Tacoma City Council Study Session - February 4, 2025

The Tacoma City Council held a study session on February 4, 2025, to receive updates on the Tacoma Dome Link Extension Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS), the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District moratorium extension, and to discuss tree preservation for non-development sites. The meeting also included committee reports, a city manager's weekly report, and a closed session on labor strategy. No formal votes were taken during the study session.

Tacoma Dome Link Extension Draft EIS Update

• Sound Transit staff (Austin Nielsen, Director of Government Relations for Pierce County, and Diane Wyder, TDLE Project Manager) presented the DEIS for the Tacoma Dome Link Extension, which will extend light rail from Federal Way to Tacoma with four new stations (South Federal Way, Fife, Portland Avenue, and Tacoma Dome), opening in 2035. The project is currently at 10% design. The DEIS was published December 13, 2024, with a public comment period ending February 10, 2025. Sound Transit reported over 4,000 unique visitors to the online open house and held four public hearings. The Sound Transit Board is expected to confirm or modify the preferred alternative later in 2025, with a final EIS in 2027 and construction beginning in 2029.
• Key alternatives in the Tacoma Dome area include the preferred alternative (25th Street station), the "close to sounder" alternative (near Freight House Square), and the 26th Street station. The close to sounder option offers the best multimodal integration but would require rebuilding Amtrak and Sounder stations, temporary closure of the L Street Bridge, and would displace many small businesses in Freight House Square. The 25th Street station has visual impacts (tunnel effect) and would require a temporary full closure of the T-line. The 26th Street station is farthest from other transit. The comparative cost analysis at 10% design shows close to sounder may be the least costly.
• The Puallop River crossing options include a long-span bridge (60 feet higher than I-5) that would significantly impact views of Mount Rainier from the Puyallup Tribe's ceremonial grounds, and an in-river bridge with more water resource impacts. The Puyallup Tribe has expressed concerns about treaty fishing rights and cultural resources.
• City staff (Brian Boudet, Planning Manager) noted the council will consider a resolution to express its preferred alternative in the coming months. Councilmember Walker, Sound Transit board member, emphasized the importance of community input and that the council's letter will be valuable before the board decision. Councilmember Rumba stressed linking the Puyallup Avenue corridor economically to the station. Councilmember Bushnell asked about business relocation assistance; Sound Transit described a relocation program offering fair market value and relocation benefits, and noted that the close to sounder alternative might include non-transit ground-floor uses, but that is unprecedented. Councilmember Hines asked about re-engagement with property owners after the final decision.

South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District Moratorium Extension

• Senior Planner Maryam Moeinian presented the need for a six-month extension of the existing moratorium on new underground storage tanks, metal recycling, and auto wrecking facilities in the South Tacoma Groundwater Protection District. The moratorium, originally adopted in March 2023 and extended twice, expires March 20, 2025. The extension is intended to be the final one, with a goal to adopt updated code by September 2025.
• The updated work plan (adopted December 2023) includes reviewing high-impact use standards, infiltration policy, impervious surface standards, landscaping and tree canopy standards, a Health Impact Assessment (HIA), and improving integration with the Critical Areas Ordinance. Outreach in 2024 included events such as Spotlight on South Tacoma, Sustainability Expo, and meetings with business groups. Two advisory groups (HIA Advisory Group with 9 members, and IRP Public Advisory Committee with multiple agency representatives) have been meeting regularly.
• The public hearing on the extension was scheduled for the evening of February 4, with first reading on February 11 and final reading on February 25. Councilmember Walker confirmed the six-month duration and that staff expects to complete the code update within that timeframe. Councilmember Bushnell praised the extensive outreach. Councilmember Rumba asked about follow-up to measure improvements; Esther Baumier from Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department responded that inspections and coordination will be key indicators, and air quality issues may require a multi-agency approach.

Tree Preservation for Non-Development Sites

• Councilmember Walker, chair of the Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability (IPS) Committee, introduced the topic as a work assignment from the fall. The IPS committee will hold two meetings in February: February 12 for an urban forestry program briefing, and February 26 to discuss next steps for policy updates on tree preservation for non-development sites. This work stems from the Home in Tacoma amendment that removed such provisions from the zoning code, with the goal of creating a citywide tree preservation code.
• Councilmember Rumba provided a detailed statement urging data-driven policy to reach the 30% tree canopy goal by 2030, citing the urban heat island effect (up to 6.2°F increase in Tacoma). She suggested studying policies from other cities (Olympia, Seattle, Redmond, Bainbridge Island) and using new LIDAR data to assess current canopy. She cautioned against relying solely on planting on public land if that alternative is not feasible. Councilmember Hines shared questions from the Northern Neighborhood Council meeting, including whether trees on private property are public assets, how to balance property rights, who should pay for maintenance, and whether residents should be allowed to remove trees for any reason.

Key Outcomes

• No formal votes were taken during the study session. The council will hold a public hearing on the groundwater moratorium extension later that evening. First reading of the ordinance is scheduled for February 11, final reading February 25.
• The council will consider a resolution on the preferred alternative for the Tacoma Dome Link Extension in the coming months, with a Sound Transit Board decision anticipated in summer 2025.
• The IPS committee will begin its work on tree preservation for non-development sites in February 2025, with the goal of bringing recommendations to the full council.