Tacoma City Council Meeting – July 1, 2025
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Tacoma City Council Meeting – July 1, 2025
The Tacoma City Council met on July 1, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting covered consent agenda approvals, a public comment period dominated by criticism of the city manager system voiced during LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month remarks, adoption of two business-license ordinances, and a proclamation declaring July 2025 as LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month. A special staff recognition item was removed from the agenda.
Consent Calendar
- Adopted Resolution No. 41707, authorizing an interlocal agreement with the Washington State Department of Natural Resources for forestland wildfire response (three-year term).
- Adopted Resolution No. 41708, awarding a contract to Northwest Cascade, Inc. in the amount of $1,072,421.00 plus a 20% contingency (total $1,286,905.20) for utility and roadway improvements near the Recovery and Transfer Center, budgeted from various funds.
- First reading of Ordinance No. 29047, vacating portions of 6th Avenue and North Prospect Street to cure building encroachments (set over to a date to be determined).
- Councilmember Diaz abstained from the consent agenda due to a conflict of interest (her day job involves a state agency related to the DNR interlocal agreement).
Public Comments & Testimony
- Michelle Reich expressed strong support for the Pride Month proclamation, recounting her role in passing Tacoma’s first gay rights ordinance in 2001 with help from then-Representative Lori Jenkins.
- Gemini (pregnant, identifying as a lesbian and indigenous) voiced support for Pride but criticized the South Tacoma mega warehouse project and the part-time council/city manager system, arguing it disproportionately harms queer and indigenous residents.
- Mark Andrews supported the Pride proclamation but called for replacing the unelected city manager position to increase democratic representation.
- Marilyn Kimmerling supported Pride Month but criticized the city manager system, citing past problematic city managers and alleged illegal surveillance (stingrays); she was reminded to tie comments to the agenda.
- Elizabeth Parker supported Pride Month and demanded the removal of the city manager position, citing a history of injustices.
- Ifa (Climate Alliance of the South Sound) called the Pride proclamation hypocritical (“pink washing”), criticized the city manager’s 28‑year tenure, and referenced the Stonewall riots. Her time expired.
Proclamation & Recognition
- Mayor Woodards read the LGBTQIA2S+ Pride Month proclamation, declaring July 2025 as Pride Month, honoring the late Shelby Fritz, and reaffirming the city’s commitment to inclusion.
- Councilmember Diaz announced the ribbon‑cutting of a permanent Pride crosswalk on Broadway (between 9th and 11th), the first of its kind in Tacoma.
- Troy Christensen (Rainbow Center board president), Rochelle Ganderood (Queer City Collective co‑chair), and Chris Larson (Queer City Collective co‑chair) thanked the council and emphasized the importance of supportive leadership.
- Oliver Webb (executive director, Diversity Alliance of the Puget Sound) spoke emotionally, defending the proclamation and condemning those who “hijacked” the event; he explained that July Pride originated from permit constraints, not competition with Seattle.
Discussion Items
- Ordinance No. 29045 (final reading): Amends the municipal license code – increases the minimum threshold for out‑of‑city business license requirements, renames “Home Occupation” to “Residential Business,” increases multiple regulatory license fees, and clarifies language. Effective August 1, 2025. Passed unanimously.
- Ordinance No. 29046 (final reading): Adds a new chapter on “After‑Hours Clubs,” updates fees and language for entertainment/dancing establishments, and adds sections on hours and bona fide private club evidence. Effective August 1, 2025. Passed unanimously.
Key Outcomes
- Consent agenda adopted with one abstention (Diaz). Ordinance 29047 set over to a future date.
- Special staff recognition removed from agenda by motion (moved and seconded, passed).
- Pride Month proclamation adopted.
- Ordinances 29045 and 29046 passed unanimously on final reading.
- No reports from the City Manager; meeting adjourned.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call to order the city uh council meeting of July 1st, 2025. Clerk, please call the roll. Councilmember Bushnell. President. Deputy Mayor Daniels. Here. Councilmember Diaz. Councilmember Heinz. 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 Sidage, 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 Leschutseed language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. Under God. I like your scot. All right, moving on in the agenda. Agenda modifications. Are there any are there any agenda modifications this evening? Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41707 and 41708. And first reading of ordinance two nine zero four seven. Second. Are there any council questions or comments? Seeing none. Second. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed. The motion is declared adopted. All those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, including setting ordinances number two nine zero four-seven over to a date to be determined. Please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed. The consent agenda is declared oh yes. Sorry, I'm not opposed, I'm just abstaining. Oh, gotcha. Sorry about that. All right, we have one abstention. Um let's just do that again. Um that no problem. All those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, signify by saying aye. Aye.
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