John Hines - District 1 - August 31, 2023

Dear Neighbors,

I hope you are enjoying the final days of summer like the Hines family! As fall gets closer and we begin to prepare our kids to go back to school, it has been a busy month for us enjoying some of our favorite places in Tacoma.

If you have not already completed the Tidy-Up Tacoma survey, I would encourage you to do so before it closes on September 10 for a chance to win a $100 Visa gift card. Your voice plays an important role in determining where and how the City will focus our Tidy-Up Tacoma efforts.

Don't forget to share your thoughts on the draft Proctor Neighborhood Plan as well! Take the survey by September 24!

This year, I was honored to be the alumni speaker at the University of Puget Sound (UPS) Opening Convocation. As a proud Logger, it was great to spend time with the incoming freshman and their families and to share what I hope they get out of their time on campus. I shared many thoughts, but most importantly that my passion for public service formed during my days at UPS and continues to guide my work as your Council Member. Go Loggers!

Finally, please mark your calendars to join me for a Council Member Coffee Chat at the Swasey Library from 10 – 11:30 AM on Saturday, September 9. This informal conversation will be a chance to ask questions and check in with me about what I am working on. I hope you will stop by!

Ride-a-longs with Tacoma Police and Tacoma Fire

With the school year starting back up soon, one thing I enjoy doing is getting out for ride-a-longs with our City employees. I think it is important for City Council Members to see and experience the work the amazing people serving Tacoma are doing.

Tacoma Police Department

For my ride-a-long with the Tacoma Police Department, I joined police officers in Tacoma’s Eastside and South End. Though this is not part of District 1, I grew up and went to school in the area (Lincoln High School, Go Abes!). I was deeply impressed by the police officers that I met, and I gained some further insight into the work they do every day to address crime in Tacoma. Through their efforts and the Tacoma Violent Crime Reduction Plan, I believe we are continuing to head in the right direction for keeping Tacoma safe for all of our residents.

I am also excited to share that the Community’s Police Advisory Committee (CPAC) is recruiting for a new member from District 1. CPAC is a policy-focused board that helps to ensure transparency and accountability in how the Tacoma Police Department operates. Their duties include:

• Review police policy, procedures, rules, training, completed investigations, and programs at the request of the City Council, City Manager, or Chief of Police.
• Provide advice and recommendations to the City Council, the City Manager, and the Chief of Police policy, procedures, rules, training, and programs.
• Foster understanding between Tacoma Police Department and the community, and promote TPD services and resources.
• Promote awareness of the public complaint process, and review policy and conduct complaints by members of the public.
• Review completed internal affairs investigations to evaluate needs and effectiveness of policies, training, and programs. 
• Convene community conversations on services, programs, policy, procedures, rules, training, and issues of public safety.

Applications are due September 24. To learn more and apply, visit: How to Apply - City of Tacoma

Tacoma Fire Department

For my ride-a-long with the Tacoma Fire Department, I spent the night with Engine 1 from Station 1 in downtown Tacoma. Engine 1 is one of the busiest engines in the city and I wanted to get an idea of what types of calls they were responding to in our community. While I have spent time with the Tacoma Fire Department before, I was reminded of how proud I am of the work they do for our residents and the wide range of needs they are meeting. From medical care to emergency fire response, and now including the work of our HOPE Team, I am impressed by the hard work and innovation of our Fire Department. 

Catching Up with Council Member Hines

Tacoma Community College Center for Innovative Learning and Engagement Groundbreaking

This past month, I joined some of my City Council colleagues and many community members for the groundbreaking of the Tacoma Community College Center for Innovative Learning and Engagement. The new center will provide a centralized location where business, humanities, and social sciences students will be able to learn and collaborate. I look forward to the opening of this new facility and the countless number of our residents who will have a first-class facility to pursue their education for decades to come.

You can learn more about the Center for Innovative Learning and Engagement here and even check out the progress of its construction. 

NW Trek Tram Tour

Finally, the Hines Family was excited to visit Northwest Trek and be one of the first riders on their new electric trams. We are frequent visitors of Northwest Trek and have many found memories of countless tram rides out in the free roaming area of the park. After decades of service, the park has retired the old diesel trams and welcomed new trams and a brand-new tram station.

As the Chair of the Zoo/Trek Authority, my family was able to join me on an evening ride on the new, very quiet tram. It was great and, instead of the roar of the engines, we heard the grunts of the bison and the bugling of the elk. It was a brand-new experience for us, so hopefully you will get out to Northwest Trek and check out the new trams after they open to the public later this fall.