AWC Legislative Bulletin - Volume 30, No. 5
February 2, 2007  (Plain Text Version)

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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

Land Use & Housing

AWC Priority
Promote Affordable Housing With No Unfunded Mandates (HB 1726/HB 1727)

After publication of last week’s Bulletin, these two Realtor-sponsored land use and housing bills were added to the February 1 House Local Government Committee agenda.

AWC has concerns with HB 1726, which directs the state to re-craft the population forecasts used as the basis of local planning under the Growth Management Act (GMA). AWC strongly opposes HB 1727, which adds new planning responsibilities and costs in all 29 counties and cities planning under the GMA. While this bill may be well intended, it will not result in more housing or affordability in cities. Unfortunately, a crammed hearing agenda left less than five minutes for Redmond Councilmember Richard Cole and Everett Councilmember Paul Roberts to express concerns with these bills.

AWC’s written comments submitted to the Committee are available at www.awcnet.org/documents/HB1726HB1727AWCcomments.doc.

For more information, please contact either Dave Williams, davew@awcnet.org, or Tim Gugerty, timg@awcnet.org.

AWC Priority
Responses to Failure of I-933
Allowing Shared Use of Best Available Science (HB 1781)

This simple and straightforward bill sponsored by Rep. Deb Eddy (D-Kirkland) acknowledges that science used to figure out the best way to protect environmental values in one community can be used by other communities if applicable to the same types of lands and conditions. This bill would cut down costs of preparing regulations, protect environmental values, and might even reduce litigation. AWC will testify in strong support of this bill before the House Local Government Committee at 8 am on Thursday, February 8.

Changing Washington’s Vesting Laws (SB 5507/HB 1463)

Washington is one of only a few states whose laws "vest" (establish the applicable rules and regulations for) land use applications at the time of application. Most other states vest them at the time a permit is issued. These bills would essentially align our laws with the majority of other states. Cities that have reviewed these bills have shared a variety of perspectives with AWC; some like the proposals and others do not. The business community is fully-aligned in opposition and the environmental community is in support. AWC has not taken a position and, given the division of opinion among cities, likely will not.

HB 1463 has already had a hearing and SB 5507 will be heard at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, February 6, in the Senate Government Operations and Elections Committee.

Reinstating Boundary Review Board Authority (HB 1622)

A recent 5-4 State Supreme Court decision ruled that Boundary Review Boards (BRBs) may not enlarge a proposed city annexation area. This bill would clarify that they may. Again, cities have expressed both support and opposition to the idea that BRBs may enlarge annexations, sometimes to the detriment of the annexation because the annexation includes areas which, although being logical for annexation, are in opposition to being annexed.

AWC will remain neutral on this bill, which is scheduled for hearing before the House Local Government Committee at 1:30 pm on Tuesday, February 6.

Siting State Community Justice Facilities (HB 1733)

AWC is reviewing this comprehensive bill that would require cities and counties to establish agreed-upon siting criteria for a variety of community justice facilities. The bill is scheduled for hearing before the House Human Services Committee at 1:30 pm on Thursday, February 8. Interested cities are encouraged to review the bill and provide comments to Tim Gugerty, timg@awcnet.org.

Modifying Transportation Impact Fee Authority (HB 1753)

See the Infrastructure, Transporation & Economic Development section for information about this bill.

GMA Legislative Task Force (HB 1558)

Rep. Fred Jarrett (R-Mercer Island) is promoting this bill to create a task force comprising various interests and legislators to explore a variety of "hot button" issues surrounding implementation of the Growth Management Act (GMA) around the state. AWC is very supportive of this idea, especially given the fact that every year since GMA was adopted, numerous bills are introduced and fought over to reduce or expand the GMAs scope. HB 1558 will be heard before the House Local Government Committee at 8 am on Thursday, February 8.

Assumption of Water-Sewer Districts (HB 1864)

This bill would eliminate the authority of cities to assume all or part of a water-sewer district if more than 60% of the district is within city limits. AWC will oppose this bill, which is scheduled for hearing before the House Local Government Committee at 1:30 pm on Friday, February 9.