HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/07/2010 10 2011 State Legislative Priorities • BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No / O
For Meeting Of December 7, 2010
ITEM TITLE City of Yakima 2011 State Legislative Priorities
SUBMITTED BY Richard A. Zais, City Manager
CONTACT Michael Morales, 575 -3533
SUMMARY EXPLANATION Attached is the final draft of the city's 2011 State Legislative
Priorities The document was presented to the city council and November 16, 2010 and
referred back to the counc.iI legislative committee for further deliberations and to allow for other
council members to request amendments, additions or deletions to the document. The council
member requests to the document, and the legislative committee's recommendations on these
changes are as follows
FISCAL HEALTH AND FLEXIBILITY
Request by Councilman Lover:
0 "Reinstate funding for the State Auditor to complete and continue performance audits of local
governments that can identify additional efficiencies and improve resource management."
Explanation Councilman Lover is concerned that the previous performance audit of the City of
Yakima is incomplete, and that perhaps funding issues have delayed its completion The Office
of the State Auditor did, in fact, make a decision not to continue the limited scope audit, but that
decision was based upon an analysis of the anticipated benefits of the audit compared to other
audit priorities of the department. It was not a budget issue
Committee Recommendation The legislative committee does not recommend adding this
issue to the legislative agenda.
Continued next page.
Resolution Ordinance Other (Specify)
Contract Mail to (name and address)
Funding Source Arterial Stree and
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL. —1 -5---i- -- City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION This is a Council policy issue
BOARD RECOMMENDATION Council Legislative Committee recommends adoption as
III proposed in attached form
COUNCIL ACTION
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CAPITAL BUDGET
Request by Councilman Lover:
"Delete any requests for Capital Budget or appropriations due to the state of the economy,
projected state deficit and cuts to other state budgets."
Explanation. Councilman Lover does not believe that a state capital budget request is
appropriate in the current economic environment. He also does not support the original request
of $750,000 for the Miller Park Activity Center
Committee Recommendation The legislative committee does not recommend the request to
abstain from capital budget requests
Request Councilman Dave Edler:
"Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative — $1,000,000"
Explanation Significant sections of the core area connectors portion of the DYFI have not
been funded while the private and public sector continue to make significant investments in
facilities along these corridors Given the DYFI's excellent track record of leveraging other
funds, private capital investment, business and job creation, the project should remain a priority
for the city until all sections are complete
Committee Recommendation The legislative committee recommends adding this request to 111)
the legislative agenda.
ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT AND INFRASTRUCTURE
Request by Mayor Cawley
"Oppose additional administrative fee adjustments to ticket sales for sporting events such as
boxing, professional wrestling and mixed martial arts competition, which have a negative
impact on the viability of events in small markets."
Explanation Washington State does not have a Boxing Commission, so the State Department
of Licensing is the sanctioning body for fighting sports like boxing and mixed martial arts
Recently, the DOL added professional wrestling as a sanctioned sport, rather than just
entertainment as it is classified in many other states
In 2010, the DOL increased fees from 5% of total gross ticket sales to 6 %, and imposed an
additional $1 per ticket admissions fee The local MMA industry is working with others in the
state to repeal this increase as it impacts their ability to provide an affordable, yet profitable
event. Professional wrestling events are held once or twice per year in the Sundome, and they
are healthy attendance and revenue events for the facility that have a significant economic
impact on the annual Sundome budget. They also support the repeal of the fees and the
reclassification of professional wrestling as entertainment. This issue does not impact state
high school tournaments, or other professional sports (baseball, football, rodeo, etc.)
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0 Committee Recommendation The committee does not recommend adding this issue to the
legislative agenda.
Request by Staff
"Model Toxic Control Act (MTCA)"
Seek additional MTCA funds for local and statewide toxic waste clean -ups. Protect the MTCA
fund from diversion to the State general fund or other non - related programs."
Explanation. This is an expansion and prioritization of a sentence previously included in the
agenda ( "opportunities within MTCA funds for one time capital investments ") Staff
recommended this change as a result of discussions we have had with other cities, ports and
trade associations regarding the submittal of a list of projects to the legislature that would
include the Mill District landfill remediation as a candidate
Committee Recommendation The committee recommends adding this to the legislative
agenda.
The city's legislative agenda is developed in consultation with council, department staff and
other cities that share common interests and concerns, in addition to our involvement with the
various legislative subcommittees of Association of Washington Cities. In addition, we have
also worked closely with the Office of the Attorney General on anti -gang legislation As with any
issue, all cities do not always take the same position on specific bills, nor do we all place the
same level of priority on certain issues in the legislative arena.
411 The Legislative Agenda sets the stage from a general issue and policy standpoint for the city
Based on its content, staff will monitor and recommend positions in support or opposition of bills
that come up during the session relating to the topics identified in our agenda. Staff and council
may also advocate for the creation of legislation and financial requests that meet the objectives
of the legislative agenda.
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• CITY OF YAKIMA
2011 STATE LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES
PROPOSED
CRIMINAL JUSTICE
Support Gang Legislation proposed by the Office of the State Attorney General, including
specific provisions related to
• Funding for gang prevention and intervention strategies,
• Gang Nuisance Abatement Efforts,
• Anti -Gang Protection Orders
• Increased penalties for gang intimidation in schools
• Firearms forfeiture
• Proceeds form forfeited property to local communities for criminal street gang- related
law enforcement activities.
• Sentencing enhancements for gang related offenses, and the use of civil injunctions on known
gang members and enterprises.
Public Defense Funding & Standards:
• Support additional funding for local grants through the Office of Public Defense
• Oppose efforts to impose additional unfunded mandates that increase costs to local
governments.
® FISCAL HEALTH AND FLEXIBILITY
Ensure continued appropriation of committed state shared funds (such as Streamlined Sales
Tax Mitigation, City- County Assistance Account, and public health funding.),
Preserve existing local revenue authorities, and retain current authorities — neither add new
requirements or take current authorities away
CAPITAL BUDGET
Miller Park Activity Center Expansion -- $750,000. Funding to retrofit former senior center
and pool complex that now serves at risk youth in Yakima through the Yakima Police Athletic
League
Downtown Yakima Futures Initiative -- $1,000,000. Continued funding to complete sections
of the original plan within the core area of Downtown Yakima that continue to experience
significant capital investment.
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ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT & INFRASTRUCTURE INVESTMENTS
Maintain existing and establish new and broad application of existing tax incentives to promote
economic development and infrastructure expansion.
Increase Existing Grant and Loan Programs to stay current with construction inflation. This
includes the Public Works Assistance Account (Public Works Trust Fund), Transportation
Improvement Board, WSDOT Highways and Local Programs (i.e Bicycle /Pedestrian Programs)
Model Toxic Control Act (MTCA)
Seek additional MTCA funds for local and statewide toxic waste clean=ups. Protect the MTCA
fund from diversion to the State general fund or other non - related programs.
PERSONNEL & LABOR RELATIONS
Pursue amendments to criteria for binding interest arbitration. Consider other factors such as
ability to pay, economic conditions and other regional characteristics.
Pension Funding: Pursue level /stable contribution rates that do not fluctuate with economic
"boom/bust" cycles. Defer any increase in employer contributions from July 2011 to January
2012.
Extend provisions of furlough impact to pensions — Current law mitigates the pension impact
of furloughs on some employees It adjusts a retiring employee's benefit calculation to account
for compensation the employee would have earned had it not been for the furlough — during the
2009 -11 biennium only
PREEMPTION OF LOCAL AUTHORITY & UNFUNDED MANDATES
Oppose legislation that preempts local authority over policy or operational prerogatives that have
historically and traditionally been vested with local government.
Oppose unfunded mandates on local government, especially those that would result in the loss of
existing revenue or revenue authority
PUBLIC RECORDS
Pursue pro - active public records proposals that address some of the problems that come with the
burgeoning public records
LIQUOR ENFORCEMENT ACTIVITIES
Support continued state funding for the Liquor Control Board's enforcement operations
including advocating for increased enforcement levels to address the public safety impacts of
legislation intended to expand the sales and availability of liquor
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