“Tacoma City CouncilStudy SessionNoon, Tuesday July 18, 2000Room 16, Municipal Building North728 St. Helens AvenueTacomaHealth Department PlanTacoma-Pierce County Health Director Frederico Cruz-Uribe will discuss the department’s strategic direction and key activities. Dr. Cruz-Uribe will cover the City’s prevention programs, including tobacco use, alcohol and drug abuse and teen and domestic violence.Tacoma City CouncilCouncil Meeting5:00 p.m., Tuesday July 18Room 16, Municipal Building North728 St. Helens AvenueTacomaPublic Works LeaseThe City of Tacoma’s Department of Public Works, Solid Waste Utility, may move one step closer to converting over 75 percent of Tacoma’s garbage to power. The department will proceed if the Council approves a 20-year lease agreement between Public Works and the Department of Public Utilities, Tacoma Power, for Steam Plant No. 2.The Council will take public testimony and vote on the resolution.In January the Council approved a 20-year service agreement between Public Works and the Tacoma Energy Recovery Company for upgrading and managing the waste-to-energy facilities, including Steam Plant No. 2 and the resource recovery facility at the landfill.The lease agreement is one of the final pieces to be settled before upgrades can begin. Once upgrades are complete, the City should save ratepayers money by avoiding disposal fees at a private landfill.Wapato Hills DonationThe work of the South Tacoma Neighborhood Council and the Wapato Hills Task Force may result in the acquisition of open space at a reduced cost.The Council will take testimony and vote on a purchase and sales agreement with Pierce County involving the area up for acquisition. Under the agreement, the County would put up $2.8 million to cover the bulk of a 43-acre purchase. The City would pay $210,000 to cover the rest of the cost for the urban wildlife habitat and open space.The site is located immediately west of Interstate 5 from South 56th to South 64th streets. It is the largest piece of undeveloped open space left in Tacoma. The entire Wapato Hills area totals 80 acres. The City has already purchased 23 acres and 14 more are owned by Metro Parks.”