AWC Legislative Bulletin - Volume 30, No. 5
February 2, 2007
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In this issue:
What You Need to Know Now
From the Director - Affordable Health Insurance: Proposed Legislation Being Considered
City Legislative Action Conference (CLAC)
Energy & Telecommunications
Environment & Water
General Local Government
Infrastructure, Transportation & Economic Development
Land Use & Housing
Law & Justice
Municipal Finance
Personnel & Labor Relations
Online Legislative Advocacy Tools
AWC Legislative Contacts & Officers
Environment & Water
AWC Priority
New Entity to Evaluate/Clean Up Puget Sound (HB 1374/SB 5372)
As we have been reporting in past issues of the Bulletin, legislators in both chambers are working to re-create what is now the Puget Sound Action Team. Based upon recommendations of the Governor’s Puget Sound Partnership initiative, legislation has been introduced that would establish a new focus on:
- The causes of decline in the health of the Puget Sound;
- Funding to help reverse that decline; and
- The entities, both public and private, that are in the best position to help restore the Puget Sound to health by 2020.
AWC staff has been working with the Governor’s office and prime sponsors of these companion bills. It appears that negotiations being led by Rep. Dave Upthegrove (D-Des Moines) are moving quickly and he hopes to move a bill from his Select Committee on Puget Sound by Friday, February 9. He is re-crafting HB 1374 based on a set of principles he has shared with a wide variety of stakeholders. AWC strongly supports his approach. We are awaiting the opportunity to begin work on the Senate version.
NPDES Phase II Stormwater Permit Update
The Washington State Department of Ecology (DOE) issued the NPDES Phase II Municipal Stormwater Permit, which will affect 101 cities throughout Washington, on January 17, 2007. The list of impacted cities and an Issue Alert is available on AWC’s website. Information about the Permit, including workshops scheduled by DOE, can be found on their website.
A number of cities are considering joining an NPDES Phase II Permit appeal, including big and small cities in both the eastern and western parts of the state. Cities interested in joining an appeal, if they haven't already done so, should contact Tim Gugerty, timg@awcnet.org, by Wednesday, February 7.
AWC is not a party to an appeal. At the request of some of our member cities, AWC has been serving in a coordinating role on this issue. To complement the concerns with the permit highlighted in the Issue Alert referenced above, AWC would like to hear from Phase II cities about the benefits of the permit. Please provide comments to Tim Gugerty, timg@awcnet.org.
Phasing Out Building Permit Moratoriums in Cities with Unprocessed Water Right Permit Applications (SB 5073)
While we expect this bill has little chance of passage, we appreciate Sen. Honeyford’s (D-Sunnyside) effort to raise this issue, which is frustrating many jurisdictions unable to get new permits but needing to respond to growth. Cities with this dilemma are encouraged to contact Tim Gugerty, timg@awcnet.org, with your input. The bill will be heard at 10 am in the Senate Water, Energy and Technology Committee on Tuesday, February 6.
Inspection/Inventory of Septic Systems in Cities (HB 1650)
This bill would require cities to conduct an inventory and inspection of septic systems within city limits. Bill sponsor Rep. Fromhold (D-Vancouver) appears to be trying to help urban and suburban property owners understand and clean up issues surrounding their septic systems and also facilitate hooking up to nearby sewers.
HB 1650 will be heard in the Select Committee on Environmental Health at 6 pm on Wednesday, February 7. We have been studying this bill and welcome input from cities. Please contact Tim Gugerty, timg@awcnet.org, with comments.
Expediting Toxic Site Clean Ups (HB 1761)
This bill reaffirms the goal and intent of 1988’s initiative that created the Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) to raise funds to clean up hazardous waste sites and to prevent the creation of future hazards due to improper disposal of toxic wastes into the state's lands and waters. HB 1761 also accelerates clean-up efforts with the goal of cleaning up all currently known sites within ten years. The bill will be heard in the Select Committee on Environmental Health at 1:30 pm on Thursday, February 8.
AWC Priority
Residential Burn Ban in Smaller Cities (SB 5075)
Senator Honeyford (R-Sunnyside) has introduced SB 5075, which permits outdoor burning of cut brush or timber within urban growth areas under certain conditions. SB 5075 is scheduled for a hearing in the Senate Water, Energy & Telecommunications Committee at 1:30 pm on Friday, February 2.
AWC will seek to ensure this or other legislation:
- Extends the exemption on residential burning in cities under 5,000 in population in non-Puget Sound GMA-planning counties; and
- Establishes a working group, including city representatives, that will explore an appropriate rationale for exemptions and the development of alternatives to residential burning.
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