AWC Legislative Bulletin - Volume 29, No. 6
February 10, 2006 (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
From the Director: Property Rights Initiative Filed
Key Issues in This Week's Bulletin
2006 AWC Legislative Priorities
Customized Bill Tracking – A Suggestion from AWC President Pam Carter
Energy & Telecommunications
Environment & Water
General Local Government
Land Use & Housing
Law & Justice
Municipal Finance & Economic Development
Personnel & Labor Relations
Transportation & Infrastructure

Land Use & Housing

Cities Send the Message – No to Unfunded Mandates and Pre-Emption of Zoning Authority (SHB 2217)

As previously reported in the Bulletin, SHB 2217 posed a threat to cities’ ability to establish zoning for residential and commercial development that best fit local needs, and imposed a new and costly unfunded mandate to collect and analyze data on uses of lands within cities.

Thanks to the many city officials who contacted their legislators as well as the opposition of Representatives Judy Clibborn (D-Mercer Island) and Lynn Schindler (R-Spokane Valley), it appears this troublesome bill will not move forward this session. It is not clear whether Realtor and builder interests will seek to amend the language from this bill onto another bill, or if they are finished promoting it for the session. AWC will keep a watchful eye on this bill and will let cities know immediately if it resurfaces.

GMA Update Relief for Smaller, Slower Growing Cities and Towns (SHB 2814, SSB 6427)

Both bills are poised for action and it appears the Senate version, SSB 6427, may be passed first. Both bills provide extra time for slower growing and smaller cities to update local GMA comprehensive plans and development regulations and allow them to use, if they want, new models on how to include the "best available science" in local critical area ordinances.

These models are being developed by CTED and may include more comprehensive ideas developed by a variety of state agencies if provisions of the "best available science" bills noted below are enacted.

More Clarity on Including "Best Available Science" in Local Critical Areas Ordinances (SHB 2815, SSB 6569)

When all of Washington’s cities, towns and counties face their "every 7 year" responsibility to update local critical area ordinances, they must include so-called "best available science" in their considerations. Finding such science applicable to urban, suburban and small town settings is not always easy. Making sense of conflicting "best" science can further complicate deliberations. Deciding how to address environmental protection in communities expected to accommodate growth adds even more complexity.

Both SHB 2815 and SSB 6569 offer some clearer guidance for cities and towns trying to figure out where to find science applicable to their situations and how to apply it, while still allowing for growth and economic development. With support from AWC and others, both bills are likely to move forward for further refinement and debate.

Housing Trust Fund (2SHB 2418)

This bill was amended and passed out of the House Capital Budget Committee and now moves to the full House. Prior to amendment, the bill called for $25 million to be transferred to the Housing Trust Fund for each of the next four years. The amended version now in play only includes $25 million for one year. Since the $25 million would need budget authorization for each year any way, this is not really a significant change.

The bill also:

exempts three programs from the Housing Trust Fund competitive application and distribution process;
makes appropriations from the Washington Housing Trust Account;
creates the Interagency Council on Homelessness;
directs the Department of Community, Trade and Economic Development (DCTED) to implement the Washington Homeless Client Management Information System to collect information about homelessness and homeless persons;
requires DCTED to study the effectiveness of a potential voluntary low-income housing waiting list database; and
requires DCTED to implement a statewide Affordable Housing Database.