City Council - Regular Meeting

I'd like to call to order the City Council meeting of July 28th, 2026. Clerk, please call the roll.

Deputy Mayor Bushnell.

Present.

Council Member Diaz.

Here.

Council Member Hines. Here. Council Member Palmer.

Here.

Council Member Rumbaugh is absent. Council Member Sedalge.

Here.

Council Member Scott is absent. Council Member Walker is absent. And Mayor Ibsen.

Here. Please join me in listening to the land acknowledgement and flag salute led by Council Member Hines, followed by a moment of silence.

We gratefully honor and acknowledge that we rest in the traditional lands of Puyallup people, where they make their home and speak the Lushootseet language. Please stand for Pledge of Allegiance and remain standing for a moment of silence.

I pledge allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands, one nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all. Are there any modifications to the agenda this evening? Seeing none, we'll move on to the consent agenda.

Is there a motion? I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolution number 41969. Second.

Move in second. Are there any questions, comments, or corrections? Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the consent agenda, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed say no. Consent agenda is declared adopted. There are no proclamations, recognitions, presentations, or announcements. Moving on to public comment. Clerk, please read.

This is the time set aside for public comment. Speakers are asked to identify the specific legislation they wish to address.

All right. Clerk, you're too fast. Thank you. This forum is intended to give speakers the opportunity to share their viewpoints and feedback with the City Council to aid in our decision making. It is not meant to be a back and forth. Your remarks should be directed to the entire City Council or not individual members or staff members. If you're attending virtually, then you can just click the raise hand or star nine. We have one person who signed in in person, and that's Mr. Tyler Daniels. And Mr. Daniels, you can specify which item on tonight's agenda you're speaking to.

Clerk, before we start the time, may I please acknowledge that I do not consent to being called Mr. Tyler Daniels. My name is Tyler Daniels. Pardon. Please proceed. Thank you. I am here, Tyler Daniels, P.E., discussing resolution 41969 for the health services for the city of Tacoma. This was not put through an RFP for general purposes. This appears to be a standard business practice that's going with the flow of what has been done. As an individual who has utilized this system, since its conception in 2015, it is not something that doesn't warrant going outside to look for other options. So you're going to consent agenda almost $800,000 to keep this system going that requires employees to take hours and hours and hours and hours and hours of either their private or their public time just to get a $20 income credit for their wellness credit each month. And that is not something that we need to keep perpetuating. We need to expand our requests for proposals from other businesses like myself and others who provide services in the wellness industry. Continuing to go with something that's ten years outdated that really isn't hitting the mark for your employees is Not doing them the service and they are your best asset Which you've stated in this as the city then I would highly encourage you to invest further.

Thank you Tyler We have no other in-person speakers and there do not appear be any people who've signed in to comment on tonight's agenda on items and So with that, we are going to close public comment and move on to the rest of our agenda. We have a motion before us as part of the regular agenda for consideration.

I move to authorize the proper officers of the city to execute a settlement agreement between the city and the Central Puget Sound Regional Transit Authority, Sound Transit, in full and final settlement of all claims and disputes between the city and Sound Transit related to the D to M Street track and signal project and the Hilltop Link Extension project, with such settlement agreement to be in substantially the form of the settlement of agreement approved by the Sound Transit Board on July 23rd, 2026 pursuant to motion number M2026-24 and its concurrent adoption of resolution number R2026-17 amending Sound Transit's adopted 2026 budget. Second.

Moved and seconded. Any council questions or comments? Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the resolution, the motion, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Opposed to say no. The motion is declared passed. We have a motion before us for consideration.

I move to authorize the city's full and final settlement of all claims against the city in the matter of TPU claim number W04524, followed by Evelyn and Jose Castellar, related to damage to their home located at 39th Place Southwest in Federal Way, Washington, arising from a broken water main occurring September 24, 2024, upon payment by the Tacoma Department of Public Utilities. in the amount of $9,777,865.51, with the total amount paid of $1,465,689.74, and execution of a release in a form approved by the city attorney. Second. Moved and seconded. Deputy Mayor, friendly amendment. You meant $977,000, not million, right? Correct. $977,000. I apologize. No worries. Friendly amendment. All right.

So with that, any council questions or comments? Okay, seeing none, all those in favor of adopting the motion, please signify by saying aye. Aye. All those opposed say no. Motion is declared adopted. Moving on to appointments. Item 6, clerk, please read.

Resolution number 41970 is the resolution appointing an individual to the Board of Commissioners of the Tacoma Housing Authority.

I move to adopt the resolution number 41970.

We've been seconded. So access to safe, stable, and affordable housing is fundamental to a strong, thriving Tacoma, and the Housing Authority plays a vital role in that work. So my appointment to this is Mr. Nath Lauber, currently the Secretary-Treasurer of the Pierce County Central Labor Council. Nath brings valuable experience, thoughtful leadership, and a commitment to serving our community. I'm confident that his perspective and labor background will strengthen the board's efforts to expand housing opportunities and support residents across Tacoma. I sincerely appreciate Mr. Lauber's willingness to serve and thank all of our volunteers who dedicate their time and their expertise to public service. I respectfully ask for the council's confirmation of this appointment. And with that, are there any council questions or comments? All right, seeing none, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41970, please signify by saying aye. Aye. I was supposed to say no. Resolution is declared adopted. I don't see Mr. Laver here in the audience, but thank you for stepping up and looking forward to seeing your work along THAs in the community. Moving on to item seven, clerk, please read.

Resolution number 41971 is the resolution appointing individuals to committees that will prepare statements for and against initiative measure number one, safe homes for all, relating to tenant safety and protection laws, which will appear in the voters pamphlet for the Tuesday, November 3, 2026 special election.

I move to adopt resolution number 41971. Second.

Move and second it. Is there an amendment?

I move to amend resolution 41971, exhibit A, line 8, by adding the name Michael Mira to the against committee. Second.

Move and second it.

Council Member Hines.

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mayor. So as many of you know, the way that the Forward Against Committee works is when something's put forward on the ballot, the council or the local jurisdictions are allowed to provide up to three names for a For and Against Committee. The Government Performance and Finance Committee conducted our interviews last Tuesday for the For and Against Committees, and we put forward three names for the four committee, Kashana Curtis, William Hanawalt, and Tyrone Ty Moore. And for the against committee at the government performance and finance committee, we put forward Ben Lackey and Mark Melsness. Michael Mira completed a letter of interest ahead of the noon deadline for GPFC, but we were unclear about whether or not he wanted to serve on the committee at that time. So after confirming that he does want to serve on it, we still have this action this evening which transmits the three names for the for and against committee. So I am making a motion to add him to this so that we can transmit his name along with the other five individuals who signed up for to the auditor committee. for it to be part of the for and against committee. And I'm happy to answer any questions if my colleagues have any.

Thank you, Council Member Hines. Any questions? Okay, seeing none, the vote before us is the motion to amend Resolution No. 41971. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Aye. Those opposed say no. The motion to amend is declared adopted. Resolution No. 41971 as amended is now before us. Are there any additional council questions or comments?

I just, again, want to thank the six individuals who are willing to step up and serve the community in this purpose. I think in the past we've struggled to get enough people and multiple ballot initiatives, multiple things before the voters to get a full for and against committee. And the fact that we have people that are interested in this and want to participate I think is a good thing. And I want to thank the Government Reforms and Finance Committee and the members for getting us to this point. Thank you.

All right, thank you. And I just want to say thank you to all six committee members for stepping up to represent our community and to help voters become more informed. So with that, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 41971 as amended, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Those opposed say no. The resolution as amended is declared passed. And we have invited the individuals being appointed tonight to attend the city council meeting virtually or in person. For those who have stepped forward, I want to say thank you for all that you do to encourage civic participation. So with that, moving on to resolution. Item 8, clerk, please read.

Resolution number 41972 is a resolution expressing opposition to the passage of initiative measure number IL-26-1 concerning parental rights relating to their children in public school and initiative measure number IL-26-638 concerning participation in athletics at K-12 schools on the Tuesday, November 3, 2026 general election ballot.

I move to adopt resolution number 41972. Second.

Move and second. I'm going to call on Council Member Diaz.

Thank you, Mayor. This resolution before us expresses our opposition to the passage of initiative measure number IL26-001 and initiative measure number IL26-638 on the November 3rd, 2026 general election ballot, as the clerk just read. I want to talk a little bit about what the two initiatives are proposing for voters, and then a little bit more about why I think it's really prudent that our council here takes a position on that. I001 will force schools to hand over sensitive information about child abuse victims to their parents, but contains inadequate safeguards for circumstances where those parents may also be abusers. This initiative does not allow disclosure to parents who are under active criminal investigation for abuse, but does not consider circumstances outside an active criminal investigation, including the complaint stage or when parents have been charged with or convicted for raping, assaulting, or otherwise harming their own child and mandates their access to sensitive information, including private social work and school counseling records. And this would put kids at greater risk. By removing record protections, I001 discourages students facing domestic violence, sexual abuse, or bullying from seeking help from trusted school counselors who would be required to release students' confidential information. In effect, this would require schools to out LGBT students, putting them in greater risk of bullying and other just societal and risks associated with not being able to choose when you tell the public about your own identity. I-638 changes the law to require medical sex certification as part of sports physicals for all girls and bans parents from using birth certificates instead. It could force tens of thousands of Washington girls each year to undergo genital exams just to play sports. Right now, students stay fully clothed during sports physicals, but this could change for girls. Boys are completely exempt from this requirement. Only girls will be subjected to the medical sex certification and general exams, putting another barrier between girls and sports. As a council, we're allowed the opportunity to speak against ballot initiatives one time through resolution. And for that reason, I'm calling on all of you to join me and my co-sponsors, council members Palmer and Scott, in opposing these ballot initiatives. I think it's really important and critical that Tacoma continue to be a leader on these issues. We have always stood with our LGBTQ families and parents and students and children, and I think this is another example of when we're gonna take that leadership. If we pass this tonight, Tacoma will be the first city in the state to speak on these initiatives, and that matters. It matters for the kids in our state in Tacoma and for the kids all throughout the state. So I want to, in advance, thank all of you for your consideration, my co-sponsors for their willingness to co-sponsor, and encourage folks to really take this to heart, think about it, and make sure that we're educating our community around these pretty heinous initiatives for us. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Diaz, for your leadership. Any other council comments? Well, seeing none, the motion before us is Resolution Number 41972. All those in favor of adopting, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Supposed to say no. Resolution is declared adopted. Thank you. And I see School Board Member Keating here. Thank you for your leadership as well. All right. With that, moving on to Item 9. Clerk, please read.

Resolution number 41973. This is the first reading of a resolution amending Rule 8 of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the City of Tacoma to provide opportunities for organizations to make public requests for presentations at regular meetings of the City Council, and change the process to make and review presentation requests, and directing the City Manager to create and post an application to request to present at the City Council meeting.

I move to adopt resolution number 41973. Second.

Moved and seconded. Council Member Palmer.

Thank you, Mayor.

Thank you. I'm filling in for Council Member Rumbaugh tonight on this resolution. So I'll keep my remarks brief. Is this the right one? Okay, thank you. Sorry, I was reading the procedure changes. That's okay. I know she'll have a lot more to say at the next week at the final reading. This item is a resolution to amend Rule 8 in the Council Rules of Procedure. The goal of the changes being proposed is to allow community groups to have an opportunity to give presentations to the City Council on issues or concerns that impact our city. We know we have a lot of very active groups, very interested groups in what we're doing here, and a lot of subject matter experts at dedicated organizations. And this really just gives them another opportunity to share their insights with the council, and I think Council Member Mumba for thinking of that. This is, again, an additional pathway to the community forum, and it's not taking anything away. It allows community members to speak at greater length on their issues. This resolution also requests that the city manager create and post an online application for presenting at a council meeting. I am excited to be a co-sponsor of this item, even if My tone doesn't say that. Along with Council Member Walker, I hope you will all join us in voting in support of these changes next week during final reading. Thank you.

All right. Thank you, Council Member Palmer. Any other council questions or comments? All right. Rule 8C of the Rules of Procedure of the Council states that all resolutions amending these rules require two readings. So we'll have a second reading of this on August 4th. Item 10, clerk, please read.

Resolution number 41974. This is the first reading of a resolution amending various rules of the Rules of Procedure of the Council of the City of Tacoma to clarify language and expectations, remove outdated citations, and revise the agenda order of business as reviewed by the Operational Strategy and Administrative Committee.

I move to adopt resolution number 41974. Second.

Thank you. As OSAC chair, our committee has been discussing changes to council rules since February, and this is bringing forward recommended code cleanup updates to the whole council for consideration. And tonight is the first of two weeks, two readings per our rules. Some proposed changes are technical in nature, driven by other processes, such as the 2024 city charter amendment. and represent housekeeping items to create accuracy and alignment without significant impact to council's authority, processes, or public access. Other changes are more substantial and represent a policy direction of the council. This is particularly true of changes that affect transparency, public participation, council's accountability, or the community's experience about how decisions get made. The update focuses on four areas, council organization, meetings and agendas, council discussion and decision making, and public engagement and transparency. Are there any council questions or comments? Council Member Scott.

Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to take a moment to explain my proposed addition. The language that I'm seeking to add is in Section 3 regarding council member expectations, and the new language reads, at least two weeks in advance of city business-related travel outside of Washington State, the Mayor and City Council must provide a report that includes the travel location, itinerary, funding source, and purpose. As council members, we do travel occasionally outside of the state to attend conferences, engage with our sister cities, evaluate programming taking place in other states, and more. And I believe it's important that council members travel. Traveling helps us learn from experts around the country, build international ties that foster economic and educational development, and spread the word about our own amazing city. I also believe that as public figures, our community members have a right to know about our official engagements, whether they take place in Tacoma, another state, or internationally. Not only do I believe that people have a right to know, but I also think having greater transparency about where we are traveling, who's paying for it, and what we are doing on the trip would help increase belief and trust with the public. So thank you all for considering this addition.

Okay, thank you for bringing it forward. Any other comments, Deputy Mayor?

Thank you, Mayor. Just a quick clarification question, and this is for city-sponsored trips, correct? Correct. Good job. And the reason why I bring it up is sometimes I like to go on vacation outside the state.

So the community will learn about things that we are doing on their behalf, not necessarily where you like to lay on the beach with your family.

Perfect. I just wanted to clarify that.

Yes. All right. Thank you to OSAC members. This will also be set over for our second reading the following week. All right. Moving on to final reading of ordinances, item 11. Clerk, please read.

ORDINANCE NUMBER 29115 IS AN ORDINANCE AMENDING TITLES 1 AND 10 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE RELATING TO ADMINISTRATION AND PERSONNEL AND PUBLIC WORKS BY AMENDING SESSION 1.06.255, COMPETITIVE SOLICITATION REQUIREMENTS FOR SUPPLIES AND PUBLIC WORKS, AND REPEALING CHAPTER 10.27, ENTITLED SMALL PUBLIC WORKS CONTRACTS IN ITS ENTIRETY, AND AUTHORIZING THE CITY TO LEVERAGE A STATEWIDE SMALL WORKS ROSTER.

THIS ITEM WAS PRESENTED LAST WEEK. ARE THERE ANY ADDITIONAL COUNCIL QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS? SEEING NONE, CLEAR CALL, PLEASE CALL THE ROLL.

Deputy Mayor Bushnell.

Aye.

Councilmember Diaz. Aye. Councilmember Hines. Aye. Councilmember Palmer. Yes. Councilmember Rumbaugh is absent. Councilmember Sadalge.

Aye.

Councilmember Scott. Aye. Councilmember Walker is absent. And Mayor Ibsen.

Aye. The ordinance is declared passed. Is there any unfinished business? Seeing none, City Manager, do you have a report this evening?

Thank you, Mayor Ipsen. I have three reports for council this evening. First one is from the Planning Commission. Just want to note for the public that the Planning Commission will be holding a special, let me rephrase that, will be holding a public hearing on a proposed updates to the city's off-street parking code on Wednesday, August 5th from 5.30 p.m. This community can attend either in person at Tacoma Municipal Building or on Zoom. More information can be found at tacoma.gov forward slash project forward slash parking code update. And then my next city manager report is on our efforts for participatory budgeting. Mayor Ipsen, Council, District 5 participatory budgeting kickoff is this Wednesday, tomorrow, the 29th, from 6 to 7 p.m. at Wapato Park at the main picnic shelter. on 6500 South Sheridan Avenue. The city will be collecting ideas for District 5 participatory budgeting project and would like to hear from the community. Earlier this year, the Washington State Department of Commerce awarded the city of Tacoma $650,000 to help community members select a $1.6 million capital project that addresses decarbonization and or climate resiliency. Participatory budgeting is a democratic process where our community members decide how a portion of the public budget is spent. Anyone who lives, works, learns, or plays in District 5 may submit a project proposal. The deadline for submissions is September 30, 2026. To learn more, visit Tacoma.gov forward slash PBTacoma. And then my last report from our environmental services department. Solid waste management has added its first fully electric garbage truck to its collection fleet. This marks an important step towards reducing fleet emissions. This rear load truck produces zero tailpipe emissions And approximately 80% of this purchase cost was funded through a grant with the Washington State Department of Ecology. The truck currently is being used for residential garbage and recycling collection as part of a pilot program. Over time, staff will evaluate its performance across a variety of operating conditions, identifying any operational or maintenance considerations, and use the findings to assess opportunities for expanding electric vehicle use within the solid waste collection fleet. These are big trucks, so that's good to celebrate. Thank you. That concludes my report.

Thank you, City Manager. Are there any questions for the City Manager? Council Member Stavalky. Thank you, Mayor, and thank you, City Manager, for the update.

My question is around more detailed conversations that we've started internally around the budget. We've had a couple of presentations even today that have talked about budget impacts coming up, and we're going to continue those conversations in the weeks and months to come. My understanding is there may be a potential impact to our budget based on the results of what would happen in November, especially around an initiative. Do you have an estimate on what the potential impact could be?

We have. For personnel training equipment, basically the cost of doing business for a stand-up of a new department, we are estimating approximately $8 million to $10 million per year.

And this is specifically around the initiative, I didn't actually say it, the Safe Homes for All initiative that would require us to create a new department. Yes, sir. Where would that funding come from?

So I would look towards the general fund to finance these efforts. And the biggest costs in the general fund come from police, fire, and libraries. So I'd have to make potential offsets and cuts within these departments to support this effort.

Please fire libraries. There's a little bit on homeless services. There's some today on courts and some others as well. And then we are required to pass a balanced budget by the end of the year, correct?

Pursuant to RCW, I am required to bring you a balanced budget proposal, and the council must pass a balanced budget.

And so we would have a relatively short period of time to make potential updates to take that into consideration. Yes, sir. Thank you.

Thank you, Council Member Sedelke. Any other council questions? Okay. Thank you, City Manager. Moving on to comments and committee reports of the City Council, I'd like to call on Council Member Scott, Vice Chair of the Community Vitality and Safety Committee.

Thank you, Mayor. The Community Vitality and Safety Committee has convened twice since the last report. The committee met on July 9th with an agenda including an informational briefing on the unified regional approach to homelessness in Pierce County from Pierce County Council Member Jenny Hitchen, Chair, and Mary Connolly, Policy Analyst for the Pierce County Council. the briefing provided an overview of the collaboration that is taking place across the county to launch a unified regional approach to homelessness the committee also met on july 23rd with an agenda including informational an informational briefing on current compliance and enforcement procedures for the city's rental housing code and the landlord fairness code initiative at this meeting cvs also interviewed interested parties to feel fill seats on on the Tacoma Area Commission on Disabilities. Our next meeting will be on Thursday, August 13th. The committee will receive informational briefings on the work of the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority as well as the Community Police Advisory Committee over the past year and the work they may be addressing in the coming year. In addition, the committee will receive a briefing from Chief Emergency Management Officer Taika Origon on the city's updated comprehensive emergency management plan which will subsequently be brought to the full council. That meeting will occur in room 248 of the Tacoma Municipal Building, the one we are in now, and virtual attendance options will be available for the public. Thank you, Mayor. That concludes my report.

Thank you, Vice Chair Scott. Any other council comments? All right, I see none. Is there a motion to excuse members of the council?

I move to excuse Council Member Rumbaugh and Council Member Walker from the meeting tonight.

Second. Moved and seconded. All those in favor say aye. Aye. All those opposed say no. Members are excused. Is there a motion to adjourn?

I move to adjourn.

Second. Move in second. All those in favor say aye. Aye. Supposed to say no. We are adjourned. Good night.