OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting – December 10, 2024: Budget Adoption and Climate Commission

City Council — Tuesday, December 10, 2024
BodyTacoma, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, December 10, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
Meeting Thumbnail
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of December 10th, 2024.

0:07

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

0:09

Councilmember Bushnell.

0:10

Present.

0:10

Councilmember Daniels.

0:12

Here.

0:12

Councilmember Diaz.

0:13

Deputy Mayor Hines.

0:14

Here.

0:15

Councilmember Rumba.

0:16

Here.

0:16

Councilmember Sidalgay.

0:17

Here.

0:18

Councilmember Scott.

0:19

Here.

0:19

Councilmember Walker.

0:21

Here.

0:21

Mayor Woodards.

0:22

Here.

0:23

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

0:32

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

0:39

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

0:55

One nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice.

1:28

Thank you.

1:31

Agenda modifications.

1:33

We have two modifications to tonight's agenda to amend ordinance number two nine zero zero one regarding the compensation plan and to put and two proposed substitutes for ordinance number two nine zero zero two regarding the biennial operating budget.

1:48

Are there any additional modifications to the agenda this evening?

1:52

All right, seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda.

1:56

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolutions numbers 41569 through 41571.

2:02

Second.

2:03

All right.

2:04

Are there any questions, comments, or corrections to the consent agenda?

2:08

Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye.

2:12

Aye.

2:13

All those opposed.

2:14

The ayes have it.

2:15

The consent agenda is declared adopted.

2:17

Uh moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements.

2:22

There are none this evening.

2:23

Now we'll move on to public comment.

2:25

On tonight's agenda, there is one opportunity for people to comment.

2:29

As a reminder, the final community form of this year is scheduled on December 17th.

2:35

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

2:42

This form is intended to give speakers the opportunity to share their viewpoints and feedback with the city council to aid in our decision making.

2:50

And is not meant to be a back and forth dialogue.

2:52

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

2:57

If you want to speak under a public comment period, please press the raise your hand butt 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.

3:09

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

3:13

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

3:18

Clerk, will you please read?

3:20

This is a time set aside for public comment.

3:22

Speakers are asked to identify the specific legislation they wish to address.

3:26

Right, I'd like to remind everyone to please keep your comments respectful, relevant, focused, and on topic.

3:32

We strive to provide a comment period where people can feel respected while sharing a wide variety of viewpoints and acknowledge that we may hear comments that conflict with our values.

3:41

To ensure all speakers can express their first amendment constitutional rights, we ask that you refrain from clapping, cheering, booing, or otherwise being disruptive.

3:50

You will have 90 seconds to make your remarks.

3:52

Please be mindful of the time frame.

3:54

As always, you are not required to use all of your time to make your point.

3:57

If you cannot remain on topic, you will be given two warnings.

4:00

If you remain off topic, we will have to move on and we'll end your time.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Comment█████████████████████21%
Public Finance████████████████████20%
Public Safety█████████████13%
Public Works██████████10%
Procedural█████████9%
Climate Change███3%
Fire Department Operations███3%
Personnel Matters███3%
Economic Development██2%
Summary of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting – December 10, 2024

The Tacoma City Council met on December 10, 2024, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included adoption of the 2025-2026 biennial operating budget after a $2.5 million amendment to stabilize fire department staffing, public comment on the climate commission and budget, and approval of multiple appointments, resolutions, and ordinances.

Consent Calendar

  • Minutes of the Government Performance and Finance Committee (June 18, July 16, July 29, 2024), Tacoma Arts Commission (October 14, 2024), and City Council study sessions and meetings from March 2024 were approved.
  • Purchase Resolution RES41569 awarded $1,699,152.50 in contracts for community and human services.
  • Purchase Resolution RES41570 authorized an increase of $400,000 (cumulative $1,000,000) for wastewater and stormwater main repairs.
  • Resolution RES41571 accepted a $1,455,000 grant from the Washington State Department of Commerce for affordable housing property acquisition.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • John Staub (Climate Alliance of the South Sound) opposed Ordinance 29014, stating the proposed Climate Commission is a “toothless pet project” and urged the council to adopt community demands for a more democratic and effective commission.
  • Richard Vail made a racist comment and was immediately cut off.
  • Sally Perkins urged full funding for the Hope Team (non-police mental health crisis response) and criticized the city’s spending on sweeps of unhoused people, claiming over $5 million in “tidy up funds” over the biennium.
  • Ifa Pasquale (Climate Alliance) expressed pride in community efforts for a strong climate commission and said the council is not serving constituents.
  • Stacey Oaks (350 Tacoma) questioned whether the climate commission ordinance is genuine or merely a way to “shut up the people.”
  • Devin Ride O'Kelly spoke in favor of fully funding the Hope Team and called for progressive revenue reform.
  • X criticized the budget and city leadership, using profanity and was warned to stop.
  • Michelle Reich suggested using state funds for fire department ladder trucks and bumper trucks.
  • Nancy Chappa (senior) opposed the closure of senior centers, urging the council to work with AARP and Metro Parks more thoughtfully.
  • Lori Ramsdale Gilke (Lighthouse Senior Center client) opposed the closure, citing lack of transparency and asking for subsidy guarantees and ongoing assessment.
  • Umine Algawe proposed cleaning soot from the municipal building and denounced the earlier racist comment.
  • Kit Burns spoke on the multifamily housing tax exemption program, arguing that the city is giving away too much tax revenue and that “affordable” should be defined as 60% of AMI per state law.
  • Gemini (Climate Alliance, Osage Nation) said the proposed climate commission lacks the changes demanded by the community and will cost lives.
  • Ian Lindahausen (South Tacoma, Climate Alliance) called the commission “greenwashing” without actual power.
  • Marilyn Kimmerling criticized the city manager form of government and the council’s decisions on firefighter layoffs, senior center closures, and the advisory-only climate commission.
  • Caitlin (Climate Alliance) said the council is ignoring demands and will see escalation.
  • Barb Church (Northeast Tacoma) said the climate action plan lacks accountability.
  • Tallison Crosby (Teamsters Local 174) demanded real democratic process and teeth for the climate commission.
  • Kathy Lahan endorsed other speakers and criticized the city’s methane tank at the port.
  • Dr. Janice Clark opposed the senior center transition and questioned $30,000 contingency funding.
  • Jamie thanked Councilmember Diaz for logic on the budget and criticized Councilmember Bushnell for going back on supporting firefighters.
  • Joseph (Osage Nation) used a doctor analogy to argue for a climate commission with enforceability.

Discussion Items

  • Appointments (Items 13-16):
    • Rowen Higley appointed to the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board (youth position, recommended by Mayor’s Youth Commission).
    • Seven individuals appointed to the new Urban Design Board (Chris Ray, Clara Cheeves, Deborah Ranninger, Brett Santoff, Stephanie Gowing, Crystal Monteros, Jennifer Wetterman).
    • Jeff Ball reappointed to the Audit Advisory Board.
    • Diane Tilstra reappointed to the Board of Ethics.
  • Purchase Resolutions (Items 17-18):
    • RES41576 awarded $15,130,208 in contracts to eight agencies for community and human services.
    • RES41577 authorized a $1.5 million increase (cumulative $16.6 million) for security services at the Tacoma Dome and Convention Center.
  • Multifamily Housing Tax Exemptions (Items 19-20):
    • RES41578 approved an 8-year tax exemption for 16 market-rate units at 631 N. Trafton St. (estimated net positive impact of $112,700 to the city).
    • RES41579 approved a 12-year tax exemption for 6 units (4 market-rate, 2 regulated-rate) at 619 S. 35th St. (net positive impact of $61,200).
  • Collective Bargaining Agreement (Item 21): RES41580 authorized a three-year agreement with Tacoma Police Management Association Local 26, including 7% wage increase in 2025, indexing adjustments in 2026-2027, and increased deferred compensation and sick leave cash-out provisions.
  • Final Reading of Ordinances (Items 22-25):
    • Ordinance 28992 (telecommunications franchise for Port of Tacoma) passed unanimously.
    • Ordinance 29001 (compensation plan) was amended to correct a clerical error, then passed unanimously.
    • Ordinance 29002 (2025-2026 Biennial Operating Budget) was the major item. Councilmember Bushnell introduced a substitute amendment providing $2.5 million in one-time funds to the fire department for staffing flexibility, preventing brownouts and reducing overtime. After additional public comment, the substitute was adopted (unanimous) and the final ordinance passed unanimously.
    • Ordinance 29003 (2025-2030 Capital Facilities Program and 2025-2026 Capital Budget) passed unanimously.
  • First Reading of Ordinances (Items 26-36):
    • Items 26 (TPMA compensation), 27 (claims and collections), 28 (utilities gross earnings tax), 29 (multifamily tax exemption fee schedule), 30 (vendor refreshment tax), 31-32 (solid waste and recycling tax deductions), 33 (land use permit timelines), 34-35 (biennium-end budget adjustments), and 36 (Climate and Sustainability Commission) were all set over for final reading next week.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda adopted (unanimous).
  • Appointments approved (unanimous).
  • Purchase Resolutions 41576 and 41577 adopted (unanimous).
  • Multifamily Tax Exemption Resolutions 41578 and 41579 adopted (unanimous).
  • Police Management Agreement (RES41580) adopted (unanimous).
  • Final Reading Ordinances (28992, 29001 as amended, 29002, 29003) all passed (unanimous).
  • 2025-2026 Biennial Operating Budget adopted after a $2.5 million amendment to support fire department staffing. The council acknowledged the structural deficit remains at approximately $15 million.
  • First Reading Ordinances (items 26-36) set over for final reading on December 17, 2024.
  • Public comment included strong opposition to the proposed Climate Commission ordinance (item 36), with speakers demanding elected positions and enforcement power; the council noted the ordinance will be considered next week.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of December 10th, 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 flag salute led by Councilmember Diaz Diaz, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Piellet people where they make their home and speak the Leshutsi language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. One nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice. Thank you. Agenda modifications. We have two modifications to tonight's agenda to amend ordinance number two nine zero zero one regarding the compensation plan and to put and two proposed substitutes for ordinance number two nine zero zero two regarding the biennial operating budget. Are there any additional modifications to the agenda this evening? All right, seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolutions numbers 41569 through 41571. Second. All right. Are there any questions, comments, or corrections to the consent agenda? Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. The ayes have it. The consent agenda is declared adopted. Uh moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements. There are none this evening. Now we'll move on to public comment. On tonight's agenda, there is one opportunity for people to comment. As a reminder, the final community form of this year is scheduled on December 17th. Under the public comment, under public comment, you can speak about motions, resolutions, and ordinances on tonight's agenda. This form is intended to give speakers the opportunity to share their viewpoints and feedback with the city council to aid in our decision making. And is not meant to be a back and forth dialogue. Your remarks should be directed to the city council and not at individual staff members. If you want to speak under a public comment period, please press the raise your hand butt 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. If you are speaking in person, please sign up at the back of the room if you have not done so already. Your name or the last four digits of your phone number will be called out when it is your time to speak. Clerk, will you please read?

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