I'd like to call to order the city council special meeting of August 8th, 2025.

Clerk, 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.

Clerk, have we received any written public comment for today's special meeting?

We've received 31 comments.

Right.

And those comments are in our box at this time.

They have been emailed and I believe they're published online also.

Great.

Thank you very much.

All right.

So today we are here to take action on initiative measure number two as it is mandated within 30 days by our charter.

As I noted on Tuesday, we have two options per our charter.

Either to adopt the ordinance as is, either to adopt the initiative as is in an ordinance or reject it, which would require sending it to the voters.

Since we did not have an ordinance come forward before the materials were posted, we will only be considering the resolution to be submitted to the voters.

So item one, Clerk, will you please read Resolution 41733, a resolution calling for a special election on November 4th, 2025, providing for transmittal to the Pierce County Auditor as ex officio supervisor of elections of initiative measure number two for placement on the November 4th, 2025 special election ballot and directing the city clerk to transmit to the Pierce County Auditor a certified copy of this resolution?

I move to adopt resolution number 4173.

Second.

All right.

Thank you, Mayor.

Mayor, Deputy Mayor, members of City Council.

Steve Victor with the City Attorney's Office.

The reason that we call for a special election is that the general election by state law is limited to regular recurring topics.

So for example, council elections in odd years, you know, state and federal elections in even years.

Any topic that is not recurring regular is automatically by state law a special election.

So every ballot measure, uh whether it's an initiative or one the council puts on, is always a special election by state law.

And so when we uh adopt legislation uh referring something to the voters, it is always a special election it and city attorney and if there are any questions, please please um council.

If you have questions, let me know.

So I I'd never realized that is as long as I've been in politics, never realized that.

So does that mean like when the school district puts a bond or a levy on the November election or the park district, or even if we put the streets initiative on?

I'm just trying to get I'm trying to get really I want to really understand this.

Whenever that's on a November election, which a lot of times it has been, that's considered a special election.

That is, Mayor.

Um so the parks district, uh, school district, uh, any special district putting on an election or municipality uh that is not regular, that is not a political office, is technically under state law a special election, and so the legislation will call for that.

Councilmember Scott, thank you, Mayor.

Uh thank you, Steve, for that uh explanation.

Uh the other question I have just as a follow-up, and maybe this is why we didn't notice it was a special election type of thing.

Does it just show up on the regular ballot with everything else, even though it's still considered a special it it absolutely will be, but it'll be listed as you know in the voters' pamphlet and in the uh on the ballot as a special election, but it will be on the same ballot and the same voters pamphlet.

Thank you.

Never noticed there was a special election section on the ballot, just filled out my ballot.

All right.

Well, with that, um, we have this motion before us, and I just um want to offer an opportunity um for any council comments, either from those online or those here in person before we move to the question.

Are there any comments?

Any questions, concerns, any um thoughts people want to share at this point.

All right.

Um, I just I I I just I want to share just a few thoughts of my own this morning.

Um I want to start by um recognizing and sincerely appreciating the work of many people who work to bring this initiative forward, um, and those who signed in support of it.

Um the energy and advocacy and commitment to improving lady labor standards in our city are deeply valued.

I I want to make sure that that they that you understand that.

I also want to acknowledge that this proposal is rooted in principles that I and many of members of this council believe in.

Principles like fair treatment of workers, safe workplaces, and quality job for our residents.

These are goals that we all share.

And I think they're shared by this council, they're shared by those who brought this initiative forward, they're shared by um our business partners, um, and and and they're shared by our nonprofits and government entities.

I think everybody knows that the work that we do wouldn't happen without those that we employ.

Um but in light of that, I I just want to share my thoughts this morning that I have I have deep concerns.

Um I have deep concerns about the specific implications of this particular resolution.

Um there are legal complexities and potential impacts that we do still not yet, even after 30 days, completely understand.

And the lack of this and the lack of clarity makes this a difficult path to navigate.

And I'm concerned that it not only is a difficult path to navigate right now, but the implementation of this for local employers are gonna have a very difficult time.

And when I say local employers, I'm including the city as an employer and any government entity.

Additionally, um I want to be honest and say I'm concerned that the pro that the proposal does not include the full range of voices at the table, both employees and employers.

We heard um from the young 15-year-old a couple weeks ago who shared um the impacts of the adoption of this initiative on the impacts it will have on her and her ability to work.

And I imagine if she came forward, there are lots of others out there who share the same concerns.

Um we've heard from community members and businesses and partners who are all working in good faith and want to see strong labor protections in Tacoma.

I don't think this is a this is a we don't want any labor standards or we don't want to pay good wages.

I don't that's not, I believe, the thought of the thoughts of those in our community.

But um, as I've heard from people, partners like the Goodwill of the Olympics in Rainier Region, who've served Tacoma for over a century, they've expressed a strong interest in contributing to the conversation because they have shared concerns about how this initiative would negatively impact their services and services from many nonprofits that would fall under the large businesses because of national affiliates, such as the Urban League or United Way of Tacoma of Pierce County, the boys and girls clubs, the YMCA, um, and more.

And I want to say I don't think that those who brought the initiative forward um purposefully brought something forward that would do harm to those organizations.

But the reality is that what is currently written could actually have grave impact on those organizations.

Um and even with the best of intentions, um not everybody has access to the full picture or the ability to anticipate every consequence of this policy and the effects it will have on everyone in this community.

Um as we move forward with this vote.

I hope that we can continue to find ways to work across sectors and perspectives to thoughtfully improve labor standards in Tacoma in a way that is both fair for the employee and for the employer, um, and is effective for all of those concerned.

So while we have an obligation to move this to the auditor's office to forward this to the auditor's office, I just still have, as I've already outlined, really deep concern about its passing and its and its unanticipated effects on all of those who live in this community.

Um so with that, um, those are my comments, and I see that council member Heinz has his hand up, and I'm gonna call on council member Heinz for his comments.

Sorry, Madam Mayor, I was not quick enough on the raise hand button there.

I just wanted to take a moment to I think reiterate what you've said here, just add a little bit more, which is you know, I think you've all been very clear that we believe you know things like fair wages, predictable schedules and safe workplaces are things that we deeply value when we think every work in the country have access to.

I think over the last 30 days, we've been talking about this.

I think we've learned more and more about potential impacts and other consequences that would come from this initiative or this has written.

Give me a lot of concern.

I will just say it as it multiple times that the initial writers of this initiative and talk to a few council members back in July of 2024 about what they were proposing.

And at that time, we were willing to work with them on addressing some of the issues they've brought forward, which are fair wages, predictable schedules, work safety.

Um at the time the people who brought forward the initiative decided they did not want to work with us and wanted to go forward and bring their tax to the voters and collect signatures.

Um I again I appreciate their effort and I commend them on their effort to bring us forward and remember remind us that these are really critical issues.

But what is written currently just something I don't think I I can support and I have deep concerns about impacts.

And I wish we could have come to a place prior to this where we could have worked together to understand some of these pension impacts to have a broader conversation about stakeholders to really get at some of the nuance that exists, because this is a broad policy that packs every person doing business in the city of Tacoma.

And I don't quite know if it reflects what I don't think it reflects the actual nuance of the different um types of businesses that you work here in the city and the different requirements, up to and including some of our own workers here in the city.

And I have real concerns about some of our employees and services that require people to be available at a moment's notice on short term, and what impacts this has on our ability to deliver critical service to people when they're in the time of need.

So I just want to make sure I make that very clear, um, Madam Mayor, and thank you for the opportunity to comment.

Thank you very much, Councilmember Hines.

And I and I and I think uh I I just want to add to this, I will be voting yes today because it's our obligation.

Um, but um uh but I I vote yes with very, very deep concerns.

Um with that, if there aren't any further comments, and I see none online and none here, um, I will call for the question.

All those in favor of adopting resolution number 41733 signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, the resolution is declared adopted.

Um moving on to briefing items.

Our briefing item is on the Tacoma Labor Standards Task Force.

Um, earlier this week, I shared um I shared with you all that I'm bringing forward a resolution um, which will be in our agenda on next Tuesday evening.

Um, that I'd like to bring forward.

And if there are changes you would like to see, I'd be happy to discuss them today to bring forward a substitute or make amendments as appropriate.

Regardless of the outcome of this initiative, the concerns and questions raised about labor standards really warrant further discussion and consideration.

And I think that council member um Hines um uh said it best.

Um we could have done this in the fall, but didn't didn't or done it in the spring, but didn't know what initiative would be coming forward, or if one would actually think there would be enough signatures to bring something forward.

So some would say this is a little too late, but I still think it's incredibly important that we do this.

Um it doesn't matter what the outcome is, we really need to um to address some of the concerns that were raised about the labor standards, and they really warrant further discussion and consideration.

The task force I'm proposing would examine labor standards, both identified in the initiative and brought up by a community feedback and bring forward recommendations for further policy improvements to the city council for consideration.

To share more details, this 15-member task force would be appointed by the council, with each council member appointing one member, preferably from their district, um, to ensure geographic and cultural diversity that represents the Tacoma community.

The remaining seven members and two alternates would be nominated by me with input from the council to represent business interests and community organizations, and we'll strive to represent the following views that are not already included in the council nominations, such as large, medium, and small businesses in various fields, local chambers of commerce, work development agencies, apprenticeship programs, human resource and legal experts, union advocates, current minimum wage workers, unionized and non-unionized, education leaders, university, community and technical colleges, youth voice, equity focused viewpoints, for example, disabled disability, gender and orientation and gender and or gender and orientation and racial and cultural organizations.

If adopted next Tuesday, my proposal timeline for appointing these members would be as follows.

August 22nd, deadline for council appointments shared with the mayor's office.

Through September 2nd, I will work to select the additional appointees and alternates with your consultation based on whom we've already selected, whom you've already selected.

September 3rd, my team would submit the memo for appointments to the city clerk's office, and on September 9th, we would appoint members of the task force.

It is my expectation that this task force would meet weekly to keep conversations moving quickly, especially with the coming holidays.

This resolution would also allocate $50,000 in council contingency funds to support the facilitation of this committee as a city manager sees fit.

So those are my thoughts on what it would look like, uh, what the timeline would be and how we would move forward.

Um I would now ask if there are any council questions or comments, and I'm happy to speak to them.

Um if we want to make again, if we want to make proposals, uh changes to my proposal before next Tuesday, staff will work to incorporate these changes and amendments as needed.

All right, with that, I'll call on council member Heinz.

Uh thank you, Madam Mayor.

So my question would be if each of the council members select individuals from their council district.

Then your intention is then to look at all those people we picked, and then use that to formulate kind of the additional members you're going to be adding.

Is that correct?

That is absolutely correct.

Okay.

I think that's just something I want to make sure that when we put this together, it was able to make sure we're getting as broader perspective and as many impacting people as possible.

I think that's something that uh has come through loud and clear as we have the conversation about the current initiative.

It's just uh making sure that uh there's enough voices that reflect kind of the broad diversity in our community and things that they uh are concerned about.

And so I'm glad to hear that.

Thank you.

Great.

Thank you.

Councilmember Scott, uh, can you just clarify the question that was just asked?

I just couldn't, yep, no problem.

No, he he was asking um uh and and I I only heard some of it, so I think it I think it was more of a comment than the question.

I think you're breaking up just a little bit, John.

But let me see if I got this with what I heard was correct.

His question was the idea is that you all we we would all select a person, and then we would based on who was selected by the council, we would then use the other positions to fill in where we see whole.

So, like if if one of you select a big employer, then I wouldn't bring forward another name for a big employer.

I would look and see where we're missing people based on that long list, and then fill in names.

Um working with you all to fill in the names of so that we have full representation at the end.

Okay, thank you.

I appreciate that.

You're welcome, no problem.

Any other questions or comments?

Councilmember Sidalgay.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

I am very supportive of this, actually.

Uh, my only logistical question or request would be uh a little more leeway in August, since I will be out in August for me to uh be able to find someone in my district that could represent.

Okay, and we can talk about that.

Yeah, yeah.

Um, you're having a baby, nobody else has an excuse.

Well, I mean, sorry, you you're not having a baby.

You're you're go you're going to be welcoming um a baby.

Your wife is doing all that work.

Councilmember Bush now.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Uh, I just want to just I don't have any questions, I just approve really appreciate your leadership on this.

I think um, regardless of the outcome of the measure, these are really important topics, and it's really important that we have uh diversity of voices from across all industries and all places and all people to make sure we have a really nuanced and robust piece of uh potential policy and recommendations uh from this body.

And uh, you know, I'm really really supportive of this, and uh just uh I'm looking forward to uh finding folks that'll be able to best represent our entire community to be able to come together and really uh put together uh you know, we all agree.

And uh, you know, I'm really really supportive of this, and uh just uh I'm looking forward to uh finding folks that'll be able to best represent our entire community to be able to come together and really uh put together uh you know, we all agree um, you know, well, I don't say we all agree, but we all we all feel that you know you know, strong wages, um, you know, safe workplaces and uh you know predictable scheduling is is important across the board.

And so I think this group will really find a way to to make it work for everybody.

So thank you, Mayor.

Great.

Councilmember Diaz.

I was wondering, because I don't see it in the document, if you can talk a little bit more about what the goal of this task force is, or if there are stated goals and what their deadline is.

So um haven't put it want to work with the city manager to um to figure out what the deadline needs to be just because um we will hire someone to help facilitate um the task force, um, but we'll need to use additional staff in order to help support the task force, and so city manager is working on um figuring out where those bodies can come from.

And so while work with the city manager to put uh a timeline on it, we'd like to get it done within six months.

We don't want it to last forever, but want to work with the city manager so that he can identify um uh when that deadline could be and when he could get the uh right amount of staff.

The reason I'm bringing it forward without all of that is because I want to, it's gonna take us a little while to get it appointed, so I want us to be able to work simultaneously and not wait till he can tell us where the staff is coming from, and then we go through the appointment process.

So we're kind of flying the plane um and building it at the same time.

Um but but their job would be um number one to to go through initiative two to look at initiative two itself, um, to to talk about some of the things that we couldn't quite figure that we couldn't quite get all the answers to about kind of some of the impacts that we see and how we might better propose um the right thing for Tacoma.

And so they'll be looking at initiative two, plus there are some additional labor standards that may not be covered in initiative two that we want to give them the opportunity to look at.

And so the easy thing that I would point out is um initiative two um recognizes um uh uh increase um in minimum wage to 20.

Is 20 the right number for Tacoma?

Um what what does that look like?

What is the impact of that?

And is that the right number for Tacoma, or is it 19 or is it 21?

Um and so to be able to talk with businesses and figure out what's right for Tacoma, that's just one simple example.

We all agree that we want I think there's been a concern for a long time as it relates to um secured scheduling and and how we make sure that employees get the right amount of notice for scheduling.

Um and so what is what does that look like for Tacoma?

And so they'll be making recommendations on that and also taking into account what's um what it looks like, at least in my mind, what it looks like when you have um uh a CBA versus if you don't have a CBA and what the effects and impacts are and how that works to implement something like this.

So those are just some of the things I'm thinking of, Councilmember Diaz.

It could be more, it could be I'm sure it will be a lot more than that, but those are just a few examples that come up in my mind.

Um okay, and then I have a question that might be for Steve, um, unless you know the answer, Mayor.

Is are we allowed to convene this kind of work while there's a ballot initiative on the ballot?

Um council member, this is Steve Victor from City Attorney's Office.

Uh the council is always free to deliberate and initiate its own legislation and adopt it if you see fit.

Uh there's never an inhibition on the council.

Okay.

Um and then I think my maybe my last question is Mayor, can you speak to why there's a fiscal piece of this, why it can't be absorbed into work already existing?

Absolutely.

Um as we know, we are already in a budget crisis and have made some really um uh some real difficult decisions.

And in order to get this going, you know, there are a lot of work plans that are already in place and moving forward.

And in order to get this going sooner rather than later, um, if we were to try to absorb it just within the organization, um, it would probably take a lot longer to get the work done.

So, in order to get this moving quickly, hiring an outside consultant who can facilitate the group is is what we're proposing.

When uh in 2015, when we did 15 now, um and we did the minimum wage task force, um that was also facilitated by someone outside of the organization.

So we're also kind of following the structure that we've used before.

How do we decide the consultator?

I I would I would ask the city attorney or the city manager to answer that question.

Um council member, typically our policies do call for competitive selection where occasionally there are you know special subject matter expertise or other special qualifications, uh, we would request the council waive competitive selection.

But the standard policy is competitive selection.

Okay.

Um I guess I just have a little bit of concern around this proposal, so I think maybe I'll save some other questions for when we actually take a vote on it, but it doesn't feel quite ready to go for me yet.

All right, and we can talk, we can and and we too, uh, Councilmember Diaz, you and I can talk offline as well.

All right.

Um, are there any council questions or comments?

All right.

Um with that, I'll move on.

Are there any final are there any final council comments?

All right, seeing none, um, Deputy Mayor, I'll give the last motion to you.

All right, I move to adjourn.

Second.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed?

The ayes have it.

We stand adjourned.

Have a good week, have a good weekend, everyone.