Dear District 5 residents,

Happy New Year! This year brings change to the City Council. My colleagues and I welcomed two new colleagues, Mayor Anders Ibsen and Council Member Latasha Palmer. Both are eager to dig into the work of serving Tacoma, and I am excited to work together. On July 6, I was also appointed to serve as Deputy Mayor. I’m grateful for the confidence of my colleagues and committed to serving the people of Tacoma with integrity and collaboration. I look forward to working alongside residents, community partners, and my Council colleagues to strengthen our neighborhoods and ensure our city continues moving forward in 2026.

Thank you,
Council Member Joe Bushnell
City of Tacoma, District 5

Topics in this newsletter include: 

• Council Appointments and Leadership Roles
• Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s launch of the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan
• An Update on the Sheridan Arterial Improvements Project
• Safe Routes to School: Grant Received for the South Park Avenue Greenway
• City Council Approves 0.1% Criminal Justice Sales & Use Tax to Enhance Community Safety and Support Vital Services
• A Statement from the Tacoma City Council Regarding Community Safety Standards and Law Enforcement
• City of Tacoma Launches Pilot Program to Fast-Track ‘Missing Middle’ Housing
• City Offers Virtual Workshop Series for Small Businesses on AI and Cybersecurity
• Out in Community

Council Appointments and Leadership Roles

The role of a City Council member goes far beyond attending Tuesday night meetings. Everyone on Council is also appointed to numerous Council Committees and regional committees, boards and commissions where we represent the voice of the City and influence policy across jurisdictions.

This year I was appointed to three Council Committees – the Economic Development Committee, Government Performance and Finance Committee, and Operational Strategy and Administrative Committee. Council Members use these meetings to dive deep into policy topics and make recommendations for the full Council’s consideration.

I will also continue to advance the health and safety of our region through my service on the Tacoma-Pierce County Board of Health, South Sound 911 Policy Board, and the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency Board.

Puget Sound Clean Air Agency’s launch of the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan

I’m proud to share a moment from a Puget Sound Clean Air Agency board meeting where we launched the Comprehensive Climate Action Plan, or CCAP. This is such an important milestone for our region and provides a strong roadmap for advancing climate action.

This plan shows—clearly and honestly—the level of change needed to meet Washington’s climate goals. It lays out practical, science-based options for action that were shaped by community voices and experts from across the region.

Each option is designed to deliver real results: cleaner air and better health in overburdened communities, meaningful cuts to climate pollution, and solutions that can grow across the region. Explore the plan in the link below and see how we can move climate action from ideas to impact. Learn more at: Comprehensive Climate Action Plan Resource Hub | Puget Sound Clean Air Agency, WA

Additionally, here’s some information worth sharing and potentially utilizing for yourself!

Get paid $500 to recycle your old wood stove. If you live in King, Kitsap, Pierce, or Snohomish County, you may be eligible. Learn more and sign up at: www.pscleanair.gov/Woodstove

Do you know a daycare, adult family home, or multi-family home seeking updates to their heating and cooling? The Energize Program installs heat pumps and provides other upgrades in a variety of homes and building types in King, Kitsap, Pierce, and Snohomish counties. Program availability and specifications vary by county. View current and upcoming programs, where they operate, and eligibility information here: Energize - King County, Washington

An Update on the Sheridan Arterial Improvements Project

Many of you likely have seen construction along Sheridan. This is part of the Sheridan Avenue Complete Streets 56th to 84th Program funded by your 2015 Voter Approved Streets Initiative Dollars and the Washington State Transportation Improvement Board Grant. This project will reconstruct Sheridan Avenue between S 64th Street and S 72nd Street by narrowing traffic lanes, adding a shared use path on the Wapato Park side and sidewalk on the east side with curb and gutter. Utilities such as Water, Stormwater, Power, and Natural Gas will be upgraded prior and during roadway construction. The project will provide improved connections between major arterial streets, a safer walking and biking route to Wapato Park and traffic calming measures to reduce vehicular speeds.

We’re seeing a lot of progress this month on the project. Sidewalks, curb and gutters, and landscaping are all scheduled in January. Paving the street will start after curb and gutters are installed, as weather permits. Public Works anticipates completion of this phase by Summer 2026.

Safe Routes to School: Grant Received for the South Park Avenue Greenway

As a City, we’re always looking for grants and funding opportunities to help us invest in our neighborhoods. I’m excited to share that the City was awarded $478,000 to improve safety in the Fern Hill Neighborhood through the South Park Avenue Greenway Project (South 86th to South 76th Street). This initiative directly addresses critical mobility needs near Fern Hill Elementary, reinforcing the street as a safe, low-stress route for children and families. 

Key features of the South Park Avenue Greenway Project include:  

• The installation of four new speed humps and a new traffic circle at South 80th Street to reduce vehicle speeds and turning conflicts. 

• Construction of curb bulbs and a raised crosswalk at South 86th Street will shorten crossing distances and physically reinforce driver yielding behavior near the school. 

• Construction of approximately 160 feet of new sidewalk to eliminate existing gaps, ensuring a continuous path for pedestrians. 

• A new traffic diverter at South 78th Street will discourage cut-through traffic while maintaining access for residents and emergency vehicles. The specific design of this feature will be shaped directly by public engagement and resident input.  

This project is anticipated to begin Spring 2027.

City Council Approves 0.1% Criminal Justice Sales & Use Tax to Enhance Community Safety and Support Vital Services

The Tacoma City Council has approved a 0.1% Criminal Justice Sales & Use Tax (also referred to as the Public Safety Sales Tax). This funding mechanism is designed to provide a stable, dedicated revenue stream to enhance community safety and support vital services without relying solely on the General Fund.

Uses for the revenue include:

• Holistic Public Safety: The revenue is dedicated exclusively to “criminal justice purposes,” which allows for a modern, balanced approach to safety. Details on what funding can be used for are available here.
• Preventing Service Cuts: As the City faces a projected budget deficit, these funds prevent deep cuts to essential safety services, supporting the maintenance of 911 response times and neighborhood patrols.
• Specialized Response: It provides the resources needed to send the right responder to the right call—such as mental health professionals for crisis intervention—freeing up police officers to focus on serious crime.
• Grant Eligibility: By meeting the regulatory requirements to implement this tax, the City remains competitive for state-level “HB 2015” grants, specifically designed to help cities hire and retain officers and co-responders.

The tax is estimated to generate approximately $7-$7.5 million annually. Effective April 1, 2026, Tacoma’s sales tax rate would move from the current 10.3 percent to 10.4 percent. For consumers, this represents an increase of 10 cents on a $100 purchase.

Details are available on the City’s website.

A Statement from the Tacoma City Council Regarding Community Safety Standards and Law Enforcement

Over the last year, this federal administration has continued to promote actions and policies that sow fear and anxiety in our communities. This fear has become so pervasive that many of our neighbors now share their concerns only in whispers, afraid that speaking out – or even being seen – could put their families at risk. The shooting of Ms. Good is the latest consequence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s reckless tactics.

We are deeply alarmed by reports documenting the far-reaching damage of these operations, including tragic accounts of individuals who have died while in federal custody. Independent media investigations, including recent data published by ProPublica, indicate that these tactics have resulted in the wrongful detainment and mistreatment of over 170 U.S. citizens. Combined with reports of deaths in ICE custody, this statistic underscores a chaotic approach to enforcement that endangers everyone, regardless of immigration status.

Whenever safe and feasible, the City of Tacoma’s use of force policies require de-escalation that is available and appropriate and mandate warnings before the discharge of a weapon. We hold our Police officers to these high standards because the City of Tacoma is committed to protecting the rights and welfare of all its residents.

Everyone in Tacoma deserves to live safely, with dignity, and without fear.

A year ago, that commitment guided the Tacoma City Council to adopt Resolution 41627, a City of Tacoma policy aligned with the state’s Keep Washington Working Act. The Washington State Keep Washington Working Act restricts how local law enforcement can cooperate with federal immigration enforcement. This resolution further prohibits all other City resources from being used to assist federal immigration enforcement with civil immigration duties when not required to by state or federal law or in response to a lawfully issued court order. We deepened that commitment with the passage of Resolution 41817 directing the City Manager to clarify the policies governing the use of City-owned property is about ensuring that our public assets remain dedicated to the public functions for which they were established.

Tacoma is a city that champions and celebrates diversity. Our strength comes from standing up for and in solidarity with our neighbors, no matter their identity, race, religion, immigration status, or national origin. Tacoma will continue to work within its legal authority to defend democracy and protect due process rights for every resident. As a Council, we will continue to expand protections for immigrants and refugees who call Tacoma home and everyone seeking their unalienable rights to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness here in the future.

Community members seeking resources can find information on our Community Resources webpage.

City of Tacoma Launches Pilot Program to Fast-Track ‘Missing Middle’ Housing

The City of Tacoma will launch a one-year pilot program this month aimed at accelerating the permitting and delivery of “middle housing” developments. The initiative is designed to expand upon the City’s existing permitting framework for smaller residential projects to facilitate the Home in Tacoma policy goals.

The pilot program specifically targets residential projects with seven to 20 units, as well as townhome subdivisions consisting of 10 to 20 homes. The City identifies these projects as the “missing middle,” a housing category that bridges the gap between single-family detached homes and large-scale multifamily developments.

The pilot program also incorporates data-driven accountability measures. New tracking enhancements will allow the City to measure every phase of the review process, providing data to identify specific bottlenecks and assess which improvements yield the best results for the long term.

More information is available on the City’s website.

City Offers Virtual Workshop Series for Small Businesses on AI and Cybersecurity

The City of Tacoma, in partnership with HTM Consulting, is hosting a virtual workshop series for small businesses on the practical application of Artificial Intelligence (AI) and cybersecurity. The instructor-led series focuses on helping local enterprises adopt innovative AI tools while maintaining rigorous data protection and operational security standards.

The first virtual workshop in the series will be held Today, January 26, from 11 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Participants will then be invited to two virtual follow-up check-ins to support implementation and facilitate peer learning. The first virtual follow-up check-in will be on February 11 from 9 – 10:30 a.m. and the second will be on February 26 from 9 – 10:30 a.m.

The virtual workshop series, which specifically focuses on the needs of small business owners and operators, is open to the public.

While there is no cost to participate, registration is required.

Questions, or requests to receive information in an alternate format, can be directed to Linda Cerna at lcerna@cityoftacoma.org or (253) 453-9488.

Out in Community

Thank you to all the volunteers who participated in the litter clean up day on Hosmer!

On Monday, January 19, at the Tacoma Convention Center, we honored Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., a towering figure in American history and tireless advocate for civil rights. His eloquence and humanity continue to inspire us to strive for equality and social justice Celebration.

Got a chance to bring my nephew Kaleb into council chambers during my swearing in, I enjoy bringing young people into city hall and showing them what it’s all about!