Tacoma residents will have plenty of opportunities next week to learn more about what’s happening in city government.

Tacoma City Council’s Economic Development Committee will meet on Tuesday to receive updates on two economic development programs. Also on Tuesday, Tacoma City Council will hold its regular weekly study session and council meeting. Tacoma City Council’s Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee and Infrastructure, Planning, and Sustainability Committee will not meet this week due to the Thanksgiving holiday. City of Tacoma offices will be closed on Thurs., Nov. 28 and Fri., Nov. 29.

Here is a look ahead at some notable meetings, events, and issues planned for next week at City Hall.

LEAP / SBE PROGRAM UPDATES

Tacoma City Council’s Economic Development Committee will meet on Tuesday to receive updates on the Local Employment and Apprenticeship Training Program (LEAP) and the Small Business Enterprise (SBE) Program, two economic development programs that aim to promote job training, place local workers, and offer technical assistance and procurement opportunities for local contractors.

According to City of Tacoma staff, LEAP aims to ensure contractors performing work on public works contracts have access to an adequate supply of local labor, while SBE promotes the development of small businesses that can compete contractors on Federal, State and City-funded projects. Last year, both programs were transferred to the City of Tacoma Community and Economic Development Department in order to leverage more economic development opportunities in a variety of projects, such as Tacoma Housing Authority’s Hillside Terrace, Catholic Community Services Nativity House, Business District sidewalk improvements, and redevelopment of the Kellogg-Sicker and Pochert buildings in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood, according to City of Tacoma staff. Program participants also assisted Tacoma Public Schools in developing its goals and policy language for its $500 million approved bond measure to rebuild or renovate 14 neighborhood schools.

Tacoma City Council’s Economic Development Committee will discuss this issue during a meeting on Tues., Nov. 26 at 10 a.m. at the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market St., Conference Room 248. A copy of the agenda is available online here.

MID-BIENNIUM BUDGET AND LEGISLATIVE AGENDA

Also on Tuesday, Tacoma City Council has scheduled a study session to hear from City of Tacoma Budget Officer Tadd Wille on recommended 2013/2014 mid-biennium budget modifications. A public hearing on the proposed modifications will be held later that day at the regularly scheduled Tacoma City Council meeting. The first reading of an ordinance to amend the budget is scheduled for Tues., Dec. 3.

As a second item on the agenda, City of Tacoma Government Relations Officer Randy Lewis will discuss the proposed 2014 State and Federal Legislative agendas. Prior to the beginning of each year’s session of Congress and the Washington State Legislature, Tacoma City Council indicates its priorities in order to help members of the legislative and congressional delegation know which issues are most important to the City of Tacoma. The move also helps staff focus resources appropriately. Tacoma City Council is scheduled to vote on a resolution to adopt the State Legislative and Federal Policy agendas for 2014 on Tues., Dec. 3.

Councilmembers will discuss these issues during a study session, which will be held on Tues., Nov. 26 at 12 p.m. in Room 16 of Tacoma Municipal Building North, 733 Market St. Audio from the meeting will be broadcast live on TV Tacoma and online at tvtacoma.com. On-demand audio archives are available on the Web within 24 hours of the meeting online at tvtacoma.com. A copy of the agenda is available online here.

OLD TOWN DOCK PUBLIC RESTROOM

Also of interest, the City of Tacoma is accepting bids on a project that will provide a new public restroom and site improvements located at the intersection of Ruston Way and McCarver Street, adjacent to Old Town Dock. The project budget is estimated at $260,000. A pre-bid meeting will be held at 10 a.m. on Tues., Dec. 3. Bids will be received until 11 a.m. on Tues., Dec. 17. More information is available online here.