All right, I would like to call to order the city council meeting of November 18th, 2025.

Clerk, will you please call the role?

Councilmember Bushnell.

Present.

Deputy Mayor Daniels?

Here.

Councilmember Diaz.

Here.

Councilmember Heinz.

Here.

Councilmember Rumba.

Here.

Councilmember Sidalga?

Here.

Councilmember Scott.

Here.

Councilmember Walker.

Here.

Mayor Woodards.

Here.

All right.

Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and a 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 Piala people where there's where they make their home and speak the Lashut seed language.

Please stand for the flag salute or maybe standing for a moment of silence.

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

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolutions number four one seven nine six through four-one seven nine-eight.

Second.

Are there any comments, questions, or corrections?

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

Aye.

All right.

All those opposed signify by saying nay.

The consent agenda is declared adopted.

Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, and presentations.

And we will be proclaiming Thursday, November 20th, 2025 as Transgender Day of Remembrance.

Right on time.

Hi Oliver Thank you guys for being here.

Whereas Transgender Day of Remembrance was founded by a small group in 1999 to memorialize the still unsolved murder of a black transgender woman, Rita Hester, in Alston, Massachusetts, whose death ignited a global day of mourning.

And whereas the City of Tacoma and its leadership continue to join in solidarity with over 200 cities in 21 countries across the world who observed this day.

And whereas this is a time to mourn, reflect, and remember those taken by violence while honoring their lives with our unwavering commitment to justice, equity, and community safety.

And whereas in the face of hate, disinformation, and the erasure of civil rights, we must reject complacency and stand with courage and clarity besides those targeted, beside those targeted through policy protections, and the power of collective voice.

And whereas this year we also reckon with the silence of those whose names are missing from the roles of remembrance, whose lives were stolen and stories left untold.

Casualties not only of violence but of erasure itself.

And whereas the lives mourned and celebrated are more than just names on a list.

They are members of our community and loved ones taken before their time.

And today and every day we honor and celebrate those that have been lost while supporting and seeking to protect the lives of those still with us.

Now, therefore, I, Jamika Scott, Councilmember of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the mayor and the city council, to hereby proclaim Thursday, November 20th, 2025, as Transgender Day of Remembrance in the City of Tacoma, and urge all residents to join us in remembering those who have lose we have lost, uplifting those who endure and committing to a future where every person, regardless of gender identity or expression, can live safely, openly, and with pride.

In recognition of this day, the transgender flag will fly above the Tacoma Municipal Building and the Tacoma Dome on November 20th, 2025.

Thank you, Councilmember Scar.

Oliver.

Thank you.

I uh this day came a lot sooner than I thought it would.

Uh so sorry.

Uh so uh I want to say first, um, while she's not trans, um we're missing a good friend to the city tonight who should be here with us.

Uh Matisse Hoyt is a good friend, uh, was a good friend to me and to our organization.

Um so it's pretty hard to do this tonight without her here.

Um it's also hard uh to do this in general because this will be the last time we do this with this administration as a whole.

Um and you all have done this for five years for us.

Um so uh it's hard not to have Mayor Woodards here tonight.

Um so I did write a speech.

Uh we'll see if I can get through it.

Um this marks our fifth year standing together in this room to recognize Trans Day of Remembrance, and it's our final proclamation and flag raise with this administration as you sit here tonight.

I want to start by saying how much it is meant to have our partnership, to have your partnership, your consistency, and your willingness.

Nope.

To show up for the trans community year after year.

Over the past five years, Tacoma has taken steps that genuinely matter.

You help codify the trans flag into our city policy.

You help make the Tacoma Dome the only stadium in the country to fly the trans flag, and you help send a message loud and clear.

The trans people belong here, deserve safety here, and are valued here.

Daps is carried to our in Tacoma since 2007, and year after year we hold this space not only to grieve those we've lost, but to confront the forces that create those losses.

Stigma, exclusion, systematic failures, and the shame placed on trans people simply for existing.

This year our theme is unlearning shame, inspired by Dr.

Devin Price's work.

It's something systems teach us.

Unlearning it is how we reclaim our lives, our joy, and our futures.

On November 20th, we'll gather again, this time at UW Tacoma's Millgard Hall, for an evening of discussion, remembrances, and community care.

And at 9 30 that morning, we'll raise the trans flag on the dome once more.

At this end of as this administration closes out its term, I want to say thank you.

Thank you for standing with us for supporting this ceremony and for helping build the Tacoma where trans people are not just remembered, but protected, seen, and celebrated.

We'll carry this work forward, and we're grateful to have done it alongside you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Oliver.

I was just gonna jump in and say Mayor would absolutely say she's here with you tonight, but her hand is up, and I assume that's what she's gonna get at.

Mayor.

Thank you very much, Deputy Mayor.

I was trying to go um before Oliver, but I guess um that was probably a good thing because he might cry even more, and I hope I don't.

Um I remember um five years ago when Oliver reached out to then Melanie Harding, who was my policy person.

Um, and she came into my office and said, we've got a request to do to do um trans remembrance day.

And and she worked it all through, and we did it.

But Oliver, it was your leadership.

Um we may do, we may be doing things recognizing and reminding people um uh of transgender um folks who have been hurt, but also lifting up the voices of transgender people in our community, but it wouldn't have happened without your leadership.

And so Oliver, I just want to take a moment and say to you how grateful I am.

Um you come year after year and you continue to fight, not just for the remembrance, but for the rights of our transgender community.

Um, and so I just wanted to take a moment while you expressed your appreciation to express my appreciation to you.

Um sometimes it's real easy to sit back and talk about what's not happening.

It takes a lot of courage to step forward and be someone who makes the who makes the changes.

So thank you, Oliver.

Um, you helped us all unlearn the shame um that that that happens in this community, and I will forever be grateful to you for that.

Thank you.

Before we have them come up for the proclamation, do we have any other council comments?

Okay, please come forward and accept the proclamation.

And everyone else, please join me in a round of applause.

If there is anybody else in the crowd who is here tonight to celebrate this as well, please come up as well.

Well, you are today.

Yeah, we can go outside.

I'll catch you after the still closer.

That was a fucking live.

There we got you there.

All right, everybody.

One two, three.

All right.

For our second ceremonial tonight, we've got a proclamation for small business Saturday.

And for that, I would like to call up Linda Yarbrough, founder and CEO of RI Tax and Bookkeeping, Lord Lulu Hernandez, owner of Lulu's Bakery, Kevin Lee, owner of Third Space Cafe, Reginald Jacob Howell and Denzel Johnson, owners of the Grand Restaurant, and Matt Evans and Cedric Passon, owners of the Pacific Northwest Shop, to the uh podium as Councilmember Bushnell reads the proclamation.

All right, welcome.

Whereas the City of Tacoma celebrates our local small businesses that create jobs and the contributions they make to our local economy and community, and whereas, according to the United States Small Business Administration, there are nearly 35 million small businesses representing just over 99% of the total U.S.

businesses with 61.7 million employees.

And whereas in 2023, consumers who shopped at independent retailers and restaurants on small business Saturday spend an estimated 17 billion dollars.

And whereas 79% of small businesses, Saturday shoppers recognize the impact they make by go by shopping small, and 70% of them also encourage family and friends to do so.

And whereas with small businesses in need of continued support to keep Tacoma's unique character and local economy thriving, shopping small on small business Saturday is a direct way to invest in our community's future future.

And whereas the city is supporting our small businesses with technical assistance, equity efforts, tidy up Tacoma, and information shared through Make It Tacoma.

And whereas advocacy groups as well as public and private organizations across the country have endorsed the Saturday after Thanksgiving as small business Saturday.

Now, therefore, I, Joe Bushnell, Councilmember of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the mayor and the city council do hereby proclaim Saturday, November 29th, 2025 as Small Business Saturday in the City of Tacoma, and urge the residents of our community and communities across the country to support small businesses and merchants on small business Saturday.

Okay, who wants to go first?

Um didn't have anything much prepared as far as a speech or anything.

But uh no, I just want to say thank you to everyone thinking of us.

Uh it's an honor to be here amongst uh all these other small business owners and city of Tacoma.

Um this you know wouldn't be any other city.

Uh the people, uh the support we have from everyone is amazing.

Uh even though we haven't been open very long, we're we're so grateful for all the people that come through the doors and show up uh week in and week out.

So I just want to say thank you to everyone involved and the city of Tacoma for thinking of us and also the people of Tacoma, which is the most important.

I think people here really really are thoughtful, caring, and support small business through and through.

And uh we wouldn't be with any other city with our cafe, so uh we appreciate that, and thank you all.

Yeah, Deputy Mayor.

So you're Kathleen, right?

Yes, with Third Space.

Yes, Mayor.

Okay.

Um, I I'm not there, but uh I you know I'm gonna butt in.

So as each member talks, tell us I was the name of your business.

I know you're okay.

You got it.

You got it.

Go girl.

I was just gonna say that.

If you could let us know who you are, what's your business, and particularly where it's located, so that we can come patron your business.

Yeah.

Well, so my name is Kevin Lee.

Um, and our and I own a cafe called Third Space down on Pacific.

So we're at uh 921 Pacific Avenue, uh not too far from here, just a few blocks.

And so we serve, you know, all kinds of homemade biscuits and breads and uh coffee and lunch, everything.

Uh we try to do uh from scratch as much as we can and uh just create a nice comfortable environment for everyone to just come and enjoy, whether you're just working or meeting a friend.

So yeah, we're not too far 921 Pacific Avenue.

All right, thanks, Kevin.

And if you don't have a speech, at least come up and tell us your name and where we can find you.

But if you have a speech, I do have one.

Perfect.

If enough, we'll forget everything.

Um good evening, everybody.

My name is Lourdes Hernandez.

I'm proud owner of Lulu's bakery shop.

My business was born, it was born during the most difficult moments of my families of a lot of families, the pandemic.

At that time, I was working as a property manager, but when the daycare closed, uh my I have back then twins, which they care right now, and they were five years old, and the day care closed, and I didn't have any no more anybody else to take care of my kids.

So I have to quit my job and decide to store something that I begin in Mexico, which it was pastry and making cakes.

Um, with a few options and a lot of faith, I turn on the oven in my home and I begin baking.

It wasn't easy.

There were uh days when I doubt myself, but there was also a dream that I wanted to achieve.

And um, and this journey was impossible.

It was not possible if you my husband and my family was not supporting me.

So right now, here is Lulu's bakery shop.

Um today, Lulu's bakery shop is a small business they provide to the community with a delicious cake and pastries, and now it's spending to serve increased the birds clientels, Latino families, military families, teachers, local business, and people who might um have a different cultures who have trust my work.

And I still have so much to learn, but uh I'm proud of the journey that I and I'm proud to represent my Latino community, and I wanted to thank um the city of Tacoma and Victoria for these reconitiation.

I'm sorry, I can't say that word.

And for believing in a small business like mine, and I want to say thank you to everybody.

And sorry, I'm shaking.

I'm so nervous.

Um, super quick.

Where did you say your business was located?

Are you Lulu?

Would you be Lulu?

Okay.

And where are you located?

I'm located on 96 and Ice War Street on South Tacoma area.

Got it.

Okay.

Yes.

All right, who's next?

Reginald Jacob.

Yes, hello, hello.

Uh I am Reginald Jacob Howe.

Um Denzel Johnson, hello, nice to see everybody.

Some faces familiar, some are new, but uh, you know, we're brand.

Yeah, we're the owners of Grand on Sixth Avenue, 2715, Sixth Avenue.

We are Creole Indian and Southern Barbecue.

Yes.

And then uh one of the things uh as far as like community-wise, uh, some people may know, some may not, but we actually had a Kickstarter, which is pretty much a crowdfunding campaign that helped us actually acquire the space and you know helped us really open the restaurant.

So when it comes to support and what Tacoma's done for us, and really just kind of opened their arms and really embraced us.

I mean, we really can't put it in words of how grateful and how much we appreciate what the city's done for us and uh what they continue to do for us.

Yeah, and uh, you know, I'm I'm from Tacoma, born and raised, so just a product of of this city, and you know, I'm I'm super humbled to be here, and the support has just been amazing.

Like uh, you know, my first cooking job with that dirty Oscars, and I'm back on Sixth Avenue, my own restaurant 10 years later.

So um just this this year's been great.

We appreciate everybody coming in, every share, like, um, picture, and just just a word of mouth.

So we're we're grateful and beyond honored, and um, we've got a lot of community events going on right now, so we've got a food drive going as well.

Yeah, we go drive drive coming up.

Yeah, so we're gonna do a toy drive too, so just kind of keep that on the lookout.

Like I said, it's been a give and take relationship.

I like to say I'm one of uh Tacoma's adopted sons.

Yeah, yeah.

I'm from Kent.

It's still 253 area code, it's not huge.

Look, look.

That's not too far.

Still come in and eat, I promise.

Yeah, you know.

We've got you, and yeah, you know, we're it's an open space, everybody, so fill it home when you walk in.

Um it's a family affair, so we appreciate you guys, and uh, thank you.

Thank you.

Denzel, you're in because you come with a FOSS alum, so you need to pass today.

Okay.

Hello.

Hi, how are you today?

Hi, my name is Linda Yarbrough of RI Tax and Bookkeeping Service, and we have been in business for 30 plus years.

Uh, we do taxes, we do accounting work, and we serve a lot of small businesses.

Um, but the portion of our business that I'm most proud of is is that we have interns that come in from the colleges, whether they be TCC or Highline or whether it be the University of Washington, they come into our facility and they actually learn how to do accounting work actually in our facility, uh, handling helping us handle our clients and in our client base.

Um we started doing that probably about I'm gonna say probably good five, six years ago.

Um I myself graduated from both of those colleges, both the TCC and also the University of Washington.

And in doing that, I had a leg up with my students, the fellow students that I was in class with, is because I was already doing my business.

And so that gave me an advantage of really knowing and it grew my passion for accounting.

And so, with that being said, um, I've just started doing the intern program also.

Actually, they contacted me.

And um, and with doing that, we've had so many interns that have come in and um and have grown.

They've gone to work with babies with the city, they've gone to other big companies and so forth, just from being at our internship program.

Um, so they actually get to get hands-on learning on how to actually balance and reconcile and and get taxes done and and all that, and they just really really enjoy it.

We enjoy having them come in also, um, and then servicing the clients, you know.

Um, we want to teach them, uh, like I was talking to one of the interns the other day.

I said, you know, this is a big responsibility for us, R and I, and that is is that we want to teach you good work ethics from the beginning.

So that when you wherever your future takes you to, that you will know the basics, you'll know how to do and you'll know how to you know get that cell phone, yes, put that cell phone down.

No, you cannot have that in the workplace.

You cannot sit there on your phone and work at the same time.

And so it's those little things that we're able to pour into the help them so that they're in their future.

And then um, we have one of them that actually graduated from the UW.

I believe that they're studying now at this time, they're studying for their CPA exam.

And so that really makes us feel good that we've planted some good seeds.

And sometimes, you know, it's great to be servicing the community, it's great servicing the community in that sense, but it's also great when we can pour a seed into something and watch it grow.

And that's what we want to be able to do also with RI.

Uh we love servicing our clients as well.

Um, we have quite a few different clients of different um sizes and and problems, and some of them are so stories, and and we're just really excited to be able to serve Tacoma in this particular region.

And uh, we just want to say thank you for all that the City of Tacoma has done to really help us be able to number one stay where we are because we after COVID, there was all kinds of you know, different financial struggles and so forth, the small businesses.

Uh we were very fortunate.

We didn't miss a day uh at the office, and part of that was due to grants that came out from the city of Tacoma that helped us to pay our rent.

So thank you.

That kept us where we are, so that we can continue so that we can service those uh interns as they come in and our client base.

Thank you so much for today.

Thank you, Linda.

Okay, last but not least.

Hello, my name is Matt Evans.

I'm owner of the Pacific Northwest shop with my husband, Cedric Poisson, who wasn't able to be here this evening.

Um second generation, because my parents opened the store back in 1978.

They actually started their retail lives uh at Old City Hall when it was still operational.

Maybe someday it will be again.

We're all hoping, fingers crossed.

Um so we've been uh we our stores located at 2702 North Proctor Street in the Proctor district in the North End where we've been for many decades now.

Um I guess something that I like to think about is uh that we are greater than the sum of our parts.

I think about that in terms of well, my personal life, but also in terms of work at the shop with the team that we have that we work with in the Proctor district, which is uh really great district to be uh located in, very active with the neighborhood that we're in, and just kind of the circles go out larger and larger to really encompass the entire city of Tacoma.

So um I can say that Small Business Saturday has been for very important for us for a long, long time working in retail.

We're very much gearing up for the upcoming Christmas season, and I like to say that Christmas starts on November 1st.

Uh small business Saturday is right in the middle of that.

So um it's really great to have the kind of the city put their you know foot down and say, yeah, this is a really important day for all of us uh who are out there running small businesses, big and small businesses, uh, and trying to make it work.

So thanks very much.

Thank you, and thank you to all who came in.

Um the city depends on you all to uh make those Christmas sales because that is how we generate sales tax and all of the things to do, all of the fun things that we want to do.

So this is a symbiotic relationship.

We need you to um okay.

With that, please all come up and uh uh come take a picture with us and get your proclamation.

Okay, I'm gonna stand right in the middle.

Okay, all right.

I'm gonna have everybody scoot in just a little bit.

All right, all right, we got you, Mayor.

Everybody look this way.

One, two, three.

Great job, one more.

One, two, three.

Perfect.

Yay!

I'm still grand bridge.

Okay.

Little people always throw us for a little bit of a woo.

Um, okay.

So moving 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 forum is intended to give speakers the opportunity to share their viewpoints and feedback with the city council to aid in our decision making, and is not meant to be a back and forth dialogue.

Your remarks should be directed to the city council and not at 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've 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 aside for public comment.

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

Right.

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 disrupted.

You'll have uh two minutes to make your remarks.

Please be mindful of the time frame.

As always, if you are not required to use all of your time to make your point, if you cannot remain off topic, you will be given two warnings.

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

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

We have not for this evening.

Okay.

Um I am gonna start with those that are in the room tonight since I don't see any hands online.

Um and I'll start with Michelle Reich.

Michelle Reich.

Hi speaking on Transgender Remembrance Day.

First of all, I wanted to remind everybody here that everybody here is an animal.

And transgender uh experience, yeah, exists in the animal world, a natural animal world, besides us.

That's us.

And it exists over time in all cultures.

There is a transgender Roman Emperor, a transgender pharaoh, and a transgender Pope, one of the Johns, and his nickname was Pope Joan, yeah, because it's transgender South.

So and it exists among the Native Americans, the two spirit people.

And it extended uh very extensively in uh the Pacific and Polynesia there.

In fact, uh the explorer Cook when going to Islands, he documented all the transgender experience and all the islands he visited, and he was returning to England to document it all.

But as soon as uh his wife seen all that documentation, she burned it all.

So it's all was lost.

Transgender history of the South Pacific.

So anyway, uh there's a lot of uh discrimination that goes.

Yeah, and I'm particularly concerned.

I'm in uh military members currently.

Uh there's about 800 of them trying to fight for their jobs.

So if I was a military member, I would uh stop any uh medical treatments you have and reclaim yourself as gay or lesbian.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments tonight, Michelle.

Kit Burns.

My name is Kit Burns.

I live on Hilltop and have lived there for 33 years.

I'm here speaking on uh ordinance, proposed ordinance 2978.

This is the compensation of the public utility board.

I'm familiar with the public utility board because I've actually been going to the board meetings for about the last 10 years, and I've attended probably more meetings than anybody on the city count.

Well, definitely on the city council, uh, but also just within the city.

Um regarding the proposal here, as an architect, I've got a great deal of um experience working with the utilities.

Um but I want to point out on this proposal that you have here.

You say one place that says right here, and I agree with it.

Says this underscores the need for board members with professional level of expertise and the capacity to manage complex strategic um decisions with a multi-agency.

But further down, when you read further, it basically leaves it open that anybody could be on the public utility board without their experience.

So I think this should be either withdrawn or voted down and brought back with the new mayor and brought back with the new council and reconfigured and looked at.

Now it should have a public meeting, and I'm not aware of any public meeting.

Anyway, I may have missed that.

Um, but I think it's something that we need to look at, and then we also need to address the other boards.

Now I know how much is involved with the public utilities with the Tacoma TPU because I worked extensively on click.

I spent four years going to the meetings.

I had about five boxes of all notes and details.

I did the same thing with the AMI program, so I know it takes a lot of effort, but I also looked at home and Tacoma too.

And as an architect who's done major schools within this uh uh within the state, I know how much is involved there.

So how does this affect the other uh boards?

I'd like to have that answered.

I think it should be reviewed.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments tonight, Kip.

Um, last in the room, I've got Janice Clark.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor, and uh Mayor Victoria in her Zoom experience and the rest of you.

I rise in support of the proclamation, certainly for small business.

As I am not a resident currently, but I started my journey in Pierce County in the last six, seven years.

I've been in federal way, Washington, which is King County, but the small business called Safe Homes of 30 years.

We decided a long ago that we would target five counties, Snohomage County, King County, Pierce County, Thurston County, and Kit Sap County in our small business effort for veterans and their families that as they are transitioning from the military, they may find small businesses such as our um RFI, where they could come in and get those skill sets and be uh useful into the world of work.

So I stand and rise and supported that as a small business and also B and O taxes.

Not only am I not a resident, but we are a small business doing business and continue to will do business with the city of Tacoma.

And we understand the climate that we're in, and we also understand the tax structures that we need to generate more revenue with less burden on the taxpayers and even it out in some way.

So there is a valuable experience for small businesses.

So kudos to those that came up and had the bravery.

Certainly, Miss Linda Yarburrow.

We go back a number of years, more than 30 years of safe homes.

And she knows my dad and all the efforts that we've done in this community.

We won't stop.

We are still here, still with our hands, with our head, with our heart, and with our health to ensure that the health the Tacoma continues to go on.

So we're with you, even though we may not agree with how policies and different policies, but that let there be no mistake.

We're 100% behind the efforts of the city.

So thank you very much for the opportunity to rise.

Thank you for your comments tonight, Jan.

Janice.

Um, seeing no other hands online, I will declare the public comment period closed.

Moving on to the regular agenda.

We have a motion before us for consideration.

I move to authorize the recruitment process to fill an upcoming vacancy of municipal court judge position two and direct the city manager to begin accepting applications for a period to begin this week and to close at 9 a.m.

on the morning of Monday, December 1st.

After the close of the application period, the city clerk shall forward all applications to the mayor and the chair of the government performance and finance committee who will shorten the interviewee interviewee list if necessary.

Interviews will take place at the government performance and finance committee meeting at 10 a.m.

on December 2nd, 2025.

And after completion of the interviews, the committee will recommend two to three individuals to Mayor Woodards for consideration prior to the full city council for consideration at a council meeting in January 2026.

Second.

Thank you.

I would like to call on Mayor Woodards.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

Um, as you heard in the most in the motion, we are directing the city manager to begin accepting applications this week and close the applications at 9 a.m.

on the morning of Monday, December 1st.

Following that, interviews will take place at the government performance and finance committee meeting at 10 a.m.

on December 2nd, and they will recommend two to three individuals to me for consideration.

I will then propose a candidate for appointment to the full city council for consideration at a council meeting in January 2026.

Um this position is being vacated by Judge Drew Hankey, who is going to be retiring on December 31st, 2026.

And the reason that we do the interviews now, but um but make the appointment in 2026 is because you can't make an appointment until the position has been vacated and it won't be vacated until the 31st.

Some may ask why are we not waiting for the new council to do the process?

Um, well, our municipal court is very busy.

Um and the one thing I heard from the judges clearly was that they need somebody on board as soon as possible so that they can continue the process and won't slow down the very busy caseload that they have.

So I'll answer any questions, but thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um there any questions or comments?

All right, seeing none.

All those in favor, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, signify by saying nay.

The motion is declared adopted.

Now have another motion before us for consideration.

I move to authorize the mayor to execute on behalf of the city council as the elected legislative body with jurisdiction over the area in which the Salishan Hillside Phase 1 project will be located, a certificate in substantially the form of the certificate on file with the city clerk approving issuance of bonds for this project pursuant to the public approval provisions of section 147F of the Internal Revenue Code.

Second okay, Mayor, I'd like to call on you.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

Um THA is in the process of uh securing new tax credit and debt financing to make significant internal and external improvements to 316 existing housing units at Salishad.

One, two, three, and hillside 2300.

The total project costs will be about 150 million dollars.

As part of the financing, THA is planning to issue up to 80 million dollars in tax-exempt qualified private activity bonds.

As part of the bondage issuance, THA is required to get the city council's approval for the issuance of these bonds to support the project and the needs of the community.

Approval is not intended to create responsibility for the city to issue the bonds, pay off any debt on the bonds, or require the city to fulfill any of THA's financial obligations related to the project.

The motion would authorize me on behalf of the city council to sign the letter allowing THA to move forward.

Okay.

Um there any questions from Mayer.

All right.

Well, all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those in opposed in front of saying nay.

The motion is declared adopted.

Moving on to resolutions.

Item 11, Clerk, will you please read?

Resolution 41799, a resolution adopting the priority issues for the 2026 sessions of the United States Congress and Washington State Legislature.

I move to adopt resolution number 41799.

Second.

Okay, for this, I would like to call.

Oh, sorry, we already did this.

I would like to call in Alex McS Alex McBain and Logan Barrett.

Good evening for the record, Alex McBain with the government relations office.

Um, Deputy Mayor, Mayor, and Council members, before you is a resolution 41799.

Uh, this resolution includes the highlighted general government legislative priorities, where the government relations team will be focusing most of our work in the coming year.

Um also, along with the broader policy positions document, as well as TPU's legislative priorities and policies.

These materials together make for the foundation of our citywide state and federal legislative advocacy strategy.

Um, as you remember, the proposed legislative agenda in the form of the attachments to the resolution was presented and discussed at a study session on October 14th, and then again at the joint study session with the TPU board on October 28th.

And there have been no changes to any of the documents since the joint study session on October 28th.

Um, as we discussed in the previous study sessions, we continue to anticipate significant challenges in the upcoming year.

Um particularly related to the state's budget constraints and uncertainties around potential impacts of federal actions.

With that in mind, I will briefly highlight the priorities that are reflected in the resolution before you.

Updating the statutory framework for the process that Washtot uses to transfer property back to the locals from uh from the state.

Exploring options for additional revenue sources for sidewalks and infrastructure needs, including the create the potential creation of a sidewalk utility, and then advocating for increased funding for transportation safety and maintenance and preservation of local bridges and road roads, including the Fishing Wars Memorial Bridge.

The federal the general government federal priorities include preserving critical funding for residents, including the Affordable Care Act, Medicaid, SNAP, and the WIC Nutrition Program, advocating for our infrastructure needs, including service transportation reauthorization requests, and funding from the U.S.

Department of Transportation's safe streets and roads for all grant program.

Advancing Tacoma's affordable housing and home ownership priorities, including advocating for increased funding from HUD's home investment partnerships program and the community development block grants.

Exploring new community safety operate opportunities, including funding for alternative response, violence prevention, and frontline worker support, and advancing Tacoma's commitment to human rights and dignity by fostering trust and inclusion across city operations and urging Congress to enact comprehensive immigration reform that provides a pathway to citizenship, stabilizes the workforce, and promotes family unity.

And then I'll turn to Logan Barrett to briefly recap TPU's legislative priorities.

Good evening, Madam Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and members of the council.

I'm Logan Barr, uh TPU community and government relations manager.

Uh I just want to start with a with a big thank you for the many staff members and policymakers who, through your diligent, concerted effort developed a very reasonable legislative agenda given the challenges that we face.

Thank you very much.

We're happy to answer any questions.

Oh, thank you.

Um are there any council comments or questions?

Yeah.

Oh, councilmember Walker.

Um thank you, Deputy Mayor, and thank you both for the presentation.

I just wanted to shout out um Alex Andrea and um City Manager Kim was at presenting at J Mac on Friday, and it was as always good to present alongside all our partner agencies and realize how much alignment we have, and so appreciate that both the partnership with all of our um agency friends, but also uh city manager Kim for presenting.

I know you all were there, and um I know that there were a couple of places specifically that we talked about aligning um that I think were already in our agenda, but just wanted to highlight those um, particularly working on homelessness with Pierce County, and so we're aligning our asks at the state level.

So just a big thank you and looking forward to tackling these tough sessions with our team.

Thank you, Councilmember Walker.

Any other questions or comments from council?

Um those in f uh all those in favor of adopting resolution 41799 signify by saying aye.

Aye, aye.

Aye.

All those opposed signify by saying nay.

The resolution is declared adopted.

Thanks, guys.

Item 12.

Clerk, will you please read?

Resolution 4180, a resolution authorizing the one-time use of council contingency funds and the amount of 25,000 dollars to support the year of belonging initiative.

I move to adopt resolution number 4180.

Second.

All right, I would like to call on Council Member Walker.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

Um, the Year of Belonging Initiative is a series of events, community convenings and discussions, as well as a communications campaign aimed at proactively promoting inclusion and a welcoming environment in Tacoma.

The initiative is meant to advance connection, understanding, and collective growth across the city with a special focus on celebrating and fostering unity with our immigrant and refugee community, our BIPOC community, and our LGBTQIA plus community.

The year of belonging launched during welcoming week in 2025, that was in mid-September, and extends through welcoming week in 2026.

This funding will support ongoing costs for the initiative, such as the production of free community events that are open to the public, advertising and program printing, invitations and mailers, the production of an initiative website, and resources for community members served by Tacoma Community House.

For council members and members of the community that may be interested in supporting your belonging events or hosting events under this initiative, they can connect directly with Tacoma Community House.

And I want to thank Mayor Woodards for her leadership on this, and thank you to Tacoma Community House for being an amazing partner.

Okay, are there any council comments or questions?

Okay, seeing none, all of those in favor of adopting resolution number 4180, signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed signify by saying nay.

The resolution is declared adopted.

Moving on to the final reading of ordinances.

Item 13.

Clerk, will you please read?

Ordnance 29068, an ordinance granting a non-exclusive 10-year telecommunications franchise agreement to FATBEM LLC to construct, operate, and repair a telecommunication system in the city.

Okay, this item was presented on October 28th.

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 Heinz.

Aye.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalgay.

Aye.

Councilmember Scott.

Aye.

Councilmember Walker.

Aye.

Mayor Woodards.

Mayor Woodards.

Um.

Absent.

Okay.

The ordinance is declared passed.

Item number 14.

Clerk, will you please read?

Ordnance 29073, an ordinance granting a non-exclusive 10-year telecommunications franchise agreement to forge Fiber 37 LLC to construct, operate, and repair a telecommunication system in the city.

Okay, this item was presented on October 28th.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Seeing none.

Clerk will you please call the roll?

Deputy Mayor Daniels.

Aye.

Councilmember Diaz.

Aye.

Councilmember Hines.

Aye.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalga.

Aye.

Councilmember Scott.

Aye.

Councilmember Walker?

Aye.

Councilmember Bushnell?

Aye.

Mayor Woodards absent.

Aye.

I'm here.

Mayor Woodards voted in favor.

Okay.

The ordinance is declared passed.

Item 15.

Clerk, will you please read?

Ordinance 29074 and ordinance amending chapter 1.12 of the municipal code relating to the compensation plan to implement rates and pay and compensation for employees represented by district lodge number 160 on behalf of local lodge number 297.

Okay, this item was presented last week.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

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

Councilmember Diaz.

Aye.

Councilmember Hines.

Aye.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalgay.

Aye.

Councilmember Scott?

Aye.

Councilmember Walker.

Aye.

Councilmember Bushnell.

Aye.

Deputy Mayor Daniels.

Aye.

Mayor Woodards.

Aye.

All right.

The ordinance is declared passed.

Moving on to the first reading of ordinances.

Clerk, will you please read?

Ordinance 29078 and ordinance amending Title 1 of the Municipal Code related to administration and personnel by adding a new section 1.12.157 entitled Compensation of Public Utility Board Members and Amending Section 1.30.300 entitled Exclusion from Membership to provide stipends for public utility board members and exclude them from the city's retirement program effective January 1st, 2026.

Okay, I would like to call on Council Member Bushnell.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

I'm excited to bring this policy forward for first reading tonight.

Uh and I will be speaking more about this item on December 2nd at the final reading.

Uh but I did want to share just a couple of remarks.

Um the public utility board fills a unique role here at the city and it holds a tremendous responsibility in overseeing essential services that impact nearly every household and business in the region, both inside Tacoma and outside of Tacoma, including the management and strategic direction of the Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water, and Tacoma Rail.

I appreciate the skill, commitment, and generosity of our current public utility board members, and at the same time I recognize that there are access to barriers of equitable representation in these roles.

Recruitment efforts to bring in volunteers of different backgrounds to the public utility board have daylighted barriers to volunteering.

People who have been who could have been valuable, uh qualified applicants uh have informed myself and others that they'd be unable to make an um make an uh time consuming role without additional uh support.

This proposal includes a monthly stipend to create more pathways for participation, and after we talked about this item at study session earlier this month, I did receive an additional technical suggestion from our tax and license staff.

So that uh so I will be bringing forward a substitute at the final reading, uh which clarifies board members uh for public agencies do not have to pay a license tax.

Uh I'm happy to talk with anyone on the council between this and now and then.

Um I've also sent an updated FAQ to all of your emails uh that answers some of the questions that folks had uh during the last study's session as well.

I want to thank uh Mayor Woodards and Councilmember Walker for co-sponsoring this resolution and thank you everyone for your consideration.

Okay, do we have any uh council questions or comments for council member bushnow?

The ordinance will be set over for final reading on December 2nd, 2025.

Moving on to unfinished business.

Do we have any unfinished business?

Okay.

Um not interim city manager, um deputy interim city manager.

Do you have a report for us this evening?

I sure do, Deputy Mayor.

I have a few items to share with you on behalf of the city manager, so thank you uh for just a few moments.

Um the first are two celebratory items out of Tacoma venues and events.

So I want to share with council that on Friday, November 7th, Tacoma venues and events in partnership with Corsmo Construction and Tacoma Public Schools, hosted the annual Try a Trade Try a Trade Career Fair at the Tacoma Dome.

The event hosted almost 3,000 people, including close to 2,000 students from Tacoma Public Schools and several several other regional school districts.

Students were able to visit with over 125 exhibitors and try out trades like masonry, carpentry, electrical, and heavy equipment operations.

So thank you both to TVE and to CORSMO and the public schools.

So appreciate that.

Then also want to share with you that Exhibitor Magazine, a leading industry publication, has named the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center to its best convention centers in North America for a sixth time.

So convention centers were evaluated based on a wide variety of criteria in five primary areas facility and functionality, location and accommodations, service and execution, expansion and upgrades, and finally honors and awards.

So big congratulations to TV and the team at the convention center for that award.

And then Deputy Mayor, my final item is just a hopefully a reminder to council and the public that this weekend we'll be shutting down our primary business systems to transition to a modern supportable platform.

So our SAP systems essentially our existing system that has served us well for the last 20 years.

We will be upgrading that system and so uh expect that upgrade to be able to serve us for the next 15.

In order to safely transition our services, many of our city services will be offline on Friday, and that includes our online and in-person payment services.

So just really want to make sure the public and you all are aware of that fact.

Uh, we have done robust community and customer messaging and alternate arrangements for various processes have been made for both the weekend as well as resumption of service on Monday.

So I do want to uh recognize that this has been a tremendous and complex effort, which could not have been accomplished without a capable and dedicated team of internal and external partners.

This system touches frankly every part of the city and our public utilities.

So we uh can't touch on all of the staff that have made this big lift, but I do want to highlight uh a few folks, our sponsors, Andy Chirulo, Latasha Ware, and Daniel Key, our project leadership of Angelita Zolida, Karen Estep, Enjo Wang, Alex Yoon, Susan Calderon, Mike Hill, and uh Kalyan Kakani.

And then our vendor partners, Monica Surgeon, Imran Boombia, and Samir Kapoor.

So just again a big lift and thank you to those folks, and we're hoping for a successful stand down Friday and stand back up on Monday.

So thank you, Deputy Mayor.

Got it.

Thank you.

Councilmember Rumbaugh.

Um, can I ask you a follow-up question?

Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

Um, I just was curious.

So if you have a TPU bill that you usually pay online, and you went to do it on Saturday, you wouldn't be able to do it.

And so then if you if your due date was like Monday and you didn't get to it till Tuesday or Wednesday, are they going to charge a late fee?

I don't believe they're gonna charge a late fee for you, Councilmember Renba.

But yes, the city's online payment portal and online and automated telephone payment system for uh accounts uh will be unavailable.

They'll be unable to check balances or make payments.

Okay, I appreciate you just saying that out loud.

Thank you.

Great question, Councilmember Ramba.

Okay, um passing it over to Councilmember uh Walker for uh the chair of the infrastructure planning and sustainability um committee for a report.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

The infrastructure planning and sustainability committee has met twice since our last report out.

IPS had our third annual committees boards and commissions update here in council chambers on October 8th.

Staff liaisons and leaders from the Climate and Sustainability Commission, Landmarks Preservation Commission, Transportation Commission, Planning Commission, and for the first time the Urban Design Board summarized their accomplishments from the past year and priorities for the year ahead.

My colleagues and I look forward to the CBC update every year, and presenters have told us how much they value this rare opportunity to engage and share information with members from other CBCs.

During our October 22nd meeting, IPS provided feedback on and voted to concur with the Planning Commission's PACT 2025 to 2027 work program.

Um we also learned about the neighborhood traffic calming program, including the program structure, recent achievements, and how Tacoma's program compares to peer cities.

This presentation was followed by a second review of the proposal to expand and update the city's automated traffic enforcement program.

And that program will be coming to the full council here before the end of the year.

We concluded our meeting by voting to forward a proposal to confer an honorary name on a roadway to the full council, which will come before this body during our next meeting.

The committee's next meeting and the last meeting of 2025 will be on Wednesday, December 10th, when we will consider applications for the landmarks preservation commission and receive an update on the clean energy implementation plan from Tacoma Power.

Madam Deputy Mayor, this concludes my report.

Thank you, Councilmember Walker.

Okay, moving on to final council comments.

I have two.

Are there any from anybody else before I go?

Gotcha.

Okay, first and foremost, I want to make sure that I uh remind everyone that November 25th next Tuesday, the City Council study session, business meeting, and community forum will be canceled due to the Thanksgiving holiday.

Um and finally, I want to extend on behalf of the entire mayor and the entire council a happy birthday to the second most youngest and flyest council member, council member Bushnell.

We had a big year.

Would you have any words to say for your 36?

My back hurts.

This is why he's second youngest, even though he really is first youngest.

Um okay, moving on.

I would like to um do we have to excuse anybody?

No.

Okay.

Great.

Well, I will take the final motion.

I move to adjourn.

Second.

All those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed signify by saying nay.

The motion is declared adopted.

We stand adjourned.

Thank you.

Who knew?