Tacoma City Council Meeting - December 17, 2024

The Tacoma City Council met on December 17, 2024, at 5:00 PM for their regular meeting. Key actions included approving a $14.9 million settlement, advancing a $25 million streets ballot measure to the April 2025 special election, and establishing a Climate and Sustainability Commission despite strong public opposition. The meeting also featured a proclamation for International Migrants Day and a moment of silence for Metro Parks Commissioner Tim Reed.

Consent Calendar

• Unanimously adopted consent agenda comprising resolutions 41581–41584, including a five-year contract with Axon Enterprise for dash cameras ($615,618.36).

Proclamations & Recognitions

• Proclaimed December 18, 2024 as International Migrants Day. Speakers from the Afghan, Congolese, South Sudanese, and refugee communities highlighted contributions and ongoing crises, including human rights concerns at the Northwest Detention Center.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Climate Commission (Ordinance 29014): Nearly all speakers opposed the ordinance as written, demanding stronger powers including veto authority over permits, environmental impact assessments, and elected majority membership. Many urged the council to delay the vote. Several speakers referenced the 2024 Charter Review Committee’s recommendations. One speaker noted Tacoma has the lowest tree canopy in western Washington. Another cited 3+ years of youth climate activism.
• Multifamily Tax Exemption: A speaker from Climate Alliance of the South Sound criticized the program, citing low affordability targets and large tax breaks for market-rate projects.
• Other: One speaker urged lower taxes and anti-litter enforcement. Another raised concerns about crime and homelessness impacting development.

Discussion Items

• Settlement 22A: Approved $14,900,000 settlement for claims related to an incident between June 18–23, 2022 (claim #17671). Motion passed unanimously.
• Settlement 23: Approved $125,000 settlement for a sidewalk trip-and-fall incident on November 10, 2022 (Kramarevsky v. Waybright). Motion passed unanimously.
• Resolution 41587 (Multifamily Housing Tax Exemption): Approved an eight-year limited property tax exemption for 4315 S Alder Street LLC, a 10-unit market-rate development. Estimated $30,700 in foregone taxes vs. $100,000 in total taxes over the exemption period. Deputy Mayor Hines noted the program has funded 61,000 units statewide since 2007.
• Resolution 41588 (Streets Initiative 2 – Ballot Measure): Unanimously approved placing Proposition S2 on the April 22, 2025 special election ballot. The measure proposes a $0.25 per $1,000 property tax increase and a 2% gross earnings tax on utilities to fund street repair, maintenance, and safety improvements. Estimated to generate $25 million annually. City Engineer Ramiro Chavez reported that the 2015 Streets Initiative leveraged $397 million in investments from an original $175 million.
• Resolution 41589 (2025 Meeting Cancellations): Unanimously approved canceling 11 regular council meetings and 11 study sessions, including new cancellations for Rosh Hashanah (Sept. 23) and Election Night (Nov. 4).
• Resolution 41590 (Special Olympics Sponsorship): Unanimously approved $15,000 from council contingency funds to sponsor the Special Olympics Washington statewide competition in Tacoma, June 2025.
• Ordinance 29014 (Climate and Sustainability Commission): Adopted 8–0 (Councilmember Rumba present after earlier absences). The ordinance transitions the Sustainable Tacoma Commission into a permanent Climate and Sustainability Commission in the municipal code, adds district representation, and expands the youth seat age range. Council acknowledged public demands but stated legal constraints prevent granting veto power over permits. Mayor Woodards noted environmental impact statements and health impact assessments are already required by state and local law.
• Other Ordinances (30–40): All final reading ordinances passed unanimously, including stormwater/wastewater rate adjustments, compensation plan updates, claims procedure consolidation, tax code clarifications (vendor refreshment tax, multifamily tax exemption fee schedule), solid waste reporting requirements, land use permit timeline updates, and 2023–2024 biennial budget modifications.

Key Outcomes

• Settlements Approved: $14,900,000 (claim #17671) and $125,000 (sidewalk trip-and-fall) authorized.
• Appointments: Reappointed Jennifer Sullivan and George Zeno to the Landmarks Preservation Commission; appointed/reappointed Vernon Nung, Erica Chang, Ian Olsen, and Heidi Fernandez Yamasaki to the Tacoma Arts Commission.
• Ballot Measure Referred: Street repair funding measure (Proposition S2) will appear on the April 22, 2025 special election ballot.
• Climate Commission Established: Ordinance 29014 passed, creating a permanent Climate and Sustainability Commission in code. No amendments were made despite public requests to table.
• Budget & Tax Changes: Multiple tax code amendments adopted effective January 1, 2025, including a new vendor refreshment serving tax at city-owned facilities and clarifications on multifamily housing tax exemptions.
• Meeting Calendar Set: Eleven 2025 council meetings and study sessions canceled, with new dates for Rosh Hashanah and Election Night.
• Special Olympics Sponsorship: $15,000 approved for statewide competition in June 2025.
• Absentees: Councilmember Rumba was absent for roll call votes on items 30–32 but present and voting on subsequent items.