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TUESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2013
Vol. CXXIII, No. 237
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Published Since Since 1890 1890
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Sound Transit considers 1.2-mile Tacoma rail line purchase Article By Todd Matthews, Editor Image Courtesy City of Tacoma A stretch of railroad currently owned by the City of Tacoma and used for Sounder commuter rail service could soon be sold to Sound Transit. According to documents prepared by City of Tacoma staff, the 1.2-mile line was purchased from the Weyerhaeuser Company in 1995 and later used by Sound Transit to operate Sounder rail service between Tacoma's Freighthouse Square and Seattle's King Street Station as part of a temporary operating agreement. Last year, City of Tacoma and Sound Transit representatives were negotiating a new agreement when they began to discuss the property sale. For Sound Transit, owning the rail line, which stretches between East D Street and Puyallup Avenue in Tacoma, will allow the transportation agency to make future infrastructure investments, such as the planned replacement of a trestle located on the property, which is currently scheduled for completion in 2017. For the City of Tacoma, Sound Transit will pay $4
million for the property, transfer approximately 1.2 acres of property near the intersection of Pacific Avenue and South 26th Street to the City of Tacoma, and spend as much as $200,000 on landscape design and improvements to the transferred property. Sound Transit will also allow Tacoma Rail to continue its freight operations on the rail line. Tacoma Rail officials reviewed the plan and determined the rail line sale would not affect their railroad operations, according to City of Tacoma staff.
3 local organizations awarded $1.7M for salmon recovery projects Posted online Mon., Dec. 9 The Washington Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Puget Sound Partnership have announced the award of more than $42 million in grants to organizations around the state for projects that restore and protect salmon habitat. In Pierce County, three organizations were awarded just over $1.7 million for six projects. The Nisqually Land Trust was awarded a $55,000 grant to help fund a project to conserve the Mashel River shoreline, and a $368,460 grant to help fund a project to restore the Lower Ohop Valley. Pierce County was awarded a $679,325 grant to help purchase land along Alward Road for a levee removal project, and a $535,189 grant to help fund a project to restore Fennel Creek. Finally, the Pierce Conservation District was awarded a $95,000 grant to help fund a project to restore the banks of South Prairie Creek, and a $18,343 grant to help fund a project to control Japanese knotweed in the Nisqually River Basin and to replant at least 10 acres of previously infested stream bank.
Funding for the grants comes from the federal Pacific Coastal Salmon Recovery Fund and the sale of state bonds. In addition, $24.4 million comes from the Puget Sound Acquisition and Restoration Fund, which is jointly approved by the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and the Puget Sound Partnership in coordination with local watersheds, for projects that will help restore Puget Sound. "Salmon are an important part of both Washington's culture and economy," said Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. "Healthy salmon populations support thousands of jobs in fishing, hotels and restaurants, seafood processing, boat sales and repair, charter operations, environmental restoration and more. I am very pleased with the work of the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and its efforts to fund projects that help our economy and assure future generations of Washingtonians can enjoy the return of wild salmon." A complete list of statewide grant recipients and their projects is available online at rco. wa.gov.
A public hearing on the issue will be held on Tues., Dec. 10, at approximately 5:30 p.m. in Tacoma City Council Chambers, 747 Market Street, First Floor, in downtown Tacoma. Tacoma City Council is expected to vote on the issue at a later date.
Metro Parks Tacoma
Open house scheduled for proposed Eastside Community Center Posted online Mon., Dec. 9 Metro Parks Tacoma will hold an open house next month to discuss a plan under way to build a new state-of-the-art community center on Tacoma’s east side. In October, Metro Parks Tacoma officials announced a feasibility study had begun for the new community center, which is being considered in response to concerns of neighborhood residents who have advocated for healthy, safe activities for local youth. The study aims to address service gaps and community needs in the areas of health and recreation activities, social gathering spaces, and educational and cultural opportunities. It is planned for completion early next year. The study is a partnership between the City of Tacoma, Metro Parks Tacoma, Tacoma Housing Authority, and Tacoma Public Schools. Metro Parks Tacoma is also inviting residents to participate in a survey online here. The upcoming open house will be held on Weds., Jan. 8, at 6:30 p.m. at the Portland Avenue Community Center, located at 3513 Portland Ave., in Tacoma. Meeting topics include site and building design concepts, use program refinements, and project finances.