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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 2.
For Meeting of: December 21, 2020
ITEM TITLE: Discussion of City of Yakima 2021 State Legislative Priorities
SUBMITTED BY: Randy Beehler, Communications & Public Affairs Director
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
At its November 3rd regular meeting, the Yakima City Council adopted the City of Yakima's 2021
State Legislative Priorities. The priorities were developed based on observation of issues the
Council has focused on in 2020, progress made on the City's 2020 state priorities, input from the
City's contracted lobbyists in Olympia, City senior staff input, and review of legislative priorities
established by other municipal advocacy organizations. The Council will discuss the adopted
priorities with Yakima Valley legislators at a Special City Council Meeting on December 21 st.
Members of the 14th District State Legislative Delegation (Senator King, Representative Corry,
Representative Mosbrucker) and 15th District State Legislative Delegation (Senator Honeyford,
Representative Chandler, Representative Dufault) have been invited to the meeting. Additionally,
City staff and the City's Olympia lobbyists, Nick Federici and Luke Esser, will participate in the
meeting.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: NA
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
N/A
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
d ument 1 I15/ 2 r Me
City of Yakima
2021
State Legislative Priorities
Actively Pursue
- $8.2 million budget request from the Washington State Department of Fish and
Wildlife for the Nelson Dam removal/replacement project
- State funding participation in public/private investment in Miller Park upgrades
- Regulatory and legislative advocacy to preserve community access to health
care services
- Development of a comprehensive transportation funding package that
includes additional resources for cities
- Increased state funding to support local efforts to provide homeless services
and affordable housing
- Legislation and state funding designed to address the high rate of domestic
violence present in Washington State
- Increased state funding to support local gang prevention, intervention, and
suppression programs
- Continued support of local governments and business in response to the
COVID-19 pandemic
Support
- Increased state funding for"Floodplains by Design" projects
- Yakima Basin Integrated Plan (YBIP) capital budget request of$41 million to continue critical
elements of the YBIP
- Replacing the one percent property tax revenue increase limit with a limit tied to cost drivers
- Equitable distribution of marijuana excise tax revenue to local government
- Legislation to improve broadband accessibility in rural communities
- Continued funding of the Trueblood state grants for mental health response assistance
Monitor
- Legislation providing greater flexibility in the use of public funds for economic development
purposes
- Coordinate with Yakima County for flood risk reduction projects at and near Cowiche Creek
- Cuts to intergovernmental shared revenue, which should not be made to balance the state
budget
- Efforts to eliminate or curtail local government options for Transportation Benefit Districts