Tacoma City Council Meeting – October 27, 2026

The Tacoma City Council met on October 27, 2026, for a regular meeting that included a consent calendar, two proclamations, a Tacoma Public Schools partnership report, resolutions on labor and property transfer, a property-maintenance code ordinance, first readings of franchise and property-tax ordinances, and the first public hearing on the 2027–2028 biennial budget. The council adopted an agenda modification to hear the City Manager’s report after proclamations, and a special Transportation Benefit District meeting was scheduled immediately after adjournment.

Consent Calendar

• The consent agenda was adopted by voice vote, including Resolutions 42048–42052; final reading of Ordinance 29122, vacating a portion of South MacArthur Street right-of-way to cure a sign encroachment; and first reading of Ordinance 29126, vacating air rights at 735 North 2nd Street to construct balconies, set over to a date to be determined.
• Resolution 42048 accepted an $850,000 U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development grant for shelter expansion and site preparation at the Stability Site project.
• Resolution 42049 accepted a $3,739,551 HUD grant for formula-based entitlement programs and authorized agreements with Community Development Block Grant, HOME Investment Partnership Program, and Emergency Solutions Grant.
• Resolution 42050 accepted a $395,052 Department of Justice Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant, split equally with Pierce County, for community-based violence interventions (retroactive to Oct. 1, 2024 through Sept. 30, 2028).
• Resolution 42051 accepted a $637,000 Washington State Department of Commerce grant for the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program (retroactive to Sept. 1, 2026 through June 30, 2027).
• Resolution 42052 awarded a contract to Vets Power Electric LLC for a new energy-efficient HVAC system at the Fire Training Center for $447,200 plus a 15% contingency, for a projected contract total of $514,280 plus applicable taxes.
• Minutes of the Landmarks Preservation Commission, Planning Commission, Public Utility Board, and Tacoma Creates Advisory Board listed on the agenda were filed with the City Clerk.

Proclamations and Recognitions

• National Immigrants Day (Oct. 28, 2026): The council proclaimed National Immigrants Day. Representatives of immigrant and refugee service organizations spoke in support, including TRAC Associates, the Slavic Association of Tacoma, and the Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center. One speaker noted that one in five families in Tacoma speak a language other than English at home. Councilmember Sidalga, who identified himself as a foreign-born immigrant, stressed the importance of welcoming communities and noted that 78% of foreign-born individuals in Pierce County live outside Tacoma.
• National Co-Op Month (October 2026): The council proclaimed October 2026 as National Co-Op Month. Speakers highlighted the number of local cooperatives, including 18 credit unions, 7 resident-owned housing cooperatives, 18 consumer cooperatives, and 10 preschool cooperatives. One speaker reported that worker cooperatives recycle about 80% of revenue into the community, compared with roughly 30–50% for a typical privately owned business. Councilmembers spoke in support of cooperatives as a way to keep money local and expand ownership.

City Manager Report: Tacoma Public Schools Partnership

• Superintendent Dr. Josh Garcia, School Board Director Elizabeth Brombright, and Director Kim Messersmith presented an update on Tacoma Public Schools–City partnerships.
• Beyond the Bell and Club B reported 2,729 student registrations, about 2,100 unique students, 287 programs at 46 school sites, and 38 community partners.
• Summer Teen Late Nights served about 2,000 unique students, a 47% increase, with 12,000 visits and meals at approximately 9–10 sites.
• Jobs 253 provided paid internships to 815 students, distributing over $400,000 in pay.
• Mental health providers supported by the city served over 10,000 youth on TPS sites last year.
• A new Tacoma Police Department youth engagement officer program was launched, and the city supported TPS construction projects completed in 2026, including the Maritime Skill Center, Lowell Elementary Replacement Project, Galt site and soccer pitch, Foss High School renovations, and Jenny Reed Elementary renovations.

Public Comments & Testimony

Pre-budget public comment

• Tyler Daniels spoke on Communications item 26-0949, expressing concern about environmental toxicity from industry and what he described as historic inaction by the city; he said he planned to leave Tacoma and would provide the clerk a list of concerns.
• One virtual attendee initially attempted to comment on the budget during the general public comment period and was redirected to the budget hearing later in the agenda.

2027–2028 Biennial Budget Public Hearing

• Steve O’Bann, on behalf of True Bay Healthcare, supported full funding for the St. Anne’s expansion, describing the existing 61-bed facility as serving formerly homeless residents with complex care needs and at 30% AMI or less; he said 57% of residents come from Tacoma and the facility is at capacity.
• Michael Mira, on behalf of the Affordable Housing Consortium of Tacoma Pierce County, supported the $1.5 million St. Anne’s request and said the project addresses all five urgencies identified in local homelessness plans.
• Amanda DeShazo, executive director of the Tacoma Pierce County Affordable Housing Consortium, voiced strong support for the St. Anne’s investment as a one-time capital cost for permanent supportive housing.
• Numerous speakers supported preserving the HOPE team, including Denise Gentile, Teresa Power Drudis, Barb Church, Julie Andrzejewski, Jonathan Pottle, Megan Salvage, Fenn Pelletier, Marilyn Kimmerling, Rob Crable, Calista Brown, Anita Arnold, and a virtual speaker signed in as Tacoma Tenants. They described HOPE team members as credentialed behavioral-health responders, argued the HEAL program is not equivalent, and called for an independent alternative-response study before any cuts.
• Laura Swanzarek from Tacoma on the Go supported continued investment in safe, connected, and equitable mobility and asked that Connect Tacoma funds be allocated transparently with attention to Vision Zero high-risk corridors.
• Chris Aberhart and Leon Nettles supported continued investment in safe streets and cycling infrastructure, with Nettles speaking as executive director of Second Cycle.
• Lydia Zapeda and Norma Ramirez urged the council to fully fund the Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs recommendation of $170,000 annually — $140,000 for legal services and $30,000 for phone calls — for people detained at the Northwest ICE Processing Center. Zapeda said over 5,000 people passed through the facility in 2025, and Ramirez said about 85% of detainees navigate cases without a lawyer.
• Alma Viegas also supported the $170,000 detention-center funding request and said the city’s budget choices reflect priorities.
• Sally Perkins asked the council to require written answers before the Nov. 17 budget vote on how one-tenth of 1% public-safety sales tax funds are allocated in line with RCW 82.14.460.
• Tyler Daniels, speaking again during the budget hearing, criticized the budget’s scarcity mindset and alleged city personnel practices had cost over $150,000 in private counsel; he urged investment in infrastructure and policy implementation.
• Bridget Demerson, a virtual speaker, said her business, Levons Road, was displaced from a city-backed Tacoma Housing Authority commercial space project and asked the council to enforce independent oversight of economic development funds.
• Gloria Garcia, a virtual speaker, said no budget funds should be used to fight voter-approved landlord fairness measures and suggested enforcing disabled-parking fines as a revenue source.

Discussion Items

• Resolution 42053 – IBEW Local 483 trouble crew overtime: Labor Relations Division Manager Dylan Carlson explained that Tacoma Power operates three 24/7 trouble crews and has struggled to fill vacancies. The Letter of Agreement changes overtime rules so that crew members working overtime immediately before a regular shift, or receiving less than eight consecutive hours off, receive overtime pay for the regular shift. The Public Utility Board approved the agreement Oct. 14, 2026. The council adopted the resolution by voice vote.
• Resolution 42054 – Surplus Tacoma Water properties: Staff presented the no-cost transfer of three vacant properties in unincorporated Pierce County to Pierce County for affordable housing: 0.97 acres at 9512 East 17th Avenue, 1.037 acres at 10240 18th Avenue South, and 0.679 acres at 10737 Ainsworth Avenue South. Pierce County was the only party expressing interest; one property will go to Housing Pierce County for rental housing and two to the Pierce County Community Development Corporation for homeownership. The transfer includes a 50-year covenant and reserved easements. The council adopted the resolution by voice vote.
• Ordinance 29125 – Property Maintenance and Nuisance Code: Councilmembers discussed the final reading of the ordinance adding new Chapter 2.24 and amending Titles 1, 2, 5, and 8. Councilmember Sidalga said the code update is necessary but not sufficient, noting the city has only two code enforcement officers. Deputy Mayor Bushnell supported the ordinance as a step toward voluntary compliance and future proactive enforcement. The ordinance passed on roll call and takes effect Jan. 1, 2027.
• Ordinance 29127 – Verizon Business Services telecommunications franchise: The first reading would grant MCI Communications Services LLC dba Verizon Business Services a non-exclusive ten-year franchise to construct, operate, and repair a telecommunications system. It was approved by the Government Performance and Finance Committee on Oct. 20, 2026, and set over for final reading Nov. 17, 2026.
• Ordinances 29128–29131 – 2027 property tax levies: Finance staff presented four first-reading ordinances covering the regular property tax and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) levy. The regular levy would increase by the 1% limit, with a certified 2027 amount of $82.7 million including about $9.1 million from the voter-approved Connect Tacoma lid lift. The EMS levy would increase by the full 6%, producing $24.3 million before additional revenues, subject to the 50-cent per $1,000 assessed-value limit. Staff corrected a prior slide error identifying Sound Transit, not Pierce Transit, as the transit agency levying 16 cents per $1,000. All four ordinances were set over for final reading Nov. 10, 2026.
• 2027–2028 Biennial Budget presentation: Finance Director Andy Cherullo presented a $5.3 billion biennial budget covering all departments and utilities, with a $696 million general fund and about 4,200 employees. The general fund structural deficit started at $40 million and was closed to zero through department reductions, elimination of over 100 positions, and proposed new revenues; the projected 2029–2030 deficit fell from $75 million to $18 million, and projected 2031–2032 deficits fell from over $100 million to $40 million. Community survey results rated emergency services, schools, and parks high, while code enforcement, street conditions, crime, and cost of living rated low. Proposed new revenues include business-license fee restructuring, a parking excise tax, and the previously approved one-tenth of 1% public-safety sales tax. The proposed budget also included eliminating the CSO program and the HOPE team, along with targeted investments in fire apparatus, police equipment, litter and graffiti cleanup, cybersecurity, and permanent supportive housing beds.

Council Comments and Committee Reports

• Chair Rumbaugh reported that the Community Vitality and Safety Committee met on Sept. 24, Oct. 8, and Oct. 22, 2026, covering the human services RFP recommendations, resiliency hub collaboration, Tacoma Housing Authority, and the Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities. The next committee meeting is Thursday, Dec. 10, 2026, and will include Police Advisory Committee interviews and a presentation by federal lobbyist Jennifer Cavino on the Road to Housing Act.
• Councilmember Sidalga invited the community to a Diwali celebration.

Key Outcomes

• Consent agenda adopted, including grant acceptances, the HVAC purchase resolution, and ordinance first and final readings as listed; Ordinance 29126 was set over to a date to be determined.
• Resolutions 42053 and 42054 adopted by voice vote.
• Ordinance 29125 passed on roll call, effective Jan. 1, 2027.
• Ordinance 29127 set over for final reading on Nov. 17, 2026.
• Ordinances 29128, 29129, 29130, and 29131 set over for final reading on Nov. 10, 2026.
• The first public hearing on the 2027–2028 biennial budget was held. Budget amendments are expected to be brought Nov. 3; the Nov. 10 meeting will include the second public hearing and amendment votes; final budget adoption is scheduled for Nov. 17, 2026.
• The regular council meeting was adjourned; the Transportation Benefit District special meeting was scheduled to convene immediately after adjournment.