Tacoma City Council Meeting – October 29, 2024

The Tacoma City Council met on October 29, 2024, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included consent agenda approvals, proclamations, multiple public hearings on the 2025-2026 biennial operating budget, capital budget, and property tax levies, and a lengthy discussion on the Home in Tacoma Phase 2 ordinance with 19 proposed amendments. Key themes included critical fire department funding needs, senior center preservation, Vision Zero funding, tree canopy protections, parking requirements, and homeownership incentives.

Consent Calendar

• Adopted resolutions 41545–41547 and Ordinance 28981 (alley vacation) with the hearing examiner’s recommendation. Items included contract increases for DKS Associates ($299,824.25), Moss Adams LLP ($602,000), and a $4,000,000 Commerce grant for the Community Reinvestment Project.

Proclamations & Recognitions

• Student Government Day: Mayor Woodards read a proclamation declaring October 29, 2024, as Student Government Day. Students from Mount Tacoma High School spoke about their experiences, including a mock mayoral session and visits to fire and police facilities.
• Native American Heritage Month: Originally on the agenda, moved to November 5, 2024.
• Councilmember Scott recognized Tacoma Arts Month and displayed art created by children from the Tacoma Rescue Mission.

Public Comments & Testimony

General Public Comment (on agenda items except Ordinance 28981):

• Kathy Irwin urged rejection of Home in Tacoma Phase 2, stating the plan favors developers and lacks infrastructure for growth.
• April Smith (District 5) asked to reject Home in Tacoma Phase 2 and implement only state-mandated HB 1110, expressing disappointment in tree preservation provisions.
• Tom Geist delivered a poem advocating for tree protections.
• Laura Swansarek (Interim Executive Director, Downtown on the Go) supported the expanded reduced parking area (RPA), noting each parking spot costs $25,000–$50,000 and raises rents.
• Pam Wren (Transportation Commission member) urged a yes vote on Home in Tacoma but a no vote on zero-parking amendments, linking parking to climate change.
• Michelle Reich opposed zero parking, citing existing parking congestion in Hilltop.
• Kit Burns (architect) urged rejection of Home in Tacoma, calling it a “train wreck” that does not resemble HB 1110.
• Greg Duras (North Waterview Street) requested additional notice for his neighborhood regarding proposed density increases.
• Gemini (tribally enrolled Osage) opposed Home in Tacoma, criticizing tree requirement removal and contradictions with Native American Heritage Month.

Public Hearing on 2025-2026 Biennial Operating Budget:

• Captain Tucker (Tacoma Fire Local 31) reported engine 2 on pace for 1,200 responses this year, average age of frontline rigs 14 years, and one engine 23 years old. NFPA recommends engines on reserve after 7 years.
• Matthew Wilson (Oasis Youth Center) requested restoration of a 30% funding cut ($25,000 reduction to $75,000), noting 69% of youth served are gender diverse and BIPOC.
• Christopher Hampton (second-generation firefighter) urged rejection of budget that reduces fire service capacity.
• Rob Crable (Planning Commission, District 5) urged support for urban forestry staffing, libraries in Hilltop and Eastside, and South Tacoma Economic Green Zone funding.
• Esther Day opposed transit spending, saying the city should focus on fire, police, and streets instead.
• Laurie Ramsdale (Lighthouse Senior Center volunteer) opposed proposed closures of Lighthouse and Beacon senior centers, stating the Facility Advisory Committee did not recommend closure. (Also many other senior center supporters.)
• Numerous Tacoma Fire Department members (Alison Heinzman, Matt Frank, Ron Herrell, Brian Hammerley, etc.) described critical apparatus failures, mandatory overtime, and response times averaging 8 minutes vs. NFPA standard of 4 minutes. They urged fully funding fire operations.
• John Grant (Low-Income Housing Institute) requested continued funding for the Tacoma Emergency Micro Shelter (THAMES 3) at 6th and Orchard, which has sheltered 324 people since 2020 and transitioned 160 into permanent housing.
• Jacob Fair (THAMES 3 resident) credited the program with helping his family move toward permanent housing.
• Shannon Handley (past resident) stated the program helped her become clean and maintain family relationships.
• Dr. Janice Clark (senior) urged keeping senior centers open and fully funding the fire department.

Public Hearing on 2025-2026 Capital Budget and 2025-2030 Capital Facilities Program:

• Larry Levine (Forever Green Trails, District 4) opposed a 90% funding cut to Vision Zero, noting 30% of serious injury/fatal crashes involve pedestrians or bicyclists and BIPOC communities bear disproportionate burden.
• Christopher James (District 2) urged restoring Vision Zero to $900,000, citing economic benefits and costs of $3.4 million per fatal/serious injury crash.
• Laura Swansarek (Downtown on the Go) noted Tacoma is on track for another record year of traffic deaths and that funding cuts hinder grant applications.
• Jen Halverson Keene (District 2) noted 2023 was the deadliest year for people killed or seriously injured on Tacoma roads; asked for $1.8 million for Vision Zero over the biennium.
• Michelle Reich requested funds for a spay/neuter program for community cats as a precursor to a community cat ordinance.

Public Hearing on Ad Valorem and EMS Tax Levies:

• Michelle Reich opposed the ad valorem tax but supported the EMS levy for firefighters, urging a police levy as well.

Transportation Benefit District Public Hearing:

• Michelle Reich proposed a $500 annual vehicle emissions mitigation fee for 18-wheelers to offset road damage and pollution.

Discussion Items

2025-2026 Biennial Budget Presentation:

• Katie Johnston (Budget Officer) presented a $4.7 billion budget covering Tacoma Public Utilities ($1.8B), internal services, and general fund. The general fund faces a structural deficit of $24 million. One-time funds are used to balance 2026, leaving a deficit in 2027. Reserves are fully funded at 16.7%. The capital facilities program includes 216 projects (62% transportation).

Property Tax Levy Ordinances (Items 12-15):

• Nick Anderson (OMB) explained the 1% increase for the regular property tax levy (estimated $75.67 million total revenues) and the 6% increase for the EMS levy (subject to a statutory cap of $0.50 per $1,000 assessed value; estimated at $22.45 million). Both consistent with state law and voter approval.

Home in Tacoma Phase 2 (Ordinance 28986):

• Brian Boudet (Planning Manager) summarized the ordinance as recommended by the Planning Commission, including rezoning most residential areas to three urban residential zones (UR1, UR2, UR3), reduced parking requirements, a bonus program for affordable housing (density/height in exchange for on-site or in-lieu fees), tree planting and retention requirements, and expansion of multifamily property tax exemption areas.
• Council received 19 proposed amendments; many were debated.

Amendments Adopted (13 of 19 passed):

1. (Deputy Mayor Hines) Change zoning near N. 29th/49th/Waterview from UR1 to UR3 to align with adjacent mixed-use center. – Passed unanimously.
2. (Councilmember Sidalgay) Rezone near Geodroni Middle School for consistency with surrounding UR2. – Passed.
3. (Councilmember Sidalgay) Rezone near S. 54th/Alaska from UR1 to UR2 for consistency with S. 56th corridor. – Passed.
4. (Councilmember Bushnell) Rezone near existing commercial area to UR3 for consistency. – Passed.
5. (Councilmember Bushnell) Clarify 8-foot side setback applies only to units facing side yard. – Passed.
6. (Councilmember Sidalgay) Expand unit lot subdivision language to include community land trusts and other legal arrangements beyond HOAs. – Passed.
7. (Councilmember Daniels) Adopt a parking and access study three years after Home in Tacoma adoption, focusing on reduced parking areas not mandated by state. – Passed 7-2 (Rumba, Scott opposed).
8. (Councilmember Bushnell) Reduce pedestrian walkway connection width to 3 feet for 1-2 units, 4 feet for 3+ units. – Passed.
9. (Deputy Mayor Hines) Remove tree preservation provisions for non-development sites from Home in Tacoma; refer to IPS committee for a broader citywide tree preservation code. – Passed.
10. (Deputy Mayor Hines) Allow tree planting fees to be used within the same watershed rather than within 1/8 mile of project. – Passed.
11. (Deputy Mayor Hines) Reduce minimum tree credit floor to 10% in all UR zones while still requiring mitigation fees. – Passed.
12. (Deputy Mayor Hines and Sidalgay) Remove variance requirement for reducing on-site tree credits and removing large trees, while maintaining incentives, tree credit fees, and canopy loss fees. – Passed.
13. (Councilmember Rumba) Add option for applicants to relocate or replace trees on other private or public property within same watershed, with recorded agreement. – Passed.
14. (Councilmember Sidalgay) Reduce on-site tree credit requirement by 5% in each UR zone. – Passed.
15. (Councilmember Sidalgay) Incentives for owner-occupied housing units: no alley access requirement if alley not developed; reduced on-site tree credit to minimum floor without credit fee; waiver of canopy loss fee. – Withdrawn to allow further refinement with Councilmember Daniels.

Amendments Failed:

• (Councilmember Rumba) Remove Sixth Avenue corridor from reduced parking area. – Failed 4-5.
• (Councilmember Scott) Remove 19th Street corridor from reduced parking area. – Failed 4-5.

Amendment Withdrawn:

• (Councilmember Rumba) Additional protection for large trees (20-inch diameter) – withdrawn to allow further work and possible temporary measure before broader tree preservation discussion.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda adopted unanimously.
• Resolutions 41545-41548 adopted.
• First reading of property tax levy ordinances (28982-28985) set over for final reading November 19, 2024.
• Home in Tacoma Phase 2 (Ordinance 28986) advanced to second reading on November 19, 2024, with a substitute ordinance incorporating all adopted amendments. Public comment will be taken at that meeting.
• Rule 9C suspended to move community forum dates: Nov 12 to Nov 19, Nov 26 to Dec 3, Dec 10 to Dec 17.
• Transportation Benefit District budget and spending plan public hearing held; approval resolution scheduled for December 3, 2024.
• Council recessed the regular meeting to convene the Transportation Benefit District governing board meeting and later adjourned.