Key Issues This Session

Our key issues continue to be making sure cities retain authority to address environmental issues and challenges at the local level and that the state expand partnerships with cities as they face challenges in areas such as protecting the Puget Sound, finding sufficient and reliable water resources to meet growth and environmental protection needs, and climate change. Please contact either Dave Williams, davew@awcnet.org, or Tim Gugerty, timg@awcnet.org, with questions or input on any of the following issues.

Climate Change

Much of what the Legislature seems poised to address revolves around climate change challenges and opportunities. See the Land Use and Housing section of this week’s Bulletin for an update on those issues. In addition, the Governor has requested major climate change legislation to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and create clean energy jobs (Governor's Climate Change Legislation, SB 6516/HB 2815). For more information about this bill, please see the Energy and Telecommunication section of this Bulletin.

Recreation & Conservation Funding Board Grants

The Recreation and Conservation Funding Board, formerly the Interagency Committee for Outdoor Recreation, manages nine grant programs that fund building parks, trails, boating facilities, and firearm shooting ranges, and protecting wildlife habitat. This year, the board is offering the following types of grants: aquatic lands, boating, farmland preservation, parks, trails & wildlife habitat.

Workshops for people interested in applying for grants will be held Feb. 5-7 in Centralia, Mount Vernon, Spokane, Tukwila, and Yakima. To sign up for a workshop or learn more about these grant programs, visit www.rco.wa.gov.

Some of the grant programs are offered only once every two years so now is the time to learn how to best develop your proposals for successful consideration by the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board. Applications for grants are due May 1.

Bills of Interest for the Week of January 21

Restricting Light Pollution (HB 2534)

This bill would require that all public and private outdoor lighting installed after July 1, 2008 conform to new energy efficiency and glare requirements and that all existing public and private outdoor lighting conform to these new standards by July 1, 2012. AWC is studying the bill and will offer testimony at the hearing before the House Ecology and Parks Committee on Tuesday, January 22 at 10 am.

Authorizing the Creation of Beach Management Districts (SB 6508)

Cities along shorelines should take a close look at this bill that authorizes creation of Beach Management Districts by counties to help manage and clean up beaches. The bill is scheduled for hearing before the Senate Water, Energy and Telecommunications Committee on Tuesday, January 22 at 10 am. Please provide comments to Tim Gugerty, timg@awcnet.org.

Worksession on Eastern Washington Water Issues

AWC has been invited to briefly share city perspectives on the following Department of Ecology (DOE) initiatives on Wednesday, January 23 at 3:30 pm before the Senate Water, Energy and Telecommunications Committee:

Lake Roosevelt drawdown;
Kittitas exempt well update on agreements and rule status; and
Yakima groundwater study update.

Committee staff has asked AWC to gather input on these issues and present a summary of city perspectives. AWC is reaching out to impacted cities.

Requiring a Comprehensive Lakes Management Strategic Plan (SB 6229)

SB 6229 is scheduled for hearing before the Senate Natural Resources, Ocean and Recreation Committee on Thursday, January 24 at 10 am; this bill directs the Department of Ecology (DOE) to prepare such a plan to guide state programs that provide technical and financial assistance to other state agencies, local governments, special districts and others for the protection and restoration of freshwater lakes. We are reviewing the bill and would appreciate comments or suggestions from interested cities prior to the hearing.

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