Get Involved 

A number of new teams recently formed with the goal of making Tacoma safer, cleaner and more attractive. There is also an existing team looking to recruit new members. Get involved today and help take the team of your choice to the next level. To get started, email or call the designated point(s) of contact for the team of your choice and request information on upcoming meetings.   


Teams to Choose From


SAFE

• Work with local organizations and groups to invest  in their local youth,  providing them more opportunities for enriching activities as well as exposure to positive role models. (Table 2)
  
  Contact:

             Georgia Lewis
             glewis@cityoftacoma.org
             (253) 591-5555                

• Reduce crime and nuisance activities in South Tacoma’s multifamily rental communities by raising their sense of involvement and pride. (Table 3)

             Contact: 

             Kelly Crouch
             kcrouch@cityoftacoma.org
             (253) 591-5048

             Julie Johnson
             jjohnson@rha-ps.com
             (800) 335-2990

• Reduce nuisance crimes in neighborhoods such as vandalism, graffiti and vehicle prowls through education, prevention and physical improvements. (Table 5)

            Contact:

            Jack Kelanic
            jkelanic@cityoftacoma.org
            (253) 382-2630

• After working in partnership with business owners and community members to increase awareness and security efforts aimed to reduce thefts from vehicles, this team is recruiting additional members to continue its work. (existing team from previous round)
  
  Contact:
  
  Mike Fitzgerald
  mfitzger@cityoftacoma.org
  (253) 591-5157
  
  

CLEAN

• Enhance cooperation between City departments that own street equipment to spruce up sidewalks throughout Tacoma. (Table 1)
  
  Contact:
  
  Devin J. Andrews
  DAndrews@cityoftacoma.org 
  
  
• Reduce litter in the Lincoln District, South End and, eventually, citywide by introducing more recycling and trash containers, educating the community about the need for waste reduction and appropriate disposal of trash, and encouraging, supporting and recognizing citizens who clean up litter.  (Table 6)

             Contact: 

             Elle Warmuth
             mwarmuth@cityoftacoma.org
             (253) 591-2005

• With the help of local organizations and groups, enlist and train volunteers to identify code violations and notify community members of the City code.  (Table 7)
  
  Contact:

             Gabriel Engeland
             gengeland@cityoftacoma.org
             (253) 591-5590

ATTRACTIVE

• Empower citizens in interested neighborhoods to create a sustainable plan for beautifying their surroundings. (Table 8)
  
  Contact:

             Sandra Wentworth
             swentwor@cityoftacoma.org
             (253) 382-2780

• Partner with community around upper Wapato Hills Park area to increase the healthy and safe use of upper Wapato Hills Park. (Table 10)
  
  Contact:

             Colin DeForrest
             CDeForrest@cityoftacoma.org
             (253) 591-2008

             Katie Hampton
             khampton2@cityoftacoma.org
             (253) 594-7925

• With the help of local organizations and groups, create one or more inviting entrances to Tacoma or specific neighborhoods within Tacoma. (Table 11)
  
  Contact:

             Keith Williams
             kwilliams2@cityoftacoma.org
             (253) 573-2492

The History of Safe and Clean

Great things happened when Tacoma citizens partnered with City staffers in April 2008 and talked about ways to reduce crime rates while doing away with debris, junk vehicles and other nuisances. Working within existing City budgets, by the end of June 2009 we helped bring about an 18 percent reduction in crime and eliminated over 500 tons of debris during community clean-ups.

We regrouped in June 2009, proud of what had been accomplished, but with a clear understanding that more work needed to be done. With knowledge gleaned from previous efforts, a number of specialized teams were developed that focused on reducing crime rates even further. From 2007 – 2010, there was a 21 percent reduction in violent crime and a 17 percent reduction in property crime.

Learn more and read about examples of past successes here.

 E-mail contact for this page: Maria Lee