Tacoma Offers Training for Stormwater & ROW Design

The City of Tacoma is offering training on the 2016 City of Tacoma Stormwater Management Manual (SWMM) and the 2016 City of Tacoma Right-of-Way Design Manual (Design Manual).  Both manuals will become effective January 7, 2016.

This will be technical training geared toward the development and engineering community and those involved with design of projects both on private property and within the City right-of-way though the training are open and available to all members of public.

SWMM Training Dates:

• Thursday, December 17, 2015: 8:00am – 12:00pm
• Wednesday, January 6, 2016: 8:00am – 12:00pm

Design Manual Training Dates:

• Thursday, December 17, 2015: 1:00pm – 4:00pm
• Wednesday, January 6, 2016: 1:00pm – 4:00pm

All training will take place at the Central Treatment Plant – Building A on embedded map.

Parking is limited – carpool if possible.

Lunch will be provided for those RSVPing to attend both a morning and afternoon session on the same date. The City cannot accommodate all dietary restrictions and allergies but please respond in your RSVP if there are dietary restrictions and they will let you know if they can accommodate.

Training sessions are limited to 50 people.  RSVP with your requested date and training type.

Applicants sought for Surface Water Management Advisory Board

Pierce County is seeking applicants to fill vacancies on the nine-member Surface Water Management Advisory Board.

Advisory board members will be involved in such issues as storm drainage and surface water management; water quality; storm drainage plans; rate structures; capital improvement projects; financing; and annual program goals for the Surface Water Management Division of Public Works and Utilities.

The mission of Surface Water Management is to be a responsive service organization that efficiently addresses flood control, water quality, and the preservation of natural drainage systems.

Meetings are held monthly. Advisory board members will be selected to represent each of the watersheds and preference will be given to candidates living in unincorporated Pierce County. Surface Water Management will maintain a roster of applications to fill current and future vacancies on the board. These positions are uncompensated.

To apply, the application can be obtained by calling (253) 798-2725 or downloaded  here.

Completed applications should be submitted to Harold Smelt at Pierce County Surface Water Management, 2702 S 42nd St, Ste. 201, Tacoma, WA 98409-7322

UPDATE: Applications deadline is extended until March 21.

Free: Stormwater Management Workshop

“Stormwater Management & Compliance Strategies”

Free Workshop for Tacoma Businesses

Learn how your business can protect Commencement Bay from polluted runoff.  Hear about free, confidential assistance available from Citizens for a Healthy Bay.  Find out how to avoid legal problems from representatives of McGavick Graves and Coastline law firms.  Hear from leading Tacoma businesses about their challenges and successes in meeting stormwater regulations.  Explore treatment options with an expert from GeoEngineers.

9:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Tuesday, January 28th
at the Center for Urban Waters at 326 E. D Street in Tacoma

To register, call Citizens for a Healthy Bay at (253) 383-2429 or send an
email to chb@healthybay.org.  Free lunch is included.

Tacoma Updates Utilities Rates

Tacoma utilities users are up for the biannual rate evaluations.  Both the Environmental Services Department (surface water, wastewater, solid waste) and Public Utilities (water, electricity/power) have conducted rate cases involving a review of operations, capital needs and cost of service.

Here is a comparison of Tacoma’s 2013 residential rates for these utilities compared with neighboring cities in the region.  For these comparisons, Tacoma’s combined utilities’ rates are lower than comparable or neighboring cities.  Of course, businesses are typically in different rate classifications than residents, but the residential rate serves as a useful universal classification for comparisons.

For 2013, the system-wide rate increases are:

• Surface Water   6.0%
• Wastewater       4.8%
• Solid Waste      0.0%
• Power               4.2%
• Water                6.0%

You should note that the Solid Waste rates system average increase is 0% because the City will begin a volume-based rate system that will offer customers conservation opportunities.  Commercial customers will again have a 0% rate increase because the City is keeping its commitment to adjust rates to a cost-of-service philosophy, ending a subsidy of residential rates by its commercial customers.

Although both utilities departments have engaged in a public outreach program both to gain customer input into development of the rates and to inform customers of the increases, there are still customer input opportunities.

Schedule for Adoption

• Jan. 29                  City Council Study Session Rate Review Presentation
• Jan. 30                  Public Utility Board Study Session and Public Hearing for Water and Power
• Feb. 5                    City Council First Reading of Ordinances for Surface water, Wastewater & Solid Waste              
• Feb. 12                 City Council Second Reading of Ordinances for Surface water, Wastewater and Solid Waste
• Feb. 13                 Public Utility Board Consideration & Adoption of Water and Power Rates
• Feb. 19                 City Council First Reading of Water and Power Rates
• Feb. 26                 City Council Second Reading of Water and Power Rates
• Mar. 1                   Adoption of Rates for Surface water, Wastewater and Solid Waste
• Apr. 1                    Effective Date of Power and Water Rates

If you wish more information about how these rate increases may apply to your business or wish to share your concern about the proposed increases, please email Gary Brackett or call him at 253-682-1720.

City Reorganization Adopts Chamber Recommendation

As Tacoma continues to grapple with scoping its budget to balance both demanded services and available revenue, the Chamber advocates for common sense approaches to improved management.

The Chamber made an earlier recommendation to reorganize city departments so that ratepayers of storm and sanitary water as well as solid waste were removed from inappropriate cuts.  These ratepayers fully fund their utility services and their spending does not impact the general fund.

The City Council was following through on the implementing reorganization as forwarded by City Manager T.C. Broadnax.  The Chamber recognized that organizational improvement and commended its adoption by the City Council.

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