City Council Meeting Summary: October 28, 2025

On October 28, 2025, the City Council of Tacoma convened to address routine business, approve three ceremonial proclamations recognizing Veterans Day, Native American Heritage Month, and the City's sesquicentennial, and hear public testimony on budget allocations and land use planning. The meeting featured significant debate regarding proposed cuts to the Hope team, tax levies, and the contentious Tide Flats Sub-area Plan, alongside extensive community forum testimony opposing rollbacks to the Tenant Bill of Rights.

Consent Calendar

• Adopted the consent agenda, including Resolutions 41788 and 41789, without opposition.

Public Comments & Testimony

On Budget and Hope Team:

• Reverend Shalom Agtarap (First United Methodist Church): Expressed strong concern regarding the proposed elimination of the certified peer support specialist position in the Hope team, arguing it criminalizes homelessness. The speaker urged the Council to reinstate the funds.
• Sarnesha Evans (Trust for Public Land): Expressed support for Resolution 41791 regarding the Larchmont Community School Yard Project, emphasizing the need for community spaces.
• Onita Arnold: Voiced hope that the Hope team would receive funding back, stating it is critical for community safety.
• Sally Perkins (District 3): Strongly opposed the reduction of the Hope team's budget, accusing the Council of "double[ing] down on an arbitrary policy" applied to vacancy savings and abandoning the team. The speaker demanded the position be added back.
• Devin Red O'Kelly: Urged the return of the peer support supervisor role to the budget, noting the lack of alternative response resources and the high cost of police overtime compared to the Hope team cuts. The speaker argued for funding the Hope team despite roadblocks.
• Emily (District 4): Requested funding for a peer support specialist, citing her professional experience in oncology where proper support provides a "life or death difference" for patients in crisis.
• Tui Terry: Raised concern regarding the property tax levies, questioning the necessity of taxing citizens who have worked hard to acquire property in the current economic climate.
• Jonathan Pottle (Air Coalition): Argued that budget decisions are moral decisions and opposed leaving vacant positions in the Hope team, stating that removing this role precludes minimum response teams and would lead to more people being left in crisis.
• Dr. Janice Clark: Urged the strongest possible support for the Hope team, calling any budget reduction that sacrifices funding a mistake with long-term impacts.
• April Bodnar: Opposed the camping ban and budget cuts, arguing that a camping ban combined with mental health crises puts the city in a "severe crisis" and makes residents vulnerable.
• Michelle Reich: Proposed that a shelter for veterans be prioritized over a low-barrier drug shelter, noting that veterans have resources with the VA and require transportation to services.
• Marilyn (25-year mental health counselor): Stated it is short-sighted to cut funding for the Hope team and opposed the reduction, arguing it would lead to increased violence and higher policing costs.
• Jim and I (Climate Alliance of the South Sound): Called for action to back the Native American Heritage Month declaration and demanded statements from the Council against environmental racism and the expansion of the PSE LNG facility.

On Tax Levies:

• Michelle Reich: Expressed opposition to the proposed tax increases, arguing the city has wasted millions on the encampment ban and that the EMS levy fails to address the root cause of unhoused population calls.
• Alton McDonald: Opposed the tax increase, noting the failure of the Tacoma School District and stating, "no taxation without representation" regarding tax dollars sent to schools.

On Tide Flats Sub-area Plan:

• Yvonne McCarty: Stated the steering committee failed Northeast Tacoma and urged the Council to amend the plan to protect citizens from heavy industrial zoning along Marine View Drive.
• Marilyn Kimmerling: Expressed objection to including LNG and a refinery storage tank in the environmental mitigation plan, citing environmental and safety risks.
• Onita Arnold: Supported in strong support the proposal to designate Little Marsh as an official restoration site.
• Robert: Expressed support for the Port of Tacoma operations, promising that workers prioritize environmental training and care.
• Stacey Oaks (350 Tacoma): Echoed support for designating Little Marsh as a restoration site and urged protection before it is too late.
• Nicole: Raised concern regarding diesel gas burnoff from trains idling near residential areas on Dock Street and recommended moving this action further away from condos and apartments.
• Deanna Keller (Port of Tacoma Commissioner): Offered respect for the seven years of collaboration and urged adoption of the Tide Flats Sub-area Plan.
• Jane Provazek: Expressed support for Amendment Two, stating it strengthens protections for industrial land use by limiting non-conforming residential uses.
• Andrew Strobel (Pierce County): Expressed strong support for the draft Tide Flats Sub-area Plan, emphasizing its alignment with regional goals and environmental stewardship.
• Andrew Trotsky (U.S. Oil): Stated support but concerned that specific elements, such as prohibitions on water discharges and subjective conditional use permits, could make it impossible to transition to cleaner fuels.Asserted a CUP is a "no vote on clean fuels."
• Michael Katsey (Economic Development Board): Expressed support for the plan but urged the City to remove barriers so the private sector can invest in cleaner fuels.
• Tom Pearson: Expressed support but urged administrative fixes to the plan to ensure it is easier to do business in the Tide Flats while maintaining environmental values.
• Robin Evans Agnew: Expressed concern regarding the Health Impact Assessment predicting exposure to emissions for multiplex housing and urged the Council to require HVAC upgrades rather than just encouraging them.
• Chris Green (Manufacturing Industrial Council): Encouraged the Council to stay on pace to pass the plan but amplified concerns about difficulties in producing green fuels under the proposed codes.
• Matthew Maurer: Expressed excitement for the plan and thanked staff for their work, though not speaking on behalf of a specific agency.
• Thomas Fountain (Concrete Technology): Expressed concern regarding undefined language in the plan that could restrict business operations and sought clearer definitions for "final and basic manufacturing."
• Carol Sue Braden: Asked the Council to set aside and decline the plan, citing missing documents regarding liquefaction soil, earthquake faults, and dam break risks.
• Barb Church: Strongly supported the amendments (Little Marsh and limiting non-conforming uses) and urged consideration of comments as a chance to make up for lack of early inclusion.
• Melissa Millot: Urged the Council to pass the plan as is, stating that maintaining the status quo is the real threat.
• Michelle Reich: Expressed concern regarding the safety risks of the LNG facility, citing a historical fireball incident in Spain.

On Community Forum (Tenant Rights):

• Onita Arnold: Thanked Council for opposing the camping ban expansion but highlighted the lack of shelters and the need for creative solutions for the unhoused.
• Jude Gray: Opposed the camping ban and criticized the Council for prioritizing businesses over the welfare of people facing housing and food insecurity.
• Stacy Oaks: Expressed frustration regarding the lack of a pause before the final vote and stood in solidarity against the camping ban.
• Peter Tower: Called on Councilmember Saldana to stop the repeal of the Tenant Bill of Rights and demanded open negotiations with tenants.
• Marilyn Kimmerling: Supported keeping the Tenant Bill of Rights and urged the provision of lockers and bathrooms before enacting the camping ban.
• Yvonne McCarty: Implored the Council to delay the vote on the sub-area plan, citing the need to address impacts on constituents and the inadequacy of the public process.
• Matthew Dooley: Opposed rolling back protections on the Tenant Bill of Rights and urged the Council to keep eviction protections intact.
• Devin Red O'Kelly (Tacoma for All): Delivered petitions signed by over 1,000 residents urging the Council to not repeal the Landlord Fairness Code, rejecting proposed changes that amount to a wholesale giveaway to landlords.
• Sol Hesus Osuna: Stated his frustration with unsafe living conditions and promised to run for City Council if the current members do not work to properly get work done.
• Jake Altschule: Reported on a class action lawsuit against a landlord using software to inflate rents and opposed rollbacks to tenant protections.
• Aidan Gardy: Demanding the Council keep their hands off the Landlord Fairness Code and calling on a landlord-Councilmember to recuse herself from voting.
• Martel Hall: Begged the Council to keep the Tenant Bill of Rights strong to provide safety for families like his.
• Aria Jocelyn: Implored the Council to not repeal the Landlord Fairness Act, citing her family's experience of becoming unhoused.
• Des (UFCW Local 367): Argued that housing is a human right and urged the Council not to repeal renter protections.
• Francis Faye Oak: Opposed the proposal to roll back protections, stating it is despicable to strip away rights won by the people.
• April Bodnar: Stated she would be homeless without current tenant rights, given her health struggles and rent increases by PCMI.
• Tyron Moore (Tacoma for All): Argued that the proposal would effectively gut eviction protections and opposed means-testing tenants.
• Kishana: Spoke on the damage that means-testing will cause for renters and urged negotiation with tenants instead of rushing a repeal.
• Jean Barfield: Spoke in opposition to changes proposed to the Landlord Fairness Code, citing the pattern of slumlords and the risk of eviction without shelter.
• Jackie Ayello: Opposed proposed amendments to the Tenant Bill of Rights, characterizing them as benefiting the landlord class over constituents.
• Karina: Speaking on the rush to repeal, opposing the move to city enforcement due to capacity issues and urging transparency.
• Ann Dorn: Begged the Council to drop the rush to repeal, warning that the combination of means-testing and exemptions effectively protects no one.
• Josiah Devine Johnson: Urged the Council to not restrict the Tenant Bill of Rights, arguing it is a vacancy in mercy to force desperate renters to prove they deserve a roof.
• Janine: Urged the Council to slow down, citing a conflict of interest with Councilmembers who are landlords and calling for an inclusive committee.
• Alton McDonald: Stood with tenants, arguing landlords should be responsive to repairs and against multiple rent increases per year.
• Sean Beals: Begged for the City to look at the homeless as human beings and not criminalize them, detailing his own trauma and fear.
• Kathy Pick: Opposed rolling back tenant protections, stating that it would hurt the workforce that supports the city and sharing her own experience of becoming unhoused.
• Michelle Reich: Opposed the low-barrier drug shelter proposal, noting community opposition and a lack of structure/supervision.
• Kit Burns: Requested the city set the affordable housing rate to 60% of AMI rather than the current regulated rate.
• Carol Sue Braden: Spoke again about tidal intrusion and liquefaction soil risks at the Port.
• Lev Kellandy (Tacoma for All): Supported the Tenant Bill of Rights and urged the Council not to rush repeal.
• Teresa Evans: Thanked the Council for the forum and greeted the attendees.
• Natasha Alciso: Argued that being a landlord is a risk, but being a tenant is riskier, and urged keeping the Landlord Fairness Code intact.
• David Chandler: Reminded the Council to respect the will of the voters who passed the Tenant Bill of Rights and to recuse themselves if they have a conflict of interest.
• Zev Cook: Opposed rollbacks to renter protections, stating the Council must protect people, not profit.
• Marcus Bartlett: Urged the Council not to adopt the proposals suggested by Councilmember Rumbaugh, arguing they protect the landlord class.
• Lori Lee: Spoke as a disabled veteran, condemning Councilmember Rumbaugh's behavior and urging her to look her constituents in the face.
• Ovaniah: Demanded indigenous sovereignty, clean air, and justice, condemning the Council for protecting profits over people and calling for a blockade of ICE.

Discussion Items

Telecommunications Franchises (Ordinances 29068 & 29073):

• Jeff Lutters presented Ordinances 29068 (Fat Beam Fiber) and 29073 (Forge Fiber 37 LLC). Both ordinances grant non-exclusive 10-year franchises to construct, operate, and repair telecommunications systems. The Council agreed to set both ordinances over for final reading on November 18, 2025.

Ad Valorem Levies (Ordinances 29069, 29070, 29071, 29072):

• Jeff Upton presented the proposed property tax levies for 2026. The regular property tax levy is set at $71.2 million (a 1% increase), and the EMS property tax levy is set at $23.7 million (a 6% increase). Public testimony saw opposition to the increases, with speakers citing the failure to address underlying issues like homelessness and school district performance.
• Council Discussion: Councilmember Walker and Mayor Woodards expressed appreciation for the City Manager's explanation that the reductions in the Hope team budget are a pause to look for additional revenue sources, emphasizing the need to fully fund the team in the next budget process. Councilmember Walker noted that these vacant positions will stay as vacant, not be eliminated.
• Decision: All four ordinances related to the levies were set over for final reading on November 12, 2025.

Tide Flats Sub-area Plan (Ordinance 29069-29072 Context):

• Stephen Atkinson presented the Tide Flats Sub-area Plan, developed over seven years in collaboration with the Port of Tacoma, Puyallup Tribe of Indians, Pierce County, and the City of Fife. The plan includes zoning amendments, environmental restoration actions, and tribal asset preservation.
• Mayor Woodards made a closing comment on the public hearing, urging that the plan be passed by December 2nd to provide certainty, noting that further tweaks would delay the process past the current council term's ability to pass it. The Mayor emphasized the unanimous vote by all five governments to move the plan forward and that "perfect should not be the enemy of good."

Key Outcomes

• Proclamations Adopted:
  • Veterans Day: Proclaimed Tuesday, November 11, 2025, as Veterans Appreciation Day in Tacoma.
  • Native American Heritage Month: Proclaimed November 2025 as Native American Heritage Month.
  • Tacoma Sesquicentennial: Proclaimed Wednesday, November 12, 2025, as Tacoma's sesquicentennial birthday (incorporation date Nov 12, 1875).
• Resolutions Adopted:
  • Affordable Housing: Resolution 41790 adopted to amend the agreement with the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority (TCRA), increasing the contract for affordable housing projects to $38.1 million.
  • Larchmont School Yard: Resolution 41791 adopted to use $32,380.44 in contingency funds to support the Larchmont Community School Yard Project.
  • Budget Ordinances: Ordinances 29065, 29066, and 29067 were passed on final reading, approving the compensation plan, modifying the operating budget (including the Hope team reduction), and modifying the capital budget.
• Deferred Actions:
  • Telecommunications Franchises (Ordinances 29068 and 29073) set over for final reading November 18, 2025.
  • Ad Valorem Levy Ordinances (29069, 29070, 29071, 29072) set over for final reading November 12, 2025.
  • Tide Flats Sub-area Plan ordinances not voted on during this meeting but scheduled for first reading and adoption in December.
• Committee Reports: The Community Vitality and Safety Committee reported on studies regarding rental housing and proposed refinements to the Landlord Fairness Code, with a special meeting scheduled for November 6.
• Announcements: The November 4th City Council business meeting was canceled due to the General Election. Councilmember Scott was excused from the evening. The meeting was adjourned.
• Public Sentiment: A significant majority of public commenters expressed opposition to the proposed cuts to the Hope team, opposed the new tax levies, and strongly opposed the City Council's movement to roll back the Tenant Bill of Rights. Conversely, residents in District 3 (Sally Perkins) and representatives of the Air Coalition expressed support for funding homeless services and the Need for alternatives to police response, while industry representatives expressed concern about zoning codes hindering green fuel production.

Note: While the transcript indicates the Mayor urged a December 2nd vote on the Tide Flats plan, the specific ordinances for the plan were not voted on in this meeting; they were presented for public hearing.