Chamber Website Experiencing Server Issues

Update number 1: June 10, 1:40 pm - server issues resolved, website is accessible.

The Chamber's website, tacomachamber.org, is experiencing server issues.  The web host is aware and working on a solution.

The Events Calendar and Business Directory are not affected by the issue and are up and running.

We appreciate visitors' patience while the issue is being resolved.

Join Pierce County Council for Briefing on U.S. Open

If you are interested in learning more about preparations for the 2015 U.S. Open at Chambers Bay, come to a special meeting of the Pierce County Council, to be held June 27 at the county’s Environmental Services Building in University Place.

Danny Sink, the United States Golf Association’s on-site championship director, will make a presentation that covers many of the questions area residents have about the event. The meeting will be hosted by County Councilmember Connie Ladenburg, whose 4th District includes University Place.

What: Special meeting of the Pierce County Council
When: 5:30 p.m. on Thursday, June 27
Where: Environmental Services Building, 9850 64th St. W, University Place, WA 98467
Why: To present information to the public about the U.S. Open

For more information, contact Councilmember Connie Ladenburg at (253) 798-7590.

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Down to the Wire for the Transportation Package!

As an involved local business, the Chamber urges passage of the Transportation Package that includes several projects that will have significant and substantial positive impact on Pierce County’s economy. 

With four days left in the Special Session, your Pierce County legislators need to hear from you and get the booster and support they need to VOTE YES and pass the Transportation package that includes SR 167.  This means up to as many as 80,000 good paying jobs, this means growing our economy in Pierce County , and this means putting us on the global competitive map . . . as a concerned business you should not let this go. Your legislators need to know businesses are fully supportive of this package, which includes transportation efficiency measures meant to reduce the costs of transportation projects.

This package will be an economic game-changer for our region and state providing both long and short-term job and economic development and growth.  This package can’t wait another year!

•           Completion of SR 167

•           Completion of Hwy 509

•           $175 Million for I5 improvements along JBLM

•           $54 Million for Yelm Loop

•           $35 Million for the Triangle Project

•           $5.4 Million for Hwy 16 Frontage Rd & SR 302 Study & EIS

•           Funds for Highway maintenance and repairs

•           WSDOT Reforms including Design Build for projects like SR 167

•           Funded by a 10 cent gas tax

Please urge your representatives and senators to urge their leadership to bill the Transportation package up for a vote and to vote “yes” now!

Email your Pierce County Delegation

2nd Legislative District: Sen. Randi Becker, Reps. Gary Alexander and J.T. Wilcox.

25th District: Sen. Bruce Dammeier, Reps. Dawn Morrell and Hans Zeiger.

26th District: Sen. Nathan Schlicher, Reps. Jan Angel and Larry Seaquist.

27th District: Sen. Jeannie Darneille, Reps. Laurie Jinkins and Jake Fey.

28th District: Sen. Steve O’Ban and Rep. Tami Green.

29th District: Sen. Steve Conway, Reps. David Sawyer and Steve Kirby

30th District: Sen. Tracey Eide, Reps. Linda Kochmar and Roger Freeman

31st District: Sen. Pam Roach, Reps. Cathy Dahlquist and Christopher Hurst

Email message should say:

As an involved local business, I urge you to pass the Transportation Package that includes several projects that will have significant and substantial positive impact on Pierce County’s economy. This package will be an economic game-changer for our region and state providing both long and short-term job and economic development and growth.  This package can’t wait another year!

•    Completion of SR 167
•    Completion of SR 509
•    $175 Million for I5 improvements along JBLM
•    $54 Million for Yelm Loop
•    $35 Million for the Triangle Project
•    $5.4 Million for Hwy 16 Frontage Rd & SR 302 Study & EIS
•    Funds for Highway maintenance and repairs
•    WSDOT Reforms including Design Build for projects like SR 167
•    Funded by a 10 cent gas tax

Please urge your representatives and senators to urge their leadership to bring the Transportation Package up for a vote and to vote “yes” now!

More information here: http://sr167.portoftacoma.com

Chamber Rallies Businesses - Voices Heard

When businesses act together we are an effective voice to affect decisions about important issues.

After the News Tribune article last week, the Chamber shared the news with its members and asked them to weigh in. Tacoma Councilmembers have said they were flooded with emails from concerned businesses about new regulations mandating sick leave. In response, Councilmembers did not add the topic to their Committee of the Whole meeting today as initially planned. As a result, the reported intent to bring this issue to action by the Council today did NOT happen.

The issue of mandating sick leave continues to crop up in metropolitan areas across the nation where special interest groups believe they have sufficiently sympathetic civic leadership and historic support. To keep members abreast of happenings with mandated sick leave, the Chamber has established a dedicated webpage at www.tacomachamber.org/content/tacoma-employees-first. 

We expect this will not be the last attempt by special interests to propose this issue without discussions with the businesses impacted.

The Chamber will keep its members informed of developing aspects of this issue locally and will maintain this new communications link – the dedicated webpage for continuing coverage.

Chamber Responds to Rumors of Sick Leave Mandate

The Chamber has responded to rumors that the Tacoma City Council will consider a directive to city staff to study/prepare legislation establishing a mandated sick leave regulation.  This regulation would impact those doing business in Tacoma as well as those located in Tacoma.   More background information will be provided by the Chamber.

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Pierce Co. Council Sets Special Meeting for Appointment

The Pierce County Council has scheduled a special meeting to address appointing a State Senator to the district vacated by the passing of Sen. Mike Carrell.

UPDATE #1:  The Pierce County Council selected State Representative Steve O'Ban as the new 28th District State Senator.  

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Get Involved: Apply for Tacoma Commissions

The Tacoma City Council is looking to fill positions on two different commissions. City commissions are established by City Charter, ordinance, or resolution, and advises the Council on various issues. Committed to being a voice for business and a leader in our community, the Chamber strongly recommends our members get involved in these important citizen groups.

First, three positions are available on the Planning Commission: 1). Resident of Council District 4 (Eastside), 2). Expert on environmental issues, and 3). Resident with background and experience in architecture, historic preservation, and/or urban design.

The Planning Commission advises the City Council on numerous issues, such as mixed-use centers development, land use and development regulations, transportation, and others. Members meet at 4 p.m. on the first and third Wednesdays of each month. Planning Commission applications are due June 14, 2013.

The Tacoma City Council is also looking for 11 members for the newly established Transportation Commission, which will advise the Council on transportation-related matters, such as short and long-term transportation planning, compliance with local, regional, and federal transportation regulations, alternative transportation planning initiatives, and parking and capital improvement plans. Nine voting members from the City’s five Council districts with a wide range of perspectives and expertise will be selected, as well as two non-voting members appointed by the City Manager.

If you have expertise in the professional engineering sector, construction/private business sector, bike and pedestrian/mass transit sector, planning/urban growth sector, environmental/sustainability sector, or general community and ADA community and are a resident of Tacoma, you should consider applying.

Applications for the Transportation Commission are due June 21, 2013.