT AND ALONGSIDE BUDGET
AND RATES CAN BE
LIMITING.
CONSULTANT AND ALONGSIDE BUDGET AND RATES CAN BE LIMITING.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: AGAIN THE IRP PROCESS FOR TACOMA
WATER WAS COMPLETED WHEN OR IS
IN PROCESS NOW?
>>
>> Speaker: DID YOU SAY THE IRP THE INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN.
I BELIEVE THAT IS ONGOING AND
MORE FOR A SYSTEM AND SUPPLY
AND INFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING. I
BELIEVE IT IS IN PROGRESS OR
NEARLY DONE.
NEARLY DONE.
>>
>> Speaker: YES THAT IS IN PROCESS. WE HAVE AN UPDATE
EXPECTED THIS YEAR.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: OKAY. THIS WAS THE INCREASE TO THE
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGES
SHOULD FIT WITH WHAT IS
DEVELOPED OUT OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE RESOURCE PLAN IS
SHOULD FIT TOGETHER WELL SO ARE
WE PROJECTING OUT THAT THIS
WILL BE NEEDED AS PART OF THE
IRP PROCESS?
IRP PROCESS?
>>
>> Speaker: YES. THEY WILL BE CONSISTENT. THE PLANNING
COMING OUT OF THE INTEGRATED
RESOURCE PLAN THAT
INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT
RESOURCE PLAN THAT INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENT IS
REFLECTED IN THE CHARGES. I
WILL SAY THAT STC CHARGES ARE
INTENDED TO CAPTURE OUR CURRENT
INVESTMENTS AND NOT FUTURE
INVESTMENT.
INVESTMENT.
>>
>> Speaker: STATE LAW ALLOWS US TO INCLUDE 10 YEARS OF OUR
CAPITAL PORTFOLIO WHAT IS
APPLICABLE TO THE SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT CHARGE. THE
INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN IS
LOOKING FURTHER THAN
INTEGRATED RESOURCE PLAN IS LOOKING FURTHER THAN THAT SO
REINCORPORATE THE OVERLAP IN
WHAT IS AN CORPORATIVE BUT THE
RESOURCE PLAN GOES FURTHER THAN
THE.
THE.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: I THINK WE HAD THIS CONVERSATION DURING
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND
FINANCE
GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE AND FINANCE AND WITH THESE SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT CHARGES PUT INTO
TACOMA IN
DEVELOPMENT CHARGES PUT INTO TACOMA IN - I'M SORRY I THINK
I'M GIVEN THE JEOPARDY QUIZ, IN
THE 90S. I'LL SAY THAT OUT
LOUD. I THINK MY BROADER
CONCERN THAT I ARTICULATED WITH
THE GOVERNMENT PERFORMANCE
FINANCE COMMITTEE IS WE SEEM TO
BE RAISING RATES ON ALMOST
EVERY PIECE OF DEVELOPMENT IN
THE CITY RIGHT NOW. AND THIS
IS JUST A PART OF IT. NOT ONLY
ARE WE TALKING ABOUT SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT CHARGE FOR WATER
AND STORMWATER IMPACT, TRAFFIC
IMPROVEMENT AND NOW WATER IN
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGES I AM
GETTING CONCERNED THAT ALL OF
THESE PIECES ARE MOVING
TOGETHER AT THE SAME TIME AND
WHILE YOU HAVE ALL BEEN VERY
CLEAR THE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
CHARGES ARE MUCH LOWER THAN
ANYONE ELSE WHICH IS VERY CLEAR
TO THIS IS NOTHING RELATED TO
YOUR WORK. I'M JUST
ARTICULATING THESE BROADER
ARTICULATING THESE BROADER CONCERNS THAT I HAVE. IT SEEMS
AS IF EVERY PART OF THE
ORGANIZATION IS MOVING
AS IF EVERY PART OF THE ORGANIZATION IS MOVING COSTS
WHEN THE COUNCIL HAS OFTEN
TALKED ABOUT THE FACT THAT WE
NEED MORE HOUSING IN SOME OF
THE COST TO DEVELOPMENT IS A
REAL BARRIER. SOME OF THE
HOUSING WE WANT TO SEE WE JUST
WENT THROUGH THIS LONG PROCESS
IN HOME IN TACOMA TO ALLOW MORE
HOUSING. IT IS SOMETHING THAT
I HAVE BEEN INKING ABOUT AND I
BROUGHT IT TO THE BOARD OF
FINANCE AND I WILL CONTINUE TO
TALK ABOUT IT BUT I DO WE VALUE
THE WORK YOU HAVE DONE AND I
UNDERSTAND HOW WE HAVE LANDED
HERE AND WHY WE ARE MOVING
FORWARD AT THIS POINT IN TIME.
I THINK THAT BROADER
PHILOSOPHICAL POINT SHOULD BE
MADE. THE OTHER PART
PHILOSOPHICAL POINT SHOULD BE MADE. THE OTHER PART THAT I
REMEMBERED WE HAVEN'T CHANGED
FOR 2019 BUT DIDN'T WE LOWER
THEM AT SOME POINT IN TIME?
>>
>> Speaker: THE 2019 UPDATE WAS THE FIRST OF THE SINCE 2024.
THAT STUDY DID
THE FIRST OF THE SINCE 2024. THAT STUDY DID RESULT IN THE
SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGE AT
THE TIME. THERE IS A
POSSIBILITY FOR THAT TO HAPPEN
DEPENDING ON THE MAKEUP OF THE
INFRASTRUCTURE PORTFOLIO AS
WELL AS DEPENDING ON THE
AVAILABILITY FOR WATER
AVAILABILITY FOR WATER RESOURCES IF WE DRILL
ADDITIONAL WELLS AND HAVE
ADDITIONAL SUPPLY YOU ARE
SPREADING THE COST OF A LARGER
CAPACITY SO IT IS POSSIBLE FOR
THE STUDY TO RESULT IN A LOWER
CHARGE.
CHARGE.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: IN TACOMA WATER TERRITORY IS
LARGER THAN THE CITY OF TACOMA
SO THIS APPLIES TO EVERY
CUSTOMER WHO IS A TACOMA WATER
CUSTOMER. OR DOES IT APPLY TO
WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS, TO?
WHOLESALE CUSTOMERS, TO?
>>
>> Speaker: IT WOULD APPLY FOR ADDITIONAL CAPACITY. FOR
CAPACITY THAT WAS IN THE
CONTRACT IT WOULD NOT AFFECT
THAT BUT IF A WHOLESALE
CUSTOMER SAID THEY WANTED TO
INCREASE OR SAID WE WANT TO
PURCHASE WHOLESALE WATER FOR
TACOMA THERE IS A PORTION OF
THE RESCHEDULE THAT WOULD BE
APPLICABLE TO THEM.
>>
>> Councilmember Hines: THOSE ARE ALL MY QUESTIONS BUT I
MIGHT HAVE ADDITIONAL QUESTIONS
BETWEEN NOW AND THE SECOND
READING BUT I WILL BE SURE TO
FOLLOW UP WITH STAFF ON THAT.
THANK YOU. THE ONE THANK YOU
COUNCILMEMBER HINES AND BEFORE
I MOVE ON TO COUNCILMEMBER
SADALGE, MA'AM, I DID NOT GET
YOUR NAME,
YOUR NAME, SORRY.
SADALGE, MA'AM, I DID NOT GET YOUR NAME, SORRY.
>>
>> Speaker: I AM CARRIE BURCHARD WATERS.
BURCHARD WATERS.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: WE HAVE ANOTHER QUESTION FROM COUNCILMEMBER
SADALGE.
SADALGE.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: AND WHO IS PAYING THIS? ARE OUR
CUSTOMERS GOING TO SEE THAT ON
THEIR WATER BILL?
>>
>> Speaker: THANK YOU FOR THE
>> Speaker: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION THIS IS NOT SOMETHING
THAT PEOPLE SEE ON THERE WATER
BILL. THIS IS A ONE-TIME
CHARGE ASSESSED BRINGING ON A
BRAND-NEW SYSTEM. THINK OF A
BRAND-NEW HOME BEING
CONSTRUCTED OR A NEW APARTMENT
BUILDING BEING CONSTRUCTED. IT
REPRESENTS THE LOAD THAT
REPRESENTS THE LOAD THAT BUILDING OR HOME REPRESENTS OUR
SYSTEM SO IT IS CHARGED AT THE
TIME OF CONNECTION AND OFTEN TO
THE DEVELOPER. WHETHER THE
HOME IS SOLD AND PURCHASED
THERE'S NO ADDITIONAL CHARGES.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: SO ANY NEW SYSTEM CONNECTION OR IS
IT AN UPGRADE OF SORT?
>>
>> Speaker: IF SOMEBODY UPGRADED THEIR METER SIZE THEY
WOULD PAY THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE CHARGE ASSOCIATED
WITH THEIR EXISTING METER AND
THE CHARGE ASSOCIATED WITH THE
METER THAT THEY WOULD BE
UPGRADING TO.
UPGRADING TO.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: SO IF YOU ARE DOING AND ADU YOU WOULD
BE PAYING THIS AS WELL?
>>
>> Speaker: IT WOULD BE LOOKED AT IF SOMEONE WAS GOING TO DO
AN ACCEPTABLE ADU THEY WOULD
HAVE TO LOOK AT THE METER SIZE
BEING ASSESSED. IF THE
EXISTING METER WAS TWO LOTS OR
TWO PLOTS THERE WOULD BE A
CALCULATION ASSOCIATED WITH THE
MULTIFAMILY RATE WHICH IS A
FACT OR OF A SINGLE-FAMILY
RATE. IT MAY RESULT IN A SMALL
CHARGE IN SOME CASES COULD
RESULT IN A CREDIT DEPENDING ON
HOW THE MATH WORKS OUT.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: GOT IT BUT NET NET THIS ISN'T SOME
THING WHERE SOMEONE IS WATCHING
THIS MEETING AND THEY COULD
TAKE AWAY THIS IS SOMETHING
THAT IS GOING TO ALL OF A
SUDDEN POP UP ON THERE REGULAR
WATER BILL?
WATER BILL?
>>
>> Speaker: THAT'S CORRECT. THIS WOULD NOT BE APPLICABLE TO
MOST CUSTOMERS.
MOST CUSTOMERS.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: AND GENERALLY HOW MUCH OF AN
INCREASE IS IT THAT YOU GUYS
ARE DOING OR IS IT LIKE A
NUMBER OF INCREASES?
>>
>> Speaker: THE RESULTS OF THE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGE STUDY
SHOWS THAT WE HAVE TO HAVE
RELATIVE TO OUR EXISTING RATES
A SIZABLE INCREASE. WE DECIDED
IN THE
A SIZABLE INCREASE. WE DECIDED IN THE SPIRIT OF HOW WE
NORMALLY DO OUR RATES WHICH IS
THROUGH THE IDEA OF GRADUALISM
WE WANT TO FACE INTO THE COST
INSTEAD OF SPREAD OUT THE
IMPACT OF THIS OVER FIVE YEARS.
SO WE HAVE EQUAL ADJUSTMENTS
EVERY YEAR THROUGH 2030. AND
ONCE FULLY PHASED IN WE DID A
REVIEW STUDY OF PIER UTILITIES
IN THE REGION AND FOUND THAT
EVEN ONCE FULLY PHASED IN WE
ARE SECOND FROM THE BOTTOM OF
15 OR SO UTILITIES BY THE TIME
WE FACE AND ASSUMING NO ONE
ELSE CHANGES THEIR SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT CHARGES.
DEVELOPMENT CHARGES.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: WHAT IS THE SYSTEM INCREASE WE
SHOULD BE SEEING BETWEEN NOW
AND FIVE YEARS? IS IT 3%, 30%?
>>
>> Speaker:
>> Speaker: THERE'S A SCHEDULE OF CHARGES. FOR A 5/8 INCH
FAMILY HOME THE CURRENT CHARGES
AROUND $860 AND BY 2030 THERE
PROPOSAL IS TO BE AROUND $2300
OR SO.
OR SO.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: 5/8 IS STANDARD FOR A SINGLE-FAMILY
HOME?
HOME?
>>
>> Speaker: APPROXIMATELY 98% OF OUR EXISTING SINGLE-FAMILY
HOMES.
HOMES.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: DOES THAT WORK FOR DAD YOU OR IS
THAT A HIGHER ONE? I'M
THINKING ABOUT HOME IN TACOMA.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: IT DEPENDS ON HOW MANY HOMES WOULD BE SERVED
OFF THE METER. IT IS POSSIBLE
TO SERVE AS A DETACHED ADU IT
MAY UPSIZE TO A THREE-QUARTER
INCH METER. I WILL HAVE TO ASK
AN ENGINEER.
AN ENGINEER.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: I CAN GET THE SPECIFICS LATER. IT
DOES LOOK LIKE IT IS
SUBSTANTIAL. IT IS OVER A 100%
INCREASE OVER FIVE YEARS
OBVIOUSLY. HE SAID 923?
>>
>> Speaker: 800 TWO 2700.
>>
>> Councilmember
>> Councilmember Sadalge: WOW, THAT IS A
>> Councilmember Sadalge: WOW, THAT IS A 300% INCREASE OVER
FIVE YEARS. THAT IS A
SUBSTANTIAL INCREASE. I SHARE
SOME OF THE CONCERNS THAT
COUNCILMEMBER HINES HAS RAISED
OVER HERE. AND I WILL PROBABLY
HAVE SOME QUESTIONS FOR YOU AS
WE GO. MAYBE THEN ON THE OTHER
SIDE THERE ARE RATES THAT ARE
GOING TO INCREASE. WHAT ARE WE
GETTING? WHAT ARE THE PEOPLE
OF TACOMA GETTING FOR THESE
INCREASES?
INCREASES?
>>
>> Speaker: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE AND
COUNCILMEMBER HINES FOR YOUR
COMMENTS AND QUESTIONS. ONE
THING THAT I WANT TO MAKE SURE
IS CLEAR IS THAT A HOMEOWNER
SELLING OR BUYING A HOME AND
THE VAST MAJORITY OF CASES
WOULD NOT BE IMPACTED BY THIS,
RIGHT? THE TRANSFER OF A
SERVICE FROM ONE OWNER TO
ANOTHER DOES NOT INCUR THIS
CHARGE IS SIMPLY A NEW
CONNECTION TO THE SYSTEM. OR A
LARGER METER. THE WAY THAT A
LOT OF HOMEOWNERS ARE
DEVELOPING ADU'S DO NOT REQUIRE
THIS AS WELL, RIGHT? MOST
HOMES INCLUDING AND ADU CAN
STILL BE SERVED ON A 58 INCH
METER. THERE ARE WAYS THAT
DEVELOPERS CAN AVOID THIS
CHARGE. ONE THING THAT WE KNOW
WE WORK VERY CLOSELY WITH THE
MASTER BUILDERS ASSOCIATION.
WE TAKE THAT CONCERN ABOUT
DEVELOPMENT CHARGES OVERALL
VERY SERIOUSLY AND WE
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A
STACK
UNDERSTAND THAT THERE IS A STACK OF CHARGES AND WE ARE A
PART OF THAT AND IT CAN FEEL
LIKE A DEATH BY 1000 CUTS. WE
ARE SENSITIVE TO THAT CONCERN.
ONE THING THEY TOLD US IS THAT
PREDICTABILITY IS EXTREMELY
IMPORTANT. WHEN THEY ARE
IMPORTANT. WHEN THEY ARE FINANCING THE PROJECT THEY NEED
TO KNOW WHAT THE FEES ARE.
THAT'S WHY IT'S IMPORTANT FOR
US TO HAVE A CONSISTENT AND
PREDICTABLE SCHEDULE OF
INCREASES. WE FEEL LIKE THAT
IS THE MOST RESPONSIBLE WAY TO
ENSURE THAT OUR CURRENT RATE
PAYERS ARE NOT SUBSIDIZING
DEVELOPMENT WHILE ALSO GIVING
OUR DEVELOPERS THE
PREDICTABILITY AND CONSISTENCY
THEY NEED TO ENSURE THAT THESE
COSTS ARE ROLLED INTO THE
INITIAL FINANCING WHEN THEY ARE
PLANNING THEIR PROJECT.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: TO GO WITH TO THE ORIGINAL QUESTION,
WHAT DO WE EXPECT TO GET
OVERTIME FOR THIS?
>>
>> Speaker: WHAT DEVELOPERS ARE BUYING INTO OR WHAT TACOMA IS,
OR THE PAY THAT DEVELOP THIS
ARE BUYING INTO IS A SYSTEM
THAT IS SUSTAINABLE GOING
FORWARD. THE WAY THAT
WASHINGTON STATE LAW IS
OUTLINED IS THAT IT GIVES WATER
UTILITIES THE ABILITY TO CHARGE
THIS FEE.
UTILITIES THE ABILITY TO CHARGE THIS FEE. SO WHEN A NEW
SERVICE IS ADDED THEY ARE
BUYING INTO THE VALUE OF THE
SYSTEM THAT OUR CURRENT RATE
PAYERS HAVE BEEN PAYING FOR A
GENERATION AND DECADES. SO IT
IS THIS ONE INITIAL BUY-IN FEE
THAT SORT OF REIMBURSES OUR
CURRENT RATE PAYERS FOR THEIR
INVESTMENT IN THE SYSTEM AND
ALLOWS US TO CONTINUE MAKING
THE INVESTMENTS THAT WE NEED TO
MAINTAIN OUR SYSTEM AND DEVELOP
IT IN A SUSTAINABLE WAY
OVERTIME TO CONTINUE TO SERVE
THE GROWTH THAT OUR COMMUNITY
HAS.
HAS.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: MAYBE I WILL REPHRASE THAT. IF WE
WEREN'T GETTING THIS MONEY WHAT
DO WE LOSE? SPECIFICALLY.
>>
>> Speaker: IF WE ARE NOT SPENDING, WE ARE A RATE PAYER
FUNDED ORGANIZATION. ANYTHING
ANY REVENUE THAT WE ARE NOT
GETTING BY STC WILL GO TO THE
RATE PAYER.
RATE PAYER.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: IF WE DON'T DO THIS PEOPLE WILL SEE
THE HIGHER
DON'T DO THIS PEOPLE WILL SEE THE HIGHER RATE. BECAUSE THESE
ARE MOSTLY CAPITAL
IMPROVEMENTS?
IMPROVEMENTS?
>>
>> Speaker: THAT'S RIGHT. THESE ARE CAPITAL EXPANSION
IMPROVEMENTS THAT WE HAVE
PLANNED OUT DECADES AND IN SOME
CASES IN ADVANCE TO SERVE OUR
GROWTH.
CASES IN ADVANCE TO SERVE OUR GROWTH. RIGHT? THAT WE HAVE
HAD IN THE WORKS FOR YEARS AND
THAT WE CONTINUE TO PLAN FOR
WITH OUR INTEGRATED RESOURCE
PLAN THAT COUNCIL MEMBER HINES
NOTED. THOSE ARE THE EXPENSES
OF GROWING AND MAINTAINING OUR
SYSTEM. IF THEY ARE NOT PAID
FOR WITH A SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT
CHARGE THEY WILL GET PAID FOR
IN RATE. THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE.
COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE. COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ?
COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ?
>>
>> Councilmember Diaz: I HAVE ONE QUESTION NOT TO KEEP US IN
THE WEEDS BUT IF IT IS BETTER
TO GIVE ME AN EXAMPLE LATER
OFF-LINE FEEL FREE TO SAY THAT.
YOU TOUCHED ON IT A LITTLE BIT
WITH SAYING THERE'S NOT A
CHARGE WITH HOME OWNERSHIP
TRANSFER OR
CHARGE WITH HOME OWNERSHIP TRANSFER OR DIFFERENT TRANSFER
POINTS BUT I'M WONDERING IF
THERE'S OTHER EXAMPLES BEYOND
GIVING THE ADU OR BUILDING A
WHOLE NEW DEVELOPMENT ON A PLOT
OF LAND. ARE THERE ARE OTHER
NORMAL CASUAL WAYS THAT PEOPLE
WOULD BE UPGRADING THEIR METER
AND INCUR THIS FEE?
>>
>> Speaker: THAT'S A GREAT QUESTION. I WILL HAVE THEM
COME UP AND GIVE SOME REAL
WORLD EXAMPLES. RIGHT NOW WE
ARE NOT SEEING A LOT OF GROWTH
IN SPECIFIC NEIGHBORHOODS. WE
SEE A LOT OF REVENUES COMING IN
FROM THAT THOSE ARE NEW
CONNECTIONS AND AN EXPANSION TO
THE SYSTEM. WHEN WE ARE
TALKING ABOUT INFILL
DEVELOPMENT IT IS REALLY IF
THERE IS A VACANT LOT THAT
DOESN'T HAVE A SERVICE IN FRONT
OF IT OR IF IT IS A LOT THAT IS
INTENSIFYING. LET'S SAY A
DEVELOPER BUYS A LOT WITH A
SINGLE-FAMILY HOME AND PUTS IN
A SIX PLEX. IN THAT CASE THEY
WILL LIKELY NEED TO UPGRADE
FROM A VIVACIOUS
WILL LIKELY NEED TO UPGRADE FROM A VIVACIOUS 5/8 INCH
METER. THEY WILL GET A CREDIT
FOR THE VALUE OF THEIR 5/8 M
BUT THEY HAVE TO PAY THE
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THAT AND THE
NEW METER SIZE. THAT IS AN
INITIAL INVESTMENT THAT THAT
DEVELOPER IS MAKING WHEN THEY
BUILD THAT DENSER HOUSING
DEVELOPMENT AND THEY ARE
ROLLING THAT IN TO THEIR
FINANCE COST FOR THEIR ENTIRE
ALL OF THEIR PROJECT COST. SO
THIS ISN'T SOMETHING THAT YOUR
AVERAGE TACOMA WATER RATE PAYER
IS PAYING. IT IS MORE FOR
DEVELOPERS THAT ARE COMING IN
AND DEVELOPING IN THE AREAS
THAT ARE NOT CURRENTLY
DEVELOPED. AND IF A DEVELOPER
BUYS A VACANT LOT THAT IS
WITHIN OUR SERVICE AREA BUT
DOESN'T HAVE AN EXISTING
SERVICE SOME VACANT LOTS HAVE
AN EXISTING SERVICE. SO
THERE'S ALREADY ONE THERE THAT
THEY CONNECT TO AND IF THAT'S
THE CASE THEY DO NOT PAY AND
STC E. BUT IF THERE'S A VACANT
LOT WITH NO SERVICE THAT'S
WHERE THIS WOULD COME IN.
>>
>> Councilmember Diaz: I'M CURIOUS WHAT THOSE ANOMALIES
ARE
CURIOUS WHAT THOSE ANOMALIES ARE WHEN INEVITABLY WHEN THIS
IS PASSED WE WILL GET AN EMAIL
FROM SOMEONE WHO SAYS I LIVE ON
G ST. AND I'M TRYING TO PUT IN
A POOL. I'M TRYING TO ASSESS
WHAT IF ANY OF THOSE CASUAL
WAYS THAT SOMEONE MIGHT HAVE
THIS HAPPEN TO THEM EVEN IF
THEY ARE NOT USUAL.
>>
>> Speaker:
>> Speaker: TYPICALLY IF IT IS SOMEBODY WHO IS BUILDING AND
ADU AND THEY WANT A SEPARATE
METER FOR IT. SO A LOT OF
TIMES THERE IS THE CAPACITY
WITHIN THE 5/8 INCH METER TO
SERVE THEIR ADU. OR DETACHED
ADU. A LOT OF TIMES THE
CAPACITY IS THERE IN THE
EXISTING METER BUT THEY MAY FOR
WHATEVER REASON WANT TO HAVE A
SEPARATE METER RATHER THAN HAVE
A SUBMETER. IF THEY WANT
WHOEVER THEY SELL OR RENT THEIR
DATA TO TO BE ABLE TO PAY
TACOMA WATER DIRECTLY RATHER
THAN PAYING THEM THEY MIGHT
CHOOSE TO PURCHASE A SEPARATE
METER FOR THEM AND THEN THEY
WOULD PAY THAT $2700 FEE WHICH
IT WILL BE 2700 IN FIVE YEARS.
IT WILL BE 2700 IN FIVE YEARS. THAT IS AN EXAMPLE OF WHEN WE
THINK OF AS MORE OF OUR TYPICAL
HOMEOWNER WOULD BE IMPACTED BY
IT THEY WOULD LARGELY NOT BE
IMPACTED BY THINGS LIKE POOLS
OR HOT TUBS OR THINGS LIKE
THAT.
THAT.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER DIAZ. DEPUTY
BUSHNELL?
BUSHNELL?
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: THANK YOU MAYOR I JUST HAD A QUICK
FEW CLARIFICATIONS AND I'M
SORRY IF THIS WAS IN THE
PRESENTATION EARLIER WHEN DID
WE LAST UPDATE THE SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT CHARGE FOR THIS?
>>
>> Speaker: THE LAST TIME WE UNDERTOOK A STUDY WAS IN 2019
WITH RATES AFFECTED IN 2020.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: IN THAT
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: IN THAT TIME I'M ASSUMING THERE
HAVE BEEN A LOT OF COST
ESCALATIONS AND CONSTRUCTION
COSTS ALONE COULD FACTOR INTO
THAT BUT WHERE'S THE OTHER
PERCENTAGE OF COST ESCALATION
COME
PERCENTAGE OF COST ESCALATION COME FROM THERE I FEEL LIKE
WE'VE GOTTEN A LOT OUT OF WHACK
WHERE WE EXPECTED TO BE AT THIS
TIME WHERE WE COULD SEE THE
SIGNIFICANCE.
SIGNIFICANCE.
>>
>> Speaker: IS THE INFRASTRUCTURE THAT HAS BEEN
BUILT INTO THE SYSTEM SINCE THE
LAST OF EIGHT GOES INTO THE
POOL
LAST OF EIGHT GOES INTO THE POOL OF COSTS THAT WE CAN
INCLUDE AS PART OF THAT SYSTEM
DEVELOPMENT CHARGE AS WELL AS
OUR NEW CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT
PLAN WHICH NOW INCLUDES THE
PIPE LINE 1 PRESS
PRESSURIZATION THAT WE WILL
HAVE TO PUT INTO THE SYSTEM.
THOSE WERE COSTS THAT WERE NOT
PREVIOUSLY PART OF THE STUDY OR
THINGS THAT WE HAD NOT PUT INTO
OUR SYSTEM YET.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: THANK YOU THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH
THE
YOU THIS IS IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE GROWTH PACE FOR GROWTH.
YOU'RE BUYING INTO THE SYSTEM
AND WHAT IT PROVIDES TO YOU AND
I DON'T WANT TO NECESSARILY
BURDEN OUR CURRENT RATE PAYERS
WITH US WHEN WE ARE TAPPING
INTO THE SYSTEM. I WOULD LOVE
TO SEE AND GRADUALISM IS ONE OF
THE TENANTS OF TPU WHEN IT
COMES TO RATE SO THIS SEEMS TO
ME A LITTLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT
WITH THAT
ME A LITTLE OUT OF ALIGNMENT WITH THAT POLICY. I KNOW THAT
WITH THE FIVE-YEAR PLAN WE ARE
TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THAT
TRYING TO IMPLEMENT THAT GRADUALISM WITH IT TO GET US
WHERE WE NEED TO BE. IT DOES
STRIKE ME AND HOW FAR OFF WE
WERE FROM THE LAST TIME WE DID
THESE ADJUSTMENT. I DON'T KNOW
IF THERE'S ANY WAY WE CAN
CONTROL THAT GOING INTO THE
FUTURE BUT IT'S DEFINITELY
SOMETHING WE SHOULD CONSIDER.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU DEPUTY
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU DEPUTY MAYOR. COUNCILMEMBER
PALMER?
PALMER?
>>
>> Councilmember Palmer: THANK YOU MAYOR AND THANK YOU FOR THE
PRESENTATION. I WILL
DEFINITELY HAVE MORE QUESTIONS
BECAUSE I WAS NOT AVAILABLE OR
HERE YET THE PRESENTATION SO
I'M LOOKING TO TALK TO YOU MORE
ABOUT THAT. I HAD AN IMMEDIATE
QUESTION. IT SOUNDS LIKE MAYBE
A LOT OF OUR CONCERNS AND OUR
GOAL HERE IS TO-WE JUST PAST
HOME IN TACOMA AND WE WANT TO
PASS THE MIDDLE HOUSING AND
ENCOURAGE THAT. AND ALSO I
THINK WE ARE ENCOURAGING OUR
OWNERS OUR RESIDENT TO DO SOME
OF THE DEVELOPMENT AS WELL AND
I DON'T KNOW IF THERE HAS BEEN
ANY KIND OF CONVERSATION AROUND
EXEMPTIONS FOR MAYBE CURRENT
OWNER OCCUPIES WHO ARE WANTING
TO DEVELOP THEIR OWN PROPERTY.
>>
>> Speaker: THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION I DON'T BELIEVE WE'VE
HAD DISCUSSION ABOUT EXEMPTIONS
BUT I WILL NOTE THAT
PARTICULARLY AS RESIDENTS WANT
TO IDENTIFY THEIR PLOT ONE PART
OF THE STUDY IS WE DID REVIEW
THE MULTI FAMILY COMPONENT OF
THE SYSTEM DEVELOPMENT CHARGE
PRIOR TO THIS NEW STUDY THE NEW
DATA WE HAVE AVAILABLE AND WE
HAVE ACCESS TO SUGGESTED THAT
WE SHOULD ASSESS A MULTIFAMILY
UNIT RATE EQUAL TO 60% OF THE
SINGLE-FAMILY HOME CHARGE. THE
MULTIFAMILY UNIT HAS LESS USAGE
PARTICULARLY DURING THE SUMMER
AND THAT WOULD JUSTIFY US
CHARGING A LOWER RATE FOR A
MULTIFAMILY UNIT TO WHICH AND
ADU WOULD APPLY. AS WE REVIEW
THE STUDY WE FOUND WE WERE ABLE
TO LOWER THAT FACTOR DOWN TO
44%.
TO LOWER THAT FACTOR DOWN TO 44%. THROUGH THIS STUDY WE
WERE ABLE TO MORE CLEARLY
IDENTIFY THE USAGE OF A
MULTIFAMILY CUSTOMER AND REDUCE
THE FACTOR BY WHICH WE ARE
COMPARING TO A SINGLE-FAMILY
HOME. THAT'S ONE WAY WE WANTED
TO ENSURE WE WANTED TO SUPPORT
THE GOALS OF HOME IN TACOMA AND
MAKE SURE WE ARE CHARGING ONLY
WHAT IS NECESSARY TO REPRESENT
THE LOAD THAT THE METER IS
PUTTING ON THE SYSTEM.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH?
COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH?
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: THANK YOU MAYOR AND I WANTED TO
THANK COUNCILMEMBER PALMER FOR
HER QUESTION BECAUSE IT'S ON
THE SAME LINE IS MINE IS THERE
AN EXEMPTION FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING? I KNOW THAT WHEN WE
WENT AHEAD AND DID AN EXEMPTION
FROM IMPACT FEES FOR AFFORDABLE
HOUSING I'M WONDERING IF THERE
IS A STATE LAW THAT SAYS YOU
CAN'T DO THAT? CAN YOU TALK A
LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT?
>>
>> Speaker: I AM NOT A LAWYER BUT HOPEFULLY SOMEONE HAS
SOMETHING TO SAY.
>>
>> Speaker: I AM ALSO NOT A LAWYER AND I DON'T PLAY ONE ON
TV. YES THE LAW IS MORE
RESTRICTIVE AROUND HOW
RESTRICTIVE AROUND HOW UTILITIES CAN CHARGE CUSTOMERS
AND WHAT TYPES OF EXEMPTIONS OR
DISCOUNTS WE CAN GIVE. SO THE
LANGUAGE IS JUST A LITTLE MORE
RESTRICT LIVE. WE ARE ALLOWED
TO GIVE DISCOUNT LIKE WE DO
THROUGH OUR DISCOUNT PROGRAM TO
INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS BUT NOT TO
LIKE AN LLC FOR EXAMPLE OR A
DEVELOPMENT COMPANY OR EVEN AN
AFFORDABLE HOUSING PROVIDER.
WE ARE ONLY ALLOWED TO GIVE
DISCOUNT LIKE THAT TO
INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS.
INDIVIDUAL CUSTOMERS.
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: IS THAT THE B CAP PROGRAM?
>>
>> Speaker:
>> Speaker: OH, HE IS HERE! WE WILL LET THE ACTUAL ATTORNEY
ANSWER THESE QUESTIONS.
>>
>> Speaker: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH. GOOD
EVENING MAYOR AND COUNCIL
MEMBERS. YOU KNOW THE GENERAL
RULE IS NO THERE IS NO GIFT OF
PUBLIC FUNDS. GENERALLY HAVE
AN EXCEPTION FROM THE POOLING
FIRM THAT IS OUTLINED IN THE
STATE CONSTITUTION. WE DO HAVE
PROGRAMS TO ALLOW FOR THAT.
TYPICALLY OUR RESIDENTIAL
CUSTOMERS AS CARRIE WAS
EXPLAINING IT IS VERY HARD FOR
A
EXPLAINING IT IS VERY HARD FOR A CORPORATION TO APPLY AS THE
FIRM. I'VE NEVER SEEN IT
HAPPEN. I SUPPOSE THERE IS
POTENTIALLY A PATH BUT I'VE
NEVER SEEN IT HAPPEN.
>>
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: SO THE HOUSING AUTHORITY WOULD NOT
BE ABLE TO BE EXEMPT?
>>
>> Speaker: IT IS NOT EXEMPT CURRENTLY AND THAT'S A SLIPPERY
SLOPE IF YOU WERE TO GO DOWN
THAT PATH. I THINK WHAT YOU
SEE NOWADAYS IS EVERY
DEVELOPMENT IS LLC SPECIFIC
MEANING THEY COULD CREATE IT
FOR WHATEVER PURPOSE THEY WANT.
I DON'T KNOW IF -THAT PATH IS
FRAUGHT WITH POTENTIAL FOR
ABUSE.
ABUSE.
>>
>> Councilmember
>> Councilmember Rumbaugh: OKAY I THINK I WILL ASK SOME
QUESTIONS OFF-LINE. THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH.
COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH. COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE?
COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE?
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: I WILL TRY TO KEEP IT BRIEF AND
THANK YOU FOR THE SECOND
CHANCE. ONE QUESTION FOR
COUNCILMEMBER RUMBAUGH I WOULD
LOVE TO MAYBE WORK WITH YOU ON
EXPLORING WHETHER LEGALLY WE
CAN GET LOW INCOME HOUSING
PROVIDERS IN BECAUSE WE DO HAVE
THE DEED RESTRICTION WHICH
KEEPS CERTAIN DEVELOPMENTS
AFFORDABLE AT A CERTAIN LEVEL
FOR REALLY LONG TIME AND MAYBE
THAT'S A WAY TO GO THROUGH THAT
BUT MY MAIN QUESTION IS THIS?
ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS UP
EVERYWHERE IS PFA'S OR WHATEVER
IS CALLED A NONSTICK STUFF
THAT'S REALLY BAD FOR YOU. IS
THIS A WAY TO HELP US
POTENTIALLY DEAL WITH
CONTAMINATION OF SOME SORT? I
KNOW WE ARE GENERALLY AT OR
WELL BELOW THOSE LEVELS BUT IF
I DO RECALL THERE IS ONE OR TWO
WELLS THAT FOUND THAT. ARE
THOSE TYPES OF PROGRAM NOT
THERE? I'M THINKING ABOUT THE
TYPES OF QUESTIONS THAT MY
CONSTITUENTS ARE ASKING AND
WHAT WE GET FOR IT?
>>
>> Speaker: THE REVENUE COLLECTED FROM THESE CHARGES
WOULD BE USABLE FOR PFA'S
RELATED CAPITAL WORK.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: THE CAPITAL WORK WOULD NEED TO BE
ADDED TO YOUR PROGRAM?
>>
>> Speaker: THERE ARE COMPONENTS TO IT IN THE
PROGRAM.
PROGRAM.
>>
>> Councilmember Sadalge: GOT
>> Councilmember Sadalge: GOT IT. THAT'S ONE TANGIBLE THING
WHERE WE CAN SAY THIS IS THE
TYPE OF PROGRAM WE CAN FUNDS.
WITH UNDERSTANDING WHY THERE IS
SUCH A LARGE -WHAT I'M
STRUGGLING WITH AND MAYBE YOU
CAN HELP WITH THIS WEEK IS TO
UNDERSTAND WHY IS IT SUCH A
LARGE INCREASE? THANK YOU.
LARGE INCREASE? THANK YOU.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER SADALGE ARE THERE
ANY OTHER QUESTIONS OR
COMMENTS? SEEING NONE THE
ORDINANCE WILL BE SENT OVER FOR
FINAL READING NEXT WEEK.
MOVING ON TO UNFINISHED
BUSINESS. IS THERE ANY
UNFINISHED BUSINESS? SEEING
NONE REPORTS BY THE CITY
MANAGER. DO YOU HAVE A REPORT
THIS EVENING?
THIS EVENING?
>>
>> City
>> City Manager: MAYOR, I DO WANT TO REPORT AND CELEBRATE
STAFF. THE THINGS THAT HAPPEN
IN THE COURSE OF RUNNING OUR
OPERATIONS WERE THINGS HAPPEN
AND WHEN EVERYTHING IS WORKING
WELL WE DON'T SPEAK ABOUT THOSE
THINGS. WE HAD AN INCIDENT IN
FIRCREST AND WE HAD A 16 INCH
MAINLINE THAT ACTUALLY RUPTURED
ON DECEMBER 19TH. I WANT TO
CELEBRATE CRAIG MAY AND HIS
TEAM THERE TO SAY IT IS
TIRELESS EFFORT THEY SPEND
APPROXIMATELY 28 HOURS FROM 6
A.M. FROM THE NEXT MORNING
TAKING CARE OF THIS BECAUSE IT
WAS IMPACTING TO RESIDENTS. WE
ARE STILL DOING REMEDIATION
CLEANUP. I WANT TO THANK CRAIG
MAY AND HIS STAFF IN THE
ENGINEERS FROM ENVIRONMENTAL
SERVICES. I WANT TO THANK THE
CREW. THE MAIN CREW THAT
RESPONDED THEY WERE RESPONSIVE
FROM 6A HIM AND THEY STAYED
UNTIL 11 P.M. BEFORE THEY WERE
ACTUALLY ROTATED OUT. OVER THE
COURSE OF THE 28 HOURS MR.
CRAIG MAY AND HIS TEAM AT
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND OUR
SANITARY SEWER
ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICES AND OUR SANITARY SEWER DIVISION. I
JUST WANTED TO SAY THAT FOR THE
RECORD. MORE OF THESE TO COME
IN WE ARE JUST CELEBRATING
THAT. THAT IS MY SHORT REPORT.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU INTERIM MANAGER I APPRECIATE
THAT. MOVING ON TO COMMUNITY
REPORTS FROM THE CITY COUNCIL
ARE THERE ANY FINAL COMMENTS?
HEALTH MEMBER WALKER?
>>
>> Councilmember Walker: THANK YOU MAYOR OF THREE
ANNOUNCEMENTS. ONE IS A VERY
EXCITING PRESS RELEASE THAT
JUST WENT OUT THAT THE CITY HAS
RECEIVED FOR TRANSPORTATION
PROJECTS FROM THE WASHINGTON
PROJECTS FROM THE WASHINGTON STATE TRANSPORTATION
STATE TRANSPORTATION IMPROVEMENT BOARD AND TO KEEP
PROJECTS I WON'T GO INTO THEM
IN DETAIL BUT THEY ARE BOTH
VISION ZERO PROJECT THAT WILL
HELP KEEP OUR STREET SAFER.
ONE IS AT SOUTH 12TH ST.
IMPROVEMENTS AND THAT IS $3.7
MILLION FOR THAT PROJECT THAT
WE HAVE JUST RECEIVED. THE
OTHER ONE IS A SAFE ROUTES TO
SCHOOL PROJECT ON SOUTH PARK
AVENUE AND THAT IS ADJACENT TO
FERNHILL ELEMENTARY.
AVENUE AND THAT IS ADJACENT TO FERNHILL ELEMENTARY. I'M
EXCITED THAT WE WILL BE ABLE TO
ADD A SAFER ROUTE FOR KIDS AND
FAMILIES WHO ARE WALKING TO
SCHOOL EVERYDAY.
SCHOOL EVERYDAY. CONGRATULATIONS TO PUBLIC
WORKS. I'M HAPPY TO SEE THOSE
PROJECTS IMPLEMENTED. SPEAKING
OF SAFE TRANSPORTATION ONE OF
MY FAVORITE EVENTS OF THE YEAR
IS TOMORROW IS LIGHT UP YOUR
RIDE WITH TACOMA ON THE GO.
TOMORROW AT 6 P.M. THEY WILL
PROVIDE MATERIALS TO LIGHT UP
YOUR RIDE WITH LIGHTS AND
REFLECTIVE, REFLECTIVE GEAR AND
THEN WE PADDLE AROUND DOWNTOWN.
THE LAST ONE MAY
THEN WE PADDLE AROUND DOWNTOWN. THE LAST ONE MAY SEEM
PREMATURE. IT IS MAY 2ND BUT
IT'S IMPORTANT TO ANNOUNCE IT
NOW. IT IS THE FIRST TACOMA
LITERATURE FESTIVAL AND IT IS
ANNOUNCING NOW BECAUSE THEY ARE
GATHERING BENDERS. THIS IS A
BIG FESTIVAL THAT WILL BRING
TOGETHER WRITERS, FILMMAKERS
POETS AND ARTISTS. THEY ARE
VENDORS BUT THERE'S ALSO A
PANEL DISCUSSION TALKS AND
KEYNOTES
PANEL DISCUSSION TALKS AND KEYNOTES BEING PUT ON BY CRITT
CITIES STUDIO. IF YOU WANT
MORE INFORMATION OR IF YOU ARE
A VENDOR THAT WANTS TO
PARTICIPATE REACH OUT TO THEM
AND GET EXCITED ABOUT THAT A
SECOND AT THE TACOMA ARMORY.
>>
>> Mayor
>> Mayor Ibsen: THANK YOU COUNCILMEMBER WALKER ARE THERE
ANY ADDITIONAL COMMENTS OR
QUESTIONS? I HAVE A THING FOR
THE GOOD OF THE ORDER MYSELF SO
IN THE INTEREST OF
ACCESSIBILITY AND PROACTIVE
COMMUNICATION SOMETHING I'M
GOING TO START DOING EFFECTIVE
TOMORROW AND ON SUBSEQUENT
WEDNESDAYS IS WHAT I AM GOING
TO CALL MAYOR'S OFFICE HOURS.
THIS IS PRETTY INFORMAL
BASICALLY IT'S JUST ME GOING TO
A PUBLIC LOCATION USUALLY A
CAFCA PUB OR RESTAURANT
ROTATING THROUGH THE DIFFERENT
COUNCIL DISTRICTS FOR NO MORE
COUNCIL DISTRICTS FOR NO MORE THAN AN HOUR AND A HALF TO 2
HOURS. ALL I'M GOING TO DO IS
MY WORK CHECKING EMAILS MAKING
CALLS BUT WITH AN ANNOUNCE
LOCATION AND TIME TO BE
LOCATION AND TIME TO BE AVAILABLE TO ANYONE WHO WANTS
TO DROP IN OR GO THROUGH THE
FORMAL PROCESS OF GETTING ON MY
CALENDAR OR GIVING ME A CALL
IT'S AN OPPORTUNITY TO SAY
HELLO AND ASK QUESTIONS IF YOU
NEED CONSTITUENT CASEWORK OR
YOU HAVE ANY SUGGESTIONS IS AN
OPPORTUNITY TO SEE ME. THE
FIRST OF THOSE MAY ORAL MAYOR
OFFICE HOURS WILL BE TOMORROW
THE FIRST OF MANY WEDNESDAYS
FROM 2:30 TO 3:45 IT WILL BE IN
DISTRICT 1 BECAUSE I'M COUNTING
IT'S A LATE NIGHT. WE WILL BE
AT THE CUTTER! ON THE CORNER
OF PEARL AND NORTH 21ST 2:30 TO
3:45 AND MOVING FORWARD
STARTING TOMORROW AS WELL
DISTRICT COUNCIL MEMBERS ARE
CERTAINLY WELCOME. MY
ASSISTANT CAN REACH OUT TO YOU
AND I FIGURED THAT I WOULD
BORROW FROM IDEAS I LIKE WHAT I
C4 EXAMPLE FROM COUNCILMEMBER
HINES COUNCIL WITH THE
COUNCILMAN. I'M DEFINITELY
INTERESTED IN RUNNING WITH THAT
IN DIFFERENT IDEAS.
COUNCILMEMBER HINES THIS IS
YOUR INVITATION IF YOU ARE FREE
YOU ARE CERTAINLY WELCOME AND I
MOVING FORWARD WITH DIFFERENT
FUTURE REPRESENTATIVES AS WELL.
AS WE APPEAL THAT IDEA I WANTED
TO INVITE YOU TO THAT COME ONE
COME ALL. AND UNLESS THERE ARE
FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE CITY
COUNCIL IT LOOKS LIKE THERE'S
NO NEED FOR EXCUSING ANY
MEMBERS.
MEMBERS.
>>
>> Deputy
>> Deputy Mayor Bushnell: I MOVE TO