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OPENPUBLICA · PUBLIC MEETING RECORD

Record of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting Summary – August 4, 2026

City Council — Tuesday, August 4, 2026

BodyTacoma, Washington

SessionCity Council

DateTuesday, August 4, 2026

StatusFILED

Video Record

0:00 / 52:44

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

0:03

I'd like to call the order of the City Council meeting of August 4th, 2026.

0:07

Clerk, please call the roll.

0:09

Deputy Mayor Bushnell.

0:10

President.

0:11

Councilmember Diaz.

0:12

Councilmember Heinz.

0:14

Councilmember Palmer.

0:15

Councilmember Rumba.

0:16

Here.

0:16

Councilmember Sidalga?

0:18

Here.

0:18

Councilmember Scott?

0:20

Here.

0:21

Councilmember Walker.

0:22

Here.

0:22

Mayor Ibsen?

0:24

Here.

0:24

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

0:29

We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Pual people, where they make their home and speak the La Shitsi language.

0:36

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

0:53

Liberty.

1:11

Are there any modifications to the agenda this evening?

1:16

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

1:18

There are no consent agenda items.

1:19

There are no proclamations, recognitions, presentations, or announcements.

1:22

Moving on to public comment.

1:23

Clerk, please read.

1:24

This is a time set aside for public comment.

1:26

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

1:31

All right.

1:32

And this is your opportunity to speak on any items on tonight's agenda.

1:36

This forum is just is intended to give speakers the opportunity to share their viewpoints and feedback with the city council to aid in our decision making.

1:42

It is not meant to be a back and forth dialogue.

1:44

Your remarks should be directed to the city council and not an individual members of the council or staff members.

1:50

If you wish to speak virtually, then you can either uh press the raise hand button or star nine.

1:54

So with that, we have a few speakers.

1:56

Um starting with uh Parks Commissioner Andrea Smith speaking to resolution 41979.

2:10

Both me and Commissioner Bronwin Clark.

2:12

We won't be mad about that.

2:12

Go ahead.

2:14

Awesome.

2:15

Thank you all so much for uh giving this this time to speak.

2:18

We are both really excited to speak for resolution 41979, providing wayfinding signage for Eastside Community Center.

2:28

Since its opening in 2018, Eastside Community Center has been a hub for community just as intended.

2:34

It serves thousands of people of all ages and abilities through programs, open gym, open swim, fitness, senior gatherings, classes, community events, and private rentals.

2:45

But looking from the street, you would never know it.

2:48

Um because as a resident of District 4, I can attest that I, if you haven't specifically been to an event at the East Side, you might not know that it's there because it is hidden by a beautiful grove of trees.

3:01

I actually lived in the East Side since 2020, and I think the first time I found the community center was when I went to a planning commission meeting there.

3:09

Um and was like, oh, this exists.

3:11

This is amazing.

3:13

Um we really think that the current uh way that the building is hidden is just makes it a challenge for folks to find since you can't see it from Portland Avenue.

3:24

Um we really appreciate Councilmember Sidalge's uh initiative to for council contingency funds for wayfinding signage because uh that will just improve access and visibility for the East Side Community Center, and we really appreciate Councilmember Sidalge for sponsoring this request.

3:43

Thank you.

3:44

Thank you.

3:45

Thank you, both commissioners.

3:46

Kit Burns.

3:50

And which item are you speaking tonight, sir?

3:52

I'm speaking on item 41974.

3:56

This is on changing the uh items on the consent agenda.

4:00

And I'm recommending that that uh I support that.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting

Affordable Housing████████████████████████████████████36%

Procedural████████████████16%

Economic Development███████7%

Public Engagement██████6%

Fire Department Operations██████6%

Public Health██████6%

Arts And Culture█████5%

Food Access█████5%

Public Works████4%

Summary of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Meeting – August 4, 2026

On August 4, 2026, the Tacoma City Council met at 5:00 PM in Council Chambers. The meeting included roll call, flag salute, and a moment of silence. After agenda modifications (none), the council moved through public comment, seven resolutions, committee reports, and adjournment. Key actions included approval of changes to council rules, a $1.25 million loan to the Museum of Glass, a labor agreement regarding ambulance billing subcontracting, and three uses of council contingency funds.

Public Comments & Testimony

Parks Commissioner Andrea Smith and Commissioner Bronwin Clark spoke in support of Resolution 41979, requesting $1,225 for wayfinding signs at the Eastside Community Center. They noted the center is hidden by trees and hard to find from Portland Avenue.
Kit Burns spoke on Resolution 41974, supporting the proposed amendment to remove multifamily tax exemption (MFTE) items from the consent agenda. He expressed concerns that MFTE benefits have been lopsided, citing examples of large tax breaks for projects like the Proctor station and State and Way project, and urged more robust council discussion.

Discussion Items

Resolution 41973 (second reading): Amends Rule 8 of council rules to allow organizations to formally request presentations at regular meetings. Councilmember Rumbaugh explained it stemmed from community forum feedback. Approved unanimously.
Resolution 41974 (second reading): Amends multiple council rules to clarify language, remove outdated citations, and revise agenda order. Councilmember Palmer offered an amendment to strike language moving MFTE projects to the consent agenda, arguing the council has discretionary authority over these exemptions. After debate (Councilmember Hines supporting the move to consent, citing ministerial nature and past policy reviews; City Attorney clarifying that criteria are set in code and denial requires written reasons tied to those criteria), the amendment failed. The unamended resolution then passed.
Resolution 41975: Authorizes a $1.25 million loan (budgeted from the Community and Economic Development Special Revenue Fund) to the Museum of Glass for non-construction costs of its renovation and expansion. The 24‑month loan uses a 9% flat fee, secured by the museum building. Staff noted the project totals $22 million, of which $17 million is secured. Approved.
Resolution 41976: Authorizes a letter of agreement with IBEW Local 483 regarding job placement for Tacoma Fire Department ambulance billing employees affected by subcontracting. The agreement allows voluntary demotion to TPU customer service positions (four anticipated openings in September 2026) with a 12‑week training and 9‑month trial period. Approved.
Resolution 41977: Uses $15,000 from council contingency funds to support St. Leo Food Connection’s pilot partnership with Tacoma Public Library for summer meals, healthy snacks at three branches, and a pop-up pantry at the main library. Approved.
Resolution 41978: Uses $7,000 from council contingency funds to sponsor Tacoma Farmers Market’s Grit City Gala. Approved.
Resolution 41979: Uses $1,225 from council contingency funds for three wayfinding signs for the Eastside Community Center near East 56th Street and Portland Avenue East. Approved.

Key Outcomes

Resolution 41973: Adopted (no recorded dissent).
Resolution 41974: Amendment to remove MFTE from consent agenda failed (voice vote); original resolution adopted.
Resolution 41975: Adopted (no recorded dissent).
Resolution 41976: Adopted (no recorded dissent).
Resolution 41977: Adopted (no recorded dissent).
Resolution 41978: Adopted (no recorded dissent).
Resolution 41979: Adopted (no recorded dissent).

Reports by the City Manager

No report.

Comments and Committee Reports of the City Council

Economic Development Committee (Chair Diaz): Reported two meetings since July 14. Discussed a potential pathway to a $20 minimum wage (Deputy Mayor Bushnell to present full proposal at a fall study session). Recommended four candidates for the Equity and Contracting Advisory Committee (to be considered August 11). Heard from Spaceworks Tacoma on creative placemaking. Upcoming interviews for Tacoma Creates Advisory Board.
Councilmember Walker: Announced a $2.4 million grant from Puget Sound Regional Council for South Pine Street pedestrian/bike/transit improvements (Center Street to South 47th Street), as part of the South Tacoma Sounder Station Access Improvements. Total project cost ~$21 million; leverages Sound Transit funds.
Mayor Ibsen: Urged support for Spokane wildfire relief via the city’s “Home Starts Here” fund; reminded voters of the primary election deadline (8 PM that evening) and encouraged use of drop boxes.

Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned after a motion and second.

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call the order of the City Council meeting of August 4th, 2026. Clerk, please call the roll. Deputy Mayor Bushnell. President. Councilmember Diaz. Councilmember Heinz. Councilmember Palmer. Councilmember Rumba. Here. Councilmember Sidalga? 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 Rumbaugh, followed by a moment of silence. We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest on the traditional lands of the Pual people, where they make their home and speak the La Shitsi language. Please stand for the flag salute and remain standing for a moment of silence. Liberty. Are there any modifications to the agenda this evening? Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda. There are no consent agenda items. There are no proclamations, recognitions, presentations, or announcements. 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. All right. And this is your opportunity to speak on any items on tonight's agenda. This forum is just is intended to give speakers the opportunity to share their viewpoints and feedback with the city council to aid in our decision making. It is not meant to be a back and forth dialogue. Your remarks should be directed to the city council and not an individual members of the council or staff members. If you wish to speak virtually, then you can either uh press the raise hand button or star nine. So with that, we have a few speakers. Um starting with uh Parks Commissioner Andrea Smith speaking to resolution 41979. Both me and Commissioner Bronwin Clark. We won't be mad about that. Go ahead. Awesome. Thank you all so much for uh giving this this time to speak. We are both really excited to speak for resolution 41979, providing wayfinding signage for Eastside Community Center. Since its opening in 2018, Eastside Community Center has been a hub for community just as intended. It serves thousands of people of all ages and abilities through programs, open gym, open swim, fitness, senior gatherings, classes, community events, and private rentals. But looking from the street, you would never know it. Um because as a resident of District 4, I can attest that I, if you haven't specifically been to an event at the East Side, you might not know that it's there because it is hidden by a beautiful grove of trees. I actually lived in the East Side since 2020, and I think the first time I found the community center was when I went to a planning commission meeting there. Um and was like, oh, this exists. This is amazing.

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