OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting – August 13, 2024

City Council — Tuesday, August 13, 2024
BodyTacoma, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 13, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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0:00

Walker's upstairs.

0:00

She'll be on the I'd like to call to order the City Council meeting of August 13th, 2024.

0:08

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

0:10

Councilmember Bushnell.

0:11

Present.

0:12

Councilmember Daniels?

0:13

Here.

0:13

Councilmember Diaz.

0:15

Deputy Mayor Hines.

0:16

Here.

0:16

Councilmember Rumba.

0:18

Here.

0:18

Councilmember Sidalgay.

0:20

Here.

0:20

Councilmember Scott?

0:22

Here.

0:22

Councilmember Walker.

0:24

Here.

0:24

Mayor Woodards?

0:25

Here.

0:26

Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and the flag salute led by Councilmember Daniels, followed by a moment of silence.

0:34

We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Puala people where they make their home and speak the Lashut seed language.

0:42

Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence.

0:54

And to the republic for which it stands.

0:57

One nation under God.

0:59

Indivisible with liberty and justice for all modifications.

1:42

There is one modification to the agenda this evening to replace the letters under item nine on the consent agenda.

1:48

I move to replace the letters for item nine with revised letters to the Pierce County Council and Pierce County Executive regarding homelessness services.

1:55

Second.

1:55

Are there any council questions or comments?

1:58

Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the motion to replace letters for item nine, please signify by saying aye.

2:05

Aye.

2:05

All those opposed.

2:07

The motion is declared adopted.

2:09

Item nine as replaced will be considered under the consent agenda.

2:13

The letters can be found of city at cityofdacoma.org/slash council meetings.

2:18

Comment on the letters will be taken under the public comment portion of the agenda.

2:22

Are there any additional modifications to the agenda this evening?

2:27

All right, seeing none, um, we will move on to the consent agenda.

2:32

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including the replacement letters for item nine.

2:36

Second.

2:37

All those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye.

2:41

Aye.

2:41

Aye.

2:41

All those opposed.

2:43

The consent agenda is declared adopted.

2:48

All right, there are no proclamations, recognitions, presentations, or announcements this evening.

2:53

Um, so we will move.

2:55

Um, we will move right into public comment.

2:58

Um tonight's agenda, there are three opportunities for people to comment.

3:03

Under public comment, you can speak about motions, resolutions, and ordinances on tonight's agenda.

3:09

Under the public hearing, you can speak about the proposed extension of the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection Protection District Moratorium.

3:17

And under community community forum, which is held at the end of the meeting, you can speak about items over which the city council has jurisdiction.

3:25

These forums are intended to give speakers the opportunity to share their viewpoints and feedback with the city council to aid in our decision making process, and it is not meant to be a back and forth dialogue.

3:37

Your remarks should be directed to the council and not to individual staff members.

3:41

If you want to speak under the public comment period, please press the raise your hand button near the bottom of your Zoom window or star nine on your phone now so we can see the number of people wishing to testify this evening.

3:53

If you're speaking in person, please sign up at the back of the room if you have not done so already.

3:57

Your name or the last four digits of your phone number will be called out when it is your turn to speak.

4:02

Clerk, please read.

4:04

This is the time set aside for public comment.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Water And Wastewater Management█████████████████17%
Historic Preservation█████████████13%
Public Comment██████████10%
Procedural████████8%
Homelessness████████8%
Racial Equity███████7%
Parks and Recreation██████6%
Environmental Protection██████6%
Technology and Innovation████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting – August 13, 2024

The Tacoma City Council met on August 13, 2024, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included consent agenda approvals, appointments, purchase resolutions, a park naming resolution, final reading of ordinances, a public hearing on extending the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District moratorium, community forum, and committee reports. Key actions included adoption of a $9.2M SAP contract, unanimous approval of the Dr. W. Joy Hardeman Park naming, and a public hearing on the moratorium extension.

Consent Calendar

  • Adopted after a modification to replace the letters under item 9 (letters to Pierce County regarding homeless services) with revised versions.
  • Approved minutes of several past meetings, communications, and payments totaling $57,747,075.98 ($24,590,292.84 payroll + $33,156,783.14 other payments).

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Public Comment Period: Multiple speakers expressed strong support for Resolution 41509 naming a park after Dr. W. Joy Hardeman (Jasmine Bridges, Kenya Brown, Anya Robertson, Akuye Karen Vargas, Charles Carson, Lori Arnold, Pam Bridges). One speaker (Michelle Reich) addressed the homeless services letters, criticizing the city’s spending and lack of progress, and calling for drug treatment and mental health services.
  • Public Hearing (Item 18 – Moratorium Extension): Ten speakers urged the council to extend the moratorium on certain uses in the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District. Speakers cited concerns about a large warehouse development, impervious surface coverage, loss of aquifer recharge, climate change, environmental racism, and distrust in the planning process. Many emphasized that the aquifer provides 40% of Tacoma’s water and must be protected. Some called for stricter measures (e.g., halting all development until code updates are complete) and criticized the city’s pace and transparency.

Discussion Items

  • Reappointment to Tacoma Housing Authority: Resolution 41505 reappointing Minh-Anh Hodge to the Board of Commissioners for a five-year term was adopted. Mayor Woodards praised her leadership.
  • Appointments to Tacoma Creates Advisory Board: Resolution 41506 appointing Nicole Kendrick, Putter Burt, Faith Brown, and Holly Smith was adopted after an interview process by the Economic Development Committee.
  • SAP Contract (Item 13): Resolution 41507 awarding a contract to HCL America, Inc. for $9,212,907 (plus taxes and 20% contingency, total projected $11,055,488) for SAP system integrator services was adopted. IT Director Daniel Key explained this covers professional services for a major system upgrade over three years, complementing a previously authorized software purchase.
  • SSI Shredding Contract Increase (Item 14): Resolution 41508 increasing the contract by $2,000,000 (cumulative $4,933,968) for compactor maintenance was adopted.
  • Dr. W. Joy Hardeman Park (Item 15): A presentation by Anna Lee highlighted Dr. Hardeman’s contributions as a founding faculty member and long-time director of Evergreen Tacoma, under whose leadership 1,428 students graduated with a retention rate over 89%. The park parcel is at 1505 S 5th Street. Community outreach gathered signatures beyond requirements. The Evergreen State College agreed to cover sign costs. Councilmembers shared personal tributes and noted this may be the first city park named after a Black woman. Resolution 41509 was adopted unanimously.
  • Final Reading of Ordinances (Items 16–17): Ordinance 28975 amending compensation plans for SMART TD Conductors Unit and IBEW Local 483 Supervisors Unit, and Ordinance 28976 correcting pay rates for Development Services Program Coordinator Supervisor, both passed on roll-call votes.

Public Hearing (Item 18 – Moratorium Extension)

  • Principal Planner Stephen Atkinson presented background: the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District overlay zone was created in 1988; the current moratorium (adopted March 2023) temporarily prohibits new underground storage tanks, metal recycling, and auto-wrecking facilities. A work plan includes reviewing standards for water quality, aquifer recharge, tree canopy, landscaping, and a health impact assessment. Consultants were hired for impervious surface review. Outreach includes citywide engagement and advisory groups. The proposed six-month extension would allow completion of code updates by early 2025, with a schedule for council action on August 27, 2024. After the presentation, the council heard public testimony as noted above.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent agenda adopted (including revised homeless services letters).
  • Resolution 41505 (THA reappointment) – adopted.
  • Resolution 41506 (Tacoma Creates Advisory Board) – adopted.
  • Resolution 41507 (SAP contract) – adopted.
  • Resolution 41508 (SSI Shredding increase) – adopted.
  • Resolution 41509 (Dr. W. Joy Hardeman Park) – adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance 28975 – passed (roll call: 9-0).
  • Ordinance 28976 – passed (roll call: 9-0).
  • Public hearing on moratorium extension – held; council scheduled a study session for August 20 to discuss comments, with first reading on August 20 and final adoption on August 27.
  • City Manager Report: Notified council of a BNSF train collision with a fuel truck earlier that day, spilling approximately 1,300 gallons of ethanol near the Center for Urban Waters on East D Street. The area was evacuated; cleanup is led by the Washington Department of Ecology and U.S. Coast Guard.
  • Economic Development Committee Report: Councilmember Daniels noted interviews for Tacoma Creates Advisory Board and ongoing work with Blocks Hub on downtown economic growth; next meeting August 27.

Community Forum

  • Speakers addressed various topics: a bakery owner reported arson and called for enforcement of homeless ordinances; a resident criticized conditions at the Northwest Detention Center; another urged action on a homeless encampment at Blueberry Park; a speaker requested reinstatement of longer community forum time limits; a resident advocated for EV transition; a speaker expressed concerns about Project 2025; and a resident advocated for improved bus transit to Northeast Tacoma.

Meeting Transcript

Walker's upstairs. She'll be on the I'd like to call to order the City Council meeting of August 13th, 2024. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell. Present. Councilmember Daniels? Here. Councilmember Diaz. Deputy Mayor Hines. Here. Councilmember Rumba. Here. Councilmember Sidalgay. Here. Councilmember Scott? Here. Councilmember Walker. Here. Mayor Woodards? Here. Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and the flag salute led by Councilmember Daniels, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Puala people where they make their home and speak the Lashut seed language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. And to the republic for which it stands. One nation under God. Indivisible with liberty and justice for all modifications. There is one modification to the agenda this evening to replace the letters under item nine on the consent agenda. I move to replace the letters for item nine with revised letters to the Pierce County Council and Pierce County Executive regarding homelessness services. Second. Are there any council questions or comments? Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the motion to replace letters for item nine, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. The motion is declared adopted. Item nine as replaced will be considered under the consent agenda. The letters can be found of city at cityofdacoma.org/slash council meetings. Comment on the letters will be taken under the public comment portion of the agenda. Are there any additional modifications to the agenda this evening? All right, seeing none, um, we will move on to the consent agenda. I move to adopt the consent agenda, including the replacement letters for item nine. Second. All those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. All those opposed. The consent agenda is declared adopted. All right, there are no proclamations, recognitions, presentations, or announcements this evening. Um, so we will move. Um, we will move right into public comment. Um tonight's agenda, there are three opportunities for people to comment.

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