HomeMy WebLinkAbout15-16 RESOLU'riON NO.
A RESOLUTION of the City Council of the City of Port Angeles,
Washington, adopting the 2017 L�e islativc Priorities for the City of Port
Angeles.
WHEREAS, the need for the City of Port Angeles to identify its needs on behalf of the
City and its residents before the Washington State Legislature is of vital importance; and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent, on the City of Port Angeles to work together with other
towns and cities in the State of Washington to bring forward mutual concerns to the
Washington State Legislature through actions lead by the Association of Washington Cities
(A WC); and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent on the City of'Port Angeles to work together with the other
local government agencies on the Olympic Peninsula to join together to bring greater support
to local matters of mutual concern before the Washington State Legislature; and
WHEREAS, the City of Port Angeles must rernain vigilant to any and all actions that
may be considered by the Washington State Legislature and the potential positive or negative
impact on Port Angeles, its residents and the greater Olympic Peninsula,region-, and
WHEREAS, it is incumbent that staff provide periodic briefings and reports to the City
Council regarding legislative actions being considered by the Washington State Legislature
and make recornmendations for the City Council to support or oppose actions under
consideration by the Washington State Legislature.
' OLVEL) by the City Council of the City of Port
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RES
Angeles that:
Section 1. The City Council of the City of Port Angeles does hereby authorize the
City Manager to transmit the 2017 Legislative Priorities to the State Senator Kevin Van De
Wege and State Representatives Steve Tharinger and Mike Chapman.
Section 2. The City Council of the City of Port Angeles further directs the City
Manager to transmit the City of Port Angeles 2017 Legislative Priorities to the Association of
Washington Cities and our neighboring local government jurisdictions on the Olympic
Peninsula.
Section 3. The City Council of the City of Port Angeles authorizes and directs the
City Manager to monitor proposed legislative activity under consideration by the Washington
State Legislature and provide periodic reports to the City Council regal-ding the status of
proposed legislation,the impact of the proposed legislation, and the potential need for the City
of Port Angeles to take a position in support or opposition of the proposed legislation.
Section 4. The City Council of the City of Port Angeles further directs the City
Manager to work in a cooperative manner with the other local government jurisdictions on the
greater Olympic Peninsula to identify and advance items of mutual concern and need to the
City Council of Port Angeles for endorsement prior to seeking legislative change.
Section 5. The City Council of the City of Port Angeles further directs the City
Manager that as issues may arise such as the trans-Canada pipeline, and other similar issues or
matters of concern that the City Manager shall prepare a report or analysis for consideration
by the City Council.
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PASSED by the City Council of the City of Port Angeles at a regular meeting of said
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Council held on the 20th day of December, 2016.
Patrick ovvme, ", ayor
ATTEST: APP CAVED AS TO I�R%
V%t o'� )'c 0
14ifer neklasen, City Clerk William E. 131oor, City Attorney
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"I. #WEAiEJw ESS, ,.SING HUMAN SERVICES
yAC ✓iEnhance efforts to increaseaffordable housin&decreasehomelessness,and improve a strained behavioral
health system
Urban and rural cities throughout the state are grappling g° illi increasing homeless populations,lacy of
affordable housing,and a poorly-funded metal health and substance abase system,
Cities are struggling to solve these issues with Bruited resources.Together with the state;counties,and
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nonprofit partners,we support efforts to develop new strategies that address the issues plaguing our
human service,homeless,and affordable housing systems.
During the 2016 Update of the Comprehensive Plan this was an issue of highest priority,
THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES ASKS THE LEGISLATURE TO:
1. Make the document recording fee permanent and increase the fee to expand investments in
homelessness assistance.
2. Invest another$1200 million in the Housing Trust Fund,the preeminent tool in the state to
y fund affordable housing g construction.
3. Create new local options to generate revenue for homelessness services and.for affordable
housing construction.
4. Ensure full authority to allow the state to maximize federal Medicaid resources and provide
additional resources for mental health and chemical dependency services.
f S. Enable a R&CI flax credit for municipal transfer stations for issues related to solid waste
disposal from nuisance abatement and low income housing rehabilitation.
C. Provide supplemental support to rural and low-income cities to aid in
providing mental health and chemical dependency services.
CITY-STA, TE'PARTNERSHIP,
Preserve the city-state budget partnership,
Over the last few biennium,the state has braced its budget at the expense of cities, While we
understand the fiscal challenges the Leg lature faces,we knot accept that sweeping aitical funds
from their intended uses is in the best interest of our state.
The City of Port Angeles and Association ofWashington Cities(AWC)supports the Legislature
in securing sufficient revenue to found state progrinns and obligation and therefore unilaterally
eliminating or significantly reducing staff.:funding to cies Is not acceptable.
THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES ASKS THE LEGISLATURE TO:
p 1. Maintain the city-state shared revenue partnership for funding key services..
2. Provide adequate and sustainable funding for the Criminal Justice Training Commission to
maintain high-quality statewide training for law enforcement personnel.
3. Continue the current funding from local liquor revenue distributions to the Municipal
Research and Services Center(MRSC),which provides vital support for local government
performance.
4. Fund the Department of Ecology(DoE)to allow DoE to respond in a timely manner to
I111 f j either approve or deny requests made to DoE for rulings or,if DoE does not respond within
the specified timeframe to allow the request from the local government to be considered
approved.
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CAL INFRASTRUCTURE
Revitalize key infrastructure assistance progrants that support job creation,community health and safety,and quality of life.
City infrastructure systems are a critical part of a larger network that serves and benefits the entire state.
Diversion from programs that support basic local infrastructure means thatcommunities cannot affordably maintain and secure new
infrastructure,
Increasingly stringent storinwater regulations are stifling important commercial economic development due to their high costs,with
minimal improvement to water quality for States waterways,
THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES ASKS THE LEGISLATURE TO:
I. Provide stable and reliable infrastructure assistance to help cities overcome the financial challenges of building and repairing
local systems that support economic development and benefit the entire state.
2. Commit to a proactive state partnership in key programs like the Public darks Trust Fund. If current programs are not
sustainable,they need to be reformed.
3. Review of Wasth,ington State Department of Ecology application of National Pollutant.Discharge Elimination System Phase 11
and the application of Western Washington Stormwater Manual to ensure recognition of unique community characteristics.
Stormwater regulations must cite concrete and tangible metrics showing water quality improvements prior to implementing
broad brushed regulations with minimal environmental improvement impacts.
4. Increase the voter-approved sales tax limit to 4/10 of one percent and remove the 10 year re-authorization limit for transportation
benefit districts.Rural cities need additional options for voters to consider since the existing tax base does not provide an
adequate means to address rapidly deteriorating street infrastructure.
5. Provide adequate funding to replace the US 101 Elwha River Bridge.This is a vital transportation link for the City of Port Angeles
and the entire Olympic Peninsula.Having adequate and reliable highway systems including a structurally safe bridge over the
Elwha River is imperative to allow goods,services,residents,and tourists to have safe access to the Olympic Peninsula.
LOCAL AUTHORITY
Respect city authority to respond to local needs
With the recent recession behind tis,cities.are looking for stable revenue to provide essential services to our growing population,such as
public safety and infrastructure.
City officials are elected and must have the authority to sore local chap es,
THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES ASKS THE LEGISLATURE TO:
1. Respect cities'local authority for revenue,taxes,licensing,and regulation.
2. Allow cities to increase the property tax to an extent that accounts for inflation and population growth.
3. Restore liquor revolving account revenues with 60%of the revenues targeted to criminaljustice/public safety needs;including
mental health and chemical dependency needs.
PUBLIC RECORDS
Modernize the Public Records Act(PRA)saw that cities can continue to provide aspen,and trtanspaarent,government services to our residents
Every day,local government at o s ensure transparency in government and serve as stewards of public resources by effectively
implementing the PRA, However,advances in technology and the increased volume and complexity of records requests are undermining
the P .This act raaust be updated to reflect: ,1st century realities in order to fulfill its'original purpose,provide gove nmentmnspar ncy,
and make wise use of taxpayer dollars.
THE CITY OF PORT ANGELES ASKS THE LEGISLATURE TO.
1.Permit cities to charge for providing complex digital data and electronic copies of public records,similar to charges for making a.
paper copy.
2. Develop an alternative dispute resolution system that serves government agencies and requesters to quickly resolve
disagreements without costly litigation.
3. Designate technical and funding assistance by restoring funding to grant programs that help local governments.
4. Provide a mechanism for dealing with problem requesters,often times inmates,who abuse the system and put a strain on
limited resources that could be better used to assist legitimate requesters.
5. Define in State law what constitutes an"identifxahV record or set of records for purposes of Public Records Requests so that
requests for"any and all"records would not be considered a legitimate request.
6. Establish a cost recovery mechanism for processing things such as electronic records requests.
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