By Marianne Lincoln, February 23, 2021 Three separate challenges to the recently adopted planning amendments called Centers and Corridors have been submitted to the Washington State Growth Management Hearings Board. The challenges caused the Pierce County Council to delay the effective dates at today’s County Council meeting (2-23-2021). The implementation of the plans was delayed…
Category: Pierce County
Watch for your new 2021 tax assessment
PIERCE COUNTY — 2021 sees moderate increases in property taxes While real estate values continue to surge in Pierce County, statutory limits on property tax rates are holding tax increases to modest levels this year. “For the past three years, tax bills fluctuated due to the McCleary court decision on school funding,” Assessor-Treasurer Mike Lonergan…
Tetatzin named new Pierce County Planning and Public Works director
Jennifer Tetatzin, a retired United States Navy commander, has been named Pierce County’s Planning and Public Works Director, pending confirmation by the Pierce County Council. Tetatzin most recently served as a Senior Principal Advisor in the Washington, D.C. area for Concurrent Technologies Corporation, a non-profit, professional services company. As a senior consultant for the Department…
Inconvenient water
Editorial: Marianne Lincoln Is water an inconvenience? Apparently, if you are an official developing Pierce County, it is. First, I must say, this is nothing new. Developments in Pierce County have been moving water out of the way for a very long time. Here is a litany of examples: 1853 a dam was constructed at…
New County Council swearing in January 4
The new Pierce County Councilmembers will be sworn in on January 4, 2020 at 10 a.m. in the Council Chambers. The public can watch on Pierce County TV, over a Zoom link, or listen by calling in on a phone. Meeting will be live streamed and remote attendance is provided via zoom weblinkhttps://piercecountywa.zoom.us/j/97661787423or by calling…
Impact fee increases in 2021
In the unincorporated urban portions of Pierce County, we are well aware of the need for infrastructure. To help with the impacts of all the new construction, the county charges impact fees. The builders hate them, but the new property taxes on a home don’t kick in for over a year and their cars on…
Pierce County sewer rates to increase Jan. 1, 2021
PIERCE COUNTY — Customers in Pierce County’s sewer service area will see a 3.75 percent increase in their sewer rates starting Jan. 1, 2021. The Pierce County Council passed Ordinance No. 2019-77 which set the sewer rate as part of the 2020-21 biennial budget. There was also a rate increase in 2020. Single-family residential customers…
Pierce County wants environmental control – SEPA, septics, wells, and here come the sewers for development
By Marianne Lincoln Why in the world would Pierce County want to take over the control of the Health Department in the middle of a pandemic? First, ask yourself, what was the most major change to the county land use code signed this year? (A: Centers and Corridors) When did the County Executive sign it?…
What is the Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department?
With the Tacoma Pierce County Health Department’s existence in the balance this week, you may have a lot of questions about who they are, what they do, and how much it all costs. Unless you have needed their services, you may not be aware of all the things your local Health Department does in Pierce…
And the County Executive will be in control of the new Health Dept.
Here is the invitation to the meeting with a bit more information about where the Council is going with the demise of the Interlocal Agreement for the Tacoma Pierce County Board of Health. This item says there will be a new Board of Health and the Department will be under the County Executive. So the…
Vigilance, the toughest part of being a voter, the possible demise of TPCHD
By Marianne Lincoln When the balance of a partisan board or council flips from one party to another, things can get interesting. The Hatfields and McCoys were at it again on Tuesday at the Pierce County Council. I looked, but failed to find a way to publicly view the Tuesday Study session, my senses noting…
Pierce County Parks, new restrictions
Pierce County Parks has worked diligently to provide social, sport, and recreational activities at various sites throughout the county in the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to Governor Inslee’s recently released directive and out of an abundance of caution, Pierce County Parks is announcing facility closures and program cancellations as follows: Sprinker Recreation…
