Dear Council Members:

 ACTION REQUESTED

1. The updated Public Policy Calendar is attached for your information. My intent in providing this is to give you a longer-range “heads up” on policy issues you may be considering.  I welcome your questions or feedback.
 
2. Please mark your calendar for a reception on Tuesday, January 5th, at 4:00 p.m., to welcome our new and re-elected Council Members in the conference room adjacent to the Council Chambers, Room 148.

3. Don’t forget, the Council will be holding some Special Meetings to finish the appointment process to the At-Large Position No. 7 and At-Large Position No. 8 vacancies:

• Wednesday, January 6th, Noon-3:00 p.m., Room 16 - Special Meeting (Executive Session to discuss qualifications followed by an open meeting to select candidates to interview)
• Tuesday, January 12th Noon-3:00 p.m., Council Chambers – Study Session (Council will interview candidates)
• Thursday, January 14th, 8:00-10:00 a.m., Council Chambers and    Room 148 – Special Meeting (Executive Session to discuss qualifications followed by an open meeting to select appointees)
• Tuesday, January 19th, 5:00 p.m., Council Chambers – Council Meeting (select appointees, if appointments aren’t made at the January 14th Special Meeting)

4. The Human Rights and Human Services Department would like to honor you and your guest with reserved front section seating at the 22nd Annual Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Birthday Celebration on Monday, January 18th, 10:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., at the Tacoma Dome Exhibition Hall.  This year’s theme is “Unity in the Community.”  Please contact staff at 591-5151 by January 8th to reserve your seats. 

5. Pierce County, City of Tacoma and the Port of Tacoma cordially invite you to attend a Legislators’ Dinner on Thursday, January 14th, 6:00-8:00 p.m., at Ramblin’ Jacks located at 520 4th Avenue East, Olympia.  Please RSVP by January 6th to Brynn Brady at 253-798-7719.

 TOPICS OF INTEREST

6. The City Council/Neighborhood Council Events Calendar for January 2010  is attached for your information. 

7. It is time to say good-bye to our Special Assistant Eric Johnson who will be returning to his regular job as the Assistant Division Manager for Public Works Science and Engineering.  Please join me in thanking Eric for a job well done.  Chris Getchell, Assistant Division Manager for Public Works Wastewater Operations, will be joining the team on the 12th floor on January 4th, and will be with us through March. 
 
 STUDY SESSION/WORK SESSION

8. The City Council Study Session of Tuesday, January 5, 2010, will be held in  Room 16 in the Tacoma Municipal Building North.  Discussion items will be: (1) Status of the H1N1 Flu Outbreak Update; (2) Other Items of Interest;     (3) Agenda Review; and (4) Closed Session – Labor Negotiations and Executive Session – Pending Litigation and Performance Review.

Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department Deputy Director Laurie Jinkins will provide Council an update on the H1N1 Flu outbreak, to include statistics on the number of hospitalizations and deaths in Pierce County since May 2009.

At the conclusion of the Study Session, there will be a Closed Session to discuss labor negotiations and an Executive Session to discuss pending litigation and my performance evaluation.

9. The updated Tentative Council Study Session, Workshop, and Town Hall Meeting Calendar is attached for your information.

 COUNCIL REQUESTS/INQUIRIES

10. At the December 15th Committee of the Whole meeting, Council Member Ladenburg requested a status report on the potential of a new light rail stop in the vicinity of 11th Street in Downtown Tacoma.  The Public Works Department reports that Staff is designing a stop for the light rail system that will be located in the block between 11th and 12th.  The stop will be closer to 11th in order to fit with the existing streetscape and traffic patterns.  This stop will be particularly useful for people working downtown for companies like DaVita.  This new rail stop is designed to be smaller and less expensive than some of the current stops.  The additional rail stop is expected to cost about $135,000 and be completed by May 2010.  For further information please contact Kurtis Kingsolver at 591-5269. 

11. The Public Works Department provides the attached document in response to concerns expressed by representatives from Jobs with Justice at the December 1st Citizens’ Forum regarding Point Ruston.  The Point Ruston development is a complex project involving coordination between the Town of Ruston, City of Tacoma and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).  The development and remediation of the Superfund site will be completed concurrently at the site.  The site will remain an active Superfund site until remediation is complete and EPA has certified the site.  The City continues to work with EPA during remediation and redevelopment and to address concerns relative to the site.  We are committed to an open public process consistent with applicable regulations and will continue to follow through on City responsibilities related to this project. 

12. At the December 15th Council meeting, Council Member Lonergan inquired on    the financial impact on the Tacoma Rail Mountain Division, due to the new revenue that will be generated with Resolution No. 37952, related to the three  year lease with Global Locomotive, and what the overall status was of the Mountain Division.  The Finance Department reports that including operating and non-operating revenues and expenses, the Mountain Division has been losing on the order of $55,000 per month.  The total loss, before Grant contributions for 2009, will be approximately $660,000.  The new revenue from the Global agreement would mitigate 11-14% of the current monthly losses.  In short, the agreement is a step in the right direction of reducing operating losses, but not nearly enough.  FEMA/State funding for specific capital investments is reimbursed at 87.5%, leaving a 12.5% Mountain Division share.  Reimbursements are requested the month following actual expenditures, with reimbursements being made approximately 30 days later.  The amount of reimbursements currently outstanding is approximately $430,200.  The cash balance in Mountain Rail is a negative $920,000, as of 12/30/09, and an inter-fund loan will be requested from Council in January.

The agreement with Global Locomotive will contribute revenue between $73,200 and $91,200 in the first year.  The range is due to potential lease credits Global can qualify for based on certain infrastructure investments.  Over the course of the three year base contract, the revenue range is between $237,825 and $287,325, again due to the optional credits.  There are three one year optional extensions as well.  The revenue contribution for the second three years would be $332,047.  The total revenue range for the entire six year time frame is between $569,872 and $619,372.

 MARK YOUR CALENDARS

13. You have been invited to the following events:

• Annual Gathering of Tacoma’s Civic Leaders hosted by University of Puget Sound President, Ron Thomas on Wednesday, January 6th, 5:00 p.m., at the University of Puget Sound President’s Residence located at
3500 North 18th Street.
• American Civil Liberties Union of Washington Foundation’s Public Forum to discuss marijuana law reform on Tuesday, January 12th, 6:30 p.m., at the Capitol Theater located at 206 5th Avenue Southeast, Olympia. 

Sincerely,

ERIC A. ANDERSON 
City Manager