OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD
Record of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting - April 14, 2026: Proclamations, Levy, Boulders Resolution, and Community Forum

City Council — Tuesday, April 14, 2026
BodyTacoma, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, April 14, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 2:37:43

Transcript — Verbatim
0:04

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of April 14th, 2026.

0:10

Clerk, please call the roll.

0:13

Deputy Mayor Bushnell.

0:15

Present.

0:16

Councilmember Diaz.

0:18

Here.

0:19

Councilmember Hines.

0:21

Here.

0:21

Councilmember Palmer.

0:23

Councilmember Rumba.

0:24

Here.

0:25

Councilmember Sidalgay?

0:26

Here.

0:26

Councilmember Scott?

0:28

Here.

0:28

Councilmember Walker.

0:30

Here.

0:31

Mayor Ibsen.

0:32

Here.

0:33

Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and flag salute led by Deputy Mayor Bushnell, followed by a mote of silence.

0:39

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

0:46

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

1:17

Are there any modifications to the agenda this evening?

1:21

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

1:26

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41882 through 41884.

1:32

Final reading of ordinance number 29095 and first reading of ordinance number 29102.

1:38

Second.

1:39

Move and second.

1:40

Are there any questions, comments, or corrections?

1:42

I move to accept the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the hearing examiner for ordinance number 29102.

1:49

Second.

1:49

Move and second.

1:50

Those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

1:52

Aye.

1:52

Aye.

1:52

Those supposed to say nay.

1:54

Motion is declared adopted.

1:55

All those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, including setting ordinance number two nine one zero two over to a date to be determined, please signify by saying aye.

2:03

Aye.

2:03

Those opposed to say nay.

2:05

The consent agenda is declared adopted.

2:21

All right.

2:41

As I read the proclamation.

2:43

So come on up to the front, everybody.

2:46

And then uh members of the community, if you would like to join uh around them as well, um and stand behind them, uh, stand behind our people up here, that's that'd be great as well as I read the proclamation.

3:02

Whereas Cambodia is one of the original civilizations in Southeast Asia, dating back nearly 4,000 years, and whereas between 1969 and 1973, the United States dropped 540,000 tons of bombs into Cambodia, destabilizing the country's already fragile government and helping fuel the rise of the Khmer Rouge and during the Cambodian genocide from April 1975 to January 1979.

3:29

Approximately two million people lost their lives at the hand of the Khmer Rouge.

3:33

And whereas today, over half the members of the Cambodian population experience varying degrees of post-traumatic stress disorder or other forms of mental health issues brought forth by the Cambodian genocide, and whereas this marks the 51st anniversary of our community coming together to remember the atrocities that occurred to the Khmer community under the Khmer Rouge regime.

3:53

And whereas Khmer community leaders and elders from across Washington State work together tirelessly to rebuild the historical and cultural identity nearly exterminated by the Khmer Rouge and uplift our communities through advocacy, education, and cultural empowerment.

4:09

And whereas it is critical to remember the ultimate sacrifice of those lives were lost during the Cambodian genocide and the resiliency of survivors, and to celebrate community members who tirelessly promote neighborhood revitalization by participating in public policy on local and national levels, establishing local and international businesses and professionals, and developing new art forms and community organizations.

4:31

Now, therefore, I, Joe Bushnell, Deputy Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the mayor and the city council, do hereby proclaim April 12th through the 18th, 2026 as Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Week in the City of Tacoma, and urge all people in our city to join me in this observance.

5:00

Good evening, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, and Council members.

5:03

Thank you for this meaningful proclamation.

5:07

Honoring the day of remembrance and providing a space where we can all be together.

5:13

It means a great deal to our family and our community.

5:23

Honorable mayor and city council.

5:26

My name is Sotia Tatch, and I stand before you today as a son of survivors.

5:31

My presence here is not an accident.

5:33

It is a victory.

5:45

Every step they took through landmines and harrowing uncertainty was a step towards my birth.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Immigration Detention Oversight███████████████████19%
Transportation Safety██████████████14%
Public Health███████████11%
Procedural██████████10%
Arts And Culture███████7%
Community Engagement███████7%
Homelessness███████7%
Public Engagement██████6%
Public Safety█████5%
Summary of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting - April 14, 2026: Proclamations, Levy, Boulders Resolution, and Community Forum

The Tacoma City Council met on April 14, 2026, to adopt a consent agenda, hold three proclamations (Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Week, Black Wellness Week, and Sexual Assault Awareness Month), receive public comments, approve appointments, discuss and vote on a transportation safety levy resolution (Connect Tacoma) and a boulders site reclamation resolution, pass ordinances, and hear community forum testimony primarily on immigration issues and concerns about removing community forum time.

Consent Calendar

  • Adopted resolutions 41882–41884, final reading of ordinance 29095, and first reading of ordinance 29102.
  • Approved unanimously.

Proclamations

  • Cambodian Genocide Remembrance Week (April 12–18, 2026): Deputy Mayor Bushnell read the proclamation. Speakers Sotia Tatch (son of survivors) and Bella Chia (granddaughter of survivors) shared personal stories of intergenerational trauma and resilience, urging the community to remember and heal. Councilmembers Bushnell, Sidalgay, Scott, and Palmer expressed pride and support for the Khmer community.
  • Black Wellness Week (April 13–17, 2026): Mayor Ibsen read the proclamation. Christina Blocker and Keith Blocker (Momentum Professional Strategy Partners) spoke about the history of Black Wellness Week, the need for targeted universalism, and the importance of investing in Black community health. Councilmembers Scott and Palmer thanked them.
  • Sexual Assault Awareness Month (April 2026): Mayor Ibsen read the proclamation. Carolyn Sampson (Executive Director, Rebuilding Hope) highlighted statistics (nearly half of women, more than one in six men experience sexual violence; at least half of LGBTQIA2S+ community are assaulted) and emphasized the need for survivor-centered support. Councilmembers Rumba and Palmer expressed gratitude.

Public Comments & Testimony

  • On agenda items:
    • Laura Svencharik (Tacoma on the Go) expressed full support for the Connect Tacoma streets levy, noting it will improve safety and accessibility.
    • Gunther (former deputy mayor of Orting) advocated for a "dignity initiative" to recognize acts of kindness by unhoused individuals.
    • Michelle Reich provided historical context on the Cambodian genocide and U.S. involvement.
    • Rebecca Stith spoke in favor of the boulders resolution (41891), calling it "good government" and noting it does not mandate immediate removal.
    • Barb Church read a statement opposing hostile architecture, arguing boulders treat unhoused people like pests and push them away from support.
    • Lua Pritchard (Asia Pacific Culture Center) thanked the council for the Cambodian proclamation and supported the streets levy.
    • Tyler Daniels supported boulder removal and criticized public works design standards for contributing to toxic environments.
    • Jay Worley supported the boulders resolution and urged considering homelessness response and public works together.
    • Laurie Arnold supported the boulders resolution, calling boulders unsightly and ineffective.
  • Community forum (22 speakers):
    • Over 20 speakers, many from the Pierce County Immigration Alliance (PCIA), urged the council to take action against ICE and the Northwest Detention Center, including: passing a resolution condemning ICE, demanding ICE out of Tacoma, divesting city retirement funds from GEO Group, enforcing zoning to stop detention center expansion, and providing clear guidance to police on immigration enforcement.
    • Speakers also opposed the proposed removal of community forum from council meetings, arguing it silences public input and undermines democracy.
    • Karina Gallero and others requested immigration legal resources, notaries, and support for immigrant farmers, noting family separation and trauma in schools.
    • Dre F. requested street safety improvements at 60th & Mason for flooding and paving issues.

Discussion Items

  • Connect Tacoma Safe Streets and Sidewalks Levy (Resolution 41890): Public Works Director Curtis King Silver presented a proposal to place a 10-year, $320 million transportation levy on the August 4, 2026 primary ballot. Funding sources: a 1.5% utility tax and a $0.20 per $1,000 property tax increase (average $10.43/month total for homeowners). Three investment themes: better neighborhood streets ($85M for residential streets, traffic calming, sidewalks), safer streets for everyone ($159M for arterial grant match and safety projects), and improved connections ($76M for routes to transit, schools, parks). Councilmembers Sidalgay, Bushnell, Rumba, Hines, and Palmer expressed strong support, citing past success (3:1 grant leverage), alignment with Vision Zero and climate plans, and community engagement through a 23-member levy committee. Unanimously approved resolution to place on ballot.
  • Boulders Site Reclamation Resolution (Resolution 41891): Councilmembers Scott and Walker sponsored a resolution affirming that site reclamation should restore public spaces and directing the city manager to review 24 past boulder placements, assess whether each is still needed (considering risk of encampment return), provide cost estimates for removal, site restoration, and boulder storage as part of the 2027-28 budget, and explore alternatives (e.g., trees, landscaping, crime prevention through environmental design). The resolution does not order immediate removal; adjacent property owner approval is required for any removal. Councilmembers Bushnell, Diaz, Hines, Rumba, and Palmer supported the resolution, emphasizing the need for case-by-case evaluation and ongoing costs of alternative treatments. Unanimously adopted.

Key Outcomes

  • Votes:
    • Consent agenda adopted unanimously.
    • Appointments: Sarah E. Quinto to Human Services Commission and Guyane Rosenzweig to Urban Design Board approved unanimously.
    • Purchase resolution (41887) for 7 CNG trucks ($4,771,228.62) approved unanimously.
    • Collective bargaining agreements (Resolutions 41888 and 41889) with Teamsters Local 117 and IBEW Local 483 approved unanimously.
    • Resolution 41890 (ballot measure for Connect Tacoma levy) adopted unanimously.
    • Resolution 41891 (boulders review) adopted unanimously.
    • Ordinances 29100 and 29101 (compensation and building appeals) passed on final reading unanimously.
    • Ordinance 29103 (compensation for IBEW and Teamsters) passed on first reading and set for final reading.
  • Directives: City manager to review all 24 boulder sites, assess necessity, and provide cost estimates for potential removal and site reclamation in the 2027-28 biennial budget. Connect Tacoma levy to be placed on the August 4, 2026 primary ballot for voter consideration.
  • Next steps: Community engagement and outreach on the levy; further council discussion on community demands regarding ICE and detention center; final reading of Ordinance 29103 on April 21, 2026.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of April 14th, 2026. Clerk, please call the roll. Deputy Mayor Bushnell. Present. Councilmember Diaz. Here. Councilmember Hines. 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 Deputy Mayor Bushnell, followed by a mote of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Pualt people where they make their home and speak the Lashut seed language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. Are there any modifications to the agenda this evening? Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41882 through 41884. Final reading of ordinance number 29095 and first reading of ordinance number 29102. Second. Move and second. Are there any questions, comments, or corrections? I move to accept the findings, conclusions, and recommendations of the hearing examiner for ordinance number 29102. Second. Move and second. Those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Those supposed to say nay. Motion is declared adopted. All those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, including setting ordinance number two nine one zero two over to a date to be determined, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed to say nay. The consent agenda is declared adopted. All right. As I read the proclamation. So come on up to the front, everybody. And then uh members of the community, if you would like to join uh around them as well, um and stand behind them, uh, stand behind our people up here, that's that'd be great as well as I read the proclamation. Whereas Cambodia is one of the original civilizations in Southeast Asia, dating back nearly 4,000 years, and whereas between 1969 and 1973, the United States dropped 540,000 tons of bombs into Cambodia, destabilizing the country's already fragile government and helping fuel the rise of the Khmer Rouge and during the Cambodian genocide from April 1975 to January 1979. Approximately two million people lost their lives at the hand of the Khmer Rouge. And whereas today, over half the members of the Cambodian population experience varying degrees of post-traumatic stress disorder or other forms of mental health issues brought forth by the Cambodian genocide, and whereas this marks the 51st anniversary of our community coming together to remember the atrocities that occurred to the Khmer community under the Khmer Rouge regime. And whereas Khmer community leaders and elders from across Washington State work together tirelessly to rebuild the historical and cultural identity nearly exterminated by the Khmer Rouge and uplift our communities through advocacy, education, and cultural empowerment. And whereas it is critical to remember the ultimate sacrifice of those lives were lost during the Cambodian genocide and the resiliency of survivors, and to celebrate community members who tirelessly promote neighborhood revitalization by participating in public policy on local and national levels, establishing local and international businesses and professionals, and developing new art forms and community organizations.

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