Washington: Tacoma City Council

Here's what's on tap for the Tacoma City Council this week.

A Tuesday's study session, Council members will get an update form State Sen. Mike Carrell on the 2009 legislative session and homelessness.

On the agenda for Tuesday's regular Council meeting:

*A resolution setting a hearing for June 16 on proposed amendments to the Comprehensive Plan and Land Use Regulatory Code.

*A resolution accepting $321,221 in grant money to enhance preparedness for mass casualty events.

*Some purchasing resolutions including $1.9 million to rehab the East 34th Street Bridge; $118,000 for computer software licensing; $85,000 for car batteries; and $1 million to renew (and increase) the city contract (good through July 2012) for the rental and laundering of uniforms and linens. The garments are mainly for Public Works solid waste and wastewater management employees, and Public Utilities workers, which are provided under labor agreements.

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I just got word that this afternoon's Tacoma City Council subcommittee meeting that was to take up both the park exclusion extensions and the park smoking ban has been canceled. Those items will likely be moved to the May 28th meeting.

Last week, a Tacoma City Council committee heard a report urging them to ban smoking in city parks.

This week, a different Tacoma council committee heard a report from city staffers about how to go about banning smoking in apartments and other multi-family housing units.

Officials from the city's Human Rights and Human Services Department studied the issue and briefed members of the city council's Neighborhoods and Housing Committee about what they learned.

Second-hand smoke is responsibles for the early deaths of 65,000 Americans each year, and second-hand smoke is the third-leading preventable cause of death in the U.S., surpassed only by smoking and alcohol consumption, the report states.

Beckie Summers-Kirby has announced she will run this fall for the District 5 seat on the Tacoma City Council currently held by Councilwoman Connie Ladenburg.

Ladenburg is barred by term limits from running again.

Summers-Kirby, 52, has served on several public board and commissions, including the Tacoma Public Library Board of Trustees, the Tacoma Human Rights Commission, the Tacoma Civil Service Board, and the Pierce County Charter Review Commission. She also served as vice chair of the Pierce County Democratic Central Committee and is currently chairwoman of the 29th District Democrats.

Summers-Kirby ran for District 4 seat on the Tacoma City Council in 2001, and lost to Rick Talbert, who is leaving the council at the end of the year after serving two terms.