Health and Public Services

City of Tacoma Media and Communications Announcements

Visit this site to stay informed of what the city is doing to ensure continuity of services, learn of any changes or delays to services, and to read updates from the Mayor’s office.

Parking Services

Two programs being are offered by Parking Services – Temporary ADA Parking and Temporary Short Term Loading Zones – response to the ever-changing circumstances around COVID-19.

• Temporary ADA Parking: For users who have an ADA placard, we may be able to provide some relief by establishing a temporary ADA sign/parking space (for qualifying person of the general public to use) near your place of work. The signs will be deployed on a request basis and there is no cost to the requester. Individuals/companies that want to support the establishment of an available-to-the-public temporary ADA parking space (with regulatory sign) can either call (253) 591-5371 or fill out this online form.
• Temporary Short Term Loading Zones: To support the evolving needs of the community and particularly food service businesses through this unprecedented time, the city is making available temporary Loading Zone Signs to help facilitate pick-up activities. Businesses interested in having a temporary loading zone sign, call (253) 591-5371 or fill out this online form.

Planning and Development Services

As of Wednesday, March 18th, the permitting counter will be closed for an indefinite period of time.  Although this temporary counter closure means in-person may not be available, Planing and Development Services (“PDS”) will continue to accept applications, review and issue development permits, and schedule inspections, primarily through our online permitting system – https://tacomapermits.org

City Of Tacoma Launches Expansion Of Sidewalks Café Program To Help Businesses Reopen After COVID-19 Closures

The City of Tacoma launched the Curbside Cafes and Markets pilot program, an expansion of the Sidewalk Café Program, on Friday, June 12, 2020.

The program is responsive to Tacoma businesses needs to meet physical distancing requirements from the Washington Roadmap to Recovery Plan.  A permit for the Curbside Café and Market Pilot Program can accommodate temporary structures such as tables, chairs, planters and shade coverings. Retail businesses may also use areas of the right-of-way to expand their ability to serve customers.

The City also is waiving application fees, street use fees and the cost of on-street parking related to the pilot program. Tacoma Venues and Events and Public Works are partnering to provide railings, as availability allows, to those businesses that would like to use these instead of providing their own.

Other programs, such as sidewalk cafés, food trucks and temporary load zones for food pickup, will still be available.

For more information about the program, visit cityoftacoma.org/curbsidecafe. To submit an application or to review program requirements, visit TacomaPermits.org.

City of Tacoma expands use of temporary signage to support business visibility

New regulations have been released on the use of temporary signs during the COVID-19 emergency. This rule will terminate automatically on September 30, 2020, or when the City of Tacoma lifts its state of emergency related to COVID-19, whichever date is later.

Businesses in Tacoma, particularly small businesses, are struggling to maintain visibility in the current emergency. Businesses that remain open (usually for delivery services or curb-side pickup) may be surrounded by closed business, may be hard to locate, and require additional visibility. One way to address the issue is to allow for additional temporary signage at a business so that their storefront is easily seen by customers. Click here to learn more.

Tacoma Pierce County Health Department

• How to prepare for COVID-19 in your business
• COVID-19 guidance for Pierce County employers

Workforce Central

In response to COVID-19, Workforce Central is maintaining a central repository of food & supplies sources, school closures, legal assistance, and more.

United Way 2-1-1

2-1-1 helps connect you to community resources statewide.
Looking for help? Dial the number 2-1-1 or use the link above to search now.

Graduate Tacoma + Tacoma Urban League

Their portal provides Tacoma families and youth with an online directory of resources they can access in this unprecedented time. Visit this page to find transportation resources, educational tools, and more.

Puget Sound Energy Responds to COVID-19

Puget Sound Energy is taking measurable actions to help our customers and communities during this coronavirus situation.

Pierce Transit Updates

Governor Jay Inslee’s Office

May 13, 2021

Inslee announces statewide reopening date of June 30 and short-term statewide move to Phase 3

Gov. Jay Inslee today announced that the state is moving toward a statewide June 30 reopening date and that all counties in Washington will move to Phase 3 of the Healthy WA: Roadmap to Recovery reopening plan effective May 18 until June 30.

The announcement comes after the governor paused phase movement for two weeks to review an emerging flattening trend in statewide COVID-19 data. As of today, the plateau observed in COVID-19 activity has become a decline.

“What we know now gives us the confidence to close this chapter in this pandemic and begin another,” Inslee said at a press conference Thursday. “This next part of our fight to save lives in Washington will focus on increasing vaccination rates and continuing to monitor variants of concern as we move toward reopening our state.”

The full reopening could happen earlier than June 30 if 70% or more of Washingtonians over the age of 16 initiate vaccination. Washington has administered over six million doses of vaccine, and 56 percent of Washingtonians have initiated vaccination.

Inslee also announced that Washington will fully adopt masking guidance issued by the CDC earlier today. He stressed that this guidance is for fully vaccinated people — meaning people who are two weeks removed from their second shot of Pfizer or Moderna, or the one-shot Johnson & Johnson vaccine.

Read the rest of the story on the governor’s Medium page.

Washington Health Exchange

One in four Washingtonians get health and dental coverage through the Washington Healthplanfinder at wahealthplanfinder.org or the mobile app WAPlanfinder. Individuals can receive free help applying from an expert in their community at https://www.wahealthplanfinder.org/HBEWeb/Annon_DisplayBrokerNavigatorSearch.action?brokerNavigator=NAV.

• COVID-19 FAQs: Answers to frequently asked questions during the Coronavirus pandemic.
• How to Report a Change Online Through Washington Healthplanfinder
  Current Washington Healthplanfinder enrollees are experiencing life changes as a result of COVID-19, including loss of income. Reporting changes may qualify individuals for additional financial help

Washington State Coronavirus Response

Central repository of information regarding:

• Business and workers
• Childcare/K-12/Higher education
• Health
• Government emergency actions
• You and your family
• Travelers and commuters

Washington State Department of Health

• Frequently asked questions about symptoms and testing
• Resources and recommendations
• Current situation in Washington
• Being prepared
• Other information

Universal Hotspot Access

The Washington State Broadband Office estimates over 300 new drive-in Wi-Fi hotspots are coming online statewide through an initiative to bring free public broadband internet access to all residents. 600 public hotspots will soon be available to keep Washington communities connected.

For complete information and a map of locations, visit www.driveinwifi.wa.gov. The map will be updated as more sites come online.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has published health guidance for individuals and reopening guidance for cleaning and disinfecting public spaces, workplaces, businesses, schools, and homes. Visit this site to learn more.

In addition, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention offers resources on:

• What you should know
• Situation updates
• Information for Communities, schools and businesses
• Travel

United States Government

Comprehensive Official verified and updated Information of all aspects of the Federal Covid-19 Response.
Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19 | USAGov
Government Response to Coronavirus, COVID-19. Learn about international travel restrictions, how you can prepare for coronavirus, and what the U.S. government is doing in response to the virus.

www.usa.gov

Ready / Listo

Ready is a National public service campaign designed to educate and empower the American people to prepare for, respond to and mitigate emergencies, including natural and man-made disasters.