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MATT DRISCOLL: NOTES FROM THE TOP >>>
When I started this feature known as “Fridays with Eric,†I explained that every Friday City Manager Eric Anderson holds a press briefing on the 11th floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building.
That statement was (as they say in the business) completely inaccurate.
To be truthful, Eric Anderson seems to hold a Friday press briefing an the 11th floor of the Tacoma Municipal Building whenever he and Tacoma Public Relations super-boy at his side Rob McNair-Huff please â€" which at least over the last few months has meant one or two Fridays a month. In fact, this installment of “Fridays with Eric†is the first since June 13.
It’s good to be back.
In the future, know that whenever Mr. Anderson decides to have a press briefing we’ll be there to let you know what happened. Also know that this won’t be an every Friday feature. (Something tells me you’ve probably already figured that one out.)
Without further ado, here’s a look at how the 20-some minute Friday press briefing with City Manager Eric Anderson went down.
Mr. Anderson admitted he’s always happy to see Jason Hagey (TNT), John Larson (Tacoma Weekly) and me (Maker’s Mark) because it means it’s Friday and he’s about to be off for the weekend. The feeling was mutual, at least on my end.
Next Tuesday, July 15, the City Council is schedule to vote on a resolution “that would authorize the City Manager to negotiate and prepare a proposed interlocal agreement with the Town of Ruston for building and land use permitting services related to the Point Ruston Development and for ongoing building and land use services.†Or in layman’s terms, Tacoma will most likely soon be helping Ruston make sure stuff is built right (specifically Point Ruston) and built to code (specifically Point Ruston).This will happen for two reasons. A) Ruston asked for the help, according to Anderson. B) The City of Tacoma has a large interest in the very large Point Ruston Development currently being erected in the arsenic heavy soil where the Asarco smelter once billowed. The development, as Anderson pointed out, is partially on Tacoma land. And, of course, Point Ruston is “less than half as good if it’s only half built.†Considering how screwed up Ruston is right now, I’d say that little town can use all the help Tacoma can afford to give.
Jason Hagey of the Trib asked some questions about Tall Ships. Since Hagey has the steely look of a scribe who wouldn’t think twice about lashing this hack with a bike chain if I jumped on his story in the blogosphere, I’ll just let you look to the Trib for those quotes. I will note Anderson reported there were only 2 fist fights at Freedom Fair, and anytime you get that many people together there’ll be a few fistfights. Damn right, Eric!
Resolution No. 37538, scheduled to be voted on at next Tuesday’s City Council meeting, will grant a total of 12 “townhouse style rental units†â€" all located in the Tacoma Mall Mixed- Use Center â€" an eight-year Multi-Family Housing Limited Property Tax Exemption. As you may recall, earlier this year the council voted to stop handing out the tax exemptions for townhouses in the Tacoma Mall Mixed Use Center, but as Anderson pointed out the 12 scheduled to be approved next Tuesday all applied for the exemption before that decision was made. Anderson says there are still probably “one or two more†applications to go, since any applications turned in before the decision was made by the council is still eligible for exemption.
And finally, Mr. Anderson is up for a pay raise of 3.72 percent effective July 16. Unlike most jobs, when Anderson gets a raise it has to be voted on by the City Council. The first reading of an ordinance giving Anderson the aforementioned 3.72 percent pay raise will happen at next Tuesday’s council meeting. Anderson says he’s happy about the raise, and noted it’s the same pay increase other city employees got at the beginning of the year.
That’s all for now. Enjoy your weekend.
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