Earlier this month, the City Council unanimously approved a resolution that I brought forward with Mayor Victoria Woodards to confer the honorary street name “Bill Evans Place” on North 27th Street, between Proctor and Madison Streets. As I said in my remarks at the renaming event, Bill is an inspirational role model for civic and community leadership and was deeply committed to Tacoma. He worked hard to enhance our local business community, spent eight years serving our community as a City Council Member, and never failed to roll up his sleeves and do his part to improve Tacoma. 

Bill was visionary, committed to building vibrant and walkable urban villages, who dedicated nearly half of his life to enhancing the Proctor District. His clear vision for our neighborhood centers and specifically the Proctor District helped create and maintain so many events and places that we get to enjoy today, including the Proctor Farmer's Market, Proctor Treats, the iconic Blue Mouse Theatre, the Peace Plaza, and so much more. Bill’s legacy has left a clear impression on our city, and this honorary street renaming will help ensure that Bill’s commitment to our community is celebrated and will inspire others for years to come.  

Visit to the South Tacoma Well Field 

This past month I also took an opportunity to tour the South Tacoma well field with Tacoma Water staff. I grew up in South Tacoma and always wondered what was inside the blue buildings while riding my bike past them. Going from Oak Tree Park to the Nalley Valley, I got a chance to visit multiple well sites and learn all about what goes into operating and maintaining our system of wells. 

Tacoma is very lucky to have such a resource right under our feet that, in some of the drier years, can produce almost half of the water we consume in Tacoma. It is also why I am proud of the work of Tacoma Water and the City of Tacoma to ensure that this precious resource is protected. It is a topic that has come up frequently at our City Council meetings and I remain confident that we have the right people working to protect its future. 

As many of you know, one of my other responsibilities along with being your Deputy Mayor is that I serve as Pierce Transit Commissioner. This past month, I was happy to join Council Member Kristina Walker (who is also the Chair of the Pierce Transit Board) as we accepted a $14.8 million grant from the Federal Transit Administration to expand our zero-emission fleet by purchasing new battery electric buses and installing advanced charging infrastructure.  

The grant will fund the acquisition of four 40-foot battery-electric buses and a gantry-style charging system, capable of supporting up to 30 buses at the Pierce Transit base in Lakewood. This investment will enhance the efficiency and sustainability of Pierce Transit’s services, moving the agency closer to its goal of electrifying 20% of its fleet by 2030 and fully by 2042.  

It is very exciting to be part of Pierce Transit as it transitions to an all-electric fleet. I would encourage you to learn more here and hopefully catch a ride on an electric bus near you soon!  

Family Fun Day and Green Trike Open Streets Event in Proctor 

On July 12, Family Fun Day was in full swing on North Madison Street. I had the pleasure of joining with my children at the Green Trike Open Streets event, part of the Proctor Neighborhood Plan’s Booster Grants. This initiative is a direct response to community feedback during the creation of the Proctor Neighborhood Plan, and more than 700 community members voted to allocate the Neighborhood Planning Booster Grant funding towards this exciting project. 

One clear message we’ve heard from the community is the desire to activate more spaces for public enjoyment. In response, we’ve been working to bring new life to multiple blocks and areas around Proctor to foster community building and engagement. This particular event was focused on children, and it was a joy to see my kids participating in painting, playing sports, and enjoying some fantastic music. 

It was wonderful to see all the community partners who came together to make this event such a success. 

Meeting with Taichung Officials 

One exciting highlight from the past month was the opportunity to meet with a delegation from our sister city, Taichung, Taiwan. Tacoma has enjoyed a valuable sister city relationship with Taichung for almost twenty-five years, fostering numerous exchanges and collaborations over the years. 

Our partnership with Taichung has been rich and varied, including activities such as book donations to the Tacoma Main Library, summer study programs for Taichung's young students in Tacoma, and support for Tacoma's Sister Cities Film Festivals. Additionally, Tacoma has participated in Taichung's International Jazz Festival, among other collaborative efforts. 

This long-standing relationship underscores the importance of our sister city program and the global connections it brings to Tacoma. It’s a reminder of how these international partnerships enrich our community and broaden our horizons. 

Association of Washington Cities WA-CELI 

This past month, Council Member Sarah Rumbaugh and I joined nearly 50 Mayors and Council Members from across Washington in the inaugural cohort of the Washington Collaborative Elected Leaders Institute (WA-CELI). Held in Spokane on July 26 and 27, this immersive training program is designed to enhance our skills in collaborative leadership and governing across differences. 

WA-CELI, offered by the Association of Washington Cities Center for Quality Communities in partnership with the William D. Ruckelshaus Center and the University of Washington’s Evans School of Public Policy & Governance, aims to break down political polarization and tackle community challenges. Over the coming months, we will receive intensive training in collaborative leadership, exploring strategies to manage dynamics, engage the public, and maintain productive relationships. 

This program reflects a commitment to improving the civic health of our state. I am excited about how this learning experience will serve me as a Council Member and regional leader, and I look forward to applying these insights to foster stronger connections with my colleagues and address complex policy issues effectively. 

Stay tuned for updates as we continue this journey and contribute to building a healthier, more collaborative civic environment in Washington.