MATT DRISCOLL: THE WEEK AHEAD >>>

This coming Tuesday, Aug 12, U.S. Rep Adam Smith, the democrat from Washington’s 9th District, is set to give the Tacoma City Council what’s called a “congressional update.”

I don’t claim to be an expert on exactly why or how often these updates happen, but I do have a pretty good indication of what Rep. Smith is likely to talk about. I just got off the phone with a very helpful member of Smith’s staff, and here’s what the Tacoma City Council and all the 17 people tuning in on TV can expect:

Congressional updates are fairly informal, I understand, so Smith could decide to talk about any number of things. However, it seems like a safe bet to say Smith will touch on the economy, specifically energy and housing issues, and probably give Baarsma and Co a run down of the Comprehensive Foreclosure Act that was passed recently in DC.

There’s a decent chance Smith will want to discuss Tacoma’s recruitment and retention efforts â€" which basically means trying to keep Russell in town. The city’s plan to do just that includes some federal pieces, so Smith will likely provide an update on where those pieces stand.

Finally, while Tacoma is many things, one thing Tacoma is for sure is a Federal Renewal Community â€" meaning under HUD’s Community Renewal Initiative for Renewal Communities and urban Empowerment Zones, the federal government cuts Tacoma breaks to help us renew ourselves. It’s a pretty sweet designation, but one that’s up for reauthorization soon. Smith is expected to touch on the subject.