Councilmember Diaz, you're on.

I'd like to call to order the City Council meeting of September 16th, 2025.

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

Councilmember Bushnell.

Present.

Deputy Mayor Daniels.

Councilmember Diaz.

Here.

Councilmember Heinz.

Councilmember Rumba here.

Councilmember Sidalga.

Here.

Councilmember Scott.

Here.

Councilmember Walker.

Here.

Mayor Woodards.

Here.

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

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

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

One nation under God, indivisible liberties and justice.

Agenda modifications.

Are there any modifications to the agenda this evening?

All right, seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda.

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 415 41758.

Second.

Are there any council corrections, comments?

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

Aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, the consent agenda is declared adopted.

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

We have two ceremonials this evening.

And um for the Hispanic and Latinae Heritage Month proclamation, I would like to invite up Lisa Senkal from the Office of Management and Budget and Linda Cerna from Community and Economic Development to the podium as I read the proclamation.

Whoops, oh look, look, no, you're okay.

I was waiting for everybody to come up before I started reason reading.

Um whereas each year Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America.

And whereas the City of Tacoma recognizes the 2025 theme for Hispanic Heritage Month, Collective Heritage, honoring the past, inspiring the future, which celebrates individuals who are change agents in their communities, making significant contributions to social, environmental, and government affairs.

And whereas the city recognizes the diversity in identifying in the identification of those coming from the Americas, with Hispanic often being a preferred identifier for those of Spanish descent, and Latin A being a broader gender-inclusive identifier, which is often preferred, which is often a preferred identifier for those of indigenous or mixed descent.

And whereas today, more than 5% of city employees, 12% of the city's population, and 20% of the Tacoma public schools population are of Hispanic or Latina origin, and the cultural education and political influences of Hispanic and Latin Latina people can be seen and appreciated in all aspects of our lives.

Now, therefore, I, Victoria R.

Woodards, mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, and the over 225,000 residents who called Tacoma home.

Do hereby proclaim September 15th through October 15th, 2025 as Hispanic and Latina Heritage Month in the City of Tacoma and call on the people of Tacoma to share in this special annual tribute by learning and celebrating the century, the centuries old traditions that reflect the multi-ethnic and multicultural customs of the communities of Hispanic and Latin people who have positively influenced and enriched our nation, our society, and our city.

Please join me in a round of applause.

All right, I'd like to turn it over.

I'd like to turn it over to you all for comment.

Thank you.

And on behalf of our Latine five-member employee resource group leadership team for the city of Tacoma, we are honored to accept the proclamation today.

It is an honor to accept this proclamation, recognizing Hispanic Heritage Month, and for adding language that will also include those identifying as Latina in this celebration.

This acknowledgment affirms the diversity of our cultures, our histories, and our contributions to Tacoma.

We thank you for shining a light on the many voices and traditions that strengthen our city.

We look forward to continuing to work alongside of you in various ways, including the work we are doing to become an official affinity group within the city, providing an inclusive community both internally and externally for future generations while honoring those who paved the way before us.

Thank you, Linda.

We would also like to express our heartfelt appreciation to the council for your ongoing support of employee resource groups like ours.

This recognition inspires us to continue learning, growing, and collaborating as we build a stronger, more inclusive city and workforce and community.

We have named ourselves Puente, or bridge in English, and that stands for promoting unity, equity, networking, togetherness, and empowerment.

And here is an example of the logo that our wonderful Daniel Garcia with the Arts and Vitality Department and one of our leaders created this for us to use.

Thank you for honoring Hispanic Heritage Month and for celebrating the rich, diverse Latine experience here in Tacoma.

And thank you for this meaningful recognition.

As I was asked to accept this charter, it struck me as ironic.

I know that it was a group called Latinex Unidos of the South Sound, or Luce, who initiated a call for the city to make this proclamation and actually wrote the first draft.

As our Latin community is significant, contributing to our economy and cultural vitality in the city.

Luce puts on an annual event called Festival Herencia Latina at the Armory each year, funded in large part through a grant through Tacoma Crates.

They just had a successful event this last Saturday celebrating our Latine cultures.

And I want to give those themselves from Luce my time to express themselves.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Hello, Council and Mayor.

Thank you so much for the time.

And on behalf of my fellow Luz members, um, I I will um share a few words.

Um first uh appreciation for this um ongoing um recognition.

Um and as Liesel mentioned, um uh Latinex or Nilos del South Sound just produced uh the Festival Latina this past Saturday, and it was uh a very beautiful event with examples of uh the incredible diversity of Latinidad in our region from um from Afro-Cuban and Afro-Puerto Rican performers to indigenous uh mixed tech Oaxacan dancers and so forth and on to Argentina and Costa Rica and many other places.

And all of those cultures are represented here in this city.

And I think that it's uh this proclamation is a wonderful step, um, but it is a step in a larger trajectory that uh an arc that we are um keenly aware of.

Um while the festival was very beautiful, it was also um uh very challenging year as I spent a number of weeks um working through various protocols to ensure that the building was soft enough to uh permit community and hard enough to um repel any um unwarranted uh uh activity from uh from ICE or other agencies.

In fact, uh just uh a week ago last Monday, the Supreme Court uh basically um uh ruled out some of the Fourth Amendment rights of 62.5 million Latinos across the country.

And so this is a critical time for us.

It's also a critical time for Latinos in this region, um, as Liesel shared and as the proclamation states, um, Latinos comprise a significant uh part of the population of the city of Tacoma and the surrounding area, and that's best borne out, not in the overall population numbers, but even more so in the school population numbers.

And we saw that with uh Tacoma Public Schools, which is currently between 20 and 25% Latino.

We also see this in our neighboring school districts where Latinos comprise, for example, in Clover Park, the largest single uh group in the school system there.

And so we know that our work is cut out for us in terms of integrating various um uh agencies.

And um as an educator and and uh cultural uh uh events producer, I'm I'm thinking about how we we connect the dots.

I'm thinking about the impact to young people as we see a ramp up in um uh anti-immigration enforcement um that uh will affect families of all residency statuses, whether we have been here for a few weeks or whether we've been here for a few centuries.

Um in fact, a project that I just worked on uh recounts the history of Latinos and what is now Washington um to the 1700s.

Um and so uh the challenge for the city uh and the invitation I think is to work with community to look more broadly on how do we how do we lace together uh a truly welcoming community where folks have the opportunity to thrive and reach the full potential that they have generation after generation demonstrated through their numbers with small business, through their numbers with educational attainment and so forth.

And so thank you for this.

Um and uh and in return, we we offer this invitation to continue this work together into the future.

Thank you very much.

Any additional comments?

Before I have you come forward um to accept the proclamation, I have you all come forward.

I do want to take a moment as we think about um uh Hispanic, uh National Hispanic Heritage Month, um, and and we celebrate um the contributions of those um from that descent.

I also want to take a moment to acknowledge someone who sits on this dais every week, um, who who is um who is to be celebrated during every day, but especially during National Hispanic Heritage Month, and that is none other than our own city council member, council member Ogie Diaz.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um it is both a great honor and a great privilege to be able to be um Tacoma's first Latina City Council member.

Um I know it is a lot of um important work in our community that I get to lead.

Um, that I also get to help others be able to be the future leaders, and that's really important to me that I'm the first but not the last.

Um I think something I like to make sure that I talk about when we do the Latino Heritage Month proclamation is that um folks sort of wonder it's September 16th, it started yesterday on September 15th.

Why is our month um start in the middle of the month?

And why does it run through um mid-October?

It's a very strange um occurrence, and for those who don't know, it actually has to do with the Latin American country independence days.

So, my home country of Guatemala, we celebrated yesterday along with Nicaragua and El Salvador Costa Rica and Um Honduras.

Um today is Mexican Independence Day.

Um, shout out to all the Mexicans celebrating last night and this morning into today.

Um, I am really grateful that we start the month through these celebrations of independence because as Latinos in America and the US, we have a distinct honor of having a US culture, despite um the way the federal government is treating us right now, and a distinct tie to our home countries and our culture there.

And so we get the bonus of having both.

Um sometimes not enough of either for depending on who you're talking to.

Um, but it is a real honor and a privilege, and I am really hopeful that we can get to a better place nationwide to where we feel more safe in our communities.

I'm really grateful to Latinos and Ninos in South Sound for the incredible event you guys put on this weekend.

Um, it was very well um put together, felt very self-safe, very welcoming.

And I know that even our numbers of folks who attended was impacted by the way that our community is being hit.

And so it's really important that we all stay resilient, that we all stay together, and um that we all keep doing the work um work together and across other cultures and other folks.

Um Latinos are being targeted right now as immigrants, but there's lots of other immigrant communities that are also often targeted.

We just happen to be in the spotlight at the moment.

Um, but we're resilient.

Tacoma, I'm looking forward to getting this staff affinity group going.

Um let me know what you need.

I know a guy who can help here to my right, the city manager.

And um uh I'm really excited to announce that Tacoma is working to get a Latino Chamber of Commerce put together here in the South Sound.

So um we have a lot of good things coming.

It's not always dark, it's not always grim, but um, together we're gonna get through.

Thank you.

Thank you very much, Ogie.

And I will say, I guess Councilmember Diaz.

Um, I will say um that your leadership and your voice on this council um is so necessary, and we are so grateful for your leadership and and thank you for reminding us that that in this current place that we live in, um, not in Tacoma, but in these United States.

Let me be super clear because Tacoma is way different than what's happening at the federal level.

Um, that we want to make sure that Tacoma remains a safe place, and that only happens when all of us with great leaders like you, Ogie, step up.

Um, and I call her Ogie because that's just my heart for Ogi, Councilmember Diaz.

Um, it's it is it is when it is when leaders like Councilmember Diaz and all of you step forward to provide opportunities and spaces and invite us in and invite us to be a part of and a partner with you that we make a difference in this community.

So thank you all so much for everything you do every day.

I'm hoping that um group will be started by the end of the year so I can see it happen.

Uh uh City Manager Kim.

That was any hint, just like uh Councilmember Diaz just made.

Um, but um can't wait to see you all up and running and creating that space um for everyone here at the city.

But thank you to all of you for what you do every day, not just for your community, because the stronger and better the Hispanic and Lat Latin A community is, the stronger our city is.

So thank you all so very much.

Please come forward to accept um your proclamation.

And for the council members who are online, if you turn your picture on, if you turn your cameras on, we can take a picture together, and you will be in the picture.

Okay, everybody get my clothes.

You're welcome to one of us.

Okay, maybe it's great to talk.

Okay, everybody.

Yes, it's existence.

One more thing.

Thank you.

Sorry.

Moving on um to our next uh recognition, and for this next recognition, I would like to invite Natalie Brown, L.

Pressley, and Aleah Bennett, students of Lincoln and Stadium High Schools, to the podium as I read this proclamation.

Come on forward, students.

Students and adults and sponsors and the head of the project.

Ron, the leader of the project.

No, no, and and Ron, Ron Ron, no, no, go back and get the the gentleman who who put the exhibition together.

Sorry.

Now, um, you all will notice that tonight we started the meeting a few minutes late.

Um, and we started a few minutes late based on the um recognition that I'm about to read.

Um, there is an incredible exhibit in the hallway.

If you had not had a chance to stop and look at it, please do.

And when I get done reading um this recognition, you all at home will understand what I'm talking about.

Whereas the City of Tacoma values the cultural, educational, and civic benefits of international partnerships fostered through our sister city programs.

And whereas in July 2025, approximately seven 70 students from Lincoln and Stadium High Schools participated in an exchange in an exchange trip to Fuzhou, China, strengthening ties and fostering mutual understanding between our communities.

And whereas the students' eyes of China Photography Project reflects their unique perspectives, experiences, and appreciation for the people and culture of our sister city.

And whereas the city is proud to host an exhibition of these photographs to honor the students' vision, creativity, and commitment to cultural exchange.

And whereas the Asian Photography Association and Rhythm Media Group will recognize the most inspiring student photographers with special awards, further celebrating the artistic talents and global outlook of our youth.

Now, therefore, I, Victoria R.

Woodards, mayor of the city of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council and the over 225,000 residents of Tacoma do hereby recognize the students of Stadium and Lincoln High Schools for their participation in the Eyes of China project and their contributions to building international friendship and understanding.

I encourage residents to join us in this recognition of their international education and to view their photos in the Tacoma Municipal Building in the coming weeks.

Please join me in a round of applause.

And I'm going to turn it over to the students to have to um make some comments.

You can go first.

Thank you.

Sorry.

Talk about your picture.

So you know what?

Tell tell us tell us what was exciting about this opportunity.

Thank you.

Probably just like getting to go to China and just like being there and making friends, especially with our uh the sister school that we went to.

All of the people there were just super nice.

And the person I got paired with, um, she just took me around to like all of these little stations they had, and she was just super nice.

Good.

That is wonderful.

Okay, and I've got a question for you.

What was what was exciting about capturing the pictures?

Like what was excited about the photo piece of of the trip?

Um, I just I really enjoyed it because it was just like a way of collecting the memories I made in China, and just like being able to show people like how much I enjoyed it and just how I really want to go back someday.

Yes, I I did, I did hear there were lots of students who had a really good time, and some students who can't wait to go back.

So, do you all have pictures out there?

Did I get to see your pictures?

Wonderful.

What tell us a little bit about the pictures that you took, like what you focused on.

Um, I mostly took pictures of like my the main friend group that I was with.

Um what I would call my best friend.

Um, I mainly took photos of like the different experiences we got.

Like I took a lot of photos.

I had 411 in my album.

I took a lot of I took a lot of pictures of just like the scenery and all the like cultural stuff that we got to see.

That is wonderful.

Well, I want to thank you all for for taking in the pictures again for those of you who didn't get it or who just kind of walked in and didn't get a chance to really look through the pictures, they're absolutely gorgeous.

So I'm gonna ask both Ron and and and tell me your name again, sir.

I'm Jack.

Jay?

Jack.

Jack.

Jack, Jack, sorry, Jack.

Jack, you are the curator of the show, and you got to pick the winners, right?

So Jack, can you tell us why you why why you engaged in this project and why you thought it was important?

Okay.

Thank you.

I mean, it's a maybe it's a long story.

Um 10 years ago, I was uh Tacoma, and uh at that time we still have uh a student delegation to China and uh mate, uh uh met the mayor of that time, and uh we have a very small photo exhibition in New Power High School in Belleville.

And there are a lot of people loved it.

So this year, I think we can organize a big one, and then we can have a ceremony to celebrate uh cultural exchange, and also we have we want to display those pictures in Tacoma City Hall.

Yeah, and then we can show to City Council members to maybe we can promote the cultural exchange.

That's uh so thank you.

Great, thank you very much.

And I would be remiss if I if I didn't ask Ron Chow, who is a great supporter um and advocate for this, not only our relationship with Fuzhou, but working every year to make sure that we can stand and sometimes more than once a year that we get to stand send students to China to go see our sister city Fuzhou and to have other experiences.

I know earlier this summer we had our Lincoln High School girls' flag football team who went over and played in China.

But but Ron, you've been doing this for a while.

And when you hear these young people talk about why they why they what they learned and why they thought it was important.

Try my best, Mayor, Madam Mayor.

And the story started when uh then President C was a mayor in Fuzhou.

He came to Tacoma in 1993 to establish the sister sister city relationship with City of Tacoma.

And fast forward, he became Chinese president.

And he visited Lincoln High School on September 22nd, 2015.

And Madam Mayor and Councilmember Heinz, if I remember correctly, you all alumni of Lincoln High School.

And my siblings, they all went to Lincoln High School.

That's all the rules started.

When he first came here, um visited, I was involved in 1993, and then he came back in 2015, and they asked us what would be the good place to visit now.

Of course, we told them Lincoln High School.

That's all it all started.

And when uh principal Pat Irvin, President C when he toured the Lincoln High School, he asked him.

So how many of your students have visited China?

And the short answer was we don't, because of financial situation, demographic.

So we drove him the speech, and on the speech we said invite a 50 Lincoln High School student to visit China for whatever reason, he said I would like to invite 100 students from Lincoln High School to visit China.

That's how this all started.

And then so my cousin and I, which you know quite well, Mr.

David Chung, he graduated from Lincoln High School.

So we started the US China Youth and Students Exchange Association.

That's how we got it funded and a nonprofit, and we like to keep this program going, continuity, more years to come, and make a uh heartwarming story.

One of the students that went to China last year from Lincoln High School, he was invited back from a student that he befriended while he visited China.

They had hosted him for how long?

Um I think a whole month.

Whole month, and everything's paid for.

He decided to get his plane ticket over.

Yep.

So this is what we like to see.

We like to change lives.

We want to have the youth to have the right to make the decision, what kind of life they want, how they see the other side of the world, not from our news media.

Sorry, not from our politician either.

So that's what is driving us doing it.

And today, uh, we see the pictures out there.

I mean, look at those gorgeous pictures.

I mean, they're professionally done.

You would not think they from a 14, 15, 16-year-old teenagers that you can look at through the lens of their eyes, and that's what's driving us to keep doing that.

And thank you for recognizing us as a whole as this program, as the Lincoln High School, the high school district, and the city of Tacoma.

I think we all benefit from what we're doing here.

And thank you for your time.

Thank you very much, Ron, and thank you to the students and and Jack, thank you to you as well.

For those of you again, um, for those of you who aren't here this evening, if you're listening at home, the exhibition will be um will continue to be shown here at this at the municipal building on the first floor.

Um, and so it will be here for the next couple weeks, and then Ron, I think we should put our heads together and see where else we can put this exhibition so that people will have an opportunity um to be able to see the beautiful pictures that these students uh took while they were in China.

Of course, and um Virgin Lincoln and I are gonna take uh custodian of the picture after the experience over and would love to share it with whoever organization, any event that might be a song's benefit the community.

Wonderful.

Thank you all so much.

Let's give them a round of applause.

And will you all please come forward to accept your proclamation?

Right.

Councilmember Scott, as a as a fellow photographer, I can't wait for you to see these pictures.

I'm looking forward to seeing them.

I'm very excited about it.

Thank you.

Okay, everybody smile.

Another one.

Okay.

Thank you.

All right.

Right, we're going to now move on to public comment.

On tonight's agenda, there is one opportunity for people to comment.

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

This form is intended to give speakers an opportunity to share their viewpoints and feedback with the city council to aid in our decision making, and it's not meant to be a back and forth dialogue.

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

If you want to speak under the public comment period, 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're speaking in person, please be sure to sign up in 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 a time set for public comment.

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

All right.

I would like to remind everybody 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, booting, or otherwise being disrupted.

Um you will 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.

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

We have not.

All right, I'd like to call on the two people who have signed in.

I don't see anybody with their hand raised online.

And we'll start with Michelle Reich, followed by Kit Burns.

Michelle Reich.

Speaking to Hispanic and Latina Heritage Month.

And one of the reasons we have such a rich Hispanic and Latina heritage is due to three wars.

The first one was the war of Texas independence.

And after that independence in Texas became a state, the United States provoked a war with Mexico.

And it was a border dispute in Texas and uh the United States, it was a war of choice with Mexico.

And there's an ulterior motive is to take over the desert southwest from Mexico and make that part of the United States to the Pacific Ocean.

And then later on, we provoked another war with Spain.

And during that war, we took over other uh Spanish territory aspanic territories.

Uh the Philippines became part of the United States territories.

Um Guantanamo and uh most notably Puerto Rico.

And uh these were our our concessions from uh the Spanish and American War, and all these wars brought more Hispanic and Latino culture to the United States and uh from Philippines, from Puerto Rico, and other areas in Mexico.

But um, even though uh these were we call them territories, uh Puerto Rico still remains a colony in the United States because uh uh even though it enjoys some bit of bits, we treat it as a third world country, and uh the the countries and island is impoverished as a U.S.

colony in effect, even though we call it a territory.

Thank you.

Your comments, Kit Burns.

My name's Kit Burns.

I live on Hilltop.

Um glad I decided to come tonight.

I almost was gonna speak from home, but I was great to see the people the sister city Fuzhou.

Forty years ago, I went to China six times.

So my goal now is to go back and ride the high-speed rail.

But the reason I wanted to speak tonight.

Oh, instantly I went to 12 different cities, so I had a good view of China in the 80s.

The reason I want to speak tonight is on resolution uh 41760.

I was looking at the submittals on that, and it was my understanding that the multifamily tax exemption was very much aligned with the uh home in Tacoma.

And as I was looking at the drawings, I and the photograph and other documents the city has.

So I don't know if it's qualified.

So I suppose somebody will speak to that tonight.

I also noticed uh I checked the distance, and it's my understanding that it's more than three-quarters of a mile just to get to South Tacoma Way.

So there's not really a close transit stop.

And I thought part of the home in Tacoma, part of the multifamily tax exemption was to be close to transit, close to business activities.

And so maybe that that will be addressed, and maybe I'm speaking out of turn.

I'm happy to be ignorant, happy to be educated, and that's why I come here.

Um, the final thing uh I would say is it doesn't show anything about parking.

And uh and uh one more thing is it does say the um occupancy in Tacoma is at seven percent vacancy.

And we want to avoid what they have going on in Seattle.

That you probably read the article that was in the Seattle Times recently that they have a lot of uh low-income housing or affordable housing that's not being used.

So maybe that'll be addressed too.

Thank you very much.

Thank you very much, Kit.

All right.

Um, with no hands raised online and no further uh no further members of the public here to comment.

I will declare the public comment period closed, bring it back to the full council.

And we have a motion before us for consideration.

I move to authorize the city's full and final settlement of all claims against the city in the matter of Bo Patricia Chambers versus City of Tacoma at all related to an injury sustained on Fawcett Avenue in Tacoma on November 6, 2023 upon upon payment by the city in the amount of 335, 335,000 and an execution of release in a form approved by the city attorney.

Second.

All right, all those in favor um signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed.

The motion is declared adopted.

Moving on to appointments.

Item nine, Clerk, will you please read?

Resolution 41759, a resolution appointing and reappointing individuals to the commission on elected salaries.

I move to adopt resolution number 41759.

Second.

All right, I'd like to call on Carrie Lewey.

Good evening, Carrie.

Good evening, Mayor Woodards and members of the City Council.

I'm Carrie Lewey, interim human resources director for the City of Tacoma.

Resolution 41759 will appoint and reappoint individuals to fill three vacancies on the commission on elected salaries.

The commission on elected salaries is comprised of seven members.

Five of the seven are selected by lot by the Pierce County Auditor from registered City of Tacoma voters, one from each of the five city council districts.

The two remaining members must be residents of the City of Tacoma and appointed by the mayor and confirmed by council.

One shall have experience in human resource management, and the second shall have experience in the legal profession.

There are three vacancies to be filled on the commission.

The Pierce County Auditor has selected by lottery, Frederick Slagle for the district number one position, and Ruben Cassus for the district number two position, each with terms beginning October 1st, 2025, and expiring on September 30th, 2028.

Mayor Woodards has selected Kimberly Loving for reappointment to the position with experience in human resources management with an ex term expiring on September 30th, 2028.

And I'd be happy to answer any questions you may have.

Thank you, Carrie.

Are there any questions?

All right, seeing none.

All those in favor of adopting resolution number 41759.

Signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

The resolution is declared adopted.

Now we normally invite individuals being appointed and reappointed to um to attend city council meeting virtually or in person.

So are any of the people mentioned in the audience this afternoon?

Oh stand and be recognized.

Congratulations.

So whether you were here this evening or um or at home or virtually, um, we want to take this opportunity to thank you for volunteering.

Um and continuing your service on the commission on elected salaries.

We really appreciate your willingness to take time out of your personal schedule to be a volunteer in this way.

It means a lot to the city, and we really appreciate it.

So please join in another round of applause.

And as I like to say, now the real work continues.

All right.

Moving on to resolutions item 10.

This item has a PowerPoint presentation, and we'll also cover item 11.

Clerk, will you please read?

Resolution 41760, a resolution authorizing the execution of a multifamily housing 12-year limited property tax exemption agreement with Meacham Development LLC for the development of four multifamily market and regulated rate rental housing units located at 6011 South Mason Avenue.

I move to adopt resolution number 41760.

Second.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

I'm Debbie Bingham with the community and economic development department, and I will be presenting on both resolution 41760 and 41761.

The first um resolution is for a 12-year multifamily property tax exemption at 6011 South Madison Avenue.

This is in a UR3 expansion area.

Um and this project will have four units.

This is being developed by Meechum Development LLC.

Um the project will consist of three market rate units and one regulated um rate unit as shown in the chart.

They were all one bedroom, one bath units, 500 square feet each.

Um this slide shows a location.

I added the second map to give you kind of a zoomed out idea of where this is.

So there's a little black dot to on the side of the map that shows um where it is in the UR3 expansion area, and then the slide on the to the right shows the detail of the uh close-up of the parcel.

The construction cost for this project is estimated at $500,000 and will provide approximately $3,250 labor hours of employment.

Um the fiscal implications, the total tax um to be generated for the city over the life of this project is estimated at $49,000, and projected property taxes to be exempted by the city are estimated at $10,700, leaving the project to provide a net positive impact to the city of $38,300.

When the exemption is over, full property taxes will be assessed annually.

The next um resolution is um right next to the first uh project at 6007 South Madison Avenue, also in a UR3 expansion area.

This will also have four units and is being developed by the same developer, Meechum Development LLC.

Uh this project will also have four one-bedroom, one-bath units of 500 square feet each.

And um, this is again the map of where it's located.

And the construction cost is estimated at 500,000, and again, we'll provide approximately 3250 labor hours of employment.

The fiscal implications for the city are similar to the first project with um 49,000 in taxes generated for the life of the project and 10,700 being exempt, providing a net positive impact to the city at the end of 38,300.

And I am happy to answer any questions.

Great, thank you.

Thank you very much.

Um, I'd like to first call on Councilmember Rumbach.

Thank you, Mayor.

Oh, thank you, Mayor.

And um, Debbie, thank you so much for the information.

Um, I'm just curious why the developer is doing the development like this, like into why isn't it like normally if it's a developer coming in?

Is there a reason that they're staggering it like this and they don't want to do it all at one time on one plot, like one lot, you know, one plat, why they didn't do a sub, you know, like put it in make it one parcel, or is there some like if they did eight units, would it change what they had to do, or is it because of funding?

Do you know?

So, Councilmember Rumba, I will have to look into details for you.

It is two separate parcels, yeah.

Um, and they're building like four units on each.

I was gonna say maybe it has to do with the zoning, but we all know that you are three, I'm sure they can build more than four units.

So I can um certainly look into that and get back to you.

It didn't seem like it was a funding issue.

I think their construction schedule looks similar.

Yeah, okay.

Thank you so much.

Thank you very much.

Uh Deputy Mayor Daniels.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, and thanks, Debbie, for the presentation.

I think this is probably the first one that I've seen that the construction cost is so low, so I've never been um I've never had the question, but today I'm asking um would a project like this um spend I don't know, I know what they would spend money on in terms of personnel, but I wonder what they would spend money on over time to uh accrue sales tax over 12 years.

Oh, so council member um thank you for asking.

44,000 dollars.

Deputy Mayor.

I'm sorry.

Nothing.

Sorry.

So when um we're talking about the sales tax, that so there's construction sales tax, and that's based on the construction cost, and then the sales tax over the 12 years is what we assume.

We have to assume that the residents of those units will spend in sales tax in the city of Tacoma over those 12 years.

Is that how we calculate?

And we have to, it's a guesstimate.

Obviously, we take the average, we take the number of household units there are in the city, and we take the actual sales tax that was you know we collected last year and we divide that and we come up with an average of sales tax created per unit in the city.

Very interesting.

I just did not know that's how we calculated it.

Thank you.

Councilmember Bushnell.

Uh thank you, Mayor, and thank you for the presentation.

Uh I I'm familiar with this area in particular.

I know it's uh kind of a sloped kind of it's kind of got interesting geography in that area.

Um would that partly be why they might have affected why they split it into two parcels or two different projects?

I'm guessing it could have a factor in that.

And I guess you don't know the developer, like you know, Steven thing.

Yeah, Councilman Bushnell, I can get back to you on that as well.

Um, I'm not certain what and often while they have to um submit kind of preliminary plans, often this is early on because they want to get the tax exemption for their financing, and then they go through permitting and then things like you know, sidewalks that are required and those kind of things are added as they go along.

And so um I can look and see what I can find out now, and we could certainly follow up later as things get more clear as well.

Right.

And then um, because of how geographically constrained it is where it is on the road and stuff like that.

I uh they're still gonna be required to do off-site improvements, which includes sidewalks, correct?

Correct, they will be.

I am sure.

I I have never, you know, as we build homes, they have to have sidewalks in front of them.

And so it will, I think it's an interesting case.

This is one of the I think we had one other in a UR3, but this is just the second and third one to come to council.

And so we're seeing that in fill development, which is what we are looking for.

Like you said, it's a hard location when you look at that the map of what it looks like now.

It's probably a challenging lot, but I will look into that for you.

Yep.

Great, thank you.

And then I think just uh FYI, like for anybody that's listening, it's it's great that we're doing these off-site developments, but it does create missing links uh for other sidewalks and infrastructure as well that uh we need uh to work on.

So thank you, Mayor.

Thank you very much, Councilmember Bushnell.

Seeing no further questions, um all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41760 signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, the resolution is declared adopted.

Um moving on to item 11.

Clerk, will you please read?

Resolution 41761, a resolution authorizing the execution of a multifamily housing 12-year limited property tax exemption agreement with Meachum Development LLC for the development of four multifamily market and regulated rate rental housing units located at seven six zero zero seven South Mason Avenue.

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

Second, all right.

This item was just presented.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

All right, seeing none, all those in favor of adopting resolution number four one seven six one signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, the resolution is declared adopted.

Moving on the final reading of ordinances, item 12.

Clerk, will you please read?

Ordnance 29050, an ordinance granting a non-exclusive 10-year telecommunications franchise agreement to level three communications LLC to construct, operate, and repair a telecommunication system in the city.

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

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

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 Sadal Gates.

Aye.

Councilmember Scott.

Aye.

Councilmember Walker.

Aye.

Mayor Woodards.

Aye.

Uh this ordinance is declared passed.

Moving on to item 13, Clerk, will you please read?

Ordinance 29053, an 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 Council of County and City Employees Local 120.

All right.

This item was presented last week.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

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

Deputy Mayor Daniels.

Aye.

Councilmember Diaz.

Hi.

Councilmember Hines.

Aye.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalgay.

Aye.

Councilmember Scott.

Councilmember Walker.

Aye.

Councilmember Bushnell.

Aye.

Mayor Woodards.

Aye.

The motion is declared adopted.

The ordinance is declared adopted.

All right, moving on to unfinished business.

Is there any unfinished business?

Seeing none, reports by the city manager.

City manager Kim, do you have a report this evening?

I do.

Madam Mayor, thank you very much.

Deputy Mayor as well as Council.

Um, three reports.

I'll start with our uh property acquisition.

Just wanted to just really incredibly proud of our road property services as well as our fire department.

Um pursuant to authorization last September.

Um the city has completed property acquisition along the South End recreation area for a portion for our new future South End or South Tacoma, sorry, South Tacoma fire station.

Um so this property was assembled and it's actually the transfer has been complete as of the beginning of September.

Uh it's about 2.27 acres along uh that uh west side of that uh that park area there that we'll be looking at new apparatuses and that's coming online.

So this is the first step.

It's taking us uh some years to get to this point.

So really want to be thankful to our partners at Parks Tacoma for this uh property acquisition.

Um I'll pause there if any of there's any questions there, we can report out more.

There's been numerous uh uh public engagements along Parks Tacoma as well as the City of Tacoma in engaging with the public on this one.

And just really proud of our real property services to get this completed, as well as Chief Stallies Stalling Zaliama, who's here in the in the crowd as well.

This is gonna be uh the first step to serving South Tacoma.

That is great news.

Okay, perfect.

Thank you very much.

Um next piece of news.

Um, we just wrapped up our 2025 residential paving program.

Uh this is great news.

Our crews are ahead of schedule and they have completed 73.5 blocks of uh new paving pavement uh pursuant to the voter approved uh streets initiative one succeeds our city's goal, original goal for 70 blocks.

Um so this is great news.

Uh additionally for our street operations team, they'll be shifting gears here soon for September 30th for our next um pothole Palooza 2025.

That's coming off.

So they'll be kicking that effort off on the 30th.

Um project schedules will be announced in the coming weeks.

And in mid mid-October, the team will also host a two-day snow and ice training to ensure we're fully prepared for this winter ahead.

I am actually not happy that we're talking about winter and snow.

Um, but that is where we're going next.

So just recognizing the great work of our street operations division as well as our public works teams.

Um thank you to uh director Jenkins, who's in this audience here.

That's my report.

Madam Mayor, thank you very much.

Thank you very much, City Manager.

All right.

Um I would like Catherine Rumba, did you have a question?

Um, I just wanted to say to the um, if it's okay, Mayor, to our city manager um, that if you're in Northeast Tacoma, they're going to benefit from the pothole Palooza.

And secondly, in my upcoming newsletter, I do mention the winter months.

So we're getting ready, and I appreciate you bringing up the street apps team.

I I'm in denial uh after a day like today, who doesn't want to be in denial?

Just wake up this weekend and you'll recognize where you are.

All right.

With that, I'm gonna call on Deputy Mayor Daniels, uh chair of the Economic Development Committee for her report.

Thank you, Mayor.

The Economic Development Committee has met three times since our last report out on August 12th.

The committee evaluated candidates to serve on the equity and contracting advisory committee.

My colleagues and I forwarded six candidates to the full council, and the appointment resolution was adopted during the August 26th council meeting.

The EDC also received a progress report on the implementation of Tacoma's Green Economic Development Strategy during our August 12th meeting.

Staff described tangible accomplishments achieved during the plan's second year in the face of planned second year in the face of numerous obstacles, including a shifting policy environment and fewer resource resources.

EDC's August 26th meeting began with a briefing on the closure of the 72nd and Pacific Fred Meyer, uh, which Kroger is currently renegotiating its lease and sublease agreements affected by the closure, and the committee intends to hold another briefing after these negotiations conclude.

Following the Fred Meyer briefing, staff summarize the outcomes of the city's work with the community reinvestment project between January and May of this year, just five months.

The city disdistributed 4.65 million dollars into 79 businesses and nonprofits serving communities that were disproportionately harmed by the war on drugs.

Funding recipients receive ongoing support, so these one-time awards and loans can have a long-term impact and benefit future generations.

During our meeting last Tuesday, September 9th, the committee received a progress update on the potential of forming a hilltop neighborhood business improvement area, and several community members and businesses, business owners made public comments on the proposal, which informed the committee's questions and recommendations for the next steps.

The committee's meeting is scheduled for next week, September 23rd has been canceled.

Our meeting on September 30th here in chambers when EDC's committees, boards, and commissions will deliver their annual updates.

Madam Mayor, that concludes my report.

Great.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor Daniels.

And I'd like to call on Councilmember Sidalgay.

Hi, Mayor.

And I believe I'm gonna get an assist from uh Councilmember Walker here.

If we can unfortunately, we we didn't get our delivery.

I'm sorry.

Oh, I'm sorry.

Okay.

Well, we can still plug it.

Uh this weekend, Saturday uh uh September 20th, uh in McKinley Hill between East Harrison and East Division Lane uh from 12 to 6.

Come on down for Tacoma Humpfest.

Uh I believe this is the third year we're having this.

There's gonna be four different community stages.

Um, lots and lots of bands.

I had an amazing um time last year being MC on one of the uh the stages.

Um it is just a load of load of fun.

Um again, East McKinley between East Harrison and East Division this Saturday, September 20th, from noon to six.

See ya.

I'm just curious now what the delivery would have been.

I was gonna hold up the poster.

Oh, okay.

I thought she was gonna honk.

Sorry.

All right.

Or thank you very much for for the reminder, uh, Councilmember Sidagay.

Do we have any other comments by the city council?

All right.

Seeing none, um, I will turn to the deputy mayor for the last motion.

Anything's here?

Yeah.

Okay.

I move to adjourn.

Second.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed.

The ayes have it.

We stand adjourned.

Have a good week, everyone.

Oh, we will not be meeting next week.

I apologize.

Um, September 24rd, 2025, the City Council Study Session and Business Meeting and the Economic Development Committee have all been canceled.

The next regularly scheduled meetings will be held on Tuesday, September 30th, and the community forum of September 23rd is rescheduled to September 30th.

Now we stand adjourned to the 2015.