Tacoma City Council

Study Session

Noon, Tuesday, February 26, 2002

Tacoma Municipal Building North

Room 16

728 St. Helens Ave.

Anti-discrimination ordinances

The City of Tacoma Human Rights Commission members will present a proposed ordinance that would amend the city?s anti-discrimination law to include sexual orientation and gender identity.

Currently, it is illegal in Tacoma to discriminate based on race, national origin, sex, age, religion, marital status and disability for employment, housing and public accommodations.

The public is invited to attend the study session.

Tacoma City Council

Regular Meeting

5 p.m., Tacoma Municipal Building

747 Market St.

Should Tacoma play name game?

The City Council will begin to explore selling naming rights on city facilities when it reviews a $58,000 agreement with the Cleveland, Ohio-based Superlative Group. If the council votes to enter into a contract with the national naming rights company, Tacoma could soon learn what naming rights for the Tacoma Dome, Cheney Stadium and the new Tacoma Convention Center are worth – and what companies might pay that price. The three-phase naming rights process includes a marketplace assessment to determine the value of naming rights for each facility, blue print development for implementing a naming rights plan, and selling the naming rights. The council vote on Tuesday night is only for the first phase of the proposed project, which, if approved, should be complete by June 1.

Zoning code streamlining

The council will consider implementing Phase II of the zoning code update for changes that would go into effect next month. The zoning code update is a three-phase project to help modernize and streamline major portions of Tacoma?s Zoning Code – making it easier to understand and administer. During the second phase of the project, the city plans to reduce the number of general commercial districts, revise some administrative permits and add building and site design standards for commercial development. Planned revisions to the code would reduce:

325 land use categories to 50;

14 commercial districts to five;

39 setback schemes to three; and

10 landscaping codes to one.

Citizens commented on the proposed changes to Tacoma?s zoning code at a Feb. 12 public hearing. Work on the comprehensive update began in October 2000. During Phase III, the city plans to review and update residential and industrial districts. The entire project should be complete by the end of the year. The council will take public testimony on the proposed changes during Tuesday night?s meeting and expects to vote on the measure March 5.

Emergency preparedness workshop

Improve your disaster preparedness IQ at a workshop at 7 p.m., Feb. 25 (tonight!), at Wheelock Library, large meeting room, 3722 N. 26th St. The workshop will cover the latest in disaster and emergency preparedness to protect your family, home and neighborhood. The North End Neighborhood Council and the Tacoma Fire Department are sponsoring the event.