Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development

The sixth week of session will be the most active to date. There will be hearings on transportation bills on regional governance (HB 2101 and SB 5803) and the Senate will hear our Transportation Benefit District bill (SB 5767). The continued debate on the Alaskan Way Viaduct is heightening interest in regional decision-making.

Our economic development bills are moving along. HB 1277, the "LIFT" bill, passed out of the House Committee on Community & Economic Development & Trade and has been referred to the Finance Committee. Our other two bills, HB 1790 and SB 5762, are likely to pass out of committee this week. Please see last week’s Bulletin for more information on these measures.

AWC Priority
Transportation Benefit Districts (TBDs) (HB 1858/SB 5767)

The Senate version of this bill will be heard on Thursday, February 22, at 1:30 pm. As introduced, this bill will do the following:

• Allow councilmanic authority to impose the first $20 of the maximum $100 vehicle license fee if a TBD is jurisdiction-wide.
• Allow councilmanic impact fees if a TBD is jurisdiction-wide. Provisions prohibiting a district and a city from imposing the same fee are included (a no double dipping requirement).

See last week’s Bulletin for more information on these bills.

If you have legislators on either the House or Senate Transportation Committee, please contact them and request they support these bills.

AWC Priority
Changing Alternative Public Works Provisions (SHB 1506/SB 5489)

SHB 1506 passed out of the State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee last week and is now in the House Capital Budget Committee. A hearing is scheduled on Tuesday, February 20 at 1:30 pm. This is the renewal and modification of the current General Contractor-Construction Manager (GC-CM) and Design Build (DB) public works authority.

For more information on the components of the substitute House bill, see the chart in the February 2 Bulletin.

Creating Community Preservation and Development Authorities (HB 1992)

This bill would create Community Preservation and Development Authorities. The purpose would be to restore or enhance the health, safety, and well-being of communities adversely impacted by the construction of, or ongoing operation of, multiple major public facilities, public works, and capital projects with significant public funding. The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the House Community & Economic Development & Trade Committee on Monday, February 19 at 1:30 pm.

Public Works Contract Completion Reporting Threshold Requirements (HB 1782)

Under current law, there are reporting requirements for notification of contract completion, performance/payment bond requirements, and retainage release. All three of these are at a different dollar amount and have not been updated since 1982. This bill would simply replace the existing notification and retainage requirements with a uniform $35,000 instead of the current $20,000, $25,000, and $35,000 requirements. This bill is revenue-neutral and will make accounting and contract management simpler. HB 1782 is scheduled for public hearing in the House State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee at 8 am on Friday, February 23.

Excluding Common Rodent Traps from the Definition of "Body Gripping Trap" (SB 5722, HB 1400 and HB 1606)

Similar to SB 5722, HB 1400 would allow moles and gophers to be trapped. Cities that manage golf courses and other recreational facilities have been pursuing this legislation for several sessions. HB 1400 is scheduled for hearing in the House Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee at 8 am on Wednesday, February 21. Also scheduled is HB 1606, which would allow moles, gophers, eastern grey squirrels, and California ground squirrels to be trapped.

Responsible Bidder Criteria for Public Works Contracts (HB 2010/ SB 5856)

This bill requires that a public works contract cannot be awarded until a bidder meets defined responsibility criteria. The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPARB) developed this criteria and it is consistent with state law. CPARB is also required to develop suggested guidelines to assist the state and municipalities in developing supplemental bidder responsibility criteria.

HB 2010 will be heard in the House State Government and Tribal Affairs Committee on Friday, February 23, at 8 am. Its companion, SB 5856, is scheduled before the Senate Committee on Labor, Commerce, and Research & Development Committee at 6:30 pm on Tuesday, February 20.

Regional Transportation Commission Findings and Recommendations (HB 2101)

In response to the Puget Sound Regional Transportation Commission recommendations, the joint transportation commission is to create a regional governance task force to consider the impacts of a new governance structure on other aspects of state and local laws and affected organizations and programs. In addition, the task force is to develop a statutory framework and draft legislation for implementing recommendations to the commission.

This bill is scheduled for a hearing before the House Transportation Committee at 3:30 pm on Thursday, February 22.

Regional Transportation Commissions (SB 5803)

Also in response to the Puget Sound Regional Transportation Commission recommendations, SB 5803 creates a regional transportation commission. More ambitious than HB 2101, this bill would assume many of the powers and duties of Sound Transit, the Regional Transportation Improvement District, and the Puget Sound Regional Council. Project eligibility is broad and is focused on regional transportation solutions (rather than Highways of Statewide Significance, for example).

SB 5803 will be heard by the Senate Transportation Committee on Thursday, February 22 at 1:30 pm. AWC staff is still reviewing the bill and is welcoming feedback on this legislation.

Transportation Project Contingency Account (HB 1812)

This bill would direct the locally-imposed sales tax on materials, labor, equipment, contracts, and components of transportation projects over $1 billion into a contingency account. HB 1812 will be heard in the House Transportation Committee on Wednesday, February 21, at 3:30 pm.

City Hardship Assistance Program Funds for Street Maintenance (HB 1482/SB 5483)

The house bill passed out of committee this week on a unanimous vote without further amendment. It will move any remaining City Hardship Assistance Program funding to the Small City Pavement Preservation and Sidewalk Account.

Clarifying Goals, Objectives, and Responsibilities of Certain Transportation Agencies (HB 2041, SB 5412)

HB 2041 streamlines antiquated transportation commission statutes and requires the transportation commission to consider the input gathered at regional forums as it establishes the statewide transportation plan. In addition, it requires the Office of Financial Management to propose a comprehensive ten-year investment program for preservation and improvement programs. AWC will sign in to support the bill because it removes rigid requirements and creates a broad, statewide transportation policy forum.

HB 2041 is scheduled for hearing in the House Transportation Committee on Thursday, February 22 at 3:30 pm. A similar bill, SB 5412, will be heard in the Senate Transportation Committee on Tuesday, February 20, at 3:30 pm.

Executive Board Membership of Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (HB 2004)

This bill clarifies and expands the definition of city voting membership on the Puget Sound Regional Council’s executive board. It is scheduled for a public hearing before the House Transportation Committee at 3:30 pm on Thursday, February 22.

Transportation Concurrency and Impact Fees Under the Growth Management Act (SB 5683/HB 1753)

AWC has already testified with concerns on HB 1753. As drafted, this bill would prohibit local jurisdictions that impose transportation impact fees from denying development approvals based on failure to achieve applicable level of service standards adopted in the transportation element of the comprehensive plan. SB 5683 will be heard in the Senate Government Operations Committee on Tuesday, February 20 at 1:30 pm.

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