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Peter Callaghan is a local columnist. He’s covered the statehouse and state politics since 1981. Before joining The News Tribune in 1985, the Stadium High grad worked for newspapers in Everett and Lewiston, Idaho, and for The Associated Press in Olympia and Seattle. Email Peter

Joe Turner has covered state government and transportation issues since 1990. Since the Bellarmine grad’s arrival in the newsroom in 1978, he’s covered police, suburban cities, Tacoma City Hall, Federal Way City Hall and the Pierce and King county governments. Email Joe

David Wickert covers Pierce County government. Before coming to The News Tribune in 1998, he covered local government for newspapers in Illinois, Virginia and Tennessee. Email David

Ian Demsky is a general assignment reporter who specializes in database-driven reporting. He's been at the News Tribune since 2007 and has previously worked in Nashville, Tenn. and Portland, Ore. When he's not at work, he enjoys hiking and science fiction. Email Ian
Les Blumenthal has been covering Washington, D.C. for The News Tribune since 1990, focusing on issues and politicians involving the state. Before joining The News Tribune, he spent 13 years working for The Associated Press in Seattle, Illinois and Washington, D.C. Email Les

John Henrikson is a local news editor who oversees political coverage. He's worked as a journalist in the Northwest for 19 years, supervising coverage and reporting on local and state government, the environment and growth. Email John

Local politics links
Brad Shannon's The Politics Blog (The Olympian)
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Other Resources
Washington Legislature Bill Lookup
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Let's talk politics.
Monday, June 1st, 2009
Posted by Ian Demsky @ 10:20:52 am

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.

[More:]

*A resolution authorizing $358,000 be spent to build a "pedestrian hill climb" connecting Pacific Ave. to Commerce Street on the north end of the South Park Plaza Garage.

*Another resolution related to the federal funds for to prevent homelessness due to the economic downturn.

*A new collective bargaining agreements giving nine city workers in the Local 297 of the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers, Track Workers Unit, a 2.5 percent pay increase this year and a 2.5 percent pay increase each of the next three years as well as increases for work books, rain gear and work-related clothing. As well as another similar collective bargaining agreements with the union's Yard Clerk Unit.

*Final reading of a right-of-way restoration policy -- which I'd been hoping to write about but haven't gotten to yet.

*Final reading to appropriate $220,000 for public art at the Pacific Plaza building.

*Final reading on a few pay and classification changes and upping standby rates for non-union employees from $2 an hour to $3.

*An ordinance issuing $1.85 million in bonds for environmental enhancements at the South Park Plaza Garage rehabilitation project.

*An, of course, citizens' forum.

It may be kind of a long night, Tuesday.

Categories: Tacoma