Remarks by Jim Kastama
67 remarks on the record, newest first · Page 1 of 3
- Play at 8:23
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Mr. Mayor, for some reason, Councilmember Adler and I have switched identities.”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 8:36
“So we got it corrected now. Mr. Mayor, I would like a point of privilege after you've acknowledged everyone, please.”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 8:49
“Oh, thank you. If anyone else would like to speak, I would like to say a few words. Last week, I talked in my personal comments about former Councilmember Robin Ferris. And I wanted to make some comments tonight because she requested that I make them. And I want to live up to that promise. Before Robin Farris passed away, she asked me to share a story with the public. And I think, as many of you know, that Robin and I agreed on a lot of things. And we disagreed on a lot of things. But we were colleagues, our family. She was very close to my family. But she wanted me to share a story that I…”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 2:05:03
“Yes. Keep in mind, we can postpone those meetings, too. Am I correct? In other words, if we give a date certain and we decide that we do, in fact, not want to have it at that date, we can set another date, correct?”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 2:06:28
“Councilmember Kastner, do you? Yes, I do. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. Actually, I have spent time observing the PHS campus under the current scenario. I've also gone through the Heffron report. I've also looked at the study that was done on Fruitland Elementary School, and you'll see why that is relevant as I bring that up. And if it's possible, I have a proposal. If not, I will just go ahead and ad lib it from there. But if you could put something on the screen, my observations I would like to be able to provide to the public. If not, everyone here has been given those observations. As you can…”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 2:47:28
“Well, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Actually, I have an amendment to propose and it will be the subject. I just look at Councilmember Smokal has not commented, I think, on the underlying proposal that we have here. If she wants to go before me, before I propose that amendment,”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 2:49:42
“Okay. Councilmember Kasten. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I would like to propose an amendment regarding the Puyallup High School Good Neighbor Action Plan. I think that it has the bones of a very good plan. However, I think we need to put into this proposal that the city would receive an annual report. We receive a report. It doesn't have to be in person, but if we have to, if we ask them, they would do that. I don't want to do something onerous, but I do want to hold the school district accountable. So my amendment is to provide to the city an annual report on the status of the Good Neighbor Action…”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 2:51:02
“Right. Well, the initial amendment, as my understanding is, in the proposal, underlying proposal, this would be an amendment to that.”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 2:51:30
“Does that include my amendment, initial amendment?”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 2:51:58
“Well, I'll call the question then. Let's vote on my underlying First Amendment, the one that has the 60-day pilot project. Correct?”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 2:55:52
“Well, I think... What we're trying to do here is vote. What we did is we put forward the ordinance. And then now we amend it. And I have an amendment, my proposal, that is now I put forward. And now we have to vote on whether it attaches to the original ordinance that was proposed. And that's what we're voting for right now. I think I've given my argument. Yes. OK.”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 2:56:41
“Now, I do have that second amendment. And that was the amendment dealing with the Puyallup High School Good Neighbor Action Plan. And I would like to propose that, if that's appropriate right now. Yes, please proceed. Okay. I would like to propose an amendment that we receive back on an annual base annual basis a report from the school district on the status of the good neighbor action plan as Presented to us this evening this one Second Motion has been moved and seconded any discussion?”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 3:21:33
“OK. Councilmember Kastema. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So you're not going to eliminate the Architectural Design Review Committee, correct?”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 3:21:56
“Would they come forward with recommendations as to what we should adopt as a city?”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 3:22:12
“I would want a provision that requires that. In other words, I understand you don't want them making every decision. And there's been many delays associated with that. But they're there for a reason. And their expertise, we need to at least consult them.”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 3:22:28
“Well, I would want that kind of provision that you shall consult with. Is that already like prima facie? So you already do that?”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 3:22:46
“OK, you understand the gist of what I'm saying, right? Correct, yes. OK, that's what I want.”
City Council · Sep 15, 2026
- Play at 48:39
“Councilmember Kasten. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think it's very important on this particular item on the agenda, and I know it was articulated last time, but I think that sometimes second reading, we need to familiarize the public a little bit more of what was actually done prior to that. And this is, of course, dealing with the critical areas. And one of the great concerns we've had in this community is that we'll be expanding the buffers, which will severely impact certain residents of this community. And this particular proposal here, this ordinance that we have here, does not include any of…”
City Council · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 1:18:23
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I think what's important, what can, I think, bring everybody around understanding this issue very easy is that the fundamental philosophy of emergency management, Kirsten, you know this, is collaboration and relationships, period. That's it. When you ever get at a conference of emergency management professionals, The philosophy that they all talk about is relationships and collaboration, because nothing ever goes as planned. And when it happens, you have to know who your colleagues are. You have to trust them. You've got to know what their strengths are and their…”
City Council · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 1:30:32
“Thank you, Mr. Mayor. I have not received any such proposal. I'm ready to comment on this, but I just haven't received any kind of proposal.”
City Council · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 1:31:14
“Well, I would only ask or make a request. What is the current policy? I think the public needs to know what the current policy is.”
City Council · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 1:33:03
Not quoted here: it may name a member of the public. Hear it at the meeting.
City Council · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 1:36:53
“Well, the only thing I say is that all I got in an email was a name. I had no rationale, no reason.”
City Council · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 1:37:09
“I'll take my name off the board, but I thought it was just a discussion.”
City Council · Sep 1, 2026
- Play at 1:45:44
“Councilmember Kastema. Yeah, thank you, Mr. Mayor. Yeah, I have no problem with a guide if a person needs that. I think that would be fine. However, I would, first of all, I think we should have the opportunity to look through this in close detail to make sure there's Something in here that we don't find is limiting. But I will say what they do on a state level is they'll state criteria for naming a building, for example, or whatever the case may be. But one of the points that they use in code and statute, you can check this out, is that they say that none of this is intended to remove the…”
City Council · Sep 1, 2026