City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 08/01/2024 10:05 AM PDT
Dear District 2 residents,
Anyone who knows me is aware that I love soccer. It has been fun to see many Seattle Sounders game this summer, enjoy some food, and actually have them win! The Sounders are celebrating 50 years of Sounders soccer and I am so excited that the World Cup will be coming to our region in 2026!
Both of our exchange students, Raul from Chile and Paula from Spain, headed home in July. We miss them but have made plans to visit them both next year. Our house seems very quiet without them. I think Stella dog misses them the most. She was always around to get a snuggle and a warm bed to sleep on.
Stan and I are heading to Ecuador in August to visit our daughter Gabi who is in Peace Corp. I will update you on our trip in my next newsletter.
Here is a photo of me and Stan at our going away party for Raul with Tacoma Rotary 8 Rotary Youth Exchange Committee.
Saying goodbye to Raul at SeaTac with Paula.
Sincerely, Sarah Rumbaugh District 2 Tacoma City Council Member
It is exciting that we have a new council member. Our council voted in July to appoint CM Sadalge to the council. Before joining council, CM Sadalge was on our Planning Commission and involved in the McKinley Hill Neighborhood Plan. He is relatively new to Tacoma, relocating here in 2019, but has been deeply involved in the community. CM Sadalge has over 20 years experience in the private sector in data analytics. I was impressed by his experiences as a small business owner who has helped employ up to 30 individuals at a business in Tacoma.
As an immigrant turned citizen, CM Sadalge understands the diversity of the Eastside. He said in his application materials, “I’m eager to use this experience to further connect with the residents of my district – from the Eastside to the Lincoln District and every neighborhood in between. I will use this to bring a perspective to the council that aligns with the experiences and backgrounds of the residents of District 4.”
I had a chance to sit down with CM Sadalge and ask him some questions so you could learn a little bit more about him.
What do you like to drink in the morning? I am a coffee drinker with whipped cream on top.
Where are some of your favorite places to get a cup of coffee in District 4? I love Beware and Lux.
What is your favorite food? There is such a variety of different types of foods in Tacoma, which is really great! Of course, I love Indian, Vietnamese, and Thai food.
What is your favorite cocktail? I used to be a gin and tonic person, but I have moved onto vodka and soda.
Do you like candy? I am not a candy person, but every once and a while I like a little bit of dark chocolate.
What is something that we might not know about you and would surprise us? I play wall handball. I was 2nd place for 17 and under back in the day. During the pandemic I joined the Elks Club here in Tacoma so I could play handball. I am currently a member and up for a game anytime.
After several months, our council has had the chance to review all of the Charter amendments brought forth by the Charter Review Committee. I appreciate all of the hard work of the Charter Review Committee and the many hours they spent reviewing our charter for updates. We took their suggestions and have put them into three buckets: ones we believe need to go to the ballot, ones we can take up in other ways through resolutions, ordinances, and other policies, and ones that we have decided not to include for changes. I understand that those who were involved in the charter review may feel that we didn’t meet their expectations by putting all 24 charter amendments on the ballot. We also want to make sure that we make the ballot friendly for voters and find other processes to make other items the Charter Review Committee supported a priority.
The City Council adopted Resolution 41491 transmitting the full ballot titles for six proposed City Charter amendments to the Pierce County Auditor:
Providing for Equitable Access
Required Meetings of the City Council
Limitations Upon Sale or Transfer of Waterfront Property
Duties and Authority of Council Members
Composition of the Planning Commission
Changing Term Limits for Future Elected Council Members
Participatory budgeting voting for District 2 is now open! Tell us which community-developed idea you'd like to see funded with $1,000,000 before voting closes on September 20. Proposals you can choose from include:
A covered skate park with public art under I-705 in Downtown Tacoma
Youth programming for the main Tacoma Public Library branch
Upgraded accommodations at the emergency shelter stability site on Puyallup Avenue
These projects were chosen by people who live, work, and play in District 2. More than half of those participating were young adults. Our hope is to get 15,000 votes! Please feel free to vote and share this link with your neighbors. Remember, you don’t have to live in District 2 to vote. If you frequent restaurants, cafes, work, walk, or see friends in District 2, you can vote.
It was with great excitement that we saw the paving of St. Helens from 6th Avenue to Division in the New Tacoma Neighborhood. This is a main road between the Stadium District and Downtown and was in critical need of repair. The 2023 PCI rating for this stretch of road was rated between 3-21. (The pavement condition index (PCI) is a numerical index between 0 and 100, which is used to indicate the general condition of a pavement section.) It is now repaved and striped. The project also incorporates pedestrian safety elements that the community has been looking forward to for many years. Thank you to the Public Works Department for making this happen.
Check out pictures of the construction work and final outcome of this project.
The Tacoma City Council updated portions of our land use code to revamp how we review development in our Mixed Use Centers to support goals for high-quality built environment. This change also created the new Urban Design Board (UBD) tasked with ensuring that larger new development in Tacoma’s Mixed Use Centers aligns with the Tacoma’s vision for a built environment that is well-designed, functional, and culturally expressive.
We're seeking passionate community members to fill the inaugural slate of members in seven key positions. Apply today on the City's Committees, Boards and Commissions webpages.
Positions available:
Design and Development Professional—four (4) four positions: Those encouraged to apply include candidates with professional experience related to site and building design and development from fields such as architecture, landscape architecture, planning, urban design, land use or real estate law, real estate development, construction or building trades, and civil or structural engineering.
Allied Community Representative—three (3) positions: Seeking candidates with lived and/or professional experience and/or training relevant to three urban design priorities: active/multimodal transportation, sustainable development, and culture and heritage. One representative is to be appointed for each of these three priority subject areas.
Applicants’ expertise may potentially span various fields, including, but not limited to, transit agency administration, transportation planner or engineer, “green” building professional, urban forestry professional, environmental planner, artisan/craftsperson, historian, architectural history professional, and cultural organization administrator.
The City is committed to fostering an equitable and anti-racist organization and wants its committees, boards, and commissions to reflect Tacoma’s diverse community. For these vacancies, BIPOC, LGBTQ+ individuals, individuals with disabilities, seniors, immigrants, and refugees are especially encouraged to apply.
I enjoyed a wonderful evening supporting efforts to keep Commencement Bay clean at the Communities for a Healthy Bay Annual Gala. From left, Pierce County Council Member Jani Hitchen, Tacoma Council Member Joe Bushnell, me, Tacoma Council Member Jamika Scott, and Tacoma Council Member Olgy Diaz.
It was a wet one, but well worth it! I was happy to join the vendors who set up shop for the first outside Tacoma Sunday Market on Broadway Avenue.
I joined our Tacoma Public Works Department as they worked to replace and fill parts of Northshore Parkway in NE Tacoma.
Tour of Radius Recycling with Council Member Olgy Diaz.
It was great to share a table with Council Member Diaz in supporting our LGBTQIA+ youth at Oasis Youth Center Pass the Hat Gala. Here I am with another ally of queer youth, Carlyn Sampson, executive Director of Rebuilding Hope, Sexual Assault Center for Pierce County.
