PDS Commissions, Boards, & Advisory Groups
The Planning and Development Service Department supports six different commissions, boards, and advisory groups.
Advisory Groups
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Establishment
The Tacoma Permit Advisory Group (TPAG), formerly the Tacoma Permit Advisory Task Force, began in December of 2017. The Tacoma City Council adopted Resolution No. 40967 to formally establish the TPAG in May 2022.
Duties and Responsibilities
The TPAG will:
- Make Permit System Recommendations: Meet monthly with City staff to review, discuss, and provide recommendations to City Manager and City Council for the improvement of City policies, codes, and procedures for the issuance of residential and commercial permits. Review best practices in peer communities. Monitor implementation progress and recommend adjustments.
- Review City Policies Under Consideration: Review and provide recommendations to the City Manager and City Council regarding proposed City policies and laws that affect the development code and the permitting system.
- Establish Guiding Principles: Establish guiding principles to guide policy and best practice recommendations made by the Advisory Group.
Staff Contact: Christopher Johnson at cjohnso2@tacoma.gov or (253) 502-2164
Planning and Development Services Staff Liaison: Megan Norman at mnorman@tacoma.gov or (253) 325-3948
Meeting Information
2 PM Third Wednesday of the month.
Meetings are hybrid. Held in person (747 Market Street, Room 243) and accessible via Zoom.
By phone: (253) 215-8782 | Passcode: 193952
Zoom Webinar ID: 831 4233 8104
Public Comment
The TPAG welcomes verbal public comment on agenda items to assist in decision-making. As a result, all verbal comments must be limited to agenda items. Time will be set aside for public comment at the end of each regular meeting.
Membership
Members are representative of a broad base of permit applicants or other development stakeholders who routinely apply for permits or engage directly with City staff on development proposals. By January 1, 2025, it is the intention of the Council that at least half of the membership reside in the City of Tacoma.
Each member will be appointed for a two-year term, for a maximum of three terms (six years total).
The Advisory Group has 18 members who represent industries and the community:
- At-large members (7)
- Industry-specific members (11)
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- Retail
- Healthcare
- Hospitality
- Public Sector
- Residential Contractor/Developer
- Commercial Contractor/Developer
- Land Use Attorney
- Urban Design
- Architect
- Civil Engineer
- Affordable Housing
Current Volunteers
Become a Member of Tacoma’s Permit Advisory Group
Individuals interested in joining the group should complete and submit the Tacoma Permit Advisory Group Application.
All applications must be submitted via email at permitadvisorygroup@tacoma.gov. All applications will be reviewed by the TPAG chair, co-chairs, and City staff. They may conduct interviews of the most qualified candidates before making a candidate recommendation to the Tacoma City Manager.
2025 Agendas and Minutes
2024 Agendas and Minutes
2023 Agendas and Minutes
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Establishment
The Transit Oriented Development (TOD) Task Force was established by Resolution No. 41195, adopted on May 9, 2023.
The TOD Task Force is a joint task force of the Planning and Transportation Commissions to provide coordinated input on the overall design and integration of major, regional transportation projects in transit-oriented development areas and policy direction on transit-oriented development policies and plans, with a particular focus on the upcoming periodic update of the Comprehensive Plan, including the Transportation Master Plan.
How To Comment
The TOD Taskforce meets on the second Wednesday of each month at noon. While all TOD Taskforce meetings are open to the public, in order to accommodate TOD Taskforce business, public comment is only accepted in written form. To provide written comments, please email by 5:00 PM the day before the meeting to Planning@tacoma.gov. Comments received will be made public in the form of an attachment to the meeting agenda.
How To Attend
To attend the TOD Task Force meeting please use the following information:
- In Person: Conference Room 138, 1st Floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building, 747 Market Street
- Virtually: www.zoom.us/j/85831009869
- Dial In: +1 253 215 8782; Webinar ID: 858 3100 9869
Please see below for the associated materials of each meeting with its respective date.
Staff Contact: Wesley Rhodes, Senior Planner at wrhodes@tacoma.gov
Staff Contact: Carrie Wilhelme, Transportation Planner at cwilhelme@tacoma.gov