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City outlines business‑district refresh; councilmember proposes three‑block pilot for "high‑investment corridors"
Summary
Community & Economic Development Division Manager Carol Wolf briefed the committee on a neighborhood business district program refresh to make outreach more inclusive and to provide administrative support; a councilmember (Scott) proposed a resolution to pilot quick‑impact projects in three Hilltop blocks to improve safety and economic activation.
Carol Wolf, division manager in the City of Tacoma’s Community & Economic Development Department, presented a refresh of the neighborhood business district program and outlined steps to expand outreach, technical assistance and administrative support for business district associations.
Wolf said the review found the existing neighborhood business district criteria in the Tacoma Municipal Code had become exclusionary and slow to meet increasing demand for services. The department reactivated a partnership with Tacoma Neighborhoods Together, stood up an internal business engagement solutions team, and is building a cross‑functional service delivery model that can deliver rapid 30/60/90‑day responses for quick‑impact needs identified in districts.
Wolf described outreach plans that will be organized geographically, listed places the team will visit in early rollout (Lincoln, Hosmer, 12th Street Corridor, PACAF, the Dome in Hilltop) and said the city will convene business district presidents in early 2026. She told the committee to expect a business district ordinance update in 2027 and related budget presentations that reflect new engagement work.
During questions and discussion, a councilmember identified as Scott outlined an early proposal — likely to come forward as a resolution — to prioritize ‘‘high‑investment corridors’’ of two to four blocks for focused, quick‑impact projects aimed at improving perceptions of safety and supporting economic activity. Scott said staff had mapped more than 20 issues in a test Hilltop corridor (graffiti, lighting, landscape cleanup, trash cans, vacant storefront activation, dog‑waste stations) that could be addressed using existing resources and partner organizations. He proposed testing three blocks in Hilltop as the first pilot and said the Best Team and the business safety and resiliency program could coordinate the work.
Committee members and staff discussed Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) and the need for clear distinctions between business districts, chambers and independent associations. Wolf and staff emphasized that groups do not have to be nonprofits to partner with the city, but that public funding and grant eligibility require formal organization and compliance. Staff said convenings and outreach will include technical assistance to help associations meet governance and tax‑status requirements.
Members requested continued coordination with council aides and for the department to publish the outreach calendar; Wolf said the calendar will be posted to the internal Tacoma hub and staff will coordinate scheduling with council offices. The committee did not vote on any action; staff will return with further outreach outcomes and proposed ordinance language in the coming months.
