City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 07/02/2026 10:55 AM PDT
Happy Summer!
I hope you're finding time to enjoy the sunshine and make the most of these long-awaited (and much longer) summer days. After so many months of liquid sunshine, the bright skies and warm weather feel especially welcome here in the City of Destiny. Summer in Tacoma is something special: it’s a season to rediscover our parks, stroll the waterfront, and gather at the many community events and backyard gatherings that make our city feel like home.
As you celebrate the Fourth of July and the 250th anniversary of the founding of our great nation, I ask you to please refrain from using fireworks in your neighborhood. We are seeingincreasing numbers of people harmedand property damaged by fireworks. I would also encourage you to think about others in our community that may be harmed by fireworks, especially our veterans and animal owners. Keep in mind that fireworks are illegal in Tacoma, and violations of the fireworks ban can result in a $513 fine.
Violations of the fireworks ban can be reported by callingSouth Sound 911’snon-emergency number at (253) 287-4455, orstarting June 28 at 6 AM through 6 AM until July 6, you can usethe online reporting tool atwww.fireworksreport.com. For emergencies like life-threatening injury or fire, call 911.
With all that in mind, I wouldencourage you to enjoy your Fourth of Julywithout your own fireworks this year! Instead of setting off your own fireworks, you can check out theTacoma Summer Blastand get your fireworks fix with the rest of our community on our beautiful waterfront!
Scenes from the City of Destiny
Budget Update
As much as I wish this were not the case, one of the most important conversations we will have as a City over the next year is about Tacoma’s budget. This past month, the City received an updated financial forecast for the 2027–2028 biennial budget, and it showed a projected $40 million structural gap in the General Fund.
The basic challenge is that our expenses are growing faster than our revenues. Right now, City expenditures are growing at about 4.8%, while revenues are growing at about 2.9%. That gap is being driven by many of the same pressures families, businesses, schools, and other governments are feeling: inflation, fuel costs, construction costs, contracted services, and major increases in health care costs.
I know many people want to see the City maintain services and, in some areas, expand them. I share that goal. We all want Tacoma to be safe, clean, responsive, and able to invest in the things residents care about. But we also have to be honest about the financial reality in front of us.
The Roadmap to Recovery is about making thoughtful, proactive choices now so we can protect core services, avoid short-term fixes, and keep Tacoma on solid financial footing for the future. This will be an ongoing conversation, and I hope residents will stay engaged, share their priorities, and help shape how we move forward together.
Honorary Pet Mayor
One of the most fun things I have had the chance to be part of over the last two years is Tacoma’s Pet Mayor Competition. In partnership with the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County, this program gives our community a chance to celebrate the animals we love while raising money for an important cause. This year, the second annual Pet Mayor Competition raised nearly $12,000 to support spay and neuter services through the Humane Society. That is a great result, and I am thankful to everyone who submitted photos, voted, donated, and helped make this such a joyful community effort.
This year’s Pet Mayor is Sambuca, or “Buca” for short, a two-year-old Italian Greyhound with a big personality and a big heart. Buca lives with three Italian Greyhound sisters, BeBe, JuJu, and DeeDee, who came from rescue backgrounds and helped inspire his family’s long commitment to supporting rescue animals. Buca’s story is a great reminder that every pet deserves a safe home, proper care, regular exercise, and unconditional love. I also want to congratulate Kai, an Akita rescue who was named Deputy Mayor after finishing second in this year’s competition. Kai survived terrible neglect and abuse before being rescued, and his recovery is a powerful example of what love, care, and community support can do.
I was honored to once again to support this program and join Mayor Anders Ibsen and the rest of the City Council for the swearing-in of Mayor Buca and Deputy Mayor Kai. It was a fun moment, but it also highlighted something very serious: our responsibility to support humane treatment for all animals in our community and reduce animal overpopulation by supporting spay and neuter efforts. I encourage you to read more about Buca and Kai’s stories and to continue supporting the important work of the Humane Society for Tacoma & Pierce County and all our animal rescue groups.
Trash Talk
New Voluntary Demolition Salvage Program
One project I am excited to highlight is Tacoma’s new Voluntary Demolition Salvage Program, which launched on July 1. The idea is pretty simple: before a building is demolished, property owners and contractors will have the option to complete a salvage assessment to identify materials that could be recovered, reused, donated, or resold instead of being sent straight to the landfill. Participation is voluntary, but the City is creating an incentive by offering priority review and expedited permit processing for future building permits tied to that project site. This is a practical way to make it easier for people to do the right thing while also supporting Tacoma’s environmental and waste reduction goals.
This work fits into a larger focus I have had for years. I have often joked that I am the “trash Council Member” because I care deeply about keeping litter off our streets, addressing illegal dumping, and making Tacoma cleaner. But just as important to me is the question of how we keep reusable materials out of the landfill in the first place.
Whether it is recycling code updates, tax code changes to support recycling, wood waste diversion, or programs like this one, I want Tacoma to keep building a stronger circular economy where materials are reused in productive ways. Salvaging building materials is good for the environment, can help reduce disposal costs, and gives homeowners and developers the chance to preserve some of the unique character and history that exists in Tacoma’s buildings.
Tree Canopy Enhancement
I am very happy to see Tacoma move forward with the South Tacoma Tree Canopy Enhancement Project, supported by $1.75 million from the Washington Department of Ecology. This funding will help bring more trees, shade, depaving, and green infrastructure to South Tacoma, including work through the City’s Urban Forestry program, free street and yard trees for homeowners, and right-of-way improvements along South Union Avenue. This is a meaningful step toward cooler streets, cleaner air, better stormwater management, and healthier neighborhoods.
This one is also personal for me. I grew up in South Tacoma, and my mom worked along South Tacoma Way, so I know this is an area of our city that has long deserved more investment. I have heard from many residents who want more trees and more shade in their neighborhoods, and I believe everyone in Tacoma should have access to the health, environmental, and community benefits that come from a strong tree canopy. This project does not solve every challenge, but it is an important investment in South Tacoma and a strong step forward as we continue working toward a healthier, greener Tacoma for every neighborhood.
Association of Washington Cities Annual Conference
I recently had the opportunity to attend the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Annual Conference in Spokane, alongside several of my Tacoma colleagues. It was a valuable week of learning and collaboration with local leaders from across the state. These conversations reinforced that cities of all sizes are navigating many of the same challenges, from budgets and housing to public safety, technology, and maintaining the essential services our residents rely on every day. I always leave these gatherings feeling energized and inspired, with new ideas to bring back home to Tacoma.
As part of the conference, I was happy to serve on a panel to share how the City was navigating our housing challenges. This is something I have been leading on, from Home in Tacoma and the Multi-Family Housing Tax Exemption, to serving on statewide groups like the Housing Solutions Group for AWC. Tacoma has a lot of work to do, and I was happy to share how we might continue to grow as a city.
I’m also honored to share that I was elected to serve on the AWC Executive Committee as a Large City Representative this year. I’m grateful for the opportunity to continue supporting cities across Washington in this role. Looking ahead, I’m especially excited that Tacoma will host the AWC Annual Conference in 2027. It will be a wonderful opportunity to showcase our community and all that makes the City of Destiny such a special place.
Tacoma FIFA Parade
I was really happy to be part of the FIFA parade hosted by the Puyallup Tribe of Indians on Tacoma’s Eastside earlier this month. As a proud soccer dad to Garyn and Lauryn, and as someone who spends many hours on youth soccer fields across Tacoma and the region, it has been exciting to see the energy building around soccer in our city. With the World Cup happening and the world’s eyes on our region, this is a special moment for Tacoma and for everyone who loves the game.
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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