One of the biggest ongoing topics at City Council has been our biennial budget discussions. Many of you followed the budget process last year, where we had to make difficult decisions to address the City's structural deficit while ensuring we continue funding the critical services that residents rely on. While we passed a biennial budget in December, we also committed to making additional adjustments to keep our finances stable. That’s why the City Council has been meeting more frequently, including Friday meetings, to work through these challenges. These discussions are important, complex, and sometimes difficult, but I remain committed to protecting the core services that matter most to you—things that only the City of Tacoma can provide. 

If you’d like to follow these budget discussions, I encourage you to check out our community meetings and stay engaged. There’s more to come, and I’ll continue to keep you updated. 

Also, as many of you have noticed, we have entered pothole season. Whenever you see (or feel) a pothole, I would encourage you to report it to TacomaFIRST 311. The City has many of miles of roads to maintain and 311 reports are the way to make sure your potholes are addressed in a timely manner. 

With that, I’m excited to share what I’ve been up to this past month—from community events to policy updates—and I look forward to working together to make 2025 a great year for Tacoma. 

Committee Assignments 

At the start of every year, City Council Members are appointed to various local, regional, state and national committees.  

On the national level, I will continue to serve on the National League of Cities’ Finance, Administration, and Intergovernmental Relations Committee. With my experience as chair of our City Council’s Government Performance and Finance Committee, this national role aligns with the budget and finance work I am doing in Tacoma.  

I also continue to serve on the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Board of Directors and currently I serve as the Large City Representative on the Executive Committee. In addition, I continue to serve on the Legislative Priorities Committee and remain deeply engaged in the working with our state legislators on behalf of cities from across Washington.  

Investing in Safer Streets: Dedicated Funding for Pedestrian Infrastructure 

In December, the City Council reauthorized the 0.1% sales tax that funds the Transportation Benefit District—a critical tool for maintaining and improving Tacoma’s streets. As part of this reauthorization, Council Member Kristina Walker and I successfully pushed for an amendment to this legislation that will dedicate at least 15% of these funds to pedestrian safety improvements, such as sidewalks, crosswalks, traffic-calming bulb outs, and streetlights. 

This is a historic step--it is the first permanently dedicated funding Tacoma has for pedestrian infrastructure. The need for this investment became even clearer during my Walk Across Tacoma last summer, where I heard directly from residents about the challenges of getting around our city safely—from broken or missing sidewalks to unsafe street crossings. 

Our goal with this amendment is simple: make Tacoma safer and more accessible for everyone, whether you’re walking, biking, rolling, or driving. While we still have a long way to go, this dedicated funding is a strong first step toward making real progress. 

I look forward to seeing this investment take shape in the coming years. If you have thoughts or feedback on how we can further improve pedestrian safety in your neighborhood, I’d love to hear from you! 

Updating Tacoma’s Animal Control Code 

This past month, I presented a set of proposed updates to Tacoma’s Animal Control Code at the Government Performance & Finance Committee on January 21. I’ve worked on several vital animal welfare policies over the past several years, including banning non-therapeutic cat declawing and updating the animal noise ordinance in 2023. Now, I’m leading a broader effort to modernize our animal control laws to better address animal overpopulation and improve how our City responds to animal-related concerns. 

Tacoma is a city that loves animals, but our shelters and Animal Control officers are struggling to keep up with the rising number of unhoused animals. My proposed updates aim to tackle that challenge by: 

• Expanding spay and neuter efforts to help control the animal population 

• Creating a legal definition for “community cats” to support humane Trap-Neuter-Return programs 

• Banning for-profit breeding and sales of companion animals to prevent overpopulation 

• Updating laws on pigs to clarify ownership and care rules 

This work is still in progress, but I believe these changes will make Tacoma a safer and more animal-friendly city. If you're interested in learning more or sharing your thoughts, I encourage you to follow along as this moves forward to the full City Council. 

Updating the Multifamily Tax Exemption Program 

At the January 21 Government Performance & Finance Committee meeting, we continued our review of Tacoma’s Multifamily Tax Exemption (MFTE) program—a key tool for encouraging housing development in our City. 

Since joining the City Council, I’ve been deeply involved in shaping the MFTE program. In 2021, I helped lead changes that eliminated the 8-year exemption in high-opportunity areas while expanding the 12-year MFTE to increase affordable housing where it’s needed most. At that time, we committed to reviewing the program again in three years, and that’s why this discussion is happening now. 

At our most recent meeting, we looked at potential adjustments to the 8-year and 12-year MFTE programs, as well as the extension program. As Tacoma continues to grow, we need to ensure the MFTE strikes the right balance—encouraging new housing development while also considering the financial impacts to the City. I continue to be a strong supporter of the MFTE because it helps us build the housing we need, but I also recognize the importance of ensuring that it aligns with our City’s broader goals and funding priorities. 

This discussion is ongoing, and we will continue working through potential changes in early 2025. If you’re interested in following this conversation or sharing your thoughts, I encourage you to stay engaged as we move forward. 

Through my work on the Government Performance & Finance Committee, I met with local recyclers to better understand the challenges they face and how we can incentivize real recycling—not just waste hauling. The result? A new tiered recycling tax deduction that rewards businesses for increasing the amount of materials they recycle. This policy not only benefits our environment, but it also helps prevent sham recyclers from taking advantage of residents. 

This work aligns with Tacoma’s Climate Action Plan and Green Economic Development Strategy, both of which focus on reducing waste and attracting businesses committed to sustainability. I was also proud to represent Tacoma at a conference in Tampa, Florida, this past winter, where I shared our City’s efforts to build a greener economy and support recycling innovation. 

We still have more work to do, but this is a big step forward in making Tacoma a leader in waste reduction and sustainable business practices. Please reach out if you have ideas on how we can do even more to support recycling and waste reduction!

In case you haven't heard the news, we asked the public to help the City name our litter vacuum and the winning name is the Grit City Gobbler! This powerful machine has already cleaned thousands of pounds of litter and debris from our public spaces and trails. 

Catching Up with Council Member Hines 

Celebrating Tết Lunar New Year in Tacoma 

This past month, I had the pleasure of attending the Tết Lunar New Year Celebration at the Eastside Community Center, and it was an absolutely incredible event. It was amazing to see so many neighbors and friends come together to celebrate the Year of the Snake and experience the richness of Vietnamese culture right here in Tacoma. 

The event was full of vibrant traditions and performances that showcased the beauty of Tết. For those unfamiliar with Tết, it’s the most important holiday in Vietnamese culture, marking the beginning of spring and a time for renewal and good fortune. Events like these are not just celebrations but also opportunities to learn about and honor the diverse cultures that make Tacoma so special. 

I want to thank everyone who made this event such a success, including the performers, organizers, and community members who came out to celebrate. It’s events like these that bring us closer together as a City. If you’ve never attended a Tết celebration before, I highly encourage you to join next year. It’s an experience you won’t want to miss! 

Supporting Tacoma’s Legacy in Boxing: The 76th Annual Golden Gloves Tournament 

I had the privilege of attending the 76th Annual Golden Gloves Boxing Tournament at the University of Puget Sound this past month. As one of the longest-running amateur boxing tournaments in the country, this event is a point of pride for Tacoma, showcasing both our City’s rich boxing history and the impact of athletics on youth development. 

This year was especially meaningful for me because I was able to help secure $10,000 in City Council contingency funds to support the event and the Tacoma-Pierce Athletic Commission’s Golden Gloves Boxing Program. These funds help provide low-income and at-risk youth with access to training, mentorship, and financial assistance through the Tacoma Boxing Club. 

Breaking Ground on the Cora Whitley Family Center  

This past month, I had the honor of attending the groundbreaking ceremony for the new Multicultural Child & Family Hope Center on Hilltop, which will be named the Cora Whitley Family Center. As a father of young children, I know firsthand how important quality, accessible childcare is for working families. When both parents work, finding reliable childcare can be a major challenge, and organizations like the Multicultural Center play a crucial role in supporting families across our community. 

The City Council allocated $1.5 million to help bring this project across the finish line, and I’m incredibly proud to see construction now underway. This new 32,000 square-foot facility will double the Multicultural Center’s capacity, allowing them to serve even more children and families in Tacoma. But the impact of this project goes beyond childcare—the Multicultural Center provides educational programs, family support services, foster care assistance, and resources to prevent homelessness. It’s truly an anchor in our community, helping ensure that parents can work, children can learn, and families can thrive. 

Seeing this project break ground was a powerful moment, and I’m excited about what it means for our city. I look forward to sharing more updates as the new facility takes shape!