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HomeMy WebLinkAboutRes 2112 - 2025 Federal Legislative AgendaCity of Tukwila Washington Resolution No. \ 1 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING A FEDERAL LEGISLATIVE AGENDA FOR USE DURING THE 119TH UNITED STATES CONGRESS. WHEREAS, the 119th United States Congress convened on January 3, 2025, and the City Council agrees to pursue certain legislative issues; and WHEREAS, a federal legislative agenda outlines the priority issues that elected officials may discuss when speaking to members of Congress or Administration officials; and WHEREAS, the City Council recognizes this agenda is not all encompassing, in that certain additional items may arise during the 119th Congress that require support or opposition; NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF TUKWILA, WASHINGTON, HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: The Tukwila City Council has identified priorities for the 119th Congress 2025 that provide a framework for advocacy on behalf of the community. The City of Tukwila 2025 Federal 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 ` i day of t, ,t t ar c 1, 2025. ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED: Andy Youn-Barnett, CMC, City Clerk Tosh Sharp, Council Prr-. sent APPROVED AS TO FORM BY: Office of the City Attorney Filed with the City Clerk: .3/ Passed by the City Council: _„---Resolution Number: ,QI I & Attachment A: City of Tukwila 2025 Federal Legislative Agenda CITY OF EXHIBIT A TUKWILA 2025 Federal Agenda FY26 Appropriations Requests Tukwila Community Center HVAC Replacement $2,500,000 Located in Tukwila's Allentown neighborhood, the Tukwila Community Center (TCC) provides essential recreation, educational programming, and emergency shelter to a community where many residents are low-income and from disadvantaged backgrounds. The current HVAC system, installed in 1997, has exceeded its useful life, is unreliable, and no longer meets the needs of the facility or the community it serves. Replacing the system will allow the TCC to operate as a designated resilience hub, offering safe, climate - controlled shelter during extreme heat and cold events that are becoming more frequent and severe. The new system will improve air quality, lower operational costs, reduce carbon emissions by approximately 107.5 metric tons annually, and save an estimated 109,072 kilowatt-hours of electricity each year. Strander Boulevard Extension Phase III $2,000,000 Tukwila is requesting funding to advance engineering and design for Phase III of the Strander Boulevard Extension, which builds on significant investments already made to complete a new east -west corridor connecting the Cities of Tukwila and Renton. Tukwila's existing east - west corridors are heavily congested and do not facilitate the efficient movement of people and goods. The project will create a new east -west connector by constructing an underpass beneath Union Pacific Rail Tracks adjacent to the Tukwila Train Station, integrating seamlessly with infrastructure established in prior phases. This new corridor will leverage previous public investments and create a safer, more efficient and resilient transportation network that enhances regional freight mobility in the Green River Valley —home to the second-largest warehousing district on the West Coast. Further, the area most impacted by the completion of Phase III is poised for additional economic growth that will only continue to exacerbate the need for more efficient regional connections. City of Tukwila Police Technology Upgrades $1,000,000 Tukwila is seekingto upgrade its public safety technology infrastructure to help bring modern crime -fighting tools to its police department. Technology enhancement will include replacement of an outdated community camera system, acquisition of UAS and the associated equipment to support it. Tukwila's Police Department faces unique challenges due to the city's small residential population coupled with a high volume of visitors, concentrated retail and commercial hubs, and persistent crime levels well above the national average. Modernizing the City's camera system, enhancing real-time data collection, and investing in advanced surveillance and investigative technology will greatly improve the department's ability to prevent, respond to, and solve crimes. Page 1 of 3 CITY OF TUKWILA Federal Grant Priorities FEMA Shelter and Services Competitive Grant Tukwila is a gateway city for refugees and immigrants, welcoming families from across the globe impacted by conflict and crisis. This influx has placed increasing strain on the city's housing, healthcare, and social services, challenges that persist today. Tukwila is benefiting from FEMA's Shelter and Services Program (SSP), which provides critical federal funding to support temporary shelter, food, healthcare, and other essential services for newly arrived refugees and migrants. Continued federal investment through programs like SSP is vital to help Tukwila meet the needs of its refugee population and ensure the city can continue to serve as a safe and welcoming community for those seeking a fresh start. Allentown Truck Reroute Project The City of Tukwila is seeking federal investments to support completion of the Allentown Truck Reroute Project, which will bring significant improvements to the City of Tukwila's Allentown neighborhood. Completion of the project will establish an alternative corridor into Allentown, one of the City's most disadvantaged neighborhoods, which will allow for the rerouting of heavy truck traffic from BNSF's South Seattle Intermodal Facility. By rerouting freight traffic to this new corridor trucks will no longer move through Allentown's residential areas, producing a significant improvement to the area's safety and livability without compromising operations of an intermodal freight connection. The City anticipates completing an Environmental Impact Statement for the project this year. Policy Priorities Advanced Refunding The City strongly supports the bipartisan legislation H.R. 1255, the Investing in Our Communities Act. This legislation aims to reinstate tax-exempt advance refunding for municipal bonds, a critical financing tool that was eliminated in the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Restoring advance refunding will allow state and local governments, including publicly owned water utilities, to refinance existing bonds at lower interest rates, thereby saving money. These savings can be redirected towards essential projects such as water treatment and infrastructure upgrades, which are vital for maintaining and improving public health and safety. Passing this legislation will stimulate economic development, create jobs, and save taxpayer dollars. By freeing up funds for capital improvements, the Investing in Our Communities Act will enable local governments to undertake projects that enhance the quality of life for residents and promote sustainable growth. State and Local Tax (SALT) Deduction Restoring or increasing the SALT deduction cap would significantly benefit Tukwila residents by reducing their federal tax burden. This policy change would be particularly advantageous Page 2 of 3 TUKWILA for homeowners and those paying higher state and local taxes, allowing them to deduct a larger portion of these taxes from their federal taxable income. This could lead to increased disposable income, stimulating local economic activity. Extension of Infrastructure Package Funding Extending the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act (WA) funding beyond 2026 would provide Tukwila with continued access to federal grants and programs such as RAISE/BUILD, Safe Streets, Transformational Habitat Restoration and Reconnecting Communities. Protect federal funding identified in the Bipartisan Infrastructure Law (BIL) and the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) for cities of all sizes. These programs support a wide range of infrastructure improvements, including transportation, public safety, and community connectivity. Sustained funding would allow Tukwila to plan and execute long-term projects, enhancing the city's infrastructure, safety, and overall quality of life for its residents. Contacts: Brandon Miles, City of Tukwila Brandon.mites@tukwilawa.gov 206.731.9071 David Hodges, CFM Advocates davidh@cfmpnw.com 360.521.1476 Page 3 of 3