1. Resolutions would offer tax exemption for new housing units

Members of the City Council are scheduled to vote on three resolutions Jan. 25 that would authorize multi-family housing limited property tax exemptions for three condominium and apartment developments in the Tacoma Central Mixed-Use Center. The largest development, to be built by Delin II, L.L.C., would create nine condos and 30 market-rate apartments at 2909 S. Fawcett Ave. Vision Investments, L.L.C., would construct 14 market-rate, for-rent condominiums at South 15th Street and Yakima Avenue, and Condo’s on Jefferson, L.L.C., would create 13 condos in another development at 2520 S. Jefferson Ave.

2. Library hours to change on Monday, Jan. 24

On Jan. 24, the operating hours at eight Tacoma Public Library branches – Fern Hill, Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Kobetich, Mottet, Moore, Swasey, South Tacoma and Wheelock – will be changed as a result of action by the Library’s Board of Trustees and the adoption of the City of Tacoma’s 2005-2006 Biennium Budget by the Tacoma City Council.

The new hours for these eight libraries are as follows:

Monday – Closed
Tuesday – Noon – 8 p.m.
Wednesday – Noon – 8 p.m.
Thursday – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Friday – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.
Saturday – 10 a.m. – 6 p.m.

Hours at the downtown Main Library and at the Swan Creek Library and Literacy Center will remain as currently scheduled.

3. Funds would aid fight against youth and family crime, violence prevention

A resolution on the Jan. 25 City Council agenda would provide $226,693 to three agencies for 2005 to implement youth and family crime and violence prevention programs, including support for the Tacoma juvenile curfew ordinance. If approved, the City would agree to provide $51,533 for the Tacoma Pierce County Employment and Training Consortium for its youth internship project, $85,000 to Safe Streets for community mobilization and minority outreach programs, and $90,160 for the Boys and Girls Clubs of Tacoma-Pierce County’s late night recreation and SMART Moves programs. Funding for these programs is included in the 2005-2006 biennial budget.

4. Critical habitat protections, land use lead study session agenda

City Council members will review the key dates for public participation and for Planning Commission and City Council action this year regarding the second phase of the update to the City’s Critical Areas Preservation Ordinance. The council will also discuss procedures used by land use administrators. The public may attend the 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 study session live.

5. Government Leadership Institute explores balancing act

On Jan. 24 the Government Leadership Institute will resume 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 third seminar, “Big Business and Small Projects: Balancing Development and Neighborhoods,” 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 Kevin Phelps, Tacoma City Council; Ryan Petty, Tacoma Economic Development Director; Jonathan Phillips, North End Citizen; and David Graybill, President & CEO of the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce. The Leadership Institute is a cooperative effort of the City of Tacoma and the UWT’s Urban Studies Program. Various topics will be discussed over the next several weeks.