General Local Government

We are very pleased to report that the following bills which would have negatively impacted cities are considered dead for the session:

• Utility Lien ( SB 5854) – This bill would have prohibited cities and counties from collecting delinquent utility debt from property owners if the owner notifies the utility that their property is a rental and if the utility contracts directly with the renter for utility payment.
• Electronic Utility Bill Payment (SHB 1034) – The bill proposed that when a utility (serving electricity, natural gas, water or sewer) "substantially" upgrades, changes or purchases new equipment relating to billing or service, the new equipment must be capable of accepting electronic payment of bills for service provided by the utility.
• Website Postings of Certain Information (SSB 5420) – The bill would have required that:
  1. The agenda of all regular meetings of any municipality that owns or maintains a website be posted within 72 hours before a meeting;
  2. The text of any ordinance, rule, or regulation that is under consideration at the meeting be included on the website at the same time the agenda is posted; and
  3. The minutes of all regular and special meetings of any municipality that owns or maintains a website be posted within 15 business days following a meeting.

Municipal Contracts (HB 1255)

This bill would prohibit a municipal officer from having a beneficial interest in any contracts for consulting or legal services related to his or her office, or the office he or she was involved in creating. In addition, the municipal officer cannot receive any compensation from another person with a beneficial interest in such a contract. It passed unanimously out of the House and is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Government Operations Committee on Tuesday, March 20 at 1:30 pm.

Notification to Local Governments of Proposed Land Dispositions (HB 1940)

The bill would require state agencies disposing of state-owned land to notify local governments in which the land is located 60 days before a disposition of any such land is made. The intent is to allow local governments to acquire land for recreation or other purposes, if possible. The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Government Operations & Elections Committee on Tuesday, March 20 at 1:30 pm.

Creating the Heritage Barn Preservation Program (SSB 5542/HB 2115)

This legislation would create a Washington State Heritage Barn Program within the Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation. The program will be guided by an advisory committee and will consist of the following components:

• A study by the Department of Archeology and Historic Preservation of Washington state barns to include a determination of types, an assessment of the most unique and significant barns, and an assessment of conditions and needs.
• A recognition program for heritage barns.
• Establishment of the Heritage Barn Preservation Fund.

In addition, the advisory committee is to consult with the Department of Revenue to adapt existing state property tax incentives for historic properties to heritage barns, and make recommendations to the Legislature by December 1, 2007. Several cities are in support of this legislation. To date, the Senate version has not been scheduled for hearing. However, the House version is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Agriculture & Rural Economic Development Committee on Thursday, March 22 at 3:30 pm.

Filling a Vacancy in the Office of Mayor (HB 1391)

This proposal clarifies that incumbent council members in mayor-council cities or towns are eligible to be appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of mayor without having to resign their council seat first. In addition, the bill removes the restriction that second class cities must only choose a mayoral replacement from among the sitting council members. It has been scheduled for a public hearing in the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee on Monday, March 19 at 10 am.

Mid-Term Increases in the Cost of Medical Benefits (SB 5525/SHB 1392)

The Attorney General, in a recent memorandum, determined that a mid-term increase in the cost of medical benefits provided to council members or mayors would constitute a prohibited increase in compensation. Research into current state statute reveals that for other local governments, such as county elected officials and fire protection district and utility commissioners, there is an exemption to the compensation issue for costs associated with medical benefits.

This proposal simply adds cities to the current local government exemptions. The Senate version is scheduled for public hearing in the House Local Government Committee on Tuesday, March 20 at 1:30 pm. To date, the House version has not been scheduled for hearing.

Prevailing Wage (HB 1370)

This bill would simply exclude public employees from prevailing wage requirements and surveys to determine prevailing wages. The bill is scheduled for public hearing in the Senate Labor, Commerce, and Research & Development Committee on Tuesday, March 20 at 1:30.

Regulating Tent Encampments (HB 2244)

This bill did not pass the House prior to the legislative cutoff and is therefore considered dead for the session. Although the bill had been substantially amended, many cities continued to have concerns with this proposal.

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