The City Council of Tacoma met on July 29, 2025, at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included adoption of the consent agenda, two proclamations and recognitions, public comment on a wastewater ordinance, adoption of a resolution for a $1 million loan to support affordable housing and retail redevelopment, a first reading of an ordinance to adjust assumed water usage for wastewater billing, a public hearing on a lease of Tacoma Rail property to the Northwest Seaport Alliance, and committee reports.
I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of July 29th, 2025. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell. President. Deputy Mayor Daniels. Oh, Councilmember G. S. Here. Councilmember Hines. Councilmember Rambaugh. Here. Councilmember Sidalgay. Here. Councilmember Scott. Here. Councilmember Walker. Here. And Mayor Woodards. Here. Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and the flag salute led by Councilmember Hines, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands, the trial people where they make their home and speak the Lashutseed language. Please stand for the Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for a moment of silence. Are there any modifications to the agenda this evening? Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. I move to adopt the consent agenda. Second. Are there any questions, comments, or corrections? Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye. The consent agenda is declared adopted. Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements. We have two ceremonials this evening. For the new Tacoma Neighborhood Celebration Day proclamation, I would like to invite members of the New Tacoma Neighborhood Council to the podium as Councilmember Rumbaugh reads the proclamation. Um Tim Fairley, Chair, Thomas Ebenhoe, Vice Chair, Jordan Bermer, Treasurer, Sarah Hughes, Secretary, and Tony Palam Polimeni, Marketing. I'm getting the other one too. You'll get a photo. So I'm gonna uh uh uh uh okay sorry she reads the proclamation first. Then then Tim, you can have all the airtime you want. Okay. Whereas the city of City of Tacoma's neighborhood um council program was initiated in 1978 to foster civic engagement and was officially established by the city council in 1992 through ordinance number 25188, creating eight resident-led councils to represent and advocate for neighborhoods across the city, and whereas the new Tacoma Neighborhood Council represents the heart of the city, including the downtown core and parts of the hilltop, stadium, dome, and port areas, and meets monthly to provide a forum for community dialogue and collaboration, and whereas the council led by dedicated board members Jordan Berman, Anthony Polomeney, Sarah Hughes, Tom Ebenhoe, and Tim Fairley plays a vital role in amplifying neighborhood voices, sharing resources, and strengthening connections between residents and city leadership, and whereas through community events, active engagement, and meaningful partnerships, the new Tacoma Neighborhood Council continues to advance the goals and priorities of its district, building a stronger, more inclusive, and vibrant Tacoma. And whereas the district of New Tacoma is home to celebrated public spaces, local restaurants and museums, entertainment venues, and a rich mix of culture and history that contribute to the city's unique identity and appeal. And whereas on Sunday, April 3rd, 2025, the community will come together for the downtown block party. Woo-hoo, and um opportunity for residents, visitors, and businesses to celebrate the vibrancy of New Tacoma in our urban core. Now, therefore, I, Sarah Rumba, on behalf of the mayor of the City of Tacoma, Victoria Woodards, um, on behalf of the city council, do hereby proclaim Sunday, August 3rd, 2025, as New Tacoma Neighborhood County Celebration Day in the City of Tacoma, and encourage all to take part in the festivities, explore the district, and join in recognizing the contributions of the new Tacoma Neighborhood Council to our shared civic life. Thank you very much, Councilmember Rumbaugh. Can we give them a round of applause? Oh, and I just I want to say before you start talking, Tim, because you can talk for a long time. Um, that I am when I first got on council, New Tacoma Neighborhood Council was still dealing with the pandemic, and you were still kind of online and you were trying to come in person. And I didn't know if you were gonna have a breath left. And you have done so much great work to revitalize the New Tacoma Neighborhood Council. I want to thank all of our neighborhood councils that helped you get here.