OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting Summary – August 19, 2025

City Council — Tuesday, August 19, 2025
BodyTacoma, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, August 19, 2025
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 1:04:59

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of August 19th, 2025.

0:08

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

0:10

Councilmember Bushnell.

0:11

Present.

0:11

Councilmember Deputy Mayor Daniels is absent.

0:15

Councilmember Diaz.

0:16

Here.

0:16

Councilmember Hines.

0:18

Here.

0:18

Councilmember Ramba.

0:20

Here.

0:20

Councilmember Sidalgay is absent.

0:23

Councilmember Scott?

0:24

Here.

0:24

Councilmember Walker.

0:25

Here.

0:26

And Mayor Woodards.

0:27

Here.

0:28

Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and flag salute led by Councilmember Walker, followed by a moment of silence.

0:34

We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Piolet people where they make their home and speak the Lachutsi language.

0:42

Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence.

0:49

Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America.

0:54

And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for all the are there any modifications to the agenda this evening?

1:40

Seeing none, we will uh move on to the consent agenda.

1:49

I move to adopt the consent agenda.

1:51

Oh, do I have to beat this too?

1:52

Okay.

1:53

Resolution.

1:54

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41736.

1:59

Second.

2:00

All right, are there any are there any council questions or corrections?

2:03

All right, seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye.

2:08

Aye.

2:09

All those opposed.

2:10

The consent agenda is declared adopted.

2:12

Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements.

2:15

We have three ceremonials tonight.

2:18

And for the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics Washington, I'd like to invite Theo Milner, Special Olympics Washington Athlete and a part of the Tacoma School District's transition program, and Denny Eliason, board president for Special Olympics of Washington to the podium as I read the proclamation and this recognition, and I'll invite anybody else who is here from Special Olympics to join to join Denny and Theo at the podium.

2:48

Anyone else who is here from Special Olympics, and I'll call you by name if you don't come up.

2:59

There we go.

3:00

I thought I recognized some Special Olympics people.

3:03

All right.

3:05

Whereas for 50 years, Special Olympics Washington has inspired communities across our state through inclusive sports training, health programming, leadership development, and community engagement for individuals with and without intellectual and development disabilities.

3:22

And whereas Special Olympics Washington is more than a sports organization, it is a movement rooted in dignity, empowerment, and inclusion, enriching the lives of more than 12,000 participants and their families, including many here in Tacoma.

3:38

And whereas the City of Tacoma has been proud to stand alongside this remarkable organization, most recently as the host of the 2025 State Spring Games and the first ever opening ceremony held at our very own Chini Stadium.

3:54

A historic milestone in this 50th anniversary.

3:58

And whereas the spirit continues to grow through programs like unified champion schools, inclusive health initiatives, youth leadership, and tribal partnerships, ensuring that every athlete, volunteer, and supporter has a place to belong and thrive.

4:15

And whereas their passion and dedication, athletes, families, coaches, volunteers, and law enforcement partners across Tacoma have strengthened the mission and future of Special Olympics Washington, demonstrating the power of community and the impact of simply showing up.

4:33

Now, therefore, I, Victoria R.

4:35

Woodards, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council and the over 225,000 residents of Tacoma to hereby recognize the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics Washington in the city and invite residents to join us as we mark this anniversary and look to the future with a renewed commitment to building a more inclusive city where equity, access, and opportunity are guaranteed for every person of every ability.

5:06

Please join me in a round of applause.

5:15

And I'd like to call on Theo and Denny to make a few comments.

5:19

Theo, do you want to go first?

5:22

I like playing in fight sports because it's fun competing and being a part of a team.

5:32

I like making new friends and meeting people from other teams.

5:38

It gives me a chance to get little exercise and being outdoors too.

5:45

I think Special Olympics is important because it gives people with disabilities a chance to play sports and feel included.

5:56

Good job, Theo.

6:01

All right, Denny.

6:03

Excuse me.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Procedural██████████████████18%
Public Comment███████████████15%
Community Engagement██████████████14%
Public Health███████████11%
Workforce Development██████████10%
Public Safety█████████9%
Pending Litigation████████8%
Disability Rights██████6%
Arts And Culture███3%
Summary of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting Summary – August 19, 2025

The Tacoma City Council met on August 19, 2025, at 5:00 PM. The meeting included proclamations, recognitions, public comment, approvals of consent items, settlements, appointments, a property tax exemption agreement, and a documentary sponsorship. Councilmembers Bushnell, Diaz, Hines, Ramba, Scott, and Walker were present; Deputy Mayor Daniels and Councilmember Sadalge were absent; Mayor Woodards recused herself from a settlement item due to a conflict of interest, and Councilmember Walker served as presiding officer for that portion.

Consent Calendar

  • Resolution No. 41736 – Approved a $175,000 increase (to a total of $625,000) to the contract with Snowflake Inc. for Cloud Data Platform subscription services, budgeted from the Information Technology Fund.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • Michelle Reich – Shared personal history with Special Olympics, noting participation in a 1973 relay that became part of a national publicity campaign for the organization.
  • Michelle Anderson (District 3 resident) – Opposed agenda item 25-0757 (settlement for Timothy Rankine and Katherin Chinn). Argued that city officials did not incite hatred; Rankine's reputation was harmed by his own actions. Urged council to reject the settlement and not allow a "murderer and his wife profiting off of his time in the public eye."
  • Andy Shandstrom (District 3 resident) – Urged council to vote no on item 25-0757 and let the claims be decided in court, preferably by a jury. Stated that the statements from city officials did not cause damages—Rankine's participation in the murder of Manny Ellis did.
  • Xandria O'Shea Tucker – Expressed concerns about the $15,000 documentary sponsorship (item 12), questioning its content and urgency given homelessness, police harassment, illegal evictions, and lack of healthcare access. Stated that people are dying outside and BIPOC communities are not being served.

Discussion Items

  • Item 25-0755 – Turner et al. settlement: $2,300,000 for a pedestrian-vehicle collision on July 6, 2018 at S. 12th St. and S. Puget Sound Ave. (Claim no. 23-2-06685-1).
  • Item 25-0757 – Settlement for Timothy Rankine and Katherin Chinn: $600,000 for claims arising from June 4, 2020 to present. Councilmember Scott spoke about Manny Ellis's humanity and the difficulty of the decision, emphasizing fiscal responsibility and the need to consider the best path for the city.
  • Item 9 (RES41737) – Reappointments to the Board of Building Appeals: Nicholas Grossi, James Collins, and Michael Taggles.
  • Item 10 (RES41738) – Reappointments to the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board: Faith Brown, Katie Matron, and Rowan Higley.
  • Item 11 (RES41739) – Approval of a 12-year multifamily housing property tax exemption for Trautman Homes LLC at 1420 S. J Street (6 units—4 market-rate, 2 regulated-rate). Net positive impact of $56,500 to the city over the exemption period.
  • Item 12 (RES41740) – One-time use of $15,000 from Council Contingency Funds to sponsor "Grit of Destiny: City of Tacoma" documentary, showcasing local culture, history, and aspirations.

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda – Adopted by voice vote with no opposition.
  • Settlement (Turner) – Authorized by voice vote with no opposition.
  • Settlement (Rankine/Chinn) – Authorized by voice vote with no opposition.
  • RES41737 – Adopted by voice vote.
  • RES41738 – Adopted by voice vote.
  • RES41739 – Adopted by voice vote.
  • RES41740 – Adopted by voice vote.
  • Absences excused: Councilmember Sadalge and Deputy Mayor Daniels.
  • Meeting adjourned at approximately 6:44 PM.

Reports

  • Acting City Manager – Reported that the city hosted a major event welcoming nearly 1,000 guests, generating ~2,500 hotel room nights and over $1.7 million in economic impact, with over $500,000 in direct revenue to the convention center. Also announced the transfer of two shuttles to the Tacoma Rescue Mission for non-emergency medical transport, reducing 911 calls and freeing up fire department resources.
  • Community Vitality and Safety Committee (Councilmember Ramba, Chair) – Received briefing on aligning appointment processes for youth seats (renamed "emerging leaders"), expected for first reading September 23. Also discussed the BRAVE program—$829,000 in grants to 8 agencies for youth violence prevention, with services starting September 1.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of August 19th, 2025. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell. Present. Councilmember Deputy Mayor Daniels is absent. Councilmember Diaz. Here. Councilmember Hines. Here. Councilmember Ramba. Here. Councilmember Sidalgay is absent. Councilmember Scott? Here. Councilmember Walker. Here. And Mayor Woodards. Here. Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and flag salute led by Councilmember Walker, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Piolet people where they make their home and speak the Lachutsi language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. Pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America. And to the Republic for which it stands one nation under God and indivisible with liberty and justice for all the are there any modifications to the agenda this evening? Seeing none, we will uh move on to the consent agenda. I move to adopt the consent agenda. Oh, do I have to beat this too? Okay. Resolution. I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41736. Second. All right, are there any are there any council questions or corrections? All right, 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 tonight. And for the 50th anniversary of Special Olympics Washington, I'd like to invite Theo Milner, Special Olympics Washington Athlete and a part of the Tacoma School District's transition program, and Denny Eliason, board president for Special Olympics of Washington to the podium as I read the proclamation and this recognition, and I'll invite anybody else who is here from Special Olympics to join to join Denny and Theo at the podium. Anyone else who is here from Special Olympics, and I'll call you by name if you don't come up. There we go. I thought I recognized some Special Olympics people. All right. Whereas for 50 years, Special Olympics Washington has inspired communities across our state through inclusive sports training, health programming, leadership development, and community engagement for individuals with and without intellectual and development disabilities. And whereas Special Olympics Washington is more than a sports organization, it is a movement rooted in dignity, empowerment, and inclusion, enriching the lives of more than 12,000 participants and their families, including many here in Tacoma. And whereas the City of Tacoma has been proud to stand alongside this remarkable organization, most recently as the host of the 2025 State Spring Games and the first ever opening ceremony held at our very own Chini Stadium. A historic milestone in this 50th anniversary. And whereas the spirit continues to grow through programs like unified champion schools, inclusive health initiatives, youth leadership, and tribal partnerships, ensuring that every athlete, volunteer, and supporter has a place to belong and thrive. And whereas their passion and dedication, athletes, families, coaches, volunteers, and law enforcement partners across Tacoma have strengthened the mission and future of Special Olympics Washington, demonstrating the power of community and the impact of simply showing up. Now, therefore, I, Victoria R. Woodards, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council and the over 225,000 residents of Tacoma to hereby recognize the 50th anniversary of the Special Olympics Washington in the city and invite residents to join us as we mark this anniversary and look to the future with a renewed commitment to building a more inclusive city where equity, access, and opportunity are guaranteed for every person of every ability.

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