Chamber Recommendations For 2014 Ballot

2014 General Election Chamber Ballot Recommendations

CITY OF TACOMA

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to oppose: VOTE NO
•    Proposed Charter Amendment No. 6, Council (Re-)Confirmation of Utility Director
•    Proposed Charter Amendment No. 8, Extended Mayor and Council Term Limits

The Tacoma-Pierce County Chamber’s Board of Directors voted to support: VOTE YES
•    Proposed Charter Amendment No. 5, Council Confirmation of Department Directors
•    Proposed Charter Amendment No. 9, Citizen Commission on Elected Salaries

CITY OF UNIVERSITY PLACE

The West Side Branch Board of Directors voted to oppose: VOTE NO
•    City of University Place Proposition No. 1, Additional 3.5% Tax on Utility Company Earnings for Police Services

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Tacoma's First Public Charter School Announces Enrollment Period

In 2012 the Chamber supported Initiative 1240, which would allow the creation of public charter school systems.

Today founder Kristina Bellamy-McClain of SOAR Academy, one of the first charter schools in Washington and the first homegrown charter school in Tacoma, announced the academy's launch of their official website and open enrollment period for current Pre-K and Kindergarten students that will be their first Kindergarten and First Graders for next school year.

SOAR Academy is accepting applications from current Pre-K and Kindergarten students.  Students wishing to apply MUST be in Kindergarten or First grades only next year.  Click here for the application.  SOAR Academy's open application period runs from October 1, 2014 - March 15, 2015 @5pm.

For more information contact SOAR Academy at apply@soaracademies.org.

The SOAR Academy's website is up and running at soaracademies.org.  They will continue to update the site with content and dates in the coming months as they progress.

Urgent Need For Mentors at Tacoma High Schools

The Hometown Mentor Program through the College Success Foundation recruits college-educated mentors from local communities to support and offer guidance to low-income high school seniors in Tacoma as they prepare for college. 

The program has an urgent need for mentors at 3 Tacoma high schools (Foss, Mt. Tahoma and Stadium). Mentors must be at least 21 years old.

Click here for a link with more info about the program and volunteer opportunity including the application.  Please consider this rewarding volunteer experience and contact Keith Stier-Van Essen at kstier.vanessen@collegesuccessfoundation.org if you have more questions.

Apply to Serve on the Board of Ethics

The Tacoma City Council is looking for applicants to fill one position on the Board of Ethics.

The Board of Ethics consists of five regular members recommended by the Government Performance and Finance Committee and appointed by the City Council. The membership term is three years and is comprised of City residents.

The role of the Board is to receive, investigate and make recommendations for disposition of complaints of Code of Ethics violations by the City Manager, the Director of Public Utilities, a member of the Public Utility Board (Utility Board), or a City-elected official. The Board may also render advisory opinions in response to a request by one of the aforementioned officials, and render and publish formal opinions on any matter within the scope of the Board's authority which it may deem appropriate.

For additional information on the Board of Ethics please visit cityoftacoma.org/government/committees_boards_commissions/board_of_ethics or contact City Clerk Doris Sorum at 253. 591.5361.

Applications must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. To apply, please visit cityoftacoma.org/cbcapplication or contact Linnea Meredith at 253.591.5178, City Clerk’s Office, Room 11, Tacoma Municipal Building North, 733 Market St., Tacoma, WA 98402.

Apply to Serve on the Audit Advisory Board

The Tacoma City Council is looking for applicants to fill the citizen position on the Audit Advisory Board.

The Audit Advisory Board consists of each member of the Government Performance and Finance Committee, two members of the Tacoma Public Utilities Board, and one person knowledgeable in government performance and financial auditing, public administration, and government financial and fiscal practices. The chair of the Government Performance and Finance Committee serves as chair of the Audit Advisory Board.

The Audit Advisory Board supports the City Council’s Government Performance and Finance Committee in carrying out its audit advisory, oversight and liaison functions.  These functions include: ensuring coordination of audit needs of the City Council and the work of independent auditors retained by the City to audit City programs, functions and activities; making audit management recommendations to the City Council; and acting as a liaison between the City Council and the office of the City Manager with regard to audits of City programs, functions, and activities that are not under the direction of the City Council.

For additional information on the Audit Advisory Board, please contact Michelle Roose at 253.591. 5803 or mroose@cityoftacoma.org.

Applications must be submitted to the City Clerk’s Office by Friday, Oct. 10, 2014. To apply, please visit cityoftacoma.org/cbcapplication or contact Linnea Meredith at 253.591.5178, City Clerk’s Office, Room 11, Municipal Building North, 733 Market St., Tacoma, WA 98402.

WA Support for EX-IM Bank Strong

[UPDATED September 18, 2014]

A co-signed letter to the Washington Congressional Delegation on the importance of reauthorizing the Export-Import Bank had 40 diverse businesses, ports and organizations from across Washington state as signatories, strengthening our voice on this critical issue.

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