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Record of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting: Pet Mayor Proclamation & Contract Approvals (June 30, 2026)

City Council — Tuesday, June 30, 2026
BodyTacoma, Washington
SessionCity Council
DateTuesday, June 30, 2026
StatusFILED
Video Record
0:00 / 36:12

Transcript — VerbatimClick a timed line to jump · ⧉ to share it
0:05

Good evening, humans and dogs.

0:08

I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of June 30th, 2026.

0:12

Clerk, please call the roll.

0:13

Deputy Mayor Bushnell.

0:14

Present.

0:15

Councilmember Diaz.

0:16

Here.

0:17

Councilmember Heinz.

0:18

Here.

0:18

Councilmember Palmer.

0:19

Here.

0:20

Councilmember Rumba.

0:21

Here.

0:21

Councilmember Sidalga.

0:22

Here.

0:23

Councilmember Scott.

0:25

Absent Councilmember Walker.

0:26

Here.

0:27

Count Mayor Ibsen.

0:28

Here.

0:29

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

0:34

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

0:42

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

1:12

We have a modification to the agenda this evening to add two letters to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office in support of Parks Tacoma's grant requests for various projects under the consent agenda.

1:22

We have a motion for us now for consideration.

1:46

Are there any questions or comments?

1:49

Deputy Mayor?

1:51

I have none.

1:51

Okay.

1:52

All those in favor of amending the agenda.

1:53

Please signify by saying aye.

1:55

Aye.

1:55

I was supposed to say nay.

1:56

Motion is declared adopted.

1:58

Are there any additional modifications to the cons to the agenda this evening?

2:02

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

2:05

We have the consent agenda now before us before consideration.

2:07

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41949 and the final reading of ordinance number 29102.

2:14

Second.

2:15

Moved and seconded.

2:16

Any questions, comments, or corrections.

2:18

Seeing none of those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye.

2:26

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

2:30

Our first item is proclaiming Tuesday, June 30th as honorary pet mayor Sembuka and Deputy Mayor Kai Day.

2:39

And we have one ceremonial tonight.

2:41

Uh for honorary pet mayor and pet deputy mayor proclamation.

2:45

I would like to invite uh Michelle Gilletti, owner of Pit Mayor Sambuka, and Anne Dubois, owner of Pet Deputy Mayor Kai, to the podium for the swearing in.

2:55

If you'll uh please walk your way over there, we'll conduct the ceremony.

3:11

Please raise your right paws or hands and repeat after me.

3:16

I Sambuka.

3:18

I Sambuca.

3:19

Do solemnly swear or affirm.

3:21

Do you solemnly swear or affirm?

3:23

That I will support the postitution of the United States.

3:26

That I'll support the prostitution of the United States.

3:29

And the prostitution of the state of Washington.

3:31

And the prostitution of the state of Washington.

3:34

That I'll comply with the city charter.

3:35

That I'll comply with the city charter.

3:37

And all ordinances of the city.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Animal Welfare█████████████████████████████████████████████46%
Procedural██████████████████████████████31%
Personnel Matters██████████████14%
Youth Programs█████5%
Environmental Protection████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting Summary – June 30, 2026

The Tacoma City Council met on Tuesday, June 30, 2026, at 1:15 PM (local time). The meeting included a ceremonial swearing-in of an honorary pet mayor and deputy mayor, several routine consent and regular agenda items, and committee reports. Key actions included approval of a 5-year recycling services contract with Waste Management for $12 million, ratification of a collective bargaining agreement with Tacoma Firefighters Union Local 31, and appointments to the City Events and Recognitions Committee and Planning Commission.

Consent Calendar

  • Agenda Modification (Added Letters of Support): The council approved adding two letters to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office supporting Parks Tacoma grant requests. (Motion carried, all ayes.)
  • Consent Agenda Adoption: The council adopted the consent agenda, including Resolution 41949 and the final reading of Ordinance 29102. (Motion carried, all ayes.)
  • Resolution 41950 (City Events and Recognitions Committee Appointments): Following a recommendation from the Economic Development Committee (June 9, 2026 meeting), the council appointed Pratty Goyel, Kinesha Johnson, Jerry Rice, and Kanoi Ho to the City Events and Recognitions Committee. (Motion carried, all ayes.)
  • Resolution 41951 (Planning Commission Appointments): Following a recommendation from the Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee (June 10, 2026 meeting), the council appointed Aaron Anderson, Lyle Cruz, Anthony Steele, and Christopher Carnes to the Planning Commission. (Motion carried, all ayes.)
  • Resolution 41952 (Recycling Services Contract): The council awarded a contract to Waste Management of Washington Inc. for $12 million plus applicable taxes for recycling services. The initial term is five years with an option to renew for three additional five-year periods. Staff confirmed that Waste Management is the current contract holder and that materials will continue to be processed at the Port of Tacoma facility. (Motion carried, all ayes.)
  • Resolution 41953 (Firefighters Union CBA): The council authorized execution of a three-year collective bargaining agreement with Tacoma Firefighters Union Local 31, covering approximately 444 full-time equivalent positions. Key provisions include: retroactive 3% wage increase effective January 1, 2026; wage increases in 2027 and 2028 based on 100% of CPI-W (Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue) with a 2% minimum and 4% maximum; increased deferred compensation match (to $250/month effective Jan 1, 2027); up to $600/year reimbursement for advanced cancer screening (effective Jan 1, 2027); and a move to a 42-hour work week for fire communication center staff not on day shift. (Motion carried, all ayes.)

Public Comments & Testimony

  • No public comment was offered; the clerk declared public comment closed after no sign-ups appeared.

Discussion Items

  • Pet Mayor Proclamation: The council proclaimed Tuesday, June 30, 2026, as Honorary Pet Mayor Sambuka and Deputy Mayor Kai Day. The pet mayor (Italian Greyhound Sambuka) and deputy mayor (a rescue dog named Kai) were sworn in via a ceremonial oath. Their owners, Michelle Gilletti and Anne Dubois, spoke about the dogs’ backgrounds and the importance of humane education in schools. Councilmember Hines noted that this year’s pet mayor fundraiser raised nearly $12,000 for low-cost spay/neuter programs at the Humane Society for Tacoma/Pierce County, compared to $14,000 raised last year. Councilmember Rumba thanked the owners for their substantive work on animal protection policies.
  • Public Art/Legislative Request (from Deputy Mayor Kai’s owner): Anne Dubois, owner of Deputy Mayor Kai, requested that the city council consider three low-cost policy actions to integrate existing animal empathy curricula (e.g., Wagtown, Paws, Kids Who Care) into environmental health lessons, a public literacy challenge, and TPU utility bill mailings to educate adults about responsible pet ownership and low-cost spay/neuter resources. (No formal action taken on this request.)

Key Outcomes

  • Consent Agenda Items: All consent items (Resolutions 41949, 41950, 41951, 41952, 41953, and Ordinance 29102) were adopted unanimously.
  • Firefighters Union CBA: Ratified (Resolution 41953).
  • Ordinance 29113 (Firefighter Compensation): Presented but set over for final reading the following week; no vote taken.
  • Committee Reports: The Community Vitality and Safety Committee (Chair Rumba) reported on its May 28 and June 11 meetings, including informational briefings on system-based advocates in domestic violence cases and the juvenile justice task force’s recommendations for a new facility. The next meeting is July 9, 2026.
  • Upcoming Event: Councilmember Diaz announced the Pride flag raising ceremony on July 1, 2026, at 9:30 AM at the Tacoma Dome (G lot), followed by a TPU flag raising at 11:00 AM, with a staff gathering afterward.
  • Public Safety Reminder: Councilmember Hines reminded the public that fireworks are illegal in Tacoma and encouraged residents to attend professional displays (e.g., Rainiers game, Freedom Festival) instead.

Meeting Adjournment

The meeting adjourned by motion and second (all ayes).

Meeting Transcript

Good evening, humans and dogs. I'd like to call to order the city council meeting of June 30th, 2026. Clerk, please call the roll. Deputy Mayor Bushnell. Present. Councilmember Diaz. Here. Councilmember Heinz. Here. Councilmember Palmer. Here. Councilmember Rumba. Here. Councilmember Sidalga. Here. Councilmember Scott. Absent Councilmember Walker. Here. Count Mayor Ibsen. Here. Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and flag salute led by Councilmember Walker, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Pewala people where they make their home and speak the Lachutsi language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. We have a modification to the agenda this evening to add two letters to the Washington State Recreation and Conservation Office in support of Parks Tacoma's grant requests for various projects under the consent agenda. We have a motion for us now for consideration. Are there any questions or comments? Deputy Mayor? I have none. Okay. All those in favor of amending the agenda. Please signify by saying aye. Aye. I was supposed to say nay. Motion is declared adopted. Are there any additional modifications to the cons to the agenda this evening? Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. We have the consent agenda now before us before consideration. I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41949 and the final reading of ordinance number 29102. Second. Moved and seconded. Any questions, comments, or corrections. Seeing none of those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye. Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements. Our first item is proclaiming Tuesday, June 30th as honorary pet mayor Sembuka and Deputy Mayor Kai Day. And we have one ceremonial tonight. Uh for honorary pet mayor and pet deputy mayor proclamation. I would like to invite uh Michelle Gilletti, owner of Pit Mayor Sambuka, and Anne Dubois, owner of Pet Deputy Mayor Kai, to the podium for the swearing in. If you'll uh please walk your way over there, we'll conduct the ceremony. Please raise your right paws or hands and repeat after me. I Sambuka.

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