OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Regular Meeting - March 4, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, March 4, 2025
BodyTacoma, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, March 4, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of March 4th, 2025.

0:06

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

0:08

Councilmember Bushnell.

0:10

Present.

0:10

Deputy Mayor Daniels.

0:14

Absent Councilmember Diaz.

0:16

Councilmember Hines.

0:18

Here.

0:18

Councilmember Rumba here.

0:20

Councilmember Sidalgate.

0:21

Here.

0:22

Councilmember Scott.

0:24

Absent.

0:25

Councilmember Walker?

0:26

Here.

0:26

Mayor Woodards?

0:27

Here.

0:29

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

0:37

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

0:45

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

0:57

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and invisible with liberty and justice for all agenda modifications.

1:36

Are there any modifications to the agenda this evening?

1:40

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

1:43

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41629.

1:48

Second.

1:48

Are there any questions, comments, or corrections?

1:51

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

1:56

Aye.

1:56

All those opposed, the consent agenda is declared adopted.

2:00

Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements.

2:04

We have two ceremonials tonight.

2:07

For National 311 Day, I would like to invite Latoya Mason, Principal Customer Service Analyst, 311 Customer Support Center to the podium as I read this proclamation.

2:19

Ask my team to join us.

2:21

I was gonna say, and if your team is here with you, bring them forward.

2:24

Yes, thank you.

2:25

All right.

2:26

Um, whereas National 311 Day is on March 11th, 2025, and serves as an annual reminder, highlighting the significance of 311 as a resource for communities nationwide to connect with their city, county, and non-emergency services.

2:43

And whereas the city of Tacoma recognizes community members deserve easy and effective access to information and services, including language translation, better location, mapping information, cross-platform communication, and an easy-to-use mobile app.

3:01

And whereas assisting over 800,000 community members since its public launch in October of 2013, Tacoma First 311 has empowered community members to contact their government to get accurate service and information quickly and easily.

3:17

And whereas Tacoma residents can call 311 or visit the Tacoma Municipal Building Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 p.m.

3:26

or submit an online request any time for help with non-emergency needs and concerns, such as abandoned vehicles, graffiti, noise issues, illegal dumping, connecting with elected officials, and to request assistance from available city services with one click, one call, or one visit.

3:45

And whereas the ongoing efforts of Tacoma First 311 have improved workflows for city staff by streamlining request processes, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and collecting comprehensive data, enabling more efficient and effective services.

4:00

Now, therefore, I, Victoria R.

4:02

Woodards, mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim March 11th, 2025 as my mother's birthday and national 311 day in the city of Tacoma and encourage all residents to call 311 for help accessing local government services requests and reports.

4:23

Please join me in a round of applause.

4:31

I couldn't read the date, March 11th, without acknowledging it was my mother's birthday.

4:37

So forgive me for adding my mother into your very beautiful proclamation.

4:41

LaToya, I'll turn it over to you.

4:43

Thank you, and happy birthday to your mother.

4:46

Um, on behalf of my small but mighty team and the Tacoma First 311 Customer Support Center, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the mayor and the city council, city manager, and the community members we serve for their ongoing support of Tacoma First 311.

5:03

To the residents and businesses of Tacoma, we sincerely appreciate the time you invest in contacting us.

5:11

Whether it's a question, concern, or suggestion, what you share with us is the cornerstone of our work because it allows us to refine and improve the way we serve you.

5:22

We value every interaction and consider each one an opportunity to strengthen our connection with you.

5:29

Your feedback and insights are vital, and it is important to us that every resident and business owner feels heard, understood, and supported.

5:39

We thank you.

5:41

Thank you so much.

5:44

And thank you so much for what your small but mighty team does every single day.

6:13

But I have the opportunity when walking in the building to see people go in and out of the door and to see your staff at work.

6:20

And it truly is a resourceful for the city.

6:24

So thanks to all of you.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Engagement███████████████████19%
Procedural██████████████████18%
Public Transportation██████████████14%
Water And Wastewater Management████████████12%
Youth Programs██████████10%
Economic Development████████8%
Public Works██████6%
Public Comment█████5%
Community Engagement███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Regular Meeting – March 4, 2025

The Tacoma City Council met on Tuesday, March 4, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included proclamations, public comment, settlement approval, several resolutions, final readings of ordinances, and first readings of ordinances. All votes were unanimous unless noted. The next scheduled study session and business meeting of March 11, 2025, was canceled; the next regular meeting will be March 18, 2025.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolution No. 41629 – Awarding a contract to Sascon, LLC ($671,320 plus 20% contingency) for wastewater sewer and roadway improvements along East McKinley Road. Adopted unanimously.
  • Minutes – Minutes of the Economic Development Committee (April 30, 2024 and May 14, 2024) and the Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee (September 11, 2024) were filed.

Proclamations & Recognitions

  • National 311 Day (March 11, 2025) – Proclaimed by Mayor Woodards. Latoya Mason, Principal Customer Service Analyst, accepted on behalf of the 311 Customer Support Center. Councilmember Rumbaugh praised the service and noted positive community feedback.
  • AmeriCorps Appreciation Week (March 9–15, 2025) – Proclaimed by Mayor Woodards. Amy Ku, AmeriCorps program leader, introduced members Anna Huber (resource navigator at Tacoma Community House) and Seth Gabauer (coordinator at St. Leo Food Connection), who described their service and urged bold systemic action. Councilmember Hines and the Mayor thanked the members for their contributions.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michael Katze (President/CEO, Tacoma-Pierce County Economic Development Board) – Expressed support for Ordinance 29025, stating it provides critical oversight and transparency for the Streets Initiative (Prop 1).
  • Kiara Pfeiffer (Chair, Board of Directors, Tacoma Pierce County Chamber) – Announced the Chamber’s endorsement of Prop 1 contingent on passage of Ordinance 29025, praising the collaboration on expenditure targets, reporting, and public review.
  • Larry Vigary – Supported Resolution 41632 (senior representation), advocating for the experience of residents over 65. He also raised concerns about tax increases and questioned past city decisions on tax breaks and water rights.
  • Kathy Irwin (written and virtual comment) – Opposed Ordinance 29024 (Cascade Water Alliance agreements), arguing it is premature before completing the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District updates and that it risks harming Tacoma residents’ groundwater supply.
  • Three written comments were received: two regarding Ordinance 29024 and one regarding Ordinance 29025.

Discussion & Action Items

  • Settlement Approval – A motion to authorize a $200,000 settlement in Karen Sudderth v. City of Tacoma (two-vehicle collision with a police vehicle on March 13, 2022) was adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution No. 41630 – Award of contract to Active Construction, Inc. ($1,984,984 plus 20% contingency) for modifications to the Leach Creek Stormwater Holding Basin. Adopted unanimously.
  • Resolution No. 41631 – Adoption of the City’s 2025 federal legislative priorities, including general government and Tacoma Public Utilities positions. Presented by Andrea Roper, Government Relations Officer. Adopted unanimously. The council will travel to Washington, D.C. the following week to advocate.
  • Resolution No. 41632 – Declaring inclusion of community members over age 65 on city committees, boards, and commissions a priority, and directing quarterly reporting on senior representation. Introduced by Councilmember Hines, co-sponsored by Councilmembers Bushnell, Rumbaugh, and Sidalga. Councilmember Hines noted that Tacoma is an aging city (people over 50 outnumber those under 5) and that the resolution encourages active recruitment of seniors, similar to the existing youth commission. Adopted unanimously.
  • Ordinance No. 29019 (Final Reading) – Granting a non‑exclusive ten‑year telecommunications franchise to Zayo Group, LLC. Passed unanimously by roll call vote.
  • Ordinance No. 29021 (Final Reading) – Amending pawnbroker, secondhand dealer, and garage sale regulations (Chapter 6B.160), including fee reductions and new exemptions. Councilmember Bushnell highlighted community outreach and fee reductions. Passed unanimously.
  • Ordinance No. 29022 (Final Reading) – Six‑month extension of the moratorium on new Historic Special Review and Conservation Districts, with a detailed Planning Commission workplan. Passed unanimously.
  • Ordinance No. 29023 (First Reading) – Renaming the Citizen Commission on Elected Salaries to the Commission on Elected Salaries to align with City Charter Amendment No. 1. Set over for final reading on March 18, 2025.
  • Ordinance No. 29024 (First Reading) – Authorizing two wholesale water supply agreements with Cascade Water Alliance. Presented by Sean Senascoll (Executive Sponsor, Tacoma Water). The agreements would phase in deliveries of up to 24 million gallons per day (average) and 32.5 million gallons per day (peak) from 2041–2062, then 12 and 15 million gallons per day thereafter. Projected revenue of $1.5 billion over the first 50 years. Councilmember Rumbaugh inquired about public information; a website is available. Councilmember Bushnell compared peak demand to the former WestRock usage (35 million gallons/day at peak) and noted the supply is nested within that. Councilmember Hines emphasized the resilience benefit of potential future reverse flow from Cascade/Seattle systems. Set over for final reading on March 18, 2025.
  • Ordinance No. 29025 (First Reading) – Establishing expenditure targets and reporting requirements for Proposition 1 (Streets Initiative) revenues. Presented by Mayor Woodards and Ramiro Chavez (Public Works Director). Targets: 60% arterial projects, 26% multimodal enhancements, 11% residential maintenance, 3% administrative costs. Over 15 years, expected deliverables include 1,100–1,400 lane miles repaired, 250–300 miles of new sidewalks, 130–170 miles of bike lanes, and 5,200–6,200 residential blocks resurfaced. Annual reports, five‑year evaluations, and a 14‑year planning cycle are required. Councilmember Walker and Hines praised the transparency measures. Set over for final reading on March 18, 2025.

Key Outcomes

  • All consent and regular agenda items passed unanimously.
  • The settlement of the Sudderth lawsuit for $200,000 was approved.
  • The 2025 federal legislative agenda was adopted.
  • Senior representation on city boards was prioritized via Resolution 41632.
  • First readings of ordinances 29023, 29024, and 29025 were set for final reading on March 18, 2025.
  • The March 11, 2025 study session and business meeting were canceled; the community forum originally scheduled for March 11 was rescheduled to March 18, 2025.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of March 4th, 2025. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell. Present. Deputy Mayor Daniels. Absent Councilmember Diaz. Councilmember Hines. Here. Councilmember Rumba here. Councilmember Sidalgate. Here. Councilmember Scott. Absent. Councilmember Walker? Here. Mayor Woodards? Here. Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and flag salute led by Councilmember Diaz, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Piola people where they make their home and speak the La Shutseed language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and invisible with liberty and justice for all agenda modifications. Are there any modifications to the agenda this evening? Seeing none, we will move on to the consent agenda. I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41629. Second. Are there any 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. Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements. We have two ceremonials tonight. For National 311 Day, I would like to invite Latoya Mason, Principal Customer Service Analyst, 311 Customer Support Center to the podium as I read this proclamation. Ask my team to join us. I was gonna say, and if your team is here with you, bring them forward. Yes, thank you. All right. Um, whereas National 311 Day is on March 11th, 2025, and serves as an annual reminder, highlighting the significance of 311 as a resource for communities nationwide to connect with their city, county, and non-emergency services. And whereas the city of Tacoma recognizes community members deserve easy and effective access to information and services, including language translation, better location, mapping information, cross-platform communication, and an easy-to-use mobile app. And whereas assisting over 800,000 community members since its public launch in October of 2013, Tacoma First 311 has empowered community members to contact their government to get accurate service and information quickly and easily. And whereas Tacoma residents can call 311 or visit the Tacoma Municipal Building Monday through Friday from 8 to 5 p.m. or submit an online request any time for help with non-emergency needs and concerns, such as abandoned vehicles, graffiti, noise issues, illegal dumping, connecting with elected officials, and to request assistance from available city services with one click, one call, or one visit. And whereas the ongoing efforts of Tacoma First 311 have improved workflows for city staff by streamlining request processes, reducing bureaucratic hurdles, and collecting comprehensive data, enabling more efficient and effective services. Now, therefore, I, Victoria R. Woodards, mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim March 11th, 2025 as my mother's birthday and national 311 day in the city of Tacoma and encourage all residents to call 311 for help accessing local government services requests and reports. Please join me in a round of applause. I couldn't read the date, March 11th, without acknowledging it was my mother's birthday. So forgive me for adding my mother into your very beautiful proclamation. LaToya, I'll turn it over to you. Thank you, and happy birthday to your mother. Um, on behalf of my small but mighty team and the Tacoma First 311 Customer Support Center, I would like to express our sincere gratitude to the mayor and the city council, city manager, and the community members we serve for their ongoing support of Tacoma First 311.

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