The City Council of Tacoma convened on November 18, 2025, to conduct routine business, issue ceremonial proclamations, and deliberate on legislative matters. The meeting included the adoption of the consent agenda, the declaration of Transgender Day of Remembrance and Small Business Saturday, the initiation of a recruitment process for a municipal court judge, and the authorization of tax-exempt bonds for affordable housing improvements. Public comments addressed discrimination against transgender individuals in the military, compensation proposals for the Public Utility Board, and support for local businesses and tax structures.
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.