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Record of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Study Session: Streets Initiative II and Other Items - November 5, 2024

City Council Study Session — Tuesday, November 5, 2024
BodyTacoma, Washington
SessionCity Council Study Session
DateTuesday, November 5, 2024
StatusFILED
Video Record
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Transcript — Verbatim
0:02

I'd like to call to order the city council study session of November 5th, 2024.

0:07

Clerk, will you please call the roll?

0:10

Councilmember Bushnell.

0:11

Present.

0:12

Councilmember Daniels.

0:13

Here.

0:13

Councilmember Diaz.

0:15

Here.

0:15

Deputy Mayor Hines.

0:16

Here.

0:16

Council Member Rumba.

0:17

Here.

0:18

Council Member Sidalgate.

0:19

Here.

0:19

Councilmember Scott.

0:20

Here.

0:21

Councilmember Walker.

0:22

Here.

0:22

Mayor Woodards.

0:24

Here.

0:24

Mayor and Council members, the study session material sent to you at 1103.

0:29

All right.

0:30

I would now, our first agenda item today is the Streets Initiative, part two.

0:36

And I would like to call on public works director, Ramiro Chavez to begin the presentation.

0:42

And he is joining us at the table.

0:50

Thank you.

0:51

Good afternoon, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Council Members.

0:55

I am Ramiro Chavez, your Republic Works Director and City Engine.

0:59

Today I will be briefing you on the next streets initiative, as we call the Streets Initiative number two.

1:07

This presentation, this briefing will include information about the funding package, project criteria, project opportunities, timeline.

1:17

In a draft of our proposed potential ballot language, the we're hoping the council will approve to place it on the April 2025 ballot election.

1:31

But first, um let me start with a brief overview of our current streets initiative.

1:36

Next slide, please.

1:40

As a matter of background, back in 2015, uh the voters of Tacoma approved proposition number three and proposition number A.

1:51

They will uh generate funding uh for streets repair, maintenance, and safety improvements, mainly focusing on residential streets.

2:00

And that was the focus of the first streets initiative as we have it.

2:05

Uh the propositions raise uh funding through a tax increase.

2:09

Um proposition number three uh lapses on December 31st, 2025.

2:16

And uh proposition A has a little bit of a couple more months and in uh receiving revenue, and I will touch base a little bit more on the nuances of that uh on the next slide.

2:28

Back in 2015, uh no yet, sorry.

2:32

Back in 2015, uh the two propositions uh we expected to generate just about 175 million dollars.

2:42

And also we set a goal to uh generate close to 90 million dollars on grants.

2:49

So we in 2015 um we had a goal that this initiative will have a value of just about 325 million dollars.

2:59

Fast forward to today.

3:01

We the value of the current streets initiative number one is at 397 million dollars.

3:08

And again, uh uh the this streets initiative was focusing mainly on residential streets.

3:14

Next slide.

3:17

Proposition three included two included two elements back in 2015.

3:22

Um the voters approved uh uh utility tax of 1.5 percent, and also they approve uh 20 cents per a thousand valuation and property tax, and the performance of that initiative is 10 years, and again, this uh proposition ends December 31st, 2025.

3:43

Proposition A was under the umbrella of the Transportation Benefit District, and uh the voters approve an increase of one-tenth of one percent of the sales tax.

3:54

And because of the of the collection, that collection is gonna take us uh a couple more months into 2026 when uh this proposition will end.

4:05

And against the performance of uh of the uh streets initiation number one as approved by the voters is 10-year performance period.

4:13

Next slide, please.

4:17

So highlighting some of the accomplishments of the streets initiative number one, and again I'd like to focus on the value of what we have been able to generate based on what the voters approve and entrusted the city with the uh raise uh taxes and fees.

4:34

Just to give an example, for every dollar the voters approve on their both street uh proposition three and proposition A, we have been able to leverage that value to $2.25 for every dollar that we have been able to generate.

4:51

Also, we have been extremely successful in securing aside grants, and again, we had a goal of 90 million dollars back in 2015.

5:00

So far, we have been able to secure 135 million dollars in state, federal and other grants.

5:08

And we have been able to allocate to 59 projects under the streets initiative.

5:14

Back in 2015, since the streets initiative was focusing on arterial and residential work, we set out a goal to uh improve uh close to 5600 blocks of residential blocks in the city.

5:29

I'm happy to report we're gonna be uh outpacing that goal by the end of the streets initiative number one, we'll be a little bit north of the 6,000 blocks that we have in terms of residential blocks.

Discussion Breakdown — Share of Meeting
Public Works█████████████████17%
Economic Development████████████████16%
Public Engagement███████████████15%
Transportation Safety██████████████14%
Public Finance████████████12%
Public Safety█████████9%
Climate Change█████5%
Procedural████4%
Budget Equity Analysis████4%
Summary of Proceedings

Tacoma City Council Study Session - November 5, 2024

The Tacoma City Council held a study session on November 5, 2024, at 12:00 PM in Council Chambers. The agenda included a briefing on the proposed Streets Initiative II, proposed adjustments to municipal code regarding debt collection and claim settlements, a council consideration request to create a Climate and Sustainability Commission, and a request to establish a Business Safety and Resilience Program. The meeting concluded with an executive session on pending litigation.

Streets Initiative II

  • Director Ramiro Chavez presented a proposal for a second streets initiative (Streets Initiative II) to be placed on the April 2025 ballot.
  • The initiative would increase the utility tax from 1.5% to 2% and the property tax from $0.20 to $0.25 per $1,000 valuation, with a 15-year performance period.
  • Combined with the continuation of the existing Transportation Benefit District sales tax (one-tenth of one percent), total estimated revenue is $540 million. With anticipated grants of $300 million and partnerships of $60 million, the total program value is projected at $900 million.
  • The focus shifts from residential streets (addressed in Initiative I, which achieved over 6,000 improved residential blocks) to arterial roads, multi-modal improvements, Vision Zero safety, and neighborhood greenways.
  • Average household increase: $20/year in property tax and $30/year in utility tax above current levels.
  • Council discussion included strong support for the level of detail, district-specific opportunity projects, community engagement strategies, and the successful leverage of grant funds (every dollar raised yielded $2.27 in grants under Initiative I).
  • Next steps: December 3rd for a TBD proposal, December 17th for ballot measure approval.

Tacoma Municipal Code Title 1 - Proposed Adjustments to Collection of Debts, Settlement of Claims and Filing of Claims

  • City Attorney Chris Bacha presented proposed adjustments to administrative settlement authority for claims against the city (currently $30,000, last increased in 1988) and claims owed to the city (currently $25,000, last increased in 1995).
  • Staff recommended increasing to a range of $250,000 to $500,000, but the Government Performance and Finance Committee suggested $250,000.
  • Council discussion highlighted concerns about transparency and the large jump from current levels. Councilmember Sidalgay proposed $100,000 based on inflation and data showing that over 71% of non-zero settlements were under $100,000 in the last 20 years.
  • Mayor noted that the council has never rejected a settlement, and the city attorney offered to provide quarterly reports for transparency.
  • Consensus emerged around $100,000; the city attorney will bring back an ordinance with that threshold.

Council Consideration Request - Ordinance to Amend Title 1 to Include a Climate and Sustainability Commission

  • Councilmember Walker presented a CCR to enshrine the Sustainable Tacoma Commission in municipal code, renaming it the Climate and Sustainability Commission.
  • Key changes: the name includes “Climate”; one member required from each of the five council districts; youth seat age expanded from 16–18 to 16–24 with a one-year open window; total membership kept at 13 (not reduced to 11 as proposed in charter review).
  • The commission will continue its work on climate action planning. The ordinance will be brought forward in December.
  • Councilmember noted that the charter review committee had proposed a carbon budget element, but it was not advanced due to cost and complexity.

Council Consideration Request - Establish a Business Safety and Resilience Program

  • Councilmember Daniels proposed a program funded by a portion of business license fee revenue: 1.5% ($230,000) in 2025, 3% ($460,000) in 2026, and 6% ($1 million/year ongoing) starting in the 2027–2028 biennium.
  • The program would provide financial and technical assistance to businesses for safety, infrastructure, facade improvements, climate resilience, and pedestrian environment enhancements.
  • Council discussion included concerns about budget trade-offs given the current structural deficit, the need for ongoing funding offsets (cannot use one-time funds for ongoing costs), and alignment with existing business support programs (e.g., $300,000 in UDAG loans already proposed).
  • City Manager noted that the program would require a budget amendment and offsetting cuts. Councilmember Daniels emphasized flexibility and responsiveness to the business climate survey.
  • Further deliberation will occur in upcoming budget discussions; a special meeting on November 8th will address budget amendments.

Key Outcomes

  • Council directed staff to bring forward an ordinance for the Streets Initiative II ballot measure on December 17th.
  • For settlement authority, consensus was to set administrative settlement authority at $100,000; the city attorney will draft an ordinance for December 3rd.
  • The Climate and Sustainability Commission CCR will be drafted into an ordinance for December consideration.
  • The Business Safety and Resilience Program CCR was discussed; further discussion is scheduled for the November 8th special meeting on budget amendments.
  • The meeting adjourned to executive session for pending litigation (not to exceed 30 minutes).

Meeting Transcript

I'd like to call to order the city council study session of November 5th, 2024. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell. Present. Councilmember Daniels. Here. Councilmember Diaz. Here. Deputy Mayor Hines. Here. Council Member Rumba. Here. Council Member Sidalgate. Here. Councilmember Scott. Here. Councilmember Walker. Here. Mayor Woodards. Here. Mayor and Council members, the study session material sent to you at 1103. All right. I would now, our first agenda item today is the Streets Initiative, part two. And I would like to call on public works director, Ramiro Chavez to begin the presentation. And he is joining us at the table. Thank you. Good afternoon, Mayor, Deputy Mayor, Council Members. I am Ramiro Chavez, your Republic Works Director and City Engine. Today I will be briefing you on the next streets initiative, as we call the Streets Initiative number two. This presentation, this briefing will include information about the funding package, project criteria, project opportunities, timeline. In a draft of our proposed potential ballot language, the we're hoping the council will approve to place it on the April 2025 ballot election. But first, um let me start with a brief overview of our current streets initiative. Next slide, please. As a matter of background, back in 2015, uh the voters of Tacoma approved proposition number three and proposition number A. They will uh generate funding uh for streets repair, maintenance, and safety improvements, mainly focusing on residential streets. And that was the focus of the first streets initiative as we have it. Uh the propositions raise uh funding through a tax increase. Um proposition number three uh lapses on December 31st, 2025. And uh proposition A has a little bit of a couple more months and in uh receiving revenue, and I will touch base a little bit more on the nuances of that uh on the next slide. Back in 2015, uh no yet, sorry. Back in 2015, uh the two propositions uh we expected to generate just about 175 million dollars. And also we set a goal to uh generate close to 90 million dollars on grants. So we in 2015 um we had a goal that this initiative will have a value of just about 325 million dollars. Fast forward to today. We the value of the current streets initiative number one is at 397 million dollars. And again, uh uh the this streets initiative was focusing mainly on residential streets. Next slide. Proposition three included two included two elements back in 2015. Um the voters approved uh uh utility tax of 1.5 percent, and also they approve uh 20 cents per a thousand valuation and property tax, and the performance of that initiative is 10 years, and again, this uh proposition ends December 31st, 2025. Proposition A was under the umbrella of the Transportation Benefit District, and uh the voters approve an increase of one-tenth of one percent of the sales tax.

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