HomeMy WebLinkAboutFS 2015-01-21 Item 2A - Resolution - 2015 Legislative AgendaCity of Tukwila
Jim Haggerton, Mayor
INFORMATIONAL MEMORANDUM
TO: Mayor Haggerton
Finance and Safety Committee
Community Affairs and Parks Committee
FROM: Rachel Bianchi, Communications and Government Relations Manager
DATE: January 13, 2015
SUBJECT: 2015 Legislative Agenda
ISSUE
The City of Tukwila develops an annual legislative agenda for use in Olympia during the
legislative session.
BACKGROUND
The City's Legislative Agenda provides direction to staff and consensus among the elected
officials as to what policy positions are taken on behalf of the City of Tukwila during the
legislative session.
RECOMMENDATION
The Council is being asked to approve the resolution and consider this item at the January 26,
2015 Committee of the Whole meeting and subsequent February 2, 2015 Regular Meeting.
ATTACHMENTS
Resolution in draft form
Attachment A — Legislative Agenda
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A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, ADOPTING A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR USE
DURING THE 2015 WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION.
WHEREAS, the City Council has agreed to pursue certain legislative issues for
2015; and
WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes this agenda is not all encompassing, in
that certain additional items may arise during the legislative session that require support
or opposition; and
WHEREAS, a legislative agenda outlines the priority issues that elected officials
may discuss when speaking to members of the Washington State Legislature; and
WHEREAS, the City Council agreed to these priorities at the Regular City Council
Meeting on February 2, 2015;
NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA,
WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
The Tukwila City Council has identified priorities for the 2015 Washington State
Legislative Session that are integral to serving the Tukwila community in the manner in
which the residents and businesses have come to expect. The City of Tukwila 2015
Legislative Agenda is hereby incorporated by reference as Attachment A.
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, at
a Regular Meeting thereof this day of , 2015.
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
Christy O'Flaherty, MMC, City Clerk Kate Kruller, Council President
APPROVED AS TO FORM BY:
Filed with the City Clerk:
Passed by the City Council:
Resolution Number:
Rachel B. Turpin, City Attorney
Attachment A: City of Tukwila 2015 Legislative Agenda
W:\Word Processing\Resolutions\Legislative Agenda for 2015 1-13-15
RB:bjs
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Attachment A
City of Tukwila 2015 Legislative Agenda
Transportation and Infrastructure
• Funding from key programs such as the Transportation Improvement Board
and Public Works Assistance Account are critical for cities in addressing
infrastructure and transportation needs.
• Previous raids on the Public Works Assistance Account resulted in a loss of
$9.6 million in loans to Tukwila alone, which would have funded critical infra-
structure in the City.
• The State Legislature should fully fund these and other programs, such as the
Centennial Clean Water Fund and Model Toxics Control Account, to allow
cities to meet growing transportation and infrastructure needs.
Shared Revenue
• The State must continue its role as a partner with cities.
• Part of this partnership is maintaining existing programs such as Streamlined
Sales Tax Mitigation Payments, which provide Tukwila over $1.1 million
annually.
• In addition, the state must restore the local share of liquor taxes to allow
jurisdictions to address impacts, such as public safety, of privatized liquor in our
cities.
Revenue Reform
• Allow cities the authority and flexibility to address the fact that growth in the cost
of services continues to outstrip revenues.
• The state should amend the law that limits annual property tax growth to 1 percent
and work with cities to authorize additional funding flexibility and opportunities at
the local level.
Marijuana
• The state must coordinate medical marijuana and Initiative 502.
• The legal quagmire between the two allows for significant threats to public safety
and direct and damaging impacts in our cities' neighborhoods.
• It is time to reconcile the two systems and provide local jurisdictions with a
portion of the taxes to address marijuana impacts within cities.
Human Services Fundinq
• The City of Tukwila is committed to local funding for human services, and we
know that as the city with the lowest median income in King County, many of our
residents rely on local, county, state and federal services for basic survival.
• While we continue to do our part, we cannot do it alone and will continue to rely
heavily on county, state and federal partners to meet the needs of the most
vulnerable.
• We strongly encourage the state to adequately fund human services programs
for the health of the safety net.
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