City of Tacoma Washington sent this bulletin at 08/04/2026 10:00 AM PDT
Happy Summer, Tacoma!
I hope you had a wonderful July and found time to enjoy the sunshine, get outdoors, and spend time with the people you care about. I also hope everyone had a safe and happy Fourth of July as we celebrated America’s 250th anniversary. Summer in Tacoma always feels special, especially when the big, bright ball in the sky finally makes one of its rare extended appearances.
The Hines family had a busy and enjoyable month. We took in a Tacoma Rainiers game, spent time with friends and family, attended soccer tournaments and community events, and tried to be outside as much as possible. One of the highlights was Tacoma Porchfest. We spent both Saturday and Sunday walking through the neighborhoods, listening to local musicians, and enjoying an event that continues to grow each year. It is a great example of the creativity and community spirit that make Tacoma such a wonderful place to live.
My wife and I also had the chance to see Alabama Shakes perform at Dune Peninsula. It was my first concert at that venue, and I was incredibly impressed. With the water, the views, and the surrounding park, it may be one of the best concert settings in the region. Dune Peninsula is already a great place to walk and spend time throughout the year, and seeing it used for live music showed just how valuable an asset it is for our community.
Summer can sometimes feel a little quieter at City Hall, but the work does not stop. I have been busy on several projects that I am excited to share with you, along with a few upcoming decisions and opportunities for public input that I want to make sure are on your radar. Let’s get started.
Scenes from the City of Destiny
Planning Commission Seeks Feedback on Parking Requirements
The Tacoma Planning Commission is reviewing changes to parking requirements for new development. Recent state laws have limited how much off-street parking cities can require, so Tacoma must now decide how to update its rules in a way that supports housing, walkable neighborhoods, transportation choices, and greater flexibility for property owners.
The proposal would remove minimum off-street parking requirements citywide. This would not remove existing parking, prohibit new parking, or change on-street parking rules. Developers could still include parking, and many likely will, but they would have more flexibility to decide how much parking makes sense for each project. This can help reduce the cost of building housing while still responding to what residents want.
Parking has been an important and ongoing conversation during my time on the City Council, and I know people have strong opinions about how changes could affect their neighborhoods. We want to make sure as many people as possible are part of this discussion. Anyone interested in this issue is encouraged to review the proposal and submit comments or participate in the Planning Commission’s public hearing.
The public hearing will be held on August 5, 2026, at 5:30 p.m., and comments will be accepted through August 7. You can learn more, submit written comments, or find information about joining the hearing attacoma.gov/parkingcodeupdate.
Community Survey Shows Progress—and Work Still Ahead
At our June 30 Study Session, the City Council heard the results of Tacoma’s 2026 Community Survey. Overall, I felt good about what we heard and was glad to see that many of the numbers are moving in the right direction. Every two years, the City asks residents how they feel about services ranging from public safety and roads to utilities, libraries, housing, homelessness, and customer service.
This year’s results showed improvement in 68 of the 80 areas measured. That means 85% of the survey results moved in a positive direction. Satisfaction with the responsiveness of City employees and the ease of reaching City departments both increased by 11%. Residents also reported improvements in library services, arts and cultural programs, police patrol presence, and emergency police response.
Tacoma Fire continued to receive some of the highest ratings in the survey, with satisfaction above 80% for fire response, emergency medical services, and response times. I was also encouraged to see gains in police visibility and emergency response. These are issues I hear about often from residents and areas where I have continued to push for better service and stronger public safety.
At the same time, the survey makes clear that we still have a long way to go. Residents remain concerned about housing costs, homelessness, street conditions, code enforcement, and police investigations. The numbers may be pointing in the right direction, but progress is not the same as success. We must keep listening, improving, and doing the work needed to make Tacoma the safe, affordable, responsive, and welcoming city we all believe it can become. You can review the full survey attacoma.gov/communitysurvey.
Bringing Public Works and Environmental Services Together
As part of Tacoma’s Roadmap to Recovery, the City’s Public Works and Environmental Services departments will merge into one department beginning January 1, 2027. Environmental Services currently oversees wastewater, stormwater, and solid waste, while Public Works manages streets, sidewalks, transportation, and other major infrastructure. Bringing these teams together creates an opportunity to better coordinate work that often overlaps.
For example, when the City replaces a sewer line or completes a stormwater project, we should also be thinking about the condition of the street, sidewalk, and surrounding infrastructure. A more unified department can help teams plan projects together, share expertise, and make better use of the investments we are already making across Tacoma.
Residents should not experience a reduction in service because of this change. City leadership has made clear that the merger is not intended to reduce frontline maintenance or engineering staff. My hope is that residents will instead see better coordination, fewer missed opportunities, and a City organization that is more focused on working together to deliver the reliable core services our community depends on. Learn more at tacoma.gov/roadmaptorecovery.
Welcoming Tacoma’s Newest K-9 Officers
This past month, I was excited to join the mayor in welcoming two of Tacoma’s newest officers: K-9 Charlie and K-9 Maverick. Along with their handlers, they were formally sworn in as the newest members of the Tacoma Police Department’s K-9 team. Both dogs have already been working in the field, helping officers track suspects, locate evidence, and support public safety throughout our community.
As the City Council’s animal policy expert, it was a special honor to be part of their swearing-in. Charlie and Maverick have trained hard, built strong bonds with their handlers, and are ready for many years of service. I look forward to seeing these four-legged officers do their part to help keep the rest of us on two legs safe and I am confident they will be a pawsitive addition to the department.
Trash Talk
Art That Makes Us Think About Waste
The City recently welcomed a new art installation, “Our Fellow Creatures,” to the City Council Chambers. The piece was created by artist Teruko Nimura, who served as an Artist in Residence with Tacoma’s Solid Waste Division. Her work helped support public education and community conversations about waste reduction, recycling, and the environmental impact of the choices we make.
As the former City Council Liaison to the Tacoma Arts Commission, I have long believed that public art helps make our city more thoughtful, creative, and welcoming. I want to thank Council Member Jamika Scott, the Arts Commission, and everyone who helped bring this piece into the chambers. “Our Fellow Creatures” is also a reminder that where our waste ends up matters, not only for our neighborhoods, but for the animals and natural environment we share.
Catching up with Council Member Hines
Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center Ribbon Cutting
Earlier this summer, I was proud to join the ribbon cutting for the new Multicultural Child and Family Hope Center. The City was one of several partners that helped invest in this important project, and it was exciting to see the building finally open after years of planning and hard work. I was also grateful to return recently for a tour of the completed facility and see the bright, welcoming spaces that children and families will soon be able to enjoy.
This center represents one of the largest expansions of child care in our community and will provide much more than a safe place for children during the day. It will connect families with support, create opportunities for young people to learn and grow, and strengthen a trusted organization that has served Tacoma for many years. I was glad to help support the City’s contribution, attend both the groundbreaking and ribbon cutting, and now see the finished building. I am excited for the children and families who will benefit from this space for years to come.
Building International Partnerships and Bringing Investment to Tacoma
This past month, I traveled to Seattle to visit the K-Startup Center and meet with entrepreneurs and companies interested in expanding their work in the United States. We discussed several innovative projects and the opportunities available across our region. It was a valuable chance to learn more about their work while sharing why Tacoma should be part of the conversation when international businesses are deciding where to invest, grow, and build partnerships.
Economic development is about more than attracting a single company. Bringing new businesses and investment to Tacoma can create jobs, strengthen our local economy, and help generate the revenue needed to provide the services residents expect. Tacoma has strong international relationships, talented workers, and many of the qualities businesses are looking for. We should continue building partnerships that connect our city with new ideas, entrepreneurs, and opportunities from around the world.
Supporting Innovation in Tacoma’s Industrial Economy
Speaking of economic development, I also had the opportunity this summer to tour Concrete Technology Corporation at the Port of Tacoma. Founded in 1951, the company helped pioneer prestressed concrete manufacturing in the United States and has grown into an internationally recognized Tacoma business. From its 30-acre facility, Concrete Technology produces components for bridges, light rail, marine piers, buildings, and other major infrastructure projects.
It was exciting to see the scale and innovation of a company that has operated in Tacoma for more than 75 years. Its work can be found in projects ranging from Cheney Stadium and the Seattle Monorail to bridges and transportation systems across the country and around the world. Businesses like Concrete Technology provide local jobs, bring investment into our community, and export Tacoma-made products far beyond our city. I appreciated the chance to learn more about its operations and discuss how we can help established local employers continue to grow and thrive.
Celebrating Sparta Tacoma’s National Champions
As a proud Sparta Tacoma parent, both Garyn and Lauryn play for the club, I was especially excited to recognize the Sparta Boys U17 team at a recent City Council meeting. Earlier this year, the team won the Elite Academy National Championship, an incredible achievement that reflects years of hard work, discipline, teamwork, and commitment.
With so much excitement around soccer this summer, it was wonderful to celebrate national champions from right here in our own community. These young men brought pride not only to themselves and their families, but to the entire Sparta organization and the City of Tacoma. It was an honor to recognize their accomplishment and congratulate them on representing our community so well.
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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