Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon, Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Room 16
Tacoma Municipal Bldg. North
733 Market St.
Joint session with Utility Board
The Public Utility Board and City Council will discuss Tacoma Public Utilities proposed 2003-2004 budget. The budget totals approximately $767 million, which is a $2.3 million – or 0.3 percent – increase from the current budget. The board and council will discuss Tacoma Power, Tacoma Water and Tacoma Rail budget issues, including revenue shortfalls and the reasons for them, key assumptions, rate implications and capital outlay programs. The public may attend the session, but the council will not take comment.
Tacoma City Council
Regular Meeting
5 p.m., Tuesday, October 15, 2002
Tacoma Municipal Building
Council Chambers
747 Market St.
Extending LEAP requirements
The citys Local Employment and Apprenticeship Program (LEAP) helps make sure construction jobs in Tacoma contain Tacoma workers. The program provides workers – particularly those from low-income areas – with training and support services necessary to complete apprenticeship requirements that lead to family-wage jobs. The program requires contractors on public projects of more than $250,000 and all building projects over $750,000 to use Tacoma residents or state-approved apprentices for a minimum of 15 percent of the total labor hours on a project. The council will vote on extending LEAP requirements to construction contract amendments and change orders as well as other changes that will clarify contractor responsibilities under the program. The council took comment on the proposed changes Oct. 8.
Convention Center contract
Crews working on the Tacoma Convention and Trade Center have completed demolition and site preparation work and now, its time for construction to begin. The the council will take public testimony and vote on a proposed $63.2 million construction agreement with M.A. Mortenson Company. Last November, the council approved a $3.1 million agreement with Mortenson for building removal and site preparation for convention center. The Council approved the $120.7 million Greater Tacoma Convention Center and downtown parking system expansion financing plan last July. Funding for the project comes from future revenues-hotel-motel tax and parking fees-generated by the center and expanded parking system. In addition, a state-authorized sales tax collected in Tacoma, Lakewood, University Place, Fife and Pierce County specifically for convention center construction also contributes to the project. None of the revenues could pay for general fund services, such as police, fire, libraries or parks. Opening in 2004, the 215,000-square-foot convention center will include a 50,000-square-foot exhibit hall, 23,000 square feet of meeting and ballroom space at South 15th and 17th streets between Market and Commerce streets. The city is planning a Nov. 1 groundbreaking ceremony.
TCRA to make loan payment to HUD
The council will consider authorizing an amendment to the Tacoma Community Redevelopment Authority (TCRA) agreement to transfer funds for a loan payment to the Department of Housing and Urban Development. Public testimony will be taken prior to voting.
