HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/01/2011 11 City Council Legislative Committee Recommendation to Adopt 2011 Federal Priorities BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
IP YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. ' ( 1
For Meeting Of: February 1, 2011
ITEM TITLE: Report and recommendation from the City Council Legislative Committee to
adopt 2011 Federal Priorities.
SUBMITTED BY: Michael Morales, Acting City Manager
CONTACT: Michael Morales, 575 -6040
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Attached is a draft copy of the City of Yakima's 2011 Federal Legislative Issues. A summary of
the city's appropriations requests was presented to the city council Legislative Committee on
January 19.
As proposed, the city will continue our requests for additional appropriations for COPS Tech
funding for a regional communications system; gap funding for the Martin Luther King, Jr.
Boulevard Underpass; and Transportation or Economic Development Initiative funds for the
Yakima Sawmill Redevelopment Project. In addition, our legislative priorities include advocacy
for continuation of competitive grant funds for capital projects, community development
di initiatives, and law enforcement and crime prevention activities.
Following council approval, this document will be presented to our Congressional delegation,
and other federal agency officials in Washington, DC next week. The city's delegation consists
of Mayor Cawley, Councilman Ettl, and Michael Morales; accompanied by County
Commissioner Rand Elliott, Brad Hill for the Mill District Redevelopment, and Steve Magallan for
the Gang Free Initiative.
Resolution Ordinance Contract Other
Funding Source
Approval for Submittal: J
Acting City Manager
STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the 2011 Federal Priorities.
COMMIT Legislative
COUNCIL ACTION:
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CITY OF YAKIMA
2011 FEDERAL PRIORITIES
PROPOSED
COMMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
• Pass legislation to extend Renewal Community tax incentives through 2015, and expand
RC boundaries.
• Increase CDBG and HOME funding, restoring cuts made over the past several years.
• Yakima Mill District Redevelopment Project: $2,000,000 Transportation appropriation to
finance a portion of Phase 1 Infrastructure.
PUBLIC SAFETY
• Combating violent crime and building a safe community is a Yakima Valley regional
priority.
• $750,000 COPS Tech appropriation to complete the Yakima County Integrated Public
Safety Communications System.
• Restore cuts made to COPS, First Responder, and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant
programs.
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS
• Support for the Yakima Trans - Action priorities including:
o $2,000,000 -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Railroad Grade Separation Project.
o $2,000,000 -- Gateway Redevelopment - Terrace Heights Connector: Joint
request with Yakima County for planning funds and inclusion in reauthorization
of the transportation act.
• Reauthorization of the federal Transportation Act.
ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
• Congressional delegation support to secure Brownfields Assessment, Cleanup and
Redevelopment grants from the EPA Region 10 office.
COMMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Legislation to extend Renewal Community tax incentives through 2015 and expand
RC boundaries.
Yakima was designated a federal Renewal Community (RC) in 2002. This designation
expired in 2009, and was arbitrarily stripped from the 2010 tax extenders bill in the final days
of the legislative process. This Renewal Community program has been a critical component
of Yakima's economic resurgence, and specifically the renaissance of our downtown.
• Yakima Sawmill Redevelopment Project -- $2,000,000
The City requests $2,000,000 to help construct an arterial street system that is
necessary for redevelopment of the site and will benefit the surrounding neighborhoods.
Redevelopment of this former sawmill and plywood plant is moving forward, boosted by
a commitment from the State of Washington in 2009 for up to $25 million of tax
increment financing. The City and property owners are developing a master plan for
over 200 acres of interstate frontage property. The site offers one of the most significant
development opportunities in Central Washington.
• Restore funding formula levels for CDBG and HOME
CDBG and HOME programs have served as a vital resource to help meet Yakima's
community development, affordable housing, and economic development needs for 35
years. Even with proven success, CDBG formula grants have been significantly reduced
over the last several years, with Yakima losing 20% of its entitlement. This number
alone equates to a loss of $1 million in Section 108 economic development loan
authority, and a substantial negative effect on our community.
PUBLIC SAFETY
COPS Tech Appropriation for Yakima County Integrated Public Safety System.
The Yakima Valley Public Safety community is grateful for the $500,000 appropriation included
in the FY 2009 and 2010 Omnibus spending bills. As the project nears implementation in late
2010, the City of Yakima, Yakima County, and member cities need an additional $750,000 from
the COPS Tech Appropriation Bill to establish this integrated system for computerized aided
dispatch, mobile data, law enforcement field reporting, law enforcement records, prosecutors
processing and corrections. COPS Tech funds will ensure that critical data will be accessible by
all law enforcement agencies in the county, streamlining the operations and enhancing the
abilities of our Public Safety agencies throughout the county.
Combating violent crime and building a safe community is a Yakima Valley priority.
Crime is not just a state and local matter to be resolved. Federal resources are needed to
promote intergovernmental coordination that leads to improved criminal justice practices and
crime - reduction: —While Yakima- has - made - progress -on- the - fight- against crime federal- resources
continue to dwindle while illegal guns and drugs from other countries continue to flood our
streets.
• Support regional efforts to leverage OJJDP Funds for the Yakima Gang Free
Initiative and the Yakima County Gang Commission.
0 • Funding for COPS and LLEBG should be restored with strong accountability standards
tied to the grants.
• Balanced anti -gang legislation must be enacted that strengthens local law
enforcement and provides positive alternatives to gang participation.
Increase funding for the State Criminal Alien Assistance Program. The federal
government should not require local law enforcement personnel to detain criminal aliens
without sufficient reimbursement to provide communities with the necessary resources
they need to detain criminals.
• Office of National Drug Control Policy "Accelerated Domestic. Market Disruption
Program ": Yakima was one of the smallest cities in the nation to participate in the
"Accelerated Domestic Market Disruption Program" (Accelerated Arrest). Funded by
annual grants from the ONDCP of $150,000 in 2004, 2005, 2006, and 2007 the program
helps police efforts to target mid and high -level drug dealers. In 2007 alone the regional
task force seized over $10 million worth of drugs, in addition to scores of vehicles and
firearms. Unfortunately, funding has not been renewed, and the City requests
restoration of these funds to allow for multi -year grant awards.
REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS
As Congress considers legislation for continued investment, we urge you to provide full
NO funding for federal transportation programs that support bridges, roads, highways, and transit
and to support funding that goes directly to local governments, such as transportation
enhancements, and the Congestion Management Air Quality Program that helps reduce
congestion and protects the environment.
Yakima Trans - Action Regional Priorities
The City of Yakima is a partner agency in Trans - Action, a regional collaborative effort to
improve strategic transportation connection points in the Upper Yakima Valley. Trans - Action's
priority funding requests include the Yakima Railroad Grade Separation Project and the
Gateway Corridor - Sawmill Redevelopment Study.
Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Railroad Grade Separation Project -- $2,000,000
Construction began on the Lincoln Avenue underpass in April 2010, but the City is still short of
funds to ensure construction of the second underpass (MLK), which could begin following
completion of Lincoln Avenue in July 2011. Additional federal funding will ensure the second
underpass is built in a timely manner and does not incur significant cost increases.
Amtrak North Coast Hiawatha Passenger Train Route
The City - of - Yakima supports - legislation - to - authorize funding - in - passenger
service along the North Coast Hiawatha passenger route, including stops in Yakima and
Pasco. Directed by Congress, Amtrak published a feasibility study on this route in October
2009. The study projected a yearly ridership of 359,800 and estimated that $1 billion in funds
would be necessary to restore the North Coast Hiawatha, including over $300 million for new
locomotives and rolling stock. While it would take four to five years to reintroduce the service if
NO a decision is made to move forward, restoration of this service could have a tremendous
economic impact for our region's growing wine and eco- tourism industries.'
ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT
Support reauthorization of EPA Brownfield Programs
The City supports reauthorization and increased funding levels for the EPA Brownfields
Program. These programs help communities clean and redevelop industrial sites that have been
damaged or undervalued by environmental contamination. Redevelopment of these sites can
create new jobs and improve the quality of life for local residents. The City may have several
potential sites in the future that could benefit from federal funding and tax incentive programs
such as EPA Brownfield Redevelopment funds.
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