Tacoma City Council Meeting - October 22, 2024

The Tacoma City Council met on October 22, 2024, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included a remembrance photo for Dr. Maxine Mims, a flag salute, and a moment of silence. The council approved an agenda modification to add Resolution 41544, adopted the consent agenda, recognized David Fischer for his contributions to the arts, and held public comment and a community forum. All regular agenda items were adopted unanimously.

Consent Calendar

• Minutes of the Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee (May 22 and June 26, 2024), Planning Commission (January 17, February 21, March 6, March 20, 2024), Public Utility Board (September 25, 2024, and special study session September 30, 2024), and City Council study sessions (January 30 and February 6, 2024) were filed. (Items 1-10)
• Resolution 41540 awarded a contract to Clean Earth Environmental Solutions, Inc. for $604,152.90 (plus taxes) for household hazardous waste transportation and management, with a projected total of $1,812,458.70 over three years, with renewal options.
• Resolution 41541 awarded a contract to Foundation for Tacoma Students for $880,000 to administer participatory budgeting in Council District 4 through December 31, 2028.
• Resolution 41542 accepted a $1,000,000 grant from the Washington State Health Care Authority and awarded a contract to the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department for a street medicine team pilot program, with renewal options.
• Payments totaling $58,504,434.52 for the period September 23 to October 6, 2024, were approved. The consent agenda was adopted unanimously.

Proclamations & Recognitions

• Recognition of David Fischer: Mayor Woodards presented a proclamation honoring David Fischer, CEO of Tacoma Arts Live, for his 18 years of leadership, including raising over $75 million for capital projects, renovating the Pantages Theater, and expanding equitable arts programming. Fischer thanked the council and community.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Michelle Reich spoke against Resolution 41542 (street medicine pilot), arguing it enables drug use and that services should be provided at health facilities, not on the street. She cited needle litter and Portland’s reversal of similar policies.
• Kathy Laha expressed support for the street medicine program but noted the need for more mental health crisis teams and criticized the city’s handling of health care and large industrial projects.

Community Forum

• The community forum heard 14 speakers (plus 53 written comments) on a wide range of topics. Key themes:

  • Homelessness and public safety: Several speakers (business owners and residents) described unsafe conditions, open-air drug use, threats, and lack of police response. They called for more enforcement and cleanup.
  • Climate and development: Speakers from the Climate Catastrophe Ground Zero Coalition and others criticized the city for approving a mega-warehouse in South Tacoma, citing environmental racism, loss of wetlands, and increased pollution. They demanded a climate commission and updated green zone proposals.
  • Workers' rights: Speakers advocated for a workers' bill of rights, including predictable schedules and a living wage, citing unstable employment in warehouses.
  • Psychedelic decriminalization: A representative of the Tacoma Psychedelic Society and a retired Green Beret (Herb Daniels) shared personal stories of healing from PTSD and addiction, urging the council to decriminalize psychedelics.
  • Housing and zoning: Kit Burns, an architect, criticized the Home in Tacoma plan for excessive density and lack of parking, warning it would lead to private equity domination of neighborhoods.
  • Other: A speaker requested a full budget of all spending on homeless sweeps; another demanded a ceasefire related to Gaza; and a young speaker expressed frustration with climate inaction.

• The council enforced Rule 9D, prohibiting remarks supporting or opposing ballot propositions. One speaker was cut off after violating this rule.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 41543: Authorized a $1,500,000 increase to the contract with Morris & Willner Partners Inc. for professional services and temporary staffing (cumulative total $3,450,000). Adopted unanimously.
• Resolution 41544 (added by agenda modification): Directed the City Manager to work with the Tacoma Fire Chief to develop a spending plan for the estimated $30 million per year from Proposition 1, a levy lid lift for fire services on the November 5, 2024 ballot. The plan must be presented to the council by January 31, 2025. Councilmember Walker praised the transparency. Adopted unanimously.

Key Outcomes

• All resolutions adopted: Consent agenda (Res. 41540-41542), Res. 41543, and Res. 41544 were passed unanimously (with no opposition noted).
• Community forum schedule changes: The council announced that community forums scheduled for November 12, November 26, and December 10, 2024, would be rescheduled to November 19, December 3, and December 17, respectively, due to holidays and travel. A formal motion to suspend rules and adopt the changes was made but not voted on before adjournment.
• Adjournment: The meeting was adjourned after a brief recess following a disruptive speaker.