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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCOW 2012-01-09 Item 4D - Resolution - 2012 Legislative PrioritiesAGIADA Iri \7 Trrj. COUNCIL AGENDA SYNOPSIS InitiaA ITEM NO. Meeting Date Prepared by Mayor's review I Council review 01/09/12 KAM t e10 C— I 01/17/12 KAM 4.D. ITEM INFORMATION STAFF' SPONSOR: KIMBERLY MATE] ORIGINAI,AGI?NDA DATE: 1/9/12 Draft Resolution for Council's 2012 State Legislative Priorities CATEGORY Discussion LWotion Refolution Ordinance Bid Award Pu6lic.Hearing ❑Other Mtg Date 01109112 Al/ Date AV Date 01117112 tlltg Date Aft All Date Mtg Date IS1 1 ONSOR Council Mayor .HR DCD .Finance ❑Fire IT PER Police PW SPONs()It'S Staff has prepared a DRAFT 2012 Legislative Agenda/ Priorities for Council consideration. SU`Ii``IARY The agenda is intended to be utilized as a tool for Councilmembers when they meet with state legislators in Olympia in February. The Council is being asked to adopt a Resolution that identifies the agreed upon priorities. RI ;1\iIi;AY /1?D RY cow Mtg. CA &P Cmte F &S Cmte Transportation Cmte Utilities Cmte Arts Comm. Parks Comm. Planning Comm. DATE: N/A COMMITTEE CHAIR: RECOMMENDATIONS: SPONSOR /Ai)MIN. Council President CONIMI l°TI ;I COST IMPACT FUND SOURCE EXITNDITUItI; AMOUNT BUDGETED APPROPRIATION REQUIRED Fund Source: Com,nenls: MTG.DATEI RECORD OF COUNCIL ACTION 01/09/12 01/17/12 MTG. DATE 01/09/12 01/17/12 ATTACHMENTS Informational Memorandum dated 1/4/12 AWC list of 2012 Legislative Priorities 2011 City of Tukwila Legislative Priorities Draft Resolution (Attachment A to be provided at 1/17/12 Regular Meeting) m City of Tukwila City Council MEMORANDUM TO: Tukwila City Council FROM: Kimberly Matej, Legislative Analyst CC: Mayor Haggerton; David Cline, City Administrator DATE: January 4, 2012 SUBJECT: Legislative Agenda /Priorities for 2012 Session The State Legislature will begin a 60 -day short session on Monday, January 9, 2012. This is the second year of the Legislature's biennium legislative cycle, and it is anticipated this will be another financially challenging year for the State of Washington. After a special session on December 14, 2011, the State Legislature approved a $490 million budget adjustment which addresses approximately a quarter of the State's $2 billion deficit. As deficit concerns continue to loom significantly at the state and local levels, fiscal requests can be expected to be minimal during this legislative session. Given this, although it is in the best interest of local governments to continue submitting financial requests, emphasis should be placed on non- financial requests including, but not limited to: ensuring the safety of state shared revenues, flexibility of use of existing local revenues and sharing the story of significant budget reductions which have already been implemented by the City. Additionally, this budget adjustment approved in December does not address reductions to revenues that the State shares with local governments which we can anticipate seeing in the regular session. As with most legislative agendas, it is important to note that usually a city will choose items for highlighting to local representatives (i.e.: priorities); however, that does not preclude the City from supporting, opposing, monitoring issues or directly contacting legislators regarding additional items not specifically highlighted on the published legislative agenda. For example, City departments will often advocate for the Council to support or oppose specific items in response to which the Council can meet directly with the appropriate state representatives regarding said issues. For your review and discussion, continued issues from 2011 are below, and 2012 updates and /or applicable comments have been incorporated in red. The order in which items are listed does not reflect the importance of any item. After Council discussion, staff will provide a 2012 Legislative Agenda State Issues in final form for review at the January 17 Regular Council Meeting. Citv Fiscal Health SUPPORT: Maintaining Streamlined Sales Tax Mitigation Ensure that state monies committed for streamlined sales tax mitigation continue to remain dedicated to that source and are not utilized or reduced to balance the state budget. 2012 Update: The Governor's 2012 supplemental budget appropriates $47.4 million for Streamlined Sales Tax (SST) Mitigation. This amount reflects a 10% reduction ($2.2 million) from the budget which passed the Legislature last June. The SST account reduction is effective July 1, 2012. Legislation making this reduction permanent will be considered during this session (HB2146). MONITOR OPPOSE: Further Reductions to State Shared Revenues Maintaining the level of revenues shared between the State and local governments is an integral part of local government's ability to provide communities with basic services. Any reduction to these revenues will continue to negatively impact local cities existing budget challenges. Examples of state :m 2012 Council Legislative Priorities page 2 shared revenues include but are not limited to: Liquor Revolving Account, Liquor Excise Tax and Streamlined Sales Tax Mitigation. SUPPORT: Flexibility on Use of Existing Revenue Sources Increase the flexibility of cities ability to spend revenue. Ease restrictions on how local governments can spend their own revenue to best meet local needs, and preserve local taxing authority that reflects community priorities. General Government Operations SUPPORT: Pro Active Approaches to Reduce Impact of Public Records Requests to Cities Take an active role in efficient responses to and delivery of public records requests while reducing substantial impacts of arduous requests. Proposals being considered include: safe harbor details addressing large and frequent requestors, and clarification that the public records process is not intended to be used for commercial purposes. Environment Water SUPPORT: Raising the SEPA Exemption Threshold In consideration of legislation such as Growth Management, Shoreline Management and Water Management, the SEPA review has become excessive over the past four decades. Legislation that raises the threshold for SEPA exemptions will allow more flexibility in local government and reduce redundancy without backsliding in environmental protection. Transportation Infrastructure SUPPORT: Transportation Infrastructure Enhancements Support legislation which increases flexibility of use of existing revenues and implements new revenues for use in expansion, maintenance and repair of transportation mechanisms; including such items as street utility capability for cities and counties. This includes street maintenance, stormwater, local transportation and public works assistance. Law, Justice Public Safetv OPPOSE: Required Election of Municipal Court Judges The City will continue to oppose any legislation requiring the election of municipal court judges. Appointed judges provide cities with flexible options for efficient court operations, appointments are cost effective, and the judges are qualified and ethical. MONITOR: Medical Marijuana Medical mar#uana legislation took place at the State level this summer. Additional legislation addressing some of the resulting issues of the original legislation including restrictions and clarification of cities' authority to apply local regulations is expected to be introduced this session. Tukwila currently has a moratorium in place regarding marijuana dispensaries and collective gardens. SUPPORT: Tools for Combating Gang Activity The City of Tukwila has firsthand experience with the results of gang activity within the community. As such, we are interested in ongoing collaboration of activities and funding that provides tools to address gang prevention and intervention, as well as civil and criminal ways to address gang activity. Continued Fundinq for Human Services Especially during turbulent economic times, the City of Tukwila recognizes and is committed to continue funding of human services programs. In consideration of this local commitment, we encourage our State legislators to support human services funding recognizing the need of these RIR RTA 2012 Council Legislative Priorities page 3 vital services throughout our local communities. Minimizing related human services cuts in any way possible. For your review, I have attached a copy of AWC's 2012 Legislative Priorities. L.*r.j D e c e m b e r 2 0 1 1 P AL A A M "i ASSOCIATION OF WASHINGTON CI I iES Board of Directors adopts 2012 major priorities Help our communities drive job growth Invest in building and maintaining critical infrastructure, thus creating jobs. For example, the Public Works Trust Fund should be held harmless or enhanced. Reform the SEPA process to streamline it and better align it with other environmental reviews, reducing regulatory costs and spurring development that will create jobs. Enable tax increment financing authorities to support public private economic development partnerships that will foster job- creating growth. Support workforce training and education programs, such as the Governor's aerospace initiative. Give cities revenue flexibility to meet community needs Continue revenue sharing that helps pay for public safety and other critical services. Ease restrictions on how local governments can spend their own revenue to best meet local needs, and preserve local taxing authority that reflects community priorities. Explore new opportunities for funding local priorities. Reform policies and regulations to reduce costs and uncertainty Pursue greater regulatory flexibility to reflect reduced resources. For example, the state should ensure that stormwater regulations are both financially and technologically feasible. Address public records abuses that drive up local costs without enhancing real transparency or the public's right to know. Resist transferring state responsibilities to local government without adequate funding or resources. Provide more clarity on the medical marijuana law to give local government better guidance on how to address this issue. Look for opportunities to address unsustainable personnel costs, such as modifying binding interest arbitration. AWC contact Dave Williams, Director of State Federal Relations davew @awcnet.org (360) 753.4137 Association of Washington Cities 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia,WA 98501 www.awcnet.org i AM mam City of Tukwila ATTACHMENT A 2011 Legislative Priorities State Issues During the first year of the Washington State Legislature's 2011 -12 biennium legislative cycle, the City of Tukwila will focus on the following legislative priorities: City Fiscal Health MONITOR: Streamlined Sales Tax Mitigation Ensure that state monies committed streamlined sales tax mitigation continue to remain dedicated to that source and are not utilized to balance the state budget. The Governor's proposed 2011 -13 state budget identifies $49.8 million for jurisdictions affected by SST. SUPPORT: Flexibility on Use of Existing Revenue Sources Increased flexibility in the spending of revenues, including but not limited to: locally- imposed Real Estate Excises Taxes (REET), and the expenditure of and time expenditure extension for impact fees. This flexibility will allow cities to respond more appropriately to growth needs and essential services. General Government Operations SUPPORT: Pro Active Approaches to Reduce Impact of Public Records Requests to Cities Actively support efficient responses to and delivery ofpublic records requests while reducing substantial impacts of arduous requests. Proposals being considered include: cost recovery, meet /confer, and clarification of the Public Records Act. Environment Water SUPPORT: State Levee Funding the Green River Levee System Support legislation and /or appropriations that will assist in bringing local levees up to federal certification levels. Additionally, support any assistance the state can provide to ensure that the Howard Hanson Dam and Green River levee system function as designed to in order for the Green River- Valley to continue to function as an economic engine for the State. Transportation Infrastructure SUPPORT: Transportation Infrastructure Enhancements Support legislation which increases flexibility of use of existing revenues and implements new revenues for use in expansion, maintenance and repair of transportation mechanisms; including such items as street utility capability for cities and counties. This includes street maintenance, storrnwater, local transportation and public works assistance. Law, Justice Public Safety OPPOSE: Required Election of Municipal Court Judges The City will continue to oppose any legislation requiring the election of municipal court judges. Appointed judges provide cities with flexible options for efficient court operations, appointments are cost effective, and the judges are qualified and ethical. SUPPORT: Realignment of Electorate Requirements for Existing Fire Authorities Support legislation that changes the current RCW relative to electorate requirements for existing fire authorities. Currently, voting is required within both the municipal boundaries of the joining entity as well as the existing fire authority. SUPPORT: Cross Jurisdictional Enforcement of SODA and SOAP Support amendments to the RCW which criminalizes the presence of any person with an order to Stay Out of Area of Prostitution and/or Stay out of Drug Areas. Change will allow patrol officers increased efficiencies in arrests related to persons with such orders. SUPPORT: Tools for Combating Gang Activity The City of Tukwila has firsthand experience with the results of gang activity within the community. As such, we are interested in ongoing collaboration of activities and funding that provides tools to address gang prevention and intervention, as well as civil and criminal ways to address gang activity. Continued Funding for Human Services Especially during turbulent economic times, the City of Tukwila recognizes and is committed to continue funding of human services programs. In consideration of this local commitment, we encourage our State legislators to support human services funding recognizing the need of these vital services throughout our local communities. Minimizing related human services cuts in any way possible. 111112011 91 92 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING A LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR USE DURING THE 2012 WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATIVE SESSION. WHEREAS, the City Council has agreed to pursue certain legislative issues for 2012; 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 January 17, 2012; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: The Tukwila City Council has identified priorities for the 2012 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 2012 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 2012. ATTEST /AUTH ENTICATED: Christy O'Flaherty, CMC, City Clerk Verna Seal, Council President APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Shelley M. Kerslake, City Attorney Filed with the City Clerk: Passed by the City Council: Resolution Number: Attachment A: City of Tukwila 2012 Legislative Agenda W: \Word Process ing \Resolutions \Legislative Agenda for 2012 1 -3 -12 KM:bjs Page 1 of 1 93