Speaker numbers apply only to this recording.
On October 20, 2026, the Tacoma City Council met at 12:00 PM for a study session featuring budget workshop presentations on the 2035 goals of Jobs & Economy and Place Making & Experiences. Tacoma Venues & Events Director Adam Cook, Community & Economic Development Interim Director Debbie Bingham, and Planning & Development Services Director Peter Huffman presented their proposed 2027-28 budgets. Councilmember Rumbaugh also presented a $10,000 contingency fund request for emergency food access at the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center. The meeting closed with no executive session and a motion to adjourn.
TVE Director Adam Cook described different funding models for Tacoma venues. The theaters and Cheney Stadium rely on significant general fund and real estate excise tax support; the convention center is backed by a public facilities district; and the Tacoma Dome operates as a true enterprise fund with a razor-thin margin. Cook said every dollar of Dome event revenue yields 46 cents for event expenses and 53 cents for operating costs, and the Dome generates over $60 million in annual economic impact. For some K-pop and electronic dance events, 40% to 70% of guests require overnight hotel stays.
Cook reported that Tacoma venues have received over $16 million in capital improvements since 2020 and plan $3.5 million in critical infrastructure work in 2027-28. A 2023 facility condition assessment identified roughly $100 million in needed investment before 2030 and another $350 million before 2045. TVE will continue a master plan for the Dome, Cheney Stadium, and the theaters; phase one is expected to finish in late Q1 or early Q2 2027, and phase two is expected by early Q4 2027.
TVE is reducing its staff complement by almost 17% to manage a cyclical downturn in Dome events and to increase TVE support to the general fund by taking on additional renovation debt service. Cook also highlighted the food and beverage excise tax, implemented in 2025, which will support community events, youth workforce development, venue access grants, and a new nonprofit cultural use program.
Cook highlighted collaborations with the Puyallup Tribe, including a public mural at the Dome by Coast Salish artist Anthony Duanas and the 2026 FIFA World Cup fan zone activation. PDS helped permit a soccer park on the former Gault Middle School site in time for the World Cup. Councilmember Sidalga said the park is heavily used in his district and praised the rapid cross-departmental work.
CED Interim Director Debbie Bingham said workforce investments are aligned with healthcare, advanced manufacturing, maritime, circular economy, and clean energy. In the biennium, $736,000 was paid to students through Jobs 253; there were 82 job placements through workforce programs; and in 2025 local apprentice hours through LEAP totaled 148,000 hours, producing $9 million in wages.
Bingham reported that CED made 370 business retention visits in the past year, is involved in 38 recruitment and expansion projects, deployed $4.1 million in loans to small businesses and nonprofits, and directed $12.6 million to OWMBE-certified businesses in this biennium. The department will add a business concierge position. Tacoma's opportunity zones have attracted over $250 million in private investment since 2018, and Governor Ferguson nominated six Tacoma census tracts as federal opportunity zones for 2027-37.
Bingham said Tacoma's nonprofit arts and cultural industry generates $163 million in annual economic activity, supporting 2,065 jobs, $28.7 million in tax revenue, and $87.2 million in personal income. She also cited the Arts at the Armory event, where over 120 artists had estimated earnings of almost $170,000 in 2025.
PDS Director Peter Huffman said permitting is a development pipeline tied to jobs and economy. Commercial permitting volumes are down about 45% from 2025, while residential permitting is up nearly 100%, driven largely by the Home in Tacoma program. Residential permits are typically lower-value permits, so PDS is proposing two 5% fee increases over the biennium. Examples given were a $517 increase on a $134,000 ADU permit and a $2,894 increase on a $750,000 fourplex permit.
Huffman said PDS has faced capacity pressure from state mandates and will continue implementing Home in Tacoma, including pre-approved townhouse plans and expanded public performance data. He noted regulatory compliance work is underway, with first reading of an ordinance implementing earlier council direction scheduled for that evening. He also said PDS will report to council in January on Home in Tacoma implementation.
Councilmembers asked follow-up questions. Councilmember Sidalga asked for the total economic impact of venues and for proactive monitoring of macroeconomic conditions. Councilmember Heinz asked about the concert downturn, praised Home in Tacoma, and complimented the pre-approved ADU and townhome plans. Councilmember Palmer asked about general fund hurdles for venues and future business recruitment. Councilmember Walker praised the Dome District master plan opportunity. Deputy Mayor Bushnell asked for a dollar estimate of staff time diverted to unfunded state mandates. Councilmember Rumbaugh asked why solid waste was not included; presenters said solid waste is an active partner across their work.
Councilmember Rumbaugh presented a City Council Consideration Request for a $10,000 contingency fund expenditure for emergency food access at the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center. She stated that the center supported 2,009 survivors on site in 2025 and provided emergency stop-gap care over 1,900 times, spending $10,079 on food through local grants. In 2024, the center supported survivors on site 1,913 times and spent $3,967 on food.
Rumbaugh said the funds would keep the center's cupboards stocked with groceries, instant meals, snacks, and shelf-stable culturally inclusive items, and would not be used for staffing or other organizational expenses. The funds could be used in 2026 and 2027.
Councilmember Heinz asked how the center would sustain an ongoing food need after the one-time appropriation. Rumbaugh responded that the center receives other grant dollars and has its own foundation, and that future fundraising will be needed.
No committee reports were offered.
The city manager provided the weekly report dated October 15, 2026, and reminded council that the next study session will cover public safety, housing, and homelessness. Starting that week, the weekly packet will include a memo tracking follow-up responses to council questions from study sessions. The council also noted two ceremonials on the regular agenda: Manufacturing Day and Soundview Little League recognition.
No formal budget votes were taken; the presentations are part of the ongoing budget process for the next biennium.
The $10,000 Crystal Judson Family Justice Center food access request was discussed but not voted on at the study session.
PDS will take the proposed permit fee increases to the Tacoma Permit Advisory Group and to Master Builders for feedback.
TVE will continue venue master plan work and return to council with phase findings and recommendations.
The council approved adjournment by voice vote, and no executive session was held.
I'd like to call to order the City Council study session of October 20th, 2026. Clerk, please call a roll. Deputy Mayor Bushnell? Present. Councilmember Diaz. Councilmember Diaz is online. Councilmember Heinz. Councilmember Palmer. Councilmember Rumba? Here. Councilmember Sidalga? Here. Councilmember Scott? Here. Councilmember Scott is online. Councilmember Walker? Here. Mayor Ibsen. Here. Good afternoon. Before we begin the presentation, I'd like to call out one agenda modification. We will not be holding an exec and we will be adjourning once the presentations are finished. You're welcome. Our first agenda item is our budget workshop presentations for jobs and economy and placemaking and experiences. And for with that, I would like to call on Tacoma venues and events director Adam Cook, Community and Economic Development Interim Director Debbie Bingham, and Planning Development Services Peter Huffman to begin the joint presentations. Welcome everyone. Thank you. Thank you, Mayor Ibsen, Deputy Mayor Bushnell, and Council members for the opportunity to come before you today. As we heard, my name is Adam Cook, and I have the privilege of serving as director for Tacoma Venues and Events. And joining me today are Debbie Bingham, Interim Director of Community Economic Development, and Peter Huffman, Director of Planning and Development Services. The budgets you have for your consideration are the product of months of diligent work, collaboration, and community engagement, and provide insight into the programs that each of our departments will undertake in the coming biennium. Today we'll be focusing our conversation on how these budgets support the 2035 goals of jobs and economy and placemaking and experiences. But as with all other departments, the full scope of work for TVE, CED, and PDS crosses all of the 2035 goals in some format. Similarly, while several departments throughout the city impact the jobs and economy and placemaking and experiences goals, they are perhaps most impactful to the work of our three departments. While that work crosses both goal areas for each of our departments, each of us does maintain a stronger focus in certain objectives. Each of our presentations will touch on those specific objectives where our departments provide a direct contribution. When we look at total investment, every department has a significant impact on the economic structure that supports each of the core goals, even though their funding may not be specifically allocated to that goal. These charts detail the front line departments and the funding with immediate and direct impact on each goal area. So while you do not see some of us up there or some in other categories, this is just the front line. Each of us is impactful. As we turn our attention to TVE, it's important to recognize that while TVE serves as an enterprise fund, each of our venues takes on a different funding and operating model. We'll start with our funds for the theaters and stadium who operate with third party management. While Legends Global operates the theaters on behalf of the city, we still hold the primary responsibility for operating revenue and expenses. This shows up in our budget in the form of annual general fund operating support along with real estate excise tax investment in capital and maintenance for the three venues. In total, these funds contribute almost 50% of the annual budget, providing critical support for Tacoma's treasured performing arts spaces to be able to continue operating. These funds also support our eight resident arts organizations and other nonprofit organizations who pay a significantly reduced rent, which helps offset some of the expenses inherent in putting on a high quality production using skilled workers earning a living wage in our beautiful theaters that contribute so much to Tacoma's vibrant arts community. We are in a time where nonprofit arts organizations are struggling with rising costs and decreasing attendance and donations across the country.