City examines Putting an end to panhandling issue homeless encampments Have you ever been approached by The City of Tacoma, in cooperation with numerous other public and private partners, a panhandler? Did the encounter has launched a new initiative to rid the city of homeless encampments before the onset make you feel uncomfortable or of winter. intimidated? Do you alter your routines to avoid panhandlers? Over the years, the City has engaged in similar efforts, only to find that as one encampment was emptied and cleaned up, new ones would appear in other places Tacoma residents are encouraged around town. “We were essentially chasing people from one area to another,” says City to attend a public hearing on Manager Eric Anderson. Tuesday, Sept. 19 at 5:30 p.m. to answer these questions and others so This new initiative marks the first time the City has taken a proactive, coordinated City Council members can get input approach to the encampment issue. Members of various State, County and City on two proposed ordinances designed departments, as well as non-profit organizations that provide supportive housing to the to limit coercive panhandling and homeless, are working together to find a permanent solution to a problem that Anderson panhandling in traffic. estimates costs the community “millions of dollars” and has a tremendous human cost as well. “Encampments are a life of squalor and violate minimal safe conditions for The fact-finding hearing will also living,” he says. “Allowing encampments to continue is not humanitarian.” help the Council better understand the extent of panhandling in Under the new plan, members of the City’s Public Works, Police and Human Rights/ Tacoma, including the number of Human Services (HR/HS) departments are identifying encampments and notifying their regular panhandlers and their status residents that they need to vacate the area so clean up can begin. HR/HS staff and local – their ages, their family status, their service providers such as the Coalition employment history, and whether for the Homeless and the Affordable they suffer from mental illness or Housing Consortium are working with The partners who currently are, or who substance abuse. The Council will also encampment residents to find emergency could in the future, contribute to the try to gather information on when and supportive housing. campaign to end homeless encampments and where panhandling generally Once the encampments are emptied and include: occurs. Does it happen most often cleaned up, the City will be enforcing in parks and plazas? Near public Tacoma Police R Public Works R Public strict monitoring and enforcement transportation stops or ATMs? Has Utilities R Tacoma CARES R Human procedures designed to prevent the sites panhandling ever jeopardized the Rights/Human Services Department R from being re-inhabited. City staff will safety of vehicle occupants as well as Washington State Dept. of Transportation continue efforts to educate the homeless the panhandlers themselves? R Washington State Dept. of Corrections R population and its service providers of Pierce County Health Department R Local the illegal nature of encampments and of If you are unable to attend the hospitals R U.S. Veterans Administration the City’s commitment to enforcing “no meeting or have additional R Sound Transit R Metro Parks R Human comments or concerns regarding the trespassing” postings. Service providers (the Coalition for panhandling issue, please contact Kim the Homeless, Affordable Housing Gerhardt, assistant city attorney, at Consortium) 591-5917 or [email protected].

Grapevine / Summer 2006 Across the Fence A look at what Tacoma’s Neighborhood Councils are doing

Central New Tacoma South End Council members continue to work with The Council has established a crime and The Council is still reviewing possible the Police Department to address crime safety walkabout committee and has projects for its one-time $100,000 Public and safety issues in the neighborhood, called on the City, the Tacoma Police Works allotment. Members want to particularly in the area of Martin Luther Department, property owners, business be sure than any projects selected will King Jr. Way between 19th and 21st district representatives and residents to have maximum impact for South End streets. The City’s efforts to eradicate work together to address crime, aggressive neighborhoods and their residents…More homeless encampments will also address panhandling and other nuisance activity than $50,000 worth of playground several problem spots in the Central in several hot spots in the Council area, equipment is on site at the new Gas area…Members of the Sixth Avenue including Fireman’s Park, Opera Alley Station Park and will be installed in Neighborhood Group have asked the and Pierce Transit Square…City Manager August, moving the project one step CNC for input on ways to address safety Eric Anderson spoke at the Council’s July closer to completion…Several South End issues in their area, including how to meeting about efforts underway to rid neighborhoods conducted spring clean- acquire dawn-to-dusk lighting to deter the city of homeless encampments (see ups and beautification drives. criminal activity. related story, page 1.) South Tacoma ENACT Northeast The Council invited Ryan Petty, director ENACT, in cooperation with ECAT, The Council continues to monitor the of economic development for the City TEAM, Safe Streets, the Tacoma Police Tacoma School District’s budget problems of Tacoma to its July meeting to discuss Department, Tacoma Public Schools, the and possible school closures and is also opportunities for new businesses in South City of Tacoma, Pierce County, The News working with the Police Department to Tacoma, and residents shared with him Tribune, and Car Pros Kia, will hold a take a proactive approach to crime issues their desire for new grocery stores and Community Improvement and Crime in the area…Residents continue to be drugstores in the neighborhood…The Prevention Fair from 11 a.m. to 5:00 concerned about traffic issues on Slayden Council also received an update from the p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 26 at Sheridan Road but with limited resources currently City’s Community Based Services division Elementary School (5317 E. McKinley available, improvements are not expected on efforts to step up code enforcement Ave.) The free event is open to the public to begin any time soon. Council members and policing in one of the program’s pilot and will help Eastside residents learn will express their concerns about this areas, the Edison neighborhood in South more about the resources, strategies project as well as other Northeast road Tacoma. and tools they can use to reduce crime, and traffic problems to Public Works as blight and grime in their neighborhoods. staff review the City’s six-year street plan. West End Non-profits, government agencies, and The Council has submitted $154,000 grass roots groups will be on hand to North End worth of neighborhood improvements to share their insights on ways to strengthen The Council has changed the time be funded by its one-time Public Works neighborhoods and there will also be and location of its monthly meetings. allocation and its remaining balance of entertainment, children’s activities, Members will now meet at 6 p.m. on Building Tacoma Together funds…New an anti-crime and grime march, and a the first Monday of each month in the crosswalks and signals will be installed free cook-out catered by Tacoma Public community room of the new Tacoma at all of the neighborhood’s elementary Schools Food Service. Police Sector 2 substation at 5136 N. schools before school starts in September 26th St…Councilman Jake Fey spoke and there are plans to install four new to the Council in June about the City’s variable LED speed signs throughout the six-year street plans that are coming up West End to slow down speeding traffic… for review and encouraged North End The Council will pay for six ornamental residents to voice their opinions about lights to be placed in the new Tacoma street improvements they would like to Narrows Business District. see made in their neighborhoods.

Grapevine / Summer 2006 Make a note of it! Neighborhood Council meetings and City liaisons

Central: Meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 6 p.m. Snake Lake Nature Center S. 29th and Tyler Street City Liaison: Bill Pugh, Public Works Director

ENACT: Meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. Pool at Stewart Heights Park 402 E. 56th St. at Railroad Crossing City Liaison: Don Ramsdale, Police Chief www.eastsidetacoma.com

New Tacoma: Meetings are held on the second Wednesday of each month at 5:45 p.m. Tacoma Municipal Building 7417 Market St. 7th Floor Conference Room City Liaison: Ryan Petty, Tacoma Economic Development Director www.NewTacoma.org

Northeast: Meetings are held on the third Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m. The Centre at Norpoint 4818 Nassau Ave. NE City Liaison: Steve Marcotte, Finance Director http://netacoma.tripod.com

North End: Meetings are held on the first Monday of each month at 6 p.m. Tacoma Police Sector 2 Substation 5136 N. 26th St. City Liaison: Mike Combs, Tacoma Dome Director www.nenc.org

South End: Board meetings are held on the third Monday of each month at 7 p.m. General meetings are scheduled quarterly Fire Station Eight 4911 S. Alaska St. City Liaison: Ron Stephens, Fire Chief

South Tacoma: Board meetings are held on the first Thursday of each month at 6:30 p.m., 7634 S. Fife. General meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 6:30 p.m. South Park Community Center 4851 S. Tacoma Way City Liaison: John Briehl, Human Rights and Human Services Director

West End: Meetings are held on the third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. Fire Station 16 7217 Sixth Ave. City Liaison: Lilly Aquilar, Interim Human Resources Director

Grapevine / Summer 2006 City Scoop: News from City offices

City’s new Animal Care For more information about the City’s design and is organized around the way Animal Care and Control services, or that citizens want to access information, and Control starts to report a problem animal in your rather than based on the City’s neighborhood outreach neighborhood, call (253) 627-PETS (7387) department structure.” You may get a visit this summer from or check the City’s website at www. See it for yourself at members of the City’s new Animal cityoftacoma.org/pets. Care and Control services who will be www.cityoftacoma.org. canvassing neighborhoods in Tacoma and City’s website gets an EMS levy proposition to Fircrest to explain the benefits of licensing “extreme makeover” appear on September your pets as well as how the City assumed Regular visitors to the City’s website many of the duties once covered by the (www.cityoftacoma.org) will notice that ballot Tacoma-Pierce County Humane Society. the pages have a radical new look. This The City Council approved a resolution in June that authorizes the City to submit The City of Tacoma started offering marks the first makeover for the City’s website in nearly six years. a proposition to voters in September’s Animal Care and Control services on Jan. primary election that would restore the 1, 2006 through the Finance Department’s City’s Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Tax and License Division and the Tacoma property tax levy to $0.50 per $1,000 Police Department. The services include assessed value for collection in 2007. licensing as well as enforcement of the The proposition would further authorize City’s Municipal Code relating to animals. annual increases in the levy each year The Humane Society announced in early thereafter for emergency medical care and 2005 that it would no longer provide services. animal control and licensing services to the City but the City continues to According to James Duggan, assistant contract with them for kenneling stray chief for the Tacoma Fire Department, animals. the previous level, which was approved in 2002, was also $0.50 per $1,000 of During their visits and through door assessed value but the effects of I-747 have hangers they leave behind, the canvassers reduced the effective rate from $0.50 for (who wear City of Tacoma polo shirts taxes collected in 2003 to just over $0.40 and identification badges) will remind per $1,000 for taxes collected in 2006. residents of the benefits of licensing their With user-friendly icons for popular links to services (such as Public Works and The purpose of the EMS levy lid lift is pets. “Without proper identification, to restore the effective rate back to the an animal control officer is helpless Public Safety), business (for information on the city’s neighborhood business previously approved $0.50 per $1,000 in returning a pet – a license can help assessed value for 2007. For 2008 and prevent an animal from going to the districts) and employment (including job postings and on-line applications) the beyond, the effects of I-747 would again shelter,” says Jodi Trueblood of the City’s apply. Duggan says that without an EMS Finance Department. new design will make it even easier for residents and visitors to get information levy lid lift, the City will start showing about the City and its services. negative balances in the EMS fund beginning next year. “The intent of the redesign is to make the site more functional and user-friendly For more information on the levy for the public,” said Ed Valentine, the proposal, please contact Asst. Chief City’s webmaster. “The site is now more Duggan at 253-591-5065 or at jduggan@ compliant with the Americans with cityoftacoma.org Disabilities Act (ADA), has a consistent

Grapevine / Summer 2006 2006 City of Destiny Awards

The City of Tacoma honored creative energy into the project by drawing other communities can follow her and dedicated volunteers at the 20th pictures and writing inspirational unique model. A junior at Bellarmine annual City of Destiny Awards in May. phrases on pink rubber boots in Preparatory School, Elizabeth is also Since 1987, the City has honored permanent marker. She estimates the a member of the National Honor 168 outstanding volunteers for their Pink Boot Project will sell about 75 Society, the golf team, the Key Club contributions of time and energy -- not pairs of boots by this summer and and the school newspaper staff. money – that have helped improve the raise $7,500 for breast cancer research • Blueberry Park Volunteers quality of life for all Tacoma residents. and support. (Neighborhood or Community This year’s winners were selected from • John Wohn (Adult Sustained Service). Group). For more than six years, among 50 nominees by a 15-member As a lifelong sports enthusiast, John Blueberry Park volunteers have Citizens Recognition Committee and Wohn has volunteered tirelessly at the contributed a combined 4,708 will receive a colorful glass sculpture Shanaman Sports Museum since hours to tame and transform the crafted by students in the Hilltop 1994 to help keep Tacoma’s former commercial blueberry farm Artists in Residence Program. sports traditions alive. He in Tacoma’s South End into an asset • Doug McArthur has cataloged artifacts, for the entire community. More than (Adult Leadership). maintained databases 375 volunteers work year-round to Doug McArthur’s and given tours prune, weed and nurture the five contributions to 60,000 of the different blueberry species on the to sports- museum’s 114,000 park’s 10 acres. Charlotte Valbert, casting, sports visitors. These are just the volunteer coordinator for the administration, some of his volunteer active neighborhood group, has promotion and duties that add up also secured grants from the City of volunteerism to 25 hours a week Tacoma, Metro Parks Tacoma and began at age 18, when serving various organizations many area businesses to pay for the he assembled and coached a such as the Tacoma Badminton improvements. Volunteers are now youth baseball team. Over the next Club and the Tacoma-Pierce County creating a walking trail through the 20 years he coached a total of 17 Volleyball Officials Association. John park that will connect with walking football and baseball teams, including also serves on the board of directors trails on adjacent vacant Tacoma the Stanley’s Shoemen team that for the University of Puget Sound School District land. won the 1956 National Amateur Logger’s Club and the Tacoma Athletic • HomeStreet Bank (Corporation, Baseball Championship. McArthur’s Association. Business or Entrepreneur). HomeStreet leadership on the “Dome of Our Own” • Elizabeth Clair (Youth Sustained Bank’s tagline, “Great neighbor. Great committee convinced the citizens Service). As the founder of Under banker” is never more evident than of Tacoma to pass the measure that the Roof Reading Begins, Elizabeth in its participation in Metro Parks provided the bonds to build the has made it her mission to outfit annual Parks Appreciation Day. One Tacoma Dome so young people could Habitat for Humanity homes with day a year, volunteers from all over have a safe, dry place to play sports. libraries of books for children and the city weed, spread beauty bark, • Isabella Lafreniere (Youth youth. She started the organization pick up garbage and assemble big Leadership). A senior at the Tacoma when she was only 13 with the toys at their neighborhood parks. School of the Arts, Isabella created the goal of filling the 100-plus Pierce Over the past five years, Home Street Pink Boot Project which helps support County Habitat homes with donated Bank has contributed $30,000 to Tacoma’s Breast Cancer Resource libraries. To date, she has recruited these efforts and has helped attract Center, a non-profit agency which 38 volunteers, conducted 17 book approximately 7,500 volunteers, served 4,811 local women last year. drives, written grants yielding more including 2,500 in 2005. Peter Isabella has recruited 20 classmates to than $10,000, spoken about literacy Carlstrom, assistant vice president and work at boot-decorating parties where at public events, worked closely Tacoma branch manager, has led the they funnel their artistic talent and with book suppliers and established the Web site, readingbegins.org, so continued on back page

Grapevine / Summer 2006 PRSRT STD City of Tacoma U.S. POSTAGE PAID Neighborhood Council Office TACOMA, WA 747 Market Street, Room 1036 PERMIT NO. 671 Editor’s Box Tacoma, Washington 98402-3793 The Grapevine is published by the City of Tacoma’s Economic Development Department as part of the Neighborhood Council Program. For more RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED information on the resources and programs available through the Neighborhood Council Program, contact Elton Gatewood at 591-5229. Editor-in-Chief: Elton Gatewood Editor and Writer: Kate McDermott Production: Graphic Services Division

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2006 City of Destiny Awards continued from page 5

bank’s involvement and since 2002, one day. When the Local’s president make Tall Ships Tacoma a reality. The he’s secured financial support from the and apprenticeship coordinator, Commission’s visionaries imagined bank to help get the word out about Lee Newgent, toured the Center, the event 15 years ago, when the Parks Appreciation Day, which has he saw that the staff could use far now-restored Foss Waterway occupied become a spring board for year-round more than just one day of help. a place on the list of most polluted resident involvement in volunteer Seventy student volunteers from the spots in the nation. Members helped activities. Ironwork Apprenticeship program recruit and manage as many as 3,000 at Bates Technical College donated volunteers who did everything from • Ironworkers Local 86 (Employee approximately 700 hours of their time paint buildings and or Union Group). For five years, to make general construction repairs clean up litter to members of the Ironworkers Union throughout the center to improve its manage crowds Local 86 have participated in United safety for the children and staff. and provide Way’s Day of Caring but in September information 2005, they began a relationship • Tacoma Events Commission (20th Anniversary Award). The Tacoma during with the Metropolitan Development the event. Council’s Early Childhood Center Events Commission provided the that would last for far more than just vision and the huge volunteer force to

Grapevine / Summer 2006