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COMMUNITY STUDIES
For 20 years, City Club’s Community Studies have had a proud tradition of providing an independent view of key community issues, as a key part of our community involvement.
Interested City Club members coalesce around specific issues of importance to the region, design and conduct the study, and report the findings to the Club membership and to the wider community. We may look forward, such as anticipating the cleanup of Commencement Bay, or backward, such as reviewing the revitalization of a downtown icon. The Club has examined development issues, social challenges, and government structures. Throughout, the independence, balance, and insight provided by study teams provide a unique contribution to the South Sound community.
Thirty Years of DOC in Pierce County: Is It Worth It? — 2007
Examining the impact of the Washington State Department of Corrections’ offender release and work release programs on Pierce County, and the impact of those programs on the county in comparison with other counties.
Department of Corrections (2007)
Image of the City—What Tacomans think about Tacoma — 2004
The results of a broad-based survey of the people of Tacoma, which included all age groups, races and ethnicity, household incomes, and education. Questions ranged from Tacoma icons, to the “personality” of Tacoma, to expectations for Tacoma in the years ahead. This study engaged thousands of Tacomans, responding in five languages.
Revisiting Tacoma’s Government: A Second Look at Its Council-Manager System — 2003
Insights into Tacoma’s government and its operations after interviewing 27 civic and political leaders with city government background and experience, and an examination of comparable municipal government systems. (An update of the 1997 study)
Revisiting Tacoma's Government
Youth at Risk—2002
Whether a Community Assessment Center would be a useful tool to facilitate Tacoma/Pierce County’s efforts to deal with its children and youth at risk. The study deals primarily with those children and youth who come into contact with local governmental entities because of criminal behavior, abuse, or neglect.
A Building Reborn: Saga of a Landmark—1999
How the 1907 Sandberg Building became a modern office building and what that suggests for development downtown.
Living Downtown—1998
Examining increasing the supply of housing in Tacoma’s downtown to improve livability and viability.
Crossing the Narrows: A Land Use Issue—1997
The relationships between traffic congestion on the Tacoma Narrows Bridge and Gig Harbor Peninsula growth and development.
Tacoma’s Government: Should It Be Changed?—1997
A study of Tacoma’s council-manager form of government and proposals to replace it with a “strong mayor.”
Beyond the Boxes: A Vision for Tacoma and Pierce County—1994
Examination of the roles and missions of the City of Tacoma, Pierce County, and the Port of Tacoma in economic development, with the primary focus on the port.
Economic Development in Pierce County Study (PDF)
Arsenic and an Old Smelter: Arsenic Site Cleanup Study—1990
Two viewpoints on possibilities of the Asarco site—one with minimum cleanup, one with optimum cleanup.
Dome to Defiance—1988
Discovering how the waterfront can develop to its fullest potential. Identifying problems and opportunities.
Pierce County’s Voting System—1985
No online version at this time.
Revitalization of Pacific Avenue—1985
No online version at this time.
Tacoma’s 1% for the Arts—1985
No online version at this time.
Dropout Report—1985
No online version at this time.