Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon,Tuesday, January 8, 2002
Tacoma Municipal Building North
728 St. Helens Ave.
Water Rate Policy review, contract
The council will have a joint study session with the Public Utility Board to discuss the Tacoma Water Rate Policy and to review the utility’s contract with Tacoma Simpson Kraft. The Water Rate Policy guides Tacoma Water’s plans for financing ongoing operations and implementing its capital improvement programs. The proposed Simpson contract would replace the current contract, which was signed in 1987 and was to have a 20-year term. The proposed 25-year replacement contract reflects changes to the policy and the proposed water supply contract later this month.
Tacoma City Council
Regular Meeting
5 p.m., Tuesday, January 8, 2002
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St.
Mayor, new council to be sworn in
Bill Baarsma will be sworn in as Tacoma’s new mayor. In addition, newly elected council members Mike Lonergan, Connie Ladenburg and Rick Talbert will also be sworn in. Baarsma was first elected to the City Council in 1991, re-elected in 1995, and was unanimously elected to serve as deputy mayor for 1997. Lonergan is executive director of the Tacoma Rescue Mission; Ladenburg is coordinator of a drug and alcohol prevention program for Safe Streets; and Talbert serves as assistant to Pierce County Councilman Wendell Brown. In addition, Kevin Phelps, who was re-elected to the council will also be sworn in. All officials will serve four-year terms. The newly elected members will join Bil Moss, Bill Evans, Sharon McGavick and Doug Miller. The new council will also elect McGavick as deputy mayor for a term ending Dec. 31, 2002.
Tacoma traffic may go slower
The council will vote on decreasing the speed limit from 30 mph to 25 mph on several Tacoma streets to help make the roadways safer for vehicles and pedestrians. The speed limits would decrease in the following areas:
North 45th Street between Cheyenne and Pearl streets;
North 34th Street between Proctor and Cheyenne streets;
South Yakima Street between South 38th and 48th street;
North Proctor Street between North 24th and 30th streets;
South Orchard Street from South 31st to 56th streets;
North Cheyenne Street between North 34th and 45th streets;
43rd Street from East McKinley to South M streets; and
North Tacoma Avenue between Division Avenue and North Third Street.
The proposed changes also include lowering the speed from 40 mph to 35 mph on South Orchard Street from South 56th to the city limits to make the speed limit consistent with the City of Fircrest’s 35 mph. The council took public comment Dec. 18.
Citizen forum
Do you have something to say to the City Council? The council will set aside part of its meeting to allow citizens to speak on any subject. Citizens’ Forum begins at approximately 6 p.m. Depending on the number of speakers, the council may place a limit on each participant.