As 2025 approaches, Tacoma is at a pivotal moment, marking the culmination of its ambitious “Tacoma 2025” Ten-Year Strategic Plan. This plan, a roadmap for the city’s growth and development, is now concluding, paving the way for the next decade of strategic planning with “Tacoma 2035”.
A recent City Council briefing on September 24th highlighted the significant achievements and positive outcomes of the Tacoma 2025 initiative. The briefing also served as a launchpad for discussions surrounding the development and drafting of the Tacoma 2035 plan, carefully considering the evolving needs of Tacoma’s expanding communities.
The Importance of Decennial Strategic Planning
Every ten years, the City of Tacoma undertakes a comprehensive strategic planning process. This practice is rooted in the Washington State Growth Management Act, which mandates that cities and counties create comprehensive plans and development regulations to effectively manage growth. Tacoma’s approach involves developing and updating three key strategic documents every decade, synchronized on the “fives” (e.g., 2005, 2015, 2025, etc.):
- The 10-Year Strategic Plan, currently Tacoma 2025 and moving towards Tacoma 2035
- The Comprehensive Plan
- The Transportation and Mobility Plan
These strategic plans are crucial for guiding Tacoma’s leadership and city staff in responsibly managing population growth and increasing urban density. They provide a framework for smart land use and development regulations, focusing on key areas such as:
- Fostering economic development and creating job opportunities within Tacoma.
- Ensuring environmental protection and promoting watershed health throughout the region.
- Enhancing mobility for all community members and effectively managing transportation systems.
- Balancing the need for historic preservation with the demands of new construction and urban development.
- Designing the city’s infrastructure and built environment to prioritize community safety for everyone.
Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan: A Decade of Implementation
Launched in 2015, the Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan has served as the city’s 10-year roadmap, guiding city leaders and staff through a period of significant growth and change. Now in its final phase of implementation, Tacoma 2025 embodies the community’s collective vision for Tacoma’s future.
This strategic plan, equipped with defined indicators and progress measurement tools, has been instrumental in directing the City of Tacoma – both as a government organization and as a community – towards its goals over the past decade. It has played a vital role in ensuring that resources and efforts are aligned with the evolving needs of Tacoma’s growing population.
Through continuous collaboration with the community, neighboring jurisdictions, and regional, national, and international partners, the City of Tacoma has diligently worked to implement the Tacoma 2025 vision. This collaborative effort is aimed at enhancing the quality of life for everyone who lives, learns, works, and enjoys recreation in Tacoma.
Explore the Tacoma 2025 Plan at the TacomaStrategicPlan.org website
In a significant step towards formalizing this plan, the City Council approved Resolution 39016 on January 27, 2015. This resolution officially adopted the City of Tacoma’s Ten-Year Citywide Strategic Plan and Vision, Tacoma 2025, and established the Tacoma 2025 Advisory Committee, composed of 11 members appointed by the Mayor.
Five Core Focus Areas of Tacoma 2025
The Tacoma 2025 Advisory Committee, through a comprehensive strategic planning process, synthesized community priorities into five key focus areas that have shaped the city’s direction over the last decade:
Livability: Enhancing Community Quality of Life
Icon representing Livability focus area in Tacoma 2025 Strategic Plan, highlighting community amenities and quality of life
Livability in Tacoma is centered on providing residents with diverse opportunities and essential amenities. This includes fostering well-connected neighborhoods, ensuring accessible and efficient transportation options for all, and promoting a vibrant arts and culture scene. Crucially, these enhancements are pursued while maintaining affordability for Tacoma residents, ensuring that the city remains accessible to all income levels.
