The Tacoma City Council met on July 30, 2024, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting included a moment of silence for journalist Matt Driscoll, adoption of consent agenda items, public comments on charter amendments and police accountability, appointments to for/against committees for ballot measure statements, a public hearing date change for the Home in Tacoma zoning package, consolidation of non-ballot charter recommendations, and a first reading of traffic code amendments on digital payments, permit parking, and bike lane obstructions.
A substitute resolution (41496) was adopted appointing individuals to prepare ballot pamphlet statements for proposed charter amendments (1–6) for the November 5, 2024 special municipal election. Appointments included:
Resolution 41495 was amended to move the public hearing on the Home in Tacoma Zoning and Standards Package from August 27, 2024 to September 24, 2024, no earlier than 5:15 PM. Deputy Mayor Hines explained the change aimed to increase public participation after Labor Day. Staff confirmed the February 1, 2025 effective date could still be met by compressing subsequent timelines. The amended resolution was adopted.
Resolution 41497 was adopted, consolidating and clarifying council recommendations for charter and municipal code amendments not placed on the November ballot. Key directives:
Ordinance 28974 was introduced to amend Chapter 11.05 of the Tacoma Municipal Code. Key provisions:
All right. I'd like to call to order the City Council meeting of July 30th, 2024. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell? Present. Councilmember Daniels. Councilmember Diaz. Here. Deputy Mayor Hines. Here. Councilmember Rumbaugh? Here. Councilmember Sidalga? Here. Councilmember Scott? Here. Councilmember Walker? Here. And Mayor Woodards. Here. Please join me listening to the land acknowledgement and flag salute led by Councilmember Scott, followed by a moment of silence in honor of Matt Driscoll. Tonight, we remember Matt Driscoll, a cherished voice in our community, a devoted family man, and a passionate advocate for the people of Tacoma and Pierce County. Matt's unexpected passing at the age of 43 has left a profound void in our lives and in the heart of our community. As a journalist and opinion editor at the news tribune, Matt was a beacon of empathy, courage, and integrity. He used his platform to amplify the voices of the underdogs, bringing attention to stories that might otherwise be overlooked. His writing was not only informative but also transformative, encouraging us to see the world from different perspectives and to engage in thoughtful dialogue. Matt's dedication to journalism was only matched by his love for his family and his community. He was a devoted husband to Jennifer and a loving father to Lily, August, and Alice. His commitment to his family was evident in every facet of his life, as was his enthusiasm for his beloved Tacoma. Matt's humor and compassion were unparalleled. His colleagues remember him as a welcoming and generous president presence in the newsroom. Always ready with a kind word or a joke to lift someone's spirits. He was never too busy to lend an ear or offer support, embodying the values of community and kindness that he that he championed in his work. We stand here united in our grief, but also in gratitude for having known someone like Matt. Let us take a moment of silence to honor his memory, reflect on his contributions, and acknowledge the indelible impact he has made on our lives and on our community. As I was reading some of the articles about Matt, people tell you don't ever read the comments in a news article. But this time I just wanted to read. Tacoma has really lost a treasure in Matt, and he will be deeply missed. On behalf of this council and all the residents of the city of Tacoma, I want to extend my heartfelt and sincere condolences to his family and to this community who has really lost a huge advocate. With that, I will turn it over to Councilmember Scott. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Puala 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. All right. Agenda modifications. We have two agenda modifications on tonight's agenda. For item nine, resolution number four one four nine five, a motion to revise the date of the public hearing on the home and Tacoma zoning and standards package has has been moved to September 24th, 2024. For item 11, resolution number 41496, a motion to consider a substitute resolution to insert the names of the individuals being appointed to the for and against committees for the proposed charter city charter amendments. All right. Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. We now have the consent agenda before us for consideration.