Your Invite to POHR 2015

This reception is to honor public officials' service, to establish and enhance our relationships, and to provide you with the opportunity to meet your elected and appointed representatives.

Please confirm your attendance at your earliest convenience by clicking HERE.

Vote YES to Fix Tacoma’s Roads, Vote YES on Propositions 3 and A

Repairing Tacoma’s roads has long been a top reported priority of Tacoma’s residents, elected officials, and businesses.  

While no tax increase would be an ideal situation, the Chamber has worked for years to evaluate funding and improvement options for Tacoma’s roads, and has endorsed both Proposition 3 and Proposition A. 

When combined, these Propositions responsibly and equitably spread the tax burden among all parties and include a 10-year sunset date on the package to ensure no money is being taken for granted.  

When added to matching grants and contributions, the total package would provide Tacoma with 325 million dollars to repair roads and improve a situation that has been unacceptably stagnant for far too long.

Vote YES on 3. Vote YES on A. Vote YES for Tacoma’s streets.

Chamber Endorses Initiative 1B

In this year’s general election, the outcome of Initiative 1 regarding the status of the minimum wage in Tacoma has the power to drastically impact businesses starting as soon as December 4^th of this year. 

If a raise in the minimum wage in Initiative 1 are approved by the voters, an unprecedented and risky minimum wage increase of either $15 or $12 will go into effect just four weeks following the election.

After careful consideration, the Chamber has endorsed voting for Initiative 1B, a plan that will phase in a minimum wage increase to $12 over the course of two years. This plan allows everyone to adjust to an increase in the minimum wage in a way that will both benefit workers and will not overwhelm businesses.

While raising the minimum wage or not should be a straightforward question, the structure of this year’s ballot has the potential to confuse voters. Initiative 1 is broken into two parts. First, voters will be asked whether or not a minimum wage increase should take place at all. Second, voters will be asked, if a minimum wage increase were to take place, whether they would support Initiative 1, an increase of the minimum wage to $15 immediately, or Initiative 1B, an increase of the minimum wage to $12 over two years.

Even if voters wanted to oppose an increase in the minimum wage altogether and vote no on the first question and ignore the second question, a minimum wage increase will still take place if a majority vote “yes” on part one.  That is why it is imperative, even if voters oppose an increase in the minimum wage, they also vote “yes” on 1B to ensure that the most appropriate increase in minimum wage for Tacoma is enacted.

The Chamber encourages, that whether you vote “yes” or “no” on raising the minimum wage, vote 1B, the Tacoma sized solution.

Voters’ Guide for Business Now Available

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber of Commerce’s third Voters’ Guide for Business is now available online for all voters and businesses concerned with how candidates’ views align with the best business and economic interests of Tacoma.

The Voters’ Guide for Business includes the responses, or lack thereof, to a Chamber produced survey from candidates in 35 contested races throughout the Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s service area.  The Guide also includes the Chamber’s position on ballot initiatives that will directly influence job growth, businesses, and the overall health of the economy in Pierce County.

This year’s election is filled with candidates and initiatives that have the ability to influence issues regarding taxes, regulations, incentives, and the general business climate for years to come.  We encourage any voters concerned with the future of Tacoma’s economy to read and share our Guide, compare the candidates’ positions on important issues with your own preferences, and most importantly, keep them in mind while casting your ballot in the coming weeks.

Chamber Endorses City of Tacoma Roads Package (Prop. 3 & 4)

On August 27th, the Chamber Board of Directors voted to endorse Tacoma City Council's Propositions 3 and 4.  

The text of the resolution is below:

SUBJECT:    TACOMA PROPOSITION 3: Concerning a property tax levy rate increase and utility gross earnings tax increase to fund street improvements

                        AND

TACOMA TRANSPORTATION BENEFIT DISTRICT PROPOSITION 4: Concerning the imposition of a sales tax to fund street improvements

POLICY:       YES ON BOTH PROPOSITIONS 3 & 4

BACKGROUND: In 2013, the City of Tacoma placed a proposition to the voters to add an additional 2% to the existing utility gross earnings tax in order to fund street improvements.  The Chamber opposed the measure on several grounds.  Some of these included concerns about prioritization of existing dollars, task force/commission processes, and expecting a handful of businesses to pay the bulk of the taxes despite most of the improvements going towards residential roads.  A majority of voters agreed with the Chamber that this was not an appropriate tax.

Since 2013, the Chamber has worked with community stakeholders, including electeds and staff at the City of Tacoma, to evaluate alternative funding and improvement plans.  While no tax is an ideal scenario, the proposed package successful spreads the tax burden to all parties and users throughout the area while setting a 10-year sunset on the entire package.  The two propositions combine for $175M in new revenue.  When added to new matching funds from the general fund, existing street funding revenues and new grant matches, the total package is $425M.

City Funding Source	10 Year Revenues
New Sales Tax (+0.1%) (Prop 4)	$45 M
New Utility Gross Earnings Tax (+1.5%) (Prop 3)	$90 M
New Levy Lid Lift (+$0.2 per $1,000AV) (Prop 3)	$40 M
New Additional General Fund Support (Council Budget)	$30 M
Existing Revenues ($20 Tab, 2% UGET)	$100 M
City Funding	$305 M
Grant Matching Funds	$120 M
TOTAL FUNDING	$425 M

This funding would then be spent on residential streets (67%), arterials & freight access (18%), and walking and biking infrastructure (15%).  This work would pave 167 blocks of gravel streets, resurface 2,100 blocks of failed and poor streets, and provide sufficient maintenance for all excellent, good, and fair residential streets, totaling another 4,211 blocks. In addition it would provide funding for key freight mobility connection in the Port of Tacoma and multimodal facilities like an improved Schuster Parkway and Prairie Line Trail.

The residents of Tacoma have consistently ranked the condition of the streets as a number one priority, but despite several options on the ballot, have to choose to increase taxes to pay for the street repairs.  It is unclear the level of support these measures will need to be successful at the ballot box.

While the Chamber supports these proposals to improve streets throughout Tacoma, we will continue to encourage the City to look for additional efficiencies in general operations.  With an annual general fund budget of $200M, saving just 1% would allow an additional $20M to be spent on roads over 10-years.  To this end, we hope that this City will continue to focus on job creation in the private sector by hiring private contractors to complete the work rather than increasing internal staff.

IMPLEMENTATION:  With approval of a policy, the Chamber will utilize is communications tools for advocacy.

Mayor Hears Chamber & Community, Appoints Minimum Wage Task Force

In the category of surprising, yet encouraging, a day after the Chamber sent a letter to the Mayor highlighting the need for a community task force to discuss the minimum wage, the Mayor led the City Council to establish just such a task force. 


The Chamber's letter clearly touched a nerve and brought to the fore a rumbling that could be heard throughout Tacoma - the 15 Now proposal is just too extreme for Tacoma. 


Because of the tight timeline for the Council to act if it wants to put something on the ballot, the Mayor asked councilmembers to provide names for the task force in just 3 days.


The names are now out with appointments made last Tuesday at that night's council meeting.  The people tasked with hashing out the minimum wage issue in Tacoma are:


• Kelly Chambers, owner of Visiting Angels
• Sarah Cherin, political and public policy director for United Food and Commercial Union 21
• Gregory Christopher, pastor at Shiloh Baptist Church & head of the Tacoma chapter of the NAACP
• Odette D’Aniello, owner of Celebrity Cake Studio
• Michelle Douglas, executive director for the Rainbow Center
• Liz Dunbar, executive director for Tacoma Community House
• Eric Hahn, vice president for General Plastics & a member of the Workforce Central board
• Dennis Farrow, owner of Advanced Technology Construction
• Reggie Frederick, owner of Chalet Bowl
• Jason Kinlow, owner of A Taste of Philly
• Elizabeth Lewis, a minimum-wage worker at Staff Pro & 15Now Supporter
• Ali Modarres, director of the Urban Studies at University of Washington Tacoma
• Abranna Romero Rocha, a student at Lincoln High School & 15Now Supporter
• David Strong, executive director for AIDS Housing Association of Tacoma & pastor at Greater Christ Community Church
• Brenda Wiest, legislative affairs coordinator for Teamsters 117


• Russ Heaton (alternate), owner of Doyle’s Public House• Robert Taylor (alternate), member field director for Service Employees International Union 1199


The list clearly contains more non-profit entities than anything else which should make the conversation interesting as it may focus more on how to help the least fortunate rather than how to punish people for running businesses.


We hope all members will carefully consider what the best solution for Tacoma is rather than trying to represent a narrow constituency group.

Read more here: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2015/05/12/3788115/tacoma-mayor-to-name-minimum-wage.html#storylink=cpy

Tacoma Council Adopts Mandatory Paid Leave

On Tuesday, January 27th, after a marathon council meeting lasting nearly six hours and including 35 pages of amendments, Tacoma’s City Council passed (8-1) an ordinance requiring all businesses operating within the City to provide a minimum of 3 days of paid time off to employees beginning February 1^st, 2016.  

Early versions of an ordinance brought forward by paid leave proponents suggested businesses be responsible for providing employees with up to 14 days of paid time off.  The Chamber made it clear that new mandates will make it harder for businesses to meet their employees’ actual needs rather than those thought up by others.  Furthermore, if the Council is truly focused on employees, it must minimize expensive tracking and regulatory burdens to ensure limited funds are actually spent on providing benefits rather than administration.

Thankfully, enough of the Council heard these concerns to streamline the tracking and incorporate flexibility.  The 3-day ordinance passed by Council also allows for employers and employees with unique needs options like on-call pay programs, shift swapping, minimum hours worked, and front loaded benefits.

While this phase of the paid leave discussion has wrapped up, we are preparing for the next round.  Unusual for Tacoma, the Council has decided to implement a rule making process after passing the Ordinance meaning there are numerous questions about the details.  Once these rules are published, we will be hosting sessions to get businesses up to speed.  At a minimum, all businesses should plan on reviewing their personnel policies and handbooks to ensure they meet the allowable usage requirements in the ordinance.

Previously, the Chamber has shared status updates on this issue.  We will continue to provide updates as we can.

Final Reading on Mandatory Paid Leave

The Chamber has been actively working on the Tacoma City Council's Mandatory Paid Leave Ordinance (link). Now the Council has placed a draft ordinance on their agenda for final reading on Tuesday, January 27th at 5PM. The proposal requires all businesses operating that are located in or doing business in the City of Tacoma to provide 3 days of paid time off to every employee. However with the final reading tomorrow night, they could amend the ordinance in any way. Some Councilmembers are actively working to more than double this requirement to 7 days of paid leave and make it more difficult to track hours and prevent abuse. Join with other business leaders and share with your Councilmembers how this ordinance, and particularly these proposed amendments, will impact your business. Sign up for public comment to express how this will affect you. Click the following link for procedures to speak at the City Council Meeting (link).   The meeting will be held at Tacoma City Council Chambers, 747 Market Street, First Floor, Tacoma, WA 98402 on Tuesday, January 27, 2015 at 5:00 p.m.  If you can't attend, please contact your councilmembers directly. Their emails and phone numbers are at: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/government/city_council

Chamber Joins Concerns & Seeking Help

The Chamber joined numerous other organizations and companies encouraging help in ensuring the present interruptions in West Coast port terminal operations does not escalate to a complete shutdown.

Following below, please find the letter from Washington state & Pacific NW employers to President Obama, expressing our deep concerns.

 (Click on image for a larger and complete view)

Mimimum Wage Debate at UW Tonite

The Washington Policy Center first ever  debate, tonight at the University of Washington!

The debate, also hosted by its Young Professionals group and new UW club, WPC Young Professionals @ UW, will bring together national and local experts to discuss if an increased minimum wage is an opportunity creator or job killer.

The event is open to everyone, and is free to attend! To register online and/or pass along this invite to anyone you think would be interested in attending – including young people (those who this policy will greatly impact), see below for event details.

Wednesday, April 2, 2014

University of Washington
Kane Hall
7:00 p.m.
FREE to attend

Hear the experts debate
today's hottest policy issue!

Click here to register  - or contact Lisa Jansen.

Invitation to Public Officials Holiday Reception

You're invited to the annual Public Officials Holiday Reception

(Click on image for a larger and complete view)

Public Officials Holiday Reception Invitation

Chamber members are invited via the below invitation to the annual Public Officials Reception. The link below directs you to the registration page which includes the public officials that have so far confirmed their attendance. 

REGISTER HERE

 

E-ivote Button for Social Media

This election season you can digitally encourage friends to vote with the Pierce County Auditor’s new “I Voted” avatar. The transition from the traditional “I Voted” stickers to a digital image is both cost effective and a reflection of modern communication.

“Posting your Pierce County ‘I voted’ avatar to your social media accounts is the modern equivalent of wearing the sticker. Post it as soon as you vote to prompt your friends to vote. It’s also a good reminder that you can vote and return your ballot as soon as you’re ready,” said Auditor Julie Anderson.

The Auditor’s Office is providing images formatted for Facebook profile pictures and cover photos, and for Twitter avatars. These images can be found here or on Pierce County's Facebook and Twitter accounts.

Voter turnout has improved with the shift to Vote-by-Mail, but with expected turnout for the Nov. 5 election at 46 percent, the Auditor’s Office is looking for new ways to promote voting.

“Personal outreach is the very best way to prompt participation. We want our most enthusiastic voters to promote the vote. Use your social capital and be a civic leader,” said Anderson.

Ballots will arrive on Saturday and Monday. You can vote and return your ballot as soon as you’re ready.  Ballot Drop Boxes are open now.

View Updated Public Officials Guide

The Chamber’s newly updated Public Officials Guide is out, reflecting the numerous changes brought on by last year’s exciting election.

A key aspect of the Chamber’s mission is to use its collective voice as well as those of individual Chamber members to advocate for a strong business climate in the region. The updated Public Officials Guide works to accomplish this by empowering our members to coordinate their efforts and provide opportunities for members to engage with civic leaders on issues relevant to their business and community.

Additionally, the new guide is more comprehensive in scope and includes local school district boards and superintendents, as well as local City Managers.

To locate your public officials, visit the Chamber’s website.

National Education & Workforce Tour Visits Tacoma

Education, the skills gap and workforce development are frequent and relevant topics in the business community.

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber, in partnership with the Institute for a Competitive Workforce and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, will host the "Breaking the Monopoly of Mediocrity" Tour on February 20th.

Visit the Chamber's online events calendar to learn more about this event. RSVP no later than Friday, February 15. 

New Chamber Intern

Hi everyone! I am Anissa Shirley, the new January intern here at the Chamber of Commerce. Currently I am junior attending Tacoma School of the Arts. I love to explore all art forms drawing-songwriting, but my major field of study is photography. In the future I hope to get my doctorate in Women’s and Children’s International Health Studies.

I am working with the Chamber’s advocacy group to learn more on advocacy and networking. I hope to be an asset for the Chamber Staff, and also use this experience to build new connections in the city of Tacoma.

Tacoma and Lakewood Councils Appointing New Councilmembers

With Doug Richardson's election to Pierce County Council and Jake Fey's election to the Washington State Legislature, both Lakewood and Tacoma have vacant council seats they are looking to fill.  Both appointments would only be until the end of the terms at the end of 2013.  This means that whoever is appointed will need to run for election if they want to retain the seat into 2014.

In Tacoma, the interview process is before Council during their noon study session on Tuesday, January 15th.  The City sent out a press release last week stating that they may appoint someone as early as the Council meeting on the 15th.  To read more about the seven applicants to fill the position, please visit The News Tribune here.

The Lakewood vacancy had 12 applicants.  The Council is hoping to complete their process for appointment by February 4th.  To read more about the applicants vying for the appointment in Lakewood, the TNT has covered it here.

As you review the candidates, please think about who you'd like to see representing your interests.  Please let the current councilmembers know who you'd like to see join them as the current council will be making the appointment.

Helping Want-a-be Electeds

The Chamber has announced its inaugural Candidate Academy, beginning in February, 2013.

The program, for local leaders interested in running for office, will help participants understand the steps of campaigning and inform them of other aspects of public office that will help them determine whether they are ready to seek office.

Through four weekly sessions in February, participants will have the opportunity to learn from local elected officials, business leaders and community advocates who will advise them on how to decide whether to run for office. Encompassing a wide variety of subjects focused on four main themes, “Why Run,” “Context,” “Roles” and “Running for Office,” the comprehensive program provides a unique opportunity for participants to learn about the election process.

Under advisement from local elected officials Brian Sonntag (retiring State Auditor) and Julie Anderson (Pierce County Auditor), as well as community leaders Amy Pivetta-Hoffman, Mike Crowley, Catherine Rudolph and Faith Homan, the program offers a non-partisan perspective to elected office. The advisory committee agrees this program will encourage individuals from all backgrounds to reflect upon the decision to run for office.

“It provides a balanced, nonpartisan approach to taking the first step of running for office,” said Chamber President & CEO Tom Pierson.

Applications are currently being accepted and are available at the Chamber’s website. For more information, contact Mike Weinman.

Majority Coalition Caucus

After winning a majority in the State Legislature, the Democratic Party loses control.  As announced in a press release today:
 
"Bipartisan coalition forms majority in Washington State Senate.  Coalition focused on jobs, education and budget with shared committee structure."
 
"Democrat and Republican senators announced today that they have formed a Majority Coalition Caucus to lead the Senate during the 2013 legislative session. Twenty-five state senators have committed themselves to a set of principles that will guide the work of the new caucus, including:

• promoting job growth and a vibrant economy;
• creating a sustainable budget and living within the state’s means;
• providing a world-class education system through reforms and enhancements;
• governing collaboratively to protect the most vulnerable while prioritizing the needs of middle-class Washingtonians; and
• setting priorities for state government and holding it accountable."

While the Majority Coalition Caucus is bipartisan it is made up of 23 Republicans and 2 Democrats.  This effectively divides the two houses of the state legislature with the House having majority Democratic control.  In addition with the election of our new Governor-elect Jay Inslee, the Democratic Party also continues to control the Governor's mansion.

For more on this, please see the Majority Coalition Caucus's press release at: http://src.leg.wa.gov/news/2012/joint/121012MCC.htm 

The News Tribune's Coverage is at: http://www.thenewstribune.com/2012/12/10/2397605/2-dems-to-work-with-gop-to-control.html

Non-Profit Healthcare Taxes Increase, Again

It was about a year ago that we first started talking about the holes in the City of Tacoma's budget.  Since then, we've seen the City Council increase taxes on the non-profit healthcare sector by about $1M per year.

Now the City Council is back to it again.  After last week's compromise provision including a reduction in the B&O tax after two years was rejected by five councilmembers - a provision intended to give the City two years to help right its finances - they are expected to vote on the tax increase tonight.

In light of the ordinance as it stands today - quadrupling the B&O tax while targeting two businesses - the Chamber submitted the attached letter to the City Council yesterday.