About the City Council Committees

The Tacoma City Council created the standing committees to explore new policy recommendations and develop recommendations to the full City Council. On September 30, 2003, the Tacoma City Council adopted Resolution No. 35969 which established the Neighborhoods Committee and Economic Development Committee.

On January 20, 2004, the Tacoma City Council adopted Resolution No. 36084 which established additional Council Standing Committees including the Environment and Public Works Committee, Government Performance Committee, and Public Safety and Human Services Committee.  This resolution also renamed the Neighborhoods Committee as the Neighborhoods and Housing Committee.

On June 24, 2008, the Council adopted Resolution No. 37509 renaming the Public Safety and Human Services Committee as the Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee. On May 14, 2013, the Council adopted Resolution No. 38672 renaming the Environment and Public Works Committee to the Infrastructure, Planning and Sustainability Committee.

On January 26, 2016, the City Council adopted Resolution No. 39362, which removed the Neighborhoods and Housing Committee as an established standing committee, and renamed the Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee to the Community Vitality and Safety Committee.

Each Council Committee is composed of four Council Members and an alternate appointed by the Mayor and confirmed by the Council, and each chair and vice-chair are selected by their respective committee.

Presenting to Standing Committees

For information about providing public comment at standing committee meetings (orally or in writing), please visit the Appear Before the City Council page. 

For information about the standing committees and which policies they usually oversee, read the Council Standing Committee Process Manual.

Process for Presenting to Standing Committees 

Memo Template 

PowerPoint Template