City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 05/30/2025 10:00 AM PDT
Hello, District 1!
It is starting to feel like summer is officially here. The days are longer, the sun is sticking around a little more, and I’ve been grateful for the chance to spend more time outside—whether it’s at one of Tacoma’s amazing parks, cheering for my kids on the soccer field, or simply running into neighbors while out and about in our beautiful City of Destiny.
We recently celebrated Memorial Day, which is a deeply important holiday for me and many in our community. It’s a time to pause and reflect on the people—many from right here in Pierce County—who gave their lives in service to our country. Their sacrifice is a powerful reminder of the values we hold dear and the freedoms we work to protect. Tacoma has a proud and lasting connection to our military and veterans’ community, and this day reminds us how deeply their service is woven into the fabric of our city.
I'm excited to share a few quick updates with you in this newsletter and hope you all have a chance to enjoy the sunshine!
Scenes from the City of Destiny
Rooted in Community: Growing Tacoma’s Urban Tree Canopy
As part of our work on Home in Tacoma, we heard clearly from the public that trees are a top priority. A healthy, thriving urban forest isn’t just about beauty—it’s about clean air, cooler streets, reduced flooding, and improved public health. Trees are public infrastructure, and they matter deeply to our neighborhoods and quality of life.
I saw this firsthand during my Walk Across Tacoma last summer, an experience I’m hoping to repeat again this year. As I moved through each neighborhood, the differences were stark. Some areas were shaded, cool, and lined with trees—others had little or no tree canopy, leaving sidewalks exposed to intense heat. That walk made the importance of tree equity across our city vividly clear.
This new approach allows us to look at the issue with greater depth. By separating tree policy from the housing conversation, we’ve created space to explore community priorities around preservation, planting, and long-term investment. The resolution includes studies of future development rules, expanded grant options for planting and de-paving, and tools to improve how we maintain trees in public spaces—all while balancing the need for more housing in a growing city. I look forward to working to make sure more of our neighborhoods have healthy and thriving tree canopies.
Planning for Tacoma’s Future: Your Voice Matters
The City of Tacoma's Comprehensive Plan is updated every ten years, and that time has come again. This process is our chance to think big about the future of our city—how we grow, how we live, and how we care for our people, neighborhoods, and environment through the year 2050.
Our Home in Tacoma conversations over the past few years—focused on housing and zoning—are just one part of this broader effort. The comprehensive plan, called the One Tacoma Plan, covers everything from transportation and parks to climate, utilities, and economic development. It’s the roadmap for how Tacoma changes over time, and how we plan for the kind of city we want to become.
Many people tell me they want to be more involved in shaping Tacoma’s future, not just reacting when something is already decided. This is the time to do that. If you want your voice heard on how Tacoma should grow and serve its residents over the next 25 years, this is your opportunity. The updates we make now will influence city policies, land use, and investment decisions for years to come.
There’s a public hearing on Tuesday, June 3, during the City Council meeting. It will start no earlier than 5:15 PM, and you can attend in person or virtually. Written comments are also welcome by 5 PM on June 2—just email cityclerk@tacoma.gov or send a letter to 733 Market Street, Room 11, Tacoma, WA 98402. I hope you’ll take a moment to learn more, share your thoughts, and help shape the future of Tacoma.
Join a City Board, Committee, or Commission
The City of Tacoma is always seeking community members to serve on our committees, boards, and commissions (CBCs). These volunteer groups play an important role in shaping city policies and programs—whether it’s improving transportation, strengthening neighborhoods, supporting local arts, or planning for future growth.
Earlier this year, I led a policy to make sure our CBCs include more seniors—people aged 65 and older—so their unique perspectives and experiences are part of our decision-making. Seniors bring important insight on issues like mobility, safety, and staying connected as our city grows and changes. But this effort is also about expanding access for everyone. We want more voices at the table, especially from those who have historically been left out of city processes.
If you’re interested in getting more involved in local government, I encourage you to look at the open positions. Both the Equity in Contracting Advisory Committee and Transportation Commission are currently seeking applications through June 10. If there’s a group that matches your interests, please consider applying. Your ideas, experience, and time can help make Tacoma a better place for all of us.
Trash Talk
Tidy-Up Tacoma: Making Progress
I am excited about the great work we continue to see from our Tidy-Up Tacoma program--an effort that I championed back in 2022 and believe is vital to the health and safety of our community.
Since the start of 2025, our Tidy-Up Tacoma teams have cleaned up more than 1,065,906 pounds of litter, illegal dumping, and homeless encampment garbage from our public areas. Our teams have also completed almost 2,000 requests for Tidy-Up Tacoma service through 311 since January. We still have a lot more to do to keep Tacoma beautiful, particularly with graffiti removal, and I hope you will all try to get involved in community litter clean-ups if you can!
This month, I visited the Tacoma Rescue Mission to learn more about their upcoming shelter expansion and the important role they play in our community. Thanks in part to a $3.5 million investment from the City of Tacoma, the Rescue Mission will expand its men’s shelter from 60 to 180 beds—creating space for over 100 additional people each night. The new shelter will offer more privacy and dignity, helping to better meet the growing demand for shelter in our city.
During my visit, I also received an update on the progress of Good Neighbor Village, a project the Tacoma Rescue Mission is working on in Pierce County. While it’s located outside the city limits, it’s another promising approach to supporting chronically homeless individuals by offering stable housing and on-site services. I appreciate the Tacoma Rescue Mission’s leadership in pushing forward new ideas that meet people where they are and create lasting change.
Strengthening Global Ties: Welcoming Finland to Tacoma
This month, I had the honor of meeting with Ambassador Leena-Kaisa Mikkola from Finland during her visit to Tacoma. It was a meaningful moment in a growing relationship between our city and the country of Finland—one that began during my time as Deputy Mayor and continues to evolve through our shared interest in maritime innovation. We reflected on Tacoma’s recent progress in port technology, including the 5G Feasibility Study that Business Finland helped support. That work helped lay the groundwork for projects like the Blue Edge Network, which is now benefiting maritime businesses across the Tideflats.
I’m especially excited about the continued exchange of ideas between Tacoma and Finland. From port safety and environmental protection to innovation in 5G and marine industries, there’s great potential for both public and private partners to collaborate across borders. Finland’s support helped kickstart key efforts in our port area, and I’m looking forward to seeing how this international connection can keep bringing real value to our community.
Please be sure to check out tacoma.gov for City updates and resources and, as always, please feel free to share your thoughts and concerns with me directly at john.hines@tacoma.gov. 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 or Zoom. Access information is available at City Council Meetings | City of Tacoma.
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