City Council Study Session on February 25, 2026: Sound Transit, Council Rules, and Economic Development
City Council Study Session on February 25, 2026
This study session of the Tacoma City Council covered four major topics: Sound Transit's Tacoma Dome Link Extension, proposed updates to council rules of procedure, an overview of the Community and Economic Development Department, and a resolution to expand Tacoma's sister city relationship. The council also expressed support for a Pierce County criminal justice sales tax and received committee reports. No formal votes were taken; all items will be advanced in future meetings.
Discussion Items
- Sound Transit Tacoma Dome Link Extension (TDLE) Update: Staff and Sound Transit representatives presented the project timeline (FEIS publication expected in 2027), station area planning for Tacoma Dome and Portland Avenue stations, and the Tacoma Dome Access Improvements program ($17 million for multimodal projects). The presentation addressed impacts on Freight House Square, with relocated tenants receiving financial assistance. Councilmembers asked about station proximity, parking alternatives, retail opportunities, public restrooms, and integration with local bus routes. Sound Transit noted ongoing coordination with the city and other partners, and the need to address surge events at the Tacoma Dome.
- Operational Strategy and Administrative Committee (OSAC) Update on Council Rules: The council reviewed proposed changes to its rules of procedure, divided into housekeeping items (alignment with charter amendments, adding OSAC to standing committees, clarifying recess authority) and substantive items (travel reporting requirements, consent agenda changes, community forum format). Councilmembers offered feedback: Councilmember Diaz suggested limiting travel reports to city-related trips and proposed town hall-style community forums; Councilmember Rumba supported moving forward quickly with housekeeping items while continuing broader discussions; Councilmember Scott favored separating fast-track technical changes from longer debates; Councilmember Palmer advocated for thoroughness. Chair Ibsen noted OSAC will meet on February 27 to refine proposals, with a resolution expected in mid-to-late April.
- Community and Economic Development (CED) Department Overview: Director Tanya Carter presented the department's five divisions, recent accomplishments (e.g., leveraging nearly $300 million in private development, supporting 40 businesses via Space Works, distributing Tacoma Creates funds), and its budget composition (17% from the general fund, the remainder from grants). Councilmember Walker inquired about small-scale placemaking; Councilmember Sidalga asked about the impact of potential funding reductions, particularly with the end of one-time EDA grants. Staff committed to providing more detailed budget context during upcoming budget deliberations.
- Sister City Resolution – Garden Route South Africa: The council discussed a resolution to change Tacoma's sister city relationship from George, South Africa, to the broader Garden Route District Municipality, effective since the 25th anniversary delegation in 2023. The resolution will be formally brought forward on March 10. Councilmembers expressed support, acknowledging the late Councilmember Ushka's contributions.
- Council Letter of Support for Pierce County Criminal Justice Sales Tax: Councilmember Rombaugh presented a letter encouraging Pierce County to adopt a one-tenth of one percent public safety sales tax (similar to Tacoma's January 6 adoption). The council unanimously supported sending the letter.
- Committee Reports: Councilmember Walker reported on the February Joint Municipal Action Committee (JMAC) meeting, which included discussions on joint legislative updates and community safety.
Key Outcomes
- OSAC will continue refining council rule changes at its February 27 meeting, aiming for a resolution in April.
- The sister city resolution will be voted on at the March 10 council meeting.
- The city will send a letter supporting Pierce County's criminal justice sales tax.
- Sound Transit's board will review the Enterprise Initiative at its March 18 retreat in Tacoma; a decision on the Tacoma Dome Access Improvements project list is expected in Q2 2026.
- The council will receive additional budget context from CED during future budget discussions.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon, everyone. It's a call to order the City Council study session of February twenty fourth, twenty twenty-six. Clerk, please call the roll. Board Member Gallagher. Board Member Hampton. Vice Chair Klaus McGann. Here. Councilmember Diaz? Here. Councilmember Hines. Councilmember Palmer? Councilmember Rumba? Here. Councilmember Sidalgay? Here. Councilmember Scott. Here. Councilmember Walker? Here. Mayor Ibsen? Here. Well, welcome everyone. I will start by entertaining a motion to convene to a joint city council and to come up with utility board executive session, pursuant to RCW forty-two. Sections four, one, and B to discuss labor, not to exceed thirty-five minutes. So moved second. All right, we're reconvening study session today. Our first agenda item is Sound Transit's Tacoma Link extension and project updates. I'd like to call on planning and development services assistant director Brian Budet for introductions. Also joining him will be Nyan Wyder, developmental manager for Sound Transit's T Dome Light Extension, Matt Mauer, Government Relations, and Lauren Douglas, Planning Director at Tome Link Extension, Sound Transit. As you said, uh, just uh for anybody that doesn't know, I'm Brian Budet, Assistant Director in Planning and Development Services, and specifically regarding this topic, uh, also the city's primary liaison on the Tacoma Dome Link extension project, which is the uh the central link extension um from Federal Way down to Tacoma. Um as I before I turn it over, just um a couple of quick notes. One just to reassure everyone that there's no shortage of coordination between Sound Transit and the City of Tacoma, as Diane laughs and others laugh. We meet on an uh exceptionally regular basis. Um exceptionally regular. Um sometimes I feel like I'm a Sound Transit employee. Uh, sometimes they probably feel like they're City of Tacoma employees to some extent. But um, this really is a a partnership between the city and Sound Transit as the regional transit provider, and lots of great work over many years now, and I think also a significant kudos to the council for your consistent support for these projects and these improvements and staff's um regular involvement in those with Sound Transit. So lots of discussion that goes on constantly about many of the council's priorities that you've laid out previously on these projects, about uh economic development and supporting small businesses and lots of partnerships with the city and our community and economic development department, particularly focused on the in the dome area and freighthouse square, which we know is a is a really sensitive topic. Um, lots of conversations ongoing about um how to streamline and speed up the delivery of these projects. Um the council's recent actions as part of the Tide Flat subject plan, you know, made a big move in that way in uh in rezoning um the area around the Portland Avenue station to really support transit oriented development and make sure that the transit improvements, both in the dome area and in Portland Avenue, um, do not require extra uh special land use permitting, which sometimes can be a real struggle for Sound Transit on delivery of the projects. And lots of discussion about access and integration and how to really make sure that the Tacoma stations and particularly the Tacoma Dome station is uh is an iconic and community benefit, you know, really reflecting the reality of uh Tacoma as the second largest city and a significant destination on the regional transit system. So with that, and again, my appreciation to you all and certainly to the staff, um, particular partners in in like I said, community economic development and definitely public works has been a huge part of this ongoing conversation. Um with that, we'll turn it over to to Sound Transit to introduce themselves and walk through their uh their information. Thanks. Awesome. Thank you, Brian. Hello, everybody. Hi, Council, Mr. Mayor. Good to see you.
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