The Tacoma City Council met on Tuesday, July 2, 2024, at a special location (Tacoma Public Utilities Auditorium) to address a full agenda. Key items included a Proclamation declaring July as LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month, receiving the annual report from the Mayor's Youth Commission, conducting a public hearing on proposed City Charter amendments, approving a $1.5 million loan for the Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center facility expansion, increasing a contract for homeless encampment cleanup, ratifying labor agreements, and nominating six finalists for the vacant District No. 4 council seat.
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Victoria Woodards at 5:00 PM. The invocation included a land acknowledgement honoring the Puyallup people.
Appointments:
Purchase Resolutions:
Resolutions and Ordinances (Labor):
Resolutions (Community Development):
Ordinances:
I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of July 2nd, 2024. Clerk, please call the roll. Councilmember Bushnell. Present. Councilmember Daniels. Councilmember Diaz. Here. Deputy Mayor Hines. Here. Councilmember Rumba. Here. Councilmember Scott. Here. Councilmember Walker. Here. Mayor Woodards. Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and the flag salute led by Councilmember Bushnell, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Piwala people where they make their home and speak the Lashutsi language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. I pledge allegiance. And to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible with liberty and justice for all agenda modifications. Are there any modifications to the agenda? Seeing none, we will move on to the consent agenda. I move to adopt the consent agenda. Second. Are there any questions, comments, or corrections to the consent agenda? Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. The ayes have it, the consent agenda is declared adopted. Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, and presentations. For the Pride Month Proclamation, I would like to invite the following individuals to the podium as I read the proclamation. Matthew Wilson, Executive Director of OASIS Youth Center, Mary Eversall, Interim Direct Interim Executive Director of the Rainbow Center, Lee McCullen, Queer City Collective and Local Drag Arts Artist, and Delay Delight and Dayla Delight. And if there's anybody else who is here this evening whose name I did not call, please come forward. All right, and while I'm reading, you all can decide in which order you're going to speak. All right. Whereas in Tacoma, contributions by our diverse communities enrich our city and strengthen our values to ensure that everyone's identity and right to live freely as their authentic selves are valued, respected, and celebrated. And whereas we are proud to have an affinity group for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, transgender questioning, intersex, asexual, and two-spirited city employees, the queer collective that builds a stronger and more welcoming community and serves as an invaluable resource and support system for its members. And whereas LGBTQIA 2S Plus communities are an integral part and a vibrant part of Tacoma's economic, artistic, and social environments. And as the city of destiny, we affirm that no matter what month it is, we proudly celebrate our communities' families and especially our chosen families that collectively help each other express their full charisma, uniqueness, nerve, and talent. And whereas designated Pride Months commemorate the Stonewall riots, a series of demonstrations led by black and brown trans women occurring in June of 1969, and generally recognized recognized as a catalyst of LGBTQIA2S plus civil rights movements in the United States. And whereas we affirm our rejection of all forms of violence and discrimination and our dedication to the safety and inclusion of our LGBTQIA2S Plus community, and we recommit to ensuring messages of love and acceptance are louder than those of hate and division, especially for our powerful and inspiring queer and questioning new youth. And whereas we encourage everyone to join the 10th annual Tacoma Pride Festival, the Pride's Awards ceremony, and many more citywide opportunities to support, celebrate, and learn more about Pride Month. Now, therefore, I, Victoria R. Woodards, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council and the 220,000 residents who call Tacoma home. Do hereby proclaim July 2024 as LGBTQIS2S, Pride Month in the City of Tacoma, as we declare to all the queer and questioning members of our community that your voice matters, your perspective matters, and you matter. You are very much loved by our city, and your city city stands with pride alongside of you. Please join me in a round of applause. All right, did you guys decide who's gonna go first? Hi, I'm uh Dace Nixba.