Tacoma City Council Meeting – June 24, 2025: Comprehensive Plan Adoption, Director Appointments, and Proclamation
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Tacoma City Council Meeting – June 24, 2025
The Tacoma City Council met on June 24, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included a moment of silence for Shelby Fritz, adoption of the comprehensive plan amendments, confirmation of two department directors, and a proclamation for the City of Destiny Awards Day. Several public comments addressed the comprehensive plan and other issues.
Consent Calendar
- Resolution 41704 was adopted, awarding a contract to Specialized Pavement Marking, LLC for $1,056,400.12 (plus 10% contingency) for citywide roadway striping and maintenance services. (Unanimous)
Public Comments & Testimony
- Written Comments: Two comments were submitted regarding Resolution 41704 and 48 regarding Ordinance 29041.
- Kathy Irwin (South Tacoma, District 3) expressed concern that the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan update excluded the Bridge Industrial project and lacked baseline neighborhood data, questioning equity and best available science.
- Michelle Reich objected to the term "City of Destiny," stating it has racial connotations linked to Manifest Destiny and colonization of Native American lands.
- Ellen Chapelka (Tacoma for All, renter) spoke in favor of the comprehensive plan, praising renter protections that drew her to Tacoma and thanking council members for amendments.
- Devin Rydell Kelly (Tacoma for All, District 3) thanked the planning commission and council members for amendments including social housing language and tenant protections, and urged against rolling back the Landlord Fairness Code. He offered collaboration on social housing.
- Ty Moore (Tacoma for All) echoed support for the comprehensive plan and urged transparent public dialogue on any proposed changes to eviction protections.
Discussion Items
- Proclamation: The council proclaimed Thursday, June 26, 2025, as City of Destiny Awards Day, recognizing the 39th annual awards ceremony at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall. Jessica Johnston, Chair of the City Events and Recognitions Committee, accepted the proclamation.
- Appointment of Ramiro Chavez as Environmental Services Director: The council confirmed the appointment effective June 30, 2025, after a presentation by Deputy City Manager Hyung Kim and remarks by Chavez. Unanimous vote.
- Appointment of Jeffrey Jenkins as Public Works Director: The council confirmed the appointment effective June 30, 2025, after a presentation by Deputy City Manager Kim and remarks by Jenkins. Unanimous vote.
- Planning Commission Appointments (Resolution 41705): On recommendation of Councilmember Walker, the council appointed Marie Reynolds, Troy Sarrad, and Brett Marlowe to the Planning Commission. Unanimous vote.
- Purchase Resolution (Resolution 41706): Awarded a $3,850,000 contract (plus 10% contingency) to Reed Trucking and Excavating, Inc. for roadway and stormwater improvements on East Roosevelt Avenue. Unanimous vote.
- Ordinance 29041 – Comprehensive Plan Amendments (Final Reading): The council adopted the 2025 amendments to the One Tacoma Comprehensive Plan and Transportation and Mobility Plan. Two amendments were passed:
- Mayor Woodards moved to add a recital clarifying that the comprehensive plan is a planning document that does not dictate specific outcomes and implementation requires further analysis, outreach, and balancing of resources. Adopted unanimously.
- Councilmember Scott and Deputy Mayor Daniels moved to substitute an amended priority actions table for the housing chapter, emphasizing affordable housing development, a social housing feasibility study, land banking, and affordable homeownership. Adopted unanimously. The final roll call vote on the ordinance as amended was unanimous (9-0).
- Ordinance 29042 – Land Use Code Amendments (Final Reading): Adopted minor code amendments and a perimeter fence code amendment. Councilmember Bushnell moved to amend the fence code to require landscape buffers for electric fences adjacent to designated pedestrian streets, with specifications for width and planting. Adopted unanimously. The ordinance as amended passed unanimously (9-0).
- Ordinances 29045 and 29046 – License Code Amendments (First Reading): Presented by Danielle Larson, Tax and License Division Manager. Ordinance 29045 would increase the out-of-city business license threshold from $2,000 to $4,000 (with future CPI adjustments), increase 13 regulatory license fees (generating ~$40,000 annually), and rename "Home Occupation" to "Residential Business." Ordinance 29046 would create a new after-hours club license requiring security personnel, video surveillance, a written safety plan, and an on-site inspection by police and fire departments, addressing a gap that allowed previous clubs to operate without safety measures. Both ordinances were set over for final reading next week.
Key Outcomes
- Confirmed Directors: Ramiro Chavez (Environmental Services) and Jeffrey Jenkins (Public Works) were confirmed unanimously.
- Adopted Comprehensive Plan: Ordinance 29041 as amended passed 9-0, including new recitals and a revised housing priority actions table.
- Adopted Land Use Code Amendments: Ordinance 29042 as amended passed 9-0, with new fencing landscape requirements.
- Set Over for Final Reading: Ordinances 29045 and 29046 will receive final reading on July 1, 2025.
Community Forum
- Nicole Tedora (Puyallup condo owner, Rainbow Center volunteer, domestic violence survivor) highlighted wheelchair accessibility issues on Tacoma roads and at venues like The Camp Bar and The Mule. She was directed to speak with Neighborhood and Community Services.
- Michelle Reich discussed the state of war with Iran and historical grievances leading to Iranian animosity toward the U.S.
- Kathy Lahan criticized FPI Management Inc., which manages Hilltop housing properties, following a Washington State Attorney General lawsuit announced June 13, alleging scams against seniors and low-income tenants. She urged the city to stop doing business with the company.
- Written Comments: Two emails were received, one regarding including health impacts in legislation and one regarding negative effects of large trucks.
Council Comments & Reports
- Mayor Woodards reminded the public of the City of Destiny Awards event on June 26. No committee reports were given; they were deferred to next week.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of June 24th, 2025. Clerk, will you please join? Will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell. Present. Deputy Mayor Daniels. Here. Councilmember Diaz. Here. Councilmember 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 Rumba, followed by a moment of silence for Shelby Fritz. Tonight's moment of silence for Shelby Fritz, our human resource director, who recently passed away. Shelby was a fighter, both in her personal journey and in her professional leadership. Shelby led with integrity, compassion, and an unwavering commitment to serving the people of the city. Her leadership touched every department and every employee. And her legacy will live on in the culture of care she helped to create. In her memory, I hope we will all continue to carry that spirit forward, seeking those quiet moments to connect, to uplift, and to care for one another. To the employees of the city, to those who knew Shelby, who worked with Shelby. Last week, dedicated a moment of silence to Jeff Robinson, our community, our former community and economic development director. And this week losing our dear dear Shelby. That we lead and do the work with the same passion, with the same commitment, and with the same idea that everybody, whether they are inside the walls of the city, of City Hall, or in the four corners of the city, that everyone is valuable and everyone has something great to contribute. And I don't say that to you in a preachy way because I know that you all are already committed. But I say it to you to remember in those dark times that you'll have in the coming weeks and the coming months at the loss of these incredible human beings, that you'll just take a little bit of stock in remembering that they would want you to continue to do the great work that you do as employees of this city. To Shelby's family, on behalf of this council and the entire city, I want you to know that we extend our deepest and heartfelt sympathy to you. We know what a loss it is to us as a city, and we can't imagine the pain that you may be feeling right now. But I want you to know that Shelby was special to us just as Jeff was special to us, and we will carry their legacy. Agenda modifications. On tonight's agenda for item seven, ordinance number two nine zero four one, we will have a motion to substitute an amendment an amended actions table in the comprehensive plan. Are there any additional 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 41704. Second. Are there any council comments, questions, 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 one ceremonial tonight. For the City of Destiny Awards Day proclamation, I would like to invite Jessica Johnston, Chair of the City Events and Recognitions Committee to the podium as the Deputy Mayor reads the proclamation. And please, all the members, I see you coming, all the members of the CERC uh committee, please come forward.
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