MATT DRISCOLL: NOTES FROM THE TOP >>>
Though Eric Anderson’s right-hand-man, Rob McNair-Huff, “forgot†to invite me to the City Manager’s somewhat weekly press briefing last Friday, I’m not one to hold a grudge. It’s just not my style. Besides, when I called him on it, McNair-Huff promised he was just super busy last week, and apologized on multiple occasions for leaving the Weekly Volcano out of the action. Naturally, I accepted Rob’s apology, and I do believe it was simply an oversight on his part â€" though the fact that only the Trib, the Tacoma Weekly and the Volcano ever attend these somewhat weekly press briefings might leave some to question the statement. There are only three press chairs in the room, after all. If one of them is empty, well … I think you get the point.
But, like I said, I’m not one to hold a grudge. Rob seems like a super cool guy, and it’s a fact he can run distances that would kill this hack journalist. Last week’s press briefing stiffing is water under the bridge, as they say â€" or, at the very least, some other overused cliché for “in the past.†When McNair-Huff called me this morning to see if I’d be interested in attending today’s press briefing â€" naturally I accepted the invitation.
Eric Anderson was ten minutes late, giving McNair-Huff and the Trib’s Nikki Sullivan time to talk about their iPhones a little â€" which was nice for them. Apparently those suckers are slippery (iPhones, I mean). The City Manager’s tardiness also gave me time to peruse next week’s City Council Agenda, which was helpful since I was under prepared.
Imagine that.
Here’s what went down
Anderson didn’t seem to have heard much about the news (which I first read on FeedTacoma and the Business Examiner’s blog) that Russell Investments has narrowed their field of possible future homes to two â€" Tacoma and Seattle. When asked if there’d been any changes to the city’s plan of attack for keeping Russell here, Anderson was fairly quiet on the subject, but would say “We’re going to continue to do everything we can, and not make any assumptions.â€
Resolution No 37591
On Tuesday the City Council is set to vote on Resolution No 37591 â€" which authorizes “the execution of an interlocal agreement with Central Pierce Fire and Rescue, in the amount of $338,755, for the joint-staffing and operation of the Tacoma Fire Department’s Communications Center for dispatch services to each respective community through December 31, 2009.â€
While that’s a lot of verbiage, the general idea is a fairly simple one: the Tacoma Fire Department and Central Pierce Fire and Rescue â€" which encompasses many towns and cities in our area- are going to start working together to dispatch emergency service (at least as long as this resolution passes). Anderson classifies 37591 as “a move toward consolidation.â€
“This (resolution) will consolidate dispatch,†says Anderson. “That centralization will mean a more effective dispatch.â€
In addition to improved services, the consolidation of hot dispatch action should be cheaper for all parties involved, says Anderson. He considers the deal a win, win.
In other fire related, Tacoma news
The City Council will also vote on Tuesday on a resolution which will authorize “the execution of a grant agreement with the United States Department of Homeland Security, in the amount of $133,416; accepting and depositing said sum into the Fire Miscellaneous Special Revenue Fund, for new protective turnout coats and pants for structural firefighting.â€
While it seems weird to have the Department of Homeland Security involved with the purchase of new equipment for the Tacoma Fire Department, Anderson classified the situation as a fairly typical one. Apparently the Tacoma Fire Department routinely uses both federal and local funds to get the equipment they need, and the Dept of Homeland Securities involvement in the process stems from the federal government wanting to make sure that “first responders are prepared,†according to Anderson.
Anderson says the Tacoma Fire Department uses local funds for equipment the Feds won’t pay for, and federal funds to minimize the use of local tax dollars.
New Budget
Finally, Anderson looked a little whipped this week, which is probably due to the fact he’s been spending ass-loads of time working on Tacoma’s new budget â€" one of his duties as City Manager. He says he feels three responsibilities when crafting a budget.
- It’s got to be balanced.
- It’s got to be based on a good set of assumptions, and deliver the services Tacomans expect.
- And it’s got to deliver those services in a way that increases the quality of life for said Tacomans.
Anderson says he expects the next biennium’s budget to be in the $2 or $2.5 billion dollar range by the time he brings it to the council, which makes for plenty of work ahead.
“We don’t go through it dollar by dollar, but some days it feels like it,†said Anderson, before correcting himself.
“Actually, we do go through it dollar by dollar.â€
For those playing at home, you can still expect the city to dip into reserves to help balance next biennium’s budget â€" a move that will help Tacoma “bridge the recession,†according to Anderson.
Also for those playing at home, City of Tacoma economists expect said recession to be over by the end of the next biennium.
I think that’s a good note to end on, don’t you?
Enjoy your weekend.
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