Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon, Tuesday, March 9, 2004
Room 16
Tacoma Municipal Building North
728 St. Helens Ave.

Mountain Division Railroad, BISD
A status report on the operations and finances of the Mountain Division Railroad and an update on the Business Information Systems Department are the subjects of the joint City Council/Public Utility Board study session. The public may attend, but public comment will not be taken.

Tacoma City Council
Regular Meeting
5 p.m., Tuesday, March 9, 2004
Council Chambers
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St.

Downtown BIA may continue
The City Council is scheduled to vote on an ordinance to continue the Business Improvement Area (BIA) for the 17th year. Begun in 1987, the BIA program provides common area maintenance, security and marketing of Tacoma’s downtown area. The ordinance would approve the BIA work plan and budget, including the proposed $757,655 appropriation for the period of May 1, 2004 through April 30, 2005-a three percent increase over last year. The Local Development Council conducted a rate payers’ meeting on Feb. 4 to review the BIA work plan and budget, and to hear public testimony.

Tideflats property
As part of the Thea Foss Waterway cleanup under way, the City of Tacoma is required to improve marine habitat in and around Commencement Bay. Council members will consider whether to buy about 11 acres of Hylebos Creek property on 4th Street near Hylebos Creek for $118,400 to help fulfill these habitat requirements. The forested property would provide wildlife buffers around the creek as well as an opportunity to create additional aquatic habitat. Time will be set aside for public comment.

Hylebos Marsh habitat restoration
A 1.7-acre piece of Tideflats property is the last bit of land needed to create a 9.9-acre Hylebos Marsh habitat. The property, containing open water wetlands, fits in the City of Tacoma’s plan to restore and expand an existing pond for such wetland-dependent species as the bald eagle, peregrine falcon, osprey, great blue heron and other shorebirds and songbirds. The City Council will consider whether to acquire the Taylor Way property from its willing owner through the condemnation process. With this piece of property and the necessary permits, restoration could begin this fall or early next spring. There will be an opportunity for public comment.

D Street properties negotiation
At the City of Tacoma’s request, the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT) has been negotiating with property owners to purchase property rights for the city’s East D St. overpass project. In February, the City Council approved a resolution that allowed settlement of negotiations with three of the seven affected property owners. The council will consider an ordinance to authorize City staff to acquire, by negotiation or condemnation proceedings, the remaining property rights to complete the right-of-way phase of the East D St. overpass project. In addition, this ordinance would authorize the city to compensate property owners for changes to their property caused by construction of the project. The Council will take public testimony on the ordinance and expects to vote March 16.