The Tacoma City Council held a study session on February 25, 2025, covering a broad range of topics including a final update on the Violent Crime Reduction Plan, progress on the Tideflats Subarea Plan, a briefing on the Black History Survey, and introductions of several policy resolutions. The meeting included detailed presentations, council discussion, and an executive session on pending litigation.
Assistant Chief Crystal Young-Haskins and Dr. Michael Smith (University of Texas) presented the fifth and final report on the Violent Crime Reduction Plan, which ran from July 2022 through February 2025. Key statistics for the last six months of 2024 (July–December) compared to the same period in 2023:
The midterm place-based strategy on the East 25th Street corridor saw no significant change in violent crime but a substantial increase in calls for service, interpreted as positive community engagement. Dr. Smith presented an interrupted time series analysis showing an immediate impact from the plan. Councilmembers Diaz and Hines questioned how results compared to other cities and whether reductions were attributable to the plan; Dr. Smith cautioned against direct comparisons but provided internal analysis. Councilmember Rumba highlighted positive community feedback from businesses in the East 25th corridor. The partnership with the University of Texas concludes, but TPD will continue strategies within ongoing operations.
Principal Planner Steve Atkinson presented an update on the seven-year, multi-jurisdictional planning effort. The steering committee’s draft plan was handed off to the city for adoption. Key elements include a new zoning framework with six zones tailored to the area, replacing existing M1, M2, and PMI zones. The plan addresses environment, health, tribal assets, transportation, and economic development. Next steps: planning commission public hearing (March 19–April 18), final environmental impact statement (April), health impact assessment, planning commission recommendation (June), then city council public hearing and action. Mayor Woodards emphasized the collaborative process and urgency to adopt in 2025. Councilmember Walker praised the new zoning; Councilmember Rumba asked about amendment timelines. Staff encouraged early council input to avoid delays.
Historic Preservation Officer Reuben McKnight, along with consultants Monette Hearn and Ellen Miro, presented findings from a National Park Service grant-funded survey of Black heritage sites in Tacoma. The study documented historic discrimination (restrictive covenants, redlining, displacement) and its effect on underrepresentation on the Tacoma Register. Examples included the Ray Gibson Caballeros Club (National Register nomination in progress) and the Tacoma campus of Evergreen State College (moved eight times). Future goals: add 10 local register sites, develop a Black history context statement, and include Black history in all future context updates. Councilmembers expressed strong support and interest in ensuring the work continues beyond the current grant scope.
I'd like to call to order the city council study session of February 25th, 2025. Clerk, will you please call the roll? Councilmember Bushnell. Present. Deputy Mayor Daniels. Councilmember Diaz. Here. Councilmember Hines. Absent. Councilmember Rumba. Here. Councilmember Sidalgay. Here. Councilmember Scott. Here. Councilmember Walker. Here. Mayor Woodards? Here. Mayor and Council members. This study session material was sent to you at 1101. All right. Well, good mor good after us. Let's say good morning, everyone, but it did just turn afternoon. So good afternoon, everyone. We have several agenda items today, including an executive session. So we're gonna jump right in. And our first agenda item is the crime plan update. What we're gonna be seeing today during this presentation is really stats on what has already happened in our community. I know that there have been several homicides this year, but that's not the focus of today's conversation. So this is about data and trends, and we can provide opportunities for that more for that other detailed conversation. But today's really just about data and trends. And so with that, I am going to call on Assistant Chief Young's Haskins for introductions and to begin the presentation. So I will turn it over to you, Chief. The button on the right. There you go. All right, when it turns red, you got it. All right, good afternoon, Mayor, and all of our council members and to the city manager and the city attorney and the city clerk and everyone that's in the gallery. Um I am the assistant chief Crystal Young Haskins, and I currently am assigned to our operations bureau. And I was tasked today to come down and present the introduction to our violent crime plan. And so I just have a few remarks before the staff with UTSA takes over, and Dr. Michael Smith has joined online to uh present today. And so we have um utilized this plan over the last 30 uh months. It started in July of 2022 through February 2025, and we've been focused on you know reducing violent crime with homicides, robberies, and aggravated assaults through the violent crime reduction plan. And the plan was drafted in partnership with the university and in consultation with our staff. We've done approximately four presentations already that are currently uh listed on the city's uh website under the violent crime plan reduction link. And so today is the fifth and final presentation for our violent crime strategy. Um and so I would be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that this plan was a huge undertaking for our staff over the last 30 months, and that um so many of our department members um chipped in and did their part to make um the results what they are today. And so um, if I could take a little bit of time to talk about those members before Dr. Smith presents the uh full presentation.