Tacoma City Council Regular Meeting - October 6, 2026

The Tacoma City Council met on October 6, 2026, with Mayor Ibsen presiding. The meeting opened with roll call, a land acknowledgement, the flag salute, and a moment of silence for Dolores Sibonga, the first Filipino lawyer in Washington State and first woman of color on the Seattle City Council. No agenda modifications were offered. The council adopted the consent agenda, presented five proclamations, heard public comment, passed two ordinances on final reading, and received reports from the city manager and council committees.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was adopted by voice vote, including Resolutions 42034 through 42040 and first readings of Ordinances 29122 and 29123. The hearing examiner's findings for Ordinances 29122 and 29123 were accepted, and the ordinances were set over to a date to be determined.
• Resolution 42034 set a public hearing for October 20, 2026, no earlier than 5:15 p.m., on declaring three Tacoma Water properties in unincorporated Pierce County surplus and transferring them at no cost to Pierce County for affordable housing.
• Resolution 42035 accepted a $5,090,974 grant from the Washington Criminal Justice Training Commission, contingent on Tacoma Police Department selection in the second round under Engrossed Substitute House Bill 2015, for technology, vehicles, equipment, and specialized training through June 30, 2027.
• Resolution 42036 authorized a 12-year Multi-Family Housing Limited Property Tax Exemption Agreement with UPS No 1, LLC for six units at 820 North Union Avenue.
• Resolution 42037 authorized a 12-year Multi-Family Housing Limited Property Tax Exemption Agreement with PVL Homes LLC for 18 units at 3017 South 13th Street.
• Resolution 42038 authorized a 12-year Multi-Family Housing Limited Property Tax Exemption Agreement with Martin Daniel C and Sandra L for five units at 1721 South 35th Street.
• Resolution 42039 awarded a contract to Systems for Public Safety Inc. for $875,000 plus taxes, budgeted from the Equipment Rental Fund, for law enforcement vehicle upfitting through December 31, 2027, using City of Seattle Contract No. 5538.
• Resolution 42040 increased the contract with Solid Waste Systems Inc. by $300,000, budgeted from the Solid Waste Fund, for 300-gallon plastic containers and parts, bringing the projected contract total to $767,032 plus taxes.
• Ordinance 29122 (first reading) would vacate a portion of South MacArthur Street right-of-way to cure a freestanding business sign encroachment (Myung Kyu Corp.; File No. 124.1450).
• Ordinance 29123 (first reading) would vacate portions of unopened Lemons Beach Road right-of-way to comply with a litigation settlement consent decree (City of Tacoma; File No. 124.1468).
• The consent calendar also included approval of payroll and payments for September 7-20, 2026: payroll of $25,388,762.44, payments of $24,051,754.27, and a total of $49,440,516.71.

Public Comments & Testimony

• Alex Scheel (District 4, speaking personally despite membership in Tacoma DSA and About Face Veterans Against the War) opposed the October 7th proclamation, calling it an honor to concentration camp guards, settler colonialists, and genociders. He said U.S. tax dollars support genocide against Palestinians and called for an end to the genocide, an end to war in Iran, and boycott, divestment, and sanctions, saying, "From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free."
• Lori Arnold (online) spoke against the October 7th proclamation because it did not recognize Palestinian suffering. She cited statistics that 89.3% of all deaths in Israel since 1948 have been Palestinian, 97.3% of all deaths since October 7, 2023, have been Palestinian, and more than 75% of all Palestinian deaths have occurred since October 7. She said many human rights organizations characterize Israel's actions as genocide and argued that criticism of the Israeli government is not inherently anti-Semitic.
• Paul Quinn (Sammamish) spoke on Resolution 42040. He praised Tacoma's contamination pilot but said more is needed, citing a 19% diversion rate versus Tacoma's 70% target. He recommended a $50,000 pilot using smart disposal containers that weigh residential garbage and send personalized reports to residents comparing their diversion rate with neighbors.
• Scott Nicholson spoke against the October 7th proclamation, saying it omitted the genocide in Gaza and the lopsided violence by the Israeli government. He asked the council to issue a proclamation denouncing deaths and genocide in Gaza.
• Jonathan Pottle (District 2) spoke against Resolutions 42036, 42037, and 42038, calling the property tax exemptions tax breaks for apartment developers. He contrasted those approvals with the difficult city budget process and the potential cut to the Hope Team, saying he did not accept the framing that the city is forced to make such cuts.

Proclamations & Recognitions

• Day of Remembrance for October 7th Loss of Life: The council proclaimed Wednesday, October 7, 2026, as a day of remembrance. The proclamation noted nearly 1,200 people killed, including 46 Americans, and approximately 250 people taken hostage. Rabbi Kieran Gorbin of Temple Bethel thanked the council for recognizing Jewish pain over the past three years without qualification. Councilmember Rumba thanked the rabbi and noted the antisemitism the Jewish community has faced.
• Arbor Day and Green Tacoma Day: The council proclaimed Saturday, October 10, 2026, as Arbor Day and Green Tacoma Day. Lizzie Materi (Environmental Services) and Jess Chandler (Pierce Conservation District) spoke for the Green Tacoma Partnership, highlighting 25 years of partnership, Tacoma's anticipated 33rd Tree City USA Award and 23rd Tree Line USA Award, and volunteer events at seven sites, including a hub at Wapato Hills Park with about 80 expected volunteers from 9 a.m. to noon.
• National Coming Out Day: The council proclaimed Sunday, October 11, 2026, as National Coming Out Day. Representatives from the Rainbow Center and OASIS spoke. The proclamation cited GLSEN's 2025 National School Climate Survey: 62% of LGBTQ students experienced harassment based on sexual orientation, 86% of trans and gender-expansive students avoided school areas, and 48% of BIPOC LGBTQIA2S+ students faced harassment due to race or ethnicity.
• Filipino American Heritage Month: The council proclaimed October 2026 as Filipino American Heritage Month. Speakers included Melanie Panui, Mari Cris Castro, Maria Monolac, and Dre Pasqua. They highlighted Filipino history in Tacoma, the October 15 event Ani: The Harvest of History at the Washington State History Museum, the 2019 state law establishing Filipino American History Month, Washington's 185,000 Filipino residents, and Governor Bob Ferguson's proclamation of October 2026 as Filipino Farm Worker History Month.
• Tacoma Arts Month and AMOCAT Arts Awards: The council proclaimed October 2026 as Tacoma Arts Month, marking its 25th anniversary. Jasmine Brown, chair of the Tacoma Arts Commission, spoke about the month's events, including the Tacoma Studio Tours with 120 artists opening 82 studios on October 17-18. Sierra Suafova McLean introduced the 2026 AMOCAT Arts Awards recipients: Teresa Pan Hosley, Angela Jossie, Rainbow Center, Ted Brown Music, and the Arts and Culture Coalition of Pierce County.

Final Readings of Ordinances

• Ordinance 29120 passed unanimously (9-0) on final reading. It amends Subtitle 6A of the Tacoma Municipal Code to increase utility tax rates from 6% to 7.5%, effective January 1, 2027, as approved by voters in Proposition No. 1 at the August 4, 2026, election.
• Ordinance 29121 passed unanimously (9-0) on final reading. It amends Chapter 6A.30 of the Municipal Code to update Business and Occupation Tax definitions as required by state law, effective January 1, 2027.

City Manager and Council Reports

• City Manager reports: The Tidy Up Tacoma cleanup on September 19, 2026, involved over 200 volunteers across 12 locations and removed about two tons of garbage. A Washington State Highway Safety Improvement Program grant of over $2.25 million will fund two new traffic signals on South 21st Street at Tacoma Avenue South and Yakima Avenue, with construction expected in early 2028. The Tacoma Fire Department provided CPR training to more than 900 participants over two sessions at the East Side Community Center and Foss High School.
• Operational Strategy and Administrative Committee report: The committee met on August 28 and September 18, 2026. It reviewed the city manager's work plan, discussed Tacoma 2035 check-ins, and agreed not to move backlogged items while the 2027-2028 budget is being adopted. The committee meets next on Friday, November 13, at 10:30 a.m.
• Councilmember Sidalgay announced a McKinley Hill event on Saturday, October 10, from 2 to 8 p.m., with two stages, at least 12 live performances, a haunted bazaar, and a kids zone.
• Councilmember Palmer read a statement responding to the proclamations and public comment, condemning violence harming civilians from Gaza to Jerusalem, Khartoum to Kiev, Sanaa to Bangkok, and the Philippines, and calling on Tacomans to stand against hatred and violence in all forms.
• Deputy Mayor Bushnell thanked residents and staff for the Industry Council meeting held the previous week, noting it gave residents in that district an opportunity to speak.

Key Outcomes

• The consent agenda was adopted by voice vote, including resolutions, first readings of Ordinances 29122 and 29123, and the September 7-20 payment approvals.
• Ordinance 29120 passed 9-0 and Ordinance 29121 passed 9-0 on final reading.
• The council issued five proclamations and recognized the 2026 AMOCAT Arts Award recipients.
• Public comment was received on the October 7th proclamation and on housing tax exemptions and waste diversion.
• The public hearing for Resolution 42034 is scheduled for October 20, 2026, and the next OSAC meeting is November 13, 2026.
• The meeting was adjourned after a motion and voice vote.