OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting - January 14, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, January 14, 2025
BodyTacoma, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, January 14, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of January 14th, 2025.

0:09

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

0:10

Councilmember Bushnell.

0:12

President.

0:13

Deputy Mayor Daniels.

0:15

Here.

0:16

Councilmember Diaz.

0:18

Councilmember Hines.

0:19

Councilmember Rumba here.

0:21

Councilmember Sidalgay.

0:23

Here.

0:24

Councilmember Scott.

0:26

Councilmember Walker.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Mayor Woodards.

0:29

Here.

0:30

Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement of Flag Salute led by Councilmember Sidalgay, followed by a moment of silence.

0:38

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

0:48

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

1:49

Seeing none, we will move on to the consent agenda.

1:53

I move to a job adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41595 through 41597.

2:01

Second.

2:01

Are there any council questions, comments, or corrections?

2:04

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

2:08

Aye.

2:09

All those opposed.

2:10

The consent agenda is declared adopted.

2:13

We have two ceremonials tonight.

2:15

Um proclaiming um Dr.

2:17

Martin Luther King Junior Day, and I'd like to invite Ashley Young, special events coordinator with Tacoma Venue and Events to the podium as I read this proclamation.

2:24

And I believe Ashley may have a few other people who were joining her today.

2:38

Hi, good evening, Mayor.

2:40

Good evening.

2:41

All right, I'm gonna read the proclamation.

2:43

Umday, January 20th, 2025 has been designated as a federal holiday and a national day of service, honoring the birth of Dr.

2:52

Martin Luther King Jr.

2:54

and marks the city of Tacoma's 37th annual community-wide celebration.

2:59

And whereas such recognition is a dire is a direct result of Dr.

3:03

King's contributions to the world through his deeds and words.

3:08

And whereas Dr.

3:09

King believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all and encouraged all people to live up to America's purpose and potential by applying principles of nonviolence to make this country a better place to live.

3:22

And whereas through his perseverance, he led a movement that not only brought about changes in the law, but also in the heart and conscience of people throughout the world.

3:32

And whereas Tacoma has directly benefited from Dr.

3:35

King's contributions and remains committed to the ideas of an inclusive, open, free, and just society.

3:43

And whereas Saturday, January 18th, 2025 marks the University of Washington, Tacoma's 17th annual Martin Luther King Junior Unity Breakfast.

3:54

And whereas these annual celebrations unite people of all ages, cultures, beliefs, and walks of life together to honor Dr.

4:02

King's legacy through action and service.

4:06

Now, therefore, I, Victoria R.

4:08

Woodards, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim Monday, January 20th, 2025, as Dr.

4:16

Martin Luther King Junior Day in the City of Tacoma, and invite all people to join us in honoring Dr.

4:22

King's memory and his achievements at the UW UWT 17th Annual Martin Luther King Jr.

4:28

Unity Breakfast on Saturday and the city's 37th annual Dr.

4:33

Martin Luther King Jr.

4:34

celebration on Monday.

4:36

Please join me in a round of applause.

4:43

Thank you, Mayor.

4:44

Thank you, Councilmembers, for having us here today.

4:46

My name is Ashley Young.

4:47

I'm the special events coordinator with uh Tacoma Venues and Events, and I'm joined with members of our subcommittee from the City Events and Recognitions Committee, who has a have a heavy hand in helping plan this event.

5:00

And I'm also uh joined by by Kwabi, who will be our fantastic MC for the evening.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works██████████████14%
Environmental Protection███████████11%
Public Comment██████████10%
Public Engagement██████████10%
Transportation Safety█████████9%
Homelessness█████████9%
Procedural████████8%
Historic Preservation█████5%
Arts And Culture█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting - January 14, 2025

The Tacoma City Council held a regular meeting on January 14, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, consent agenda approvals, public comment, a public hearing on a property sale, and first reading of a grease interceptor education ordinance. Several community members spoke during public comment and community forum on topics including homelessness, road safety, and the proposed property sale.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolution No. 41595: Ratified a contract with Motorola Solutions Inc. for $832,880.86 to replace Tacoma Fire radios. Adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution No. 41596: Set February 4, 2025, for a public hearing on extending a moratorium within the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District. Adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution No. 41597: Accepted grants totaling $10,627,945 from Puget Sound Regional Council, Transportation Improvement Board, and WSDOT, plus $3,741,880 in matching city funds, for public works projects. Adopted unanimously.
  • Payment approval: $52,980,644.57 for payroll and other payments from December 16-29, 2024. Adopted unanimously.

Proclamations & Recognitions

  • Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Proclaimed January 20, 2025, as MLK Day. Ashley Young (Tacoma Venues and Events) and Kwabi (MC) spoke, emphasizing the theme "Building Bridges" and calling for collective action against poverty. The city's 37th annual celebration will be held on January 20 at 1:00 PM, preceded by the UWT Unity Breakfast on January 18.
  • Whole Child Month: Proclaimed January 2025. Laura Allen (Tacoma Public Schools) noted the district's graduation rate rose from about 50% to a record 91.7% on-time graduation over the past decade, attributing the success to the community-wide Tacoma Whole Child initiative.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Consent/Agenda Items (Public Comment):

  • Skylar Schmidt (Washington Hospitality Association) expressed strong support for Ordinance 29015 (grease interceptor education), stating it will help businesses avoid unanticipated costs.
  • Michelle Reich spoke on MLK Day and discrimination, highlighting recent transgender representation in Congress.
  • Carol Sue Bratton urged a comprehensive cumulative impact study for the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District, citing concerns from the Growth Management Act.
  • Larry Vigorilla opposed the $832,000 expenditure on Fire Department radios, calling it excessive and suggesting the department is overstaffed.
  • Kit Burns supported transportation infrastructure investments but criticized inconsistent sidewalk standards, especially on South Tacoma Way.
  • Esther Day emphasized the importance of protecting the aquifer in the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District, warning against industrial impacts.

On Surplus Property Sale (Public Hearing):

  • Michelle Reich supported the sale, citing the Sportsmen's Club as a reputable conservation organization.
  • Larry Vigorilla opposed the sale, questioning the assessed value ($3.49 million vs. county assessor's valuation), potential lead contamination from the rifle range, and lack of perpetual conservation protections.
  • Carol Sue Bratton opposed the sale, arguing the property is a critical aquifer recharge area and should remain city-owned in perpetuity.
  • Kit Burns opposed the sale without stronger deed restrictions, noting the language allows mineral and development rights; he requested a map showing protected areas and a reversion clause to the city.
  • Austin Miles suggested the land be used as a public park instead of sold to a private club.

Discussion Items

  • Appointment of Priya Saxena to Library Board (Resolution 41598): Mayor Woodards praised Saxena's experience and passion. The resolution passed unanimously, and Saxena was recognized.
  • Appointment of Council Members to Committees (Resolution 41599): Annual appointment of council members to over 50 boards and commissions. Mayor Woodards emphasized the importance of city representation. Passed unanimously.
  • Public Hearing on Surplus Property Sale (Items 9 & 11): Greg Mueller (Senior Real Property Officer) presented the sale of ~113 acres to the Tacoma Sportsmen's Club Conservation Land Foundation for $3.49 million. The property, purchased in 1893, is no longer needed for water supply. Only 2.5 acres are developable; the rest is wetlands. The buyer will use Conservation Futures Funds and Department of Ecology funds, requiring environmental remediation (removal of lead berms). Council members asked about tribal consultation (not done, as negotiations predated the 2020 TPU policy), resale restrictions (buyer would need to repay funds), and long-term monitoring. Councilmember Diaz raised concerns about tribal engagement and lead impacts. Councilmember Walker expressed confidence in the conservation outcome. After close to 50 minutes of public testimony, the resolution was continued to January 28, 2025, to allow further review.
  • First Reading of Ordinance 29015 (Grease Interceptor Education): Councilmember Diaz introduced the ordinance to require education for commercial tenants and property owners about grease interceptor maintenance. He noted it stems from small business barriers identified during community roundtables. The city also received a $4 million Community Reinvestment Grant to assist businesses. The ordinance was set over for final reading on January 28, 2025.

Community Forum

  • Joseph Osteller opposed selling public lands to a private club and called for stronger climate expertise on council.
  • Ify (Climate Alliance of the South Sound) expressed disappointment in the sale and suggested returning the land to indigenous peoples.
  • Tony (business owner) described unsafe conditions from homeless encampments near 14th & J, citing open drug use and fires.
  • Marilyn Kimmerling opposed the sale, advocating for land preservation and return to indigenous peoples.
  • Andrew Weber complained about homelessness, feeling criminalized after calling police on trespassers.
  • Michelle Reich urged cat microchipping and asked for help reuniting a misadopted cat.
  • Carol Sue Bratton warned of slope instability risks at Schuster Park and criticized the PSC LNG facility's environmental review.
  • David Berg and Randy Gooksted highlighted 14 fatalities and 23 serious injuries on Norpoint Way, Marie View Drive, and Browns Point Boulevard since 2015, requesting permanent safety measures (roundabouts, speed cameras).
  • Austin Miles proposed providing cots and personal attention to homeless individuals.
  • Onetta Arnold criticized the city's homeless sweeps, referencing a Grit City Magazine article, and argued the approach is counterproductive.
  • Sally Perkins (District 3) described the harm of sweeps and called for more shelter and creative solutions.
  • Kit Burns complained about slow repair of a dangerous intersection at 6th and Sprague, noting it took years to fix.
  • Larry Vigorilla spoke on road safety and homeless issues, suggesting work requirements for those receiving assistance.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda adopted (Resolutions 41595-41597, payment approval).
  • Resolution 41598 (Priya Saxena appointment) adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 41599 (council committee appointments) adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution 4160 (surplus property sale) continued to the January 28, 2025, City Council meeting after public hearing and council deliberation.
  • Ordinance 29015 (grease interceptor education) set over for final reading on January 28, 2025.
  • Councilmember Rumba reported that the Community Vitality and Safety Committee met on December 12, 2024, and January 9, 2025, discussing participatory budgeting and neighborhood council standards. The next meeting is January 23, 2025.
  • Councilmember Sidalga announced the Tet Lunar New Year celebration at Eastside Community Center on January 19, 2025.
  • Mayor Woodards proclaimed January 20, 2025, as MLK Day and encouraged community participation; shared a positive story about Officer Forbes; announced $10.6 million in infrastructure grants; and revealed that Tacoma and Pierce County were selected as an official FIFA World Cup 2026 Fan Zone.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of January 14th, 2025. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell. President. Deputy Mayor Daniels. Here. Councilmember Diaz. Councilmember Hines. Councilmember Rumba here. Councilmember Sidalgay. Here. Councilmember Scott. Councilmember Walker. Here. Mayor Woodards. Here. Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement of Flag Salute led by Councilmember Sidalgay, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Piala people where they make their home and speak the Lushuetsi language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. Seeing none, we will move on to the consent agenda. I move to a job adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41595 through 41597. Second. 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. We have two ceremonials tonight. Um proclaiming um Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Day, and I'd like to invite Ashley Young, special events coordinator with Tacoma Venue and Events to the podium as I read this proclamation. And I believe Ashley may have a few other people who were joining her today. Hi, good evening, Mayor. Good evening. All right, I'm gonna read the proclamation. Umday, January 20th, 2025 has been designated as a federal holiday and a national day of service, honoring the birth of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. and marks the city of Tacoma's 37th annual community-wide celebration. And whereas such recognition is a dire is a direct result of Dr. King's contributions to the world through his deeds and words. And whereas Dr. King believed in a nation of freedom and justice for all and encouraged all people to live up to America's purpose and potential by applying principles of nonviolence to make this country a better place to live. And whereas through his perseverance, he led a movement that not only brought about changes in the law, but also in the heart and conscience of people throughout the world. And whereas Tacoma has directly benefited from Dr. King's contributions and remains committed to the ideas of an inclusive, open, free, and just society. And whereas Saturday, January 18th, 2025 marks the University of Washington, Tacoma's 17th annual Martin Luther King Junior Unity Breakfast. And whereas these annual celebrations unite people of all ages, cultures, beliefs, and walks of life together to honor Dr. King's legacy through action and service. Now, therefore, I, Victoria R. Woodards, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim Monday, January 20th, 2025, as Dr. Martin Luther King Junior Day in the City of Tacoma, and invite all people to join us in honoring Dr.

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