City Council Study Session - December 2, 2025
City Council Study Session - December 2, 2025
The City Council convened a study session on December 2, 2025, featuring informational briefings and discussion on major regulatory challenges facing the city, including state nutrient regulations for Puget Sound and amendments to the Landlord Fairness Code initiative. Council members engaged in detailed deliberations regarding financial implications, scientific validity of current standards, and tenant protections, while also reviewing proposals for business resiliency funding. Deputy Mayor Daniels was absent; all other council members and the mayor were present.
Consent Calendar
- No specific consent calendar items were formally approved or discussed as a separate routine block in this study session; the meeting proceeded directly to agenda items.
Public Comments & Testimony
- No formal public comment period was recorded for the general public during this study session; however, various council members referenced data and anecdotes provided by community members (e.g., housing authority board members, local nonprofits, and residents) during their deliberations.
Discussion Items
Puget Sound Nutrient Regulations
- Presentation: Environmental Services Director Ramiro Chavez and Principal Engineer Theresa Peterson presented on the Washington State Department of Ecology's draft 2025 Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit and Nutrient Reduction Plan.
- Financial Position: The Department expressed strong concern that the proposed stringent nutrient limits would require capital investments of $625 million to $1.25 billion. Without substantial external funding, this would increase average monthly household wastewater bills from the current $68 to over $400 (at the lower cost estimate) and potentially much higher, pushing the percentage of income burden for Tacoma households from 14% today to 67% by 2050.
- Scientific Position: City officials argued that Ecology relies on a highly conservative 1967 marine standard and the Salish C model, which lacks EPA approval and may not reflect current biological science. They called for regulatory decisions to be grounded in the "best available science" through formal collaboration with academic institutions like the University of Washington.
- Growth & Affordability Position: The City stated that compliance with the draft permit's pre-2021 discharge caps would effectively freeze growth, hindering the city's ability to support the Growth Management Act, economic development, and affordable housing initiatives. Councilmember Rumbaugh and others emphasized the tension between state mandates for density and the regulatory barriers to achieving them.
- Regional Partnership Position: Council members, including Hines and Bushnell, supported the Environmental Services Department's coordinated effort with other Puget Sound utilities and the Association of Washington Cities to advocate for a balanced, science-based approach and a third-party facilitator for regional discussions.
Landlord Fairness Code Amendments
- Amendments Presented: Councilmember Rumbaugh presented amendments based on the November 18th study session, including limiting deed-restricted affordable housing exemptions to nonprofit entities, changing the cold weather eviction defense AMI threshold from 80% to 120%, adjusting the defense dates to November 14–March 15, limiting late fees to 1.5% of rent, and consolidating notice requirements from two notices to one 180-day notice.
- Nonprofit Exemption Debate: Councilmember Bushnell expressed support for the original language keeping all deed-restricted affordable housing exempt regardless of profit status, arguing that for-profit entities can provide affordable housing. Councilmember Rumbaugh and others noted that the community concerns and data from nonprofits (who track data meticulously) favored the nonprofit restriction.
- Means Testing Position: Councilmember Scott and Councilmember Diaz strongly opposed including means testing (120% AMI) for the cold weather eviction defense, arguing it creates administrative burdens and that anecdotes of wealthy tenants abusing the system were unverified. Councilmember Diaz proposed an amendment to remove the AMI requirement entirely.
- Data & Enforcement Position: Councilmember Hines and Deputy Mayor Daniels raised concerns about the lack of data regarding evictions and the potential for the policy to create a divide between landlords and tenants. It was noted that the city does not maintain a registry of unit ownership; enforcement would be a civil matter for the courts, where judges determine if a landlord qualifies for small landlord exemptions.
- Reconciliation: Councilmember Rumbaugh indicated that the remaining substantive issues, particularly data tracking and potential integration with the Rental Housing Code, would be deferred to the Council on Community Vitality and Safety (CCVS) for further review in the new year.
Business Safety and Resiliency Program
- Proposal: Deputy Mayor Daniels proposed an ordinance to establish a Business Safety and Resiliency Program, funded by dedicating 1.5% of business license revenue in 2027, increasing to 3% in 2028, and potentially reaching 6% in future budgets.
- Implementation: The program would be guided by the "BEST" (Business Engagement Solutions Team) infrastructure, a cross-departmental group involving Public Works, Fire, Police, and Economic Development, to identify and fund specific safety and resiliency upgrades for businesses.
- Council Position: Councilmembers Bushnell and Walker supported the proposal, emphasizing the need for flexibility to fund cross-departmental solutions and ensuring the program responds directly to business needs identified through climate surveys.
Go Grit Go Football & School District Propositions
- Go Grit Go Football: Councilmember Scott introduced a request for $10,000 in contingency funding to support a football program for young women (ages 8-18), which includes mentorship and team-building. Councilmember Hines joined as a co-sponsor.
- TPS Propositions: Deputy Mayor Daniels announced that the Council would support Proposition 1 (K-12 operations) and Proposition 2 (K-12 technology) for the upcoming Tacoma Public Schools election in February 2026, with a resolution to be brought forward for formal vote.
Immigration Enforcement Staging
- Proposal: Councilmember Diaz introduced a Council Consideration Request to direct the City Manager to assess and potentially enact legislation prohibiting ICE from using city property for staging civil immigration enforcement activities.
- Support: Councilmembers Walker, Sidalgay, and Hines expressed support for the proposal as a natural progression of Resolution 41627 (Keep Washington Working Act) and a necessary measure to protect the community amidst rising federal enforcement concerns.
Key Outcomes
- Deferred Decisions: No final votes were taken on the substantive policies discussed; all items were for study, discussion, and preparation for future readings or votes (e.g., Landlord Fairness Code first reading scheduled for December 2nd/9th, Business Program CCR for first reading on December 9th).
- Amendment Proposals: Councilmember Diaz formally announced intent to file two amendments for final review: expanding relocation assistance protections for rent increases occurring within a 12-month period and removing the AMI means-testing requirement for cold weather eviction defenses.
- Future Directives: The Council agreed to pursue a resolution supporting the Tacoma Public Schools' Propositions 1 and 2 in February. Councilmember Rumbaugh and staff agreed to further data-driven conversations regarding the Landlord Fairness Code through the CCVS committee in the new year.
- Executive Session: The meeting concluded with the City Council convening an executive session for 15 minutes to discuss negotiation and review the qualifications of a public employment applicant pursuant to RCW 42.30.1101(G).
Meeting Transcript
I'd like to call to order the City Council study session for December 2nd, 2025. Clerk, will you please call the role? Councilmember Bushnell. Present. Deputy Mayor Daniels. Absent. Councilmember Diaz. Councilmember Hines. Councilmember Rumba. Here. Councilmember Sidalgay. Here. Councilmember Scott. Here. Councilmember Walker. Here. Mayor Woodards. Here. Mayor, the set Mayor and Council of the study session materials were sent at 11.04 a.m. Thank you very much. All right, our first agenda item is Puget Sound Nutrient Regulations, and I'd like to call on the Director of Environmental Services, Ramero Chavez, to begin the presentation. Rami, I'll turn it to you. Good afternoon, uh Mayor, Council members. Uh, my name is Ramiro Chavez, Environmental Services Director and City Engineer. Thank you for the opportunity to provide you with a brief introduction before Teresa Peterson and Cassandra Moore present a more detailed overview. Today's informational briefing focuses on the city's formal comments submitted to the Washington State Department of Ecology regarding the draft 2025 Puget Sound Nutrient General Permit. Tacoma has a long history of leadership in protecting the health. Well, Puget Sound while ensuring the environmental actions are grounded in sound science, fiscal responsibility in fairness to our community. Our primary concern relate to the significant financial, technical and operational implications of the proposed permit. Particularly a potential impacts to utility rates and affordability to Tacoma residents. The draft permit proposes to a stringent, more stringent nutrient limits that will require substantial treatment upgrades at both of the city's wastewater facilities. Without adjustment or additional funding, those requirements could drive major increases in rates over time and reduce the resources available to address other pressing environmental priorities, such as contaminants of emerging concerns and infrastructure upgrades as a whole. Thank you. Thank you. Good afternoon, Mayor Woodards. Uh Deputy Mayor Daniels and Council members. Thank you for this opportunity to present to you today. I am Therese Peterson, a principal engineer in Environmental Services Asset Management and Technology Services Division. Today I will be providing a briefing on the Washington State Department of Ecology's regulatory approach for addressing nutrients in Puget Sound. The anticipated impacts on the city and its wastewater utility, and an overview of the city's comments on two recently proposed regulatory actions by Ecology. Environmental Services Wastewater Utility has three funding challenges that it faces. The first is to replace aging infrastructure. The second is expanding capacity support to support growth and economic development in the city. The third involves meeting future regulatory requirements. This includes regulations that we know today, like nutrients, and others that are not yet defined, including contaminants of emerging concern, such as PFOS. Today's briefing will focus on the third challenge and specifically nutrient regulations. Fish and aquatic life need oxygen in the water to survive, just like we need air. Oxygen levels in water aren't influenced by nutrients alone. They're also influenced by a complex set of factors, including temperature and seasonal changes. In marine environments like Puget Sound, nitrogen is the primary nutrient of concern.
openpublica.com