Tacoma City Council Study Session on Homelessness URA, Sewer Project, Flag Request - August 11, 2026
Tacoma City Council Study Session - August 11, 2026
The Tacoma City Council held a study session on August 11, 2026, to discuss the Pierce County Unified Regional Approach (URA) to homelessness, the Puyallup Avenue Sewer Utility Replacement Project, and a commemorative flag raising request for Manufacturing Week. The meeting began with a presentation from Pierce County Council Chair Jenny Hitchen and policy analyst Mary Connolly on the URA, followed by an update from Public Works on the sewer project, and concluded with a flag request from Councilmember Diaz.
Discussion Items
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Pierce County Unified Regional Approach to Homelessness: Councilmember Rumbaugh introduced the item, noting the collaborative effort and momentum. Mary Connolly presented the URA design: a voluntary interlocal agreement with Pierce County as administering organization, a budget of $400,000–$600,000 per year for 2–3 staff, and estimated Tacoma contributions of $92,000–$142,000 annually. The URA aims to facilitate coordination, technical assistance, and data sharing, not direct service delivery. Four jurisdictions (Pierce County, Fife, Gig Harbor, Lakewood) have adopted resolutions of intent; Ording has a vote scheduled. Councilmember Sidalgay highlighted differences from King County’s KCRHA: smaller scale, no new entity, and a coordination rather than service-delivery mission. Councilmember Hines questioned how the URA will incentivize participation and address jurisdictions that opt out. Councilmember Palmer asked about innovation and international examples. Mayor Ibsen noted the educative value of data from McKinney-Vento homeless student counts. The council expressed broad support; a resolution to sign on will be brought on August 25.
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Puyallup Avenue Sewer Utility Replacement Project: Susie Rogers (Real Property Manager) and Jordan Ennis (Principal Engineer) presented. The project replaces 5,000 feet of aging stormwater and wastewater mains (48–72 inches, 60–100 years old) to address flooding at South Tacoma Way and Pacific Avenue, with a total cost of $90.7 million (funded by city stormwater/wastewater funds and state grants). To proceed, the city needs permanent easements and temporary construction easements from five property owners. Eighteen of 20 parcels have been acquired; one owner (an LLC at 102-106 Puyallup Ave and 101 E 25th St) has not responded despite multiple attempts since May 2025. The city is requesting council approval for condemnation proceedings. The final action ordinance will be introduced on August 18 (first reading) and August 25 (second reading). Councilmember Palmer asked about the active business on the property (two tenants, no relocation needed) and why an easement was not reserved when the alley was vacated in 1992. Staff acknowledged the oversight.
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Manufacturing Week Commemorative Flag Raising: Councilmember Diaz requested support for flying the Association of Washington Business flag during Manufacturing Week (September 30–October 7) at the Tacoma Dome, Tacoma Municipal Building, and fire and police headquarters. The flag policy allows a one-time event. Staff have coordinated with the organization. The item will be brought as a resolution at a future council meeting.
Key Outcomes
- The URA presentation was informational; council will consider a resolution to join the effort on August 25.
- The condemnation ordinance for the sewer project will be introduced on August 18 (first reading) with final approval on August 25.
- Council indicated support for the flag request; the resolution will be voted on at a later date.
- The request for a memorial sponsorship for former Mayor Mike Crowley was withdrawn by the family.
Other Items
- City Manager Allison reported no modifications to the evening’s agenda and noted two public comment opportunities at the regular council meeting.
- Committee reports were not presented.
Meeting Transcript
Good afternoon. I'd like to call to order the city council study session of August 11th, 2026. Clerk, please call the roll. Deputy Mayor Bushnell. President. Councilmember Diaz. Councilor Dee? Councilmember Heinz. Councilmember Palmer. Councilmember Rumba. Here. Councilmember Sidalgay. Here. Councilmember Scott. Here. Councilmember Walker. Here. Mayor Ibsen. Here. Our first agenda item long awaited is her updated on the Pierce County unified regional approach. I like to call on Pierce County Councilmember, excuse me, uh City Councilmember Rumbaugh to provide opening remarks, and she'll be followed by Pierce County Councilmember Chair, Jenny Hitchen. First off, thank you so much to my council for us getting to where we are. Um I know a lot of you care about this issue, and I just I want to thank Councilmember Hitchin and Pierce County Council police policy analyst um Mary Conley for joining us today to present on the Pierce County Unified Regional Approach to Homelessness. And I just want to take a second to honor Councilmember Hitchen, especially. She's invested a lot of time in this, and she's traveled across this large county and is working so diligently to build connections with different government leaders. Um there's momentum building about the URA, and that is some thanks to your work. And I just really want to thank thank you. And also, I just like there's been a lot of people who've been a lot involved with this for along the way. Um the URA started with Pierce County's plan to end homelessness, which I have to give a shout out to Garrett Nyland. I wish I hope he's listening or knows that he's been mentioned. Um collaborating with the county, and I want to recognize former councilmember Katherine Ishka in of Blessed Memory who served as the chair of CVS when this work started. And also thank you to Councilmembers Hines, who was on one of the original participants on the elected leadership group, uh, Mayor Ibsen and Councilmember Sidalge now have joined me in serving on this group. I also appreciate Kim, our city manager for meeting with city managers involved in this process, as well as all of the staff who have participated in this work. Um there are a few of those are a few of the many people who are engaged in this work. All of us are at the table and committed to these discussions because we each know we will get further if we work together. This brings to mind the words of our former mayor Woodards. If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together. One of the issues of addressing homelessness in our region is that we have to impair our imperative is that we have to go forward. That is why the county's leadership on this issue is so impactful. They have brought together so many different people with different perspectives and serving different constituencies. Uh, it was an opportunity to meet with the other cities and learn where they sat on this issue and why they feel the way they do. That will become clear today when we talk. Um, not everyone sees things the same way. And we have owned a lot of that here in the city of Tacoma. And I know that there are hard feelings about all of the work we have done, but also I just appreciate everything that we have done to serve people in our community. Uh it means it's more meaningful that we are doing this together. And it's important that the City of Tacoina join in and be a part of this shared work to substantially reduce homelessness so that is rare, brief, and non-recurring. CM Hitchen and Marie will present today on what comes next for this work. They will outline their ask for the City of Tacoma, which I believe that we will have full support for, and I will be bringing a resolution to council on August 25th, co-sponsored by Mayor Ibsen and CM Councilmember Sidalgay to sign on to efforts to design an ILA and formally launch the URA.
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