City agrees to purchase property for temporary fire station
A resolution approved by the City Council on May 23 will have the City purchase property at 6415 S. McKinley Ave. for $163,000 to be used as a temporary fire station for Fire Engine No. 15. The temporary station will be strategically located to help cover significant increases in the Tacoma Fire Department's emergency workload volumes in East and South Tacoma. (Updated May 24, 8:23 a.m.)

Resolution sets 10-year agreement for jail services
Members of the City Council approved a resolution May 23 that approved a 10-year contract for jail services with Pierce County, effective through Dec. 31, 2015. The contract will allow the City the right to contract with another entity for jail services, to access any information collected or maintained regarding City prisoners, make the City assume all extraordinary medical expenses incurred by City prisoners, and discontinue the current year-end reconciliation of jail costs, which often resulted in additional expenses for the City. (Updated May 24, 8:23 a.m.)

Resolutions award limited property tax exemptions
City Council members approved four resolutions on May 16 to award multi-family limited property tax exemptions for the construction of 14 apartment units and 40 town homes split between four different developments. The first resolution is for construction of 14 apartment units at 4336 S. Warner St. in the Tacoma Mall Mixed-Use Center. The other three resolutions are for town homes in the Downtown Mixed-Use Center - nine town homes at South 23rd Street and South Yakima Avenue, 14 town homes in the 2300 block between South G Court and South G Street, and 17 town homes in the 2300 block of South G Street.  (Updated May 17, 4:43 p.m.)

Wash this way: Make your fundraising car washes more earth friendly
Washing cars to raise money in Tacoma? Raise environmental awareness as well by borrowing a City of Tacoma Clean Bay Car Wash kit or by hosting a car wash at a certified site. School groups, sports teams, youth groups and charities can help protect our local waterways with the easy-to-use kits. Read more... (Posted May 12, 10:02 a.m.)

Council extends housing moratorium
Members of the City Council voted to add 180 days to the current moratorium on group homes, group residential facilities, lodging houses, emergency and transitional housing, and housing for high-risk/high-needs residents during the May 9 meeting. (Updated May 10, 10:40 a.m.)

Highway 16 work to close two off-ramps
The Washington State Department of Transportation (DOT) will close a pair of off-ramps over the next two weeks as part of highway widening and reconfiguration between Union and Jackson streets. The 19th Street off-ramp from State Route 16 closed on April 27 and will remain closed until August, while crews complete ramp improvements. Drivers will need to use the North Orchard Street off-ramp throughout the closure. In addition, from 10 p.m. May 5 through 7 a.m. May 8 the 6th Avenue off-ramp will close while crews rebuild the off-ramp. DOT crews have also lowered the speed limit on SR 16 from the Nalley Valley Viaduct to Olympic Drive in Gig Harbor for the duration of the construction project. For more information, check the DOT Web site for Tacoma construction projects at www.tacomatraffic.com. (Updated April 28, 4:14 p.m.)