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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2015 Legislative Agenda P vnT -N �•� W A S H I N G T O N, U. S. A. City Council CITY of PORT ANGELES/2015—LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Issue one/February 2015 Our Environment Landfill Bluff Stabilization—The closed municipal landfill abutting the Strait of Juan de Fuca is held in place by a thin remnant of bluff. Bluff erosion presents an acute risk of failure, inevitably resulting in solid waste and asbestos discharging directly into the Strait. In the summer of 2014,the City commenced relocation of the garbage and asbestos to prevent its release into the environment from bluff failure. The total project cost is estimated to be approximately $24 million, with the construction portion at $17 million. The City has instituted a flow control ordinance, and has increased tipping fees at the solid waste transfer station by 19% in 2014 ($170/ton) and 14.6% in 2015 ($195/ton). Fee increases will continue over the next 20 plus years, until bonds and loans are paid off. Residents of this rural economically challenged County now have the highest tipping fees in the State of Washington. Because of the unique urgency of this situation, the Department of Ecology made it a priority to provide $3.99 million "seed" money during the 2013—2015 biennium. The Washington State 2013-2015 Supplemental Capital Budget also -- contained legislation for $5.0 million in financial assistance in the Senate version. Since the 2015 Supplemental Capital Budget was not approved, no State capital funding support was received. The City is renewing its request for f - Capital budget funding in the amount of $2.5 million (DOE budget) to remove 100% of the waste from East 304 Cell along the bluff, and $2.0 million for removal of extensive volumes of asbestos uncovered during the 2014 excavation phase. The City has also applied for a Public Works Trust Fund Loan to assist in offsetting the higher interest LTGO and Revenue Bonds ($16 million) which were sold to finance this project. The landfill is a regional asset; because of this, bluff stabilization project costs will be spread amongst the nearly 40,000 regional rural residents using the facility. Harbor Cleanup —The City is identified as a "Potentially Liable Party" (PLP) for cleanup of the Port Angeles Harbor. Although we believe the City's contribution to harbor contamination is limited, we are committed to taking the most responsible approach to clean up. In 2012, the City joined with four other PLPs --Nippon.Paper Industries USA Co., Ltd.; Merrill &Ring; the Port of Port Angeles; and Georgia-Pacific LLC -- to form the Western Port Angeles Harbor Group ("WPAHG"). Since then, WPAHG has been working directly with the Department of Ecology on a remedial investigation and feasibility study. WPAHG has worked efficiently and made good progress. Phone: 360-417-4500/Fax: 360-417-4509/TTY: 360-417-4645 Website:www.cityofpa.us/Email: council @cityofpa.us 321 East Fifth Street- P.O. Box 1150/Port Angeles, WA 98362-0217 CITY of PORT ANGELES/2015 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Issue one/February 2015 The Group will be ready to complete the remedial investigation and feasibility study soon. We are waiting for direction from DOE as to how it will implement.its newly adopted sediment management standards. To date, the City has financed.its share of WPAHG's expenses through a combination of an unpopular surcharge imposed on wastewater utility charges and some insurance coverage under policies issued prior to 1986. The City also applied for a $1.3 million Remedial Action Grant (RAG) from funds administered by DOE. No grant was awarded to the City initially, but in a second round, the City was awarded a RAG in the amount of$400,000. This grant does help, but in the future, as costs related-to the harbor cleanup are expected to increase, the City will necessarily rely more and more on RAGs from DOE. And likewise, the City will need the.continued support of legislators to make sure funding for RAGs remain available in the Department of Ecology Toxic Clean Up program. We anticipate those RAGs in the future will be critically important to an effective and efficient cleanup of the harbor. Combined Sewer Overflow (CSO) / Public Works Trust Fund Loan - The City is under the Department of Ecology Order No. 3853 to meet State CSO discharge standards no later than December 31,2015. The cost is approximately$42 million. City utility customers are paying a$20 per month CSO surcharge,on average,per connection,which is in addition to their normal sewage rate fees. Public Works Trust Fund (PWTF).loans are key and essential to funding the project,and we thank the State Public Works Board for ensuring a PWTF loan of$12 million was made available to execute Phase 2 of the project. With the PWTF loan and CSO surcharge rate accumulation,the City has awarded Phase 2 which will commence construction in spring 2015. This low-cost loan program is critical to accomplishing projects in a cost-effective and timely manner, and we encourage Legislators to continue with a robustly funded PWTF and State Revolving Fund(SRF)program. The PWTF has helped the City renew old and failing infrastructure. Past and current projects include reservoir covers, water main replacement, combined, sewer overflow elimination, and street improvements. These and other projects are vital to a healthy and growing community. Cross Jurisdictional Opportunities Advanced Composites Center —Port Angeles is uniquely positioned in a newly developed composites corridor with large employers directly contributing to innovation in composites. The City of Port Angeles and the Port of Port Angeles have made significant investments in the form of a local Composite Campus facility. The Composite Recycling Technology Center (CRTC) is now taking shape on this campus. Peninsula College has also invested in composites industry; becoming ----- the only community college in the state with a composites - manufacturing training program, which it runs at the North Olympic ,. Peninsula Skills Center. CITY of PORT ANGELES /2015 —LEGISLATIVE AGENDA Issue one/ February 2015 We continue to receive support from the U.S. Department of Commerce and WA State Department of Commerce to aid in the pursuit of economic development opportunities in the composite industry. Discussions are ongoing with several WA State carbon fiber manufacturers for scrap material, hauling support, equipment, and market/technical support. It is imperative for our State Legislature to recognize how significant this industry's role is in Washington State innovation. Our Future CERB Revitalization Funding — This is a tremendously productive economic development tool for municipalities. CER 3 funding has enabled the City of Port Angeles to complete Phase 1, and the bulk of Phase 2 of the City's waterfront revitalization program. Residents and tourist alike have raved about the ongoing waterfront transformation. We are extremely grateful for the legislation providing this funding opportunity. Current Legislative Positions ISSUE AWC LEGISLATIVE CITY of PORT ANGELES POSITION POSITION • STATE SHARED • Reinstate historic liquor profit • Strongly support the efforts of AWC to seek REVENUE sharing;avoid any further cuts reinstatement of state shared revenue related to to state shared revenues. liquor profits. • From the historic high-water mark of$261,155 in 2012,the City's share of liquor profits/liquor excise tax fell to$206,471 in 2014—21% reduction in funding. • INFASTRUCTURE • Restore the state's • Strongly support the efforts of AWC to seek commitment to public reinstatement of funding for the Public Works infrastructure investment and Assistance Account("Public Works Trust Fund") avoid any further cuts or and protect the account from further attack in diversions to accounts like the the future. Public Works Assistance Account("Public Works Trust The Public Works Trust Fund has be provided Fund") invaluable support to the City to fund significant portions of our work on the Combined Sewer Overflow(CSO)project and to reduce the overall cost to ratepayers for the most expensive public works project in the City's history. 3 ISSUE AWC LEGISLATIVE CITY of PORT ANGELES POSITION POSITION • TRANSPORTATION • Support adoption of a multi- • Strongly support the efforts of AWC to seek long- modal transportation package term dedicated funding for transportation. that addresses both state and city needs. Urge passage of a 0 The City of Port Angeles is highly dependent on revenue package that includes single access to Port Angles via US 101. The direct distribution of gas tax ability to maintain that access is vital to the revenue to cities that reflects economic health and well-being to citizens of the actual amount of travel Port Angeles. that occurs on city streets;an array of local transportation • Adequate funding support to repair,renovate revenue options;and and maintain the City's streets and bridges is increased funding for critical to the overall health and welfare of Port programs that benefit cities. Angeles. Currently,the City has a backlog of street maintenance and repair projects in excess of$122.8 million,with limited resources to address that needed work. • MARIJUANA • Seek sharing of state revenues • Strongly support the efforts of AWC regarding all from the marijuana excise tax three prongs of the marijuana issue. to fund items such as public safety,health,and education • Jurisdictions surrounding the City of Port Angeles campaigns. have instituted moratoriums on the siting of marijuana-related businesses putting even • Retain local control over the greater pressure and strain on an already over- siting of marijuana-related burdened city. Without the potential of a business. revenue sharing option that would encourage other jurisdictions to fairly assume their local • Reconcile state laws and responsibilities regulations governing medical marijuana and recreational marijuana. The City of Port Angeles takes great pride in your commitment to work in partnership with our community. We greatly appreciate your dedication to making this goal a true reality for our citizens. We look forward to continuing this conversation with you on these and other legislative agenda issues. Resp/ ctfull 1 Mayor Dan DiGuilio City Manager Dan McKeen ddi ug ilio( ,cityofpa.us dmckeen(c�cityofpa.us 4