BY ANGELA JOSSY for WEEKLY VOLCANO 1/23/26 |
If you live within the city limits of Tacoma and want to stay informed about issues in your specific neighborhood, or if you need help but are unsure who to contact, local neighborhood council meetings are a useful resource. These meetings take place once a month. Some are held virtually, some in person, and many offer both options.
Every time I attend one of these meetings, I am struck by how much is happening. I attended the first New Tacoma Neighborhood Council meeting of 2026 and heard reports from various organizations and city departments, along with questions and comments from neighbors.
Below are highlights from that meeting. First, it helps to understand why neighborhood councils exist, why they matter, and how they can be helpful.
There are eight neighborhood councils in the City of Tacoma: Central Tacoma Neighborhood Council, Eastside Neighborhood Council, New Tacoma Neighborhood Council, North End Neighborhood Council, Northeast Neighborhood Council, South End Neighborhood Council, South Tacoma Neighborhood Council, and West End Neighborhood Council. To view council boundaries and determine which neighborhood you are in, visit tinyurl.com/TacomaNeighborhoods.
Each council has its own personality and leadership team. Neighbors are encouraged to get involved. The councils are overseen by the City of Tacoma’s Neighborhood and Community Services Department, which is currently interviewing for a liaison position.
These meetings are designed to provide residents with information, but they are also meant to function as a two-way exchange. They create an opportunity to put concerns on the record so they can be addressed.
Issues raised at past meetings have included a resident whose trees were cut down without authorization, landlords sending misleading or potentially illegal notices, concerns about a large encampment near a new apartment building affecting safety perceptions, and the vacant former Fred Meyer at 72nd Street and Pacific Avenue, which has raised food access and public safety concerns in the South End.
Andrea Haug, chair of both the Community Council of Tacoma (CCoT) and the South End Neighborhood Council (SENCo) said, “Neighborhood councils act as translators of systems. They explain how funding works, how tax codes and building permits function, amplify residents’ voices, and connect people to services. They can say things others cannot, passing along anonymous stories, complaints, and sensitive information to decision-makers who can help. We wear many hats in this space, and it can look like whatever the community needs it to be. Everyone is welcome to share their voice.”
At the January New Tacoma Neighborhood Council meeting, representatives from the Tacoma Police Department reported that major crime was down 9.9 percent based on a 28-day snapshot. They said patrol units have been collaborating across north and south areas and across shifts. They also said the department added two additional canine positions, bringing the total number of K-9 positions to four.
Participants raised concerns about a growing encampment on a large vacant lot described as private property in foreclosure near South 21st Street and Fawcett Avenue, near Jefferson Yards and a nearby brewery. Tacoma police said the foreclosure status is complicating cleanup efforts, but officers are working with city code enforcement and exploring a warrant process to clear the property. A participant noted that the regional homelessness system has requested that outreach and encampment removals be avoided for a period before and after the Jan. 29 Point-in-Time Count to support an accurate count and subsequent housing placement. Police said they would take that request into consideration.
Tacoma Fire Department representatives said new firefighter recruits currently in the training academy are expected to be deployed by the end of March. They also said a group of 19 probationary firefighters is completing the final phase of their first year, with a formal milestone expected by the end of the month. Officials said increased staffing is helping reduce overtime.
Fire officials also noted that January is National Blood Donor Month and encouraged donations, citing typical declines during the holidays and winter weather. They said Tacoma Fire’s captain paramedics program, in partnership with Central Pierce Fire Rescue, administered more than 100 units of blood in the field over the past year, describing the effort as lifesaving for patients who might not survive transport to a hospital.
Lynda Foster, representing City of Tacoma, said the city is facing a budget deficit and will be setting priorities during a February City Council retreat. Councilmember Sarah Rumbaugh said domestic violence and sexual assault prevention will be a top priority this year and tied prevention efforts to long-term cost savings and reductions in youth violence. She also said the city is moving toward confirming a new director for the Crystal Judson Family Justice Center and expects community involvement as the interlocal agreement is revisited.
Tacoma Public Library staff announced a poet laureate program scheduled for Jan. 24 from 2 to 5 p.m. They also said a Tacoma Public Schools student exhibit titled Between the Mountain and the Sea will have an opening celebration on Jan. 28 from 4 to 7 p.m. Staff reiterated that Tacoma libraries serve as warming centers, offering hot drinks and cold-weather supplies when temperatures drop.
Leslie Barstow from Port of Tacoma said free port bus tours are resuming two tours per month beginning in February. She also described a recent incident in which a small private plane made an emergency landing on a port terminal recently due to an oil pressure issue. She noted that security footage of the landing was leaked publicly and that the roadway lighting created a very runway-like pathway during the emergency landing. No injuries were reported. The Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Coast Guard are reviewing the incident.
Parks Tacoma representatives announced a Black History Month celebration scheduled for Feb. 7 at People’s Center on Hilltop. They also announced that adult resident memberships increased to $35 from $25, with non-resident memberships now $45.
A Tacoma School District representative said Proposition 1 and Proposition 2 will appear on the Feb. 10 ballot as levies, not bonds. Proposition 1 is an operations levy supporting staffing, programs including career and technical education and preschool, and some facility-related costs. Proposition 2 is a technology levy supporting the student device program and related services. The representative said the levies continue existing funding and estimated the cost at approximately $2 per $1,000 of assessed property value.
Tacoma Tree Foundation staff said Hilltop residents within a defined project area can request free street trees through Feb. 2. The organization handles utility checks, species selection, delivery, materials, and planting support. Staff also announced a community planting event scheduled for March 14 at Tacoma Community House and a Tree Stewards training on Jan. 31 that includes a stipend for participants.
Tacoma Rescue Mission representative said a temporary seasonal shelter is opening in an existing building at the corner of South 23rd Street and Jefferson Avenue. The shelter, funded by the City of Tacoma in partnership with Pierce County, will have capacity for 65 residents. Representatives said the site will include cameras, security measures, outreach to nearby neighbors, and a phone contact for concerns, while acknowledging the location is already a high-friction area and that the goal is to reduce street impacts during winter.
To connect with your neighborhood council or find information on upcoming meetings, visit tinyurl.com/4xf425vj.
