Hey, District 5! I’m excited to introduce Luca Nguyen, a junior from SAMI, who shadowed me this summer to learn about the workings of local government. Luca gained firsthand experience in policy development and engaging with constituents, and it was a rewarding experience for both of us. As a Council Member, I’m committed to offering young people insight into how local government operates, and this marks the third summer I’ve had the privilege of hosting a student shadow. I look forward to continuing this tradition in the future. In this quarter’s newsletter, I’ll update you on key topics like the ongoing budget process, the Home in Tacoma 2 initiative, our efforts to secure a new fire station for South Tacoma, and much more. I hope to see you at some of these upcoming events! Thank you, Council Member Joe Bushnell City of Tacoma, District 5 Topics in this newsletter include:

• 2025-2026 Biennial Budget Development
• Hosmer Trunk or Treat
• T-Town City Services Expo
• Public Works Ridealong
• City Council Votes to Purchase 2.27 Acres to Facilitate Future Construction of a New Fire Station 7 and Enhance Emergency Response Capabilities
• Two Positions Available on the Library Board of Trustees
• Thank you for all of your engagement on Home in Tacoma!
• Out in Community

2025-2026 Biennial Budget Development

The City’s 2025-2026 Proposed Budget describes how the City uses its resources to serve the community and reflects a continued commitment to fiscal responsibility. Public trust is essential to every aspect of the City of Tacoma. It is the City’s charge to ensure it is effectively and efficiently managing the resources entrusted to it by the community. 

Even with a difficult fiscal environment, building and strengthening public trust remains as essential as the services the City provides to the community. Accomplishing this requires: 

• Listening to community. City officials and staff effectively demonstrate understanding & concern for the community’s broad range of needs. 
• Being Responsive, Reliable, and Efficient. Commit – and follow through – on services that can be achieved within current operational capacity. 
• Demonstrating Accountability and Transparency. Communicate openly on the City’s actions to address community needs.

The City Manager’s proposed 2025-2026 Budget is the result of careful consideration and thoughtful feedback from the community. Review more details of the proposed budget HERE.

Each Tuesday in October the City Council has done a deep dive on sections of the budget in order to fully digest the recommendation. This fall we will consider the proposal at two Council meetings:

November 19, 2024: First City Council Reading of the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget

December 3, 2024: Final City Council Reading and Adoption of the 2025-2026 Proposed Budget

I encourage you to attend and share your priorities with the entire Council. City Council Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 5 PM. They can be viewed live in person at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street, 1st Floor, Council Chambers) or on TV Tacoma or tvtacoma.com, on the City of Tacoma’s Facebook page and on Zoom.

Hosmer Trunk or Treat

Come out and join the Hosmer community at the 2024 Hosmer Trunk or Treat event this Saturday, October 26! This event is at the Thea Apartments (7414 S. Hosmer St, Tacoma) from 3 to 6 PM.

The Tacoma Police Department is a proud partner of the Hosmer Trunk or Treat.  Last year was the inaugural event and we had 400 attendees. SAGE Investment Group is taking the lead this year and I’m excited for another phenomenal event.   

T-Town City Services Expo

You’re invited to the return of T-Town: City Services Expo & Job Fair at the Tacoma Dome on Friday, November 1, from 10 AM to 1 PM, and Saturday, November 2, from 10 AM to 3 PM.

This free, family-friendly event is a unique opportunity for Tacoma residents to interact with City departments, explore career opportunities, and participate in engaging hands-on activities. For the second year, T-Town will once again feature the Tacoma Public Schools (TPS) and Korsmo Construction Trades & Hiring Fair. 

The event, themed Play. Explore. Learn. Work., offers something for everyone in the family. This year’s event introduces a new element, “Truck-Or-Treat,” a fun twist on a Touch-A-Truck event, where attendees can enjoy trick-or-treating in the Tacoma Dome Arena while visiting City booths. Family-friendly costumes are encouraged as participants explore vehicles from various City departments, including Environmental Services Solid Waste, Tacoma Rail, Public Works, TV Tacoma, and Tacoma Fire, among others. 

Free parking will be available at the Tacoma Dome throughout the event. As more details become available, they will be posted on tacomadome.org/t-town. Businesses interested in participating in the Trades & Hiring Fair can sign up here.

Public Works Ridealong

The City’s Street Operations crew conducted its annual snow and ice training this September and I had the opportunity to ride along with Public Works Equipment Operator Ray Peahi. During this exercise, emergency snow vehicles were dispatched along snow routes and around traffic. In a snowstorm event, the crew would plow and de-ice streets on a priority level starting with primary arterial streets, followed by secondary and auxiliary routes. The time required to clear these routes depends on snowstorm intensity and how much snow or ice accumulates. More information on winter preparedness, including a snow routes map, is available to the public at cityoftacoma.org/inclementweather.

City Council Votes to Purchase 2.27 Acres to Facilitate Future Construction of a New Fire Station 7 and Enhance Emergency Response Capabilities

To facilitate the future construction of a new Fire Station 7 and enhance emergency response capabilities, the Tacoma City Council voted unanimously to authorize the execution of agreements with Metro Parks in the amount of $870,000 for the purchase of 2.27 acres near South Tyler and South 58th streets.

The purchase followed a facilities needs assessment conducted by the City of Tacoma in 2023 that daylighted Fire Station 7 on South Warner Street was undersized and does not have capacity for needed expansion. The current station was built in 1959 and shares a facility with the South Tacoma Library Branch so it cannot be extended to support a second fire apparatus.

As the community of Tacoma grows and changes, the operations of the Tacoma Fire Department need to grow and change along with it to ensure the department continues to meet the needs of the community. It is important to ensure the Tacoma Fire Department’s ability to promptly respond to calls in this community. Replacement of Fire Station 7 will provide more equitable service delivery to all residents and visitors of Tacoma. Without the replacement of this station, we will continue to experience high call volumes which impact response times disproportionately in our areas of highest need and emergency resources, and I’m looking forward to seeing the future construction.

Fire Station 7 on South Warner Street currently serves an area of Tacoma with the second highest call volume. It responds to more than 3,500 emergencies every year. The call volume for this station far exceeds the department’s target and national standard of 2,500 calls annually.

Two Positions Available on the Library Board of Trustees

There are two positions available on the Library Board of Trustees. The Library Board of Trustees is comprised of five members who are nominated by the Mayor and appointed by a majority vote of the City Council. The membership term is five years. All Library Trustees must live within Tacoma city limits.

The Library’s governing board has policy and budget authority, and appoints the Library Director. Tacoma Public Library’s mission is to “empower our community by bringing people together to discover, connect, create, learn, and thrive.” More information about Tacoma Public Library is available at tacomalibrary.org.

Additional information on the Library Board of Trustees is available here.

Applications can be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by October 28 at cityoftacoma.org/cbcapplication. Questions about the application process, requests for the application in an alternate format, or requests to submit additional documents may be directed to Elizabeth Wing in the City Clerk’s Office at servetacoma@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 591-5178.

Thank you for all of your engagement on Home in Tacoma!

The City of Tacoma has been working on our Home in Tacoma project since 2019, long before I was elected to the City Council. After years of careful review and community outreach, the City Council will soon be voting on the final proposal of this project.  

This Tuesday, the City Council discussed potential amendments to the Planning Commission’s proposal. The next opportunities for public comment are:

October 29, 2024: First City Council Reading of the Home in Tacoma ordinance

November 19, 2024: Final City Council Reading and Adoption of the Home in Tacoma ordinance

City Council Meetings are held on Tuesdays at 5 PM. They can be viewed live in person at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market Street, 1st Floor, Council Chambers) or on TV Tacoma or tvtacoma.com, on the City of Tacoma’s Facebook page and on Zoom.

Out in Community

Thank you to the Tacoma Police Department and Metro Parks for partnering to host the back-to-school event at Eastside Community Center! I loved seeing youth accessing resources including bike helmets, school supplies, backpacks, haircuts and more.

I chair the Puget Sound Clear Air Agency (PSCAA) and had the chance to attend their employee appreciation event with Executive Director Cooley. I appreciate all the hard work of PSCAA’s dedicated staff every day.

I had the opportunity to speak with Cambodian Elders about their experiences getting to the United States and sharing my own personal story of growing up in a mixed household and the challenges I faced. Pictured is Vanna Sing Executive Director of Tacoma Healing Awareness Community and her husband Edwin Allen Jr and my wife Almirah Bushnell.

I had a wonderful time at the Metropolitan Development Council (MDC) 60^th Anniversary Breakfast with CM Walker and CM Sadalge.

Visited the second 253 of Peace in the Tac – Wheels Up Guns Down event, at Mt Tahoma High School. This event provided community resources, back to school supplies and free food as community gathered to take a stance against violence.

I attended the Aspire conference. The Aspire conference offers an opportunity to visit various communities, explore new programs and initiatives, and learn how to implement best practices to address the evolving needs of the South Sound region.