City government could change drastically under new charter. Here’s how to get involved
Want to have a say in the next 10 years of local Tacoma government? Then get on over to City Hall.
Residents on Thursday evening can weigh in during a Charter Review Committee meeting as members seek input from the community. The 5:30 p.m. meeting on April 18 opens up for public comment at 6 p.m.
This year the city’s constitution, called its charter, is up for review — something that happens every decade, said committee chair Stephen Wamback.
“It’s the foundational document that is the highest level of law in the city, only subject to what’s in the state constitution and state and federal law,” he said. “The charter itself has a requirement that it’d be reviewed at least once every 10 years, and so this review in 2024 is the once-a-decade review, as required by the document itself.”
The 15-person review committee can look at everything in the charter and decide what needs to be updated, he added.
Topics on the committee’s radar in 2024 include police accountability, ranked-choice voting and changes to term limits and the city’s form of government. Members will present their recommendations and final report to the City Council on May 7.
Mayor Victoria Woodards urges Tacomans to avoid assuming that their opinion will get voiced by someone else.
“I think it’s super important that people from all sides have all of these issues weigh in,” she said. “This is a charter for the entire city.”
Residents can attend the meeting in person at City Hall, 747 Market St. on the first floor, or virtually via TV Tacoma or facebook.com/cityoftacoma, according to a city news release. Speakers of Spanish, Vietnamese and Khmer will have access to language interpretation.
