Tacoma City Council
Study Session
Noon, Tuesday, October 1, 2002
Room 16
Tacoma Municipal Bldg. North
728 St. Helens Ave.

Council to review 2003-2004 budget
The City Council will conduct its fourth budget workshop, continuing its discussion of the 2003-2004 biennial budget and the estimated $18 million general fund shortfall.

Tacoma City Council
Regular Meeting
5 p.m., Tuesday, October 1, 2002
Tacoma Municipal Building
747 Market St.

West slope property deal
The City Council will decide the fate of 10 acres of Tacoma Water property at South 19th and Meyers streets when it votes on a proposal to send the property deal back to the Tacoma Utility Board. If approved by the council, the resolution would cancel the sale of the property and ask the Utility Board to surplus the property to the city instead. The City Council took public comment Sept. 10 on proposal to sell the property to a private developer, who intended to build an 80-unit condominium building for seniors. The council put its decision on hold until it could weigh public testimony. The public can comment on the newly proposed resolution before the council votes.

Work release regs ready for review
The City Council will review proposed amendments that came out of negotiations between the city and the Washington State Department of Corrections. The proposed amendments would limit the state to constructing work release facilities in the same commercial and industrial zones in which they are now allowed (UCX, CIX, M1, M2, & M3). But facilities in the commercial UCX zone would have a resident cap increase from 15 to 30 persons. The proposal also includes reducing the distance between work release facilities from three-quarters to one-half of a mile wherever it currently applies. The council heard the public’s opinion on the subject at a Sept. 24 public hearing after the Planning Commission recommended that the City adopt the draft work release settlement proposal. The Planning Commission reviewed the proposed changes and took public comment on them Aug. 21. The council will take public comment and expect to vote on the measure Oct. 8.

Video Voter’s Pamphlet
The council will vote on a resolution that would give candidates an option to participate in a Video Voter’s Pamphlet. The proposed resolution authorizes the channel to produce the program for future elections with set rules and regulations. Included are requirements that candidate speeches must be limited to information about themselves and their qualifications for office. To participate in the Video Voter’s Pamphlet, candidates must successfully complete the Pierce County Auditor’s Office filing process, sign an agreement to abide by the rules and regulations and pay a $100 fee. Candidates advancing to the General Election may reuse their statements from the primary election for $50, or opt to record a new statement for a fee of $100. The council will take testimony before voting.

Olympic View cleanup grant
The council will take public testimony and voter whether to accept a $1.6 million grant to help pay for the cleanup and restoration of the Olympic View Resource area, which has been damaged by industrial pollution.