Tacoma City Council Meeting - May 13, 2025
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Tacoma City Council Meeting - May 13, 2025
The Tacoma City Council met on May 13, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting began with roll call (Councilmember Rumba absent), a moment of silence for journalist Craig Saylor, and a land acknowledgement. Three proclamations were issued, public comments were heard on several items, and the council took action on resolutions involving the Comprehensive Plan, funding for Porchfest, and urban forestry.
Proclamations & Recognitions
- National Police Week (May 11-17, 2025): Mayor Woodards proclaimed the week in honor of law enforcement, noting over 800,000 officers nationwide and 24,000 line-of-duty deaths. Chief Patty Jackson accepted, reading the names of 11 Tacoma officers and one canine killed in the line of duty.
- Historic Preservation Month (May 2025): Deputy Mayor Daniels read the proclamation, highlighting Tacoma's 194 city landmarks and 9 historic districts. Kevin Bartoy, Landmark Preservation Commission Chair, emphasized preservation as a tool for equity and sustainability.
- Hunger Awareness Month (May 2025): Mayor Woodards proclaimed the month, citing a 130% increase in food assistance since 2019, 190,000 monthly visits to food pantries, and the work of Emergency Food Network (EFN) and Making a Difference Foundation. Liana Olds (EFN Deputy Director) noted 1 in 4 Washingtonians visit a food pantry and warned of proposed SNAP cuts. Andrea Blue (Making a Difference Foundation) described serving 75,000 individuals monthly and distributing 1.5 million pounds of food.
Consent Calendar
- Approved the minutes of the May 14, 2024 City Council meeting. (Resolution 41679 was removed from the consent calendar and considered separately.)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Tom Giske: Spoke in favor of Resolution 41682 (urban forestry), reciting a poem urging support for tree preservation.
- Michelle Reich: Spoke in support of National Police Week, discussing national crime and drug issues.
- Gail Carpincho: Spoke in favor of funding Tacoma Porchfest (Resolution 41681).
- Arena Rasputis: Spoke in favor of Porchfest funding, emphasizing its unique neighborhood-based festival concept.
- James Sicanti: Spoke in favor of Porchfest, describing it as a diverse neighborhood event.
- Patricia Federley: Spoke in favor of Resolution 41682, representing herself and the Tacoma Garden Club, urging adoption.
- Stena Troyer: Spoke in favor of Porchfest, highlighting its community-building aspect.
- Kit Burns: Spoke on Resolution 41680 (Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge design contract), expressing shock at the $280 million total cost and questioning the five-year design timeline.
- Courtney (online): Spoke in favor of Resolution 41682, requesting quick protections for large trees.
- Lowell Wilsie (Executive Director, Tacoma Tree Foundation): Spoke in favor of Resolution 41682, noting 5,000 trees planted in 2024 and urging protection of mature trees.
Discussion Items
- Settlement Claim (Item 7): The council unanimously approved a $212,534.18 settlement for property damage from a Tacoma Water main break.
- Resolution 41680 - Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge Design Contract: Awarded a five-year, $8,985,230 contract to H.W. Lochner, Inc. for preliminary design of spans B through E. Unanimously approved.
- Resolution 41679 (Amended) - Comprehensive Plan Public Hearing: Originally on the consent calendar, Councilmember Bushnell moved to add a perimeter fence code amendment to the June 3, 2025 public hearing. She proposed modifying electric fence standards to allow chain-link in less visible areas, aligning with other regulations. The council voted to add the topic and then amended the resolution accordingly, adopting it unanimously.
- Resolution 41681 - Tacoma Porchfest Sponsorship: Authorized a one-time $10,000 use of Council Contingency Funds. Councilmember Scott described the festival's growth: over 200 bands, 65 stages, 8,000-10,000 attendees in 2024, expanding to two days in 2025 (July 12-13). Unanimously approved.
- Resolution 41682 - Urban Forestry Program: Councilmember Walker presented a four-phase plan: (1) public engagement and consultant analysis, (2) budget proposal for tree maintenance, (3) planning commission review of potential tree preservation regulations, (4) implementation funding. She emphasized this sets a pathway for future decisions. Unanimously approved.
- Ordinance 29034 - Compensation Plan (Final Reading): Amended pay rates for IBEW Local 483 and PT Local 17 units. Passed by roll call (8-0, Rumba absent).
- Ordinances 29035 & 29036 - Budget Adjustments (First Reading): Interim Budget Officer Reid Bennion presented reappropriation ordinances adding $92 million to operating budget ($21 million General Fund) and $36 million to capital budget. These include delayed obligations, grant adjustments, and increased liability expenses. Set over for final reading on May 20.
Reports
- Councilmember Hines, Chair of the Government Performance and Finance Committee, reported on the committee's May 6 meeting, which discussed Bonneville Power Administration contract negotiations and proposed changes to business license fees. The next committee meeting is scheduled for May 20 at 10 a.m.
Community Forum
- Michelle Reich: Spoke on the Vietnam War, honoring South Vietnamese Rangers.
- Sheena Nustin: Requested assistance with alleged police brutality and body camera footage; staff agreed to meet.
- Kit Burns: Criticized Sound Transit's Tacoma Dome Link Extension, suggesting more public involvement and reconsideration of the East Portland Avenue station.
- Singh (last name): Expressed concerns about business impacts from the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge closure, requesting help.
Key Outcomes
- Approved minutes of May 14, 2024.
- Approved settlement of $212,534.18 to All American Restorations.
- Approved Resolution 41680: $8,985,230 contract to H.W. Lochner, Inc. for Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge preliminary design.
- Approved Resolution 41679 (as amended): Added perimeter fence code amendment to the June 3, 2025 Comprehensive Plan public hearing.
- Approved Resolution 41681: $10,000 sponsorship for Tacoma Porchfest.
- Approved Resolution 41682: Directed city manager and planning commission to advance phased urban forestry actions.
- Passed Ordinance 29034 (compensation plan) on final reading (8-0).
- Set Ordinances 29035 and 29036 for final reading on May 20, 2025.
- Excused Councilmember Rumba from the meeting.
- Adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
I would like to call to order the city council meeting of May 13th, 2025. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell. Present. Deputy Mayor Daniels. Here. Councilmember Diaz. Here. Councilmember Hines. Councilmember Rumba? Absent. 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 Sidalgay, followed by a moment of silence in honor of Craig Saylor. Tonight we dedicate our moment of silence to honor the life and legacy of Craig Saylor, a respected journalist, a gifted storyteller, and a beloved member of our community. Craig spent more than 25 years with the Tacoma News Tribune and over four decades in journalism, chronicling our region with compassion, curiosity, and integrity. Whether he was capturing the beauty of the natural world, exploring the history of our neighborhoods, or helping readers understand complex issues, Craig did so with a rare gift for connecting people with a deep sense of purpose. He was known for his warmth, his humor, and his steadfast loyalty to friends and family. Craig loved the outdoors and he loved this place. He gave voice to our stories and shaped how we see ourselves. Today, we remember Craig Saylor not just for the work he did, but for the person he was and the many lives he touched. Behalf of the city council, we want to express our sincere condolences to Craig's family, to his news tribune family, and to the rest of this community who love to read what he wrote. We gratefully gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Piala people where they make their home and speak the Lushutsi language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. All right, are there any agenda 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 resolution number four one six seven nine. Second. Councilmember Bushnell. I would like to remove resolution number four one six seven nine relating to the one to coma conference of plan public hearing from the consent agenda and consider this item under the regular agenda. All right, resolution number four one four one six seven nine will now be considered under the regular agenda after item number eight. 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 three ceremonials this evening. May is a busy month. Um tonight, the first ceremonial we have is for National Police Week proclamation. And I would like to invite Chief Patty Jackson, Deputy Chief Frank Krause from the Tacoma Police Department to the podium as I read this proclamation. And I think there's a couple of other police officers in the room, so please come forward. All right. Whereas the Tacoma Police Department was formed in 1885, and whereas over 800,000 law enforcement officers serve in communities across the United States, including the dedicated members of the Tacoma Police Department.
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