1. Fees may increase for property tax exemption applications

If approved by the City Council on March 1, application fees for the City’s 10-year property tax exemption program for mixed-use center developments would increase to $1,000 for developments of up to four multi-family units. An additional fee of $100 per unit would be charged for developments larger than four units, up to a maximum application fee of $5,000. The fee increase would help offset staff time, costs and administration for the program, and it would take effect on April 1, 2005.

2. Ordinance would amend ‘adult uses’ portion of land use code

The City Council will hear the first reading of an ordinance March 1 that would add “sexual encounter establishment” to the list of uses categorized and regulated through the City’s Municipal Code as “adult uses.” Creating this new use would make these establishments subject to the same regulations as other adult businesses in the City, including separation requirements from parks, libraries, day care centers, religious facilities, schools and residential zones. Time will be set aside for public comment near the beginning of the council meeting.

3. Cheney Stadium could get new seating by mid-season

A purchase resolution on the City Council agenda for March 1 would approve paying Nor-Pac Seating $401,996.55 plus sales tax for the replacement of approximately 4,400 seats at Cheney Stadium. If approved, the old seating, including wooden seats and metal benches, would be replaced by the middle of the Tacoma Rainiers season. The funding for the new seating would come from the joint city/county capital reserve fund for the baseball park.

4. New TV Tacoma show documents 100 years of Point Defiance Park

A new documentary about the history of Point Defiance Park will debut at 10 p.m. March 4 on cable Channel 12 on Click! and Channel 21 on Comcast. The “Point Defiance Park 100th Anniversary Special” is produced by TV Tacoma in cooperation with Metro Parks Tacoma. John N. Miller, who last year produced the popular “Beginnings, the First 100 Years of Tacoma’s Neighborhoods,” also produced this new documentary that features archival photos and stories from Point Defiance Park, which marks its 100th anniversary as a Tacoma park this year. The “Point Defiance Park 100th Anniversary Special” will repeat on cable Channel 12 and Channel 21 on the following schedule:

March 4, 10 p.m.
March 5, 8 a.m.
March 6, 8 p.m.
March 7, 2 p.m.
March 8, 11 p.m.
March 9, 9 a.m.
March 10, 9 p.m.
March 11, 10 p.m.
March 12, 8 a.m.
March 13, 8 p.m.
March 14, 2 p.m.
March 15, 11 p.m.

5. Tacoma Dome renovation plans lead study session

City Council members will hear a briefing on a proposed Tacoma Dome renovation and bond measure during the March 1 study session. The public may attend the noon study session in Room 16, Tacoma Municipal Building North, 733 Market St., but the Council will not take public comment. CityPost (Channel 85 on Click!, Channel 77 on Comcast) will air the audio portion of the session live.

6. Government Leadership Institute focuses on land use

On Feb. 28 the Government Leadership Institute will conclude its series of free seminars intended to inform and educate students and citizens on the basics of accessing community programs and services, engaging in the public process and examining the challenges within the community. The final seminar, “Not in My Backyard: The Impacts of Land Use Actions,” will be held from 6:45 to 9 p.m. in Carwein Auditorium (KEY 102) on the University of Washington Tacoma (UWT) campus, 1900 Commerce St. Featured panelists will include the City of Tacoma’s Land Use Administrator Peter Katich; the City’s Hearing Examiner Rod Kerslake; City Council member Tom Stenger; Planning Commission Chair Tom Smith; and Tacoma Economic Development Department’s Growth Management Division Manager Peter Huffman. The Leadership Institute is a cooperative effort of the City of Tacoma and the UWT’s Urban Studies Program.

7. Funding available for two Tacoma Arts Commission programs

The Tacoma Arts Commission announces the application period for two arts funding programs: the Tacoma Artist Initiative and Arts Projects. Tacoma Artist Initiative Program provides funding for individual artists of all disciplines within the City of Tacoma to create new artwork. The Arts Projects Program funds arts activities presented by non-profit organizations located and produced within the City of Tacoma. Selection is competitive and awards are made at a minimum of $1,000 and a maximum of $5,000. Applications will be reviewed by a panel consisting of Tacoma Arts Commissioners and community members. To apply, visit http://www.cityoftacoma.org/arts. The application deadline is March 25, 2005, by 5 p.m.