City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 06/22/2023 10:01 AM PDT
Dear Neighbors,
As the school year draws to a close and we are returning to the long, beautiful days of summer, I am excited for the month ahead. The Hines Family is preparing for a well-deserved break, ready to enjoy some quality time outdoors. Some of my favorite Tacoma events and activities are just around the corner and hopefully we will see you out there!
Scenes From the City of Destiny
Summer Teen Late Nights
Last month, I shared that the City Council passed Resolution 41197 establishing $300,000 in additional funding for youth summer programming in Tacoma. This month, I am very pleased to share that the “Summer Teen Late Nights” program kicks off on June 26 across Tacoma, with select schools, community centers, and non-profits opening their doors Monday through Friday, from 5 – 10 PM, to keep young people safe and engaged after hours. This programming is available to Middle and High School students, and I hope you will explore whether the young people you know might benefit from signing up!
As an avid reader, I have very fond memories of the Tacoma Public Library Summer Reading program and spending many summer days wandering the stacks at the South Tacoma Library. I am very excited that the Summer Reading Challenge is back and hope you will join me in participating this year.
One thing that always excites me is that the Summer Reading Challenge is not just for kids anymore! Find the Bingo Card for your age level and fill it in by reading and completing fun activities. Books, eBooks, magazines, graphic novels, and audiobooks can all be used to meet the reading requirements.
Stop by any library for a sign-up prize when you’ve started the challenge. You’ll also receive a prize when you are finished! You can count on the Hines Family having a very competitive reading summer in 2023!
You can check out books and more from any of the eight Public Library locations. You can also access digital reading materials with your library card by using the Overdrive/Libby and hoopla apps! Find everything you need to know about downloading and using these free apps on the Library's A-Z Resources Page.
The last day to complete the Summer Reading Club and pick up prizes is Saturday, August 12.
Housing and Homelessness
Update on the Camping Ordinance
During the June 13th Study Session, the City Council received an update on the City of Tacoma’s ongoing efforts to address homelessness. The City of Tacoma has allocated $34.1 million for homelessness services and programs this biennium as part of the Strategic Plan to Address Homelessness. This update provided helpful information about how we are moving toward our goals in addressing homelessness through investments in shelter, housing, and services.
As part of that presentation, we discussed Second Amended Substitute Ordinance 28831 and its impact on our city during the last six months. The ordinance, which I brought forward last October, prohibits camping and the storage of personal belongings in a 10-block radius around temporary shelters in Tacoma, and all public property within 200 feet of Tacoma’s mapped rivers, waterways, creeks, streams, and shorelines.
This ordinance intended to ensure – first and foremost – that our most vulnerable populations receive the support and services they critically need. In addition, the ordinance was an important first step in our broader efforts to address the health and safety impacts of encampments. While we are still early in its implementation, I am very pleased to see initial signs of progress. We are on the right track.
Data shows 100 percent voluntary compliance with the ordinance, meaning that when people are asked to move or connect to services they do, and that mass arrests and fines have not come to pass. Outside of those areas defined within the ordinance, data also shows that complaints regarding the impacts of homelessness are not surging. We are getting people off the streets and not just moving them into new areas.
Since November 15, 2022, we have removed 62 encampments and more than 1 million pounds of debris. Even more importantly, we have reached 694 individuals who are interested in services and 123 people have accepted shelter.
While I am pleased with the early signs of progress, we are a long way from where we want to be in addressing homelessness in Tacoma. This ordinance was just one step on a long journey together as a community. I appreciate all we have done and working with one another, I am confident we will continue to see additional progress.
The 6th and Orchard Tiny Home Village (TEMS 3)
At the June 13th Study Session, we also announced the potential extension of the Tacoma Emergency Micro-Shelter (TEMS) located at 602 N. Orchard. The Low Income Housing Institute (LIHI) has been operating this location since December 2020 with funding provided by the Washington State Department of Commerce and the original removal of this site was planned for June 2023.
Due to the success of the site, the City would like to extend its operation for an additional year, and is conducting a community meeting Thursday, June 29, 2023, from 6-7:30 PM at First Christian Church of Tacoma (602 N. Orchard St., Tacoma, WA 98406). I will be in attendance along with City and LIHI staff to discuss the extension and answer questions. We did not have an in-person meeting in 2020 and I am glad that we will have the chance this summer to do so. I hope you will join us at this meeting and learn more.
In talking with many of you since the site opened in 2020, I have heard you speak to the success of the site and its limited impact on our neighborhood. While I hope that we will soon not need Tiny Home Villages in our city, I recognize that this is working, and I am supportive of its continued operation.
Home in Tacoma - Phase 2
This past month, I joined many of you at the District 1 Home in Tacoma event at the Tacoma Public Library Swasey Branch. It was great to talk to so many residents about what is being proposed in Home in Tacoma and to hear your hopes and reservations for this work. I have been very impressed by the level of public engagement, and I appreciate all the time many of our residents have taken to help us shape the future of Tacoma.
Throughout that event and the many community meetings I have attended, I have heard a great deal of thoughts about Home in Tacoma, including everything from design standards to tree canopy, from investments in our roads and sewers to pedestrian safety, and from making space for families along with keeping our communities intact. Tacoma is growing, and that is a good thing, but I recognize that we have many things to balance as we grow.
I also wanted to make sure you are all aware that we have a second event in District 1 on Thursday, June 22 at Mason Middle School (3901 N. 28th Street). The event is from 6-8 PMand open to all community members, including children and families. Ukrainian and Russian Language Ambassadors will also be there to assist.
I will not be at this meeting because I will be attending the Association of Washington Cities Annual Conference, but I hope you will attend if you have not made it to an event this month.
Rental Housing Code Update
During our June 6th and June 20th Study Sessions, the City Council received information about the City of Tacoma’s proposed updates to the Rental Housing Code. As one of the sponsors of the update, I have been working hard to address the issues facing renters in our community, while trying to make sure we expand access to housing options and support housing providers.
The City Council will continue to examine the proposed changes to the code and continue to balance how we put the right policies in place to serve those most in need in our city. I’m grateful for the feedback and input we have received from the Rental Housing Code Stakeholder Advisory Group in this process.
Fiscal Responsibility
As the chair of the Government Performance and Finance Committee, I have been focused on our city’s fiscal sustainability and stewardship of our tax dollars. In 2021, I helped lead the work updating and expanding the city’s reserve fund policy and adding to our city reserves. With the unpredictability of our economy, I want to make sure Tacoma is prepared to weather potential recessions.
That is why I was proud that Standard & Poor’s (S&P) Global Ratings announced a ratings upgrade from ‘AA’ to ‘AA+’ on the City of Tacoma’s outstanding limited tax general obligation (LTGO) bonds. The rating action reflects S&P’s view that Tacoma will continue its record of strong financial performance and very strong management with a structure of strong financial policies and practices.
While working on reserve policies and being focused on financial policies and practices is not exciting (well, it is exciting to me), I am glad that our efforts have paid off and the state of Tacoma’s finances remain strong.
Catching Up With Council Member Hines
Proctor Neighborhood Plan
This past month, the Proctor Neighborhood Plan was full of activity and events. I joined the Steering Committee for a “walkshop” around the neighborhood to think about public space and pedestrian mobility. It was great to get out and hear different thoughts about how we can continue to support people living, shopping, and walking through Proctor.
While I was not able to attend the Proctor Neighborhood Plan Open House, I heard that it was a big success and brought many people together to share more of their thoughts about the future of Proctor. As the summer gets started, there will be more opportunities to get involved and learn more about the Proctor Neighborhood Plan as we start making decisions on plan actions and priorities. I hope you will join us!
Zoo/Trek Authority
As many of you know, I serve on the Zoo/Trek Authority Board. It has been one of my favorite responsibilities since joining the City Council. This past month, I was elected chair of the board by my colleagues, and I am honored to serve in this role.
One exciting benefit of being on the Zoo/Trek Board is that I was able to get an early peek at our new polar bears, twin sisters Astra and Laerke (pronounced LAIR-keh). I have many fond memories of seeing polar bears at the zoo as a kid, and I am glad my kids will have the same opportunity for years to come.
The twin sisters are settling into their new Tacoma home and made their public debut Thursday, June 15th. Hopefully you can find time to meet Astra and Laerke sometime this summer!
Visit to Stanley Elementary School
This past week Mayor Victoria Woodards and I enjoyed a special visit at Stanley Elementary. Ms. Bannon Berg’s second-grade class gave a presentation on the role of Tribal governments in the community, specifically in preserving and restoring the land of the Puyallup Tribe. The assignment consisted of creating picture books showing before and after pictures of the lands and the changes that have occurred to convince the local government to restore lands for animals, plants, and the Tribal nation. This assignment aimed to broaden the children’s understanding of Tribal governments and how humans have impacted the local lands.
It was great to hear from the students and answer their questions. Tacoma has a bright future with these students getting involved. Thank you to Stanley Elementary and Ms. Bannon Berg for having us!
Please be sure to check out cityoftacoma.org for City updates and resources and, as always, please feel free to share your thoughts and concerns with me directly at john.hines@cityoftacoma.org. You can also call me at (253) 312-5620 if you have questions.
I invite you to also tune in to the City Council’s Study Session or Council meetings on Tuesdays via TV Tacoma, Facebook Live, or Zoom. Access information is available at cityoftacoma.org/councilmeetings.
Also, if you enjoy getting this newsletter and regular updates from me, please feel free to share it with others who you think might find it valuable and encourage them to subscribe.
