The Tacoma City Council meeting on January 27, 2026, opened with a land acknowledgement, flag salute, and a moment of silence for John Douglas Rake, co-founder of the Tacoma Musical Playhouse. The council adopted the consent agenda, proclaimed January 2026 as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month, received an update on the city manager recruitment process, approved a multifamily tax exemption for a 12-unit development, and heard extensive public comment and community forum testimony focused primarily on immigration enforcement and the Northwest Detention Center.
City Manager Recruitment Update (Presented by Cheryl Bidelman, Assistant Director of Human Resources): The City Council selected executive recruiting firm Profman to conduct the search. Community and staff surveys informed desired competencies. Two community interview panels are being formed and will participate on February 26, 2026. Council will hold first interviews the week of February 9, final interviews on February 26, select a preferred candidate by March 3, and confirm on March 17. The new city manager is expected to start in early April–May 2026. During public comment on this topic, Michelle Reich urged keeping the interim city manager, Tyler Daniels stressed the need for a candidate aware of Tacoma’s toxic pollution legacy, Jordan Rash called for a “unicorn” city manager who can handle bureaucracy and housing issues, and Dr. Janice Clark voiced support for the interim city manager.
Resolution 41847 – Multifamily Housing 8-Year Limited Property Tax Exemption (Presented by Paul Bacher, Community and Economic Development): The resolution authorizes an eight-year tax exemption for 12 market-rate rental units at 634 South Steel Street in the Sixth Avenue Mixed Use Center. The project applied in October 2025, before a November 2025 code amendment requiring eight-year projects under 20 units to be owner-occupied. Therefore the project can proceed under prior rules. Total project cost is $1.9 million, estimated to generate $107,000 in city taxes over the exemption period, with $27,000 exempted, yielding a net positive of $80,000. Councilmember Palmer abstained, expressing concern about a 400-square-foot unit renting for $1,400. Councilmember Hines confirmed no other projects remain in the pipeline under the old rules. The resolution was adopted with one abstention.
On City Manager Recruitment: Three speakers: Michelle Reich (supports retaining interim city manager), Tyler Daniels (candidate must address environmental toxicity), Jordan Rash (wants a leader for housing and bureaucracy), Dr. Janice Clark (strong support for interim city manager). Council then moved to general public comment on agenda items.
On Firefighter Cancer and MFTE Resolution: Speakers included Kit Burns (questioned MFTE project eligibility and permit timing), Margaret Trace Costrel (honored Bo Sheimer and urged modernization of fire stations, noting South Tacoma stations lack negative pressure hoods), Pat McEllicott (IAFF Local 31 vice president, listed fallen firefighters and noted one in three firefighters nationally report cancer), and Michelle Reich (advocated for best protective gear). Tyler Daniels also spoke about contaminated soil and groundwater from Asarco pollution, referencing the Point Ruston development. One speaker attempted to address Holocaust Remembrance Day but was directed to community forum.
Okay. I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of January 27, 2026. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Deputy Mayor Bushnell. Present. Councilmember Diaz. Councilmember Hines. Councilmember Palmer. Councilmember Rumbaugh. Here. Councilmember Sidalgay. Here. Councilmember Scott. Here. Councilmember Walker. Oh, here. And Mayor Ibsen. Here. Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and flag salute led by Deputy Mayor Bushnell, followed by a moment of silence for John Douglas Rake. Tonight we dedicate our moment of silence to John Douglas Rake, co-founder of the Tacoma Musical Playhouse, who passed away on December 30th. John was a visionary artist, a mentor to generations, and a builder of community whose impact reached far beyond the stage. He was well regarded and well recognized for his impact, including delivering a City of Destiny Award in 2024. His commitment to creativity, inclusion, and belonging help shape Tacoma's cultural identity. Please join me in a moment of silence to honor John Rake and his lasting legacy in our city. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Pulit 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. Are there any modifications to the agenda this evening? Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. Is there a motion? I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolutions number 41845 and 41846. Move and second. Are there any questions, comments, or corrections? Deputy Mayor. That's okay. Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed signify by saying nay. Ayes have it. The consent agenda is declared passed. Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements. Whereas the International Association of Firefighters and the Firefighter Cancer Support Network have supported recognitions and built awareness of firefighter cancer impacts, and whereas Tacoma firefighters serve our community by placing the safety of others above their own. And whereas research shows firefighters face a significantly higher risk of cancer diagnosis and cancer-related death than the general population, making occupational cancer the leading cause of line of duty deaths. And whereas studies demonstrate a direct link between on-the-job chemical exposures and increased cancer risk, leading all 50 states to recognize cancer as a presumptive occupational illness for firefighters, and whereas early cancer detection through routine screening improves treatment outcomes and survival. Now therefore, I, Andrews Ibsen, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim January 2026 as Firefighter Cancer Awareness Month in the City of Tacoma, and encourage all residents to join us in building awareness of the occupational impacts of the firefighters who keep us safe. Please say a few woods. On behalf of the many members of the Tacoma Fire Department, we are honored to accept this proclamation. Cancer has touched every corner of our department. Some members are currently battling this disease, and tragically, many have lost their lives to it. These are not abstract statistics. These are our co-workers, our friends, our family.