Tacoma City Council Study Session - March 31, 2026

The Tacoma City Council held a study session on March 31, 2026, focusing primarily on state legislative mandates affecting city planning and development, the city manager's draft work plan, media and communications updates, the 2026 annual action plan for housing and community development, and Sound Transit projects impacting Tacoma. Significant procurement-related discussions included the allocation of federal HUD funds for housing and community development programs, with detailed breakdowns of grant allocations for housing rehabilitation, microenterprise technical assistance, shelter programs, and new construction activities. The council also discussed upcoming planning work programs to comply with state mandates, including zoning changes for transit-oriented development and parking code updates. Additionally, a resolution was proposed to review and potentially reduce the use of boulders in site reclamation projects, emphasizing cost-effective alternatives like trees and landscaping. The Sound Transit Board retreat and its implications for local transit projects, including the Tacoma Dome Link Extension and Tacoma Community College TLine extension, were reviewed, highlighting funding challenges and the importance of completing promised transit infrastructure. The city manager's work plan was presented with goals around fiscal sustainability, service delivery, and organizational performance, though council members expressed varying views on its specificity and alignment with council priorities. No formal votes were recorded during the session, but several action items and follow-ups were identified for future budget considerations and policy development.