Tacoma City Council Meeting Summary – February 3, 2026

The Tacoma City Council convened on February 3, 2026, at 1:00 PM. The meeting began with a motion to suspend rules to prioritize the appointment of a permanent police chief. Key actions included the unanimous confirmation of Chief Patty Jackson, adoption of the consent agenda with an amendment, approval of encampment cleanup contracts totaling over $14 million, and a resolution honoring the Seattle Seahawks' Super Bowl appearance. The council also heard extensive public comment urging a pause on encampment funding, and received updates on immigration resources and federal funding.

Consent Calendar

• The council adopted the consent agenda as modified, which included Resolution 41848 and an amendment to add a proposed letter to the federal legislative delegation (Item 26-0088). The amendment was approved unanimously. The consent agenda was then adopted by voice vote.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Mikey (speaking on Resolution 41849) voiced support for a letter from Common Good Tacoma and urged the council to pause the resolution. He recounted the story of “Joey,” a sober, employed person who lost all his identifying documents and belongings during a HEAL team sweep, alleging that the team lied about not throwing items away.
• Jess (on Resolution 41849) urged the council to table the resolution, stating that $9 million is a “band-aid” and that the community has alternative ideas. She noted the council previously admitted sweeps are not a solution and challenged the community to bring ideas.
• Reverend Shalom Agderabsi (Common Good Tacoma, United Methodist clergy) urged tabling Resolution 41849, noting the letter was a collaborative effort from outreach workers. He stated the HEAL team rarely brings items to the storage warehouse, which has a caved-in roof and theft issues.
• Sally Perkins (District 3) argued that the council expanded the camping ban in October 2025 while saying it was not a solution, and that the homeless action strategy is just beginning. She claimed the purchase resolutions would effectively extend the “harass and sweep” policy for three more years.
• Kit Burns (33-year Tacoma resident) requested tabling Resolutions 41849 and 41850, noting the lack of robust discussion on past performance. He calculated the cost at $14,000 per day and questioned whether that is smart spending.
• Zev Cook (South End, DSA member) opposed the $9 million in funding for sweeps, stating they imperil vulnerable neighbors. He argued that sweeps collaborate with ICE interests, and asked the council to table the resolution.
• Michelle Reich (50-year resident) criticized the camping ban expansion and said money should go to drug treatment, counselors, and jobs programs for homeless people.
• Anita Arnold (reading from a letter) asked the council to table Resolution 41849, dedicating her remarks to the 198 unhoused people who died on Tacoma streets last year. She requested extending the current contract to July 31, 2026.
• Barb Church (Northeast Tacoma) recommended postponing to align with council’s October 2025 statements that sweeps are not a solution, to allow the homelessness action strategy to be addressed, and to explore using Tidy Up funds for jobs programs like Fife’s.
• Zephyr Burt (District 3) noted that $2.3 million per year runs a stabilization site, far less than the $3 million per year for Clean Slate Solutions. She urged advocating money toward human rights and human services.
• April Smith (District 5, online) thanked the council for including Andrea Hogue on the city manager interview panel, and asked to table Resolution 41849.
• Jay DeHerdy (online, District 2) said he has to clean up homeless trash and noted improvement, and expressed support for street sweeps.
• Calista Brown (District 2, online) argued that the $14 million in contracts would create a “contractual bottomless pit” and should be directed to low-barrier strategies for permanent housing. She urged delaying the vote until evidence is considered.

Discussion Items

• Appointment of Police Chief: The council suspended rules to move Item 6 to the front. Interim City Manager Jan Kim formally announced the selection of Patty Jackson as permanent police chief, citing her 35 years of experience, steady leadership as interim chief, and commitment to community trust. Chief Jackson expressed honor and nervousness, emphasizing the “get to know us before you need us” mantra. All council members spoke in strong support: Councilmember Walker praised her communication and transparency; Councilmember Scott cited trust restoration; Councilmember Sidalgay called it a “hard decision made easy” and trusted her integrity; Councilmember Hines noted she passed three goals (filling vacancies, boosting morale, community presence); Councilmember Rumbaugh appreciated her openness and team approach; Councilmember Palmer valued community opinion; Councilmember Diaz was excited; and Mayor Ibsen highlighted her even-keel temperament and community engagement. The appointment was confirmed unanimously by voice vote.
• Proclamation – Black History Month: Mayor Ibsen read a proclamation declaring February 2026 as Black History Month. Lynette Mason (20-year city employee) and Rika Nelson (community resource analyst) accepted. Mason noted 2026 marks the 100th year of Black History Month. Nelson spoke of speaking truth to power and thanked the council for acknowledgment. Councilmembers Scott and Rumbaugh thanked them for honesty and accountability.
• Purchase Resolution 41849 (Clean Slate Solutions): Staff clarified that the $9 million is a cap, not a required spend, and that the contractor cleans up trash and debris after encampments have moved, or around the periphery of active encampments. Councilmember Palmer requested clarifications, noting the contractor does not ask people to move. Councilmember Hines explained the Tidy Up Tacoma program’s original intent was to address litter and graffiti, and suggested a jobs program for homeless people might be outside that scope. The resolution was adopted by voice vote.
• Purchase Resolution 41850 (Green Earthworks Construction): Finance Director Andy Chirulo explained this is a $138,087 increase to round out the current contract for encampment mitigation services. The resolution was adopted by voice vote.
• Resolution 41851 – Seahawks Super Bowl Flag: The council authorized flying a commemorative flag over the Tacoma Dome to recognize the Seahawks’ Super Bowl appearance. Councilmembers shared enthusiasm, with Councilmember Diaz noting he was more excited about the halftime show. The resolution was adopted unanimously.
• Unfinished Business – Immigration Resources: Councilmember Sidalgay highlighted the immigration resources webpage (Tacoma.gov/immigrationresources) which has had 1,200 page views from 900 users in less than a week. He urged support for state bills on detention centers and noted a federal RFP for a detention facility in the region. Deputy Mayor Bushnell confirmed that a rumor that ICE is purchasing the former Fred Meyer site is false, and that the site is not zoned for that use. Councilmember Rumbaugh suggested a “resist and unsubscribe” campaign targeting streaming services to pressure tech companies.
• City Manager Report: Interim City Manager Jan Kim reported that the immigration resources page had 1,200 page views and 900 users. She also announced that the federal funding package includes $1 million for a new pumper engine for Tacoma Fire Department and $2.5 million for the Portland Avenue Freight Improvement Program, thanks to advocacy by the council and federal delegation.
• Committee Reports: Economic Development Committee Chair Diaz reported that the committee met twice, welcomed Councilmember Palmer, elected officers, received updates on the former Fred Meyer site (secure and nuisance-free), and heard from Tacoma Venues and Events management. Future work includes revisiting workforce community agreements.

Key Outcomes

• Police Chief Confirmed: The council unanimously confirmed the appointment of Patty Jackson as police chief, effective February 9, 2026.
• Consent Agenda Adopted: The consent agenda was adopted with an amendment adding a letter to the federal legislative delegation.
• Purchase Resolutions Adopted: Resolution 41849 (Clean Slate Solutions, $9 million, 3-year term with two 1-year renewal options) and Resolution 41850 (Green Earthworks Construction, $138,087 increase) were both adopted by voice vote.
• Seahawks Flag Resolution Adopted: The council authorized flying a commemorative Seahawks flag over the Tacoma Dome from February 4, 2026, for up to seven days after the Super Bowl (February 8, 2026).
• City Manager Interview Panels Approved: The council approved a list of 21 individuals (three panels of seven) for interview panels in the city manager hiring process, with an alternate list.
• Next Steps: The council will continue to monitor the homelessness action strategy, explore possible uses of Tidy Up funds for jobs programs, and engage with state and federal legislation on immigration and detention centers. The Economic Development Committee will meet February 10, 2026.