AWC Legislative Bulletin - Volume 31, No. 1
January 11, 2008  (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
From the Director: Legislature to Convene – Low Expectations
City Legislative Action Conference – January 30-31!
AWC Climate Change Policy Brief
AWC 2008 Legislative Priorities

AWC 2008 Legislative Priorities

Cities are the backbone of our state, providing the services that create quality of life for the majority of our state’s citizens: police and fire protection, clean drinking water, sewer systems, sidewalks, street lights and safe streets and bridges parks and open space, libraries. The fundamental services our cities provide are also the building blocks upon which a strong state economy is constructed.

During the past several decades, more of the responsibility for providing essential services such as street operation and maintenance, sewer and water services, and public safety services has fallen to local governments. Cities have witnessed a decline in the level of shared responsibility between federal, state and city governments. This shift in responsibility has also included a growing number of mandates that require local governments to meet more stringent regulations.

Maintenance for roads, bridges, parks, sewers and water systems can only be delayed so long before long-term costs skyrocket. At a time when our cities need to be investing to promote greater economic development for the future, many are forced to just plug the short-term gaps and focus every available dollar needed immediately to fund critical services.

Cities have risen to meet these challenges head-on – ensuring efficient and effective use of resources and finding new options to fund services and capital investments. City officials recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all solution to the challenges facing our communities. That is why the AWC Board adopted legislative priorities for the 2008 session calling for flexible solutions that allow cities of all sizes to meet the needs of their citizens and continue to provide the economic activity that serves as the basis for a strong statewide economy.

The 6 major legislative priorities that will be presented to the Legislature will focus on:

  • Promoting city fiscal health and flexibility,
  • Maintaining and developing quality infrastructure for safety and development; and
  • Providing for flexible general government operations

Promote City Fiscal Health and Flexibility

Cities need broad discretion in using existing revenue sources to respond to local challenges. It’s critical that cities and towns also have the authority to look for new and innovative strategies and resources.

Major Priority:

  • LEOFF 1 Medical and Long-Term Care Costs: Seek legislation that provides financial assistance for cities in paying for these liabilities.
  • Property Tax: While we acknowledge that the Legislature re-instated the 1% cap on property taxes, we will continue to work with them to make improvements to the property tax system that benefits cities.

Maintain and Develop Quality Infrastructure for Safety and Development

It is in the state’s interest to help cities develop and maintain a strong infrastructure system that ensures public safety and promotes economic development that provides the state and cities needed revenues. As public works become more complex, cities need more management flexibility.

Major Priority:

  • Infrastructure Funding – Increase Existing Grant and Loan Programs: Seek increased funding for infrastructure and economic development programs.
  • Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) and Job Development Fund: Seek permanent funding for the CERB and the Job Development Fund.

Provide for Flexible General Government Operations

It’s vital that cities have the flexibility and local decision-making authority to make the right decisions for their citizens. Cities must be able to develop service delivery tools in a way that’s cost-effective, efficient and flexible – and free from unwarranted restraint.

Major Priority:

  • Annexation and City/County Governance Transition: Advocate for changes to annexation statutes that will better facilitate annexations, and explore legislative ideas to encourage cities and counties to better coordinate boundary, finance and governance transition issues.
  • Gang Task Force Recommendations: AWC will support local option tools and funding for use by cities.

Other Priority Issues for the 2008 Legislative Session

In addition to the six major priorities, the AWC Board also adopted 17 additional legislative priorities for 2008.

  • REET: Seek legislation that provides greater flexibility for REET by expanding the uses of the second quarter REET to match the first quarter.
  • Housing Affordability: Seek passage of legislation addressing housing affordability through infrastructure funding and new fiscal incentives; oppose new mandates or pre-emptive zoning legislation; oppose elimination of impact fee authorities unless replaced with something that provides equal or more revenue.
  • Local Solutions to Climate Change: Support proposals that provide cities with additional flexible tools to continue creating sustainable communities; engage in discussions about the most effective means to meet Greenhouse Gas Emission goals established in 2007; oppose new unfunded mandates and "one size fits all" solutions to sustainability challenges, and; provide outreach and education to cities.
  • Mitigating Medical Costs for Offenders: Seek passage of legislation to remove the 2-year sunset provision in Sec. 66 of SSB 5930; expand the uses of the extraordinary criminal justice account to include extraordinary medical costs for offenders; support individual city proposals to provide additional funds for offender medical costs.
  • Increase Local Funding Options for Public Safety: Seek passage of legislation providing additional local funding options for public safety purposes, including jail construction.
  • Financial Assistance for Cities and Towns with an Insufficient Tax Base: Explore options to expand financial assistance as opportunities are presented.
  • Municipal Phase II Stormwater Permit: Oppose new conditions that exceed Federal minimum standards, advocate for funding assistance to help cities implement the permit, and consider legal/legislative remedies.
  • Public Health Financing: Pursue legislation that increases funding for local health jurisdictions (LHJs) while working to ensure cities are not mandated to fund LHJs.
  • Puget Sound Clean-Up: Stay actively engaged in development of the Puget Sound Partnership’s Action Agenda and advance proposals that help restore and protect the Sound while preserving local land use authority and spending priorities.
  • Local Infrastructure Finance Tool (LIFT): Continue to message to legislature to expand LIFT, increase eligibility, and make technical corrections to this authority.
  • Alternative Public Works Legislation: Pursue modifications to Design-Build authority; repeal $10M floor and broaden definition.
  • Filling a Vacancy in the Office of Mayor: Pursue legislation to clarify that incumbent councilmembers in mayor-council cities are eligible to be appointed to fill a vacancy in the office of mayor without first having to resign their council seat.
  • Balancing Environmental Protection, Economic Development and Protection of Property Rights: Continue to support efforts to provide greater deference to cities to determine how best to balance protection of property rights, local environmental resources and economic development, including potential clarification on how to find, consider and apply Best Available Science. Also engage is consideration of city eminent domain authorities to help insure appropriate existing community redevelopment tools are maintained.
  • Land Use/Gambling: Defend cities’ ability to fully ban gambling and seek legislation that provides cities the ability to zone or partially ban gambling facilities.
  • Outdoor Burning in Small Cities/Towns: Seek relief for cities under 5,000 in population from the January 1, 2007 deadline banning residential burning.
  • Expedite Grant and Loan Programs: Pursue/support legislation to accelerate the approval of proposed PWB project lists.
  • Bid Limit Flexibility: Pursue legislation to increase current city bid limits and provide additional flexibility.

A complete listing of AWC's legislative priorities, including issues to endorse and strongly defend against, can be found at www.awcnet.org/legpriorities.