I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of March 31st, 2026.

Clerk, please call the roll.

Deputy Mayor Bushnell.

Present.

Councilmember Diaz.

Councilmember Heinz.

Here.

Councilmember Palmer.

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 Walker, followed by Moan Silence.

We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Pualut people where they speak their home and they make their home and speak the Leshutseed language.

Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence.

We have two modifications to the agenda tonight to add a letter to the Sound Transit Board supporting the Tacoma Dome Link extension under the regular agenda as item 8A and to amend item 10 Resolution No.

41878 to correct the tax parcel number.

We now have a motion before us for consideration.

I move to suspend Rule 4A of the Rules of Procedure to amend the agenda by adding a letter to the Sound Transit Board supporting the Tacoma Dome Link extension under the regular agenda as item 8A.

Second.

Moving to second, there are any council questions or comments.

I just wanted to let the uh council know that um this is not going to be in the consent agenda, so we'll be able to comment on the letter later.

Thank you for clarifying.

Seeing no further comments, all those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed to say nay.

Motion is declared adopted.

Are there any additional modifications to the agenda this evening?

Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda.

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolutions number 41875 and 41876.

Move and second, are there any questions, comments, or corrections?

Councilmember Rumba.

I would like to correct the minutes of the October 29th, 2024 Council meeting on page 13 to change the voice vote on proposed amendment number nine to reflect that I abstained.

Second.

All right, moved and seconded.

Are there any additional questions, comments, or corrections?

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

Aye.

Those opposed to say nay.

Consent agenda is declared adopted.

We now have two ceremonials tonight for um Daffodil Royal Court recognition.

I would like to invite Queen Anica Howard, representing Eatonville High School to the podium as I read the recognition.

Welcome.

Whereas the Daffodil Royal Court represents a long-standing tradition of excellence, leadership, and service in our community, serving as ambassadors of goodwill and embodying the values of dedication, scholarship, and civic engagement.

And whereas members are selected from participating Pierce County schools not only for their academic achievements, but also for their commitment to community service, exemplifying the highest standards of integrity and leadership.

And whereas through their participation in the annual Daffodil Festival and various community outreach programs, the Daffodil Royal Court fosters unity, inspires future generations, and highlights the rich history and culture of Tacoma and the greater South Sound region.

And whereas the Daffodil royalty members serve as role models for young people, demonstrating the importance of volunteerism, education, and civic pride while strengthening the bonds.

They make our communities strong and vibrant.

And whereas it is fitting and proper that we recognize the contributions of these outstanding young leaders and commend them for their dedication to making Tacoma a better place for all.

And now therefore, I, Andrews Ibsen, mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council and the over 225,000 residents of Tacoma, do hereby recognize the Daffodil Royal Court and urge all residents to join in recognizing and celebrating their achievements and service and thanking them for their commitment to our community.

Please say a few words.

On behalf of the 2026 Daffodil Court, I want to thank you all so much for the invitation out to the Tacoma City Council to recognize us as official ambassadors for the City of Tacoma.

I would also like to formally invite all of you guys here to the parade this Saturday with four different locations and four different start times.

The Tacoma Parade starts at 1015 in the morning.

The Pialet parade starts at 1245.

The sumner parade starts at 2 30, and the ordering parade starts at 5.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Right.

And my name is Queen Annika.

I am proudly representing Etonville High School, and in the fall, I plan to attend Washington State University to obtain a degree in business administration.

Hi everyone.

I'm Princess Peyton at presenting Washington High School.

And in the fall of 2026, I am attending Washington State University to major in political science with a minor in communications.

Thank you.

Good afternoon, Buenos Tardes.

My name is Princess Elena, and I attend Stadium High School.

In the fall, I plan to attend Washington State University to major in neuroscience and minor in music education.

Thank you.

Good afternoon.

My name is Hope.

My name is Princess Hope, and I'm from Rogers High School.

And in the fall, I plan to attend a four-year university to study bioengineering and immunology on a pre-med track.

Hi, I'm Princess Isabel from Sumner High School.

In the fall, I'm planning on attending University of Washington, Tacoma, to study business administration with a minor in business data analytics.

Hello, I'm Princess Sophia from Rutt River High School.

I'm attending University of Albany, New York, majoring in criminal justice.

Good afternoon, everyone.

It's an honor to be in front of you all today.

I'm Princess Louise representing Lakes High School, the Lancers.

I plan on majoring in molecular, cellular, and developmental biology at either the University of California, Berkeley, or the University of Washington, Seattle.

My name is Shania and Dahl of Bunny Lake High School, and I am planning on enlisting in the Air Force.

Good afternoon, everybody.

My name is Princess Zoe, representing Spanaway Lake High School.

And in the fall, I plan to attend Boise State University to pursue education for elementary students.

Good afternoon, and thank you for having us here.

I'm Princess Gabby from Curtis High School, and in the fall, I'll be studying chemistry at West Point.

Greetings, everyone.

My name is Princess Bailey.

I attend Henry Foss High School.

My high school and beyond plan is to attend Palm Beach Atlantic University, majoring within nursing and minoring within business and administration.

Thank you.

Hello everyone.

My name is Princess Abigail from Lincoln High School.

And in the fall, I plan on attending Whitworth University, where I'm gonna major in psychology.

Good afternoon, everyone.

I'm Princess Emery from Silas High School.

And in the fall, I plan to attend Grand Canyon University in Phoenix, Arizona, to earn a biology major.

Hello and good afternoon.

My name is Princess Evie, and I'm representing Puallop High School.

In the fall, I plan to attend Montana State University to obtain a degree in mechanical engineering.

Hello, everyone.

I'm Princess Sonal from Fife High School.

And in the fall, I plan to attend a four-year college to study environmental science.

Thank you.

Hello, everyone.

I'm Princess Bentley from Harrison Prep.

And in the fall, I plan to attend Central Washington University's aviation program in the hopes of becoming a commercial pilot.

Hello, everyone.

I'm Princess Addie from Graham Capowson High School, and in the fall I'll be attending UC San Diego or Oregon State University to study communications.

Thank you.

Salutations.

I'm Princess Tobea from Otahoma High School.

The goal, game.

The goal is to attend a four-year university majoring in social work.

It's either going to be UW Seattle or potentially an HBCU.

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Are there any council comms?

Oh, yeah.

Super impressive.

Are there any council comments?

All right.

Well, seeing that we'll thank you so much for all of that you do.

Best uh wishes from the city of Tacoma.

And uh with that, I have a couple of proclamations.

I'm assuming for uh uh your Majesty or the members of your court.

Uh let's give one more round of applause for these young leaders.

Yeah, sure.

No, you actually don't get two.

Yep, just do two and then you can spread out a little this way.

Yeah.

Can I have you all just scoot down like a little take two steps this way?

Yep, yep, yep.

Perfect.

Tight way up there.

Tighten it up.

So tighten it up.

Oh, that's perfect.

Well done.

Yes.

Oh my goodness.

All right, everybody.

One, two, three.

I'm gonna take one more.

One, two, three.

While we um have our next um proclamation come forward.

We're going to take a short recess for ten minutes if there is such a motion.

Moving seconds in favor say I was supposed to say no.

Um, we are recessing for ten minutes.

All right, council is back in session.

We now have our second uh proclamation, which is item number six proclaiming Tuesday, March 31st, 2026 as Transgender Day of Visibility.

For the Transgender Day of Visibility Proclamation, I would like to welcome Oliver Webb, executive director of Diversity Alliance of PewDiePound to the podium as I read the proclamation.

Welcome.

Whereas International Transgender Day of Visibility was founded in 2009 by transgender activist Rachel Crandall Crocker as a day dedicated to celebrating the resilience, achievements, and leadership of transgender individuals and affirming their continued presence in communities across the world.

And whereas now observed annually on March 31st, Transgender Day of Visibility recognizes and celebrates the lives, contributions, and strength of transgender and non-binary individuals in Tacoma and throughout the nation.

And whereas transgender and non-binary binary residents of Tacoma strengthen our city as leaders, workers, artists, advocates, neighbors, and family members contributing meaningfully to the civic, cultural, and economic life of our community, and whereas meaningful inclusion requires ensuring that transgender and non-binary individuals have the opportunity to speak for themselves to participate fully in civic life and to help shape policies that affect their safety and well-being.

And whereas at a time when transgender and non-binary individuals across the nation are experiencing increased legislative scrutiny, public hostility, and threats to their fundamental rights, it is essential that local communities stand firmly in protecting the dignity, humanity, and civil rights of all residents.

Now, therefore, I, Andrews Ibsen, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim Tuesday, March 31st, 2026, as Transgender Day of Visibility in the City of Tacoma, and encourage all residents to join in celebrating and uplifting the voices of our transgender and non-binary community members while committing to continuous efforts to build a just and inclusive society where the rights of all to live openly and authentically free from fear and discrimination thrive.

Please say a few words.

Because when we ask for support, we're not asking for optics.

We're asking to be listened to.

Visibility also means access, access to funding, access to space, access to the rooms where decisions are made.

Right now, too many decisions about our community are being made without us in the room.

And when trans people speak up about harm, about exclusion, about unmet needs, we are too often dismissed, sidelined, or shut out entirely.

That is not inclusion.

That's not allyship, that's not visibility, that is silencing.

In this city, transvisibility is not abstract.

It has been built intentionally, persistently and publicly.

From flag raises on city property to the trans flag flying over some of Tacoma's most visible spaces.

This work did not happen by accident.

It happened because people in this community pushed for it, organized for it, and made it real, often without support and often without recognition.

And because of that, visibility has care here carries weight.

And it's not symbolic alone.

It is commitment.

We also need to talk about tone, because too often when transgender people speak with urgency, with frustration, with truth, we are told to be quieter, to be nicer, to be easier to hear.

That is tone policing.

And it shifts the focus away from what is being said and onto how comfortable it makes others feel.

Our community is navigating real harm, real fear, real instability.

So no, we're not always going to sound calm.

And the expectation that we should, in order to be heard, is part of the problem.

Public recognition must be matched with real support.

And when resources are given in the name of supporting our community, there is a responsibility to ensure that that support is accountable.

Responsive and actually reaching the people it is meant to serve.

Because when harm is raised and ignored, when people are excluded from speaking up, and when support continues without accountability, that is not support.

Refusing to soften the truth does not make us unworthy to be heard.

And they're easy to hear.

That is not visibility.

And that imbalance reflects who we choose to invest in and who we don't.

Transvisibility cannot be selective.

Something is shifted, and our community is filling feeling that shift.

This moment with new leadership is an opportunity to move beyond symbolic support and into meaningful, consistent action.

Because raising a flag is not just a gesture, it's a commitment.

Accountability does not disappear when it's uncomfortable.

You can ignore what's being said, but that does not stop it from being true.

We are here, we're not going anywhere, and we're asking you to stand with us in ways that actually matter.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Are there any council comments?

Councilmember Diaz.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

I just wanted to thank particularly diversity alliance of the South Sound for all the work that you do.

I think Oliver adjusted in your remarks, but um, this doesn't happen because random elected officials decided it looks good.

It happened because y'all have been doing the work and asking for it and oftentimes demanding it.

And so I think that that's really helpful for the community to know and for us all to always be constantly aware of that we are gatekeepers in a lot of ways, and we take that very seriously, and we want to continue to be here for our trans community and our allies alike because we're all under attack right now from federal government overreach.

And so we are doing what we can here at the local level, both in trying to make sure that we're raising symbols and backing that up with policy like our city um LGBTQIA plus sanctuary policy we passed last year, and we're gonna continue to find new and more important ways to keep standing and holding our laws as open and as accountable for the community to feel as safe as they can in our spaces because there's enough attacks coming from other places.

Thank you.

Thank you for the comments, Councilmember.

Please come forward, accept the um proclamation and uh want everyone please join me one more round of applause.

Invite anyone else who would like to join us from the community, I'm gonna do this, what do we do?

Stand up!

What do we do?

Stand up!

What?

Do we do?

All right.

All right.

Thank you so much.

One, two, three.

Let's see.

Councilmember Palmer, can I just pop out this way?

Perfect, perfect.

That's my problem.

It's okay.

One, two, three.

All right.

We've got it.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, everyone.

Moving on to public comment.

Clerk, please read.

This is a time set aside for public comment.

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

Thank you.

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 disrupted.

You will have 90 seconds to make your remarks.

Please be mindful of the time frame.

As always, you're 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'll have to move on and we'll end your time.

With that, we have a few days, uh, a few speakers signed up.

John, followed by Matt.

Okay.

Hi.

Uh, my name is John Staub, uh, resident of Tacoma and member of the Pierce County Immigration Alliance.

And I want to join today's celebration with the people of Tacoma during trans day visibility.

I want to commend the city on today's proclamation.

And I also want to recognize uh the strong history of trans people and people of oppressed genders everywhere.

Today's proclamation and raising of the trans flag at the Tacoma Dome was hard fought by the LGBTQIA plus community.

Trans rights are human rights.

And as a cisgendered person, I would like to call upon all members of the city council to support trans people in every part of their life.

This includes where they work, where they live, and where they build their families.

Protecting renters is protecting trans people.

Protecting workers is protecting trans people.

Protecting immigrants is protecting trans people.

How many people, how many trans people are in the Northwest Attention Center right now?

How many people are living paycheck to paycheck because of exploitative landlords?

When we choose to fight against our oppressors, the people who are causing this oppression on trans people and people at Tacoma everywhere, we expect you all to join us in that fight.

Please choose the right side of history.

Thank you very much.

Thank you, John.

Our next speaker is Matt, followed by Gemini.

Is Matt there?

Good evening.

Just let me know when I could start.

Please go ahead.

I am here to beg for my life, the lives of my friends and chosen family, and the memories of my friends who have been killed by transphobia in a society that does not defend our basic rights.

All deaths are tantamount to premeditated murder.

In high school, I knew someone by the name Isabella Isabella.

He came to school one day with his head shaved, wearing a Hawaiian shirt, and I had never seen him so happy.

He said he couldn't decide on a new name.

And he also said his parents were furious.

He was gone the next week.

I never learned his new name, and his headstone still says Isabella.

Conversion is torture, not therapy.

It is a cudgel used to burn beat people into submission and to death.

This has been proven time and time again.

It is opinion-based and not science-based.

Gender affirmative care is based on hundreds of years of scientific research.

I am begging you to commit to keeping trans youth alive and keep conversion therapy illegal in Washington State.

Just let us live.

Thank you, Matt.

Our next speaker is Gemini, followed by Dez.

Hi, City Council.

My name's Gemini.

I'm a proud member of the Osage Nation and a revolutionary with the Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

I'm also a lesbian and the proud wife to a transgender person.

Our baby is here today.

And I want to urge you to do everything in your power to protect trans people as our trans relatives, siblings, friends, and family members.

Lives are under attack from the Supreme Court decision to uh re-legalize conversion therapy to even some of the stuff happening in our city here, like uh the Northwest Attention Center, right?

That doesn't, you know, discriminate.

Uh uh, I guess discrimination isn't the right word, but locks up trans people, gender queer people, um, with the the same tenacity that it locks up anyone.

Um the so um that's what I have to say today.

Thank you for your time and uh yeah, all power to the people.

All right, thank you, Gemini.

Uh Dez, followed by Tyler.

Hello, my name is Des, and I'm here to speak about pink washing and why it's not enough for Tacoma to simply exist in a blue state while transgender people across this country are under attack.

Pank washing is when support for LGBTQ plus people stops at symbolism, flags, statements, proclamations without meaningful action behind it.

It's easy to celebrate pride.

It's harder to stand up when that support requires courage, resources, and consistency.

Right now, across the country, laws are being passed that target transgender people, restricting health care, limiting basic rights, and attempting to erase trans people from public life.

These are not distant issues.

They affect real people, and they create fear that reaches far beyond state lines.

And while Washington may feel safer than some places, transgender people here still face discrimination in housing, barriers to health care, and real threats to their safety.

Safety is not guaranteed by geography.

It is created through action.

So I ask that, so I ask you, what does it mean for Tacoma to truly stand with transgender people?

It means going beyond symbolism.

It means investing in trans communities and enforcing protections because allyship is not passive, it's active.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Tyler, followed by Nathaniel.

Hello everyone.

Tyler Michael Daniels, licensed professional civil engineer, and I'd like to reintroduce myself as Relit, my former self Tyler, was wrongfully terminated in retaliation for speaking out about their experience with discrimination in your workforce at the city of Tacoma.

Many of those individuals who participated in are still on the council, and also are still employed.

Some have even retired and returned to the workforce.

That to me says that this community is not committed to protecting those who are on the LGBTQIA to us plus spectrum.

A two-spirit I am.

Tyler and Relit, the masculine and feminine united to communicate that this community needs more than just your words.

Smoke and mirrors, gaslighting, and tactics to placate the community who is growing here.

And with the last few seconds, I would articulate that I spoke with you about six to eight weeks ago before.

Full head of hair, I am on my journey of what this land has inherited to me genetically as well as environmentally, which is lymphoma, which I see in my community.

I removed myself to ensure that I could stand grounded in what I've been communicated from spirit.

We are in a crisis.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Nathaniel, followed by Ifa.

Hello, I'm here to speak about the transgender day of visibility.

It is an amazing thing that has been offered to the community that is here for the community.

But just this alone is not enough to protect the community.

An actual effort has to be made to protect the community, not just symbols, not just saying that you exist, but also putting in the action to ensure that you are able to still continue to set the transgender people, non-binary people, agender people, LDL GPTQ people in our area in our nation, in here in our communities and our neighborhoods are allowed to exist without living in fear every day, and without having to hide their identity, and not feel like they can express themselves because people with malice intentions want to prevent them from existing for their own selfish reasons or whatever they got.

And we need to protect the fairness within our communities, within our workplaces, within hiring, within housing, that needs to be offered to the transgender community.

That is not always offered to the transgender community.

That'll be all.

Thank you, Nathaniel.

Ifa is our last in-person speaker.

Hello, uh, my name is Ifa Pasquale.

Um, and I'm here to with Freedom Road Socialist Organization.

I just want to thank all of our uh community members who came out today and spoke and uh attended our march and rally before this event.

Um it's it's really means a lot to me that um people want to show up and uh be visible uh as trans people today, and also support um as allies, and um, you know, I I want to also emphasize to the council that you know uh that we need material protections.

We're under one of the uh most uh oppressive administrations under the Trump administration.

Um, all sectors of the people's movement are under attack, um, whether that's you know, trans rights or um immigrant rights, and you know, uh we say that you know the city of Tacoma says that it's a welcoming city to immigrants.

Well, what does that mean materially for immigrants?

We we still have a concentration camp in the Port of Tacoma, and that makes me wonder what we're doing this proclamation today, but what is what are the material uh protections for our trans and queer community?

Um, and yeah, I just want to again emphasize um we have a big and beautiful and strong community, um, and we're worth we're worth protecting, we deserve protection, and we deserve to be safe in our homes in our city.

Thank you, Eva.

Our next speaker is John Henry online.

Hello, can you hear me?

Go ahead.

Hello.

Can you hear me?

Yes.

You can hear me perfect, okay.

Yeah.

So I just want to say to the miserable malfunctioning members of this misguided council.

Oh my gosh, I am so sick and tired of this.

I'm literally whimpering with frustration right now.

While Tacoma is choking on crime and crumbling under congestion and crying out for competent leadership, what do we get instead?

A sickening spectacle of swallowed little princesses prancing and twirling in their poopy pastel dresses.

And those preposterous sparkling sashes.

Sir, are you speaking to an item on tonight's agenda?

Yes, I am.

I'm getting there.

Am I allowed to finish?

If you can identify which part of the agenda they're speaking to, yes.

Yes, I'm speaking about the agenda.

This is my first amendment right.

Okay, I'm getting there.

I've been forced to sit through multiple recessions.

Sir Sir, I appreciate that, but if can you specifically identify which part of the public agenda you were speaking to, sir?

I was speaking about the item that was discussed earlier, okay.

And what I mean by that, okay, is this this towering testosterone painted tragedy, bearded woman bodging in the uh okay?

Well, sir, you have not identified an item on tonight's agenda.

So with that, we are going to move on to the next speaker.

Thank you for your time.

We're going to move on to Amelia Escobedo.

Hello, can you hear me?

Yes, go ahead.

Hello, my name is Amelia Escobito.

Um from Lakewood, but I work in Tacoma.

It's my second home.

I'm here tonight uh to talk about the trans day of visibility.

I'm happy that you did the proclamation.

But I was looking at data and statistics, and there is no data in Washington State that has anything to do with trans jest in Washington State.

Um I also want to state that I do not believe in conversion therapy.

That is inhumane.

I also wanted to state that the different things that are happening over 70% of homicides of transgender people in the US from 2017 to 2023 were committed with a gun.

Black trans women and trans women of color are disproportionately affected, accounting for 84% of victims since 2013, with black trans women making up 61% of all victims in the 2023-2024 period.

And I think it's a big deal that we don't even have a tracker within Washington State that states the different people that have been affected or killed by trans hate.

And I would like to say thank you for doing the proclamation, but there also has to be action behind it.

And thank you, old geese, for saying that you are working on policies.

Uh please share those policies.

Uh, thank you for my time.

Thank you.

Our next speaker is Jasmine Brown.

Jasmine, are you there?

Last call, Jasmine Brown.

Okay, we'll move on to Brown Jameson.

Hello, can you hear me?

Go ahead.

Hey, yes, I am as Brown Jameson.

I'm here to talk about the transgender day of visibility.

It's been uh it's been an issue that really affects me deeply.

You know, my son was transgender and he uh he sadly passed away three years ago.

He had uh he jumped off of a bridge.

It's uh it's been terrible on me and the missus, and uh I just wanted to say that all of you people getting here together and making fools out of yourself is really just brought a tear to my eye.

It's beautiful.

Okay.

Well, with that, um Jasmine Brown, are you still there?

All right, seeing none, we are going to close public comment and we're going to move on to our regular agenda.

We have a motion for us for consideration.

I move to appoint Hun Kim as the permanent city manager for the City of Tacoma effect of April 1st, 2026, subject to the terms and conditions of employment as set forth in the final employment agreement executed by Mr.

Kim and the city, and to authorize the mayor to execute on behalf of the city.

An employment agreement is substantially the form content of this employment agreement on file with the city clerk.

Second.

Moved and seconded.

Are there any council questions or comments?

Deputy Mayor.

Thank you.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just want to just say I'm I'm really excited that we're we're finalizing um the execution of this contract.

Um really appreciate um our city manager for stepping up in this role, and I'm I'm really excited to continue the work moving forward.

Thank you.

Wonderful.

Councilmember Sidalgate.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

I just wanted to echo those uh same points.

Um I know when we made the earlier vote, uh I just wanted to reiterate that I have the utmost confidence in uh Hin's ability to lead um our city, and we need that experience to be flexible and and agile, which usually you don't hear about with city government.

Um but we need that ability given uh where we are today and the headwinds we have both on the state and federal level.

Um so I have the utmost confidence in being able to work with him to move us forward.

So um thank you.

Thank you.

And uh what else just to say personally is even though our working relationship is only a few months old, right?

We're um uh being one of the new people.

Uh but I want to say I I too am very excited about executing this contract and uh not just simply getting to work because uh Mr.

Kim has been working at that uh full tilt for some time now, but um really articulating this in into a permanent fashion to give continuity and and certainty to our organization and and to the work of Mr.

Kim.

Um there are a lot of very big goals that our community has when it comes to safety, homelessness, uh writing our budget to ensure sustainability of core services that people care about and advancing our economic development goals.

And I have full confidence in the city managers Kim uh Kim's ability to execute on these goals, to work with the council, our community leaders, and I'm really excited to get the ball rolling on this, uh, finalize this contract and continue our work together.

And so, with that, um seeing no further uh council questions or comments, we are going to have a voice vote on this.

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

Aye.

All those opposed say nay.

Motion is declared adopted.

Congratulations, Mr.

Kim.

Round of applause, please.

Would you like to say a few words?

Thank you very much.

Um, Mayor Ibsen, Deputy Mayor uh Bush now to members of council.

Thank you for this opportunity.

Um I know this is a choice uh privilege to be here representing our employees.

I look forward to earning it every day with this council and this community, as long as our my colleagues here behind me who work here at the city.

So thank you very much.

I look forward to the work ahead.

Thank you.

We're really excited.

Thank you.

All right.

Okay, wonderful.

So with that, we have a motion before us for consideration.

I move to approve and send a letter from the city council to the Sound Transit Board supporting the Tacoma Dome Link extension.

Second.

Moved and seconded.

Are there any council questions or comments?

Deputy Mayor, followed by Councilmember Walker.

Thank you, Mayor.

I just want to um I bring this letter forward, and I just appreciate uh councilmember Walker and Scott's uh work on helping me get this through as well as everyone's input on uh during study session earlier today.

Um I I'm bringing forward this letter because I I think that there's some um some folks out there that uh it would be really behoove them to see what it looks like for uh us to work together in order to make sure that um we're fulfilling the needs of the STT ST3 program as it has been envisioned by our community um and the voters of our community.

Um I know that they are experiencing a third 34.5 billion dollar budget gap, and they're looking for opportunities to bring efficiency uh to their system and their operations looking at different cost saving measures.

Um I also think it's very important to recognize that um the city of Tacoma and Pierce County uh we are embracing uh Sound Transit and Light Rail.

We've made some significant investments, both public and private, through zoning uh and other uh investments, as well as investments with uh the Pulp tribe of Indians, our local indigenous partners here in Tacoma.

Um and we want to make sure that they understand fully um what any kind of ramifications or changes uh may do to the system as a whole and how that might impact Pierce County.

Um I appreciate the leadership of Councilmember Walker, who's our board representative on Sound Transit Board, um, and she's been really vocal about um how different changes could impact our local community.

But I thought it was a really good idea to uh amplify that with uh in solidarity with the rest of our countywide partners, uh, but through a letter from this Tacoma City Council to really uh let the board know uh fully uh without any reservation that it's very important that uh the Tonabhill Link extension is finished, um, and also that we continue to support the projects um like the um South 19th uh extension and other projects throughout our city because these are vital infrastructure project needs and transportation needs, and it's gonna impact the the nearly one million residents in this county area.

So with that, I will let others speak.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Walker.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, and thank you, Deputy Mayor Bushnell for um putting this letter together.

Um I am proud to serve as the Sound Transit uh board rep for Tacoma, and we as a board have a lot of hard work ahead of us, but I just want to um quote our letter here and saying how much that Tacoma cares about its transit future, how much work we've done um to get ready for it, and that our community will not accept delays that disproportionately impact the South Sound.

And I think this um strong letter from the city of Tacoma um from all of us together is going to be really helpful as we head into those um negotiations and conversations.

And I want to highlight what I said earlier today that I know my board colleagues are in this together to put together a solution to our affordability challenges, um, but that doesn't mean I'm gonna stop fighting for Tacoma and uh to get the Tacoma Dome link extension to the Tacoma Dome.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Sidalga.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

Um, and thank you, Deputy Mayor, Councilmember uh Walker and Councilmember Scott on your work on this because um you put into words uh something I had a hard time doing because I was really quite honestly I was pissed off.

I was pretty angry for our region, our city, uh, my district.

Um, when I heard that one of the potential solutions to fill a funding hole uh was to potentially not have a light rail come down to Tacoma.

And that got me angry for a lot of reasons, but ultimately it's because that kind of thinking is the kind of uh historical systemic oppression that has affected um uh those that can actually benefit from something like this the most.

Uh for example, in my district, uh Zipcode 98404, which includes most of the east side, is uh primarily um or has a large portion of people who speak a language uh either exclusively or in addition to English a second language, almost 25% of them.

Um it's a lower socioeconomic uh district, it has one of the highest percentages of current um uh transit uses uh usage according to uh the census.

Uh and quite frankly, it has uh the lowest reported ability to work remotely in their jobs.

They're people that have to show up and go to work.

It has one of the highest percentages of those people saying that they need to carpool to get there.

One of the highest percentages of people that also says we also don't work in our city.

And I know there's studies that say that there might be uh greater ridership in some of these other areas because you're basically just replacing a bus with a uh a line, but I think that a light rail coming down will have the greatest impact on people like those that are in 98404 and several other uh areas in our region.

Uh not just the economic impact, but this you know, there's a lot of little taxes you pay for being poor.

This is one way of alleviating at least part of that.

I also want to point out that uh the dome area is gonna have uh uh three high schools that are gonna be brand new that are gonna have a nexus around the dome, whether it's the uh Maritime Center and the port, uh Idea high school and McKinley Hill just up the hill, uh, and the robotic center.

These are students that are gonna be, if we build that um light rail, have the ability to go and explore on their own.

Something I was able to do growing up on the East Coast that had um more uh uh public transportation that we have over here.

And I also think about kids like um those in in Jenny Reed Elementary School, the only elementary school that I know of that's right next to a uh an interstate.

Every car that is not on that interstate and can take public transportation, uh whether it's the light rail, whether it's an extension down to DuPont, whether it's going to uh whatever investment you can do that's gonna pay dividends in their lives.

And I also think about the tribe that for years even tried to exist.

And for the first time, having uh if if it were to come down here uh be on tribal land, done in coordination with them, and in a way that also gives them some additional economic benefits in their uh casinos.

So to me, you know, ignoring all that and investing back up north, besides the fact that we've paid for it for years and years and years, it's just perpetuating what I've said before, historic systemic oppression, because it would be on the backs of brown black and indigenous people.

So I appreciate your all your hard work in putting this letter together, and we need to continue uh to push for for something that we voted for and that we've invested in.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Hines.

Uh uh, thank you, Mr.

Mayor, and I'll make this relatively brief.

Um, I want to thank Council Mr.

Walker for her work with the Sound Transit Board and for bringing this conversation forward.

Um her and I had chatted about the fact that as you kind of watch this conversation unfold, you see a lot of folks in this greater Seattle area and King County area really agitating about like this issue and delivering the you know light rail that their voters have voted for and paid for to their communities, and we both reflected on maybe the fact that there wasn't quite as much of a kind of concerted effort to demand that same level of service come to Pierce County.

So I appreciate Council Walker really taking this on to kind of help us really be out there.

I do think that um because we've been waiting for so long for this to show up that I don't I think that uh there is a definite concern that maybe it might never get here, right?

And that we might just be prioritized out of the way for years and years to come.

Um I have I've often joked that my son will be out of high school by the time this gets here, and it looks like that's actually gonna happen.

And when we voted on ST3, my son was three years old.

So there you go.

Um I think that we're getting to the point now where the concern is not only just situational, it's generational.

I mean, we have people who have been living in this community for all more than a decade, who have been paying taxes and paying every day in the promise that one day light rail will get here, and they may or may not see that promise come to reality.

And I think that's deeply disheartening.

And I think if we as we talk on a council about building belief and trust and government and organization, I think a firm commitment from Sound Transit to delivering services to us in a timely matter of which our voters and residents have been paying for for decades, um, is of critical importance.

So I think it's really good that we've been leading on this and pushing this forward.

I would just say to Councilmember Silogi's point, I have heard the thing.

It's like maybe it's just like adding a bus line.

But I would say that light rail is not just like a bus line, it is a generational investment in community, right?

When a light rail station shows up and we match it with what we've already done around our land use policies to allow more housing in those areas.

It is not just an one-time investment, it is a generational investment into the future, livelihood and you know, vibrancy of our community.

And so we have been very good partners with Sound Transit over the years, and we look forward to continuing to part with them.

But you know, for me, I would say let's get the trains here before um, you know, my daughter graduates from high school, and she wasn't even born in 2016.

So there you go.

Councilmember Rumba, followed by Councilmember Diaz.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I again would like to thank Councilmember Walker for her leadership on Sound Transit and all the the way she has just championed us forward on this issue.

And um, I want to thank the voters in Pierce County for believing that they will that Sound Transit would would get to Tacoma.

And so this is really important as Councilmember Hines took my thunder.

Um, belief and trust.

I mean, people want to believe in government, and we've been paying into this system, and we've been planning for this.

We've done development, we have um done transit-oriented development that's taking place right around where that this will be located.

Our downtown is looking forward to this.

We have schools going in.

Um we have the Tacoma Dome, and they have performances here, and this would be so incredible for people to be able to get on the light on the light rail and come down um from Seattle to come to one of our concerts and not have to get on the freeway.

I want people in Tacoma to be able to use the light rail to go to the airport.

Why should you have to sit on the freeway to get to the airport when you can get on light rail and be there in 30 minutes?

Um, so I just I believe strongly that we are creating that infrastructure and they should come forward and support what it means to have be the spine of Sound Trans of the Light Rail line.

And um I again I hope that we will all reach out as citizens here in Tacoma and let Sound Transit know what we think uh and that we support this and we want to see this happen.

So I um wanna move the focus away from King County into Pierce County and what a valuable asset we are to be a part of the light rail.

Thank you.

Thank you, Councilmember Dioce.

Thank you.

Um I also wanted to reiterate how grateful I am for Councilmember Walker for all the work she does for us representing Tacoma and all of Pierce County on the Sound Transit board.

I know it is not easy to both do that work and um make sure that you're making our voices heard, so we want to make sure that we're giving you what you need to help make sure our voices are heard of that table.

I think it really matters that we're able to send this letter.

I think um, like many of my colleagues have mentioned, Tacoma has waited long enough, and we've paid way too much to not get a return on our investment.

Um it is not just the several different funding streams that have gone into Sound Transit to make sure they get to Tacoma, but our climate can't wait.

This is not just um transit for the sake of transit.

It's actually going to get carbon emissions off of our freeway.

The amount of time if anybody who's lived in Tacoma or Pierce County has had to just sit in traffic trying to get to Seattle.

Um it is egregious the amount of time you're doing that, even if you're doing it in Tesla nowadays.

Um it's your time that we need back.

Um, and we it's more than the bus lines can offer, I think.

Um there's something very different about getting on a bus and getting to the airport or getting um to downtown Tacoma, or I used to take the um the 598, um, I forget the number now to UW Seattle when I was a student there.

Um, with the hope that someday light rail would get there because then I could have gotten on at the dome and gotten off at UW campus.

It is going to change the game for us to not have to transfer downtown or not have to transfer in other neighborhoods.

Whereas King County Metro already has robust BRT.

They already have lines that connect all of their neighborhoods.

So I'm gonna keep picking on West Seattle and Balor, particularly.

I think putting those lines ahead of Tacoma is egregious.

It's offensive to our environment, it's offensive to our communities, and it's offended to the sovereign nation who will also get a stop out of this line.

So I'm really um grateful for the work you're doing, Councilmember Walker, Councilmember for putting together this letter for us and hopeful that we can help put the pressure on the rest of the transit board to make sure that this um link gets down here.

And um, I wouldn't even say a timely manner at this point, but thank you.

Thank you.

And I too join my colleagues and express my appreciation to Councilmember Walker and the Deputy Mayor for your leadership and for your tireless advocacy.

It is clear this is a non-negotiable for Tacoma.

And besides being so important to our people that we directly represent, this is also just smart for the region.

This isn't just about one section of lightway uh of light rail.

This is about completing the spine and connecting the entire region, which is the entire point of sound transit.

So for the good of the region, for the good of the people we represent who've been paying a significant amount for a very long time.

Uh, this is just the prudent course, it's the right thing right thing to do.

This is the first of many ways that we're going to continue advocating for our people.

So, with that, I'm going to call for a vote.

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

Aye.

Aye.

Those opposed to say nay.

Resolution is declared adopted.

Moving on to item number nine.

This presentation will also include item number sixteen.

Clerk, please read.

Resolution 41877.

A resolution authorizing the execution of a collective bargaining agreement with IBEW Local 483 court clerk's unit retroactive to January 1st, 2026 through December 31st, 2028.

I move to adopt resolution number 4187.

Second.

Move and second, I'd like to call on Dylan Carlson.

Good evening, Mayor and members of the city council.

I am Dylan Carlson, labor relations division manager for the city of Tacoma.

I have one resolution and one ordinance to present this evening.

Resolution 41877 authorizes the execution of a collective bargaining agreement as negotiated with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, local 43 court clerks unit.

The agreement is for three years and covers approximately 18 FTEs.

The resolution provides for wage increases and/or market-based adjustments or alignment by classification in each year of the agreement.

For the classification of court clerk, a general wage increase retroactive to January 1st, 2026 of 3%, with market adjustment of 5% will be provided.

For the classification of court financial clerk, retroactive to January 1, 2026, the rate of pay will be equivalent to the classification of financial assistant, which is uh $39 and 77 cents at top step.

For all classifications, a general wage increase of 3% will be provided effective January 1st, 2027 and January 1st of 2028.

Other changes to the agreement include clarifying language regarding hours of work and the addition of language in reference to shift adjustments.

Ordinance 29100 will provide for the implementation of the provisions included in the collective bargaining agreement as negotiated with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers, local 483 court clerks unit.

I'd be happy to answer any questions you have.

Thank you, Dylan.

Are there any council questions or comments?

All right, seeing none, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41877, please signify by saying aye.

I was supposed to say nay.

Resolution is declared adopted.

Item number 10.

This item will have a PowerPoint presentation.

We'll also cover item number 11.

Clerk, please read.

Resolution 41878, a resolution authorizing the execution of a multifamily housing 12-year limited property tax exemption agreement with Journey Points Homes LLC for the development of six multifamily market and regulated rate rental housing units located at 310 South Beast South Puget Sound Avenue.

I move to adopt resolution number 41878.

Move and move and seconded.

Is there another motion?

I move to amend resolution number 41878 exhibit A by amending page four between lines three and four to delete tax parcel 778506544 and replace with tax parcel 4490000880.

Second.

Move and second, I'd like to call on Paul Walker.

Thank you, Mayor Ibsen.

Uh, good evening, City Council.

I'm Paul Bacher with the Community and Economic Development Department.

I'll be presenting resolutions 41878 and 41879.

For the first resolution, uh Journey Point Homes LLC is proposing to develop six new market rate and affordable rental units in the UR3 expansion area.

Uh this project will also include four parking spaces.

You can see a breakdown of the unit here, uh one and two bedroom units.

Uh here is a photo of where the project will be located.

Project costs are estimated at $900,000, and uh it's estimated to provide 4200 labor hours of employment.

The total tax to be generated for the city over the life of this project is estimated at $75,000.

Projected property taxes to be exempted by the city are $19,000, leaving this project to provide a net positive impact to the city of $56,000.

And when the exemption is over, full property taxes will be assessed annually.

Uh moving on to resolution 41879 for this project uh meetchum development LLC is proposing to develop four new market rate and affordable rental units in the UR3 expansion area.

Uh and this project will include three parking spaces.

Here is a breakdown of the units, all two bedroom units, um, three market rate and one regulated rate.

Uh this shows the location of the project.

Uh project costs are estimated at 700,000, and this is uh estimated to provide 3300 labor hours of employment.

The total taxes to be generated over the life of the project is estimated at $51,000.

Uh projected property taxes to be exempted are $15,000, leaving this project to provide a net positive impact to the city of $36,000.

And as with all these projects, uh, once the exemption is complete, full taxes will be assessed.

And that concludes my presentation.

I'm happy to answer any questions.

All right, are there any council questions or comments on this item or item 11?

All right.

The vote is on the motion to amend resolution number four one eight seven eight.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed to say nay.

Motion is declared adopted.

Resolution number four one eight seven eight as amended is now before us.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting resolution number four one eight seven eight, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed to say nay.

Resolution is declared adopted.

Item number 11, clerk, please read.

Resolution 41879, a resolution authorizing the execution of a multifamily housing 12-year-old property tax exemption agreement with Meacham Development LLC for the development of four multifamily market and regulated rate rental housing units located at 5440 South K Street.

I move to adopt resolution number 41879.

Second.

Move and seconded.

This item is just presented.

Are there any additional uh council questions or comments?

Uh I myself, due to the potential for the appearance of a conflict of interest, will be recusing from this vote.

Um, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41879, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed saying nay.

Mayor abstains.

Motion is declared adopted.

Moving on to item 12.

Clerk, please read.

Resolution 4180.

A resolution recognizing the council's support for ensuring under underspent Tacoma Creates funds reach the community without delay and endorsing the Tacoma Creates Fund balance above reserve spending plan for eligible organizations in the 2026-27 program year and extending it to the 2027-28 program year through the process and criteria in chapter 1.55 of the municipal code, which follows state law.

I move to adopt resolution number 41880.

Second.

Moving to second, I'd like to call on Councilmember Scott and Walker.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um Councilmember Walker, Mayor Ibsen, and I are excited to bring forward this resolution tonight regarding Tacoma Creates underspent dollars.

Last year, the City Council reauthorized Tacoma Creates for an additional seven years, and we became the first city council in Washington to do so with Council Manic Action.

I think we all agree that nonprofit cultural organizations play an essential role in our community.

Their programs remind people about our deeper connections to each other and to the world around us.

They bring us joy and foster friendships.

They expand our perspective and teach us new skills.

And they are especially important to Tacoma, where creativity is a cornerstone of our community.

While we worked on reauthorizing Tacoma Creates last year, Councilmember Walker and I spent a great deal of time uh talking with various nonprofit organizations that have received Tacoma Creates funding.

During these conversations, we heard that many of them are concerned about losing federal and state funding.

That concern is part of the reason why we worked hard to keep the programming bucket of funding robust last year.

We now have a great opportunity in front of us to provide some additional temporary relief for our nonprofit cultural organizations to help them sustain operations in this climate of uncertainty.

And I'm going to turn it over to Councilmember Walker to share all those really cool details.

Thank you, Councilmember Scott.

Um, each year, Tacoma Creates awards funding to eligible organizations, and each year some of that funding is contracted out but underspent.

Since 2019, Tacoma Creates has accumulated 2.5 million dollars in underspent funds.

Under state law, this money can only be used to support eligible nonprofit organizations through Tacoma Creates.

So just to be clear, um, state law prevents us from using these dollars to pay, say, salaries for police officers, fix potholes, or plant more trees.

And we are happy then to um put that out into the community.

We want to thank Tacoma Creates staff for their recommendation to put $500,000 in underspent dollars into the programming bucket for the 26-27 program year.

Doing so will enable Tacoma Creates to provide one-time support that can help fund more organizations at higher amounts and potentially increase the number of eligible organizations that receive funding.

We strongly support this recommendation because it aligns with what Councilmember Scott and I heard from the Tacoma Creates community last year.

We're eager and excited to get underspent dollars into the community and to invest in programming.

Additionally, because we have a large amount of underspent funds, we are endorsing adding an additional 500,000 to one spot to one-time spending for programming for the 2728 program year.

Again, making sure that we're getting that funding out into the community.

Um, even in doing so, this proposal still leaves a robust amount of funding to cover the new capital bucket that launches in 2027 for many years.

Um, want to thank again Mayor Ibsen for joining us in support of the plan and thank all of our nonprofit cultural organizations for their great work in our city.

And I know our staff is here tonight too, so I want to make sure and thank them for all the work they're doing.

And I know reviewing many, many applications right now to get that money out in the community.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Definitely proud to sign on to this.

Thank you for your support, and thank you to all the wonderful community partners who make this possible.

Seeing no further council comments, um, are there any uh additional questions or comments on this?

Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 4180.

Please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

I was supposed to say nay.

Resolution is declared adopted.

Item number 13, clerk, please read.

Resolution 41881, a resolution authorizing the one-time use of council contingency funds and the amount of fifteen thousand dollars to sponsor the Northwest Immigration Rights Projects 2026 Gala and make a public declaration of solidarity with Northwest Immigrant Rights Projects Values.

I move to adopt resolution number 41881.

Second.

Moving second, I'd like to call on Councilmember Diaz.

Thank you.

And I want to thank everybody tonight for considering this council contingency fund request.

Um, and then a special thank you to Council Members Heinz and Palmer for co-sponsoring the request with me.

Um, the city of Tacoma stands in solidarity with our immigrant and refugee community since we declared ourselves a welcoming city in 2015.

The city is taking tangible action to support immigrants and refugees detained in the Northwest Ice Processing Center.

The Northwest Immigrants Rights Project has been a vital partner in that work since that time and going forward.

Um, by sponsoring the 2026 Northwest Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, or NERP Um Gala, the City of Tacoma will make a public direct declaration that we stand in solidarity with NERP's values that I will read for you.

Um, dignity, we all deserve to have our human dignity and fundamental rights respected.

Fairness, laws and policies should be fair and equitable when liberty or fundamental rights are at stake.

All people are entitled to meaningful due process and competent legal representation.

Solidarity, we are connected by our common humanity, by global forces that affect our lives, and by historic patterns of oppression, discrimination, and inequity for society to be just and whole.

We must work together to undo systemic oppression in its many ways and forms.

Self determination.

Society thrives when all people have opportunities to live their lives to their fullest potential.

Safety.

People and communities thrive when we all feel and experience safety.

Safety should never be used to justify oppression and inclusion.

We see diversity and inclusiveness as a source of strength.

NERP will promote the city of Tacoma's shared values by including the city's name in the event program and slideshow and the pre-event recognition on the event website and emails reaching over 40,000 people and in social media posts.

And I want to highlight for folks how important it is to support NERP at this time particularly.

So part of the biggest piece of NERP's work that they do to help fill the gap is make sure that folks who are detained have access to legal representation at whatever their means is.

So this not only set puts us in solidarity with their values, but it helps um make sure that we're promoting and funding that work as we do through other means here at Council.

And I just wanted to make sure that folks understand that without NERP, people just would not have access to lawyers at all.

So they are really critical part of the ecosystem of justice here in Washington states, and they um have an office here in downtown Tacoma with lawyers who have direct access to folks here in the detention center, and so they are a critical part of our community, um, not just the statewide network of legal legal aid and advocacy.

Um and that is what I have for folks.

I welcome any questions if folks have them, um, and just grateful for your consideration tonight.

Thank you for bringing this forward.

Councilmember Sidalga.

Uh thank you, Mayor, and thank you, Councilmember Diaz, uh, for your leadership on this.

Uh I did actually have a question um as a clarification.

Uh this isn't the only thing we're doing in terms of funding um uh aid to detainees and other immigrants.

We uh also um perhaps you can answer what else we do.

Yeah.

Um the city of Tacoma has some standing budget allocations, both for NERP to help provide legal fees um for folks, um, as well as newly embedded in our ongoing budgets, funding to aid Northwest, which Aid Northwest uses to help run their welcoming center outside of the detention center.

If folks have been there, it's the RV out front that helps people wayfind and navigate upon release.

They also help support the folks, um folks as families who are in town visiting um with their relatives who are detained, and they also give direct calling cards and um monies on people's cards so that they can call, say NERP lawyers or any lawyer or family members who um they need to reach out to to let them know that they're in there because um folks quite frankly are not guaranteed due process in the in the detention center, but making sure that they have access to um phone calls, which are very expensive, and access to lawyers is a big part of what the city of Tacoma does to help make sure we're taking care of our constituents who are detained.

Uh thank you, Councilmember Diaz.

And I actually want to express my gratitude not only for this resolution but the work you've done for years now.

Um, before um uh we are where we are today.

Uh because I learned a lot from you.

Uh I, you know, I'm um I'm so fortunate to be able to vote yes today on this because of the connections you made for me.

I have gone to Aid Northwest and gone to the RV and um gone and talked to uh the lawyers at uh Northwest Immigration Rights Project here.

Um and it's astounding, it's it's also really meaningful when you um add the humanity of the individuals that are helped.

I think a lot of our uh dialogue right now is easy to say because you don't know the person.

Um and it really struck me understanding that you know we have some issues in how our checks and balances are working potentially on our on the federal level, but um right now the federal courts are one avenue that are allowing people that opportunity in due in the world of due process to uh be released while they are going through their process.

Um and habeas petitions are being granted at a much higher rate now, and so right now more than ever, dollar for dollar, this investment is gonna have a real impact on on those that you know are gonna be the most grateful for it.

Um so I appreciate the timing.

I appreciate your leadership.

Um I wish we could do more, obviously, as as everyone here.

Um, but it's something, and it's something we should be uh um you know maybe not happy about but appreciate.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Diaz.

No, I just mayor.

Um thank you, Mayor.

Um, and just wanted to echo my appreciation, Councilmember Diaz and the co-signers for bringing this forward.

Um, the Northwest Immigration Rights Project does so much, and I can't imagine a world in which they're not providing the service to support the people that are being detained, uh, but then also folks that are outside the detention center as well, um, because that doesn't necessarily mean that the journey ends the moment they walk out of there.

Um, and for many families, every single person in there, every single individual has a story, um, and we cannot lose sight of the humanity behind every single person that is going through this.

And so I just really appreciate this, and I I wish again we could do more.

Um, and but this is one small small bit that we can do.

Um, and in any opportunity to continue to support those that are going through these uh challenging times.

I think um, you know, I'm happy to continue to try and support where we can.

So thank you again for your leadership on this.

Thank you.

Appreciate you uh bringing this forward.

Thank you.

With that, um, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41881, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

I was opposed to say no.

Resolution is declared passed.

Moving on to final reading of ordinances, item 14.

Clerk, please read.

Ordinance 29098, an ordinance amending chapter 1.12 of the municipal code relating to the compensation plan to implement rates of pay and compensation for employees represented by the Smart T D conductors unit.

This item was presented last week.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Seeing non clerk, please call the roll.

Deputy Mayor Bushnell?

Aye.

Councilmember Diaz.

Aye.

Councilmember Heinz.

Aye.

Councilmember Palmer.

Aye.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalgay.

Aye.

Councilmember Scott.

Aye.

Councilmember Walker.

Aye.

Mayor Ibsen.

Aye.

The ordinance is declared passed.

Item 15, Clerk, please read.

Ordinance 29099.

An ordinance amending chapter 1.24 of the municipal code relating to the personnel rules by amending various sections to reflect current city policies, practices, and procedures, and provide a probationary period for the classification of railway conductor trainee as approved by the civil service board.

This item was presented last week.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Seeing none of Clerk, please call the roll.

Councilmember Diaz.

Aye.

Councilmember Hines.

Aye.

Councilmember Palmer.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalgay?

Aye.

Councilmember Scott?

Aye.

Councilmember Walker.

Aye.

Deputy Mayor Bushnell.

Aye.

Mayor Ibsen.

Aye.

The ordinance is declared pass.

Moving on to first reading of ordinances.

Item 16, Clerk, please read.

Ordinance 29100 and ordinance amending chapter 1.12 of the municipal code relating to the compensation plan to implement rates of pay and compensation for employees represented by IBEW 483 court clerks unit.

This item was presented earlier in the meeting.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Seeing none of this ordinance will be settled for final reading on April 14th, 2026.

Item number 17, this item will have a PowerPoint presentation.

Clerk please read.

Ordinance 29101, an ordinance amending various sections in of Title 1, 2, and 3 of the municipal code relating to administration and personnel, building and development code and fire to place appeals for building and fire codes under the authority of the hearing examiner and to eliminate the Board of Building Appeals effective April 28th, 2026.

I'd like to call on Mr.

Chris Seaman.

Hi, good evening, Mayor and Council members.

I'm Chris Seaman.

I'm the building official with the city of Tacoma.

Today we are discussing an ordinance that will eliminate the Board of Appeals.

The work that that group does is important because it gives our customers an appeal option for any decisions that I or the fire code official make.

But that board is extremely underutilized.

They have not been called upon in the past ten years.

Partly due to us being very reasonable and educated and good at what we do.

Partly due to the fact that the window for appeals is very small and very technical.

It's math.

We're appealing math with each other as experts.

And so there's really not a ton of disagreement among the engineers.

But we want to make sure that our customers still have a means for appeal.

So we are looking to replace that board with uh mechanism to go to see the hearings examiner.

We struggle, um, as some of the council members here know to keep this board fully staffed.

We have two vacancies now and three members that we have kept on through begging and asking them to remain and their appointments are passed due.

So we just are we struggle to maintain this board.

So we have amendments in various sections to give the hearing examiner the authority to hear appeals.

We are eliminating the board of building appeals, and we are establishing that process.

We are also establishing a fee so that we can recoup some of the costs associated with appeals, but that fee is set up to be refunded if the appellant is successful.

We are not alone in this endeavor.

Uh Bellevue, Everett Kent, Spokane are all similar cities that use a very similar process with the hearing examiner and don't have an official board.

And I'm happy to take any questions you might have.

Thank you, Chris.

Are there any council questions?

Starting with Councilmember Diaz, followed by Councilmember Rumbach.

Thank you.

Um I had two questions.

I'm trying to remember if I remember them both.

One was um, I think you sort of answered it there on that last slide with um how this new process is gonna impact any are they claims?

Are they appeals to come?

And that they disagree on the decision I make.

Great.

Um and I saw how many comparable cities have um the process that we're laying out in this proposed ordinance.

Um I guess my question is just for clarification from other folks.

I recall you bringing this to IPS, not this proposal, but um the knowledge when we were doing interviews for this committee.

I wanted to say that you said they had it met in years, but I could be over-exaggerating that.

Can you tell me the last time they had an appeal to meet and I started working for the city in 2014, and they have never assembled for that purpose.

Thank you.

I thought it was only two years, so it was much more than my memory was.

We have assembled for like updates and talk chats, but no appeals.

No appeals.

Um, thank you.

And then my other question is I know that because there have been vacancies, we have interviewed really quite frankly, stellar people to be on this board.

I'm wondering if you have a plan, should this ordinance pass for what we do with the folks who are remaining.

Um, and um, yeah, how do how do we repurpose them into other boards or anybody who has maybe prior served and been lack of a better term, burned by the fact that this doesn't meet um and they didn't maybe didn't know that upon application and interview and selection?

Yeah, I I would leave that up to the council that we have other boards and commissions and those people that are stellar people and willing to serve, we should try to figure out how to use them.

Uh the challenge is with this board, they're also supposed to be really smart with the code, and those people are just so hard to find.

And so, yeah, I would agree.

We've just got to find a home for them.

We have if they are developers and contractors and architects and engineers, we have a home for them in the permit advisory group.

They're always looking for membership there.

Great.

So is that something we should talk to the clerk's office about, or how do we I guess how do we Yeah, I work with your staff, and then we can work together on on that.

Yeah, great.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Councilmember Rumbaugh, follow by council member walker.

Um thank you, Mayor.

And um just when my one question was um so before, if they came to the board, it didn't cost them anything for an appeal.

And now it's gonna cost something.

What is it?

What do you what do you think the fee will be?

Something reasonable or in the one to two thousand dollar range is what we're targeting enough to facilitate the cost of having the hearing examiner set everything up and so it's like they're appealing since I'm not on and don't do the they're appealing um a decision that's an administrative decision, is that correct?

Correct.

So we're talking about ministerial permits that I am in control of, so not our land use permits, not variances, not seating.

Okay, that was my question.

Yeah, we're talking engineering technical minutiae.

You'd have to really be a tech geek to to be doing one of these appeals.

Okay, thank you so much.

Council Walker.

Thank you, Mayor and Chris.

I just want to say thank you for um walking us through the process.

I think it sounds really straightforward.

Um you mentioned, you know, we've tried to and and have appointed people to the BOMA over the years on the IPS committee, um, but we haven't given them anything to do.

So um very dedicated people that we could get on other boards and commissions and and uh get their insights and their enthusiasm.

So um I appreciate you thinking this through and thinking through the efficiency and looking forward to supporting it next week or next meeting.

All right, thank you.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Seeing none, this ordinance will be set over for final reading on April 14th, 2026.

Thank you, Chris.

Thank you.

Moving on to unfinished business.

Is there any unfinished business?

Seeing none, city manager, do you have a report this evening?

Mayor Ipson, just one brief report for the council.

Um, I am pleased to share that for the 39th year.

Uh the GFOA, the government finance officers association has awarded the City of Tacoma the Certificate of Excellence.

Uh the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence and Financial Reporting for 2024, the 2024 comprehensive uh annual financial repeat with the AC for um this certificate uh represents the highest form of recognition in governmental accounting and financial reporting and reflects the city's continued commitment to excellence, accountability, and transparency to Director Torillo, who may be listening, as well as uh assistant finance director and our controller uh Susan Calderon and our accounting team.

Thank you very much.

And I'd like to report that to you.

Thank you.

All right, thank you, City Manager.

Moving on to uh comments and committee reports of the city council.

We do have one from uh from Councilmember Diaz, Chair of the Economic Development Committee.

Thank you.

Um the Economic Development Committee has met three times since our last report out, thanks to there being an extra Tuesday in March.

On March 10th, the committee heard its annual update from the downtown Tacoma partnership.

David Shradd highlighted the partnership's use of communication channels and events to make downtown more welcoming and increase foot traffic.

The committee was also briefed on two recently completed artists and residence programs.

Artists were embedded within both environmental service and public works, where they supported the department's strategic outcomes by completing projects that were activated in four council districts.

Strengthening community partnerships was the theme of our meeting last week on March 24th, as the city's 2022 contract to explore the potential of new business improvement areas is nearing its conclusion.

The committee was presented with a status update on the ongoing effort to establish a hilltop business business improvement area.

Councilmember Scott then presented a draft CCR aimed at driving economic growth by prioritizing the use of existing services and resources to support high investment corridors at risk of decline.

Encourage folks to talk with her if you have interest in that.

Finally, Jacques Cologne provided an overview of the Tacoma Anchor Network, noting that the network shift towards shared ownership across all members and away from its original dependence on the city's leadership and resources.

EDC met earlier today, and the committee was updated on the Greece Interceptor Improvement Project.

I don't pick favorites, but it might be my favorite.

Um this multi-department multi-agency effort began last year following a wave of public concern, feedback from local businesses, and recruiting and recurring maintenance issues demonstrated by a clear need to revise the city's FATS Oils and Greece Program.

EDC meets again on April 14th when staff from Workforce Central will brief the committee on their 2026 priorities, impact and labor market analysis, and council member Scott will present a proposal to enhance the local film industry.

Mayor, this concludes my report.

Thank you, Chair Diaz.

Are there any final council comments?

Seeing none, I'd like to remind everyone that the April 7th, 2026 City Council study session and business meeting are canceled.

The next regularly scheduled study session and business meeting will be held on Tuesday, April 14th, 2026.

And with that, is there a motion to adjourn?

I move to adjourn.

Second.

Moving to second it, all those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Those opposed to say nay.

We are adjourned.

Good night, everyone.