The Tacoma City Council convened on Tuesday, October 15, 2024, at 5:00 PM in the City Council Chambers. Roll call showed seven members present, with Councilmember Daniels absent. The meeting included a land acknowledgement, flag salute, moment of silence, and adoption of the consent agenda. Key actions included approving a $54,000 claim settlement, appointing members to the Citizen Commission on Elected Salaries, and authorizing a $35,000 pride-themed decorative crosswalk on Broadway with an amendment to study a citywide program.
I would like to call to order the city council meeting of October 15th, 2024. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell? Present. Councilmember Daniels. Absent Councilmember Diaz. Deputy Mayor Hines. 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 flag salute led by Councilmember Diaz, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Peola 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 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 right, agenda modifications. Are there any modifications to the agenda? All right, seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolutions numbers 41536 and 41537. Second. All right, are there any council questions, comments, or corrections? Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. The consent agenda is declared adopted. Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements. We have one ceremonial tonight for the community conflict resolution day proclamation. It's my honor to ask Mara Lise Hoodquant, Executive Director for the Center of Dialogue and Resolution to come forward as I read this proclamation. Good evening. Whereas nations, federal, state, regional, and local governments have an interest in promoting civility, understanding, improved communication, and conflict resolution via the use of facilitation, training, conciliation, and mediation. And whereas the City of Tacoma promotes the use of and access to creative and productive community-based dispute resolution by highly qualified mediators. And whereas anyone in the city has access to a community mediation center to resolve conflicts between family members, neighbors, tenants, landlords, merchants, consumers, employees, employers, civic organizations, and governmental agencies. And whereas jurisdictions and taxpayers in the state of Washington save millions of dollars annually in court costs for cases they have that have been settled by community-based dispute resolution centers rather than court hearings. And whereas the conflict resolution process and training increases the capacity of our community to turn conflict into productive resolutions, resulting in a higher quality of life for all residents. And whereas the City of Tacoma commits to leading by example to promote conflict resolution by engaging in civil dialogue throughout its interactions with our residents and each other. Now, therefore, I, Victoria R. Woodards, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim Thursday, October 17th, 2024, as Community Conflict Resolution Day in the City of Tacoma. And we extend our deepest appreciation to the Center for Dialogue and Resolution for the vital services they perform and their exemplary dedication to the community members they represent. Please join me in a round of applause. And with that, I will turn it over to Mayor Lees. Thank you so much, Mayor Woodards, and thank each and every one of you. Because as I look at you and listen to that, I realize sitting in your spots, kind of get a master's degree in conflict resolution, don't you? Um, you'll notice the fancy invitation, and I want to highlight those beautiful pearly letters. Do you see those pearly letters?