I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of June 16th, 2026.

Clark, please call the roll.

Deputy Mayor Blushnell.

President.

Councilmember Diaz.

Here.

Councilmember Hyans?

Councilmember Palmer?

Councilmember Rumba here.

Council Member Sidalgay?

Here.

Councilmember Scott.

Here.

Councilmember Walker.

Here.

Mayor Ibsen.

Here.

Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and flag salute led by Councilmember Diaz, followed by a moment of silence.

We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Puellet people where they make their home and speak the Lachutseed 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 resolutions number four one nine three four through four one nine three six.

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

Seeing unless in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

I was supposed to say no, consent agenda is approved.

Moving on to proclamate uh proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements.

Uh, we have three tonight.

Um, our first is proclaiming Friday, June 19th as Juneteenth.

Uh, for Juneteenth, I'd like to invite J.

D.

Davis, founder of Way Out Kids to the podium as I read the proclamation.

Whereas Juneteenth commemorates the events of June 19th, 1865, when Major General Gordon Granger led Union soldiers into Galveston, Texas, bringing news that the Civil War had ended and that the emancipation proclamation had declared all enslaved people free nearly two and a half years earlier.

And whereas Juneteenth is also known as Emancipation Day, Freedom Day, Jubilee Day, Cell Liberation, and Juneteenth, Independence Day, all marking the 160th commemoration of Juneteenth.

And whereas the Washington State Legislature approved Juneteenth as an official state holiday on April 9th, 2021, which was then signed into law by Governor Jay Ansley.

And whereas July 4th, 1776 represents the birth of the United States of America and commemorates our country's independence from British rule, but it did not offer independence and freedom to enslaved people.

And whereas Juneteenth commemorates the strength and resolve of black and African Americans throughout our history, and serves as an opportunity to celebrate the rich and numerous contributions of black and African Americans with events and celebrations across the city and region, and whereas Juneteenth is an individual and collective call to self-education, exploration, and reflection on the personal significance of this historical event and an invitation to form a deeper understanding of our nation as a home for the broadest and most inclusive notions of freedom.

Now, therefore, I Andrews Ibsen, mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim Friday, June 19th, 2026, as Juneteenth in the City of Tacoma, and encourage our residents to reflect on the themes of black liberation, healing, and transformation in our city and in our nation, and invite the community to join as we celebrate Juneteenth.

Please say a few words.

Well, first off, I want to say just thank you to the mayor and the council.

Tacoma has really stood up for this event.

And because of all the support, we are now the largest in the state.

I've heard some in in the city brag that we may be the largest on the west coast.

Um, but that is because of things like this and the recognition uh that we get in everyone sharing it.

Juneteenth, uh, a road to economic freedom is something special to me and to us, I believe, because we all look at the date of eighteen sixty-five and that time, and rarely do we talk about what happened afterwards.

But what happened afterwards is people were not able to get jobs, they weren't able to support their families.

Jim Crow law set in and all types of things.

So Juneteenth, a role to economic freedom is specifically that.

It is a role to economic freedom.

So we have over 160 small businesses there.

There uh resources from Health Department, uh, from Healthcare, Multicare, and Kaiser, uh, the banks are there, Columbia Bank, BECU, housing, the Trades.

Everyone is there to kind of come out and support that event.

Then what we do is we put in a huge cloud of entertainment over it and bring in national recording artists to perform alongside our local artists, which brings out over 20,000 people to the event to support our community.

So I just want to say thank you.

And then of course, to end it June 19th this Friday.

Make sure you come out because we are moving.

We will be at LeMay Car Museum, the Hobb Family Field from 12 to 6 p.m.

We will also be in the Tacoma Dome Parking Lot A with a car show.

And we have over 40 or 50 food trucks.

So it's a lot of great the great things going on.

Oh, and don't forget the prayer breakfast, which happens at 8 a.m.

uh to 9 a.m.

And that will also be at LeMay in the banquet room.

But thank you very much for this.

And I'm a Tacoma kid and I love my city.

So thank you.

Thank you so much.

Are there any other council comments?

Councilmember Scott.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you for being here, and thank you for the work that you and the team behind this event do every year.

And I know a lot of people were sad to see it, not at Stuart Heights, but I think that is just a great testament to how you guys have worked to build this event and you bring people not just from our city but from all around the region and maybe even the West Coast.

And so I just I appreciate the work you put in and to bring people together to really live that spirit of of freedom, of emancipation, of economic freedom, and really just a joyful time because even in uh the midst of everything, like if we can't be joyful, that makes everything a whole lot harder than uh it needs to be.

And so I just appreciate the work you do and the care that you bring to the work that you do, and I'm excited to be there this Friday.

Thank you.

All right, Councilmember Palmer.

Who's the headliner this year?

We have uh Erica Campbell is coming from Mary Mary and Life Jennings is coming back.

Uh Crystal Aikens is actually doing a community choir.

So people who may not have uh have the opportunity to sing with the gospel superstar from here, our own city of Tacoma, she's putting together community choir.

So those are our main this year.

That's fantastic.

I have an amazing time every year, and just the joy that is in this phase is is uh undescribable.

Um so thank you for putting this on every year and looking forward to it.

Thank you, Councilmember Walker.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um, I'm so looking forward to the event.

Just wanted to give you a second to promote um if people want to come, where do they find more information about the schedule and where to go and all that?

Thank you very much.

If you go to Juneteenth WA, just Juneteenth WA.com, everything is on there.

Um, if I can address uh Councilwoman Scott, um we didn't want to move, but because of our city's involvement in the police, they looked at everything way outside of what we were, right?

And they said we have to think about traffic, we have to think about safety, and we have to find a place that works well for the city.

And so working with the city and the police, I just that's why I say just thank you.

I'm a Tacoma kid.

And uh, because they have been the ones to help us take this further than we even imagined.

And they said we'll probably get 40,000 people out this year, so be ready.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

And I just want to, you know, really special shout out to you and and the team that makes this all happen.

Um, and uh, you know, Stuart Heights Parks is in District 5.

I'm I I'm glad this is where it started, but I know it's getting so much bigger, um, and I'm really happy to see that it's continue to grow here in Tacoma.

And I'm really looking forward to all the festivities and getting everybody out there and to do it in a safe way.

And you know, I think uh I think the LaMay Car Museum is a really great spot for it.

So thank you.

Thank you, and I I too will thank you for your service to our community and and just what this commitment means for our city because liberation isn't just a one time thing, it's not a proclamation, it's it's ongoing service and an ongoing project, and and this only affirms that uh while regrettably I'm I'm actually conflicted out of that particular event.

Um, always happy to work with folks.

Uh, very much looking forward to supporting our uh our dedication to the uh the prayer breakfast uh funding, which will be later uh this evening.

And uh our door is always open, and uh we're we're committed to the ongoing struggle.

So thank you so much.

And with that, uh please uh come forward to accept the proclamation and accept a round of applause.

Thank you all right everybody one two three one more one two three thank you for our second proclamation uh we are proclaiming saturday june twentieth twenty twenty six as world refugee day for world refugee day I'd like to invite uh Ms.

Amy Coo CEO of the Tacoma Community House and Mari Carace Castro volunteer advisory committee member and advocate for immigrants in detention northwest to the podium as I read the proclamation.

Whereas World Refugee Day 2026 is dedicated to recognizing the strength, grit, perseverance, resilience, contributions, and courage of refugees as our new neighbors and welcoming them as part of our American community and whereas World Refugee Day 2026 is an opportunity for each Washingtonian to reaffirm their own personal commitment to welcome refugees into our community and our nation as a whole and providing opportunities to assist in rebuilding their lives in safety and dignity and whereas Washington was the first state to respond to United States President Gerald Ford's call to assist refugees in May 1975 in the aftermath of the Vietnam War when then Governor Dan Evans heeded that call and made a commitment to resettle 500 refugees from Southeast Asia in a temporary shelter at Camp Murray near Tacoma and whereas our state has proudly welcomed nearly 1500 refugees from 70 different countries since the 1970s and is home to many thriving Cambodian, Loatian, Thai, Vietnamese, and other communities with a growing number of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Venezuela, Colombia, Mexico, Ukraine, Moldova, Afghanistan, Yemen, Eritrea, Ethiopia, and more and whereas we recognize this moment of immense global need and our city emulates Washington State's ability and desire to welcome more refugees while calling for a more dynamic and innovative national response to the global refugee crisis.

Now therefore I, Andrews Ibsen, mayor of the city of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council do hereby proclaim Saturday, June 20th, 2026 as World Refugee Day in the City of Tacoma, and invite our community to recognize the special occasion and join us in our commitment to our refugee community as we continue our efforts to adopt a welcoming city framework where all residents of Tacoma can work free from discrimination and pursue their own American dream.

Please say a few words.

Thank you, Mayor Ibsen and Council members, I know your personal commitment to our immigrant and refugee populations and I just want to thank each and every one of you for all that you do to support our community.

As we honor World Refugee Day we honor the courage resilience and humanity of refugees from all around the world and for me this day is deeply personal.

As the daughter of a refugee from Vietnam my family story like so many refugee family stories began with the loss and uncertainty but it's also a story of hope opportunity and belonging host families and agencies open doors and pathways to stability for my family and continue to do so for so many families today.

And that belief has shaped my life and my work.

Today I have the privilege of serving as CEO of Tacoma Community House an organization that has stood by immigrant communities for 116 years as they rebuild their families' lives here in the Puget Sound region.

My colleagues from Tacoma Community House are here with me today and I want to recognize them and celebrate them as well as from Me Centro and APCC thank you for your extraordinary work.

Recognize the incredible efforts that they have and recognize the fact that they serve over 3,700 people a year, ensuring that people have pathways to stability.

As many of us know that to know a refugee family is to know remarkable resilience.

Every day we see parents leaning in to learn English alongside balancing work, supporting their families, running businesses, we see individuals navigating complex systems while building careers and creating stability for those families.

And here in Tacoma, we see the countless ways that refugees enrich our neighborhoods.

Refugees have started businesses, created jobs, revitalized neighborhoods.

In fact, they bring uh their culture, their language and tradition to make our cities more vibrant.

One in four businesses is run by a community, is run by immigrants and refugees in our community, and it's important to realize that while there may be a narrative out there of immigrants taking our jobs, they are truly creating jobs and enriching our community.

Their success is our community's success.

So World Refugees is not day is not only a celebration of resilience, it's a reminder of what's possible when we choose welcome over exclusion, when we choose opportunity over fear.

Let us celebrate the strength and uh contributions of our refugee immigrant community and recommit ourselves to building a stronger community where all families thrive, despite for the many hurdles that we recognize that they face today.

And for every refugee who calls Tacoma home, thank you.

Thank you to the refugees here today in our community for your courage, your perseverance, your resourcefulness, and your contributions.

You make Tacoma stronger, richer, and more vibrant.

So with that, let's celebrate World Refugee Day.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Thank you so much, Mayor and Oliver Council members, and thank you for those words, Amy.

Oh my goodness, that was hard to follow.

But um, World Refugee Day is a time not only to remember the hardship, but as you said, the joy, the unbreakable joy of people who love their families, who love, uh, who have so much in common with us.

Uh, and it's only because of the circumstances that were their coming from uh that they find themselves in a place of need.

And I I find myself reflecting on this day, and I'm here to today to represent uh as a volunteer advisory uh council member for um aid Northwest, advocates for immigrants and detention at the Northwest ICE detention center.

Uh they're the only uh they they host the welcoming center that is is there uh every day of the week to to help uh provide that sense of kindness and dignity and respect for people who are released from the detention center, sometimes without any shoes on in the middle of winter, without any jackets, without shoelaces, and they're provided with uh uh cell phone with uh hot meal and um uh temporary transportation uh transportation, temporary housing, and so much more uh with over 360 volunteers who are volunteering right now to do visitation in the detention center.

And we have to remember that the people who are there are also our neighbors and that if we were born in their countries, we would be experiencing the exact same thing that they are.

Uh and it's only that we were born here or relocated here that we are not refugees.

But I also want to take this moment to invite you all to an event that one of our Tacoma refugee choir members is hosting in uh part of hosting in Tequila on uh June 20th for World Refugee Day.

It'll be a fantastic celebration of resilience and and joy and more.

So, hope to see you there at Foster High School in Tacola on June 20th.

And thank you so much again to everyone who who pours their hearts out to make sure that um that people don't feel alone.

So thank you so much again and happy World Refugee Day.

Thank you.

Before we open it up to the council, is there anyone else from uh from New Central who'd like to speak?

Welcome.

Hello, and thank you, uh, Council Woman Ogie, for putting me on the spot.

No, just talking.

Well, um, I did have something to prepare.

First of all, thank you to City of Tacoma, Mayor council, for having us here alongside with these wonderful, amazing people and colleagues here.

And for giving us a space to recognize a community that is facing fear, uncertainty, and constant targeting.

At a time when many immigrants and refugees are being targeted by this administration and being targeted by fraudulent attorneys.

Countless individuals are being left feeling unsafe now, vulnerable and unsure of where to turn.

And this is why the work of community members, such as my colleagues here, is so important to be so dedicated, and it's an honor to stand alongside them.

Thank you to Tacoma Community House, Miss Anthro, everyone who is here who works tirelessly every day to fight for justice, dignity, and protection for immigrant and refugee communities.

As an immigrant myself, and on behalf of hundreds of immigrant and refugees I've had the honor of speaking to who have been taken advantage by this fraudulent attorney who is making headlines everywhere.

I've personally heard the stories of fear, confusion, and terror.

Recognize recognition like what you're giving us the space to do today sends a powerful message that our elected leaders see these struggles, care about our communities, and are committed to standing with us in the fight for justice, accountability, and the protection of all people, regardless where they come from.

So happy uh refugee day, and thank you for allowing us this space.

Thank you for your comments.

Thank you.

Now uh comments from the city council, starting with Council Member Sidalke.

Uh thank you, Mayor, and I want to thank uh all three of you for being way more eloquent than I could ever be in why this is so important.

And I want to share with you that this is, you know, um more meaningful this year than it was even last year uh for me personally, because we have a year into this administration, I have a year into um being proud to be on this council and what we're doing with our our limited authority um to recognize the inherent dignity and humanity of every individual that is in this city, uh whether they are documented or not.

I also want to point out that one of the reasons you have refugees is because we as humans, the number one adaptation we've ever done in our history as a species is migration to leave uh calamities, uh whether they are natural or made by us, right?

Whether whether it's us bombing um countries and each other or us uh not recognizing, you know, our uh you know, the manner in which we have have injured the climate and made it hard for us to live in places these are reasons why people move around.

Um, and we need to understand why people move around and why they uh go to different places and why it's important to be welcoming when people come because I couldn't imagine leaving my life today, and there are people who are my age or or who've established themselves.

People don't necessarily want to do that, and when they come, um, the the stigma that they're they're faced with with the trauma they've gone through, the uh uncertainty is something I will never know because I've never had that um uh experience, but I can see it in their faces.

So the invitation to to visit detention centers uh and and to walk in people's shoes is so important.

And yes, this is just an approximation, but you're right.

This is it's important that we face it.

It's important that we um uh are not fearful because that is what some people want us to be.

So I appreciate each of your you for coming up, speaking and having the courage to to face that fear because that's what this some people in this world want is for us to be so fearful that we we hide, and I'm so happy to be visible with you today.

Thank you, Councilmember Sidalki.

Any other council comments?

Deputy Mayor.

Uh thank you, Mayor.

I just want to really appreciate all the work that every single one of the organizations that are here today, and then just out in the community.

Um I'm a child of refugee.

My mother came to the United States as a refugee from Cambodia fleeing the genocide in the early 80s.

And so we had talked about Dan Evans.

Uh my mother was a part of that wave.

Um I wouldn't be the person I am today.

I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for the hospitality and the support of our country and the people willing to bring in refugees.

Um and I just really appreciate all the work that you all have been doing because it's similar work that's been done then that we're continuing to do now, and there's a lot of connections there.

Um, and the more that we are supporting our immigrant refugee community, the more opportunity they have to be successful, and and they too will sit on this dias as well in the future.

And so I think it's so important to continue to advocate and support.

Um, and I just really appreciate everybody that's been doing all the good work, and please continue it up.

And sometimes, especially in times like these, it can be very difficult.

Um, and as my colleagues said, uh, you know, a lot of folks are living in fear, but um to have this recognition, this proclamation is so important.

Um, and it is a small gesture, but it is also uh a statement of resolution for our community and the support that we have for it.

So thank you again for all the work that everybody's doing on behalf of our refugee community.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor, and thank you so much to everyone for all of your ongoing work.

Uh, as Councilmember Sidalga very eloquently put it, there is fear, but the opposite of fear and fascism is as other folks have stated is joy and pride.

And as I've always thought, Tacoma isn't simply a city of immigrants, we're not simply a nation of immigrants.

Immigrants and refugees aren't simply part of our city, you are Tacoma.

We are richer for the inclusivity and for the culture and for the vibrancy that all of you bring.

And the struggle of immigrants and refugees for liberation and equality is the struggle of our entire community.

We are all lifted up because of your efforts.

And so, with that, uh, I sincerely on behalf of the city council express profound gratitude for all of the work and the ongoing commitment that we have together.

And so, with that, uh please come forward to accept this proclamation and one more round of applause, please.

Right, uh last week on the time, so I think that's a good one.

Yeah, I was gonna say just side down this way so one more and then permit.

You stop moving.

Okay.

All right, everybody, one, two, three.

Great job.

Just do one more.

One, two, three.

Thank you.

All right, our third and final proclamation for the evening is the presentation of the 2025 Washdot Federal Highway Administration Excellence Award for the Best City Project.

For the presentation of this award, I would like to invite Jay Dry, Director of Local Programs for the Washington State Department of Licensing, Yamily Volsey, acting division administrator for the Federal Highway Administration of Washington, and Corey Newton from the Public Works Department.

All right.

Thank you.

And uh good evening.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you, council, for allowing us to have this time on your very busy schedule this evening.

Um, like you said, I'm Jay Dry.

I'm the director of the local programs division of the Washington State Department of Transportation.

And uh one thing that uh Yamalie and I have the privilege of doing each year is going through kind of recognizing the partnership that we have working together with our local partners to deliver great projects throughout the state.

At any point in time, we've got about 1,500 active projects going throughout the state.

So, and that's cities, counties, tribes, ports, a variety of other transportation partners throughout the state.

Um, also with us this evening is uh maybe I'll let you introduce your team, but we also have our region local programs team as well that helps to support all of your wonderful folks.

So we have John Ho, who's our region local programs engineer, and we also have as I'm drawing a blank oh Renee McBride as well, so apologize for that.

Um, but we work through and we look at all of the projects that we have each year.

There's about 300 projects that get completed that are eligible to be considered for awards.

And a lot of projects, as you know, can be very challenging.

There's a lot of struggles, there's a lot of obstacles that have to be overcome to make them happen.

So out of those projects, there's like 300 that can be considered.

So to bubble up and ultimately be recognized for one of the awards, we think is a pretty prestigious thing and something to be proud of.

Projects, like I said, have multiple challenges along the way, a lot of hardship, and the infrastructure that we have today is continuing to struggle to preserve, take care of it.

I'm sure you're well aware of the funding challenges, and that's where all of us work together from a funding standpoint with your local sources as well to try to pull it together, make it happen, and support a team to take care of the infrastructure that we have, and while we're there, make those much needed connections that weren't always there and to improve the system for all of the users of the system.

So, with that, I won't uh babble on too much longer, but I'd like to recognize the City of Tacoma for the Taylorway rehabilitation project.

And uh, I'll turn it over, let Yamaly say a couple words on behalf of the Federal Highway Administration, and then on to uh the city and others.

Good afternoon, everyone.

I'm Yamalie Valsey.

Um, like Jay mentioned, I'm the acting division administrator.

I'm also here with Diana McKeon.

She's my acting deputy division administrator.

Um, and we're happy to be here.

Like Jay said, you know, like it's always a good thing to recognize, you know, like hard work that everybody has put in a project and making sure that it's successfully completed and delivered.

So we're happy again to be here.

This is like uh a project of I would say a great magnitude, you know, like they're never done alone, right?

So it's a team effort.

This project is a good example of all regional partners aligning their vision, working collaboratively and getting the project done.

So I think the project incorporated some good safety enhancement, some innovation, you know, like I also thank community engagement.

Actually, as I was reading about the kitchen um table uh meetings that for community engagement, prioritizing the community's needs.

So definitely a great project to be selected, you know, like as the best city.

So again, congratulations to City of Tacoma, but thank you to the team that uh did an awesome job, you know.

Like on the design, the construction, and making this work, you know, like for a good safe corridor, you know, like and I think it's also being added to the network, freight networks, so definitely uh great accomplishment.

Again, thank you all, and congratulations.

All right, John.

Alright.

Uh so thank you, huge thank you to Washtaun FHWA.

These types of projects are not even possible without grant funding from uh both agencies.

So huge thank you to them.

And then what an amazing project this was.

Talk about supporting jobs, freight mobility, all that.

Uh excellent project to highlight.

Uh, you know, with the grant funding, the ability of the city to use local dollars, including street initiative dollars to leverage those for grants.

Absolute project support.

Absolutely amazing job, project to support jobs, and then, oh my gosh, to the public works team, huge thank you.

These projects are complex, complicated, and you guys do a great work putting out these amazing projects.

So thank you, everyone, and thank you, council.

Thank you.

Are there any council comments?

Councilmember Rumbaugh.

Thank you, Mayor.

And I just want to say, as somebody who uses Taylor Way every day, I want to thank you so much for the improvements.

It's really helping people who live out in Northeast Tacoma in that part of the county.

Also, I just want to say with the new almost improved um start of 167.

I think this is just such a necessary part of that.

So I just want to recognize what it means to be a you know someone in a single car driving with all the freight trucks.

It's really great to have this improvement.

And so thank you to all of you.

And thank you for recognizing us for the way that we work as in partnership.

Thank you.

Any other council comments?

All right.

Well, thank you so much.

Uh one of Tacoma's secret weapons is our strength of partnerships.

Uh, whether it's with public works or utilities, uh it's an area in which we consistently punch above our weight, and um our mighty public works and environmental services departments are just one of many examples of that.

I'm so proud of all of you.

So thank you for that.

Um please come forward for a group photo and please join me in round applause.

Okay, so there are no things.

Okay.

Okay, okay.

Okay, just need this end to just sneak in a little bit more, and then we'll have everybody perfect.

All right, everyone.

One, two, three.

So one more.

One, two, three.

Thank you.

All right.

Well, this one's easy.

One, two, three.

Big smiles.

Great job, everybody.

Thank you.

Okay, moving on to public comment.

Clerk, please read.

This is the time set aside for public comment.

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

Thank you.

And while we wait for the uh sign in sheet to come forward, um just uh remind everyone to uh keep your uh your comments focused on the agenda.

And um, that being said, uh there are no signatories for public comments tonight, and no one has signed in virtually.

Um, give it a few seconds just in case there's anyone.

Seeing none, we will close public comments and move on to the regular agenda, starting with purchase resolutions.

Item nine, clerk, please read.

Um, mayor, there is a one motion prior.

We have uh on the board.

Oh, pardon, I skipped a page.

Uh, we have a motion before us for consideration.

I move to authorize the city's full and final settlement of all claims against the city in the matter of McGavic versus City of Tacoma et al.

Pierce County clause number 252077107 related to personal injuries occurring on a public sidewalk at approximately 219 North Tacoma Avenue upon payment by the city in the amount of one hundred and twenty-five thousand dollars and execution of a release inform approved by the city attorney.

Move and second of it.

Any council questions or comments?

Seeing all those in favor of adopting um the settlement, please signify by saying aye.

Aye, aye, those supposed to say nay.

It is declared passed.

Now, item nine for real this time.

Clerk, please read.

Resolution 41937, a resolution authorizing an increase to the contract with the Gordian Group Inc.

for citywide on call as needed job order contracting consulting services for projected contract total of two million one hundred and sixty thousand plus applicable taxes.

I move to adopt resolution number four one nine three seven.

Second, moved and seconded.

Any council questions or comments?

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

Aye, those opposed to say nay.

Resolution is declared adopted.

Item 10, Clerk, please read.

Resolution 41938, a resolution awarding contracts to the following contractors.

I move to adopt resolution number four one nine three eight.

Second.

Move and seconded.

Any council questions or comments?

See none.

All those in favor of adopting resolution number four one nine three eight, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

I was supposed to say nay.

Your resolution is declared adopted.

On to regular resolutions, item 11.

This item will have a PowerPoint presentation.

Clerk, please read.

Resolution 41939, a resolution designating the John and Selma Swanson residence located at 2119 South M Street as a city landmark and placing said property on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places.

Motion I move to adopt resolution number four one nine three nine.

Second.

Moved and second, I'd like to call on Ruben McKnight.

Thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Members of the Council, I'm Ruben McKnight with Planning Development Services.

I'm the city's historic preservation officer.

And I'm here to present a resolution to place a private residence at 2119 South M Street on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places.

The Swanson Residence was built in 1903 to 1904 and is an example of early 20th century residential development in the whole top neighborhood.

Good next slide.

The uh house was built by John Swanson and his wife Selma, both Swedish immigrants, during a time period in Tacoma's history marked by a rapid growth, particularly as working class immigrants move to the city seeking work in its expanding industries.

Next slide.

City directories from the time show other Scandinavian families moving into this area as well, which reflects some overall uh immigration and settlement pattern.

Next slide.

The nomination was researched and submitted by the owner in part based on the existing Hilltop Multiple Property documentation form that was completed in the 1990s documenting Hilltop's history.

Uh the document provides a baseline context for uh the development of the Hilltop neighborhood.

Following a public hearing on February 25th, 2026, the landmarks preservation commission voted unanimously to recommend inclusion on the Tacoma Register of Historic Places and as an example of an early hilltop residence and as a familiar visual landmark within the neighborhood.

Historic designations of these properties will help ensure their continued preservation for future generations as well as qualifying the property for potential incentives to aid in its preservation efforts.

Staff concurs with the landmarks commission's recommendation, and I'd be happy to answer any questions from council.

Thank you.

Thank you, Rubin.

Any council questions or comments?

Alright, well, very clear practical uh uh motion to move forward.

Thank you, Ruben.

Thank you.

So with that, um the uh resolution 41939 is before us for vote.

All those in favor, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Those opposed to say nay.

Resolution is declared adopted.

Moving on to item twelve, clerk please read.

Resolution 41940, resolution authorizing the one-time use of council contingency funds in the amount of a thousand dollars to support the Juneteenth prayer breakfast.

I move to adopt resolution number four one nine four zero.

Second.

Moved and seconded.

Um, so this is extremely timely, just given the the presentation and proclamation that we just made about Juneteenth.

Um, this is just one of many demonstrations that the city has in terms of our values as a community and and also our values and action and partnership with uh crucial community organizations.

I'm also grateful for my uh council colleagues for their uh co-sponsorship on this.

Is there any other uh council member who'd like to comment?

Okay, so with that uh the resolution for the sponsorship is in front of us.

All those in favor of adopting resolution number four one nine four zero, please signify by saying aye.

Aye.

Moving on to final reading of ordinances, item 13.

Clerk please read.

Ordinance 29108, an ordinance adopting the 2026 annual amendment to the comprehensive plan and land use regulator regulatory code and amending various chapters in titles one and thirteen to implement said amendments as recommended by the Planning commission.

This item was presented on June 2nd, 2026.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Council Member Hines.

Yes, I move as a substitute substitute ordinance number two nine one zero eight, which amends exhibits B and C of the ordinance and makes corresponding clarifications to the body of the ordinance.

Second.

Okay, moved and seconded.

Um, Councilmember Hines, would you like to speak to your substitute?

Yes, thank you, Mr.

Mayor.

Uh so the substitute amendment, substitute ordinance that I'm bringing forward this evening is going to do a couple things.

Number one, it's um it's amending Exhibit B, the special needs housing component of the comprehensive uh the comprehensive plan and land use regulatory code uh to bring Tacoma in compliance with House Bill 2266, which passed the last legislative session, which requires that local jurisdictions, upstate zoning and development standards to remove any standards, conditions, or requirements for shelter, transitional, emergency, and permanent supportive housing, also known as step housing was how it was referred to most of the legislative session that are more restricted than those required for any other types of lodging or residential development in the zone.

The substitute also makes a couple other changes.

So let me explain those and then I'll kind of explain why I'm bringing this forward right now.

Uh for shelters, it's going to eliminate the buffer and dispersion requirements.

It's adding a public meeting requirement for permits, it's expanding public notice to 500 feet from 400 feet where it currently is in the code.

It's modifying zoning and land use tables to change shelters from conditional use to permanent zones where other housing types are required by right and updating requirements for operational and safety plans to conform with state law.

It's also for other types of special needs housing, it's going to eliminate bed capacity limits in UR1, 2 and NRX zones, adding language to the definition to clarify that some types of shelter transitional emergency and permit supportive step housing, which do not include on-site medical or clinical care are permitted simply as allowed residential uses without any other special permitting conditions.

So the state of Washington and the legislature, the legislators had identified the fact that it had become challenging to cite shelter transitional emergency and permit supportive housing types, and that cities across our state had enacted different regulations to guide or to move these types of housings while not being able to be banned outright to certain parts of the city or to require conditional use permits or require in many some cases burdensome requirements for these to be set up.

So House Bill 2266, which passed the state legislature, this legislative session and landed after the work of the planning commission in many cases, which is why this is coming forward now, removed a lot of some of the things we had had in our code related to this.

One of the things that we were very ad that I want to point out, though, is while these types of housing are going to be allowed kind of in any zone in our city that allows residential uses, two things that we worked really hard on at the state legislature from the Association of Wash City side was to allow two things.

Number one, to continue to allow the ability for us to do public notice and hearings related to setting up these shelters or these types of housing.

We have had a history in Tacoma of citing all types of housing like this in our city, but I do think we have had very valuable communication with our residents when we set something like this up to have a public meeting, to inform the public, to make them aware of what's what's happening.

And I think it actually, rather than being a barrier to some of these housing options, I think it actually will help us facilitate the setting up of these conversations and bring more people into the conversation.

So I think that's very good, and that and we're gonna be adding that to our code.

The second part is the uh updated requirements on operational safety plans conform with state law.

So state law really says you can't prevent these uses from being uh used in any place that allows or any one of our zoning uh zoning uh areas that allow housing outright.

Sorry, there's a lot going on here.

Uh, but one thing they did say is that when you're within a certain distance of a school, I think it's 500 feet of a school, you're able to require an operational safety plan that conforms with state law.

So state law is very narrow about what they allow us to do, but I do think that as we look at more of these types of housing which we all know we need being set up in more parts of our city, that we want to make sure there's an ability for when you know these these facilities are closer to schools, that neighbors have ability first to learn about them, and two, that we can have a tool around good neighborhood agreements to make sure that some of the issues that are raised by our neighbors in those areas are able to be addressed.

Again, none of this would stop any of those housing types from being uh allowed.

Um, it is removing a lot of our current restrictions in our code, uh, but really just to come in line with uh House Bill 2266.

The second part of this substitute is also to further amend exhibit C to address minor clarifications to code references to the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District in response to public comments.

Um the intent is to ensure that the permit applicants are aware of the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District and review those standards just clearly.

And we had some public comments.

We're worried that we were taking those standards, we're going to apply them to new parts of the city.

That is not the case.

It was just being very clear that we wanted them to know that those existed and to review them.

So with that, Mr.

Mayor, those are all of the what's contained in the substitute ordinance, and rather than requiring me to read six pages of individual changes to the code, we're just doing a whole substitute ordinance.

Thank you, Councilmember Hines.

Any other uh council comments or questions on the substitution?

Okay, seeing none.

Oh, no.

Oh, Councilmember Sidalge.

Sorry, I was late.

I just wanted to just clarify.

Actually, this is for staff.

This is this getting ahead of a deadline for a state mandate.

Sorry, Councilmember, can you repeat your question?

Is this uh the step housing stuff is is getting ahead of a deadline from like that the state has uh due to state kind of requirements.

Yes, and just for the record, Stephen Atkinson Planning Development Services, you're correct.

So we were um engaged in this work with the planning commission to bring our codes into alignment with prior legislation.

Um while we're going through this process, the state adopted a new bill.

Um if we don't make these changes tonight, we would have to come back and kind of go through the planning commission city council process again uh to bring these codes into conformity with the new legislation.

Got it and when when what was the original deadline for all jurisdictions?

Just for my education, um I couldn't say for the recent uh Senate Bill 2266 what the new deadline was for that legislation.

Okay.

I'm actually very supportive of this.

I just wanted to just clarify, you know, why are we doing it right now?

And it's really just to save us time and effort, and to be uh on the forefront.

I want to thank uh councilmember Hines for thinking through this uh very deeply about um community uh outreach around things like this.

Um we've always found that that is a great way of getting community on board.

Uh I myself uh live really close to what was uh a temporary emergency shelter that is now becoming homes, and I recall um you know there's a lot of uh community confusion, a lot of questions.

Uh we worked through that and it got to the point where when it was being taken down to uh create the affordable housing, people were asking me why are you getting rid of this?

So um I think a vehicle like that is really important.

We and I think it's great that um we're learning from that lesson and and incorporating that into code.

So thank you very much.

Thank you.

So seeing no further comment, the vote before us is on the substitution of ordinance number two one uh two nine one zero eight.

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

Aye.

I'm supposed to say no.

The motion is declared adopted.

Substitute ordinance number two nine one zero eight is now before us.

Any final comments?

Seeing none, clerk, please call the roll.

Deputy mayor bushness, aye, councilmember Diaz.

Aye, Councilmember Hines, Councilmember Palmer.

Aye.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalga?

Aye.

Councilmember Scott?

Aye.

Councilmember Walker?

Aye.

Mayor Ibsen.

Aye.

The ordinance as substituted is declared passed.

Moving on to item 14.

Clerk, please read.

Ordinance 29109 and ordinance amending chapter 12.06A of the municipal code relating to the electrical code to allow nonprofit corporations to obtain electrical permits when certain conditions are met effective July 1st, 2026.

This item was presented last week.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Seeing none, clerk, please call the roll.

Councilmember Diaz.

Aye.

Councilmember Hines.

Aye.

Councilmember Palmer.

Aye.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalga?

Aye.

Council Member Scott.

Aye.

Councilmember Walker.

Aye.

Deputy Mayor Bushnell?

Aye.

Mayor Ibsen?

Aye.

The ordinance is declared passed.

Item 15, Clerk, please read.

Ordinance 29110, an ordinance adopting the six-year comprehensive transportation improvement program amended for the years 2026 and 2027 through 2032.

This item was presented last week.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Seeing unclear, please call the roll.

Councilmember Heinz.

Aye.

Councilmember Palmer.

Aye.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalgay?

Aye.

Councilmember Scott?

Aye.

Councilmember Walker.

Aye.

Deputy Mayor Bushnell?

Aye.

Councilmember Diaz.

Aye.

Mayor Ibsen.

Aye.

The ordinance is declared passed.

Moving on to item 16.

Clerk, please read.

Ordinance 29111, an ordinance amending chapter 1.12 of the municipal code relating to the compensation plan to implement rates and pay and compensation for employees represented by the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers and Trainmen.

This item was presented last week.

Are there any additional council questions or comments?

Seeing none, clerk please call the roll.

Councilmember Palmer.

Aye.

Councilmember Rumba.

Aye.

Councilmember Sidalgay?

Aye.

Councilmember Scott?

Aye.

Councilmember Walker.

Aye.

Deputy Mayor Bushnell?

Aye.

Councilmember Diaz.

Aye.

Councilmember Hines.

Aye.

Mayor Ibsen.

Aye.

The ordinance is declared passed.

Moving on to unfinished business.

Is there any unfinished business?

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

Mayor Ibsen, no report tonight.

Thank you.

Okay.

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

I'd like to call on Chair Diaz from the Economic Development Committee.

Thank you, Mayor.

Um the Economic Development Committee has met twice since our last report out on May 12th.

The community and economic development department provided an update on their annual action plans, metrics, and accomplishments by division.

The committee also received a status update on the arts and cultural vitality strategic plan refresh, which included plan highlights from the last 10 years, initial feedback and steps from the arts commission retreat in April.

The May 26th EDC meeting was canceled.

The committee's most recent meeting last Tuesday, June 9th, was last Tuesday, June 9th.

My colleagues and I evaluated candidates to serve on the city's events and recognitions committee and had to make very difficult decisions.

We reviewed applications from six excellent candidates to fill only four seats.

The committee forwarded our recommendation or recommended applicants to the full council, which this body will consider during our June 30th, 2026 meeting.

The committee meets again on Tuesday, June 23rd with an annual business update from the Economic Development Board of Tacoma Pierce County.

This concludes my report.

Thank you, Chair Diaz.

Are there any other council comments?

Just a brief update.

Pleased to report that the port commission voted earlier today in a unanimous resolution of support for Connect to Coma and for the ongoing partnership if um if approved by the voters.

Just like I said earlier, uh one of Tacoma's hidden strengths is our ability to be just very, very smart and nimble with partnerships, both with our local as well as federal and state partners, and uh more conversation to come in terms of uh city outreach with our facts and information effort.

But I just wanted to um spread the news, but also just to give credit or credits due for our very smart and capable folks from our city departments.

And with that, seeing as we know we have no further uh council comments, and we have no excusals.

I move to adjourn.

There's a motion to adjourn.

Is there a second?

Moved and second.

All those in favor say aye.

Aye.

Aye, those opposed say nay, we are adjourned.