Deputy Mayor John Hines - District 1 - October 31, 2024
City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 10/31/2024 10:00 AM PDT
Hello Tacoma!
I hope that this fall has been a good one so far for you. It has been a busy month for the City and the Hines family, with some great events and activities out in the community, including a fantastic first McKinley Hill Halloween Parade.
I am excited to share some updates about what I have been up to and some great opportunities coming up in the month ahead. Hope you all have a fun and happy Halloween, and that I'll see you all out in your costumes at Proctor Treats on October 31 from 4 - 6 PM.
Earlier this month, I had an opportunity to join students at the University of Puget Sound along with other Schools of Education alumni to discuss the role of teachers in our democracy and how we encourage more people to enter the teaching profession. I love teaching and it was great to share my passion for working with students and advancing civic education. I spent years challenging my students to ask questions and think critically, and I am proud of my role in preparing them to participate in our democratic processes.
With that in mind, I wouldn’t be a good former high school civics teacher without reminding you to vote by November 5. There are many important items on the ballot this year, so make sure you weigh in!
For more information about voting and the voting process, including ballot drop-off information, visit the Pierce County Auditor's website.
Scenes from the City of Destiny
Home in Tacoma: Public Hearing and Next Steps
On October 29, the City Council held the first reading of the Home in Tacoma Zoning and Standards ordinance. This reading followed the City Council Study Session on October 22, where the Council discussed the Home in Tacoma public hearing and a number of potential new amendments (which you can view here).
As I’ve emphasized throughout our discussions on Home in Tacoma, my focus is on balancing the needs of Tacoma’s growing population with preserving the things our community cares about the most, such as keeping the unique character of our neighborhoods and maintaining our tree canopy. While growth is a positive development, it requires thoughtful planning to ensure that we have space for new housing while protecting the environment and the character of our city.
I’m committed to ensuring that, as we add more housing, we also enhance our tree canopy in the years ahead. The steps we’re taking now, alongside other key initiatives I'm working on, will help us achieve this balance. The final reading for Home in Tacoma is scheduled for November 19. If passed, the ordinance will take effect on February 1, 2025.
For more information on the Home in Tacoma project, including what has happened so far and what to expect in the coming months, I encourage you to visit the Home in Tacoma webpage. This is an important conversation about how we plan for Tacoma's growth, and I think it is vital that everyone is part of this dialogue.
2025-2026 Biennial Budget Development
During the past few weeks, the City Council has continued receiving updates on the 2025-2026 Biennial Budget proposal from the City Manager. These budget presentations outline how we will allocate our revenues in the coming years, ensuring that our financial decisions align with the priorities established by the City Council in collaboration with the community. The discussions have offered insight into the many services the City provides and the thoughtful approach we’re taking to address key challenges.
As we navigate some revenue gaps, we are being strategic in our investments, focusing on long-term sustainability and ensuring we are providing the core services our community members depend on. I encourage everyone to stay informed by visiting our budget website and exploring the "Balancing Act" tool, which allows you to experiment with budget adjustments. Your input is critical as we make decisions that affect our entire community.
Additionally, we’re hosting one more virtual workshop where the Office of Management and Budget will walk through the 2025-2026 Proposed General Fund Budget. These workshops are a great way to ask questions and share your thoughts.
Stay engaged and take this opportunity to have your voice heard in this important process!
Senior Centers Update and the Age Friendly Cities Action Plan
While there are many items I want to highlight as part of this recent budget process, I want to take a moment to focus on the proposed changes to our senior centers. I have heard from many of you about the proposed changes, and I wanted to provide some additional information about why we have been considering these changes.
Most importantly, I want to assure you that the goal is not to reduce services but to enhance and expand them. As we work on updating Tacoma’s Age-Friendly Action Plan, I recognize how vital these services are to our senior residents. The proposed partnership with Metro Parks Tacoma is aimed at improving service delivery and expanding access to a broader range of programs, workshops, and activities at four community centers across the city. This change will allow us to reach more seniors (ages 50+), in more locations, with improved accessibility via public transportation.
The partnership will also help the City transition its senior center facilities to other critical uses, such as affordable housing or youth homelessness services, in alignment with City Council priorities. This collaboration is part of our commitment to providing high-quality services in a cost-effective manner, ensuring the sustainability of our senior programs while meeting other pressing community needs.
I plan to help ensure that this transition is as smooth as possible. We are continuing discussions with community partners and senior center users, and I will keep you all stay informed as we move forward.
Finally, I want to remind everyone that I will be hosting a Senior Summit on December 7 to discuss these changes and gather further input from our senior community. More details on the time and location will be available soon, and I encourage you to join us for this important conversation.
Trash Talk
Expanding Tacoma's Green Economy Through Urban Wood Reuse
Since trees have been a large part of the Home in Tacoma conversation, I wanted to share a project that I have been working on regarding our trees. One of my long-standing concerns on the City Council has been reducing waste and promoting recycling. I have learned that when a tree needs to be removed in our city, the wood all too often winds up in our landfill. This kind of waste is unacceptable, especially when our trees are so important to us and there are so many options for wood reuse. I have been reflecting on how we can ensure that when a tree needs to be removed, we can ensure that it is put to its highest and best use. That is why, alongside Council Members Kristina Walker and Sarah Rumbaugh, I am requesting funds to help us develop ways to divert wood waste from landfills and ensure that any removed tree is put to its highest and best use in our city.
We have already seen success with a small pilot program where hazardous trees that must be removed are processed locally for reuse. My hope is to expand this effort and that we can develop systems that integrate wood reuse into a holistic urban forestry strategy.
This initiative also supports Tacoma’s Green Economic Development Strategic Plan by creating opportunities for business growth around wood reuse. By prioritizing wood reuse, we’re fostering green innovation and contributing to Tacoma’s economic vitality.
For more information, you can visit our Green Economic Development Plan and I look forward to the work ahead as we ensure our trees continue to support our community throughout their lifecycle!
Catching Up with Deputy Mayor Hines
Cushman and Adams Substations Future Use Study
This past weekend, I had the pleasure of attending the Cushman and Adams Substations scenarios workshop at the Wheelock Library. This was one of multiple community meetings to discuss the future use of the Cushman and Adam Substations. It was great to hear thoughtful feedback from residents about the future the sites and gain further insights into the community's vision for these historic sites. As this process has continued, I have been glad to see new people joining the ongoing conversation.
If you were unable to make it to the scenarios workshops, you can still share your thoughts through the online engagement platform. You can also join the mailing list to stay informed throughout the rest of the process. Thank you to everyone who has provided input so far. I am excited to continue these discussions and explore the next steps for this important community asset.
T-Town: City Services Expo & Job Fair Returns!
I am excited to invite everyone to the T-Town: City Services Expo & Job Fair at the Tacoma Dome on Friday, November 1, from 10 AM - 1 PM, and Saturday, November 2, from 10 - 3 PM. This free, family-friendly event, hosted by the City of Tacoma, Tacoma Public Schools, and Korsmo Construction, offers an opportunity to engage with City departments, explore job opportunities, and participate in hands-on activities.
This year’s theme, Play. Explore. Learn. Work., includes the Trades and Hiring Fair, offering career pathways for youth and adults. You can also experience the new “Truck-Or-Treat” event, explore interactive City booths, and get a behind-the-scenes tour of the Tacoma Dome.
It is a great way to learn about how our City operates and how you can get involved! Free parking will be available, and you can find more details at tacomadome.org/t-town.
Tacoma Reads
As a former library trustee and avid reader, I always love Tacoma Reads. It is an opportunity for the community to enter into a conversation around a book and an important topic, and I look forward to it ever year. This year’s book choice of The Heaven & Earth Grocery Store was one I deeply enjoyed and should be on my best books of the year for 2024.
On November 1, the award-winning author James McBride will join Mayor Victoria Woodards for an engaging conversation as part of Tacoma Reads. The event will take place at UW Tacoma’s William W. Philip Hall from 5 - 7 PM, with doors opening at 4:30 PM. Attendees will also have the opportunity for a Q&A session and book signing with McBride.
Additionally, if you are a library lover like me, I want to make sure you are aware that the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees has two open positions. This governing board oversees library policy and budget decisions and appoints the Library Director. This was a great community service opportunity and one that I enjoyed until being elected to the City Council.
If you’re passionate about community service, consider applying! Applications are due by November 11. Learn more and apply at cityoftacoma.org/cbcapplication.
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 tune in to the City Council’s Study Session or Council meetings every week 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.
