Please join our next West End Neighborhood Council meeting

Wednesday, March 13, 2024

7 p.m. (Doors open at 6:30 p.m.)

Fire Station 16 (7217 6th Avenue in Tacoma)

The Narrows Park & Ride Lot is temporarily closed for construction, so plan accordingly.

Time-sensitive reminder: NOW is the time to provide feedback about Home in Tacoma (the plan that changes residential zoning city-wide by eliminating single-family zoning). Oral comments are happening (March 6th)  and written comments are due by Friday (March 8th). All the details, including WENC’s Board recommendations, can be found at the end of this email.

Our March “hot topic” is sustainability. “The City of Tacoma has declared a climate emergency. What does that mean? Do we have to recycle more? Give up lawns? Plant trees? What is the city doing and what can we do? Come find out more about the challenge of the century from your City Office of Sustainability!”

There are a lot of changes coming to Pierce Transit at the end of March. Bus routes and how customers ride them will be adjusted based on community input and to make the most of resources available. Exciting new ways to get from Point A to Point B are arriving.

Why is Pierce Transit making changes?

Throughout the last half of 2023, Pierce Transit conducted a robust public engagement campaign, asking the public to weigh in on how the agency should prioritize its limited resources and what services are most important.

The community responded that they would like to see more frequent bus service, and more expanded hours of service.

Based on this public input, Pierce Transit created a Bus System Recovery Plan that will enhance bus service in six phases, as staffing and funding allow. We will implement the first phase of the plan in March 2024.

Improving Bus Routes

On March 31, Pierce Transit will make schedule improvements to all local routes with the exception of Route 57 and 214. Some changes will be minor; others will be more significant.

The schedule changes will allow buses that stop at the same place to come together at a similar time,vastly improving the transit experience for riders making connections.

Pierce Transit has also used new software to conduct in-depth analyses of every route based on traffic and other factors, providing more accurate schedules and ensuring buses will arrive on time more often.

Additional Service Improvements

There will be three additional elements to Pierce Transit’s March 31 service changes:

[image] runner

Launching a Runner on-demand service zone in Gig Harbor, offering a new transit option in areas that are difficult to safely serve with a bus, plus extended hours and connections to other transit services.

Retiring three low-performing routes (and a portion of one other route) and transitioning those riders to Runner zones. As of March 3, these Runner zones will entirely encompass the areas of the retiring routes, plus offer on-demand, curb-to-curb, accessible rides with longer hours of service.

Using the savings associated with retiring these routes to add Stream, a high-capacity transit service, between Spanaway and downtown Tacoma, offering a frequent, rapid and convenient morning and afternoon service with a faster trip.

New Gig Harbor Runner Zone Coming

Pierce Transit Runner is an on-demand service that offers curb-to-curb transportation, typically in areas with limited transit options.

There are now five Runner zones serving Pierce County, providing connections to Ruston and along Ruston Way, the Tideflats, JBLM, in the Spanaway/Parkland/Midland area and in Puyallup.

A new Gig Harbor zone will launch March 31, 2024.

This zone serves the City of Gig Harbor and the surrounding area. The zone includes St. Anthony Hospital, Tacoma Community College Gig Harbor Campus, and the Tom Taylor YMCA. It will also serve Purdy and Kimball Park & Rides, where riders can make transit connections to local and regional transportation.

The Gig Harbor Runner is available seven days a week, from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m.

Pierce Transit introduced an improved app with the Puyallup Runner last November. The new, dedicated Runner app --launched with the Puyallup zone -- will add the Spanaway, Ruston, and Tideflats zones starting on January2, 2024. Gig Harbor Runner will also use this new app when it launches March 31, 2024.

For more information on Runner, including hours and fares, visit PierceTransit.org/Runner.

Runner now in Transit App

Transit app provides real-time arrival information for all Pierce Transit buses and other transit services across the region, as well as ticket purchase options. The app also includes Pierce Transit Runner, making trip planning and transfers to or from fixed route even easier for our riders.

When customers open Transit app, they will see the closest fixed route services and now they’ll also see Runner as an option if they are in a Runner zone during the times it is active.

Information on Transit app and how to download it is available at PierceTransit.org/transit.

Underutilized Routes Retiring

At the March 31 service change, Pierce Transit is transitioning some routes that have historically low ridership and limited schedules. Routes 13, 63, 425, and portions of route 409 will now be served by Runner.

Those routes will be retiring March 30 and transitioning to Runner. Rather than a Pierce Transit bus, customers will see Pierce Transit Runner vehicles serving those areas.

Runner provides a superior level of service with expanded hours, on-demand availability, curb-to-curb service, and ADA accessibility, all for the same fare as riding a regular bus.

Stream Pacific Avenue Coming Soon

The Pierce Transit Board approved implementing Stream Pacific Avenue service along the 14.4-mile Pacific Avenue/SR-7 corridor from Tacoma to Spanaway on March 31, 2024.

Stream service will offer many benefits, including: Service in addition to the existing Route 1, providing another option on weekday mornings from 5:30 to 7:30 a.m. and afternoons from 4 to 7 p.m. for commuters looking to make a more direct trip

The bus will stop at only 14 major bus stops, saving significant travel time between Spanaway and Tacoma Dome Station

It will help Pierce Transit provide near-term relief for overcapacity Route 1 riders

This service will offer a new and vital connection to Tacoma Dome Station, including Tacoma Link lightrail service and timed connections with Sounder trains.

Finally, it will allow for future, phased-in improvements, such as upgraded stops and additional speed and reliability features, such as Transit Signal Priority, which speeds up the trip by signaling the traffic light to stay green longer so the bus can get through the intersection

Free Youth Transit Pass

Youth ages 18 and under ride fare free on public transit throughout our region.

Regional transit partners, including Pierce Transit, offer free rides to youth.

Young people who have an ORCA card are strongly encouraged to register the card online at myORCA.com or by stopping by our Customer Service Center at Tacoma Dome Station, to ensure their card continues to provide free rides until their actual 19th birthday.

If you know a young person who would like to learn how to ride transit, check out our new webpage full of Youth Ridership Resources: PierceTransit.org/YouthRidershipResources

Pierce Transit Careers

Pierce Transit has an ongoing need for bus drivers and mechanics, as well as employees in administrative roles.

Pierce Transit is a great place to work, offering excellent training and benefits such as health insurance and a generous retirement plan.

Candidates for Journey Level Mechanic or Transit Operator positions receive a $5,000 signing bonus ($2,500 after passing probation and another $2,500 after one year of service). We are also paying up to $2,500 in moving expenses for certain positions when people need to move to accept the job.

To apply for a position at Pierce Transit, visit: PierceTransit.org/careers

Source: Pierce Transit

[image] edb

The Economic Board of Tacoma-Pierce County will be hosting their annual meeting on March 20, 2024. This year’s meeting is focused on the Workforce. Katie Condit, Workforce Central CEO and EDB Board Member said regarding this upcoming event that, “Workers are an organization’s most important asset, and the struggle to find an retail people is one of the most pressing issues facing employers today. The role of higher education to meet workforce needs is more crucial than ever. A strong talent pool fuels economic growth in communities. Coupled with opportunities for quality jobs, a dynamic workforce ensures equitable and lasting economic self-sufficiency.”

Condit said, “Here in Pierce County, colleges and universities are helping to bolster that pool for the high-demand, quality jobs that companies need to grow and thrive.”

If you are interested in learning more, you can attend the 2024 EDB Annual Meeting on March 20 to hear from some of Pierce County’s most forward-thinking higher education leaders on what they are doing to shape the workforce of the future.

On March 20, join hundreds of business leaders at the Greater Tacoma Convention Center for economic development updates and awards, networking, great food and prizes.

Here’s the skinny on this year’s big event: Focus on talent. “Workforce, Workforce, Workforce!” is the theme of the 2024 EDB Annual Meeting. In lieu of a keynote speaker, attendees will be treated to a dynamic panel discussion moderated by WorkForce Central Executive Director Katie Condit. Presidents from some of Pierce County’s outstanding higher education institutions will showcase their programs and discuss actions their schools are taking to shape the talent pipeline and meet industry demands. Panelists include:

Allan Belton, Pacific Lutheran University

Sheila Edwards Lange, University of Washington Tacoma

Ivan Harrell, Tacoma Community College

Joyce Loveday, Clover Park Technical College

Golden Shovel Award and the Excellent 10. Celebrate the great work by individuals, companies, governments and organizations and the positive impacts they’ve had in our community.

Sponsorship opportunities are available. Select from three levels. For more information, contact Tamsin Bell at tamsin@edbtacomapierce.org.

This year’s event takes place at the Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center on Wednesday, March 20th from 11:30 am – 1:30 pm.

To purchase tickets to the event, go here.

The Tacoma City Council is inviting residents of Districts 2, 3, and 5 to apply for positions on the Planning Commission. Applicants must live in the district they are applying for. The deadline for applications is March 27, 2024. Those appointed will serve a three-year term from July 1, 2024, to June 30, 2027.

The Planning Commission's role is to develop and update the Comprehensive Plan. This includes creating efficient land use and development regulations. The Commission also reviews planning issues like zoning reclassifications, pre-annexation planning, and urban design.

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[image] PSE

By PAUL QUEARY, SARA KASSABIAN, AND TIM GRUVER, Washington Observer

Well after midnight Wednesday, the House narrowly voted to send Gov. Jay Inslee one of his priority bills for the session, a controversial measure aimed at helping Puget Sound Energy transition its customers from gas to electricity.

The final vote was 50-45, with two members excused. That’s the narrowest possible margin. The “no” votes included a handful of Democrats in vulnerable seats.

The bill is one of the priorities for Inslee and the environmental community this year. PSE1 argues that it needs regulatory changes at the Utilities and Transportation Commission to allow it to meet its climate targets under the Clean Energy Transformation Act and the Climate Commitment Act, which envision that it would generate far less carbon as it delivers energy to homes and businesses in greater Puget Sound.

The company has some 1.1 million electricity customers and 790,000 gas customers. It expects to have more of the former and fewer of the latter in the future as gas prices increase and consumers convert to heat pumps and electric stoves. Gas consumption across the company’s system is already down compared to a year ago, as are new hookups.

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The Weekly Volcano newspaper was spotted making its stage debut in a play at Ballou Junior High School. It was being read in a diner scene by one of the characters in the school’s January production of A Trip to the Moon played by Miles Kline. Photos of this moment haven’t surfaced and we’d need releases to share them anyway, because the amazing cast are all minors, but it was a special moment, inside a special play.

We were able to speak with Cherrie Gessner, who is the Play Production Advisor as well as the school’s Cross Country Coach and a Math Paraeducator Intervention Specialist. She said, “It was a really fun show which occupied me and 35 junior high students for about 40 days after school. My favorite part was watching them come off stage after their first time ever playing in front of an audience. They will always remember the exhilaration and the pride they felt that night. My hope is that those feelings become imbedded in their psyche, building confident and hopeful young men and women.”

Gessner hopes to reprise “A Trip to the Moon” every few years to give every group of students who come through Ballou a chance to see what life was like in 1969 and play these fun characters themselves. Meanwhile, the high schools are preparing to open their musical productions this month. Gessner said, “I think you would be blown away by the talent we have here, and checking out our high school productions makes for affordable date nights. Emerald Ridge is doing Curtains, Rogers High School is doing Bye Bye Birdie, and Puyallup High School is producing Mary Poppins.”

Most of these plays are showing this weekend. Here is a link to the calendar:

The ARTS in Puyallup: LIVE! Calendar - Puyallup School District (puyallupsd.org)

If you have fun pictures of The Weekly Volcano in the wild, please share them with us at: newsroom@weekly-volcano.com or on social media AND follow us for more cool content:

IG: @weekly_volcano

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[image] pursuit

By Jeanie Lindsay, Northwest News Network

After hours of public speeches, the Washington Legislature decided Monday to once again make changes to the state rules around police car chases.

Lawmakers approved a police pursuit initiative alongside two other high-profile voter measures – one outlining parents’ rights to oversee their kids’ schooling, the other to ban new income taxes at the state and local levels. All three of these policies will become law later this year.

These initiatives are part of a slate of Republican-backed measures that have dominated the legislative session this year. The three initiatives lawmakers passed this week would have less of an impact on the state — especially financially — than other initiatives that will appear on voters’ ballots this fall.

Democrats hold the majority in the Legislature but were split on the proposals before them, while Republicans supported all three of the initiatives unanimously.

The police initiative (I-2113) is the most consequential of the three and prompted the most discussion in the House and Senate. While the income tax measure and the parents’ rights policy largely don’t change current education and financial practices under state law, the pursuit initiative makes two key changes to the state’s minimum police chase rules.

Current law says officers must have “reasonable suspicion” that a person in a fleeing vehicle committed a specific type of crime – including sex offenses and violent crimes – and that the person poses a “serious risk of harm” to others.

The initiative would broaden the list of offenses that could prompt a pursuit. It says an officer could pursue someone they reasonably suspect broke “the law.” It also says the officer could pursue if that person poses a “threat to the safety of” other people.

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By Morgan Alexander

One way that a city council can be judged is on the output of its work. A major function of a city council’s work is creating policies that both guide the city manager and provide a vision for the city. And while it is difficult to quantify “vision”, we can quantify the number of ordinances (city laws) passed that originated from a city council member.

In 2023, there were a total of 66 ordinances passed by the Tacoma City Council. Of those, five were sponsored by city council members with the remaining ordinances coming from various city departments. The summaries of the five ordinances follow:

ORD28799 created 12/1/2021; passed 2/7/2023 – (Continued from the meeting of December 14, 2021) An ordinance amending, renaming, and renumbering Chapter 9.16 of the Municipal Code, relating to Streets and Sidewalks – Keeping Clean, by adding two new sections, to prevent obstruction and damage to sidewalks from the loading, unloading, and transport of goods; and amending the penalty provision to align with Tacoma’s Uniform Enforcement Code. [Council Member Ushka]

ORD28894 passed 7/11/2023 – An ordinance amending Chapter 1.95 of the Municipal Code, relating to the Rental Housing Code, to require landlords to comply with health and safety laws; have a City business license before increasing rent or evicting tenants; set limits on late fees for rent and on pet deposits; require 120-day notice to raise rent; add new regulations for shared housing; and standardize screening criteria for the amount of tenant income required to qualify for housing, for reviewing a tenant’s criminal history, and acceptable identification. [Mayor Woodards]

ORD28922 12/5/2023 – An ordinance amending Titles 8 and 17 of the Municipal Code, relating to Animal Control and Public Safety, by amending Section 17.02.140, entitled “Public disturbance noise and public nuisance noise made by an animal”, and Section 8.12.060, entitled “Public disturbance noises”, to revise requirements for enforcement of an unlawful action and to remove the criminal misdemeanor charge for public disturbance and public nuisance noise made by an animal. [Council Member Hines]

ORD28923 12/5/2023 – An ordinance amending Title 17 of the Municipal Code, relating to Animal Control, by adding a new Section 17.02.155, entitled “Cat Declawing”, to establish a ban on performing a procedure that results in the partial or complete declawing of a cat except when conducted by a licensed veterinarian for a therapeutic purpose, effective March 31, 2024. [Council Member Hines]

ORD28930 12/19/2023 – An ordinance amending Chapter 6A.30 of the Municipal Code, relating to Business and Occupation Tax, by adding a new Section 6A.30.067, entitled “Job Credit – Work Opportunity”, to provide a new $1,000 job tax credit for employers adding a new position and filling the position with an individual with a disability, as identified through the vocational referral in the federal Work Opportunity Tax Credit. [Council Member Blocker]

By the Numbers:

Total ordinances passed: 66

Total ordinances sponsored by city council members: 5

Council Member Blocker: 1

Council Member Hines: 2

Council Member Ushka: 1

Mayor Woodards: 1

Of note, none of the ordinances put forward by council members or city staff deal directly with the top social issues of the day: affordable housing and homelessness, public safety, increased gang activity, and economic development. A full summary of all the ordinances passed in 2023 follows at the end of this article.

So, besides examining quantifiable output, are there other ways we should judge the effectiveness of a city council? This question was posed to former local elected leaders. The responses received by the publication date follow:

Julie Anderson, Tacoma City Council, 2004-2009; Pierce County Auditor, 2009-2022

Attendance. At council meetings as well as the standing committee meetings.

Communication. Does the CM have a newsletter that provides regular updates on hot topics and offer ways for citizens to be engaged (upcoming hearings, please write to me, please join me for a town hall).

Representation. If the council member is appointed to a regional council (example: PSRC) or governance board (Sound Transit), do they report back to the council and community? Is there a feedback loop?

Engagement. I’m not talking about ribbon cuttings and “glamour shot” events. Rather, does the council member go to neighborhood council meetings, community summits, civic discussions? These are crucial to listening, learning, and making oneself accessible.

Policy. Does the CM sponsor meaningful, substantive ordinances (as opposed to symbolic Does the CM appear to have read their materials and understand the content? This is evidenced by the questions that they ask (are the questions pertinent, designed to illuminate, or are they asking questions that are clearly answered in the bill). This is also evidenced by amendments that they offer.

Good relations. Although local government positions are supposed to be nonpartisan, it is well-known who affiliates with R’s and D’s. Does the CM’s initiatives and ordinances have support from a mixture of political perspectives? Is there negotiation? Likewise, does the CM refrain from partisan rhetoric and grandstanding and sponsoring “wedge issue” ordinances?

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Connie Ladenburg, Tacoma City Council, 2002-2010; Washington State House of Representatives 2011-2013; Pierce County Council, 2013-2021

They are doing a good job if they are addressing the needs of the community. Keep in mind that not everyone in a community agrees on how the needs should be met or what the priority of needs are. And that is a challenge for a council and its members. The same kind of disagreement can happen within the body of the Council. First, Council members need to just look around. Council members are also residents. They see graffiti, crime, homelessness, empty storefronts, and a degrading environment. Then get out and listen to their constituents and stakeholders. Not only will they hear their concerns but often they have solutions. Next, do research. Find out what other communities are doing. The next step is what is often missing. Go back to the residents and stakeholders and share what has been learned before a final decision has been made.

Once priorities are set and strategies are developed the Council must get the work out. This is more difficult today than when I was on the City Council when we had a robust newspaper. As you know, our means of communication have changed but I don’t think our government officials have. Our elected officials should be utilizing all means of communication – oral, written, visual, electronic. This is where failure happens.

The Council has done some good things, but the message is not getting to the community. Here is an example… I live in Southend, near the now famous Hosmer Business district. A year or two ago it was reported that this is the highest crime district in the City with car break-ins, drug dealing and use, prostitution, even some murders. Much of the activity was happening in and around the area Motels. This area had its share of homeless tents along the Hosmer corridor, even slightly encroaching into the neighborhood. Not good news. When crime stats are gathered it is by a larger geographic area than a street i.e census track, neighborhood council, or Council district. I live about a mile from this part of Hosmer and yet the reputation of my neighborhood was affected by the crime in the 8 blocks or so of Hosmer. In the last few years, many of the motels have been turned into permanent supportive housing and affordable housing. There is no evidence of home tents and crime numbers are improving. And yet there is still a perception that Hosmer is unsafe with people saying there is no way they would go to that part of the city. Why lack of communication!

It is difficult for a citizen to know if a council is doing the job they are elected to do. It is up to the Council to let them know what has been done. Only then, will a person be able to judge whether the job meets the needs of the community.

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John W. Ladenburg Sr., Tacoma City Council, 1982-1986; Pierce County Prosecuting Attorney, 1986-2000; Pierce County Executive, 2001-2009

I judge an elected official on what they actually get done. Many will campaign on issues they or the public feel important. Some will actually make legislative proposals to address that issue. Some will actually work with and persuade other elected to work with them and pass legislation. The question for me is usually effectiveness. Does that official make the effort to get things done or do they complain that others won’t agree with them or work with them. The best not only lead on issues, but they actually perform on issues. I have found that the best were the ones who ran for office to get something done and spent as much time as possible trying to get it done. Some did get progress done by finding a way to get others onboard. I also like those who realize that maybe you can’t get it all done right now, but part is better. We have had too many who were so set on their agenda, they got nothing done because it was not perfect. The old saying is correct, “Perfect is the enemy of the Good.” So, my advice to citizens not only to ask your elected officials what issues they believe are important, but ask what they have done about it and what they intend to do. If their answer is they tried and others defeated it, ask how they plan to change that. If they say they don’t have the power to do anything, they probably don’t want the controversy of battle to get it done. A good elected official is not afraid to take a stand or afraid to tell you where they stand.

For a list of all the City of Tacoma ordinances passed in 2023, go here, and scroll to the applicable section.