City Council - Regular Meeting

Good evening. I'd like to call to order the City Council meeting of September 15th, 2026. Clerk, please call the roll.

Deputy Mayor Bushnell.

Present.

Council Member Diaz, absent. Council Member Hines. Here. Council Member Palmer. Here. Council Member Rumba. Here. Council Member Sedalge.

Here.

Council Member Scott. Here. Council Member Scott is online. Council Member Walker. Here. 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 the Puyallup people, where they make their home and speak the Lushootseed language. Please stand for the 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

Are there any modifications to tonight's agenda?

I move to adopt the consent agenda, including resolutions numbers 42014 through 42019. Second.

Moved and seconded. Any council questions or comments about the consent agenda? 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. Moving on to proclamations, recognitions, presentations, and announcements. Our first is proclaiming Monday, September 21st, 2026, as International Day of Peace. For International Day of Peace, I'd like to invite Cindy Sharsmit, Board President of the World Affairs Council of Tacoma, Melanie Denise Cunningham, Tacoma Peace Queen and Multicultural Outreach and Engagement Leader, Frances Lorenz, International Day of Peace Event Director, Tacoma Sister Cities, Professor Greg Yutz, Vice President of the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation, Maricres Valdez-Castro, Commissioner for the Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and Janet Rude, Greater Tacoma Peace Prize to the podium as I read the proclamation. If you could step forward. You're welcome to step forward to the podium.

All of it?

Sure. More the better. More peace.

I'm going to go ahead.

Okay, I'll read the proclamation first. Whereas International Day of Peace was established by the United Nations General Assembly in 1981 and is observed annually on September 21st as a day devoted to strengthening the ideals of peace through dialogue, understanding, cooperation, and respect among all people, And whereas peace is more than the absence of conflict, it is fostered through justice, inclusion, mutual respect, and the recognition of the inherent dignity and equal rights of every person. And whereas the city of Tacoma is strengthened by the diversity of its residents, whose cultures, languages, traditions, and experiences contribute to a vibrant, welcoming, and resilient community, And whereas our commitment to building bridges across cultures is reflected through the work of Tacoma Sister Cities, whose international partnerships promote friendship, educational exchanges, cultural understanding, and people-to-people diplomacy. And whereas the Tacoma Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs works to elevate the voices and experiences of immigrant and refugee communities, advancing inclusion, civic engagement, and equitable opportunities for all who call Tacoma home. And whereas International Day of Peace invites individuals, organizations, schools, businesses, and governments to resolve differences through dialogue, celebrate our shared humanity, and work together to create communities where every person can live in safety, dignity, and hope. Now, therefore, I, Andrews Ibsen, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim September 21, 2026 as International Day of Peace in the City of Tacoma. and encourage all residents to observe this day by promoting understanding across cultures, supporting peaceful dialogue, celebrating our diverse community, and working together to build a more just, inclusive, and peaceful future for all. Please say a few words.

Thank you, Mayor and council members. I am honored for you to recognize International Day of Peace. We've been celebrating this for five years. We're in our fifth year. We decided to invite families in because it used to be on every day of the week, and sometimes it was on the day of the city council meeting. So we decided to have it Saturday on September 19th this year so all the families in the whole community could turn it out. And I am honored to set this on behalf of Tacoma Sister Cities and especially grateful that peace in Tacoma is not the work of anyone organization, the World Affairs Council, the Greater Tacoma Peace Laureate Program, the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation. Our laureate winner, Melanie Cunningham, I know has worked for four decades to achieve peace through her work. So many others in Tacoma have brought a different history, a different perspective, and a different pathway towards peace. And that's exactly what peace requires. Not that we all do the same thing, but that we find ways to do these things together. For sister cities, peace becomes very personal. We're particularly aware of our sister city of Brovary, Ukraine, whose people continue to endure the terrible consequences of the war with Russia. Through our sister city relationship, Ukraine is not simply a headline or a distant place on a map. It's a community with whom Tacoma has a relationship and whose people we hold in our hearts. The United Nations observes it on September 21st, and we're observing it this Saturday, so that everyone can come together and celebrate peace. For us, peace is not simply the absence of war. It's what happens when we build relationships across difference. between cultures, between generations, between nations, and between people that may not always see the world in the same way as we do. This is the special gift of Set Your Cities. And we turn international relations into personal human relationships. from continent to continent. So today I accept this proclamation not as an honor, but as an invitation. Let Tacoma be a city that does not wait for peace to arrive from somewhere else. Let's build it here, in our neighborhoods, in our families, in our schools, in our friendships, in our relationships around the world. And then let Tacoma's light travel outward. Because peace begins with us, it does not end with us. And this Saturday, Tacoma will gather to say, in our own way, that the light of peace can reach across every border, including all the way to Roebury.

Thank you very much.

And this is the flyer that has a piece of art from a child in Ukraine that Yulia gave to us for our program. So thank you all.

Thank you. Any other speakers?

Sure, I'll go next. Hi, I'm Janet Rude and passed member of the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize Committee. I'm very happy to be here today. And I brought handouts. And for each one of you, there's a brand new hot off the press brochure. One of the things about the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize is that we've been in this business for 21 years. 22, actually.

COVID, you know.

And two of our laureates are here in the room. And when you get this brochure, you can look and see the entire list, starting in 2005 with George Russell, all the way to our current laureate, Sherry Tan, who is a wonderful, passionate person for ecology. She's been cleaning up hazardous chemicals in Puget Sound. Anyway, something that you may not know, the reason why there is so much of Norway involved in the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize, that is because in 2005, when it was founded by Tom Heavey, It was inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize, which is awarded in Oslo, Norway. That's because Alfred Nobel decreed that it should be awarded in Oslo, Norway. It's the only one of the Nobel Prizes that is. The others are awarded. in Sweden. So Tom Heavey thought, if we're going to be inspired by the Nobel Peace Prize, we're going to do a similar thing and have our own peace prize. And every year, we select a laureate. And the laureate goes to Oslo, Norway, and attends the Nobel Peace Prize ceremony. And here's the thing you probably don't know. And that is, as far as I know, this is the only local Peace Prize in the United States that has a relationship with the Norwegian Nobel Institute and Nobel Peace Center. It's a wonderful relationship. Like Melanie can tell you about it. Theresa Pan can tell you about it. And after December, Sherry Ton will be able to tell you about it too. You know, the laureate goes there, but it's not just like we send them on a fun vacation to Norway in the middle of December. They have appointments with peace entities in Oslo, many appointments, the Peace Research Institute, the Nobel Peace Center. They go to Lillehammer to visit the Nansen Peace Center and others. So they do work while they're there and probably have a little fun on the side. We are really grateful for the proclamation, and we are usually at the peace event every year, so I'm sure we'll see you on Saturday. Thank you.

Your Majesty.

Good evening, Mayor Ibsen, council members, and Tacoma's present and watching. I'm Melanie Denise Cunningham. I am the 2018 Peace Laureate and did have an opportunity to go to Oslo, Norway, and attend the Nobel Peace Prize. It was an amazing experience, and I thank the Greater Tacoma Peace Prize for that award. As we prepare for International Day of Peace, I'm reminded that peace is not a distant dream that we watch from afar. It is a daily practice that we choose right here at home. It's local, it's personal, and it's our steward. This year's theme, the United Nations theme, investing in peace for everyone, everywhere, every day, tells us something simple and profound. Peace requires participation. We cannot withdraw what we have not deposited. We invest in peace when we listen, truly listen. Listen to stories that stretch us beyond our own experience. We invest in peace when our young people feel possibility rising in front of them. When our elders feel held and honored. when newcomers feel the warmth of belonging, and when people who disagree can still sit at the same table and say, I see your humanity even when I don't share your view. Tacoma, as you know, we are an international city. Our sister city relationships remind us that peace between nations is built the same way peace grows between neighbors. through connection, curiosity, and courage. So my invitation to Tacoma is this. Don't just mark a day of peace. Make peace a practice. Cross a boundary. Open your circle. Repair what's been broken. Stand against hatred. Choose understanding even when it costs you something. Because peace is not passive. Peace is not quiet. Peace is not accidental. Peace is built choice by choice, conversation by conversation, relationship by relationship. until it becomes the way we live with one another. May we be the city that doesn't just speak of peace, but embodies it. We thank you for this proclamation. God bless you.

Cindy Scherr- Mayor Ibsen, city council members, my name is Cindy Scherr-Schmidt, and I serve as board president of the World Affairs Council of Tacoma, and I'm honored to accept the proclamation alongside these distinguished leaders in the Tacoma community. The World Affairs Council of Tacoma has been active since the 1930s, and we are proud to bring global topics to the Tacoma and Pierce County community through our speaker series, as well as book clubs and other public events. And more recently, we have partnered with Tacoma Public Schools to make sure that our students and young people in the city of Tacoma learn about our global connections early on and help build a world that will hopefully be a peaceful and prosperous world going forward. And we're also very intentional in partnering with organizations like the Asia Pacific Cultural Center and the libraries to bring our programs to neighborhoods all over the city of Tacoma. Thank you again for the proclamation and for all the work that you do.

I'm Greg Yutes, the vice president of the Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation. And the theme, as Melanie pointed out, of this year's UN International Day of Peace is invest in peace for everyone, everywhere, every day. And it honors, quote, everyday architects of peace, peace driving local action, laying the groundwork for stability, and building a lasting peace from the ground up, unquote. And that is exactly what Tacoma Sister Cities does, the Tacoma Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, the World Affairs Council, et cetera. And that is exactly what the Chinese Reconciliation Project does. As your proclamation says, peace is more than the absence of conflict. True peace results from a culture of mutual respect, a celebration of diversity, and the building and sustaining of a welcoming culture. The Chinese Reconciliation Project Foundation is committed to the creation of spaces for sharing, shared storytelling such as our film series, Our Communities, Our Neighbors. Shared events, such as our festivals, the Tacoma Moon Festival and the Music at the Park. And shared purpose, such as our walk for reconciliation against racism. We are deeply grateful and honored to be among the people receiving this proclamation from the city of Tacoma, and we thank you.

Good evening, Honorable Mayor Ibsen and City Council. I'll make this very brief. But it is a very tumultuous time for our communities. And to be here on behalf of the Commission for Immigrant and Refugee Affairs powerful, and poignant. Just we want to say thank you for affirming our commitment to creating peace, not only through the aesthetics of peace, of looking peaceful, but really diving into the policies of welcoming week, of having actions that make people feel seen. And so thank you so much for this opportunity and for proclaiming this as International Day of Peace. We look forward to celebrating with you all at the Thea Foss Waterway with Tacoma Sister Cities this September 19th. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Are there any comments from the City Council? Council Member Siddalke.

Thank you, Mayor. And I guess I have comments for all of the proclamations I'm just going to make right now to save ourselves time. It is wonderful to see all you beautiful people out there, by the way. It is wonderful to see you all. Thank you for those words. When the speakers were talking, I was thinking in my head, often violence thrives in a world of fear. And I've talked often about how we live in a world where we have a current system on our federal level that is, you know, that is fear mongering and that is ushering each other for all of us to have animosity towards our differences. And that makes it more important that we're here on a day like today, having multiple intentional celebrations and recognitions of our diversity, AND OUR COMMITMENT TO BE A WELCOMING CITY. AND TO CELEBRATE THAT IDEA OF PEACE. YOU KNOW, I'M ALSO REMINDED BECAUSE OF OUR LAND ACKNOWLEDGMENT THAT BY AND LARGE MOST OF US ARE TRANSPLANTS, JUST A FEW GENERATIONS AT MOST, RIGHT? AND WE'VE HAD A HISTORY IN OUR CITY, IN OUR REGION, IN OUR STATE, IN OUR NATION OF NOT ALWAYS BEING the most welcoming of our diversity. So I think it's important to also be honest about our history and talk about it as we talk about why it's important to appreciate the differences in our community. And so as I think about this, that's why it's so much more important that we are here today and that we continue to do this. And to see this entire crowd completely filled, it warms my heart because it doesn't always feel safe to do that. And I feel safe right now seeing you all here. And I feel strengthened by seeing you all here. Unfortunately, I will not be able to attend on Saturday because I am actually going to be at a Friendship City event in China. And as I think about that trip, I go back to a comment that someone made that we also have to realize that these types of connections, they transcend nations and the governments of the day, that they connect us generationally. They connect us over time. And we as humans and in our humanity, it's important that sometimes despite who is in charge of that one nation, that the individual in that village and that city They have the same desires and wants that we have and that we should recognize that humanity. And I, again, want to thank you all for being here to remind us of that. Thank you. Thank you. Very well said.

Any other comments from members of the council? Well, I, too, salute all of your efforts. Thank you so much for doing all you can to make Tacoma into the gem that it is at the South Sound. It truly takes a village of folks devoted to our shared values. And with that, this is just one of many steps that we're taking towards a more inclusive community, and it takes folks like yourself. So thank you for your leadership, and please step forward to accept the proclamation with one more round of applause.

Thank you. Thank you. I can see you guys all. Okay, ready? One, two, three. One more. One, two, three.

All right, thank you so much, everyone. Peace is also the presence of photography. All right, so moving on to our second of three proclamations. Our next proclamation is proclaiming September 10th through 19th as Welcoming Week. For Welcoming Week, I would like to invite Yulia Didkivska, First Vice Chair, Commissioner on the Immigrants and Refugee Affairs, Mariceres Valdez-Castro, Commissioner of CIRA, Francois Milangano, executive director of Congolese Integration Network, and Lin Wen, immigrant services manager from the Tacoma Community House, to the podium as I read the proclamation. Whereas... Welcoming Week is a global celebration recognizing the importance of creating welcoming communities where all people thrive, including immigrants, refugees, and long-time residents can belong, contribute, and thrive. And whereas Tacoma has long been shaped by the cultures, traditions, talents, and resilience of people from around the world whose contributions enrich our neighborhoods, strengthen our economy, enhance our cultural life, and inspire innovation, entrepreneurship, and civic engagement, And whereas welcoming communities are built through respect, inclusion, and opportunities for neighbors to connect across cultures, languages, and lived experiences, fostering trust, understanding, and a shared sense of belonging. And whereas organizations including Tacoma Community House, Mucentro, Northwest Immigrant Rights Project, the Congolese Integration Network, Tacoma Sister Cities, and many other community-based groups play an essential role in helping immigrants, refugees, and their families access resources, build opportunity, and strengthen the social fabric of Tacoma. And whereas the Tacoma Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs serves as an important advisory body, advancing initiatives that promote the rights, inclusion, civic participation, and equitable access to opportunities for immigrant and refugee communities, and whereas Tacoma is also home to the Northwest Immigration and Custom Enforcement Processing Center, where immigrants are held in federal immigration detention, and the city affirms that every person, regardless of immigrant status or circumstance, deserves to be treated with dignity, justice, fairness, and respect. Now, therefore, I, Andrews Ibsen, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim September 10th through 19th, 2026 as Welcoming Week in the City of Tacoma and encourage all residents to celebrate the rich diversity of our community, welcome newcomers, support organizations that foster belonging, strengthen connections across cultures, and participate in activities that promote inclusion and opportunity for all. Please say a few words.

Good evening. I will be the first. The first one, I guess. Good evening, mayor, council members, and everyone here tonight. I'm truly happy and honored to be among the people of Tacoma who are doing so much to make our city a welcoming place. I'm happy to be part of this big community, welcoming community. This work happens every day all across our community. It happens through people who have made welcoming and supporting others part of their work, their passion, and their calling. It happens through neighbors welcoming neighbors, families opening their hearts, and people reaching out to those who are new, different, or simply in need of connection. Sometimes welcoming is a big act of service. Sometimes it is as simple as a kind word, an open door, or making someone feel seen and accepted. These small and big acts together are what make community truly welcoming. And that is why this proclamation belongs to all of us. Today, we are not simply receiving a proclamation. We are celebrating a promise that in Tacoma there is room for every story, every culture, and every dream. As the first vice chair of the Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, as a member of refugee choir, and a refugee myself, I have the privilege of seeing what happens when people are given more than a welcome. They are given a sense of belonging. I have this sense. Immigrants and refugees do not simply arrive in our communities. They bring families, traditions, talents, businesses, languages, music, courage, and dreams. They help write the next chapter of Tacoma. Welcoming Week reminds us that diversity is not something we simply recognize. It is something we celebrate, we protect, and we strengthen. Thank you, City Council, for lifting up this message, and thank you to every person who helps Meester Comer, a place where no one has to wonder, do I belong to this place? Because answer should always be, yes, you belong. Your story matters. And Tacoma is better because you are here. Thank you so much for all the work, support, and just being here for us. Thank you. Thank you, everyone.

Of course.

All right. Good evening, Mayor, council member, and everybody here. On behalf of the Congolese Integration Network, I'm honored to be here to receive this proclamation. It's one thing to go somewhere and feel welcomed, and it's something else when you go somewhere where they don't recognize who you are. We are really honored to be recognized and welcomed in the city of Tacoma because, as we know, refugees and immigrants After running from the trauma they are coming from, being received in a big city like Tacoma, it's really an honor so that they can find a place they will call home. And we are really honored to have diversity in here in Tacoma. We are honored to be welcomed as refugees and immigrants in the city of Tacoma. We are honored and we really appreciate everything. Thank you so much and we appreciate everyone. Thank you.

Good evening, Mr. Mayor. Good evening, council members. My name is Maurice Lakea. I am a Sierra Commissioner the Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and also a Tacoma refugee choir member. So my experience with the welcoming, when we celebrate the welcoming week here, it's not only Tacoma, it's worldwide. It's a movement that started since 2009 in Tennessee, and now it's growing rapidly. In many countries now, they are celebrating the same time we celebrate here. They also celebrate around the world. So my humble experience being participated in the international conference back in 2023, thanks to the city in San Jose. Then the year after, thanks to the Tacoma Refugee Choir, I went to Dallas. From 2023 to 2025, the movement has grown in a way that's... Back then, it was like 600 international members who came. A year after, it was 800. And the year 25, I didn't go. That was destroyed. It was 1,000 people. And because of this rapid growing, they make it no more yearly. It's like every two years now. So I'm going to make this short. Our wish here is to make Tacoma the second certified. Not only when we say welcoming, we have to mean something meaningful. It's not only just to celebrate the immigrant. It's to celebrate the community, immigrant and the community members. So our wish is that Tacoma becomes the second certified the city after Kekland. So we really wish that someday we would get to that point. Thank you.

Hello, Lydia Zepeda, Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. Counsel, thank you so much for this proclamation and your support of immigrants and refugees. But I want to touch on Councilmember Saldeguera's comments about our history. It's not just our history that has some very sad moments in it. It's also our present. And right now, we have roughly 1,500 or 1,600 people a couple miles away from here in the Northwest Ice Processing Center who are not feeling very welcome in Tacoma. And we've had about, I think, over 5,000 people that passed through last year. We don't know how many have passed through this year, probably at least that many. During this welcoming week, think about the people who are being rounded up on the streets of Tacoma and in Pierce County and in Washington state and in other parts of the United States who are being torn from their families. And remember that we have a lot of work to do to make sure that people are welcome and not harmed. So thank you.

Hello, and good evening, Mayor, City Council, community members, and partners. My name is Manuela Schneider, and I'm here tonight with my supervisor, Lynn, and our wonderful colleagues, Mari and Melissa. Our executive director, Amy Kuh, couldn't be here tonight, unfortunately, so I have the honor of sharing a few words on behalf of Tacoma Community House. First, we want to thank you for this recognition and for celebrating the International Welcome Week As an immigration specialist and a DOJ accredited representative, I and along with my coworkers, we have the privilege of working directly with immigrants and refugees every day. And we see firsthand what it really means to welcome someone in a community. For us at Tacoma Community House, welcoming someone goes beyond simply saying, you are welcome here. It means helping someone, for us, it means helping someone learn English, find employment, helping navigating the immigration process, including becoming a US citizen, connect with community resources, so they can build a life for themselves and their families right here in our city. Many of the people we serve come to us doing some of the biggest transitions in their lives. And one of the things I've learned through this work is that feeling like you belong can make such a big difference in how someone begins to see their community, not just as a place where they live, but a place of home. I'm so proud to be a part of an organization that has been doing this kind of work right here in Tacoma for over a century, for more than a century, sorry. But we also know that we don't do this work alone. It takes partnerships across our city, organizations working together, and people like you and me and everyone else who make welcoming and inclusion a priority. So, on behalf of Tacoma Community House, thank you to the Mayor, to the City Council, and also the Commission on Immigrant and Refugee Affairs, and all of our community partners who continue to help make Tacoma a place where people from all backgrounds can feel supported, valued, and at home. Thank you again for this proclamation.

Hola. Hola a todos. My name is Priscilla Desiderio. I'm the executive director of Mi Centro. And it is an honor to be here in front of you all and our community partners and community members. I think that representation matters. And being in this room, I can see that there is representation. But with that comes great responsibility. And as immigrants, we are chasing. A lot of the new immigrants coming here are chasing after the American dream. And I can proudly say that I am and have been honoring my parents' American dream. I am a DACA recipient. I have just finished my master's school. And as we continue to have conversations about representation, just remember that immigrants are your neighbors, business owners. They continue to provide for their families because the only dream that they have is to be able to call a safe place home. And with that, there is so much violence. There is an increase in abuse against our communities we are being targeted. But I do want you guys to remember that immigrants have been living in fear. We have already adapted to a place where we are not always accepted. And with that said, I would like to just continue to honor our culture, honor our heritage, and celebrate with us. This is an amazing proclamation, identifying and really just the vision of immigrants coming into Washington state. You said, this is not just Tacoma. This is all Washington. And so with that said, thank you guys for giving us a space where our immigrants can continue to thrive. Because I would like to say that I'm honored to be in Pierce County, where there are so many resources available. For example, WASFA. You don't see that in every other state. The access to education is so important. And being able to have that for our next generations coming in, it's just amazing. And so for that, I am very honored to be here. So thank you all for having us here.

I felt like I said what I needed to say earlier, but hearing those comments, Council Member Sandesh actually came and visited our five-week newcomer camp, which is for youth who are refugees, asylum seekers, and immigrants to our district. And they are afraid. They are afraid. We usually have 50 kids. 20 of those kids are usually Spanish-speaking. This year, we only had five who were Spanish-speaking. And I've reached out to the parents, and they're afraid. They're afraid. And so access to education, feeling safe in our communities, is so important. So thank you for this proclamation.

Thank you so much. Are there any comments from the council? Well, once again, thank you so much for the beauty of all of your work and for the courage that you exhibit every single day. So with that, please come forward to accept the proclamation. And let's give these folks one more round of applause, please.

Thank you. You should be able to say hello. Thank you.

Thank you so much, everyone.

Our third of three proclamations tonight is proclaiming September 15th through October 15th as Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month. For Hispanic and Latin Heritage Month, I'd like to invite Linda Serna, Contract and Program Auditor for the Community Economic Development Department, Jayden Axe, SBA Case Manager, Mucentro, Yadira Morales, Strategic Program Manager for Mucentro, Antonio Gomez, Latinx Unidos of South Sound, Anai Durena, Latinx Unidos of South Sound, and Amanda Figueroa, Associate Vice Chancellor for Social Mobility, University of Washington Tacoma, to the podium as I read the proclamation. Whereas each year, Americans observe National Hispanic Heritage Month from September 15th to October 15th, by celebrating the histories, cultures, and contributions of those whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. And whereas the city of Tacoma recognizes the 2026 theme for Hispanic Heritage Month, Unidos Somos Mas, together we are more, which celebrates unity, collective strength, resilience, and the shared cultural roots of Hispanic and Latino communities. And whereas we recognize the diversity in identification of those coming from the Americas, with Hispanic often being a preferred identifier of those of Spanish descent, and Latina being a broader gender-inclusive identifier, which is often preferred by those of indigenous or mixed descent. And whereas today more than 5.92% of city employees, 13.8% of the city of Tacoma population, and 23.6% of the Tacoma public schools population are of Hispanic or Latina origin, and the cultural, educational, and political influences of Hispanic and Latina people can be seen and appreciated in all aspects of our lives. Now, therefore, I, Andrews Ibsen, Mayor of the City of Tacoma, on behalf of the City Council, do hereby proclaim September 15th through October 15th as Hispanic and Latina Heritage Month in the City of Tacoma and call on the people of Tacoma to share in this special annual tribute by learning and celebrating the centuries-old traditions that reflect the multi-ethnic, and multicultural customs of communities of Hispanic and Latina people who've positively influenced and enriched our nation and society. Please say a few words.

Good evening, mayor, council members, and city manager. It is an honor to accept this proclamation on behalf of the city of Tacoma's Hispanic and Latina affinity group, Puente. This stands for promoting unity, equity, networking, togetherness, and empowerment. Puente began with the simple idea that when we come together, we are stronger. Our voices are amplified, and we create a greater sense of belonging, not only with our city, but throughout our community. I am proud to stand here today and represent the founding members of Puente, Nicole Ratliff, Lisa St. Kyle, Daniel Garcia, Alejandra Vieda, and myself. We were fortunate to have the guidance and support of Alyssa Strong, whose leadership helped us turn an idea into something meaningful. We are also grateful to our executive sponsor, Ramiro Chavez, for believing in Puente and supporting our work. It is also important to recognize the original Latine and Hispanic affinity group founded by Endiras in Santiago in 2020, the Tacoma Hispanic and Latine Network. But Puente was never meant to exist in isolation. In the true spirit of Unidos Somos Mas, united we are more, we know that our collective impact is greatest when we build bridges with the community around us. That is why it is especially meaningful to have so many incredible leaders with us today. Amanda Figueroa, with the University of Washington Tacoma, who amongst the many hats she wears, leads the planning committee of Celebrando Comunidad. Jaden Axe and Yadira Morales with Mi Centro, who also wear many hats and are creating pathways for opportunity through Camino al Exito. And Helen Miles, a fierce advocate for education, also representing the sister cities relationship with Boca del Rio. and we are celebrating our 10th anniversary this year. It is important to recognize Anaid Yerena and the Latinos Unidos of the South Sound, AKA Luz, whose relationship and advocacy helped bring this proclamation forward to make it an annual proclamation and recognition of our cultures. Each of these relationships remind us that the community is built through connection, collaboration, and showing up for one another. So today, we accept this proclamation not simply as recognition of Hispanic and Latina Heritage Month, but as a celebration of our people, our stories, our cultures, and the partnerships that help our communities thrive. We are proud of where we come from, grateful for those who have helped pave the way, and excited about what we can build together for the future. Unidos somos mas. Gracias.

Buenas noches, señor alcalde, miembros del Consejo Municipal de Tacoma, amigos y vecinos. Soy Anais Llerena y vengo de parte de Luz, Latinos Unidos del South Sound, a recibir esta proclamación. También quiero compartir con ustedes brevemente un poco de la historia de Luz. Good evening, mayor, council members, friends, and neighbors. I am Anaid Yerena, and I am here on behalf of Latinx Unidos of the South Sound to receive this proclamation and to briefly share a bit of Luz's history. Luz is a grassroots group of volunteers that grew out of a coalition of interested and civically engaged Latinas in Tacoma and surrounding areas in 2016. The group started through a project called the Latino Town Halls, supported by former Tacoma Council member Marty Campbell, and which led to the creation of a report that to this day lives in the City of Tacoma's website. We encourage our elected leaders here today to please familiarize yourselves with the Latino community, the report that the Latino community has shared with you. LUS continues to be committed to the progress of the Latinx community in the South Puget Sound area. Throughout our organization's history, we have advocated for the creation of the Deportation Defense Fund with the City of Tacoma, as well as the Inaugural Commission of Immigrant and Refugee Affairs. Luz is the group that, as was mentioned earlier, began the process many years ago to send forward the language for the proclamation of Hispanic Heritage Month here in Tacoma. We continue to support this work and the celebration of the contributions and dedication of Latino residents of the South Sound and surrounding areas. Thank you for today's proclamation. It is a meaningful gesture.

Good evening. My name is Amanda Figueroa, and I work at the University of Washington Tacoma. And I want to thank the city for this proclamation and the ongoing partnership in support of UW Tacoma Celebrando Comunidad, taking place on October 16th. This is a celebration that was inspired from the outcomes and findings of the Latino Town Hall meetings and that report that Anaid referred to. Now in its sixth year, Celebrando Comunidad has become a joyful tradition that celebrates Latina culture, community, and leadership while creating opportunities for people from all backgrounds to come together. This year, we're especially excited that one of our award recipients is also a City of Tacoma staff member and a member of Puente, Daniel Garcia. This proclamation and events like Celebrando Comunidad are meaningful to me and to so many other folks in our community, folks who are here and folks who could not be here, because they reflect a shared commitment to an inclusive, vibrant, and connected region.

Thank you.

Good evening, Mayor and City Council. Thank you so much for this recommendation and also for being so inviting to the Camino al Éxito cohort before the end of 2026. My name is Jayden Axe, and I've had the honor of serving as MISENTRO's Small Business Case Manager for Camino al Éxito for over two years. In this role, I am privileged to get to support local business owners with everything from accessing resources and completing applications. to marketing, business planning, and even workshops, all tailored to their individual needs and offered in their preferred language. So many small business support services are available primarily in English or only online, which can create real barriers for Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs and other immigrant communities to access them. Camino alexito is proud to help bridge that gap by providing accessible, personalized support in our community. Since joining the program, I've had the privilege of seeing the demand for these services grow, and we're incredibly grateful for the City of Tacoma's support in helping us meet that need. There's still so much work to do, but it truly does mean so much to have our work recognized and supported by you all. Thank you.

Hi, good evening, everyone. My name is Yadira Morales. I am the program advisor for Mi Centro's Camino al Éxito program, and it does mean very much to us to have our 2026 cohort here today. Many of our participants came to this country in search of their American dream. They left behind their homes, their families, and the lives that they knew to build something new here today. They're building businesses now, creating jobs, and helping drive economic growth in Tacoma and Pierce County. So right now, I'd like to invite all of our cohort to please stand. Por favor. Parense. Quédense parados. The entrepreneurs, these wonderful people, are standing here tonight. They're living proof of strength and growth. Programs like Camino al Éxito get to plant a little seed, helping them turn their determination into opportunity and giving their businesses room to grow and flourish and learn how to step into places like this. We're proud to stand beside them today. Thank you to the City of Tacoma for making space to celebrate Hispanic and Latinx heritage. This recognition tells our community that leaving so much behind was not in vain. It tells us that our local leaders see our sacrifices, our hard work, and we all contribute. And thank you for helping people like us feel like we belong in a country that we now call home. But most importantly, it truly does show that unidos somos mas fuertes. Thank you.

Thank you so much. Liesl, anything? OK. All right. Any council comments? All right. Once again, thank you so much for your leadership, for your involvement, and for all that you do to make Tacoma an even more vibrant, beautiful place. Thank you so much. Please step forward to accept the proclamation. And one more round of applause, please.

Thank you. I'm not sure.

It's all right. It's all right. She's the support. She's the rock.

We'll have to have some of them come.

They're not going to all fit.

Hey, Nicole.

Nicole, I can't get you guys in the frame. So where the table, the table is kind of the edge of the picture.

Okay. Okay. Ready? One, two, three. One, two, three. And I do want to hand out. Okay. One, two, three. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

Thank you so much everyone. We're going to resume our regular council meeting now. starting with public comment. Clerk, please read. When you're ready, clerk. Yes, please. Yes, please.

Okay. Sorry. Hello.

Hello.

Whenever you're ready, clerk.

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

Thank you, clerk, and thank you again, everyone, for showing up. Just a friendly reminder, this is just for things that are on tonight's agenda. Please identify the item that you're speaking to, and please keep your comments to 90 seconds or less. We're going to start with – excuse me for not reading it correctly – MANIARES CASTRO FOLLOWED BY TYLER DANIELS. OKAY. WE'LL RETURN TO MS. CASTRO AT THE VERY END. TYLER DANIELS FOLLOWED BY ALICIA LAVER.

HELLO, EVERYONE. RESOLUTION 4-2020. I am directing these comments to Chief Stallings.

I am concerned. Tyler, can you please direct your comments to the council and not to an individual staff member, please? All right.

Well, to all of you, I am concerned that our community does not have the capacity to sustain 14 days on food or water. Tacoma's water is polluted. I was just polluted by it. And I'm also concerned that the plan does not address in a seismic event that the entirety of Point Ruston was not developed to seismic code. The parking garage alone was not built to building code. That was known, suppressed, and silenced, and ignored throughout Pierce County and Tacoma. I am also concerned that the community is not prepared, according to this plan, for a potential derailment of the T line of Sound Transit, which was substandardly designed and substandardly constructed based on financial decisions that were made late in the design period, which I was a project engineering review staff member for the city of Tacoma. I expressed concerns, and these are not addressed in here as public safety for an emergency management preparedness plan. This is concerning as we have grocery stores closing and the community would not know how to prepare themselves as well as it does not address.

Thank you, Tyler. Thank you. Alicia Lover.

Good evening, Mayor Ibsen and council members. My name is Alicia Lover and I'm here today to support resolution 42023 relating to the city's commitment to community investment through its spending and contracting practices. In my role at Tacoma Public Schools, I've helped lead our district's community investment commitment work for more than a decade with goals to support Pierce County businesses, expand opportunities for disadvantaged businesses, and create career path opportunities for young adults. During this time, the city of Tacoma has been a steadfast partner, particularly through the equity and contracting team and LEAP program Thank you for your commitment to creating economic opportunity, strengthening local businesses, and investing in Tacoma residents. Together, we have aligned certified business requirements, partnered on networking opportunities, and helped small businesses better navigate government procurement. As this work continues to grow, with Parks Tacoma signing on earlier this year and now the city considering this resolution tonight, we are excited to enter this next chapter of partnership. By continuing to align our metrics, streamline our processes, and solve challenges together, We can make it easier for small businesses to work with public agencies. We can create more opportunities for local residents on Tacoma projects and better demonstrate our collective impact to the community. We're grateful for your partnership and excited for this next chapter. And I respectfully urge you to approve this resolution and thank you again for the partnership this last decade and as we continue forward. Thank you.

Thank you, Alicia. I have Nath Laver signed in. It's like I'm seeing double.

That's what we do on a Tuesday night. Good evening, counsel. Mayor, Deputy Mayor, my name is Nate Flauver. I'm the Secretary-Treasurer of the Pierce County Central Labor Council, and I have a privilege to sit on the Community Investment Advisory Committee for Tacoma Public Schools. This has been an excellent opportunity for the Tacoma schools to improve their procurement processes, to keep those local bond dollars invested in our community, And we've seen some just tremendous numbers off that. This procurement process is going to pair very well with future ordinances coming down from Councilmember Diaz, looking at the community workforce agreements and project labor agreements. This does the procurement side. And those will work on the worksite side. So they pair very well together as they overlap with the investing into registered apprenticeships so that we're using our tax dollars to not only build really neat capital stuff, but we're also then able to build the next workforce here in Tacoma. I wanted to thank the mayor, the deputy mayor, Councilmember Diaz, and Councilmember Walker for bringing this forward, for staff doing their due diligence. on this, and I urge a yes vote and look forward to further discussions to continue to make Tacoma a better place. Thank you.

Thank you, Mr. Lauber. Our last in-person speaker was Mariaris Castro. Is she available?

Okay.

We have no further in-person speakers signed up. We have no one online who's signified that they want to speak to tonight's agenda. So with that, we are going to close. public comment and move on to the rest of our agenda, starting with resolutions. Item 26, this item is going to have a PowerPoint presentation. Clerk, please read.

Resolution 42020, a resolution approving the updated City of Tacoma Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan.

I move to adopt resolution number 42020. Second.

Moved and seconded. I'd like to call on Tika Adeogan to lead the presentation. Tika?

I need the stepstool that's down here, apparently. Thank you. mayor and city council. So I will present on this. It's just the update to our comprehensive emergency management plan. Is that me? That was you. OK. All right. So really quick, I am joined today also by Joshua Castillo and Heidi Rock, who are also on the emergency management team as analysts. So this is just a brief outline. I'll just go over really the purpose of the plan, the plan elements, the key updates that we made for 2025, the approval process, and our recommendations. So the purpose of this, by state law, is required that municipalities, if they have emergency management departments or emergency managers, that they're required by law, federal law, to have a comprehensive emergency management plan. That's found in RCW 3852-070. And the city is required to have a CEMP, which allows us to maintain our independent emergency management status outside of Pierce County Emergency Management. So that just means we as a city get to continue maintaining emergency management for ourselves. It also, the key thing about that is allows for reimbursement expenses during declared disasters. So anytime we declare a disaster at the city level, because we have a CEMP, it allows us to apply for those disaster funds and reimbursement. The plan elements and structure. So these are the key things for emergency management and planning. So preparedness, prevention, protection, mitigation, response, and recovery. Those are all found within the plan. The plan is a living document. So as those things change, we are always constantly updating that. The plan structure is the basic plan and then department-based functions. What are departments capable of doing in a disaster or a large incident and how they can help support recovery for the city and response. So the key updates that I want to point out, we changed the, a couple of them I'll point out, because there's several bullets on that slide, but the first one I want to point out is we changed ECC, Emergency Coordination Center, to match Emergency Operations Centers, which is more widely known, especially in the emergency management world, and because we do that for the entire city, which brings the city together in one space. We updated language, which is required by a state law for co-located shelters. And that just means that we've worked with neighborhood community services to basically insinuate that or work with them to say that they will identify shelters that can be used for pets and humans together so that they're not separated. And that's just because there's so many changes. But that's now state law. So that has been updated in the plan. There's just some simple language there. Those shelters are not identified as neighborhood community services, and the city would have to identify those later, what's best to put pets and people together. We made sure that it maintains alignment with the national emergency management standards, such as NIMS, which is the National Incident Management System, which we're required to do. But we also changed some of the language, which is very easy for us in emergency management to understand, so that city staff and the public can understand the language a little simpler. So we're required to do this every five years. The city of Tacoma has had a comprehensive emergency management plan. The last one I saw was from 1988, so we've been doing that for a very long time. So every five years we update it. This is something we do continuously. We get representation from all city departments to give us feedback on the plan, especially their departmental functions. And it's reviewed by the Washington State Emergency Management Division. So they review it and they compare it to federal requirements. We've met all of the federal requirements. And then once we meet the federal requirements, the state reviews it. They give us a letter of acceptance, basically, from Robert Ezell, who's the director of the Emergency Management Division for the state, which we have. And so we've met that at 99% in total, our plan. The 1% we need now is the final sign-off and resolution from the city council. So we recommend that city council adopt resolution number 42020, which approves and promulgates the 2025 Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. And that is all.

Thank you, Tika, for your presentation. Are there any council questions or comments? Council Member Rumbaugh.

I just want to thank you for, we heard your presentation at study session as well. And I just want to thank you so much for the work that you've put in, Tika, and how you represent our city and how important this is. And I really appreciate your update. It's been very thoughtful. But also just as the chair for South Sound 911, these are important plans. as we look at our county as a whole. So thank you so much for leading with the city of Tacoma.

Thank you. Appreciate that. Thank you, Chair Rumbaugh. Seeing no further questions or comments from the council, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 42020, please say goodbye by saying aye. Aye. I was about to say no. Resolution is declared adopted. Item 27, this item will also cover items 28 and 30. Clerk, please read.

Resolution 42021, a resolution authorizing the execution of a letter of agreement with the Tacoma Police Union Local 6 regarding employees assigned to the Criminal Justice Training Commission.

I move to adopt resolution number 42021. Second. Moved and seconded. I'd like to call on Michelle Woodruff.

Good evening, Mayor Hampson, Deputy Mayor Bushnell, and City Council. I'm Michelle Woodrow. I'm the Public Safety Labor Negotiator here at the City of Tacoma. Resolution 42021 authorizes the execution of a letter of agreement with the Tacoma Police Union Local 6, IUPA. The agreement provides for an increase to the application of rate provided for employees assigned full-time to the Criminal Justice Training Commission. The Tacoma Police Department assigns commissioned employees to the Criminal Justice Training Commission as career rotation positions, and Article 26, Section 26.2 of the current collective bargaining agreement provides for an application of rate of 3% for that CJT-SA assignment. The CJTC provides for a reimbursement to the city for certain personnel costs associated with the TPD commissioned employees assigned there, and to assist TPD with recruiting and retaining experienced commission staff to fill these assignments. And given the CJTC's cost reimbursement, the agreement provides for an increase from 3% to 7% for that application of rate. Resolution 42022 authorizes execution of a letter of agreement as negotiated by Tacoma Police Management Association, Local 26, IUPA. This agreement provides for the addition of language to Article 20 health reimbursement arrangements by adding provision for annual cash of personal time off accruals to be contributed to the employee's voluntary employee beneficiary association or VEBA account. In January of each year, employees having more than 480 hours of personal time off accrued will be cashed out for 80 hours of PTO with 100% of cash value being deposited into their VEBA. The union must notify the human resources director by December 1st if the cash out for the following calendar year will be 100% contribution to VEBA 50-50% contribution to VEBA or the traditional cash out or 100% traditional cash out. If notice of a change is not provided by December 1st, the city will maintain the status quo from the previous election. And finally, Ordinance 29118 authorizes the implementation of the provisions of the letter of agreement negotiated with Tacoma Police Union Local 6, IUPA, and the Tacoma Police Management Association Local 26, IUPA. And I'd be happy to answer any questions.

Thank you, Michelle. Do any council members have questions about this item or items 28 or 30? OK, seeing none, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 42021, please signify by saying aye. Aye. I'm supposed to say no. Resolution is declared adopted. Item 28, clerk, please read.

Resolution 42022, a resolution authorizing the execution of a letter of agreement with the Tacoma Police Management Association, Local 26, regarding a change to VEBA participation requirements.

I move to adopt resolution number 42022. Second.

Move and second. This item was just presented. Are there any additional council questions or comments? Seeing none, all those in favor of adopting resolution number 42022, please signify by saying aye.

Aye. Aye.

Supposed to say no resolution is declared adopted item 29 clerk please read resolution 4 2 0 2 3 a resolution recognizing the city's commitment to minority and women-owned businesses local hire and apprenticeship utilization through the equity and contracting and local employment and apprenticeship training programs and Expanding this commitment by joining the community investment commitment as a partner agency I move to adopt resolution number 4 2 0 2 3 second

Moved and seconded. Thank you so much for bringing this forward and for your co-sponsorship as well as the co-sponsorships of Council Members Diaz and Walker too. So what brought this resolution forward is a recognition of the fact that Tacoma has already been leading on this for decades when it comes to the inclusion of women minority-owned firms and local hire. What this really represents, this particular venture of the community investment commitment, de-siloing the work that's already happening in the community. That's the real value of this. So I want to give the profoundest of thank yous to our partners from our sister agencies at the school district and the parks in particular. As we work with our peer agencies, with the JMAT Coalition, the Tacoma Anchor Network, and also as we explore other policy ventures such as PLAs or CWAs, it's really vital that we act in greater unison, that we learn from each other, and that crucially we provide CERTAINTY TO THE MARKETPLACE BECAUSE THIS IS JUST AS EQUALLY ABOUT WORKING WITH OUR PRIVATE PARTNERS, OUR EMPLOYERS IN THE AREA TO SET THE STANDARD AND ACHIEVE GREATER CERTAINTY FOR THE REGION. THAT'S THE REAL STRENGTH OF THIS. EVEN THOUGH WE'RE NOT PROGRAMMATICALLY DOING MUCH INDIVIDUALLY DIFFERENT BECAUSE THE CITY HAS BEEN SETTING A GREAT STANDARD FOR SOME TIME, ACTING IN GREATER UNISON, ENSURING GREATER CERTAINTY FOR THE MARKETPLACE AND JUST MAKING SURE THAT WE'RE LEARNING THE BEST POSSIBLE LESSONS WE CAN TO RAISE THE BAR. Nothing but good things. So with that, I wanted to say thank you for everyone involved for signaling the importance of this and to thank you for the co-sponsors and bringing this forward. Are there any other council comments? Deputy Mayor? Thank you, Mayor.

I just want to – you really hit the nail on the head, but I just really wanted to emphasize how this is really a commitment back into our community to support our community, both for just – It's just all the public dollars that could be spent are going to be reinvested back into our community. They're just so important because it continues to support jobs. It continues to support opportunity for members all across our community. So just appreciate the leadership on this and really proud to be able to co-sponsor it. Thank you.

Thank you, Deputy Mayor. Any other comments? Okay, seeing none, the resolution before us is 42023. All those in favor, please signify by saying aye. Aye. Supposed to say no. Resolution is declared adopted. Thank you, everyone. Moving on to first reading of ordinances, item 30, click please read.

Ordinance 29118, an ordinance amending chapter 1.12 of the municipal code relating to the compensation plan to implement rates of pay and compensation for employees represented by the Tacoma Police Union.

This item was presented earlier in the meeting. Are there any additional council questions or comments? Seeing none, this ordinance will be set over for final reading next week. Is there any unfinished business? Seeing none, city manager, do you have a report this evening?

Mayor Olsen, thank you very much. I'd like to, at this time, invite Chief Jackson up to the podium. I've asked the police chief to provide a quick update, a brief update on all the things that are happening at the police department, including just wonderful, wonderful news on our community efforts from the department and also just I want to just turn the time over to Chief Jackson to just provide you with a quick update. Please proceed.

Good afternoon. Thank you so much for the privilege of being up here. On behalf of the Tacoma Police Department and myself, I want to first make sure that the community is aware of the support that we get from all of you, from the council, from our city manager. And it's just a big deal. And that is why people are coming to Tacoma to work. So I just want to make sure that I acknowledge that. And thank you very much. want to bring forward that the efforts that are being taken right now to be able to try to really increase community safety number one just give you a quick hiring update since the City Council has approved the lateral incentive package in September of 2025 you authorized 20 incentive packages I want to let you know proudly that our agency worked very hard and all 20 of those positions have been filled that is a big deal and that also is something that I think that you know the community should be aware of and you should really think your applaud yourself for that also the to date I want to make sure that we point out that as we bring those laterals on it really increases the staff the staffing right away also reduces the overtime and we've seen that but also it deploys trained officers more quickly and efficiently And so I want to make sure that it's pointed out at the bottom there also from the same time frame, September of 25 to 26, Tacoma received 1,073 entry-level applications and 126 lateral applications. What that should mean to you is that we are very serious about ensuring that we're picking the right fit for the city of Tacoma.

Thank you.

There has been, people have asked about what is going on with the high visibility saturation patrols. That is that DUI working with the traffic enforcement, the DUI funding that comes through. It's an ongoing program. And so since April of 2026, when that was kicked off to where we have utilized two of our existing officers to be part of this DUI cadre, there have been a total of, trying to see that up there quickly, They've changed it since mine. I'm so sorry. I'm just going to go quickly so I don't waste anybody else's time. So what we've done is it shows you the increase that we've been able to make in arrests for that DUI, the drug arrests that have been increased as well because we do have drug recognition experts, and then also just that overall DUI increase of 51.2%. You asked for that. What are we going to do to maintain safer streets? And this proves positive that that is working. Thank you so much for that. And then this was the one I was looking for. So I did get help with that. So this just goes to the numbers up there. I don't need to read everything that's there because I think that I want to make sure I'm being very aware of people's time. 118 DUI arrests since this implementation is a huge, huge effort. So I just want to point out you can see that our vehicles they still maintain the Tacoma Police Department because they are our members and then there is just that that's the Information that the site says DUI enforcement and so that does at least point out so if you're wondering if we have anybody out on the street You'll be able to see that Thank you. And here is something we are all proud of, just the Kids Health and Safety Fair. That was also something that was sponsored by the Tacoma Police Department through the help of our previous mayor and continued support through you all. I could have brought pictures upon pictures up here, but we just made one collage there. And I really want to point out that 6,500 attendees came through that day. That's a huge amount. I'm so proud of that. And we were able to, through the help of Bourbon and the other community members and then members from our agency, we were able to give 1,800 backpacks to individuals to start the school year. Every one of those backpacks had all the supplies included in them. And that was a huge deal. I can see now when I've gone out to the schools and visited the schools, I can kind of pick out which backpacks were ours. And it just makes a difference. Coats, there were over 1,000 coats that were given out. These were brand-new coats, not used. That's a big deal. Shoes, same thing. We had people that had gotten a pair of shoes that one young man came up and told me, not only has he never had a brand-new pair of shoes before, but he's never had a pair of a brand-name shoe. And so it just reminds us of some of the things that we have that are taken for granted, but the importance and the value that people feel when they're accepted. And then haircuts, it was amazing to see people in line to get haircuts and dental checks, vision checks, the whole bit. So really I think that that speaks loudly to us as a community and I can't shout enough about how much I just am privileged and honored to work here. And finally, I came before you a few weeks ago, and we were talking about Tacoma Public Safety Partnership. This is something where we're hoping to get some community voices together with members from our police department and educate on who we are as an agency, what we do. And I have personally been engaged with individuals. That says 22 applications. There's been more since then. But I've had the privilege of speaking to people that took the time to read about this and then put in an application and are wanting to come out one time a month. And we're going to meet and go all the way, kind of like the community police academies, but a little bit different with more focused question and answers. And so I'm very excited for that. And we will be coming before you as an agency reporting back on the status. So that's what I have for you today. And I just wanted to thank you again for your time And so if everybody was here, they would have been able to just hear how proud we are to serve this community. So thank you.

Thank you, Chief, and to TPD and for everyone for your service involved. We really appreciate it.

Thank you.

Deputy Mayor, would you like to comment on this?

Yeah, I just wanted to just really appreciate Chief and all our officers out there doing the hard work. Additionally, just I had the opportunity to go to the Health and Safety Fair, and it was just phenomenal how many people just kind of lined up the street and you know there's a reason why we moved it from the Eastside community centers because the need has been so great but the I think it's a testament to how successful has been over the years because it's really grown we had to move it to the Tacoma dome and I suspect next year it'll be even bigger so just really appreciate all those efforts and it was really just amazing to be able to see so many members of our community out there Feeling welcomed as we celebrate welcome week this this week as well, but you know just being able to get haircuts like it seems like it's such a simple thing but That that is a cost for for many families and you want to make sure students are have every opportunity for success And you guys were a big part of making that happen for so many families out there, so just appreciate that Thank you.

Thank you deputy mayor. Thank you so much chief. Thank you manager Moving on to comments and committee reports of the City Council. Back to you, Deputy Mayor. I'd like to call on you as Vice Chair of the Economic Development Committee for committee briefing.

Thank you, Mayor. The Economic Development Committee has met twice since our last report out. On August 11th, the committee evaluated candidates to serve on the Tacoma Creates Advisory Board. We recommended five excellent candidates to fill the open seats, which council voted to appoint at the end of last month. At the August 25th EDC meeting, staff briefed the committee on the Arts and Cultural Vitality Strategic Plan, including the plan's updated focus areas and metrics in a draft mission and vision statement for the next five years. The plan reflects programmatic elements the division has implemented since its last adoption and align its core elements with those of Tacoma 2035 and the Economic Development Strategic Plan, both of which were adopted this past December. The Arts Commission will review the plan soon, and if approved, Council will consider its adoption towards the end of this year. The September 8th EDC meeting was canceled, The committee meets again next Tuesday, September 22nd, for a business update from Dean Burt, President and CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Tourism Authority. And he was also here earlier this afternoon. Mayor, this concludes my report. Thank you, Deputy Mayor.

Any other comments from members of the Council? Council Member Rumbaugh.

I don't have a comment on that. I just have one extra thing to add. Is that okay? Okay. Thank you, Mayor. I just wanted to let the community know that it is the High Holy Days for Jewish community, for people who celebrate that. So it started off with Rosh Hashanah, and there's the 10-day period before Yom Kippur. And I just wanted to talk about it because it's one of the most holy times of the year. And I just wanted people to understand what Yom Kippur is, that it's both a solemn and deeply joyful time. Yom Kippur is one of the holiest and happiest days of the Jewish year. During this time, we're looking to anybody that we may have wronged, and we're going to them and asking them for forgiveness for anything that we may have done that was hurtful that we didn't mean to do. And Yom Kippur also asks us to think about the quality of our life and our relationships. Yom Kippur opens connections with self, friends, and family. And hope is at the very center of Yom Kippur. So I just want to send those out to everybody because I think we can all gain wisdom from other people's holidays and what they do. And so the Kol Nidre, which is the most holy of all nights for Jewish people, starts on Sunday night. Unfortunately, our temple is having to have security every time we have any holiday. So it's really, I appreciate our Tacoma Police Department because we have officers who show up for every holiday now. So that means they come every Friday night for any bar or bat mitzvah, and they will be there for this holiday. I just want to thank the Tacoma Police Department for being a part of what it means to be able to be a Jew in this city. So thank you so much.

Thank you, Council Member Rumbaugh. Any other members of the council? Okay, well, thank you so much. And as a reminder, we are rescheduling and relocating the September 29th City Council meeting to Wednesday, September 30th. This is our first in-district council meeting, which will be held at the Star Center in South Tacoma. Doors will open at 5.30, and the meeting will start at 6 p.m. There will be food, music, and child care. The meeting will include a brief city council agenda, then community forum. City staff will be on hand to answer questions and to deal with service requests. Study session on Tuesday, September 29th, will still take place at noon Tuesday in the council chambers. So with that, seeing as there are no further council comments, is there a motion to adjourn?

I move to excuse Olgi Diaz from the meeting tonight.

Moved and seconded. All those in favor, say aye. Aye. All those opposed, say no. The motion passes. Is there a motion to adjourn?

I move to adjourn.

Second.

Moved and seconded. All those in favor, say aye.

Aye.

All those opposed, say no. We are adjourned.