Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon, Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Room 16
Tacoma Municipal Building North
728 St. Helens Ave.
Tacoma Dome update
Whats the latest news on the Tacoma Dome and projects in the Dome area? Representatives from the Tacoma Economic Development, Public Assembly Facilities and Public Works departments will provide the council with an update on Tacoma Dome improvements, the D Street Overpass project and development activities in the Dome area. CityPost -Channel 85 on Click!, Channel 77 on Comcast – will air the audio portion of the study session live.The public may attend, but the council will not take comment.
Tacoma City Council
Regular Meeting
5 p.m., Tuesday, April 27, 2004
Council Chambers
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St.
State loan for construction projects
If the City Council executes the Construction Loan Agreement with the Washington State Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development, the city will soon receive a $10 million Public Trust Fund loan. The city will use the funds for street and bridge rehabilitation, sidewalks, lighting, traffic signals, bicycle lanes and landscaping, as well as for new construction projects. Specific projects include construction of Pacific Plaza; improvements to the East 34th, East L and Proctor street bridges; and numerous street and alley improvements through the Local Improvement District process. If the council approves the loan, the city must provide a 15-percent match-$1.5 million-that would come from already budgeted funds allocated in the Six-Year Comprehensive Street Program. The 20-year loan from the state carries an interest rate of 0.5 percent. The council took public comment on the proposed ordinance April 20.
Employment contract for Walton
City Manager James L. Walton may get an employment agreement, if the City Council approves. The agreement would keep Walton in the City Manager position through March 31, 2005, with options for extension. The City Manager is the chief administration officer of the citys general government, and is accountable to the council for the administration of all general government units. The agreement acknowledges that the City Manager serves at the pleasure of the council. The council will take public testimony before voting on the measure.
Non-emergency ambulance RFP
The Tacoma Fire Department plans to select a private ambulance service for non-emergency and backup advanced life support transport. Fire released a Request For Proposal (RFP) April 20 and will receive proposals from interested parties until 11 a.m. May 18. By the first of June, a selection committee will make recommendations to the Fire Chief. By the end of June, the Chief will present a contract for the City Councils approval. The 2002 Buracker and Associates performance audit recommended that the department hire a private ambulance service for non-emergency and backup life support transport. The departments goal is for the new contract to begin September 2004.
