City of Tacoma - Tacoma City Council Standing Committees

City Council Standing 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 passed Resolution No. 35969 which established the Neighborhoods Committee and Economic Development Committee.

On January 20, 2004, the Tacoma City Council passed 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 passed Resolution No. 37509 renaming the Public Safety and Human Services Committee as the Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee.

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

Scroll down the page for an overview of each Committee, or click on the Committee name below to view the Committee's web page, including agendas, handouts, and minutes.

Committee of the Whole
Economic Development Committee
Environment & Public Works Committee
Government Performance & Finance Committee
Neighborhoods & Housing Committee
Public Safety, Human Services & Education Committee

Click here to access on-demand audio archives from recent meetings of the City Council standing committees

Committee of the Whole

The purpose of the City Council Committee of the Whole is to serve as the foundation of the Council standing committees and to provide a forum for detailed analysis and exploration of systemic, Citywide issues. The membership consists of the Mayor and all Council members.

The Committee of the Whole determines which standing committees will review specific issues pending before the Council, including the City Manager's proposed assignment of issues to the standing committees; receive progress reports from the standing committees on their activities; and hear final reports of the standing committees on specific issues and the standing committees' recommendations. The Committee of the Whole will not hear staff reports except as requested by Council Members as part of a standing committee report.

Members: Mayor and all Council Members
Meeting Time/Frequency: 3:00 pm on the first and third Tuesdays of the month
Location: Tacoma Municipal Building, 9th Floor Visibility Center
Web site for agendas, handouts, and minutes: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/COW

Economic Development Committee

Reviews, evaluates and proposes economic development concepts, initiatives and policies relating, but not limited to, business climate, neighborhood business districts, international trade and development, regional economic issues and opportunities, technology, tourism, workforce development, historic preservation and capital projects planning and development.

Members: Jake Fey, Spiro Manthou, Marilyn Strickland, Lauren Walker
(Alternate: Marty Campbell)
Chair: Spiro Manthou
Vice Chair: Jake Fey
Term: One Year
Meeting Time/Frequency: 3:00 pm to 4:00 pm on the second, fourth and fifth Tuesdays of the month.
Location: Tacoma Municipal Building, 9th Floor Visibility Center
Web site for agendas, handouts, and minutes: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/ED
Staff Contact Information:
Executive Liaison - Tansy Hayward, (253) 591-5133,
Scheduling and Coordination - Matt Peelen, (253) 591-5590
Clerical Support - April Larsen, (253) 591-5178

Environment and Public Works Committee

Reviews, deliberates and makes recommendations on legislative and policy matters relating to environmental issues, wastewater management, surface water management, solid waste management, arterial streets, and infrastructure funding.

Members: David Boe, Jake Fey, Ryan Mello, Lauren Walker (Alternate: Victoria Woodards)
Chair: Jake Fey
Vice Chair: Lauren Walker
Term: One Year
Meeting Time/Frequency: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm on the second and fourth Wednesdays of the month.
Location: Tacoma Municipal Building, Room 248
Web site for agendas, handouts, and minutes: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/EPW
Staff Contact Information:
Executive Liaison - Rey Arellano, (253) 573-2500
Scheduling and Coordination - Eric Meyer, (253) 594-7925
Clerical Support - April Larsen, (253) 591-5178

Government Performance and Finance Committee

Deliberates and makes recommendations on legislative and policy matters to continuously improve the quality, accountability, cost-effectiveness and efficiency of all governmental services.

Members: Marty Campbell, Joe Lonergan, Marilyn Strickland, Jake Fey
Chair: Marilyn Strickland
Vice Chair: Jake Fey
Term: One Year
Meeting Time/Frequency: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm on the on the first, third and fifth Wednesdays of the month.
Location: Tacoma Municipal Building, Room 248
Web site for agendas, handouts, and minutes: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/GPF
Staff Contact Information:
Executive Liaison - Rey Arellano, (253) 573-2500
Scheduling and Coordination - Shane Pettit, (253) 594-7944
Clerical Support - April Larsen, (253) 591-5178

Neighborhoods and Housing Committee

Proposes, deliberates and makes recommendations on legislative and policy matters relating to neighborhoods and housing, including neighborhood plans and their implementation, affordable housing, residential zoning, open space issues and initiatives related to neighborhoods.

Members: Jake Fey, Joe Lonergan, Spiro Manthou, Lauren Walker
(Alternate: Marilyn Strickland)
Chair:
Vice Chair:
Term: One Year
Meeting Time/Frequency: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm on the first and third Mondays of the month.
Location: Tacoma Municipal Building, Room 248
Web site for agendas, handouts, and minutes: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/NH
Staff Contact Information:
Executive Liaison - Tansy Hayward, (253) 591-5133,
Scheduling and Coordination - Shane Pettit, (253) 594-7944
Clerical Support - Wendy Fowler, (253) 591-5167

Public Safety, Human Services, and Education Committee

Explores new concepts to address an expanded scope of public safety issues including, but not limited to, police, fire, emergency medical, emergency management, law enforcement record services, domestic violence, human services delivery and strategic planning, chronic street population, crime free housing, and civil rights compliance.

Members: Marty Campbell, Joe Lonergan, Marilyn Strickland, Victoria Woodards
Chair: Marilyn Strickland
Vice Chair: Victoria Woodards
Term: One Year
Meeting Time/Frequency: 4:30 pm to 6:00 pm on the second and fourth Thursdays of the month.
Location: Tacoma Municipal Building, Room 248
Web site for agendas, handouts, and minutes: http://www.cityoftacoma.org/PSHSE
Staff Contact Information:
Executive Liaison - Tansy Hayward, (253) 591-5133,
Scheduling and Coordination - Eric Meyer, (253) 594-7925
Clerical Support - Jennifer Joyce, (253) 591-5505

If you're interested in attending meetings of the Council Committees or any of our other boards or committees, click on City Hall's current Schedule of Meetings to view their times and locations.

Citizen involvement continues to define Tacoma as a beautiful, thriving city, and we are always looking for people willing to serve on our many committees, boards and commissions. Please take a look at the City Council's Committees, Boards & Commissions to learn about these groups and how to apply for membership.

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