Tacoma City Council Meeting – August 27, 2024

The Tacoma City Council met on August 27, 2024, at 5:00 PM in the Council Chambers. The meeting covered consent items, appointment resolutions, purchase and contract approvals, two multifamily housing tax exemption agreements, a Sound Transit access improvement agreement, a solid waste disposal contract increase, a six-month extension of interim groundwater protection rules, and the first reading of a bond refinancing ordinance. The public comment period and community forum featured strong opposition to a proposed ShotSpotter pilot program, concerns about groundwater protection, and calls for EV charging infrastructure.

Consent Calendar

• Adopted unanimously: minutes from various city committees and boards, plus payroll and payments totaling $52,093,624.55 (payroll $22,522,861.28 and payments $29,570,763.27) for the period July 29–August 11, 2024.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Heidi Stevens (supporting Ordinance 28977) urged the council to update the groundwater code and implement a moratorium on large-scale impervious surfaces, and noted concerns about PFAS in TAGRO.
• Esther Day (on Transportation Commission appointments) reminded the council that fiduciary responsibility is to Tacoma citizens, not to transportation.
• Michelle Reich (on items 41519 and 41520) requested the council require pre-wiring for electric vehicle charging stations in the tax-exempt developments, citing state EV subsidies and the 2035 goal.
• Marilyn Kimmerling (on Ordinance 28977) echoed Heidi Stevens' concerns about impervious surfaces and called for further study of water runoff and flooding.
• Kathy Lahan (on item 41522) complained about a lack of recycling in her building (owned by city/Tacoma Housing Authority) and management issues.
• Kit Burns (on items 41521 and 41520) argued that the Sound Transit document omitted details about the Bridge Industrial project, and opposed the multifamily tax exemption, calling it an "unfair balance" (citing a recent $7 million tax break for a $52 million building).
• Cordell Hampshire (on Ordinance 28977 and Resolution 41521) supported the groundwater moratorium but wanted no exceptions, and expressed interest in South Tacoma Sounder Station improvements but wanted more information about Bridge Industrial.

Community Forum

• Multiple speakers (Ruba, Joseph Osteller, Stacy Oaks, Andrea Haig, April Smith, Movina X, Michelle Reich, Darren Holter, Kyle Jolly Boys, Marilyn Kimmerling, Kathy Lahan, EJ Slager, Ann Doran, Ila Ravi Chandran, Gwen, Barb Church, Onita Arlen Arnold, Rebecca Stith, Sally Perkins, Holly Rydell Kelly, Phil Moic, Gemini Knoll, Alfie Pasquale, Robert Hill, Cordell Hampshire) addressed the council. The dominant topic was strong opposition to the ShotSpotter pilot program. Speakers cited its ineffectiveness (e.g., 90% false positives in Chicago), potential for police violence, disproportionate impact on Black and Brown communities, ties to an Israeli weapons company, and lack of council approval. Other topics included encampment conditions, the need for a homeless services audit, lead contamination at the Harrison shooting range, and concerns about Project 2025.
• Mayor Woodards noted that while public comment time was reduced to 90 seconds per speaker, the number of speaking opportunities had increased (two per meeting instead of one).

Appointments

• Resolution 41515 (Equity in Contracting Advisory Committee): Appointed and reappointed Katina Patton, Catherine Gwynn, Justin Baker, and Michael Jordan. Adopted.
• Resolution 41516 (Tacoma Creates Advisory Board): Appointed Mandy Zylstra. Adopted.
• Resolution 41517 (Transportation Commission): Appointed and reappointed Kwana Spencer, Joe Korbiowski, and Ruben Cassus. Adopted.

Purchase Resolution

• Resolution 41518 (contract with Miles Resources LLC): Awarded $5,417,405.81 plus 15% contingency for construction debris disposal over five years (projected total $6,230,016.68). Adopted.

Discussion Items (Resolutions)

• Resolution 41519 (Alder Smart 1S, LLC – 14 units at 3210 S. 43rd St., Tacoma Mall Mixed-Use Center): Debbie Bingham presented the project – 4 studio and 10 one-bedroom units, 9 parking spaces, $3M construction cost, providing $14,100 labor hours. Fiscal impact: $203,000 total tax generated, $81,000 exempt, net positive $122,000. Adopted.
• Resolution 41520 (Northwest Smart Homes LLC – 36 units at 315 S. 30th St., Downtown Regional Growth Center): Presented by Debbie Bingham – 24 studio and 11 one-bedroom units, 15 parking spaces, $6.6M construction cost, ~31,100 labor hours. Fiscal impact: $505,800 total tax generated, $179,000 exempt, net positive $326,800. Adopted. Councilmember Rumbá asked about utilities; Bingham confirmed utility allowance included.
• Resolution 41521 (Sound Transit agreement – South Tacoma Sounder Station access improvements): Josh Lauer presented the $42,310,763 agreement for preliminary engineering, design, and construction of pedestrian/bike/ADA improvements on streets including S. 56th, 58th, 60th, Adams, and Pine. Councilmembers Bushnell and Walker praised the community engagement and historic investment. Adopted.
• Resolution 41522 (Amendment to contract with Pierce County Recycling, Composting & Disposal LLC – LRI): Lewis Griffith explained the need for a $90M increase (cumulative $237,290,930.15) due to 30% tonnage increase, inflation (20% CPI adjustment), and other city departments' use. Contract runs through February 2030. Adopted.

Final Reading of Ordinances

• Ordinance 28977 (six-month extension of interim groundwater protection rules in South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District): Roll call vote – 9-0 in favor. Declared passed.

First Reading of Ordinances

• Ordinance 28978 (sale of convention center and parking revenue refunding bond – not to exceed $125,000): Michael San Soucie presented the strategy to refund bonds and continue collecting sales tax (averaging $5–6M per year) through 2040, using Washington Federal as local bank. No specific projects identified; a facility condition assessment details capital needs. The final reading is scheduled for September 10, 2024.

Committee Report

• Councilmember Rumbá reported that the Community Vitality and Safety Committee met August 22, received an update on the 2025 consolidated plan, conducted interviews for the Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities, and elected Rumbá as chair and Walker as vice chair. Next meeting: September 12 at 4:30 PM.

Key Outcomes

• All resolutions on the regular agenda were adopted unanimously (9-0 where votes were recorded).
• Ordinance 28977 (groundwater protection extension) passed on a 9-0 roll call vote.
• Ordinance 28978 (bond refinancing) was introduced for first reading; final reading to occur September 10, 2024.
• No council votes or actions were taken on the ShotSpotter pilot program; the grant was pursued by the city manager and police department without council initiation, but multiple speakers urged the council to cancel it.
• The next council business meeting (September 3) was canceled due to Labor Day; the next study session and business meeting will be September 10, 2024.