Last week, the Tacoma City Council adopted Resolution 41491, sending the full ballot titles for six proposed City Charter amendments to the Pierce County Auditor. These amendments are set to address various aspects of city governance:
• Providing for Equitable Access
• Required Meetings of the City Council
• Limitations Upon Sale or Transfer of Waterfront Property
• Duties and Authority of Council Members
• Composition of the Planning Commission
• Changing Term Limits for Future Elected Council Members
Individuals interested in joining committees to write statements “for” or “against” any of these amendments should submit a letter of interest to the City Clerk’s Office by 3:00 p.m. on July 26, 2024. Letters can be sent via email to [email protected] or by mail to 747 Market Street, Room 220, Tacoma, WA 98402.
Each submission must include the individual’s full name and address, specify which amendment(s) they are interested in, and explain their reasons for wanting to serve on the “For” or “Against” committee(s) for the selected amendments.
The Government Performance and Finance Committee will review the letters of interest in a special meeting on July 29, 2024, at 10:00 a.m. This meeting will be conducted in a hybrid format, allowing for both in-person attendance at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market St., Room 248) and remote participation via Zoom (zoom.us/j/84416690206, passcode 614650) or phone ((253) 215-8782, meeting ID 844 1669 0206, passcode 614650).
The City Council is expected to consider a resolution appointing individuals to these committees on July 30, 2024, at 5 PM. Additionally, the Council will deliberate on a resolution to consolidate and clarify ten other proposed Charter amendments, which will be referred to a standing committee or alternate process for further study and evaluation. This meeting will also be conducted in a hybrid format, with options for in-person attendance at the Tacoma Municipal Building (747 Market St., Chambers) and remote participation via Zoom (zoom.us/j/84834233126, passcode 349099) or phone ((253) 215-8782, meeting ID 848 3423 3126, passcode 349099).
Statements prepared by the “For” and “Against” committees will appear in the Voters’ Pamphlet. These statements must be submitted to the Pierce County Auditor by August 8, 2024, with rebuttal statements due by August 12, 2024.
For the latest updates on the Charter Review process, visit cityoftacoma.org/charterreview. Community members with questions can contact the City Clerk’s Office at [email protected] or (253) 591-5505.