Single-family and duplex homeowners and renters in the Dome Top and First Creek neighborhoods and surrounding areas are preparing to dispose of unsightly debris from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 18 at the Tacoma Dome (2727 East D St.) with the assistance of staff from the City of Tacoma and community volunteers. Read more... (May 16)
The Tacoma City Council is looking for 11 members for the newly established Transportation Commission. The Transportation Commission will advise Council on transportation-related matters, such as short-term and long-range transportation planning, compliance with local, regional and federal transportation regulations, bike, pedestrian and mass transit-related planning initiatives, and parking and capital improvement plans. Read more... (May 15)
The Tacoma City Council is looking for nine members for a newly established City Events and Recognitions Committee (CERC). The CERC serves as an advisory and action committee on matters pertaining to City-hosted events and special recognition programs. The committee is responsible for planning, reviewing and evaluating events, engaging the community in its fundraising efforts, and soliciting corporate and private sponsorships to leverage funds for City-hosted events such as the Martin Luther King Jr. Celebration and the City of Destiny Awards. Read more... (May 15)
After being closed for nearly five years, Old Town Dock (2123 Schuster Parkway) will officially reopen to the public during a ribbon cutting celebration co-hosted by the City of Tacoma and Metro Parks on Wednesday, May 15, 2013 at 8:30 a.m. Read more... (May 13)
With unseasonably warm May temperatures, there’s no excuse not to “Get Out and Ride” and celebrate Bike Month 2013 by participating in the Bike Month Commuter Challenge as well as a host of bike events, workshops and riding groups. Read more... (May 9)
Single-family and duplex homeowners and renters in the Pac-Yak, Park Avenue, Alling Park, Hillsdale, East Wapato, Mann, Stewart and Spring Hill neighborhoods are preparing to dispose of unsightly debris from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on May 4 at St. Anne's (7025 S. Park Ave.) and Mann Elementary (1002 S. 52nd St.) with the assistance of staff from the City of Tacoma and community volunteers. Read more... (May 3)
Residents who want to participate in the implementation of Tacoma’s Climate Action Plan, as the City and community reduce greenhouse gas emissions, are encouraged to apply for membership on the Sustainable Tacoma Commission. Read more... (May 1)
To accommodate the Tacoma City Marathon on Sunday, May 5, there will be restricted access to most City streets for the duration of the event from 7:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Detour routes will be posted. Read more... (April 30)
The American Public Works Association has selected the Tacoma Solid Waste Management Recovery & Transfer Center as a 2013 Public Works Project of the Year. The facility was recognized as the top public works project in the country in the Environment category for projects from $25 million to $75 million. Read more... (April 30)
In support of the City of Tacoma’s ongoing efforts to combat blight and vandalism, the Tacoma Murals Project would like to hear from community groups interested in collaborating with local artists who will design and implement murals that reflect positive neighborhood themes or messages. The deadline for submissions is May 28, 2013. Read more... (April 29)
Mayor Marilyn Strickland and the City Council will recognize Tacoma’s top volunteers this year during the 27th annual City of Destiny Awards at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, May 7, 2013. This event, which is free and open to anyone who is interested in learning more about the volunteer experience, will be held at the Stadium High School Auditorium (111 N. E St. in Tacoma). Read more... (April 25)
Single-family and duplex homeowners and renters in the Edison neighborhood and surrounding areas – from 48th to 66th streets between Tyler Street and Tacoma Mall Boulevard – are preparing to dispose of unsightly debris from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 27 at Edison Elementary School (5830 S. Pine St.) with the assistance of staff from the City of Tacoma and community volunteers. Read more... (April 25)
Improving community engagement and communication between the City and Tacoma's residents continues to be a priority, as the City conducts its five-year review of the Neighborhood Council Program. The review will assess how well it is doing with the program and make recommendations to the City Council for consideration. As part of this process, the City is asking Tacoma residents to take part in a brief survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ncprogram. Read more... (April 23)
In recognition of Earth Day, the City of Tacoma highlights its progress toward sustainable operations through reduction in paper, electricity and petroleum fuel in its Earth Day report found at cityoftacoma.org/sustainability. Read more ... (April 22)
Cyclists of all levels can enjoy the 5th annual Bike Swap from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 27 at University of Puget Sound Memorial Fieldhouse, North 11th Street and Union Avenue. Read more ... (April 22)
More than 150 Tacoma students entered this year’s EnviroChallenger/EnviroKids Earth Day art contest. Elementary students illustrated ways they practice earth-friendly activities at home, outside, at the park or while playing/watching sports and other positive environmental behavior that they’ve learned from the City’s EnviroChallenger educators. View the winning works of art at www.envirochallenger.com. Read more... (April 22)
The southbound lane on Ruston Way from Point Ruston to North McCarver Street will be closed from 7:30 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 20 to accommodate the Ruston Way 5K race. Read more ... (April 19)
In an effort to create safer areas for Tacoma’s children, the City is partnering with Sheridan Elementary School on a Safe Routes to School project, which enhances students’ walking and bike routes to school. With the help of a $379,960 Federal Highway Administration Safe Routes to School grant, the City will install curb extensions at crosswalks, new sidewalks and curbs with ADA-compliant ramps and secure bike racks at the school. Read more... (April 17)
It’s neighborhood cleanup season. Single-family and duplex homeowners and renters in the Central Tacoma neighborhood – from Sixth Avenue to South 15th Street and from Union to Sprague avenues – are preparing to dispose of unsightly debris from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on April 20 at Franklin Elementary School (1402 S. Lawrence St.) with the assistance of staff from the City of Tacoma and Friends of South 12th Street volunteers. Read more... (April 17)
The Tacoma City Council will consider a resolution in support of Tacoma's preferred Sound Transit expansion route during the April 30 City Council meeting.
On April 16, Council will hear Sound Transit's evaluation of a hybrid corridor option discussed in March 2013, which would combine portions of the proposed North End Central, Eastside, and North Downtown Central corridors. They will also receive information from Sound Transit on a different hybrid option that was discussed in stakeholder roundtable meetings. Read more... (April 12)
The Tacoma Arts Commission has announced the selection of Lucas Smiraldo as Tacoma's 2013-2015 poet laureate. Over the next two years, Smiraldo will participate in and host public poetry readings, workshops and other community events. He will also participate in Art at Work: Tacoma Arts Month each November, and will help produce the 2015 Tacoma Poet Laureate Ceremony to announce the next poet laureate. Read more... (April 11)
Make a Splash environmental grants of up to $4,000 are available from City of Tacoma Environmental Services to any school, business, organization or individual considering a project to help protect surface water resources within the Tacoma city limits by preventing stormwater pollution. Read more... (April 11)
The City of Tacoma's fourth quarterly Monday Mixer at the Hotel Murano (1320 Broadway) on April 29, from 5 - 6:30 p.m., is geared to developers, investors, property owners, brokers, contractors, architects and engineers interested in investment and development opportunities in downtown Tacoma. Read more... (April 10)
The Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation has recognized the City of Tacoma for its outstanding rehabilitation of the Murray Morgan Bridge. The City is one of just 10 honorees receiving a State Historic Preservation Officer’s Award for Outstanding Achievement in Historic Preservation this year. The awards program is in its 23rd year and recognizes persons, organizations and projects that have achieved distinction in the field of historic preservation. Read more... (April 9)
In celebration of the 80th annual Daffodil Parade, the following roads will be closed Saturday, April 13 from 5 a.m. to noon. Read more... (April 8)
The Tacoma Employees’ Retirement System Board of Administration is looking for a new volunteer member who is a Tacoma resident, not employed by the City of Tacoma, and able to attend regularly scheduled meetings. The term of appointment for this position is three years, beginning Thursday, August 1, 2013 through Sunday, July 31, 2016. Read more... (April 1)
In partnership with the University of Washington Tacoma, the City of Tacoma is developing a long range subarea plan and area-wide State Environmental Policy Act environmental impact statement addressing future south downtown development in Tacoma. Covering a geographic area of approximately 600 acres, the South Downtown Subarea includes the University of Washington Tacoma campus, Museum District, Foss Waterway, Brewery District, Hillside District and Dome District. Read more... (March 26)
Friday, March 29, 7 p.m. through Sunday, March 31, 12 p.m., the Murray Morgan Bridge will be closed to vehicle traffic to complete the installation of steel channels that are blocked by the counterweights when the bridge is in the down position. Read more... (March 25)
The Tacoma Arts Commission recently awarded $255,000 to nine Tacoma-based arts organizations through its Arts Anchor Fund program, and $40,000 to 16 Tacoma artists through its Tacoma Artists Initiative Program. The Arts Anchor Fund program awards range in value from $20,000 to $35,000 each, and the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program awards are $2,500 each. Funding for both programs is for the 2013-14 biennium. Read more... (March 25)
The City of Tacoma’s 2013 neighborhood cleanup schedule is now available at cityoftacoma.org/cleanup. Single-family and duplex homeowners and renters in participating neighborhoods, who are interested in removing unsightly debris and beautifying their properties, are encouraged to take part in this joint effort. Read more... (March 21)
It’s lights out for some Tacoma landmarks during ‘Earth Hour’ on March 23
The Tacoma Dome, Greater Tacoma Convention & Trade Center, Murray Morgan Bridge and Cheney Stadium will turn off their non-essential lights for Earth Hour from 8:30 to 9:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 23. Read more... (March 18)
First group of Tacoma residents begin every-other-week collection today
Today, the City of Tacoma’s Solid Waste Management rolled out the first trucks for every- other-week garbage collection. As the City makes the shift to this new service customers will automatically receive double their current garbage capacity with either a new double-sized container or a second same-sized container. Read more... (March 11)
The City of Tacoma's Neighborhood and Community Services Department has released its 2013-2014 Mental Health Chemical Dependency Application to support human services projects. Priorities include community based care, programs targeted to help youth, and services to avoid the use of costly interventions for the mentally ill or chemically dependent such as jail, emergency rooms and hospitals. The amount of funding available for projects is estimated to be $1.7 million. Contracts will last 18 months, from July 1, 2013 through December 31, 2014. Read more... (March 7)
The Planning Commission will conduct a public hearing on March 20, at 5 p.m., in the Tacoma Municipal Building Council Chambers (747 Market St.) regarding proposed changes to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulatory Code. Read more... (March 6)
Prairie Line Trail public design process continues with open house on March 14
The City of Tacoma is developing a conceptual design plan for a portion of the Prairie Line Trail, a project to convert a former rail corridor into a pedestrian/bicycle trail and linear park through the heart of downtown Tacoma. As part of the public design process, the community is invited to an open house to learn about the project on March 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Tacoma Art Museum, 1701 Pacific Ave. Read more... (March 5)
Phase I of Sprague enhancement project complete
Tacoma’s Sprague Avenue gateway has a new look with the completion of the first phase of the Sprague enhancement project. The Tacoma entry from Highway 16 has landscape improvements and better separation between South Sprague Avenue and the adjacent residential street known as residential Sprague. Read more... (March 5)
The average Tacoma residential customer will pay a combined total of $2.95 more each month for surface water and wastewater services when new rates go into effect March 1, 2013. Monthly bills for a 30-gallon solid waste container will not be affected. The Tacoma City Council approved the increases Feb. 12. Read more... (Feb. 28)
Group to suggest development strategies for Martin Luther King, Jr. corridor
Tacoma Mayor Marilyn Strickland, and key staff from both the City of Tacoma and Sound Transit, will be joined Monday, March 4 through Thursday, March 7 by representatives of the Urban Land Institute, planners and urban design specialists from across the country, and officials from the cities of Hartford, Conn., Louisville, Ky. and Austin, Texas. The visiting delegation will inspect and tour Tacoma’s Martin Luther King, Jr. corridor to formulate and suggest development strategies. Read more... (Feb. 27)
The Murray Morgan Bridge will be closed to traffic and pedestrians Thursday, Feb. 21, 9 p.m. through Monday, Feb. 25, 6 a.m. During the bridge commissioning and balancing period, the contractor discovered an issue that will require closing the bridge completely for a weekend. Read more... (Feb. 20)
Residents and business owners looking for ways to be more sustainable are invited to attend the sixth annual South Sound Sustainability Expo March 2 at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center, 1500 Broadway. Read more... (Feb. 20)
City Manager T.C. Broadnax has appointed Andrew Cherullo to be the City of Tacoma’s finance director. With a demonstrated ability in developing and managing operating and capital budgets, overseeing and coordinating accounting and auditing activities, and implementing strategic plans to achieve organizational goals and policy objectives, Cherullo brings more than 15 years of experience leading the financial management and operations of dynamic, multi-billion dollar organizations. On Feb. 28, 2013, Cherullo will step into the role previously occupied by Steve Call, who joined the City on Aug. 13, 2012 as interim finance director while a search was underway to fill the permanent position. Read more... (Feb. 15)
Administrative offices in the Tacoma Municipal Building complex (747 Market St. and 733 Market St.) and in other City of Tacoma facilities will close Monday, Feb. 18, in observance of President’s Day. The City's landfill, recycling center and household hazardous waste facility (3510 S. Mullen St.) will open as normally scheduled on Monday, Feb. 18, from 8 a.m. - 6 p.m., and garbage, recycling and yard/food waste pick-ups will not be affected. Read more... (Feb. 15)
City receives grants for street safety improvements
The City of Tacoma Public Works Department has been awarded three Quick Response Safety Program Grants from the Washington State Department of Transportation. The grants, totaling more than $1.9 million, were awarded based on the cost-effectiveness of proposed safety improvements and based on the City’s ability to deliver the projects quickly. Read more... (Feb. 13)
Community selects 11 Wonders of Tacoma
Murray Morgan Bridge Week Feb. 11-15
It’s officially Murray Morgan Bridge Week in Tacoma. The community will celebrate the newly renovated Murray Morgan Bridge’s 100th anniversary this Friday, Feb. 15. Read more... (Feb. 13)
Friday, Feb. 15, marks the 100th anniversary of the Murray Morgan Bridge, which originally opened in 1913. To celebrate the centennial and the recent reopening of the bridge, the City of Tacoma has partnered with local businesses and organizations to host a week long observance. Read more... (Feb. 11)
In an effort that combines outreach with education, the City of Tacoma is connecting with property owners across 15 neighborhood business districts to help them identify and preemptively address any possible code violation issues on their respective sites, while also letting them know about the many City resources currently available to them. Read more... (Feb. 7)
Thursday, Feb. 7, the City’s Community and Economic Development Department in partnership with the Downtown Merchants Group will host a free workshop entitled Bringing in the Green. This workshop is designed to help businesses learn how to thrive during the Pacific Avenue Streetscape project. The session will begin at 8 a.m. in the Pantages Theater Lobby, 901 Broadway. Read more... (Feb. 5)
Every-other-week garbage collection begins March 11 for about 5,700 single-family households in a portion of North Tacoma. Customers will automatically receive double their current garbage capacity with either a new double-sized container or a second same-sized container. Read more ... (Feb. 4)
The Blue Mouse Theater (2611 N. Proctor St.) will showcase films from Kitakyushu, Japan; Kiryat-Motzkin, Israel; Cienfuegos, Cuba; Fuzhou, China; Gunsan, South Korea; Alesund, Norway; Taichung, Taiwan; Biot, France and El Jadida, Morocco during the 11th annual Sister Cities International Film Festival which runs from Feb. 7 - April 4. Read more... (Feb. 1)
The City of Tacoma's third quarterly Monday Mixer at the Hotel Murano (1320 Broadway) on Feb. 4, from 5 - 6:30 p.m., is geared to businesses interested in addressing workforce development issues and learning more about Tacoma’s economic landscape. Read more... (Jan. 31)
With the reopening of the Murray Morgan Bridge for traffic, Fire Chief Jim Duggan is announcing service deployment changes, effective the first week of February. Read more... (Jan. 30)
On Feb. 1 at noon, the Murray Morgan Bridge opens to vehicle and pedestrian traffic. Final work on the bridge will continue through February. Read more... (Jan. 30)
The Tacoma Arts Commission is accepting applications for the fifth annual Tacoma Poet Laureate program until March 8, 2013. Read more... (Jan. 29)
Deputy Mayor Marty Campbell and Council Member David Boe have recently been appointed to serve as chairman and vice-chairman of the city’s Economic Development Committee, respectively. Combined, they have 40 years of experience as business owners. Read more... (Jan. 28)
The Tacoma Arts Commission recently awarded $50,000 in 2013 Arts Projects funding to 20 Tacoma organizations in support of public outreach projects in the fields of music, dance, theater, literary and visual arts. The awards ranged in value from $1,000 to $5,000. Read more... (Jan. 23)
National financial rating services Standard and Poor’s (S&P) and Moody’s Investors Service announced today new general obligation bond (LTGO) ratings for the City of Tacoma. S&P reaffirmed the City’s “AA” rating with a stable outlook, while Moody’s revised its current “Aa3” negative outlook rating to an “A1” with a stable outlook. Read more... (Jan. 22)
Administrative offices in the Tacoma Municipal Building complex (747 Market St. and 733 Market St.) and in other City of Tacoma facilities will close Monday, Jan. 21, in observance of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.'s birthday. Read more... (Jan. 18)
The nomination deadline for the City of Tacoma’s 27th annual City of Destiny Awards – which spotlights exceptional volunteers who have worked to drive Tacoma forward – has been extended by the Citizens Recognition Committee. Nominations are now being accepted through Jan. 25, 2013. Read more... (Jan. 18)
In a move designed to create more local jobs, strengthen the City’s tax base and revitalize the area around the Thea Foss Waterway, the Tacoma City Council has approved the sale of City-owned property at 1199 Dock St. to Pacific Seafood for $700,000. Read more... (Jan. 16)
Robert Thoms was selected today out of seven applicants and appointed by the Tacoma City Council to the vacant District 2 position. Thoms will serve District 2 – which generally represents northeast Tacoma, the industrial area around the Port of Tacoma and downtown Tacoma – until Dec. 31, 2013. Read more... (Jan. 15)
At the noon study session on Jan. 15 – which will be televised live by TV Tacoma from Council Chambers – the public will have an opportunity to watch Tacoma City Council Members conduct interviews of seven applicants vying for the vacant City Council District 2 position: Monica Alexander, Philip Cowan, David D' Aniello, Carolyn Edmonds, Jon Higley, Patricia Lecy-Davis and Robert Thoms. Read more... (Jan. 8)
In a shift made with special event planning and permitting customers in mind, the City of Tacoma’s Community and Economic Development Department has assumed responsibility for processing all special event permit applications. This was a function previously handled by the City Clerk’s Office. Read more... (Jan. 7)
Organizers anticipate that the silver anniversary of Tacoma’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. event at the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center (1500 Broadway) from 11 a.m. – 1 p.m. on Jan. 21, 2013 will draw more than 3,000 attendees around the Pacific Northwest region. The new, larger event venue provides easy walking and LINK light rail access to downtown area museums and restaurants. Doors open at 10 a.m., and there is no fee to attend this event, however, attendees are encouraged to bring donations of non-perishable food items for the MLK Food Drive benefitting the African Methodist Episcopal Food Pantry based in Tacoma’s Hilltop neighborhood. In addition to free on-street parking and free parking at Freighthouse Square, which is easily accessible via LINK light rail from the Convention Center stop located directly in front of the event venue, there will also be signage and personnel directing event attendees to designated complimentary parking stalls that will be made available on a first-come, first-served basis at the following locations: Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center (1500 Broadway), Pacific Plaza Garage (1125 Commerce St.) and Park Plaza North (923 Commerce St.). Read more... (Jan. 7)
Two additional members are needed for the seven-member Citizen Review Panel, a volunteer advisory panel to the City Council with oversight of Tacoma Police Department policy. Read more... (Jan. 3)
TV Tacoma, the City of Tacoma’s government access television station, is now utilizing web streaming technology and services provided by Granicus Corporation. This technology provides support for PC and Apple users, as well as support for mobile devices such as smartphones and tablets. And it provides closed captioning online on programs where closed captioning has been made available, for viewers who are hearing impaired. Read more... (Jan. 2)
The City of Tacoma is accepting applications for funding from the Tacoma Artists Initiative Program (TAIP) through 5 p.m. on Feb. 11, 2013, from eligible Tacoma artists who wish to create new artwork and present that work through a free public component. Read more... (Dec. 27)
The City of Tacoma's Planning Commission has one opening for citizens in Council District 2 (North End, Downtown and Northeast). The position was vacated recently with the resignation of the incumbent. The appointee will be expected to serve through the rest of the three-year term which ends June 30, 2015. Read more... (Dec. 20)
Administrative offices in the Tacoma Municipal Building complex (747 Market St. and 733 Market St.) and in other City of Tacoma facilities will close Tuesday, Dec. 25, in observance of Christmas Day, and Tuesday, Jan. 1, in observance of New Year’s Day. Read more... (Dec. 19)
Organizers anticipate that the silver anniversary of Tacoma’s Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. event on Jan. 21, 2013 will draw more than 3,000 attendees around the Pacific Northwest region. The event will move from the Tacoma Dome to the Greater Tacoma Convention and Trade Center (1500 Broadway), a larger venue that provides easy walking and Tacoma Link light rail access to downtown area museums and restaurants. Read more... (Dec. 17)
The City Clerk’s Office is now accepting applications to fill the Tacoma City Council's District 2 position. District 2 generally represents northeast Tacoma, the industrial area around the Port of Tacoma and downtown Tacoma. Qualified applicants must be eligible to vote, be a resident of Tacoma for two years immediately preceding the time of appointment, and a District 2 resident for one year immediately preceding the time of filing for City Council. Read more... (Dec. 6)