AWC Legislative Bulletin - Volume 31, No. 3
January 25, 2008  (Plain Text Version)

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In this issue:
What You Need to Know Now
From the Direcotor – Legislature Focuses on Major Issues: Climate Change and Transportation
Hearings of Interest During 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

From the Direcotor – Legislature Focuses on Major Issues: Climate Change and Transportation

By Stan Finkelstein, AWC Executive Director

As the Legislature completes its second week of deliberations, it is becoming apparent that many legislators are focusing on the November 2008 elections with a degree of risk aversion.

While they continue to discuss the issues and seek solutions to key concerns, they are mindful of impacts and associated costs. Two key issues this session are climate change and transportation funding. Both of these issues will be closely reviewed, and while some proposals will be advanced in 2008, the majority of work will come in 2009.

Climate Change

Throughout the early days of this session, AWC lobbyists have been actively engaged in discussions relating to proposed legislation regarding climate change. Those discussions have been positive from the city standpoint, and have resulted in substantial changes in legislation which was initially deemed harmful to city interests. Most notably, HB 2797 and SB 6580, which would have imposed mandatory planning requirements on GMA cities of over 30,000, is now moving in a direction acceptable to AWC. The Association is especially appreciative of the sensitivity to our concerns of Representative Geoff Simpson (D-Covington) and Senator Chris Marr (D-Spokane), sponsors of the House and Senate measures, and their willingness to address those concerns.

Also in the area of climate change, progress is being made on the "evergreen" cities bills, HB 2844 and SB 6449. As initially introduced, this measure would have required that every city of over 5,000 inventory and "manage" all trees, whether public or private, within the city. As evolving, the measure would require the Department of Natural Resources to do the inventory, which could take about 7 years. The legislation also continues to support the Tree City USA program, and would provide incentives to enact additional tree protections in the form of additional points to qualifying cities applying for Public Works Trust Fund loans and Centennial Clean Water funding. Here to, both the legislative sponsors and the environmental groups behind the measures have been gracious in their willingness to work out accommodations regarding AWC concerns.

Transportation Funding

Growing costs, shrinking resources, and the failure of Proposition 1 in King, Pierce, and Snohomish Counties, have focused transportation committee members on the dilemma of how is the state to address critical transportation needs. While we don’t anticipate major funding initiatives in an election year, discussions are becoming evident regarding the need for tolling on major state roadways, potential modifications/repeal of the Regional Transportation Investment District (RTID) statutes, and of the issue regarding whether local governments should have a responsibility to jointly fund state highways of regional significance.

While most of the discussions have focused on state transportation funding problems, as the soon to be released AWC State of the Cities Infrastructure report acknowledges, many cities are falling woefully behind in their ability to address local thoroughfare problems. Hopefully, when the Legislature addresses transportation funding issues, local needs will be part of the solution.

In Closing

So far the 2008 legislative session is progressing well for AWC. We’ve been especially successful in establishing positive lines of communication with key legislators and other interest groups. While we may not always prevail, the Association is establishing a strong reputation for its willingness to find solutions to divisive issues.