Tacoma City Council Meeting - March 25, 2026: Park Bond, Tax Exemptions, and Rail Training
Tacoma City Council Meeting - March 25, 2026
Note: The transcript states the meeting was called to order on March 24, 2026, but the date provided for this summary is March 25, 2026. The following is based on the transcript content.
The Tacoma City Council met on March 25, 2026, with Deputy Mayor Bushnell presiding in the absence of Councilmember Stadalgay. The meeting included a land acknowledgement, flag salute, and a moment of silence. The council approved a modification to the agenda early in the meeting. The main agenda items included a resolution supporting a Metropolitan Park District bond measure, a multifamily housing tax exemption agreement, a labor agreement with the rail conductor union, and several ordinances related to compensation and personnel rules.
Public Comments & Testimony
General Public Comment (before agenda items):
- Michelle Reich spoke against Resolution 873 (limited family tax exemption), arguing that exemptions reduce city revenue and that high-density growth is environmentally harmful.
- Dylan Roof (online) made off-topic remarks about genocide and was cut off by the council.
- Ed Snow (online) did not connect.
- Bill Johnson (online) used racist and offensive language; he was cut off after refusing to speak to an agenda item.
- Marilyn Kimbling spoke in support of stormwater budgeting (Resolution 41870) but urged more funding for wetland protection and open space preservation.
Public Comment on Resolution 41872 (Park Bond):
- Michelle Reich (again) opposed the park bond, citing concerns about property taxes and safety issues due to unhoused individuals using parks as camping grounds.
- Helen Harlow requested a bridge at Ryan's Park in the south end, noting that funds were previously set aside but delayed by COVID.
- April Smith (online) expressed appreciation for Tacoma parks, stated she never felt unsafe despite some unhoused presence, and supported the bond's no-tax-increase approach.
Discussion Items
Resolution 41872 – Support for Metropolitan Park District Proposition 1 (April 28, 2026 Special Election):
- Park Board President Matt Maurer and Capital Programs Director Terry Youngman presented a $155 million bond over six years, funding over 100 projects in 40 parks, community centers, and the zoo. The bond would not raise taxes; it would extend the current rate of $0.45 per $1,000 assessed value (approximately $249/year for an average home valued at $553,000). Key features include neighborhood-focused investments, equitable distribution using the city's equity index, a greenways program for safe routes to parks, and land acquisition. The bond requires a 60%+1 supermajority to pass.
- Council members (Deputy Mayor Bushnell, Councilmembers Palmer, Rumbach, Walker, and Mayor Ibsen) expressed strong support, highlighting the equitable distribution, no tax increase, and public safety benefits of parks.
Resolution 41873 – Multifamily Housing 12-Year Property Tax Exemption for South L Street Project:
- Paul Bacher (Community and Economic Development) presented a proposal for seven rental units (market rate and affordable) at 1701 South L Street. Project costs are $1.1 million, generating an estimated $88,000 in total taxes over the exemption period, with $24,000 exempted, leaving a net positive impact of $64,000 for the city.
- No council questions or comments; the resolution was adopted.
Resolution 41874 – Letter of Agreement with Smart TD for Railway Conductor Trainee Classification:
- Alan Matheson (Tacoma Rail Superintendent) described a new classification of Railway Conductor Trainee, created through negotiations with the union. The trainee program removes the previous one-year prior experience requirement, allowing Tacoma residents to enter the field. Trainees will follow a nine-month curriculum with a four-step pay range (70-85% of journey-level wage) and will be eligible to compete for permanent conductor positions upon completion.
- No council questions; the resolution was adopted.
Ordinances:
- Ordinance 29097 (final reading): Amends compensation for IBEW Local 483 Customer and Field Services and Human Resources Unit. Passed on roll call (8 ayes, 1 absent).
- Ordinance 29098 (first reading): Implements pay rates for the new Railway Conductor Trainee classification (Smart TD unit). Set over for final reading.
- Ordinance 29099 (first reading): Amends personnel rules to reflect current policies and add probationary period for Railway Conductor Trainee. Set over for final reading.
City Manager’s Report:
- Announced Tacoma Police Department’s CALEA accreditation award and a DUI emphasis patrol grant from the Washington Traffic Safety Commission, with increased patrols starting the following week.
Key Outcomes
- Resolution 41872 adopted (voice vote, all in favor).
- Resolution 41873 adopted (voice vote, all in favor).
- Resolution 41874 adopted (voice vote, all in favor).
- Ordinance 29097 adopted (roll call: 8 ayes, 1 absent).
- Ordinance 29098 and Ordinance 29099 set over for final reading on the next council meeting.
- Councilmember Stadalgay was excused from the meeting by unanimous consent.
- The meeting adjourned after council comments and committee reports.
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of March twenty-fourth, two thousand twenty-six. Clerk, please call the roll. Deputy Mayor Bushnell. Present. Councilmember Diaz. Councilmember Heinz. If you could try again, Councilmember Hines. Councilmember Hines appears to be here virtually, just having some microphone issues. There we go. I'm here. All right. Thank you, Councilmember. There you go. Councilmember Palmer. Councilmember Rumba. Here. Councilmember Stadalgay? Absent? Councilmember Scott? Here. Councilmember Walker? Here. Mayor Ibsen. Here. Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and flag salute led by Councilmember Scott, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Puala 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. We now have a motion before us for consideration. Second. Move and second. Are there any council comments? Say none. All is in favor of adding this modification to tonight's agenda, signify by saying I. Your remarks should be directed to the city council and not at individual staff members. If you wish to speak under the public comment period, press the raise hat button near the bottom of your Zoom window or star nine on your phone now, so we can see the number of people wishing to testify this evening. If you're speaking in person, please sign up at the back of the room if you've not done so already. Your name or the last four digits of your phone number will be called out when is your turn to speak. Clerk, please read. This is the time set aside for public comment. Speakers are asked to identify the specific legislation they wish to address. All right. Um 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 that 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 of your time to make your point. If you cannot remain on topic, you'll be given two warnings. If you remain off topic, we will have to move on, and we'll end your time. We have one in-person speaker, Michelle Reich.
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