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HomeMy WebLinkAbout5475 RESOLUTION NO. 5475 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING THE 2020 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WHEREAS, the actions of the Washington State Legislature in respect to local government issues, services, and funding have a profound effect on the City's ability to provide local services to its residents; and WHEREAS, the Auburn City Council believes that it is appropriate to communicate its position regarding issues affecting the City and local government that may come before the State Legislature during the 2020 legislative session. NOW, THEREFORE, THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF AUBURN, WASHINGTON, RESOLVES as follows: Section 1. The City Council adopts its 2020 Legislative Agenda as set forth in Exhibit A. Section 2. The Mayor shall cause a copy of this Resolution to the City's State Legislative District representatives and to other regional government entities. Resolution No. 5475 December 2, 2019 Page 1 of 2 Rev.2019 Section 3. This Resolution will take effect and be in full force on passage and signatures. Dated and Signed: December 16, 2019 CITY OF AUBURN tCY -���� KUS, MAYOR ATTEST: APP'OVED A S TO FORM: N,‘ V % Shawn Campbell, MMC, City Clerk Steven . G'•' s, City Attorney Resolution No. 5475 December 2, 2019 Page 2 of 2 Rev.2019 2020 Legislative Priorities —City of Auburn STATE PRIORITIES PUBLIC SAFETY • Additional funding for staff in regards to confiscation of firearms as a result of domestic violence incidents, background checks for purchase of firearms,collection,and research activities. • Additional funding for the Academy would drastically shorten the amount of time prospective police officers are on municipal payrolls without being able to get into training. • Reformation of juvenile laws concerning crimes associated with firearms.As of now,juveniles need to be arrested five times before they spend time in jail. • Rights of persons who are experiencing homelessness are very important to protect, but proposed legislation that would create a private cause of action against municipalities fails to balance public safety needs with those rights. REGULATORY AND LAND USE • Impact fees—As communities grow there are no impact fees to benefit police. It would be ideal to collect a police impact fee since added population and businesses have the same resource demands and challenges as fire,transportation, parks and schools. • Affordable housing—The needs are deeper than 60%AMI—more like 50%or 40%.Washington State Housing Finance Commission programs are providing great support for projects that hit the 60%AMI mark.There needs to be a similar incentive to hit the deeper marks since that is where the greatest need exists. • Rehab housing—there should be dedicated funds to put towards the rehabilitation of single or multifamily units because it is far less expensive and environmentally sustainable to preserve existing housing stock instead of building new units.There are very few programs that help maintain older homes and multifamily complexes which results in one of two outcomes(1)older properties are maintained appropriately but the investment is reflected in increasing rental costs,or(2)older properties are not maintained which helps keep rental costs down but at the sake of declining health and safety. • Regulatory reform-The large number of regulatory processes are a hindrance to bringing affordable housing projects to fruition including SEPA,GMA, NPDES. State Environmental Policy Act(SEPA) is an outdated and overly burdensome process that adds time and money. Growth Management.Act(GMA)and affordable housing objectives are at direct odds because the GMA limits supply which increases costs. National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) adds significant cost to development which is passed on to future owners or tenants. 2020 Legislative Priorities — City of Auburn PUBLIC WORKS,TRANSPORTATION, INFRASTRUCTURE • It is critical to protect all of the State funds that support local transportation projects.The cities cannot do this on their own given the amount of growth and commerce in the region.This includes maintained or increased funding for TIB and FMSIB along with state grant programs managed by the WSDOT for local agency projects. • With the passage of 1-976, local agencies will need more state and federal funding opportunities for transportation projects,especially preservation. • The preservation of roadways is paramount and something like a Street Maintenance Utility could be an important tool for cities to meet this growing unfunded need. • Changes to appropriate RCW's to allow Municipalities to charge properties for street lighting. Current RCW 54.16.120 allows Utility Districts to charge properties for providing street lighting but the law does not allow Municipalities to do this. Current revenues for general fund uses cannot meet the needs and charging for street lighting would be an appropriate way to address a specific service being provided to residents and businesses within a jurisdiction. • Retaining or increasing the Public Works Trust Fund amount is key to providing funding for local agency projects. • Retaining or increasing the Drinking Water State Revolving Fund is key for local water purveyors to cost effectively fund needed infrastructure projects. • Funding for the Auburn Way South Widening project will be a funding request in the coming years. • The funds allocated to the loan program for general aviation airports that began in 2019 needs to be increased to provide a cost effective funding source for projects that are not eligible for grant funding.General Aviation Airports are running on minimal revenues,a loan program is key to providing the funding needed to complete infrastructure projects now when they are needed. • Support for allocating 1%of the existing aviation fuel tax to WSDOT's Aviation account to fund airport projects.Current levels of funding cannot meet the growing need to maintain and improve this important infrastructure that provides a significant benefit to commerce and the State's economy. PARKS AND OPEN SPACES • Washington Recreation &Conservation Office and Land/Water Conservation Funds must be maintained so citizens have increased access to existing and new public spaces • Continued financial support for restoration and historic preservation of the Old Historic Post Office via Historic Preservation funds SALES TAX MITIGATION AND JAIL COSTS • Continued Streamlined Sales Tax(SST)mitigation and SCORE funding SOCIAL SERVICES • Operational funds for the Auburn Resource Center will allow for the ongoing service of those community members struggling with housing,substance abuse,and mental health issues to ensure their cycle of suffering ends. 2020 Legislative Priorities —City of Auburn FEDERAL PRIORITIES Cyber Security Issue:Cities don't have the resources to afford adequate systems to address cyber security. Federal Request:Funding to mitigate costs at community/local levels. Homeless and Housing Issue(s):The city has a lot of housing stock and more coming online. Issues are related to 0-30 level availability and preservation for older,existing lower income housing options. Federal Request:Grant funding for preservation of low-income housing/facility stock. Human Services Consolidated Resource Center Issue(s)—The facility is an opportunity to co-locate several health and human services resources in one location. Federal Request:1) Programming funding for community court either via King County court resource center funds, public defender or court administration funds. 2) Funding for facilities development and maintenance cost. Mental Health Issue:WA State initiative to decentralize mental health programs. More and more public service providers need to become knowledgeable about managing and responding to mental health situations. Federal Request:Is there any general funding for mental health training for public service providers,city employee,etc. Parks,Arts&Recreation Issue:The City has an opportunity to convert the Jacobsen Tree Farm on Lea Hill into a park and sports facility Federal Request:Support the City's grant application under the Land and Water Conservation Fund to redevelop the property for public use. Public Safety Issues:1)There is a national shortage of police officers. Police officer recruitment,training and retention assistance at the local level is needed.2) Fleet and equipment—capital outlays. Federal Request:Workforce or educational resources to assist specifically with recruitment,training and retention of public safety officers. Ideas include student loan incentive/forgiveness, mental health training, creating flexibility in existing grants(e.g. COPs,SRO,etc.)to allow for training and recruitment costs vs.just to pay for the officer,etc. Grants and funding for local government costs associated with public safety capital outlays. Cable and Telecom Issues:Cable and Telecom companies continue to engage in practices to evade/reduce exposure to local franchise fees and permit fees(e.g. FCC 5G deployment regulations,FCC Cable in kind services,etc)that 2020 Legislative Priorities— City of Auburn do not recover the expense to facilitate their deployment within local jurisdictions. In addition,the recent FCC orders put a heavy burden on local jurisdictions to meet unreasonable timeframes for permit issuance and put local jurisdictions at odds with implementation of other federal and state regulations that they are mandated to abide by.Cities are not allowed to recoup costs associated with providing access and use of the public right of ways. Federal Request:Congress and the FCC should recognize, protect and enforce local government's obligation to protect local assets and charge fees necessary to maintain services and the assets for all public purposes. 2020 Legislative Priorities — City of Auburn Transportation Auburn Way South—A portion of additional funding has been provided via PSRC for design of one phase of this corridor. City is still working to develop a partnership with the Muckleshoot Tribe. USDOT had recommended tribal transportation grants if the Muckleshoot Tribe would be willing to partner and 'lead'the application. Federal Request:Construction dollars for the current phase,design and construction of subsequent phases. Lea Hill—City is wrapping up the preferred alternatives for improvement of the overall corridor which will allow us to refine the scope,estimated costs,and phasing of the project. Federal Transportation Bill Re-Authorization Issue:There is insufficient funding to support the long term maintenance and needed expansion of the national transportation system and many local jurisdictions continue to fall farther and farther behind on the necessary improvements to keep the commerce and people of the country moving.The burden on local jurisdictions is only increasing while revenues are stagnant or reducing.We need programs that get flexible funding to the local level through the programs of the transportation act. Ask:We need congress to authorize a new,long term federal surface transportation bill that helps fix the Highway Trust Fund and supports innovative programs and more local control.