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

Chamber Supports & Opposes Charter Issues

The Chamber is pleased to share with you the following letter to the Tacoma City Council with our positions on various City Charter recommendations for changes. Tom Pierson, Pres./CEO testified at the Tacoma City Council Hearing tonight on these issues.

The Chamber's positions in this letter were approved at the special board meeting Monday.

It is expected that additional issues may surface or that the Chamber may need to be strategically responsive to a dynamic environment, so you will probably continue to be presented with updates as the public policy debate on the best governance for our metro’s central city continues.

UWT Hosts City Charter Reform Discussion

Tacoma Council to Appoint Interim Councilmember

The City of Tacoma’s Council has decided to appoint an interim to fill the council position unoccupied with the Leave of Absence of Councilmember Anders Ibsen.

Councilmember Ibsen has requested Leave, according to the provisions of state law, for his volunteer service with the U.S. Marine Corps.

Map of District 1.

The appointed interim councilmember would serve during the approximately 11 months of Councilmember Ibsen’s Leave of Absence, although the actual term is indeterminate as Councilmember Ibsen could return earlier.  There will be approximately one year from the anticipated end of the interim position, after Councilmember Ibsen returns from his Leave of Absence, until the Councilmember would stand re-election in 2015.


APPLICATIONS  ARE ACCEPTED THROUGH DECEMBER 12.


For advice on applying, candidates may contact Mike Weinman, Weinman Consulting, Federal and Local Issues Manager for the Chamber.

Qualifications for Office and Responsibilities of the City Council
The City Charter provides that citizens seeking to run for City Council must be qualified electors and City residents for two years immediately preceding the time of filing. In addition, if a citizen
is running for a district position, he or she must be a resident in this District 1 for one year immediately preceding the time of filing.

The Council is responsible for enacting all legislation, developing policies, and making general policy decisions for governing the City. Council duties include adopting and amending City laws; approving the budget; establishing City policies and standards; approving contracts and agreements; and representing the City. The Council meets every Tuesday at 5:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers, first floor, Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street. Five Council Members constitute a quorum for the transaction of business.

Compensation Council Members:
Effective Jan. 1, 2014, Council Members will receive an annual salary of $42,411.20.

Tacoma's "Constitutional Convention" Process Begins

The City of Tacoma Charter Review and the application process NOW UNDERWAY.

Chamber members and your associates are encouraged to apply by submitting the application located HERE.

APPLICATION DEADLINE DECEMBER 4.

Each Councilmember gets one person and members of the Council’s Government Performance & Finance Committee (GPFC) get six to be appointed in January.  GPFC is composed of Councilmembers Lonergan, Campbell, Thoms and Mayor Strickland. (Alt: Councilmember Ibsen).

1.    The Charter Review Committee will consist of 15 citizens of the City of Tacoma, to be appointed by the City Council in the following manner: The Mayor and each City Council member will recommend one person for appointment to the committee. The GPFC recommends to the City Council the appointment of six persons to the committee, to reflect a cross section of the citizens of the City. The chairperson of the committee will be selected by the Mayor.

2.    The duty of committee will be to review the existing Charter of the City of Tacoma and make such recommendations for change as the committee may deem necessary and proper in order to amend the provisions of the existing City Charter with reference to improving the mode and manner of operation and efficiency in conducting the affairs of the City. The City Council reserves the right to furnish to the Charter Review Committee certain guidelines with reference to the scope of the work.

3.    The committee will submit its recommendations and findings to the City Council on or before May 6, 2014, so that adequate and appropriate provisions can be made for the holding of a special municipal election in November 2014, in the event that the City Council determines that recommendations for revisions or changes should be submitted to the electorate.

4.    The City Council expresses its intent that the members of the committee will be appointed in January 2014, and that appointed members will thereafter serve until such time as the final reports and recommendations are made on or before May 6, 2014, at which time the committee will be dissolved without further action of the City Council.

The City Charter review process is not without consequence. At the last Charter review, 12 amendments were proposed and all were passed by the electorate.  The Charter is the constitution of the City and will determine how the City is governed and administered for the next decade.