I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of February 3rd, 2026.

Clerk, will you please call the role?

Deputy Mayor Bushnell.

Present.

Councilmember Diaz.

Here.

Councilmember Hines.

Councilmember Palmer.

Here.

Councilmember Rumba.

Here.

Councilmember Sidalgay?

Here.

Councilmember Scott.

Here.

Councilmember Walker.

Here.

Mayor Ibsen.

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 Pialla people where they speak their language.

Or they the Piala people where they make their home and speak the Lachute 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?

Uh Deputy Mayor, I um move to suspend the rules to consider item six and move it to the front of the agenda.

Okay, is there a second?

Second.

Movement seconded.

Deputy Mayor.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

All right.

We have to have a vote on the motion, but would you like to speak to why we're oh yes?

Uh the reason why we are moving this agenda item to the front is uh we have a lot of great officers in here tonight.

We want to make sure everybody uh has the opportunity to get back to work uh sooner rather than later.

Really appreciate all of you being here today.

Okay, wonderful.

So the vote in front of us is to move this agenda item to the front of our um of our meeting.

Uh all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Who's supposed to say no?

Ayes have it.

Um item number six, the appointment of Chief Jackson is in front of us.

Is there a motion?

I move to confirm the appointment of Patty Jackson as police chief, effective February 9th, 2026.

Second.

Moving seconded.

Deputy Mayor would like to speak your motion.

Yes, uh, thank you so much, Deputy Mayor.

Um I will just say that you know uh interim Chief Jackson has been a phenomenal force uh in this community uh since she's taken over the interim role of Tacoma Police Chief.

And uh I can't be more happy and thrilled that she's willing to take on the permanent position.

Um she has shown time and time again the care uh that she has for this community uh and listening, as well as care for the officers that are have been under her charge.

Um she has shown up time and time again to listen uh and and to be proactive uh in making sure that our community is safe and really proud of the work that she's done so far, and I'm really proud uh to have the opportunity to confirm her as our chief here in Tacoma.

Um so there you are, Deputy Mayor.

Thank you.

That's all right.

Thank you, thank you, Deputy Mayor.

Uh and uh I went out a little uh a little bit out of order here, so uh my uh my next role is to actually call on interim city manager Jan Kim to speak to this motion.

Thank you, Mayor Epson.

Uh Deputy Mayor, members of council.

At this time, I'd invite um interim chief Jackson to the podium as I read some remarks here as she's making her way up here.

Um for the mayor and council and for city staff, our police officers, um, and members of our community.

It is my distinct honor today to formally announce uh my selection of Patty Jackson as our city's uh chief of police permanently.

Um Patty has served our department with distinction over the past year as interim chief of police, providing steady leadership, continue continuity, and thoughtful direction during a critical time of transition for the department and for the city over this period.

She has helped strengthen trust between officers and the community we serve.

I thank you, Chief.

Um she comes to us with over 35 years of distinct and honorable experience in law enforcement throughout the state of Washington, the majority of which was spent with Pierce County Sheriff's Office, which she held multiple senior command roles and has proven that she can manage complex operational and personnel uh challenges.

Throughout her career, Patty has demonstrated a commitment to strengthening trust between law enforcement and the community, championing strategies that balance accountability with compassion.

If you have seen her out in our streets, uh you know that she has a deep love for everyone she encounters, and she is committed to making Tacoma a better and safer place for everyone.

Patty's career reflects not only a strong managerial competence, but also a belief in policing that is equitable, transparent, and community-centered, a philosophy that aligns with our city's values and direction as we seek going forward based on her pro proven performance in the interim role, um, her deep professional qualifications, her clear commitment to partners partnership and progress.

I'm confident that Patty Jackson will continue to lead our department with distinction as our chief of police.

And with that, please join me in welcoming Chief Jackson's opening remarks for you all before your consideration.

Thank you.

Can't believe I'm speechless, can you?

This is an honor, and I want you to know I don't take this lightly.

This is something that it's surreal, right?

I've been nervous, I've been a nervous wreck all day long, and people are asking me why I'm nervous.

And I think that when you stop being nervous, then you know there's a little bit of problem.

And so you get a little too comfortable, and maybe that discussion that you're talking about where you're going out and you're meeting with your community members, that gets, you know, put on the back burner and things along those lines.

I can assure you that this is an honor.

And the men and women that are here that are standing with us with the agency, I would uh work for them any day of the week, and I fully support each and every one of our community members, and I can tell you that the men and women that have taken the oath to do the same are phenomenal people.

And I swear that I'm, you know, not really a broken record, but in this one thing I can't help it.

I really really am.

I I live that you get to know us before you need us, mantra.

And I think that if you see the people that are here, then I'm so proud to serve you got this, Chief.

Thank you.

I think if you see them here, and you know that they have been keeping me standing tall, they've been keeping me in check, and that should speak a lot to you know our community, because you've got a phenomenal agency in the Takone Police Department, and thank you so much for everything that you have supported us for.

When people are coming here, I want you to know it's not because of the chief, right?

Because that could change any time, as we all know.

It's because of the support that you all are showing us.

It's for the support that the community is showing, and we just greatly appreciate it.

So thank you, and thank you for moving us up in the agenda because these motor scooters aren't working for free.

So thank you so much for your remarks.

Are there any uh comments from the city council, starting with Councilmember Walker, followed by Council Member Scott and virtually everyone?

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I just want to thank you, um, Chief Jackson.

I am just delighted to uh vote yes on this appointment.

Um thank you for bringing communication and transparency, and in the very short time you've you've um served here, uh, begin to restore trust and not just with us, but with the community and um with your whole team.

And I think your words were perfect.

You talk all the time about how it's a team effort, and and we know that.

Um, and you show that and live it and breathe it, and we thank you for that, and I'm really excited to work with you in an official capacity.

Wonderful.

Councilmember Scott.

Thank you, Mayor.

Uh I yeah, that was perfect.

I'm just I'm excited that you know we're making this official, and um, you know, I you know how you and I met.

Like, I just I appreciate the you know that you just walked right up to me and we're like, hey, I'm running for you're running for something else then, so we won't talk about it.

But uh, but uh, you know, so I was really happy when I heard that you know your name was being brought up for interim, and I'm I'm just really happy that you're here now.

I think that you've done a great job uh again, restoring that trust with us, with the community, with the officers, with um just yeah, so I just think that it's been a really great to see you step into this role, and I'm I appreciate your nervousness, but like I said, don't be nervous, just come up here and do that PJ thing you do, and um just keep on, you know, loving the city and and serving it well, and uh just thank you, we appreciate you.

Thank you, Councilmember Seldaki.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Um I didn't prepare anything, so I'm just gonna go out the cup here.

Um I'm understanding every day how rare it is to sit up here and to have a hard decision made easy.

And what you've done in your time has made this hard decision easy, and I say it's a hard decision for a really important reason because you've made it look easy.

Community safety is the number one thing that we're in charge of, right?

That community wants and that we're responsible for us thinking about um voting yes.

Part of the reason is you've been there with me in community.

You've shown up.

And in doing so, you gave me something that we really need, which is trust.

And that's a short word that means a lot right now.

Because let's not forget the world we're living in.

Because we live in a world where there is uniforms out there that are not living up to the same standards that you and the men and women over here living up to every single day.

And my litmus test for this is are we going to appoint someone who we can trust?

I absolutely trust you because it's gonna be hard.

And I trust you to make those hard decisions, and I trust you to lead with dignity and integrity.

And so I want to thank you for what you've given so far.

I kind of want to apologize for what you might actually um inexperience going forward.

But I trust you, and I know the city trusts you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember.

Councilmember Hines.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

And I'll make this really brief, not because I don't have plenty of things to say about Chief Jackson, but just because I want to keep it short with everybody here.

Uh Chief Jackson, I said this multiple times, but I'll say it one more time here.

We brought you on as our chief um or interim chief.

I was really excited for that opportunity.

I thought you were an amazing candidate at that time.

You've done nothing to confirm that for me over the time you've been here.

Had at the beginning we laid out kind of three goals for you.

It would have been filling out vacant show officer positions, it would have been boosting around the department, and it would have been being a presence of the community and being a real community voice.

And I think just by what I've seen and all the work you've done over the last few months, you've passed that with flying colors.

So I think you did a wonderful job auditioning for the job, and now I'm happy to vote for you to have the permanent title.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilman Barombach.

Thank you, Mary.

And I want to say in Judaism, there's this bitter in the sweet.

So we know what the bitter was, and here is the sweet moment um that you are here, and this is actually I think a better fit for you and for us, and we are so happy to have you.

And I just want to say every single time I've ever had any questions, you always get back to me, and I really appreciate it.

But what I really appreciate is how you've provided the council an opportunity to show up to support officers.

And um I think that if if you get a chance to tell people what I mean by that, it's just it's been wonderful to watch people um receive those badges and move up and have their families there and to understand that we're part of that.

So thank you so much for inviting us into the police station, not to get arrested, but to see something wonderful.

And I also just have a lot more respect for the people who do this job because of you.

So you've taught me something that I didn't realize that it's about team, and I think that you show every day that to our community and to the people who serve with you.

So thank you so much.

Thank you.

Councilmember Palmer.

Chief Patty Jackson.

So any time I talk to anybody out in community um about you, there's an immediate, yay, Patty, she's going to be our new chief.

And you know, this is our relationship is fairly new, and you know, I'm new to this job, and you've had maybe a longer relationship with some of these folks up here, but community opinion means probably the most to me, and the fact that there's so many folks in our community that back you and feel like you were the right person in this crazy moment in time to to help us through this and make our city feel safe meant everything to me.

So I I'm looking forward to saying voting yes as well.

Thank you, Councilmember Palmer.

Councilmember Diaz.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um I'm uh wanted to just congratulate Chief Jackson, and I'm so grateful um that we're at this place that we're gonna get to vote on you now.

I'm excited to get to vote for you a second time here, and this one's a sure thing.

So this is gonna be great for the city of Tacoma for all of us.

I think we have a lot of work to do going forward together, and I don't know that there's anyone whose name they could have told me that was being considered for the interim that I would have been any more excited about.

There's literally no one else I can think of, and I just think we're really lucky that you're willing to even take us on past your interim interim role.

I think we were on interview as much as you were, so thank you so much for giving us more of your time, and I'm really excited for you to lead our team and help building that trust in the community.

Thank you, Councilmember.

And I enthusiastically join my colleagues in supporting this motion as well.

Uh Chief Jackson, you you have consistently shown up in community.

Our officers have more pep in their step because of your leadership.

Uh, there are so many people in the community that I've seen you engage with, both in the more traditional spaces like neighborhood block watch groups and just people on the receiving end of really hard things, and even non-traditional groups that maybe haven't had the best relationship or the best understanding about what goes on in the process, and you've showed up consistently.

And besides your skill set, besides your character, it's the even kill temperament that you bring that is exactly the right thing at the right time that our department, our city needs as a whole, and these uncertain times.

So I enthusiastically support this motion.

And uh with that, um all those in favor of appointing Patty as our police chief, please signify by saying aye.

All those opposed to say no, congratulations.

Let's give her a big hand.

Can I say one thing?

Please, go ahead, Chief.

I appreciate we're in your Seahawks colors too, Chief.

That's right.

Oh, yeah, would you like a picture with us, Chief?

Coming up.

Yes, please.

Let's do it.

Yeah, do any officers want to join the chief, too?

No.

No?

Don't want to feel the love?

Okay.

Oh, they're all.

Come on, guys.

We can pick you out, lad.

So Fisher, I see you over there.

I like the second.

There you go.

One person lays down across here.

Oh no, guys.

Hey Chief, let's uh let's get up here.

You're the star of the show tonight.

Better act like that.

There you go.

Short people on the morning.

Short people are great.

Everybody needs to be on this side of the dice.

Do not smile, bro.

Big, big smile.

Okay, one.

Two, three.

One more.

One.

Two.

Three.

Thank you.

It's a seen.

It's been a while.

Yeah, the last time I saw you, you thought we had to get that.

No, that's a true story.

I was not making it in the wrong place.

Alright, thank you so much, everyone.

We're gonna resume our normal business meeting.

With all the well-wishing.

Okay, so our next agenda item is the consent agenda.

Is there a motion?

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41848.

Second.

Are there any questions, comments, or corrections?

I move to add the proposed copy of the letter to the federal legislative delegation to item 26-0088 as discussed at study session and on file with the city clerk.

Second.

Are there any questions or comments?

All those in favor of adding the proposed copy of the letter, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed signified by saying nay.

Motion is declared adopted.

All those in favor of adopting the consent agenda as modified, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those opposed saying no, consent agenda is adopted.

Moving on to proclamations.

I'm sorry.

Oh, sorry.

We already voted on it.

Um, yes, absolutely.

Uh members of the council who'd like to speak to this, please do so.

Councilmember Palmer.

Thank you.

Sorry, that moved really quick.

Apologies.

During a study session, there was a little bit of a conversation about um having a nod to the bills that are going through the state legislature right now and uh asking for support for those, and I I don't see that in the letter.

Okay, well, we uh we have a passed motion.

So um uh moving forward, there are plenty of opportunities for engaging our our delegation.

Um so with that, um, unless there are any points of clarification.

Um Deputy Mayor.

Yeah, thank you, Mayor.

Um, so I think because of our resources page that we do have a list of all the bills that are currently active uh in the legislature.

So if folks uh in the community want to testify on those things, uh the city has signed in support of a lot of them.

Um and uh I think because this is letters going to our federal delegation, you know, they're more focused on some of the the more federal issues and uh just appreciation of their work.

Um but I hear you on uh making sure that they are abreast of what's happening at the legislature as well.

And and definitely if there are other opportunities for further clarifications, I'm absolutely in support of that and happy to help with in any way, shape, or form that I can with that, as are I'm sure other members of the council.

Okay, thank you for bringing this up though.

Thank you, and thank you to the uh the people behind this letter.

So moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements.

Item number five is proclaiming February 20s uh 2026 as Black History Month.

Uh we have one ceremonial for Black History Month proclamation.

I would like to invite Rika Nelson, community resource analyst from Environmental Services, and Lynette Mason, Utility Services Representative from Tacoma Power, to the podium as I read the proclamation.

Okay.

Good evening.

Good evening.

Good evening.

So, as our resolution reads, whereas Black History Month is a time to honor the transformational impact, enduring resilience and contributions of the Black community throughout our nation's history, and whereas we acknowledge the pivotal role of black Americans in building, sustaining, and advancing our communities and standing as pillars of hope in the face of extraordinary challenges, and whereas the City of Tacoma humbly recognizes the profound legacy of black American leaders, elders, artists, educators, organizers, and visionaries whose dedication and ingenuity have shaped our collective identity and strengthened the fabric of our city.

And whereas black employees of the City of Tacoma and throughout our local public service sector have long contributed their expertise, leadership, and lived experience to delivering essential services, advancing equity, and ensuring responsive and inclusive local government for all residents, and whereas black city staff, past and present, have played a critical role in shaping policies, programs, and community partnerships, often serving as trusted connectors between government and community while advocating for fairness, accountability, and opportunity.

And whereas Black History Month offers an opportunity not only to reflect on history, but also to reaffirm our shared responsibility to honor these contributions through continued investment in equity, inclusion, and the empowerment of black voices within our workforce and across Tacoma's future.

Now, therefore, I, Andrews Ibsen, mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council to hereby proclaim February 2026 as Black History Month in the City of Tacoma.

And we urge our community to come together to recognize and honor the sacrifices and triumphs of our black community.

Let us take action and recommit ourselves to building a more just inclusive and equitable society for all.

Please say a few words.

Amen.

Thank you.

Okay.

Well, good evening, everyone.

My name is Lynette Mason, and I've been employed with the City of Tacoma for 20 years.

I started out in electrical inspections and permitting.

I currently work in the meter shop.

And my goal as I've worked my career through the city has been to meet the needs of our customers.

Um keeping our customers in power, safety, and supporting our community through volunteerism.

And what I want to say is I just very humbled for this recognition, and I thank you so much for your stance on Black History Month.

This year, 2026 marks the 100th year of Black History Month.

And so we really appreciate this.

We're honored.

And I would recommend that anyone who wants to know more that questions it.

Black history is American history.

So do some research, you know, read.

And then you will also be very inspired.

Thank you so much.

Thank you so much for your comments.

Thank you very much.

First, Mayor, good to meet you officially for my first time.

Actually, I think this is my second time seeing you.

Um, and I'll start off with how I usually have to start off.

My name is pronounced Risa, like Lisa with an R.

That's my mother's fault.

No problem.

Right.

Um, and then I would also like to follow up with you should have rolled my speech.

That was quite an introduction.

I have to admit, I had some trepidation showing up today.

I've been with the city for 20 years, and I've seen some of the good, and not so good.

That's true of everything that we do in life, right?

In our communities, in the city, and the work and difficult work brings good, bad, and ugly.

Being a leader does that.

I just want to take a moment to thank the people that helped me become a leader.

My parents, my grandparents, and a special thank you to my wife.

She has been here when leadership was not respected or accepted, especially many times my form of leadership, which is speaking truth to power.

So with that being said, it is nice tonight to receive and be acknowledged, respected, and accepted for that type of honor.

So I humbly appreciate that and gracious gracefully try to graciously say thank you for what I'm receiving this evening.

Yes.

Thank you so much.

And thank you so much for your service.

Are there any um did were you gonna say something?

I'm sorry.

Okay.

Are there any questions or are there any comments from the uh the council members?

Well, hearing none, thank you so much.

Oh, I'm sorry, Councilmember Scott.

No, you're fine.

Um, I just wanted to say thank you both for being here.

Thank you all for being here.

Um I yeah, as somebody who also believes in speaking truth to power, I um I just appreciate when folks are willing to push through the um just the hardships and the barriers that are needlessly placed in our way.

Um I know right now we're talking about black history, but obviously there are lots of folks who stand at many intersections who can understand uh the needless barriers that are that are placed in our ways, and so um I just want to thank you both for being here and speaking so eloquently and just uh and I heard you as you said that you were hesitant to do so, so I'm glad that you came here because I think that um it's really important to hear those words and the truth of you know there's a lot of good, um, but the good is only so good if we also acknowledge the bad because it helps us figure out and learn where we came from and hopefully how to not end up back there.

So thank you both for being here.

And happy Black History Month, everybody.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Scott.

Councilmember Rumbaugh.

Oh, one one thing, thank you.

I just I want to say thank you for saying what you said about the good and the bad and the ugly.

Um, I think it's important that you hold us accountable for the work that we do.

And um that's why we're here is because we we are trying to be an anti-racist city and we sometimes mess up.

And so I really appreciate your honesty, especially it's uh being employees here.

It's the most important thing that the place that where you live and work is the place that's safe.

So thank you so much for being so honest and um again holding us accountable to what's important and how we make you feel safe to be here and and accepted and a part of this community.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Rombar.

Are there any further counsel comments?

Seeing on thank you so much for your service and for all that you do.

Uh, please walk forward to accept the uh proclamations and please join me in a round of applause.

There you are.

Of course, thank you.

All right, everybody, right there.

Thank you all so much.

One, two, three.

One, two, three.

Thank you awesome.

Thank you.

Thank you so much.

We're going to move on to public comment now.

Clerk, please read.

This is a time set aside for public comment.

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

All right.

I'd 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 disruptive.

You will have 90 seconds to make your remarks, so please be mindful of the time frame.

As always, you are not required to use all your time to make your point.

If you cannot remain on topic, you'll be given two warnings.

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

Have we received any written public comment, Clerk?

We've received five regarding resolutions 41849 and 41850.

Very good.

Those will be transferred to council.

So with that, I'm going to start by calling in uh to those who've signed in in person.

We have uh our first speaker is uh called Mikey, speaking to resolution number four one eight four nine.

Hello, I'm here speaking on resolution 41849.

Um, I would like to voice my support for the letter sent by Common Good Tacoma today, uh, and I hope that you are willing to pause and take more time uh before you make any decisions.

During the study session today, you were told that the heel team does not throw items away.

Um, I understand that most of you feel like the heel team is doing good work, and maybe you're seeing something that I'm not, uh, but they lied to you today.

I'm trusting your truth, and I'm here to tell you about Joey.

Joey had a job, an apartment, a wife, and ten years sober.

Then his wife died.

His life spiraled, and anyone who has experienced enormous grief will understand what that means.

He lost everything.

He's been slowly clawing his way back to being a productive member of society.

He has a good job, he's sober.

And earlier this month, he had all of his identifying documents, some uniforms, and a place to live, a tent.

He just so happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, and right before the cold snap, the heel team rolled through.

He wasn't there when they started their sweep, and they threw all of his stuff on their trailer.

When he got there, he could see his work uniforms.

He asked if he could take them off of the trailer, and they yelled at him, don't touch the trailer.

He didn't receive any of his documents, he didn't receive contact information.

He lost everything.

He lost his ID, his work uniforms, his home.

This is somebody who is meeting all of your litmus tests.

They threw his stuff away.

Please take more time and consider the people who are suffering right now at the hands of the heel team.

I appreciate your comments.

Our next speaker is Jess, followed by Shalom.

Hi, my name is Jess, and I want to start by saying I'm excited to meet this new council, and congratulations to Mayor Ibsen and the new council members.

We're excited to see you.

I'm here to speak on resolution 41849.

Nine million dollars is a lot of money to spend on the same band-aid that has proven not to work, and we as a city have been reusing this band-aid over and over and over again for years when stitches are what is actually needed.

We can use this money in a much more effectual manner, and we have a lot of great ideas to bring to the table as a community.

At the end of last year, this council admitted that sweeps are not the solution, and also challenged the community to step up, step up and bring our ideas to the table.

And so we're here today with you all.

A new year, a new mayor, a new council, a chance to bring our ideas back to you in trust that they'll be listened to and heard and considered because you ask for us to bring them, and we want to give them to you.

We work every day in this community.

We know what happens, and we're dedicated to fixing the houselessness community in Tacoma, and it sounds like you guys are too.

The letter submitted to this council by Common Good has some excellent ideas in it.

Let's pause the voting on this resolution.

Take some time to explore more responsible ways of using this money that can really drive us to a permanent solution.

When one surgery can fix a wound that thousands of band-aids can't, I really think it's worth it to consider.

Please table this for now.

Let the council and this community work together towards finding a real solution.

We have a lot of great ideas, and you guys want to hear them.

Thank you for your comments.

Shalom, followed by Sally Perkins.

Good evening, Reverend Shalom Agderabsi, her pronouns with Common Get Tacoma, also a United Methodist clergy here in town.

The letter was a collaborative effort.

It's from folks who know and live and breathe this work day in and day out.

You saw that other signers, and if you haven't gotten a chance to read it yet, it's not very long.

Um please take some time to read that letter that came from us from the Pierce County Coalition to End Homelessness and others who work closely with outreach workers.

I just want to remind you that this nine million dollar proposal is not just um pushing papers.

You have the opportunity not to just rubber stamp something that a finance office has vetted and prepared for you.

This is also a Seattle-based company.

You have places like Fife not too far away in their jobs program who show you how to put money into the pockets of neighbors here in Tacoma while also accomplishing our goals of safe and clean streets.

You have an opportunity to not just take what the HEAL team says, uh, but to listen to those who know that the HEAL team rarely brings items to that storage warehouse off of Piallop Avenue, and when they do, it's in back.

The roof has caved in, and people have broken in and had their items stolen too.

This is not sustainable.

Thank you.

Thank you, Pastor.

Sally Perkins, followed by Kit Burns.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

Sally Perkins, District 3.

Happy Black History Month.

I'm testifying on resolution 41849.

Let's rewind back to October 2025.

You all expanded the camping ban while also saying that the camping ban is not a solution to homelessness.

Amen.

And saying yes, we need to update our homeless action strategy.

Fast forward back to today.

The homeless action strategy is just beginning to be addressed with a presentation to the council earlier today, and a lot of committee work to be done at CVS over the upcoming months.

And yet you seem to be trying to tying the hands of the CVS committee and the staff by running these two purchase resolutions tonight, effectively ending or extending your harass and sweep homeless policy, the one that you have said is not a solution to homelessness for three more years.

Now I could assume that this timing is somehow coincidental, but to make that assumption, I have to also believe that you all actually want to solve homelessness, which is getting harder and harder to believe, unfortunately.

You could start to rebuild our belief that you actually do want to solve homelessness and help homeless people in Tacoma by tabling resolution 41849 and taking the time to recraft that contracted work to be more productive and beneficial for homeless people.

Use the time to really revamp the homeless action strategy and benefit from the skills and talents of the new NCS director.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Kit Burns, followed by Zev Cook.

My name's Kit Burns.

I've lived in Tacoma for the last uh 33 years.

I'm speaking on resolution 41849 and 50.

Uh the two resolutions talk about monies to be spent for homeless encamp renewals.

41849 is exactly the thing I would expect to come before the government performance committee.

How have we done in the past?

How is this money being used?

How does it work with the heel team?

How does it work with tidy up Tacoma?

There's a lot of missing information.

So this is one that requires a real robust discussion.

So I'd suggest and ask that you have an opportunity tonight to table this.

You have an opportunity to everybody vote abstain and have it come back after some uh further discussion.

And it's obviously from the letters you received from the people who've spoken tonight that we need to listen a little bit more.

And this is a great opportunity for the council to say, yeah, we've heard you what is going on.

Chance to look into it uh a lot more, and it needs that kind of inspection.

I calculated what the cost of this is per day.

One of the documents says it'll be three people for three crews for basically 204 days.

That works out to 14,000 a day.

Now, is that smart to spend that kind of money, or are there better ways to do that?

So hopefully you will all abstain or somebody will withdraw this and it'll be reconsidered after some community discussion.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Burns.

Zev Cook, followed by Michelle Reich.

Good evening, Council.

My name is Zev Cook.

I'm a member of the Tacoma Pierce County DSA and a resident of the South End neighborhood.

Tonight, council is considering nine million dollars in funding for encampment sweeps in our city.

These sweeps offer nothing in terms of supporting our community and only serve to further imperil our most vulnerable neighbors.

I previously served this community as a social worker and saw how difficult it was for our neighbors on the street to keep track of their personal legal and identification documents, especially through the process of encampment sweeps, which another person today spoke to.

Last year, this council passed an ordinance banning collaboration between the city and ICE.

I cannot see how these sweeps do not represent a form of collaboration between the city and the interests of ICE and making it easier for them to kidnap our most vulnerable neighbors, highlighting how the struggle for housing as a human right is connected to the struggle for immigration justice in our community.

I ask that you table moving forward with this resolution in front of you.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mr.

Ms.

Cook.

Um, Michelle Reich, followed by Anita Arnold.

Michelle Reich.

This year, 2026, I've been in Tacoma 50 years, minus three tours in the Middle East.

So I've been here a long time, and I have a lot to say what's going on.

And Mr.

Hines and done the expanded ban last year.

I said that's a bad idea, and still is.

Money's going down the rabbit hole doing this, and you should spend that money on uh drug treatment, on counselors, uh, even uh a jobs program to pay these people that are homeless to have a job.

You should have money set aside for a city money to job to get these people off the street and not spend all this money because and the fire department's bleeding with the EMS services.

Uh the actual cost is more than this 14 and a half million dollars.

It's maybe two or three times that what the city is messing around all the time.

I mean, all this money's going down the rabbit hole, and you could be do some real things for these people by not allowing the drug use, by getting them off the street, by getting them services, by getting them help, giving them jobs, city jobs.

Uh, I got a first job from a city in San Diego a long time ago.

Thank you for your comments.

Onada Arnold, followed by Barb Church.

Hello, council members and mayor.

Uh this is the said letter that is probably in your inboxes right now.

It was sent yesterday evening.

And I'm going to dedicate this uh portion of the letter I'm gonna read to the 198 people unhoused who died on on the streets of Tacoma last year.

Um we are a collection of outreach workers, nonprofit staff and caring community members united in supporting our unhouse neighbors and their many contributions to our city.

We share a common desire to collaborate on citywide initiatives and strategies to support long-term permanent housing and provide supportive services to people experiencing homelessness in Tacoma.

We want to facilitate the best decision making that supports the homeless action strategy work of the city.

We write you in the eve or the right now, the day of uh the council meeting to suggest tabling resolution 41849, the nine million uh dollars proposed recommendations that would contract that would contract with clean slate solutions LLC for the next three years.

We see an opportunity to create a space for greater alignment with the homeless action strategy while continuing to provide safe and clean streets to all our neighbors.

We ask that to please extend the current contract that ends March 31st, 2002 to July 31st, 2026.

Thank you, Ms.

Earl.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Barb Church, followed by Zephyr Burt.

Good evening, Mayor and Council.

My name is Barb Church, Northeast Tacoma resident.

We recommend postponing for the following reasons.

One to allow alignment of the city's purchase contracts with the council statements in October 2025, that the sweeps are not a good solution to homelessness, and that the city needs to update its homelessness action strategy.

Honors the exit two, honors the existing time frame for home homelessness action strategy to fully be addressed by NCS staff and the community vitality and safety committee already scheduled for February and beyond.

In fact, you heard them apparently today during the study session.

The city can three.

The city council can uh explore new uses for tidy up funds and employment of unhoused people, five jobs, uh, for example, the five jobs program, and for sanitation services for locations where unhoused people gather to reflect appropriate uses for funds raised as part of the solid waste excise tax, also part of the updated homelessness action strategy, and then uh allows the new director of neighborhood and community services to rethink the work to be done under the three-year contract in light of the actions itemized.

The person in this position needs to familiarize themselves with the role and align with their portfolio with city priorities.

We count on your data-driven decision makings, even in the 11th hour to postpone this resolution in order to create more openness and alignment with the goals, goals and sustainability.

Thank you, Ms.

Church.

Moving on to Zephyr Burt.

Um, good evening.

My name is Zephra.

I'm a resident of District 3.

Um, I'm commenting on resolution 41849.

It is egregious to spend $9 million from the Human Rights and Human Services Fund on encampment sweeps.

I know it costs $2.3 million a year to run a stabilization site, far less than the $3 million a year plan for clean slate solutions.

I live near a former stabilization site, which was the tiny home village that you should be on, MLK, and I saw how much it helped the people who are able to stay there.

Um please advocate this money towards supporting the human rights and human services that was spent to provide.

Um and finally, I don't think that Tacoma residents have had enough time to consider this resolution, and I would ask that you give people more time to learn about this and share their opinions.

Thank you.

Thank you.

We have one speaker signed up online.

That's Ms.

April Smith.

Thank you.

April Smith, District 5.

Thank you for including Andrea Hogue on the community panel interviewing the city manager candidates.

Andrea is a highly respected member of our community and brings an authentic community-centered perspective.

Her participation is invaluable on a panel of this importance.

Also on 41849, please table this resolution tonight.

Stop the sweeps.

There are better ways to spend this money.

Thank you.

Thank you for your comments.

We have two additional speakers online.

We have Jay DeHerdy followed by Calista Brown.

Hey, how are you doing?

Can you hear me all right?

Please proceed.

Yeah.

Uh I live downtown, District 2.

Um, I have to clean up a lot of homeless trash, and I noticed in the last year that it's gotten a little bit better.

And so I'd like to um put my um wanting to do the street sweeps because I think that would really help us.

Thank you.

Thank you for commenting.

And um uh Jay Doherty.

Um, looks like there is no additional uh attendee who's signed in who has not yet spoken.

Um are there any uh other additional people who've signed in?

Clerk.

It looks like Calista did re raised their hand.

Okay, uh Calissa, please go ahead.

Are you there, Calisto?

Looks like you're muted.

Oh, I need to start over.

Please proceed.

I'm thank you.

Uncle Lista Brown District 2 addressing purchase resolutions 41849 and 41850.

These contracts to continue sweeping encampments will cost the city over 14 million dollars.

To eliminate homelessness, we need a new direction.

Sweeps do not even address homelessness.

Sweeps only induce more sweeps.

Most of those people displaced will disperse and remain unhoused in new locations elsewhere in or near populated areas.

Those who accept shelter receive only very temporary relief.

They too will return to being unhoused.

Fiscally, this means that the city is committing to future contracts for encampment mitigation, and that is a contractual bottomless pit.

Instead, $14 million should be directed toward low barrier strategies that land the homeless starting with the long-term homeless impermanent housing.

Please delay voting on these resolutions until the evidence in support of low barrier strategies has been considered.

Tacoma's homeless strategy has been reviewed and the homeless action strategy has been updated.

I encourage you to implement recommendations in the letter from the common good presented today at the study session and referenced by several people here tonight.

And thank you for this opportunity to speak.

Thank you, Ms.

Brown.

Seeing that there are no other uh citizens who've signed up for public comment.

I'm going to close public comments and we are going to move on with the rest of our agenda.

Thank you for your uh your testimony tonight.

We have a motion before us for consideration.

Uh before um Deputy Mayor, yes.

I move to replace and approve the list of names provided by the operational strategy and administrative committee of individuals to participate in interview panels for the city manager with the list discussed at the study session and on file with the city clerk.

Second.

Moving second it, are there any council questions or comments?

Uh thank you, Mayor.

I just want to uh appreciate the work of the OSAC committee uh as well as the rest of the council.

There was a lot of um folks that were considered for this interview panel.

Um, and there we wanted to make sure that we had a diverse list of individuals uh with different backgrounds, um different, just very diverse list.

Um, and it's really hard to narrow down where we have such so many great people that could be on this interview panel to narrow it down just to 20 names.

Uh so far, and so far now we all now we narrowed it down to 21 because we added someone per our conversational study session.

So just appreciate uh everyone uh that participated or or is willing to participate in this.

We do have an alternate list as well in case one of those 21 uh cannot make it after tonight and we we give them a call.

Um so there's potentially um other folks may uh serve on this, but uh just appreciate uh the council uh's deliberation on this as well as the OSA committee.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

And I I concur, I think this is a great process.

I'm very appreciative of my OSAC colleagues for all their hard work and for our council colleagues for their uh great input as well.

Uh and just for the public's benefit, we discussed this a study session and made a few modifications here uh just for everyone's uh information.

We decided to change a um a couple of 10-person community uh interview panels for the upcoming city manager um hiring process into three panels of seven, just because that would allow for more robust conversation with a smaller, more manageable group for each panel, and the addition of Andy Halb from the South End Neighborhood Council to the primary list, so three times seven basically, and uh the changing of what was a single uh school board member to adjust uh to a school board seat as a whole, uh including either uh school board member Elizabeth Bond or school board president uh Corey Stroger, depending on availability, and uh the swapping of um one of our members for Matthew Wilson.

And uh we have um a couple of um additions to our uh excuse me, one addition to the alternate list and uh the understanding of a couple of uh of top tier people in the case of an alternate being needed.

So thank you again.

Uh with that.

Um, all those in favor of uh adopting this recommended list, please signify by saying aye.

I'll just suppose say no.

Resolution is declared adopted.

Thank you.

Moving on to purchase resolutions, item number eight, clerk, please read.

Resolution 41849, a resolution awarding a contract to clean slate solutions LLC and the amount of nine million dollars plus applicable taxes for encampment mitigation debris and litter removal services for an initial contract of term of three years with the option to renew for two additional one-year periods.

I move to adopt resolution number 41849.

Second move and second it.

Are there any council questions or comments?

Councilman Palmer.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, so I have a a couple of remarks uh just based off of what community has brought to our attention in the letter that they uh sent to us.

And so uh a couple questions about the purchasing resolution and hopefully clarify a few points.

So, first, I want to be sure that our community understands that the total amount for this contract is a it's a cap.

So the city is not required to spend the full amount, but the contractor um also cannot go over the specified amount.

Um, this is important to me because I want to make sure that we spend this money or spend less money if the need for cleanups declines.

Second, I also want to stress that this contract is for encampment cleanup only.

The contractor is not allowed to ask anyone to leave or move anyone.

They are only allowed to clean up and move what is identified as trash and debris.

In terms of identifying trash and debris, the contractor is required to abide by NCS's standard procedures, which dictate that what is considered personal property.

So most importantly, city staff has provided reassurances that we are doing our best to protect personal belongings.

I have been reassured that the Hill team members are engaging in multiple contacts with individuals at encampments before any removals happen and having discussion about personal belongings.

That being said, I am planning to continue exploring how the city engages with encampments.

I am looking forward to going out in the community with our Hill team members and others that work directly with our unhoused community members.

Hopefully, I'll get a chance to go out with a lot of you and experience what you're experiencing firsthand to get a first-hand perspective on the treatment of personal property.

And if there is a policy work that is required to enhance how we manage personal belongings or other creative ideas about how we can collaborate on keeping our city clean and respecting the dignity of our unhoused neighbors, possibly similar to what was suggested in the letter.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Palmer.

Are there any other council questions or comments?

I actually have a couple of uh clarifying questions as well.

Um looks like Tad Carlson and Arlie Hyatt are available for um for staff perspective on this.

Are they here in the audience?

Thank you.

So we discussed this a little bit of study session, and thank you to Councilmember Palmer for the clarification here.

Um so just to confirm, uh, we had heard some uh some testimony about what the money could be spent on.

So can you tell can you tell us a little bit about what this pot of money actually is and the tidy up to coma fund and what is what it specifically is limited to?

Um I'd be happy to answer your questions.

Uh Mayor, nice to meet you, by the way.

Um the tidy up to coma program is essentially a cleanup program.

So we remove garbage and debris from the community, and this contract is one of the ways that we perform that body of work.

So uh the contractor works embedded with the heel team in the field and removes garbage and debris at their direction.

Um does that answer your question adequately?

Yes, yes.

So so the tidy up fund can be used for anything solid waste related because it's a tax on the solid waste utility, basically.

Yes, sir.

Okay.

So in theory, if they're down the road, if there was a policy decision from the council to explore other avenues that were also solid waste related.

I mean, some people had had talked about uh there's a lot of mention of the Fife Jobs program, which was one of the items in the letter, which for folks watching, uh that is uh it's an employment program, but it's used to clean up solid waste.

It's used to clean up litter in public spaces, graffiti painting over, et cetera.

Um, in your opinion, would that be something that could be looked at down the road as part of our homeless uh action strategy?

Um I think that it would be a possibility.

I also would caution that we have solid waste workers who are unionized at the city and own cleanup roles.

Um they don't perform work around homeless encampments because certification requirements are not met by our current staff.

Um there are other safety requirements that have to be met in order to perform that type of work.

So I don't know if the program that they mentioned uh meets those standards and requirements for cleanup and homeless encampments.

Um I can't answer that question because I'm not familiar with that program.

Does this money pay for sweeps?

Pardon?

Does this money pay for sweeps?

Does it pay?

Um it pays for the cleanup after an encampment has moved.

So the HEL team will post it three days in advance and talk to the residents and ask them to let them know that they'll be moving, and then it pays for the removal of uh the garbage and debris and uh other.

So this is after people have moved on, basically.

So this is not while people are actively in a space in tents or whatever, that this is after people have moved on.

So it's my understanding that the vendor can clean up and does clean up occasionally around the outside of encampments that are active, and then after encampments have moved on, they remove the remaining materials.

Okay, so only if it's active, it's only around the periphery.

That's my understanding.

Okay.

Yes, and it looks like we have some clarification from the uh the city manager, followed by council member Hines.

Thank you very much, Mary Epson.

No clarification, just to assist my colleague here.

Um staff would stand ready for an evaluation for any policy direction pursuant to a jobs program.

I have some familiarity with the five jobs program.

Of course, uh, from the standpoint of um what we would want to make sure from a staff perspective that we are doing an analysis based on the enterprise activities and what would be able to be charged against that enterprise activity.

Um so staff can come back to you at another day for that.

But this is great.

Um no clarifications, just wanted to provide that, Mayor, if that's something that you would like to see.

Yes, uh, I I think the community is interested in that program as a whole.

I I also know that from the unified regional approach conversation that there are a number of other municipalities, including Pierce County looking into something similar.

So that's certainly appreciated.

Uh it looks like um we have a question or comment from uh Consumer Hines.

Yeah, I'll just take a moment.

Uh you know Arlie, thank you for answering the question.

I probably directed more to the council, Mr.

Mayor.

It was just the idea of a philosophy of what we do to approach as the I guess the person who started tight-up Tacoma along with the mayor back in 2021.

The original idea behind it was the idea of addressing some of the litter, trash, graffiti that we're seeing in our city post-COVID that started out with Tide Up Toba, where we used ARPA funding to pay for it, and then we move forward the solid waste uh an excise tax on solid waste.

The whole pr premise of the program was really to try and address kind of the downstream impacts of litter or trash, graffiti in our community.

I think by if we were to go to look at paying for a jobs program, however, associated with making having people experience homelessness picking up the trash, I would imagine I think that's creeps out of the scope of the original intent of the policy.

So I mean, if we want to talk about that as a council, I'm I'm more than willing to have that conversation.

I just would be really clear.

I think that I know that the staff member probably is not going to say that as the person who put the program together.

I would say that's creeping outside of the scope of the initial program.

Sure.

And would say that I would want us to have a real robust conversation about what that looks like before I would support utilizing those dollars or something like that.

Sure, and to be abundantly clear, this is thank you for your contribution and also for putting this program together, Councilmember Hines.

Uh, this is more just general policy exploration and obviously something that's that's way beyond the scope of tonight's meeting, let alone this this resolution.

I'm just trying to be responsive to a recurring theme that some pretty involved people had brought up.

But thank you for clarifying that.

Um thank you also to staff for uh for putting this together.

Uh I know this is what appears to be a large number at the 11th hour.

Um, just for everyone's clarification, because I've heard a lot of different things from different perspectives.

Just to reiterate, this is not about facilitating sweeps.

This is about taking care of items left behind once an encampment is no longer active, or if an encampment is active if it's around the periphery.

Um there are absolutely valid concerns about personal property.

There are absolutely conversations to be had about the efficacy of the current um heel team model, about about what some people call sweeps, about the the proper balance of that versus services or what we're getting.

I mean, I I myself absolutely have a lot of questions.

You're welcome to listen to the last study session.

Uh but with that, that at the end of the day, this is a very narrow scope that goes beyond some of those questions, and this is at the end of the day a purchase resolution for a service after the fact.

So just wanted to make sure that there's abundant clarification about that.

Thank you so much.

Unless there are any further uh council questions or comments, we're going to proceed with the vote here.

All those in favor of adopting resolution number 41849, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

All those supposed to say no.

Resolution is declared adopted.

Clerk, um, please read item number nine.

Resolution 41850, a resolution authorizing an increase to in ratification of a contract with Green Earthworks Construction Inc.

in the amount of 138,087 and 67 cents for homeless encampment mitigation services for a projected total of 5,450,459.57 cents plus applicable taxes.

I move to adopt resolution number 41850.

Second.

Moving second, and are there any council questions or comments?

Councilmember Hines.

Yeah, no, uh maybe Ms.

City Manager.

What is the difference between this one and then the previous program?

Is that somebody made a comment about 14 million when you combine the two together, but they seem to be coming from different funds?

So I just want to get some clarification on what's happening.

I'm gonna phone a friend here for the succinct differences for this these contract differences for cleanup as well as services wraparound services.

Uh thank you, Mayor, members of the council.

I'm Andy Chirulo, the finance director.

Uh that second item is for the current contractor, and it's to round out the current scope of work we have.

So that 138,000 is gonna finish the contract that's in place now.

The previous item is for the new contract going forward.

So that's the difference.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Hines.

Are there any further questions or comments from the council?

Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41850.

Please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed say no.

Resolution is declared passed.

Item number 10 under resolutions.

Clerk, please read.

Resolution 41851, a resolution authorizing the flying of a commemorative flag to recognize the Seattle Seahawks for playing in the Super Bowl to be flown no earlier than February 4th, 2026, and remaining up for no more than seven days following the Super Bowl to be played February 8th, 2026.

I move to adopt resolution number 41851.

Seahawk.

No, second.

Seahawks, Seahawks and seconded.

All right.

Thank you to those who are showing their Seahawks pride today.

I got a green tie.

As we know, we were just days away from uh the Seahawks' fourth franchise appearance in the Super Bowl and first since 2014.

This resolution will allow a one-time recognition of this milestone by flying the flag over the Tacoma Dome to join the regional recognitions.

I again want to thank Deputy Mayor Bushnell and Council Members Heinz and Scott for the support of this request.

Are there any council questions or comments?

Council Member Hines.

All right, I'll make this one really terrible brief.

Um this is really I this is my moment, right?

I've been a lifelong Seahawk fan.

I remember back when Cortez Kennedy won.

Uh NFL D used to play the year on a losing team back in 1992.

They were two and fourteen.

The Seahawks we went from the basement.

Now we're here going to the Super Bowl.

So this is probably the resolution I'm the most excited about for.

And I'm happy to be a co-sponsor.

Gohawks.

Oh hawks indeed.

Thank you, Councilmember Hines.

Councilmember Diaz.

Thank you.

Um I wanted to express my excitement for the Seahawks going to the Super Bowl.

That is fantastic.

Um I just want to clarify that I don't really sport, so this is a bit of a stretch for me.

Um, but I am most excited that the Seahawks get to hear Bad Bunny, because that's what I'm excited about for the Sunday Sunday.

Um I just need people to know that this is this is great and all for our local economy for our community for Seahawks fans, but really this Sunday is about watching Green Day and Bad Bunny.

Um and um some folks will enjoy some football while they're watching the music show that I'm watching.

All right.

Thank thank you for your candor uh about sports, Paul.

Thank you, Councilmember Diaz.

Deputy Mayor.

Uh thank you, Mayor, and uh just want to thank you for allowing me the opportunity to sign on for this.

Uh lifelong Seahawk fan myself.

I grew up watching Joey Galloway, and the reason why I loved him is because I my name was Joey growing up as well.

Um and then, you know, the heartbreak that we witnessed during the 2006 uh, you know, versus the Sealer Steelers, uh, that was just the worst.

Uh and then obviously the heartbreak uh during the last Patriots uh when we were up against the Patriots last time.

But I think we're gonna soundly defeat them this time.

So I also want to just uh uh appreciate Councilmember Diaz uh for you know this is I think the first time we're we're utilizing our flag policy since it's been updated.

Um this is a perfect example of us being able to utilize a policy right away.

Or maybe it's the second one.

It's the second one, right?

No, third one?

I'm just pleased.

You're just pleased?

Okay.

All right.

We're not using the policy.

Oh, okay.

I as you were.

Okay.

Well, uh I appreciate your leadership regardless.

So just uh gohawks and thank you, everybody.

Very good.

Uh with that, uh, Councilmember Palmer.

Thank you.

Uh I just wanted to flag that I am to a lifelong um bandwagon fan.

And so I wanted to thank uh councilmember Heinz for providing the swag today.

Um, because I don't have any Seahawks wag, but Gohawks, thank you.

Very good.

All right.

Well, uh Gohawks, all those in favor of adopting the resolution, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed to say no.

The resolution is declared adopted.

Moving on to unfinished business.

Is there any unfinished business?

Councilmember Seldogan.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Uh, I wanted to highlight this because I think we we covered it really quickly last week, and I just um uh want to take an opportunity to plug it.

Um, you know, there is a lot of fear and anxiety going through uh the community, especially with um um concerns around immigration enforcement.

Um that is why a few weeks ago we had directed the city manager to uh stand up a uh um an immigration resources web page.

Um we actually did that a week ago, but I did want to plug it in, uh plug it today.

Uh Tacoma.gov slash immigration resources.

Tacoma.gov slash immigration resources.

I remember that right.

Um there's a lot of information on there.

It is also intentionally designed, so the upper right side you can hit a little button and converted it to a hundred plus different languages.

Uh it may not be the best uh translation, but it's something and it gets it into the hands of those that are absolutely the most scared and in hiding right now.

Uh on that same page is something that is very topically important and and time bound right now.

We do have a list of state bills that are being considered right now at the state level around immigration protections and uh authorities uh authority around detention centers.

Um those state bills have to come out of committee uh uh February 4th or February 9th, it's either tomorrow or Monday, depending on whether they have a fiscal note or not.

There are five, count them five bills around detention centers.

Um this is really important because federal courts have held um that states have much more broader authority um uh than local governments like we do on matters such as these.

Um I want to thank council member Walker for um giving testimony on one of the important ones around detention centers that actually add some teeth and financial um uh penalties uh for not complying.

I want to thank uh uh the mayor for also testifying on a separate bill uh 2597 that I also testified on, which is uh providing a state pathway uh to uh go through the courts if your uh fundamental constitutional rights are violated.

I think it's kind of crazy we even have to do that, but we do nowadays.

Um the detention bills are absolutely important because they're uh there are documents that have been uh floating around um with DHS looking for a request for proposal for a detention facility somewhere in the region and somewhere in the state.

And only the state has the authority to uh monitor them.

So those are ones that I really hope uh make it through uh committee, and I hope that uh a week from today we can talk about the ones that have come through and what we can uh support.

Uh lastly, I want to remind people nothing stops anyone from um looking up and supporting campaign federal level campaigns in other states and other jurisdictions.

Um as much as we try to do what we can on the city level and on the state level, ultimately our constitution was designed, so the checks or balances are at the federal level.

Um and there are some campaigns that are pretty close out there in the rest of the country.

Um and um, you know, depending on on which side of the issue are you are on, um, depending on and depending on who wins in November, um, there's going you know, there could be a potential um ability to check some actions if that's um your position on them.

So I wanted to point all that out.

Thank you very much, Mayor.

Deputy Mayor.

Thank you, Councilmember uh Sunday um Sadagi.

Uh thank you, uh Mayor, and uh appreciate uh Councilmember Sidalgi for getting all the information out there.

Um I also just in that vein, I wanted to make sure um uh folks uh probably out in the South End community have been hearing about utilization of the Fred Meyer uh location.

Um I just want to say Fred Meyer has been uh very responsive to the city uh in trying to make sure that um that location uh stays um you know up to code.

Uh and um there have been rumors that have been going around that uh DS DHS or ICE are looking to uh purchase that property.

Uh that is not true.

Um there is an RFP that is true that has gone out by the federal government to contract to expand potentially a detention facility somewhere in the Pacific Northwest region, particularly in Washington State, as has been mentioned earlier.

Um but this this is this is uh not a this rumor is not true.

Uh but I also want to mention that um uh it is not zoned uh to allow for that type of use either.

And then we also do not allow uh expansion in uh the port of Tacoma, for example, where an existing facility does uh currently reside.

So I just wanted to make sure that was out there and folks I know we're hearing about in the community, and so I just want to make sure to have the opportunity to address that tonight.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

Councilman Rumbaugh.

Um thank you, Mayor.

And I just want to say that I think that all of the stuff we're doing is great, but another thing that you could do is um go to the website resist and unsubscribe.com and get people at the pocketbook um to change what's happening in our community.

And it um they're talking about unsubscribing to streaming services as a way to get to tech companies, which is 50% of our economy, and that's a way that the administration might listen to us.

And if more people did something where they um resist and unsubscribe, that would be uh that's very successful.

Um it doesn't hit small companies, it hits the bigger companies that are basically being used on these ice rates, and um, I think is an effective way to go about this.

So February is supposed to be unsubscribe month.

So looking at your streaming services, um, several of them that you have, and figuring out which ones you can get rid of for a month, maybe two months.

And I think using our pocketbook as a way to send a signal to the federal government that we don't like what they're doing to our people is a good way to do things.

So I just I want I want to suggest to people, I've been talking about it, putting it on my Instagram, but I think this is a good way to go about getting people to change what they're doing.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Rumbaugh.

And uh one uh fact worthy of mentioning, besides the fact that our um immigration resources page continues to be um optimized and with new content being added.

Uh, I again wanted to uh to reiterate uh my gratitude to council members uh Saldagi and Walker uh for testifying in Olympia.

I myself testified in support uh of some of our bills of interest.

Uh there is a growing number of bills working their way through Olympia right now to help with some of the issues that our community has flagged as important, and the city of Tacoma is right there with you.

So I'll continue uh staying tuned and uh watch that page for more news on what we're doing.

Uh thank you.

And with that, um moving on to reports by the city manager, interim city manager.

Do you have a report this evening?

I I just a short report, Mayor Ipson uh and Deputy Mayor and Council.

Um, just this is coming in today.

Um, so uh pursuant to the resource page that's on our website.

Um, as of today, less than a week, we've had 1200 page views from 900 900 individual users.

That's a report for you as far as that resource page.

And then also breaking today.

Um, this is pretty dynamic news.

Um, with the partial end of the government shutdown by the federal government.

Um, the funding packages that were uh in const and approved and now law.

Um one of the bills um included a million dollars for the purchase of a new frontline pumper engine for TFD.

Uh we'd like to sincerely thank not just our government relations team, Sonia Hallum, um Alex, Andrew Roper.

I'd like to thank the council for your advocacy on this program, as well as uh representative Strickland and Senator Cantwell, who uh initiated this action.

So a million dollars for a new pumper for an engine for TFD, and then also for public works, uh 2.5 million dollars for design and construction for the Portland Avenue Freight Improvement Program.

Uh Senator Murray Murray's support on this project.

So those are in law and they're in cons.

Um I'd like to bring probably more details on the actual uh construction project for you here in the two weeks for public works to come just talk to you about that, perhaps in study session.

Um that's my report, Mayor Ibsen.

Very short.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, Mr.

Interim City Manager.

Uh moving on to comments and committee reports of the city council.

I'd like to call on Councilmember Diaz, Chair of the Economic Development Committee.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, the economic development committee has met two times since our last report out.

EDC welcomed Councilmember Palmer to our committee at the first meeting of the year on January 13th.

Um we then started the meeting by voting to elect myself as committee chair and deputy mayor bushnow as committee vice chair for 2026.

The committee and economic development management team also attended to introduce themselves as the department is a critical partner for the work EDC committee does.

The committee then received a status update on the former Fred Meyer site at 72nd and Pacific.

While there were no changes related to the property's lease or sale to report, the location has remained secure and nuisance-free thanks to the hyper vigilance of staff and community members.

So thanks to all those committee members doing that work and keeping eyes and ears in the street.

The committee's most recent meeting this last Tuesday, January 27th.

Members of the Tacoma venues and events management team came from across the city to introduce themselves to the committee.

Tacoma is incredibly fortunate to have such passionate, skilled, and experienced professionals leading this department that delivers important community services and drives our economy all at the same time.

Finally, CED addressed the committee's questions and requests for additional information following one-on-one briefings on the neighborhood business district and business engagement solutions team programs.

The committee meet will meet again next Tuesday, February 10th.

I will outline my plans to revisit the policy development on the workforce community workforce agreements and the Tacoma venues and events will return to brief the committee on how their properties contract with vendors to provide services as a follow-up to some of the conversation we had at the last meeting.

Mayor, this concludes my report.

Thank you, Chair Diaz.

Are there any final uh council comments or questions?

Seeing none, there's there a motion to adjourn.

Uh move to adjourn.

Second.

Movement second, all those in favor signify by saying aye.

Aye.

We're supposed to say no, we are adjourned.

Good night, everyone.