I text you Chris.

We're going to talk.

I'd like to call to order the City Council meeting of September 9th, 2025.

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Councilmember Bushnell.

Present.

Deputy Mayor Daniels.

Thank you.

Present.

Councilmember Diaz.

Councilmember Heinz.

Councilmember Rumba.

Here.

Councilmember Sidalgay.

Here.

Councilmember Sidalga's virtual.

Councilmember Scott.

Absent Councilmember Walker.

Here.

Mayor Woodards.

Here.

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

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

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

One nation under God and this law of liberty and justice for all.

Are there any modifications?

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, including resolutions number numbers 41749 and 41751.

Are there thank you?

Are there any council questions, comments, or corrections to the agenda?

Deputy Mayor.

Um I would like to move resolution number 41751 relating to a relating to setting a public hearing for the proposed Hyde Flat Sub area plan from the consent agenda and consider this item under the regular agenda.

All right, resolution number 41751 will now be considered under the regular agenda after item number 13.

All those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, including resolution numbers 41749 and 41750, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, the consent agenda is declared adopted.

Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, and presentations.

We have two ceremonials this evening.

And I'd like to start with our first ceremonial, which is for the welcoming week proclamation.

And I'd like to invite Emmanuela Sheisha, Vice Chair of the Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, Amy Ku, Executive Director of Tacoma Community House, and Amitha Lonio, Director of the Tacoma Public Library, to the podium as I read the proclamation.

All right.

Hello, ladies.

All right.

Whereas Welcoming Week is an annual campaign that affirms the dignity of immigrants and refugees, renews commitments to building inclusive communities, and brings people together in a spirit of solidarity.

And whereas the 2025 national theme, stories we share, invites community members to celebrate differences while recognizing the power of storytelling to unite and inspire understanding.

And whereas Tacoma's success depends on ensuring all residents feel welcome as immigrants and refugees, bringing fresh perspectives, start a business, and enrich the city's vibrant diversity.

And whereas all Tacoma residents, except the Puallop and other coastal Salish people are immigrants or descendants of immigrants, with over 13% born outside of the United States and nearly 20% speaking a language other than English at home.

And whereas inclusivity aligns with the city's equity and empowerment framework, ensuring equitable access to opportunities that advance well-being and human rights for all.

And whereas community partners such as Tacoma Community House and the City's Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs play a vital role in supporting immigrant and refugee populations through education, employment, immigration services, advocacy, and collaboration.

Now, therefore, I, Victoria R.

Woodards, mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim September 12th through the 21st, 2025 as welcoming week in the City of Tacoma, and invite our community to join in the celebration of the many positive impacts our immigrant community has on Tacoma and encourage everyone to take time to learn more and know our immigrant neighbors.

Please join me in a round of applause.

So I'm gonna ask these speakers to speak, but before I do, I'd like to make a comment or a few comments, I should say.

You know, each year the City of Tacoma proclaims welcoming week, and we recognize the critical importance of our immigrant and refugee communities and their immense contributions to the City of Tacoma.

And welcoming week, as we said, is an annual celebration and an event where we highlight and focus on all that our community shares in common rather than what divides us.

A theme that invites us all to reflect on our shared humanity and to utilize the power of storytelling for bringing communities together.

In a time where the immigrant and refugee communities face insurmountable risk and uncertainty, Tacoma will continue to be a place of opportunity for those seeking safety and a new start.

This year, in addition to just our welcoming week, I am sight, I am excited to add that we are announcing a new initiative.

In partnership with Tacoma Community House and the Tacoma Public Library and other partners, we will be celebrating the year of belonging.

Making belonging a reality requires a lot of work.

It can't just be something we say.

And this work also requires strong collaboration between local government, nonprofit organizations, and community members at large.

Tacoma Community House has been a leader in this work for many years, and in collaboration with the mayor's office and our library, we are launching the year of belonging to demonstrate the importance of caring and compassion that also contributes to belonging.

The year of belonging is going to be about inclusion and connection for every resident in Tacoma.

And this includes our immigrant and refugee community, our BIPOC community, our LGBTQIA Plus community, and all those who feel othered.

For the 2025 Tacoma Reads program, I chose the title that I chose the title that focuses on belonging.

And Valerie Carr has written such a book called See No Stranger.

It's a memoir with a message that love is more than a feeling, it's a calling and an act of justice.

And to hear from the author about fierce compassion and what it takes in 2025 to cultivate belonging among our neighbors.

As I said, we know what is happening in this time.

And while others will seek to divide us in Tacoma, we decide to unite us.

I am so thank you.

But I'm so delighted and excited to kick this off as mayor of Tacoma to spend a year really celebrating and remembering what it means to belong, what it means for every business, for every person, for every home, for every nonprofit to be a place that welcomes, that lets people know you belong here.

You belong in the city of Tacoma.

You don't just belong here, but we value your contributions to the city.

So I want to thank these three leaders who are standing here today for doing the work every day.

We may be kicking off this year of belonging, but this work gets done every day by the three of you in what you stand for and how you work.

And I look forward to in the coming weeks and the coming months of sharing all the great things that are gonna happen in this partnership.

But I'm delighted tonight to be able to announce it, and I will turn it over to the three of you to make comments.

So you all decide who's going first.

Thank you, Mayor.

On behalf of the Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Assistance here in Tacoma, I thank you for this proclamation.

It's just uh reaffirm uh reaffirms the fact that refugees and immigrants, especially all children that are the future of tomorrow, that this is still a place for them to learn, to grow, and um enjoy laughing anyway in order to thrive.

Uh, on behalf of SIRA and meaning non-profit organizations such as Tacoma Community House, all the Congolese Integration Network, or immigrant people like myself.

I thank you for this proclamation today.

Thanks.

Thank you very much for your comments.

This is the one place in the meeting where you can actually clap.

So feel free to clap here.

But you once we get going into the agenda, there's no clapping.

Amy, go right ahead.

Woodards and city council, thank you so much for creating this time and space to celebrate our immigrant community.

And I want to celebrate Emanuela, who is such a fierce advocate for those who do not know her, you will know her soon.

Um, I am just honored to be working together with the commission and with the library and city council on this work.

Uh, I am joined today with several staff from Tacoma Community House, and I would like for them to stand and be recognized.

We have Manuela, Maya, Melissa, Ariel, and Micah.

As you talk about the day, the work that's done day in and day out, I am so humbled and inspired by these five people who represent our organization, who truly fight for each person that they work with in their community.

I want to just recognize we have several Department of Justice accredited representatives who are really helping people who are working towards citizenship in our uh country right now.

And Melissa's our new coordinator for citizenship.

Ariel is telling those stories as our communications associate.

And Micah is a Jesuit volunteer corps member who's spending her year in Tacoma serving our community.

So again, I just want to thank you for all the work.

I serve as executive director of Tacoma Community House, but I think that my first identity is a daughter of a refugee and what it means for this chamber to have the space and time to celebrate immigrants to recognize all of the tremendous impact the immigrants have in our community.

They are our neighbors, they are our coworkers, they are business owners, they are students in our universities, and they contribute so much.

And we know that right now is a challenging time.

And so, more than ever, as we think about launching this year of belonging, it is important to create that space, that inclusion programs and policies that really advance immigrant families into a place where they can truly thrive.

So I'm so excited to partner.

I thank you all for the work that you're doing.

We have two events that I just want to draw our attention to as we launch Welcoming Week in the year of belonging.

On Saturday, uh September 13th at about 2 15 at the Chinese Reconciliation Park, there's going to be a citizenship celebration.

Join us in celebrating new citizens and welcome them to our community.

Hear their stories about what citizenship truly means and how dedicated they are as community members.

On Monday, September 15th from 9 to 3 at the University of Washington Tacoma, Phillips Hall, we're going to be hosting a symposium on cultivating belonging.

And I couldn't be more excited for some of the speakers that we have that are going to focus on advocacy, immigration, as well as DEI and looking at really strengthening the diversity within our community and what it means to have an inclusive society.

And when we talk about welcoming, I just want to recognize of course immigrants and refugees are absolutely core and critical, but we know that within our own communities, there are people who feel marginalized and unseen.

In this space, we're going to be raising their stories as well and talking about how diversity really truly includes all of us.

And as we make Tacoma home, that means that every single person feels a sense of home here.

So thank you for creating this time and space, and I look forward to celebrating with you throughout the year.

Great.

Thank you, Amy.

Anita.

Mayor, City Council, it's great to be here tonight.

I made a mistake going after Amy, who wants to follow the such incredible words.

But I will say, I guess, as you're, as you're a city librarian, I do think I need to bring it back to books.

So Mayor Woodards, thank you so much for sponsoring this year's Tacoma Reads.

I'm so excited to have Valerie Core here as the kick as part of our kickoff to the year of belonging.

I brought a quote from her work that I think really speaks to the year of belonging.

Valerie says, wonder is where love begins.

When we choose to wonder about people we don't know, when we imagine their lives and listen for their stories, we begin to expand the circle of who we see as part of us.

And I think now more than ever is the time to expand our spheres of who we see as part of us, that we can protect and defend each other against the growing hateful attacks against our most vulnerable and marginalized communities.

And as you all know, Tacoma Public Library wants to be that radically welcoming space in our community.

We strive to make sure our collections, our services, and our spaces tell everyone in our community that your story belongs here.

So thank you so much for this week, and I look forward to seeing you on October 16th.

Great.

Thank you very much.

I'm gonna ask the three of you to come forward, but I I do um want to just very quickly, first of all, um, the idea of the year of belonging, although we get to kick it off, was really an idea that Amy brought to the table.

And Amy, I want to recognize you for that.

But I also do you recognize your staff, and and I don't think you can thank staff enough.

Um, so I really do want to say to all of you who are here from Tacoma Community House only because I know that this has been a very difficult time for you.

What's happening at the federal level is wrong.

And I know that the people that you face every day are scared, are frustrated, don't know where to turn, and you all provide that safe space for them, for members of our community.

And so I just want to say thank you.

I just want to add to what was just said by your executive director.

Um, that you show up every day and don't even know what you're gonna face, but you keep showing up.

So thank you for being the face of our community to so many of our members who feel marginalized, who feel like they don't belong, um not just in the United States, but here in the city.

Thank you for what you do in protecting them and helping them find the resources they need for themselves and their families.

So just I just wanted to say thank you.

And I would like to invite um the three of you here, along with all of the staff from the Tacoma Community House to come forward to receive these proclamations and take a picture.

I would think so much.

Come on, yeah, no, yeah, thank you so much.

All right, so all right, um, moving on to our next proclamation.

Um, for emergency preparedness month, I'd like to invite um Josh Castillo and Adriana Topper Topper.

I Adriana, I practice it and still messed it up.

Um, emergency manus, uh, they're both emergency management analysts to the podium as I read this proclamation.

Thank you so much.

All right, whereas it is vital to emphasize the importance of preparedness for both natural and human-made disasters by raising public awareness and inspiring collective action to strengthen resilience in our community.

And whereas every resident, family, business, and organization shares the responsibility of preparedness by working together to safeguard lives, property, and the well-being of Tacoma's diverse community.

And whereas this year's National Preparedness Month theme, preparedness starts at home, highlights the importance of equipping households to take practical steps towards readiness, beginning with creating a family plan, building an emergency supply kit, and staying informed about potential hazards.

And whereas the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Ready campaign encourage all households to assemble and maintain family disaster supply kits, sign up for emergency alerts, and regularly review and update emergency response and continuity plan actions that ensure a stronger and more resilient city.

Now, therefore, I, Victoria R.

Woodards, mayor of the city of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim September 2025 as emergency preparedness month in the city of Tacoma and call on our residents to ensure they have a plan in place and know the resources available to them to be prepared for disaster.

And I'd like to call on the two of you to make remarks.

Thank you.

Hello, good evening.

Mayor Woodards, interim City Manager Kim, City Council members and guests.

My name is Josh Joshua Castillo, and I'm an emergency management analyst with the City of Tacoma.

September marks emergency preparedness month, a time that holds special significance for our team.

This year's theme, preparedness starts at home, aligns perfectly with our mission to promote readiness across Tacoma's communities, city staff, and local businesses.

Through outreach events, cert trainings and partnerships, we've worked to equip our community with the tools and knowledge to stay safe.

We encourage everyone to sign up for Tacoma Alert and visit our website for additional preparedness resources at Tacoma.gov forward slash emergency management.

We're grateful for the city's support and remain committed to building a more resilient Tacoma, one household at a time.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Ariana, did you want to say something?

He's speaking for the both of you.

Okay, wonderful.

Well, let's have you both come up and accept the proclamation.

Thank you.

Give them a round of applause as they come.

Yeah.

Chief.

Both chiefs.

Yes.

Chief, you you both of you all I'm having them have them join you, right?

They are they are.

They look they look, they're the ones we dispatch to emergencies.

So come on up here, you two.

Here you guys go.

You're welcome.

Thank you so much.

Okay.

Just let's do a little test.

And just once you are ready.

One, two, three.

Great job.

All right.

Thank you.

Congratulations.

Thank you.

All right.

I'm going to take over for public comment here.

Moving on to public comment.

On tonight's agenda, there are two opportunities for people to comment.

Under public comment, you can speak about motions, resolutions, and ordinances on tonight's agenda.

Under community forum, which is held at the end of this meeting, you can speak about items over which the city council has jurisdiction.

These forums are intended to give speakers the opportunity to share their viewpoints and feedback with the council to aid in our decision making, and it is not meant to be a back and forth dialogue.

Your remarks should be directed towards the city council and not toward individual staff members.

If you want to speak under the public comment period, press the raise your hand button near the bottom of your Zoom window or star nine on your phone now, so we can see the number of people wishing to testify this evening.

If you're speaking in person, please sign up at the back of the room if you have not done so already.

Your name or the last four digits of your phone number will be called out when it is your turn to speak.

Clerk, will you please read?

This is the time set aside for public comment.

Speakers are asked to identify the specific legislation they wish to address.

Okay.

I would like to remind everyone to please keep your comments respectful, relevant, focused, and on topic.

We strive to provide a comment period where people can feel respected while sharing a wide variety of viewpoints and acknowledge that we may hear comments that conflict with our values to ensure all speakers can express their First Amendment constitutional rights.

We ask that you refrain from clapping, cheering, booing, or otherwise being disruptive.

You will have 90 seconds to make your remarks.

Oh, you'll have two minutes to make your remarks.

Please be mindful of the time frame.

As always, you are not required to use all of your time to make your point.

If you cannot remain on topic, you will be given two warnings.

If you remain off topic, we will have to move on and we'll end your time.

As we all know, we will see a number of high profile elections and ballot measures this fall.

As a reminder, per rule number 9D of the rules of procedure of public comment and community forum, discussions must not be used to support or oppose any election campaigns or ballot propositions.

Any direct mention of a candidate candidate's candidacy or a ballot proposition will result in the immediate suspension of the speaker's right to continue speaking at council meeting, that council meeting.

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

We've received three, one regarding ordinance two nine or two regarding ordinance two nine zero five one and one regarding resolution four one seven five six and ordinance two nine zero five two.

Thank you.

Okay, we are going to start with those online.

I wanted to speak tonight on ordinance two nine zero five one, um, expressing concerns um that unfortunately I believe this will end up being passing passed tonight in a vote.

But to understand that this is not a protective type of code that has been written.

It is not going to be protecting the groundwater because we have not um established any kind of impervious surface um restrictions or limitations with development.

We have a change with this ordinance with number 16 from a waiver that was being handled by the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department for any deviations from these regulations to now the planner planning department will have control over that.

We have seen the planning department on multiple occasions grant variances, and this is concerning for protecting the groundwater.

So, with that kept in mind, the one goal that has been reached with this ordinance is that future development will be able to occur in South Tacoma and within the groundwater protection district.

But the concern will be how much water will we be able to have recharge and available in the groundwater, and how much how pure will that water be if the variances are allowed to occur unchecked with one department only, the planners being able to grant these variances.

In addition, further um coordination and collaboration is really needed with other jurisdictions to assure um adequate impure groundwater, and that means moving beyond the city of Tacoma to other areas of the sole source aquifer to assure to better coordinate what we can have for the future with our groundwater.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments tonight, Kathy.

Heidi.

My name is Heidi Stevens.

Speaking on ordinance 29051.

As one of the authors for the original amendment applications starting this groundwater code update over four years ago.

At this point, a hired hydrologist study should have been complete.

Data compiled and collaborated with the State Review of Watershed Deflect Creek, U.S.

Chia surveys, and our own wellhead protection plan to produce a truly appropriately updated code, incorporating best science and proper lead agencies and a real chance to protect this precious water source going forward.

We would have also been primed for the next phase of the proposed economic green zone.

Except none of that happened.

And there can be no self-congratulations tonight when this passes.

So let's just say it.

Tacoma is now run by the planning department.

Even though it's this council, each of you who will be blamed for approving its disaster tonight.

I can only guess that those who wrote this plan intend to retire and be long gone when others are still here suffering the consequences.

I've resubmitted my previous written comments from last month's public hearing.

Not that I expect they'll be read, but simply to be on the record so that future generations will know some residents did have foresight and truly tried.

But this is a stunningly disheartening day and an absolute failure for the city's future.

Thank you for your comments tonight, Heidi.

Um seeing no others online, we will move to those that are in the room with us.

Um we'll start with Mary Karstenson, and then we will move on to Michelle Reich.

Oh, good hearing.

All right, so um Deputy Mayor Daniels Council members, my name is Mary Karstenson.

I am uh proud to represent the advocates for immigrants and detention northwest.

Um I'm a board member of that organization.

I'm here to request that you support resolution 41757, which is um going to be presented to you this evening.

Our organization has a street side view of the Northwest Immigration Detention Center.

Uh, insight that um we hear from our volunteers every organization run by volunteers, and we hear from them every day of the challenges that detainees are experiencing.

The funds that you are that we are asking or that we are considering tonight, uh, will purchase over 50,000 minutes of phone time, providing detainees with access to their legal counsel and to connections with their families.

In addition, our work is in direct support of the year of the of belonging.

Uh, as first steps from the detention center are met with our volunteers and our welcome center.

This is a chance for to ensure that these people are seen and that they are welcome into our community, into our Tacoma community, into our state of Washington, and into our country.

Again, I request your support.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments tonight, Mary.

Michelle Michelle Reich.

Uh speaking to emergency preparedness month.

First of all, I want to state that I'm a prepper.

I prepare prep for every contingency.

And this is my military background.

I've been in training, we do contingencies.

So everything from nuclear war to break down of society, and I and everything in between.

Some of the real world uh preps we need to, we just got over the COVID, which is a biological warfare condition from China.

And a million people died in that incident, and it's still with us, uh, the tail end of it.

That's a prep mood.

I got in prep mode in day one when COVID came out, and I'm still here, and a million people are not.

That's one thing.

Another thing is uh to our areas is earthquakes and tornadoes uh or earthquakes and uh Mount Rainier uh blowing its top, and those are small preps.

But uh nuclear war is a big one there because we've just seen that military parade in China with all those nuclear weapons in North Korea, and those weapons are not destined for South Korea or Taiwan.

There are I CBMs that are destined for here.

And one of the things you need to prep for nuclear war, and uh I've been a nuclear war supervisor for nuclear weapons, so I have experience in that line.

One of the things you need to have is potassium iodine tablets with a few dollars.

This protects you from getting thyroid cancer because uh radiation that's where it goes.

Also, too.

Uh when you're in ordinary X-rays and stuff, you should take some pie dye acid tablets a few days before your X-ray or MRI, because it keeps you from uh developing thyroid cancer.

Uh in uh New Orleans was the anniversary recently, and that was a total meltdown of society.

I mean, it was ground zero, and that's another thing.

So, anyway, prep.

Thank you for your comments tonight, Michelle.

Uh, we've got Ben Jones up next, followed by Kit Burns.

Hi there, uh, my name is Ben Jones.

I'm proud to represent uh advocates for immigrants in detention northwest uh as the board chair.

Um, and I am speaking in uh support of resolution 41757 tonight.

Uh since 2009, our organization has provided critical programming um in service of immigrants detained at the Northwest Detention Center.

We've served many thousands and thousands of immigrants and asylum seekers over the years by providing visitation services uh outside um welcoming service, sorry, visitation services inside, welcoming services outside, and uh uh where the lawfully released are really disoriented and ill-equipped to navigate their way to safety uh and their new homes.

In July, Congress passed the so-called Big Beautiful bill, which provides 170 additional billion dollars of funding in immigration and border enforcement.

45 billion uh is provisioned for increasing detention center capacity, and 30 billion uh is for enforcement and removal.

Many of those impacted will pass through our backyard at the Northwest Detention Center.

Um, and they are unable to readily access means of communication with family and legal counsel.

Uh we are primarily primarily a volunteer-driven organization funded almost entirely by private individuals, and every dollar is precious now more than ever.

Uh, this resolution would be incredibly meaningful um to ensure those detained in our backyard are seen, are heard, are are valued and are welcomed in in the ways that we speak here tonight.

Thanks for your support.

Thank you for your comments tonight, then Kate Burns, followed by Barb Church.

Deputy Mayor uh Danielson, City Council.

I just wanted to mention on item 417-51 that I recommend the city vote against the landscaping and tree canopy plan.

As an experienced architect who worked for over 40 years working in multiple districts from King County to City of Bellevue, Kent, Auburn, Tacoma, Seattle.

Um tree plans isn't very logical.

I know how much effort has been put into the home in Tacoma, so I'm wondering why would the city come up and adopt another uh urban forest plan.

How many urban forest plans does one city need?

Now, as an architect, one of the problems I tell people it's really hard when the city is not organized or when the documents for a project like a high school is not organized.

There's different ways you can find the information, and by making multiple options in the city of Tacoma, you make it hard for the designers, hard for the reviewers, and hard for the contractors.

There's the Easter egg hunt to find information, there's the wild goose chase, there's the fox hunt, and there's the snipe hunt, and of course, there's always the 52 card pickup.

When you take regulations and you sprinkle them through the code, it's not a good plan.

Anyway, so I just urge you to not to adopt that tree plan and have it comprehensively done uh by the planning department.

Thank you.

Thanks, Kit.

Uh Barb Church.

Thank you, Council.

My name's Barb Church from New Northeast Tacoma.

I'm here to talk about resolution 41751, and to say that uh, you know, that that was a seven-year process.

Um zoning process at the Port of Tacoma.

I just want to say that the rich and the powerful industries at the port have lobbyists.

They make their voices heard to all of you.

I'm sure they were communicating with stakeholders in the sub-area plan throughout the process.

Taking care of people who are not rich and powerful is the public service.

Uh and that's what it's all about.

That's what your job is.

Public um for the sub-area plan, what what was at the center of it at the very beginning of the very first meeting it said public input and open houses.

It said early and often.

So that never happened, and it's such a disappointment to all of the community.

And you see that I'm probably the only one of the only people who've come through these seven years to even talk about it.

But I want you to take those amendments that are gonna be bringing the planning commission will be bringing forward to you and take those seriously because they considered some of the input that the community made, while at the same time we were supposed to have been having input all along.

I tried to copy this map from the first meeting just before it came here, but my my printer wasn't working well enough.

I will copy it to show you.

Just remember public input, frequent, often, and and listen to listen to those amendments, look at them.

I still have to do more research on them myself, but they were reflecting some of our comments in the end.

So thank you and thank you for your consideration.

Thank you for your comments tonight, Barb.

Um last one for in the room, I've got Mary Chris Castro.

Hello, Mabu.

Hi, my name is Mary Chris Castro, and I'm here to just give a quick comment on welcome week.

Uh, during welcome week, it is a really exciting time.

Uh, but I also wanted to highlight with the Northwest Ice Detention Center's presence there.

It is a looming shadow on our celebrations.

Uh recently, there have been people being released who have had their green cards torn in front of them, telling them you don't matter.

This is happening in our city during this celebration period.

And uh, I would be remiss not to recognize that.

I also wanted to say that it's so important for us to uh recognize that the system is not broken, it is doing exactly what it was built to do, and it's to isolate and to break our communities into feeling like they're alone and in that detention center, it's exactly doing what it was exactly built to do.

Um it's not justice, this is injustice.

Um, I've been in there almost every week, and uh seeing the resources there they're in languages the communities don't understand, and I want to give a huge shout out to all of those people who are here earlier, but also the especially the north uh Northwest uh aid Northwest that has a welcoming center as soon as they are released, looking for someone to help them on the streets of Tacoma because they're released even at six o'clock at night.

I specifically want to highlight a case of a Venezuelan man taken from Montana for broken tailights.

He had a work permit, he had a green uh he had all of his documentation, he was still taken for two weeks, released at six o'clock at night, and onto the streets of Tacoma.

And when I went back in with him, because he was terrified to try and get his documentation, they said those ICE agents are only here during regular business hours.

And so I I just want to flag that for you that this is happening right now in our communities, and we really need to um look at what welcoming week is, and that's creating systems in place to make sure people are truly welcome.

So thank you so much.

Yeah, thank you for your comments tonight.

Okay.

Now we're moving on to our regular agenda item 12.

Clerk, will you please read?

Resolution 41752, a resolution appointing an individual to the climate and sustainability commission.

I move to adopt resolution number 41752.

Second.

All right, I'd like to call on council member walker.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, back in April at the April 9th, 2025 infrastructure planning and sustainability committee meeting.

The committee conducted interviews and recommended Hope Springer to a short list for future vacancies on the Climate and Sustainability Commission.

That vacancy has opened up, and um, we are delighted to now um invite Hope to fill that unexpected term that expires April 30th, 2026.

All right.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

All right, seeing none, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41752 signify by saying aye.

All right.

All those opposed.

The resolution has been declared adopted.

Um, is the individual who we disappointed here this evening?

Nope.

All right.

Well, we invite individuals being appointed um to join us uh either in person or virtually.

Um, and so whether you um I'm assuming you're attending virtually or you whether you'll see this later, I'd like to thank you for volunteering your service on the climate and sustainability commission.

Um, we really appreciate your willingness to serve um and really appreciate that you are taking this position and taking it seriously.

So, with that, please join me in a round of applause.

All right, moving on to purchasing resolutions.

Item 13, Clerk, will you please read?

Budgeted from the Transportation Capital Fund for changes to the scope of work design and consulting on the Puallop Avenue Transit Complete Streets Improvements Project through June 30th, 2026 per projected contract total of $2,069,462.51 cents plus applicable taxes.

I move to adopt resolution number 41753.

Second.

Are there any council?

All right, are there any council questions or comments at this time?

All right, seeing none.

All those in favor of adopting resolution number 41753 signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

This resolution is declared adopted.

Moving on to resolutions item 13A.

This item will have a PowerPoint presentation.

Clark will you please read?

Resolution 41751, a resolution setting Tuesday, October 28th, 2025, upon completion of the regular agenda items no earlier than 5 15 p.m.

as a date for a public hearing by the city council on the proposed Tide Flat Subarea Plan as recommended by the Tide Flat Steering Committee and related amendments to the one Tacoma Plan and Tacoma Municipal Code as recommended by the Planning Commission.

I move to adopt resolution number 41751.

Second.

All right, I'd like to call on Mr.

Steve Atkinson.

Steve.

Great.

Thank you so much.

And good evening, Mayor Woodards, Deputy Mayor Daniels, members of the City Council.

I'm Stephen Atkinson, Principal Planner with long range with Planning and Development Services and the City's project manager for the Tide Flat Subarate Plan.

I just want to say it is really an honor to be here tonight to be able to request that the City Council consider the resolution to set the public hearing on the Tide Flat Subarray Plan and related amendments.

Given earlier today, we conducted a study session on the resolution for this evening.

Do want to provide some introductory remarks for our audience this evening for the public who may be following along, but I will keep those remarks brief.

Just for some initial background on this process and where we are at in the overall uh development and adoption of the subarate plan.

Uh wanted to provide a little bit of uh kind of a refresh on the timeline here.

Uh we did hear some comments earlier about the engagement process, but the work that has been delivered to you uh has really been built upon uh significant broad community involvement and participation throughout the development of the suburbate plan and related amendments.

Uh the engagement work that has gone into this process included the establishment of a steering committee, which was comprised of two elected representatives from each of the participating governments, City of Tacoma, uh Pelop tribe of Indians, Port of Tacoma, Pierce County, and City of Fife, uh including Mayor Woodards and Councilman Walker, our steering committee representatives here tonight.

Uh the steering committee was charged with developing and recommending the sub area plan, uh which is before the city council for action this evening.

Uh in addition to that, the process included the establishment of a Tide Flats advisory group, uh which incorporated community members with a broad uh selection of interests, perspectives, and expertise to provide a sounding board for policy development uh throughout this work.

In addition, uh there were periods of community visioning, uh public hearings and public process to help support key decisions uh throughout the development of this plan.

Uh as part of the resolution this evening, we are requesting that the city council uh release uh four uh primary exhibits for public review and comment.

Uh the first of which is the suburbate plan itself, uh, as recommended by the Tide Flat Steering Committee.

Uh in addition to that, our proposed revisions to the city's one Tacoma Comprehensive Plan, Title 13 Land Use Regulatory Code, and Title 19 Shoreline Master Program.

Uh, of course, these exhibits and supporting documentation are currently available on the web page.

Um, and uh do want to just note as we discussed earlier today, uh the amendments to the comprehensive plan and municipal code are in relation to some of the recommendations in the plan and would incorporate the proposed zoning and land use framework into the city's municipal code.

The intent of that uh is to ensure that when the plan is adopted, uh we have the basic zoning and development standards in place so that the new development is consistent with uh the plan recommendations on August 12th.

Uh we uh presented uh the planning commission's recommendations and some of their proposed amendments uh for council consideration.

Uh following that uh meeting, uh we uh uh worked with the city council uh to identify amendments that the council wanted to sponsor and incorporate into the public review documents uh for your public hearing and comment period.

Uh earlier today, we discussed uh the four amendments that have been sponsored and brought forward by uh Mayor Woodards and Councilmember Walker to support this work.

Um, I will note uh these proposed amendments are to the uh code exhibits, not to the plan.

Um and the purpose of these code exhibits are uh to ensure proper and appropriate alignment between the code uh and the recommendations of the sub-area plan itself.

And many of these are based on public input that we receive through the planning commission process and uh are again not uh intended to substantially change any policy in the plan but ensure the appropriate implementation of that policy.

Uh very briefly, I'll just mention uh the first of these sponsored amendments uh would amend the city's non-conforming use regulations to provide limitations on the expansion of any residential uh use within the tide flat sub-area for the purpose of ensuring that we don't uh intensify any existing land use incompatibilities, conflicts, or create new potential public health uh challenges.

Um, uh there is an amendment to uh uh implement and modify the zoning and development standards for the seaport transition TOD district.

Uh for background on this, the plan recommends a new seaport transition TOD zoning district in the area, the station area for the new Portland Avenue station associated with the Scoma Dome Link extension.

Uh the plan again provided the policy support and the planning commission recommended amendments to the zoning code uh to help support feasible transit-oriented development at that location.

Uh third are minor code uh cleanups.

Again, these are in response to public comments.

Uh these include a variety of topics throughout the plan, uh, generally including some uh corrections for any errors in the code, clarifications.

Uh these include, for example, uh requests to make sure that we are clear that when we talk about nurseries in the tide flat subway plan and the zoning code that we are talking about, uh plant nurseries, uh, being clear about when we are using the term container versus cargo in the code, ensuring consistency across definitions.

Um and then finally, there's an amendment uh to landscaping and tree canopy code uh to uh provide some additional flexibilities that public agencies could develop their own urban forestry plans uh for approval by the city and based on those plans be able to shift the location for where they would accommodate the landscaping and tree canopy across their multiple properties.

I do want to make note on this that in the discussion earlier today with the city council, we did hear some follow-up uh direction uh that as we uh release the exhibits for public review and comment, we want to ensure uh that there are some parameters put on the flexibility uh for that amendment.

Uh first to ensure that uh there is direction that when uh these uh landscaping plans are developed within the tide flat sub-area that the tree canopy and landscaping should stay within the tide flat sub area itself and not be relocated to areas outside the sub area or to other parts of the city.

Um and second, to ensure that when we are dealing with non-industrial uses, uh the example I think came up earlier today for an educational facility within the tide flats area, uh, that there would be limits on that flexibility for those non-industrial sites within this area.

So uh wanted to just make note of that direction, and we will incorporate that into the language that goes out for public review and comment.

Um and finally for our schedule.

Um, so following uh the council's action this evening uh on the consideration of the resolutions at the hearing.

Uh the hearing would be set for October 28th.

Um I do want to make sure that our community is aware that the purpose for that uh public hearing date is to ensure that we are providing a 45-day public comment period, effectively seven weeks for our governmental partners and community members to ensure that they can uh review uh both the plan and code and the amendments and provide uh public comment to the city council.

Um following that, uh we have tentatively scheduled first reading of ordinance on November 12th and final reading on December 2nd.

And I just want to note November 12th is a special meeting, so if anyone is interested in attending that meeting, it will be on a Wednesday.

Uh there is a holiday on Tuesday, so please uh just be aware that that meeting will be on a Wednesday evening instead of the usually scheduled time.

Uh with that, I will conclude my remarks and happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Stephen.

Thank you for the presentation.

Do we have any questions or comments?

And I guess I will okay.

I I'm gonna start, Councilmember Bushnell, and then I will call on you.

And so I just um this is one of one of the many greatest days of my time as mayor to be getting to the end of the sub-area plan.

Um this has been eight years in the making, and um I'll give further remarks um at the point that we actually pass this.

But I just I just want to be super clear about as as you've already outlined, Steve, um the four amendments that that you have shared that are being considered.

And and I and I just want to continue to say that the four amendments are really about clarity of the of the documents that go along with the plan, not the plan itself.

They really are to improve the alignment of the draft code with the policies and actions proposed in the sub-area plan.

They do not change what the five governments voted on, and they do not change the plan itself.

And so I I just again want to thank the committee for all of their work and collaboration in completing the draft plan.

As you've already shared, Stephen, not only was this not only does this not change the plan, but these four amendments were also shared with the five government bodies and have got their sign off on the amendments that are before you this evening.

The planning commission provided some support in turning the plan's recommendations into the appropriate zoning and land use code so that we're addressing that.

Um through the commission's public hearing, we received in we did receive input from both our community and our governmental partners.

Um about these changes, and that's why we've brought up why we brought them forward, and they're very limited in scope, but still worthwhile additions and revisions.

By including them now, we can still receive community input on the changes before the final decision and respect the agreement with our partners to conduct a 45-day comment period for all new amendments.

Our goal continues to be to adopt this plan this year along with the land use and zoning codes.

Um we know that there will be opportunities to continue implementing the plan's recommendations and even approving, even improving upon this work in the coming years.

But this plan and code represent significant progress in improving our economy and our environment and even our health.

So want to thank all of the staff.

Um wanna also um make sure that we are showing our appreciation to the five represented governments, but am really um excited about what we have before us.

So with that, um, I think there is going to be a motion on the floor.

You answer my question.

I did answer your question, Councilmember Bush now.

Okay, wonderful.

I would be happy to make that.

I that's a long motion, but I'm gonna I'm gonna hand it over to you, Councilmember Walker.

Uh I move to amend exhibit C in the public review exhibits, which includes proposed changes to Title 13, the land use regulatory code to modify the use and development standards within the new STT or C port transition TOD district to better align with standards applicable in other TOD districts.

Number one, height limit, align the STT district's height limit with that of the Dome District zoning, 100 feet.

Number two, pedestrian streets designate the following as a pedestrian street, East 26th Street from East L Street to Bay Street.

Number three, design review, expand the applicability of the city's design review program to the STT district, mirroring the standards used in other TOD districts.

Number four, minimum parking requirements, eliminate minimum parking requirements for new development except where accessible parking is required.

Number five, commercial parking lots prohibit new standalone commercial surface parking lots within the STT district.

And number six, clarify the allowances for transit stations, clarify that allowed transit stations include normal associated components like pickup drop-off areas, bus connection facilities, rail tracks, and utility infrastructure.

All right.

Are there any uh additional council questions or comments?

Sorry, are there any additional council questions or comments on this amendment?

All right, oh, if you have one comment, go ahead, Councilmember Walker.

I just wanted to add what I um mentioned at uh study session today about the importance of this one in our um partnership with Sound Transit.

This um area, this zoning area zoned area, proposed zoned area, I should say, um, is where a future uh light rail station will be.

And so these um code uh additions, because this is a brand new um zoning area, uh, really bring clarity to the future use of the area and make us a better partner to welcome light rail into Tacoma.

Great, thank you.

All right, are there any additional council questions or comments after that explanation?

Seeing done.

The vote is on the motion to amend resolution number 41751.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

The motion is declared adopted.

Resolution number 41751 as amended is before us.

Councilmember Walker.

I move to amend exhibit C in the public review exhibits, which includes proposed languages, proposed changes to Title 13, the land use regulatory code to add a new mechanism for flexibility for landscaping and tree canopy standards for public agencies, allowing a public agency to develop an urban forestry plan to demonstrate overall compliance with landscaping and tree canopy standards and streamlined permit review.

This option is intended to encourage public agencies to take a leadership role in implementing urban forestry goals and policies of the one to coma plan.

This flexibility can facilitate more intensive development of a particular development site while meeting the urban forestry policies of the one to coma plan and the standards of the landscaping code by planting the required landscaping at another site within the city of Tacoma and pref preferably within the same watershed in the agency's permanent control.

To initiate this up optional process, public agencies would submit a request to planning and development services, PDS, to be designated as a self-managed agency, including the agency's urban forestry plan as over an overview of its urban forestry program and an analysis demonstrating general consistency with the one Tacoma plan and landscaping code.

All right.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Councilmember Walker.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I just wanted to again reiterate what I uh said at study session today that the intention is that any um exceptions to the urban forestry plan would be within the tide flats area for any agency taking advantage of this option.

Um, and again, it is an option.

Agencies don't have to take advantage of it, and it does not allow agencies to get out of meeting the overall city goals of a 30% tree canopy.

It just allows a little flexibility within the tide flats.

Wonderful.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Councilmember Rumba.

Thank you, Mayor.

And um I just want to say Steven sort of brought it up today, but um at study session I mentioned that since this applies to public agencies, it also should apply to schools and educational facilities.

And I think we should be doing everything we can to protect students who are coming to one of the most polluted parts of the city.

And our landscaping and tree requirements are critical to this.

Trees will clean the air and provide a better environment for learning than just pavement.

And as we go through the public hearing process, I ask that we also take feedback on whether or not schools should be excluded from this amendment.

And I think they should.

And I also um want to say that I want to make sure that trees get planted in the watershed in that area so that it helps increase the canopy in the port area.

Thank you.

Great.

Thank you, Councilmember Rumbah.

All right, are there any additional questions or comments?

All right, the vote is on the motion to amend amended resolution number 41751.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

The motion is declared adopted.

Amended resolution uh 41751 is now before us.

Councilmember Walker.

I move to amend exhibit C in the public review exhibits, which includes proposed changes to Title 13, the land use regulatory code to limit the expansion of pre-existing non-conforming residential and civic institutional uses within the core area of the tide flats where the expansion of such uses would be incompatible with heavy industrial and container port operations and pose a significant health risk.

Text edits include number one, delete pre-existing uses as a standalone use category and instead add notes to the right hand column, quote, additional regulations to apply specific limitations on expansion of pre-existing uses.

Number two, within the designated core area, expressly prohibit the expansion of any non-conforming residential uses or expansion of bed capacity or living space associated with civic institutional uses in the land use table.

Second.

All right.

Councilmember Walker.

No, no, no, not none on this one.

Are there any additional questions or comments?

All right, seeing none, the vote is on the motion to amend resolution number 41751.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

The motion is declared adopted.

Amended resolution 41751 as amended is now before us.

Councilmember Walker, the final motion.

I move to amend exhibit C in the public review exhibits, which includes proposed changes to Title 13, the land use regulatory code, and exhibit D, which includes proposed changes to Title 19 Shoreline Master Program to correct clear errors in the code and make simple clarifications based on public review of the draft documents and address minor amendments for internal code consistency or consistency with policy intent.

Corrections include number one typographical errors, number two, format and reference corrections.

Number three, spelling out acronyms.

Clarifications include number one, clarifying that cross-laminated timber production is separate from sawmill and lumber yard use categories.

Number two, clarify that the nursery use category refers to a plant nursery.

Number three, clarifying applicability of new seaport zoning districts within the shoreline master program.

Number four, adding names of waterways to maps.

Number five, clarify air quality submittal requirements for CEPA review.

Internal consistency corrections include number one, ensuring consistent use definitions between Title 13 and Title 19.

Number two, applying size limitations on retail uses within the sub-area.

And three, consistency in use of cargo container terminology.

Second.

All right.

Are there any council questions or comments?

Councilmember Walker.

I just really briefly want to take the moment to thank staff and the planning commission for finding all of these things.

Uh it really matters.

Some of these small uh changes will make a huge difference to people and businesses using our tide flats area.

So thank you for all of their work in getting us to this point.

And I will ditto that.

Councilmember Rombai, did you have a question?

Yeah, I do.

Okay.

Can I ask Steven one question?

On clarifications include where it says number three, clarifying applicability of new seaport zoning districts within the Shoreline Master Program.

What does that mean?

That's a great question, Council Rembaugh.

So as part of this process, we're integrating the new uh zoning districts for the seaport into our Title 13 Land Use Regulatory Code.

Um currently the Charlie Master Program has a different set of shoreline zoning districts, and so this is really intended to make sure that if a use is not allowed in the underlying zoning, it's also not permitted through the shoreline master program.

So it's really just about clarifying that relationship of the uses that are allowed.

Um the Shoreline Master Program is really focused on water orientation and ensuring that uses that are permitted uh are appropriate within a shoreline location.

Thank you for explaining that.

Are there any additional questions or comments?

All right, seeing none, the vote is on the motion to amend resolution number four one seven five one.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

All right, the motion is declared adopted.

All right.

Amended resolution number 41751 as amended is now before us.

Are there any additional questions or comments at this time?

All right, seeing none, all those in favor of adopting amended resolution number 41751 signify by signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

The resolution as amended is declared adopted.

Phew.

Item 14.

This item will also cover item 20.

Clerk, will you please read?

Resolution 41754.

A resolution authorizing the execution of a letter of agreement with the Washington State Council of County and City Employees Local 120 regarding classifications performing work in the planning and development services.

I move to adopt resolution number 41754.

Second.

All right, I'd like to call in Dylan Carlson.

Dylan.

Good evening, Mayor Woodwards and members of the city council.

I am Dylan Carlson, Labor Relations Division Manager for the City of Tacoma.

I have one resolution and one ordinance to present this evening.

I regret that I did not bring a cup of tea for Council Member Walker, who's uh been doing quite a bit of speaking.

We'll give you a break.

Resolution 41754 authorizes the execution of a letter of agreement as negotiated with the City of Tacoma and Washington State Council and County and City Employees, local 120, regarding the accretion of employees performing work in the planning and development development services department.

Planning and development services department employees in the classifications of associate planner, senior planner, principal planner, regulatory compliance analyst, senior regulatory compliance analyst, principal regulatory compliance and compliance analyst, and skilled occupational intern have selected local 120 as their exclusive representative for purposes of collective bargaining.

This action was certified by the public employment relations commission on September 18th, 2024.

The agreement provides that retroactive to July 31st, 2025.

The classifications will transition from a nine-step paying pay range to a revised pay range of up to six steps and includes a general wage increase of two and three quarters percent at the top step.

Employees will be placed into the revised pay scale at the salary step closest to, but not less than two and three quarters percent above the current rate of pay.

The classifications will not be eligible for longevity pay.

All covered classifications in the regulatory compliance analyst series will be moved to a new critical areas biologist classification series job title, and the skilled occupational intern position will be retitled as planner intern.

Principal critical areas biologist and principal planner will remain as unclassified appointed titles.

The classification of senior planner will be changed to a classified title, and the classification of historic preservation analyst will be removed and consolidated into the classification of senior planner consistent with Tacoma Municipal Code Chapter 1.24.370.

There are no changes to overtime designations or eligibility of the impacted classifications.

In addition, the agreement provides for specific language regarding paid time off benefits, employee setups to higher classifications, an annual allowance of $300 for safety footwear and work clothing for employees in the classifications of critical area biologist.

Layoff provisions for employees holding classified status, an extension of current VIBA provisions for employees employed through December 31st, 2025, and provides employees covered by the agreement on the date of city council approval with a one-time lump sum payment of $2,000.

Finally, ordinance 29053 will provide for the implementation of the provisions included in the letter of agreement as negotiated with the City of Tacoma and Local 120.

I would be happy to answer any questions.

Thank you very much, Dylan, for the presentation.

Do we have any questions for Dillon?

Seeing none at this time, um, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41754 signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, the resolution is declared adopted.

Moving on to item 15.

Clerk, will you please read?

Resolution 41755, a resolution authorizing the execution of a letter of agreement with the Tacoma Police Union Local 6 Community Service Officers Unit regarding contributions to a VIBA account.

I move to adopt resolution number 41755.

Second.

All right, I'd like to call Michelle Wardrow.

Michelle.

Good evening.

Mayor Woodards, Deputy Mayor, Council.

I'm Michelle Woodrow, public safety labor negotiator at the City of Tacoma.

I actually have two resolutions and an ordinance to present this evening.

The first resolution is resolution number 41755, which authorizes execution of a letter of agreement, LOA, with the Tacoma Police Union Local 6 Community Service Officers Unit regarding participation in a voluntary employee beneficiary association or a VIBA.

The agreement provides that an employee separated from service due to death or retirement for disability or length of service will be eligible for a deposit of the value of unused personal time off PTO accruals to a VIBA account on behalf of the employee.

The city shall deposit into a VIBA account a sum equivalent to 100% of PTO accruals for any bargaining unit employee who meets the criteria outlined in the Tacoma Municipal Code Section 1.12.229.

The LOA also provides the union the ability to make a change no more than once per year on which on which portion of the PTO accruals shall be deposited into a VIBA account for eligible employees.

The deposit shall be an amount equal to 0%, 50%, or 100% at the time of separation.

The union make a may make a change no more than once per year and with at least 30 calendar days notice to the city.

Thank you very much, Michelle.

Do we have any questions for Michelle?

All right, seeing none, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41755 signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All those opposed?

The resolution is declared adopted.

Item 16.

This item will have a PowerPoint presentation and will also cover item 19.

Clerk, will you please read?

Resolution 41756, a resolution authorizing the execution of a letter of agreement with the Tacoma Police Union Local Six Commissioned Unit regarding a lateral police officer incentive program.

Hello again.

I'm still Michelle.

We've got to get a motion here.

Oh sorry.

I move to adopt resolution number four one seven five six.

Second.

All right, it's all yours, Michelle.

My apologies, Mayor.

Good evening again.

I am still Michelle Woodrow, the public safety labor negotiator at the City of Tacoma, and I am here to present on Tacoma Police Department's proposal to accelerate their hiring through the implementation of a lateral incentive program.

This presentation covers resolution 41756 and ordinance 29052.

The resolution is a letter of agreement that was negotiated with the Tacoma Police Union Local 6 and the ordinance is the accompanying pay and compensation ordinance.

As a reminder, you first heard about this concept at study session back on June 17th, and then again you had a presentation at study session on August 26th.

The agenda for the presentation is split into two primary parts.

The first part is understanding the problem that the department is trying to address, and the second part is the department's proposal to address that problem.

First, the problem.

TPD is experiencing a chronic staffing shortfall.

Despite consistent efforts to reach fully budgeted staffing levels, they continue to have significant vacancies.

Since the presentation in June, the expected number of vacancies for this year has increased.

The short staffing requires mandatory overtime, which obviously has a financial impact, but it also impacts current officers' well-being and mental health.

And ultimately, on the level of service TPD is able to provide to the community.

The proposed solution is an in-state lateral incentive program.

TPD wants to attract officers currently serving in Washington state to join the department.

Lateral officers can be deployed faster than entry level officers because they have a significantly shorter onboarding time.

This slide shows the short staffing trend.

You can see that in 2021 and 2022, there were a significant number of retirements and separations.

And even with the increase of hiring that occurred in 2022, TPD is still trying to make up for the loss of officers from those years.

Currently, in 2025, the number of new officers hired versus separations is even, but at a minimum, they expect a total of 18 separations by the end of the year, which are in addition to the current 28 vacancies at TPD.

Hiring new officers to fill budgeted positions is a high priority for the department.

If we do nothing and hiring practices continue as they have for the past several years, it is projected that TPD will not be fully staffed until the year 2029.

However, if TPD institutes a lateral program which will increase the rate of hiring and can fill 20 positions within the next two years, that projection to be fully staffed changes to the year 2027.

I do want to take a moment to explain why, even with the lateral and lateral program, it still might take two plus years to reach full staffing.

In addition to the lateral program, TPD will continue the rigorous efforts to add entry level officers to the department.

And as you may recall, when hiring an entry-level officer, that officer has 12 months of onboarding training and academy time before they can be deployed into the community.

However, TBD will still have challenges to maintain targeted staffing levels due to the amount of leave that's available to them, as well as protected leave for things like Washington Family, Washington paid family medical leave and military leave.

However, having more officers sooner will help mitigate those challenges.

Overtime costs are another factor of considering of consideration for taking a new approach to our short staffing issue.

The number one driver of overtime is sector coverage or patrol officers that respond to the 911 calls.

The department has targeted minimum staffing levels for all shifts, and with that, the average annual cost of sector overtime from 2022 to 2024 was more than $3.5 million, or put a different way, about 49% of the annual police general fund overtime expense.

Increasing staffing levels and patrol for sector coverage and allocating additional FTEs for each of the shifts, the sector overtime will be reduced.

Overtime in the department will continue, but it will be at a reduced level that focuses on strategic or special emphasis operations, emergencies, or other unique situations.

Now that I've shared with you the background on the problem that TPD is trying to address, I want to move on to the proposed solution.

The proposed solution is an in-state lateral incentive program.

This program would apply to law enforcement officers currently working in Washington State who are already commissioned by the Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission.

The reason for that is unlike an entry-level officer who spends their first year on boarding training and time at the academy, a lateral officer can be deployed within the community in as little as two months.

The proposed incentive program has two main components.

The first is an incentive payment of $50,000, which would be staggered over a two-year period.

The lateral hire would receive $25,000 upon hiring, and then a payment of $12,500 after completing their first and second year of employment.

The payment does include a payback provision requiring, excuse me, requires requiring the officer to remain continuously employed for a full two years or being required to reimburse the city.

The program would authorize up to $120 floating holiday hours to lateral officers leave bank dependent on the date of hire.

For laterals hired in 2025, they would receive 40 floating holiday hours upon the date of hire and then 80 floating holiday hours on January 1st, 2026.

Excuse me.

For laterals hired in 2026, they would receive 80 floating holiday hours upon the date of hire.

Floating holiday hours are use it or lose it in the calendar year that they're received, so they would not be able to roll those hours over, and there's also no cash out value of the floating holiday hours.

TPD thinks this approach with this approach, they will see a significant increase in qualified and experienced laterals wanting to join the department, and the goal of the program is to recruit the best of Washington State.

TPD commits to continuing to maintain their rigorous and high standards for recruitment.

Initially, TPD hopes to hire 20 laterals through this program, though I want to note that the city does reserve the right to end the program at any time and it will be closely monitored and evaluated continuously.

Laterals would still need to meet the standards set for all officers hired and pass rigorous recruitment processes.

If hired by TPD, those laterals will also bring additional years of experience to our force, where 64% of Tacoma's patrol officers have five years or less on the force.

And lateral officers will have a faster deployment within the community.

This slide seeks to capture the value of that faster deployment.

So if you look at the first column of the slide, you'll see that in the first year, an entry-level officer spends their first 12 months at the academy in training or with a field training officer.

That costs the city about 210,200.

And then if you calculate the next four years of their personnel costs, once they're fully deployed to serve the community, you can see the five-year total cost comes in just under one million.

While looking at the lateral officer who's already familiar with regional protocols, that onboarding time is reduced to two months.

You can see the value of those two months on boarding on the side on the slide in the second column.

Then in the final 10 months of the first year of service, laterals are independently deployed within the city to provide service to the community.

The lateral incentive program does have added costs, which are just over $62,000 per officer.

That value includes the $50,000 incentive program, the leave, and some pension implications.

But adding the four years of personnel costs, a lateral hired under this program's total cost is just over $1 million.

The total cost difference between the two is about $71,000.

However, the value of the laterals surpasses the additional cost.

For that first year of service, the city must pay the officer's salaries regardless.

The difference is that for a lateral officer, that salary is being paid and 10 months of service is being provided to the community versus an entry-level officer where the salary is paid and because they are still in training, they will not be deployed to serve the community for at least a year.

Even though a lateral officer costs about $71,000 more over a five-year period, the value of that earlier deployment to provide service to the community is why laterals make sense in a in terms of the highest use of our limited resources.

In terms of actual dollars, you can see that the full implementation of this program is estimated to be about $3.4 million.

I want to note that a substantial portion of these costs are one time.

By the time TPD gets to the third year of the program implementation in 2027, the cost is estimated to be about 444,000 dollars.

And of that amount in 2027, a portion are remaining one-time costs only related to the officer incentives.

The ongoing cost for the program is about 180,000.

For the total program cost, 1.2 million is directly related to the lateral incentive program, and that is the cost of the incentive payment, the leave benefits, pension, and other salary implications.

If this program is successful, it will cause a rapid increase in the number of hired officers within the Tacoma Police Department, which means TPD will also need to adjust the budget, not because they're hiring laterals, but because there will be a higher number of officers.

The two point one million dollars in cost will include things like new officer equipment.

Additionally, TPD will need to purchase additional vehicles as part of this cost, and that includes 1.35 million for 15 new vehicles.

Please note that these vehicles are going to be needed regardless of the lateral program.

And to be as transparent as possible, you're seeing both the direct costs associated with the lateral incentive program as well as the other costs that come from having higher staffing.

Of the 3.4 million total, 233,000 will come from a TPD special revenue fund to cover officer equipment as a one-time expense, and the remaining costs will be covered by the general fund, $3.1 million, and will be requested at mid-biennium modification.

Two actions are requested by council tonight to implement this program.

The first is a resolution adopting the letter of agreement negotiated with the union.

And then the first and final reading of the pay and compensation ordinance.

As you saw in earlier slides, the projected vacancy rate for the department is nearing 30 vacancies.

TPD hopes this program will be implemented as quickly as possible, and they are seeking an emergency ordinance, so the program will become effective immediately.

Since TPD first began discussing the possibility of this program publicly, they have seen an increase in their rate of lateral applicants and currently have around 40 lateral applicants, applications submitted.

If they pass the rigorous recruitment process, their acceptance of hiring officers is likely contingent upon the timely implementation of this program.

TPD will then add this program's appropriation into the mid-byennium modification process in October.

And I'm happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Michelle.

Do we have any additional questions for Michelle?

Councilmember Rumbach.

I don't really have any questions.

I just wanted to say that there's a lot of people from Northeast Tacoma here tonight, and that the reason that I'm going to support this is because I believe that having more officers available to do patrol for speeding cars will do something to make a difference in Northeast Tacoma for the amount of fatalities that we've had on Marine View Drive and on North Point Way.

And I also believe that being able to have a community liaison program that actually has enough officers will be good for our business districts and for our neighborhood council areas.

So I just I really appreciate you coming tonight, Michelle, and share and I've thought about this and it's expensive, but I think it's the right thing right now for our city.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Romba.

Michelle, I just have one quick question.

Um I can't remember what slide it was on, so I'm probably going to stump you, uh Alison.

Um, but it was the slide.

Oh no, it was the slide where we talk about 120 days versus 80 days.

And I guess it says 120 days are given to officers who are hired between now and the end of the year.

Does that mean that they get 120 days every year?

No.

No, it'll be a one-time.

So if you're hired in 2025, it'll be a one-time 40-hour deposit because those 40 hours will expire at the end of the year.

And then on January 1st, 2026, that lateral officer would receive 80 hours that they would need to use within 2026, and that will be the year.

Gotcha.

So those 40 additional hours that they're getting will have to be used, let's say they're hired tomorrow.

They'll have to use those by the by December 31.

Correct.

Okay.

All right, great.

That's helpful.

Um, that was my only question.

I don't see any other council or deputy mayor Daniels.

Um, I just had a quick question about the fleet breakdown.

Can you bring the slide up with the year?

I think you answered it, but I just wanted to see if we were gonna pay for the full fleet this year or if we're paying for the fleet over time as well.

Um, I am going to phone a friend.

They're all standing in the back of the room.

Look, with which which you are you phoning the chief or no, if you here comes someone who can tell me if we're going to be able to get 15 patrol cars by the end of the year.

Yes, so we will finalize the year of acquisition when we work in the mid-biannial modification process.

But typically we plan for the expenditure at the time we place the order, so we might see that expenditure hit in 2025, but it's unlikely we would receive the vehicles until 2026.

So in the interim, the police department will leverage vehicles that were set to be surplused and continue to manage the fleet to staff officers as they're onboarded until those new vehicles arrive.

Okay, that makes sense.

Thanks.

Great.

I don't see any additional um questions.

So seeing no destitutional questions, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41756 signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

This resolution is declared adopted.

Moving on to item 17.

Clerk, will you please read?

Resolution 41757, a resolution authorizing the one-time use of council contingency funds in the amount of $20,000 to advocates for immigrants in detention northwest for their phone call fund and to support their welcome center services.

I move to adopt resolution number 41757.

Second.

All right, I'd like to call on Councilmember Diaz.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I want to start by thanking Councilmembers Walker and Bushnell for co-sponsoring resolution 41757 with me.

This resolution allocates 20,000 to support Aid Northwest phone card fund and their welcome center.

This resolution recognizes AIDS North aid advocates for immigrants in detention northwest or aid Northwest in work connecting detainees in the Northwest ICE Processing Center with critical resources.

People detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center are stripped of their basic rights and supports that many of us take for granted from the ability to make a simple phone call to a family member or a lawyer or to even arrange pickup after they're released.

With more people being detained, the number of vulnerable individuals needing help keeps rising.

According to Congresswoman Randall, the Northwest Immigrant Process Center processing center number of detainees has increased significantly from about 700 last November to 1,300 in April and uh 1,562 as of August 1st.

This is just a handful shy of the facility's maximum occupancy.

As more and more people are being detained nationwide, often without due process or from their workplaces.

Phone calls for detainees is more important now than ever to help them alert their family to their whereabouts, help them organize next steps, help folks get their affairs in order while in detention.

With this increase in detention, there's also been an increase in alarming reports from detainees inside the ICE processing center and a deepening strain on our community partners providing detainees with this vital support network.

We also recognize that people are just as vulnerable upon release as they are when they're first detained.

Now, only now facing a new set of uncertainties, often alone and in an industrial area of the city that they may not even know.

Um many folks aren't even from Tacoma originally.

This resolution is one of many.

I and my city colleagues have taken and will take moving forward to help support immigrants, refugees, and especially those detained in the Tacoma detention center while we continue to advocate for systemic immigration reform across the country that will treat everyone with fairness, dignity, and the humanity they deserve.

As we celebrate welcoming week, it's important to thank Aid Northwest for the work that they do at their welcoming center to support family and visitors to detainees and to help connect people with resources upon their release.

They are a critical part of our welcoming network in Tacoma.

So I want to urge all of my colleagues to join me in voting for this resolution at this dire and scary time for those of us in the immigrant and refugee community.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Councilmember Diaz.

Are there any uh additional council questions or comments?

Councilmember Walker.

Um, thank you, Mayor.

And I want to make sure Councilmember Sidalgay had his hand raised too before me.

But uh I just want to really briefly thank Councilmember Diaz for her leadership.

Thank Aid Northwest for the work that they do in our community.

I'm sorry that we are having to do so much of it now.

Um, this is really important work to support our community members and truly the least we can do, and I just want to um acknowledge uh and recognize and stand with councilmember Diaz as she mentioned uh the other work that we're gonna do around um making sure we're continuing to uh reach out to our federal partners and do anything we can to both support the humans in this situation as well as the policies and the structures um that are uh putting vulnerable people in terrible situations daily.

So um thank you again for your leadership, Councilmember Diaz.

Thank you, Aid Northwest for the work you do.

Great.

Councilmember Buschnell.

And then I'm gonna sorry, Councilmember Sidalgay.

Oh, thank you, Mayor.

Um, before I get into my uh comments, uh, I did want to ask if there's any way I can be a co-sponsor.

I would have been a co-sponsor had I not been uh on leave welcoming uh the newest addition to our family.

And if that's not possible, that's perfectly fine.

Uh she said yes, so we'll put you on as a co-sponsor.

Clerk, did you get that?

Awesome.

Okay, great.

Um you know, I'm I'm gonna try to keep it together with this this set of comments because I also want to mention that um I talked to uh councilmember Diaz about this, and I want to thank her for her leadership on this uh because Councilmember Diaz, I and Councilmember Hines on one day visited the Northwest Detention Center and spoke to detainees and and got a very uh for me it was one of the most moving and impactful uh things for me emotionally, not just because I'm a foreign-born immigrant, um, but just as a human being, understand um the stories and listening to the stories of of actual people of brothers and sisters and humanity and what they're going through.

Um and though this is not a ton of money, and maybe for some in some people's eyes, not enough that we're doing it is something, and it's really important.

And for that, I also want to thank the work of Aid Northwest and what they're doing day in and day out, because that's it's tough work.

Um, and from the bottom of my heart, I want to thank you for all the work you're doing for our brothers and sisters in humanity that are being treated in a way that in my opinion is absolutely uh um just unbelievable.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Sidalge, Councilmember Bush Nell.

Thank you, Mayor, and um and thank you, Councilmember Diaz, for your leadership on this.

Um, and uh Aid Northwest for all the work that you and your volunteers and everybody else is doing.

I'm a child of a refugee.

My mother came to the US as a refugee from Cambodia in the early 80s, and so um my family knows what it looks like to be ripped from family members, and that is what's happening here in America today.

Um it's been said by my colleagues already, so I don't want to continue on with it, but it's it's um this is this is the least we can do.

I wish I wish we had so much more resources to be able to support people that are going through this, and uh to be taking people from all over the country and and leaving them here with nothing but the shirt or back, oftentimes uh is unconscionable.

Um thank you.

And um looking forward to supporting this.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Um Bushnell, and I too just want to add my gratitude to Councilmember Diaz for bringing this forward.

Um, earlier the meeting when we were um celebrating welcoming week um and talking about the year of belonging, it might have been noticed that I got a little emotional.

Um I got emotional for the fact that um there are people who live in our community right now who are very scared.

And and who, as council member Diaz so eloquently talked about, don't know where their family members are.

And it's just really sad that we we live in a country now where that's the narrative.

And we now have to be afraid for that.

And as I look down into the faces of those five workers from Tacoma Community House, I've thought about the people that they must meet every single day.

And the trauma that those people are experiencing.

So Councilmember Diaz, I agree with Council Member Sandesh, it's it's not um a ton of money.

Um it is the best that we can do at this time.

But I just want to thank you for never for never forgetting but always remembering those who live in our community um who are who are always suffering, but at this time are suffering um more who are suffering more.

And I will just I will leave it at that, but just thank you for your leadership.

Thank you for bringing this forward tonight.

And with that, um I will ask all those in favor um of adopting resolution number 41757 signify by saying aye.

All those who are opposed, this resolution is declared adopted.

Final reading of ordinances item 18.

Clark, will you please read?

Ordinance 29051, an ordinance amending chapter 13.6 of the municipal code relating to zoning by amending various sections to implement the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District Code update work plan to strengthen groundwater protections, align with best available science and ensure consistency with state and local regulations as recommended by the planning commission.

All right, this item was presented on August 26, 2025.

Were there any additional council questions or comments?

Councilmember Bush now.

I move as a substitute substitute ordinance number 29051 to incorporate staff recommended revisions and corrections to the ordinance recitals and exhibit A, including adding statements regarding the review process to the recitals, clarifying regulations to allow existing non-conforming underground storage tanks to be replaced, provided the replacement meets the standard for a new tank.

Replacing waiver language with reference to the variance process, clarifying the application of code to split parcels, minor code claimants based on public comments.

Second.

All right, I'd like to call on council member Bush now.

The South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District Code Update Public Hearing Debrief.

Staff identified four suggested edits to the STGPD proposal.

Add language for non-conforming uses, existing underground storage tanks may be replaced provided the replacement take meets the standards for a new tank.

Remove waiver language, reference the variance process, clarification for split parcels, minor code claimants based on public comments.

We had a chance to talk through these at study session.

These changes address technical and practical needs for this code update, and will help this code update be implemented more successfully.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Bush.

Now, Councilmember Rumba.

Yeah, thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Councilmember Bush and L for bringing these forward.

I just there's been questions about replacing the waiver language with references to the variance process.

I was wondering if staff could explain that.

Somebody on staff.

I can answer it.

Okay, okay, great.

So the current waiver in the code lacks specificity on process notification and appeal for decisions.

It also applies to all standards, seemingly even use restrictions.

So this helps clarify that.

And the uh the variance process includes standards for decision making that grant similar relief as the waiver, while also providing greater specificity about the procedures, notifications, decision making, and an appeal.

The variance also applies to development standards and not use restrictions.

But it doesn't mean that the planning department is in charge of everything, right?

That I would have to Well, that's what I mean.

I just that's what I'm curious about.

If it's if it's a variance, a variance is a land use thing.

And so then what's the difference between a waiver and a variance?

Is what I'm trying to understand.

Sorry to make us wait longer, but I want to understand.

Good evening.

My name is Miriam Wayne, and I'm a senior planner with planning and development services department.

Um, so basically, for uh what the language we have for the waiver um right now in the code, in the CGPD code, is not clear uh who is the ultimate decision maker for the waiver.

Uh with the warrior's process, PDS would be basically um the authority.

And then would there still be like a waiver that would be with the health department?

Like, where is the health department in some of this?

So uh that's something that like um the health department enforced, like implements like the other regulations that they have in the SCGPD code uh when it comes to um like for example, like a developer requesting a variance from like one of these like development standards that we have in the CGP code.

The PDS would be consulting basically with the Common Pierce County Health Department to see whether um we can like um basically give this warrior's and in some cases like it would go to the hearing examiner.

So it's not like uh the PDS director.

So the health department still has a say because they're part of the variance process is what you're saying.

Uh yes, it would be a voice in that, and then if it had to, it would go to the hearing examiner, who's then another person making a decision besides the planning department.

Yes, okay.

Thank you for explaining that.

Yeah, thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

All right, seeing none, um, the vote is on substitution of ordinance number two nine zero five one.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

The motion is declared adopted.

Sub substitute ordinance number two nine zero five one is now before us.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Councilmember Rumba.

I move to amend ordinance number two nine zero five one by adding an additional section to be to the be it ordained portion of the ordinance to call for a memorandum of understanding between the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department and the city that defines the respective roles, coordination protocols, and joint implementation of the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District Code and related stormwater management requirements as follows.

Section three, that the city manager or their designee is hereby directed to take all necessary steps to negotiate a memorandum of understanding between the City of Tacoma and the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department and use best use best efforts to complete it within 90 days following the effected date of this ordinance.

The purpose of such a memorandum shall be to define agency roles, coordination protocols, and joint implementation of the STGPD code and related stormwater management requirements.

Second.

All right, I'd like to call on Council Member Rumba for an explanation.

Thank you, Mayor.

So I brought this up today at study session, but I think this is important.

One of the things in the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District Code update is how the city is working so closely with the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department on this work.

An identified next step is to enter into a memorandum of understanding with the TPCHD to define agency roles, coordinate protocols, and jointly implement the South South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District Code and related stormwater management requirements.

This is vital work that I think needs to happen in a timely fashion.

My amendment directs the city to use best efforts to complete the MOU within 90 days of the effective date of this ordinance.

I hope this timeline assures everyone watching this work closely that the city is committed to swift action and implementation of this code.

We've all worked so hard for.

Thank you.

Thank you very much.

Uh Councilmember Rumbaugh.

Do we have any additional council questions or comments?

All right, seeing none, the vote is on the motion to amend substitute ordinance number two nine zero five one.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

Aye.

The motion is declared adopted.

Substitute ordinance number two nine zero five one as amended is now before us.

Are there any final counsel questions or comments?

Councilmember Bush now.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just this has been a really long process, and I just want to really appreciate all the community members, the staff that worked on this uh for years.

I remember talking about this uh back when I was on neighboring council uh long time ago at this point.

Um and so just really wanted to just it was a Herculean effort, and I just really appreciate all the work that's gone into it, and I'm really happy with where we've landed today.

Thank you.

Great.

Thank you.

Councilmember Bushnell, there are any additional council questions or comments.

All right.

Seeing none, Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Councilmember Bushnell?

Aye, Deputy Mayor Daniels.

Aye.

Councilmember Diaz.

Aye.

Councilmember Hines.

Aye.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalgay.

Aye.

Councilmember Scott.

Aye.

Councilmember Walker.

Aye.

Mayor Woodards.

Aye.

This ordinance is declared passed.

Moving on to item 19.

Clerk, will you please read?

Ordinance 29052.

This is first and final reading an ordinance authorizing recruitment incentives for lateral police officers to adapt to current challenges with hiring and declaring an emergency, making necessary the passage of this ordinance and it's taking effect immediately.

All right.

This is the first and final reading of this ordinance.

The item was presented earlier in the meeting.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Councilmember Bushnell.

Oh, just comment.

Oh, yeah, no, no, that's that this is the time.

Council Member Bush now.

Just uh I just want to thank everybody that uh helped put this uh program together.

Uh there's a lot of research uh that went into it and a lot of outreach.

And um I really appreciate uh the chief and and the staff and everybody else um for trying to come up with solutions to really identify and uh uh have a big big big changes uh to our hiring incentive uh program here.

Uh we've been chronically short of officers, and I know many of our officers are are feeling that strain with mandatory overtime uh day in, day out.

And uh this I think really gives an opportunity for seeing a light at the end of the tunnel, and uh I'm really looking forward to um supporting this ordinance.

So thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Councilmember Heinz.

Uh thank you, Madam Mayor.

And I wasn't here for the earlier part of the resolution, but I just want to take a moment to thank our chief and the team for kind of putting this together.

I think as Council Bushnell had mentioned, um, this has been an issue, I mean, since almost the entire time I've been on the council here, five years of just trying to make sure we have enough officers to respond.

Um, I just want to thank the chief and her team for especially for kind of answering a lot of the questions that came up over time as we brought up.

I kind of, you know, because when you look at this with a lot of the questions, it's like, well, does this why is this necessary?

Why are we bringing this forward?

And I thought she did a wonderful job of explaining kind of why this is important and how this is going to both benefit um uh how this is gonna benefit our community uh writ large, I think is the really important.

Because I I did challenge her when she brought this forward.

I said, hey, you know, Chief Jackson, I really want to know like can you be really clear about how the public is going to see the benefit from this.

And I think she did a wonderful job of kind of explaining that to us.

So um I appreciate um all of her efforts along with the rest of uh the people all working on this and look forward to supporting this.

Thank you, Madam Mayor.

Thank you, Councilmember Hines.

I too will just um add to that um uh to uh chief to our chief Patty Jackson um for coming in and oh okay, thank you.

Councilmember Sidalgia, I'll go to you and then I'll go last.

Go ahead.

Uh Councilmember Diaz had her uh hand up first.

Councilmember Diaz.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I wanted to sort of point out for anybody who may have been watching study session or I think particularly for Chief Jackson, who's still there in the room.

Um, I feel like I might have been one of the bigger thorns in her side and trying to bring forward this proposal for us, and I just wanted to share how diligently she worked to address all of my concerns, particularly around accountability and the big price tag associated with this move.

But I really ultimately got to yes on this because of the work that she did to make sure that we're not only bringing in some folks who are hopefully going to be really great mentors for our very young police force, but to fill in this gap that we've never had to my some of my colleagues' comments.

Um, since I've been on council, we've never had a fully staffed force.

So I'm really hoping that this achieves her goals because she's done such good work and her team um to lay it all out for us and make sure that we've got a plan that's both accountable to the budget to community members and to the very officers who are gonna get some relief from this.

So thank you.

Thank you very much, Councilmember Diaz, Councilmember Sidalge.

Uh thank you.

I want to echo um all the sentiments um in thanking the chief and and the staff at T T for putting together um really a lot of really great uh answers and really thought into this uh program.

I actually do believe that net net this is the more fiscally responsible thing and also just a more responsible thing as a council member um because of the fact that there is also going to be this um uh realization of lower um overtime costs over time and the flexibility to be properly uh staffed.

Now I don't think we should go out and say we can do a lot more things than than we can today, but just to be at that base level is really important, and I think it's really important in light of our other policies around alternative response uh coming in.

They all work together.

So um in my conversations with the chief and staff, um uh over time, I I came to really good uh place in understanding how this can really uh benefit the entire city as a whole.

So uh again, I want to thank um everyone involved for seeing uh really good work over there, and I'm happy to support this.

Great, thank you very much, Deputy Mayor.

Thanks, madam mayor.

I just want to um lastly express my uh trust and gratitude in the chief and her staff uh for putting this together.

Sometimes we ask for creative solutions, and then we don't want to pay for creative solutions.

Sometimes we ask for creative solutions, and then we don't want to pay for creative solutions, and I was one of them who had a lot of questions, particularly about the costs at this time.

Um I feel like I got my questions answered.

Um, and I have great faith and the work that you're doing and the work that you will do and the officers that you will bring on.

Um, and I'm excited to have them here and um for what our city would look like fully staffed, hopefully.

Um thank you, um, council member Daniels, Deputy Mayor Daniels.

Um, is that everyone?

Okay.

Um now I'll make I now just say ditto to what everyone else said.

I don't know if I have anything more eloquent to say than what's been said, other than to really thank the chief for her leadership in the police department.

Um, everybody's talked about not seeing um the department fully staffed wall.

Um, other than a year break, I've been here 15 years and I've never seen the police department fully staffed, but I have heard stories.

I have heard long tall tales of back in the day when we had a fully staffed police department, and I think um, given the fact that public safety is still very much on the minds of our residents, um, this will go a long way.

We're making we we've made some great investments in our fire department um by getting new equipment.

Um, we're now making an investment in our police department by not only getting new equipment but actually getting um more bodies, more officers.

And and I really appreciate the fact that we're we're getting more officers, we're gonna get experienced officers who come to the city of Tacoma.

And so just chief, really grateful for for you and your team for working on this and coming up with solution.

I too was one who had a hundred million questions given the fact of the budget deficit that we are facing and continue to face, but um sometimes you've got to, you know, you've got to make an investment.

Um save money.

Um, and this is that opportunity for us to spend some resources, but ultimately um not just to save money, um, but to help our community feel more safe and be able to respond in a way that Tacoma residents expect us to and the way that um this council desires us to.

I also want to thank local six um for um agreeing to this.

This this is part of a decision that has to be bargained for.

So thank you for them to them for working so quickly um to um get this done and get this approved and so that we could pass this tonight.

So thanks to everyone.

And with that, Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Deputy Mayor Daniels.

Aye, Councilmember Diaz.

Aye, Councilmember Heinz.

Aye, Councilmember Rumba.

Aye, Councilmember Sidalgay.

Aye, Councilmember Scott.

Aye, Councilmember Walker.

Aye, Councilmember Bushnell.

Aye, Mayor Woodards.

Aye.

The ordinance is declared passed.

Moving on to first meeting of ordinances.

We only have one more ordinance and then we're getting to community forum.

Thank you all so much for your patience.

All right, item 20.

Clerk, will you please read?

Ordinance 29053 and ordinance amending chapter 1.12 of the municipal code relating to the compensation plan to implement rates of pay and compensation for employees represented by Washington State County, Council of County and City Employees Local 120.

All right, this item was presented earlier this evening.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Seeing none of this none, this ordinance will be set over for final reading next week.

Unfinished businesses or any unfinished business.

Seeing none, moving on to community forum.

Um, community forum um is an opportunity during which you may speak about items over which the city council has jurisdiction.

As a reminder, these forums are not intended to give speakers the opportunity, these forums are intended to give speakers the opportunity to share their viewpoints and feedback with the city council to aid in our decision making, and they are not meant to be back and forth dialogues.

Your remarks should be directed to the city council and not to individual staff members.

At this time, I would like to ask attendees if you are wishing to speak under community form to please press the raise your hand button near the bottom of your Zoom window or star nine on your phone now so we can see the number of people wishing to testify this evening.

If you are speaking in person, please sign up at the back of the room if you have not done so already.

Your name or the last four digits of your phone number will be called out when it is your turn to speak.

Community forum clerk, will you please read?

The purpose of community forum is to assist the council in making policy decisions.

Items of discussion will be limited to matters over which the council has jurisdiction.

Arguments shall not be made in support of or opposition to any matter on this week's agenda.

And each person may address the council only one time during this forum.

All right, community forum will be limited to a total of 60 minutes, and each speaker will have 90 seconds set by the council rules to make your remarks.

Please be mindful of the time frame.

As always, you are not required to use all of your time to make your point.

If you cannot remain on topic, you will be given two warnings.

If you remain off topic, we will have to move on and we'll end your time.

We received one regarding enforcement of low low priority laws.

Wonderful.

Thank you very much.

With that, I am going to start by calling on those who have signed in in person this evening.

And we're going to start with Amanda Nelson.

Followed by Randall Cooks.

Gook Statter.

I want to give my time to Dave and go by.

I want to say you can't pass on your 90 seconds to someone else and give them three minutes.

Sorry about that.

Okay.

Oh, you want them to go ahead if you gotcha.

Okay.

Sorry, Amanda, we had to work all that out.

Thank you very much.

Good before I start.

Can I I have some stuff to have a chance?

Oh, yes, please.

And if and if and if and if you if you have written if you have your comments written and we and you go over and you run out of the 90 seconds, we the clerk can you can submit them to the clerk and she'll make sure all of us.

Okay, I probably will.

Look, thank you, Amanda.

Go right ahead.

Okay.

My name's Amanda Nelson, and I've been a resident of Northeast Tacoma for over 20 years.

I'm getting really emotional.

Um, and I created this petition that I'm passing out to you guys.

Um the statistics clearly show a change is needed between both Norpoint and Marine View Drive.

There have been nearly 800 accidents and numerous fatalities over the past decade, with over a hundred, or excuse me, with over 1250 signatures from residents on this petition.

Um, the community is sending a strong message that not only these roads are extremely dangerous and deadly, but also changes overdue.

Long overdue.

Um, with numerous options such as jersey barriers, roundabouts, and speed cameras both along both uh Marine View Drive and um Norpoint, it could greatly reduce the accidents and fatalities that generate help to generate more funds to help with the lack of police presence.

While speeding cameras can definitely help, speed isn't always the factor.

This is Kristen, a beautiful 22-year-old young lady.

Excuse me.

With her whole life ahead of her.

Sadly, Kristen lost her life in December on North Point, not because of speeding.

She lost control in the dangerous corner of North Point when she collided with a van going only 42 miles an hour.

The impact in the force was so violent that her neck and spine were severed.

In the hospital, her family wasn't even able to hug her properly and say their goodbyes.

Okay.

Uh five days later, Kristen graciously gave her organs to five other people to save their lives.

We firmly believe her family and I that a Jersey barrier could have prevented this.

Now, Marine View Drive is not only a traffic concern, it's community safety crisis.

Residents endure dangerous speeding, reckless driving, and I can't even see, and serious accidents on.

I can't see.

It goes by so fast.

Please, if you and if you only have one copy, the clerk can make copies and make sure that we all get it.

Something needs to be done.

Thank you very much for your comments this evening.

So, Randall, you said you wanted to give your time to not go by.

Okay, Dave, you're next.

Good evening, Councilman.

Council members.

So I'm here on behalf of Northeast Tacoma to reiterate what Councilmember Rumba said.

And speak about Norpoint Hill and SR509, a project contractor with the City of Tacoma.

Um, there would be more of us here tonight, but Pierce County Council Member Yombi is meeting on the very same issue at the BPIC.

And I ask you to coordinate with him and gather his feedback as well.

This is not just a city issue, this is a city and county issue, and it remains serious.

Um we've recently met with City of Federal Way engineers, and they use I hate to say this, but they use Tacoma as being a poster child of bad roads.

They also have a heavy traffic camber presence, and although some might call them money grabs, take a look at the numbers of fatal accidents they have compared to Tacoma.

Now I'll be honest, I hate speed cameras as much as the next person, but the financials are clear.

The program pays for itself, and I have copies if you'd like to review them.

That money should be leaving reserves to get a jersey barrier, lane delineators, ballards, whatever you want, whatever engineers decide is going to be the safest option.

Um more people have died since the last time I came to speak.

And we understand that you have budget constraints and elections are underway, which means positions are going to be coming and going.

However, more people have died since the last time we were here.

And as of right now, Tacoma Vision Zero's action plan.

I see is targeted for 2035.

And I'm just asking the safe streets can't wait.

Thank you very much for your comments, David.

Randall.

Followed by Christopher Nutt.

What's that?

Oh.

Oh hello.

So I just wanted to reiterate what they said it's getting really bad around there.

But I've been working with Carrie William in planning.

And she says, we got right now five cameras coming to Tacoma, and one of them slated to go on 509 in the spring.

I like to see that moved up.

If we can get it October, November before before winter, we might save some lives.

Also, we just had a lady went down 509.

The guy behind her just decided to push her instead of going around her and put her right into a dolphin pole on 509.

The same place where she wants to put the camera at, but it's getting worse.

We just need to do something, anything.

Anyway, that's all I got.

Thank you very much, Randall.

Christopher.

Hello, my name is Chris Nutt.

Uh I've been in Northeast about a year, and I came out to speak to the same topic.

Uh SR509 is very dangerous.

I drive it every day to work.

And especially the corner of uh 509 and Alexander.

Uh you just are looking at a perfect opportunity for people to hit each other, T-bone each other at 55 miles an hour as I try to make right-hand turns or left-hand turns across that medium.

Uh so we we do need to do something.

Obviously, some people have died, and uh we could prevent this with some jersey barriers, uh, speed bumps, maybe traffic cameras.

Uh, I'd also like to speak in the Northeast Tacoma itself.

Uh it's not very walkable, which which causes own problems.

I have three kids, and I have to drive them the half mile to Crescent Heights Elementary School because there's just a lack of sidewalks they can walk on, and there's no crossing guards, and there's no stop signs.

Uh, I have to drive them to Copatec Elementary or Alder, sorry, uh Copeck Library or Alderwood Park for the same reason.

There's no sidewalks for them to walk there, and even if there are, they're just going along the side of the road.

It's it's not a safe situation for pedestrians, uh, for children for bikers uh in the neighborhood, or but are especially as a lot of people have noted on on 509 or on Marine View.

Uh thank you for your time.

Thank you very much.

Um, Chris Laura.

I'll try to talk without crying.

Krista's accident was incredibly violent.

She was pushed 15 feet backwards upon impact, and the van that hit her didn't stop for 60 feet.

And in that accident, because of how she was hit in the rear quarter panel, her airbags didn't go off.

So she ended up against the guardrail in front of Julie's Julia's clutch.

And anyway, they had to extricate her from the car.

She was declared dead at the scene, but they did take her to Tacoma General because she was an organ donor.

And just the forces of her being hit, even though 42 miles an hour, it's not much, but it was enough to just completely internally decapitate her.

And she's 22 years old.

This is her sister who just turned 22.

Anyway, December 13th was a Friday the 13th.

It was a crappy night.

It was dark and rainy and awful, and the cops on the scene in the police report even put that it was when they were walking, that the road was so slippery, and it's just the road continues to deteriorate.

It's full of potholes, it's an awful road, and um it just is something's gotta be done.

I mean, if there had been a jersey barrier, perhaps she would have hit and her airbag would have gone off, but it didn't.

And so she um we spent five days in the hospital waiting for them to technically declare her brain dead so that we could donate her organs as a brain death rather than a cardiac death because I could not face having to hear her heartbeat stop.

So I hate to be a big old blubber here, but um it's been tough.

It's been nine months, and I'm still getting medical bills, and I'm still having to send her death certificate off.

And just um, it's been hell, it's really been hell.

So it's you know, it took six years to get pregnant with her, and she's gone in the blink of an eye, which we had to go, Ryan and I could see her location at the sandbar up on the road, and we had to go drive.

And I said, Well, she's not answering her phone, let's go find her.

And we couldn't get by the police, and they tried to give us as much information as they could, and finally, after calling hospitals, we found her at Tacoma General, but she was admitted as uh Jane Doe.

TG, they said, ask for TG Tango, and then we were escorted in a room and sat down.

So it's just I had been going up the hill four minutes before all that happened, and Ryan should have been with her.

They just decided to drive separate to work that day.

It could have been all three of us gone in just an instant of her little car, but she had new tires on the front of a front-wheel drive.

She needed new back tires, but the potholes on there are so bad they just throw you.

And um that's my story.

Thank you for going to be able to do that.

Laura AR.

Thank you.

Um thank you for for being vulnerable.

And it's to get up in a room like this on TV and to tell your story anywhere.

Um we we're we're grateful for your story, and I know that's not enough.

Um I I think we will be working with Councilmember Ramba.

Um, and and the city manager, and thank you for being here.

Thank you this evening.

I mean, we're we're in Federal A, but I've been there 25 years, used to live right on that corner in Northeast Tacoma.

But I myself was T-boned on Marine View Drive one time.

So it's 15 years, it still hasn't gotten any better.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Um, moving on, um, which is hard to do.

Um, I will call on Michelle Reich, followed by Kit Burns.

Michelle Reich.

I was in training to become a sex therapist until uh auto accident cut that short, but I still have the background.

And I said to you a four-page proposing a lower priority enforcement for soliciting between consenting adults by the Tacoma Police Department.

There are a lot of officers here today, with a shortage of officers uh on the force uh to devote officers to more higher priority crimes, such as human trafficking, drug dealing, major crimes, uh and put this as a low priority crime, and also too uh this does it's not to change any laws, state or local, it's just to tweak the local ordinance here and make it a low priority.

And some of the backgrounds to that is as an example, the decriminalization in marijuana.

Think about the millions of people in the United States in 24 states that are not having a criminal record going to jail, it's clogging the course because it marijuana's legal.

Adultery.

If we still had an adultery law.

Gay sodomy.

Uh Airy Gay would be in jail of the sodomy laws.

We're still enforced for the uh sexual things.

So this falls in along along the lines of changes in sexual law.

Thank you.

Thank you, Michelle.

Thank you for being on time this evening.

Kit Burns.

My name's Kit Burns.

I live in District 3 in Hilltop.

I've lived there for 33 years.

I have a request to the council, and then also a suggestion.

And the suggestion has been untested.

I thought of it this afternoon at the city council study session.

So, first of all, the suggestion I would like to have either the city manager or the city clerk make sure that any time a presentation is made, that on the front, at least on the front, if not in the document itself, it has uh the name of the presenter and the email address, how they can be conducted.

It just would make it easier, I think.

That's just a housekeeping type thing.

Uh the idea I had this afternoon that I was thinking about was I noticed that um it doesn't seem to me uh like a lot of progress has been made on the homeless and what do we do on it.

I know uh incredible efforts have been made.

And so I had this idea.

You know, we have these sweeps.

I don't know how much we've spent over the last 10 years on sweeps.

I thought, well, maybe we should take part of the Tacoma Dome parking lot and people that want to um have no choice but to camp, whether it's uh SUV, uh HO, uh, you know, those type of vehicles or tents, that they could have a place in the 1100 parking stalls.

They could stay there, they could be kept clean, they could have services, and you'd have access to them rather than the sweeps, which dislocate everybody.

Then we have to reorganize ourselves.

So it's just a thought.

I'll work on that a little bit.

Thank you, Kit.

Thanks.

All right.

Um now that's that those are all the names I have signed in.

In the chambers, okay.

I'll go to the we have one hand raised online, and I'll go.

Oh, we have two.

I'll go.

I'll go to Jake.

Jake J.

Um, my name is uh Jake Johnson.

I have a property over in the Lincoln District.

Um, and I'd like to bring your attention uh to a widespread uh deaths occurring to the trees across Tacoma, uh, wiping out major uh portions of the urban canopy.

I recently contacted the urban forestry team who confirmed the trees uh would require a referral to their hazardous tree program.

Uh the cause of this is a bronze perch borer is killing trees uh by boring through uh into their mainstream stem and preventing the transport of water.

Um killing them as little as one season.

Um specific requests for city of Tacoma, or the council rather, is uh provide education for homeowners, um, send out some mailers, uh, update the website, uh, let us know that this issue exists.

Uh we lost two trees due to this.

There's many large dead burst trees throughout Tacoma.

Uh a wise woman once said, please consider spending money uh to save money by completing a tree survey to understand the risk to public infrastructure.

Uh have and I want to keep with the September theme of emergency preparedness.

Asking for the um urban foresting forestry team to update the emergency preparedness section of its uh or chapter, rather.

And yeah, that is it.

So thank you for your help.

Great, thank you very much for your comments this evening.

Kathy Irwin Hi, my name is Kathy Irwin.

Um, I wanted to thank Councilmember Rumba for bringing forward uh the memorandum of understanding, which I believe will be very important for moving forward um using a team-oriented approach with the oversight of the groundwater protection district.

Um to please understand that in that current variances code, there is no language that refers to the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department.

And having to have a hearing examiner intervene for any objection to a permit approved by the planning department would involve a thousand dollar fee, which is not an equitable approach or fair approach for anybody who has concerns about a permitting process.

So, by having the variances procedure in place only without a memorandum of understanding, this could present problems in the long run uh with permitting of projects.

If you don't have clear communication with the other departments, such as the health department, environmental services, um, Tacoma water.

So wanted to make sure that you're clear that this is not a hearing examiner approach is not the way to go, and that is not fair to the residents.

Thank you.

Thank you very much for your comments this evening, Kathy.

All right.

Um that is the last person we have online.

I will declare community forum closed.

Um we have no report tonight from the city manager.

Um and now we'll move on to comments and committee reports of the council.

I'm gonna call on Councilmember Heinz, who is chair of the government performance and finance committee.

All right, thank you, Madam Mayor.

The government performance and finance committee convened two times since the last update.

The August fifth agenda can contain one briefing item previously represented on the June 17th, uh, previously presented on June 17th on the multifamily property tax exemption.

Uh, this update request includes considerations for uh different pieces of it, and this will be moving forward to the full council for consideration uh next at our next meeting on the 16th.

The committee met again on August 19th to discuss an ordinance for a 10-year telecommunications franchise agreement between the city and level three communications LLC.

The request included negotiated terms based on state and local law, which requires the telecommunication provider to have a franchise agreement in order to operate in the city of Tacoma public right away.

The next GPFC meeting is scheduled for September 16th at 10 a.m.

in room 248 of the Tacoma Missile Building.

Uh the public is also intended invited to attend virtually.

The agenda for this meeting will include an informational briefing from the Civil Service Board on a potential proposal for new and amended civil civil service rules and a request for a telecommunications franchise agreement between the city of Tacoma and Easy Fiber Texas LLC.

Madam Mayor, that concludes my report.

Thank you, Councilmember Hines.

Are there any other additional council comments this evening?

All right, seeing none, Deputy Mayor, I will turn the final motion to you.

I move to adjourn.

Second.

All right.

Uh I did want to say they left already, but I do I really appreciate everybody who came for community forum.

It is always good to hear from our community members.

And so if they get a chance to see this when they get home, thank you for coming here tonight, and thank you for sharing your concerns with us.

With that, all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

The motion is declared adopted.

We stand adjourned.

Have a safe week, everyone.