HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/17/2005 Joint Public Meeting 2 9
JOINT PUBLIC MEETING
ON
INITIATIVE 912
OCTOBER 17, 2005 7:00 P.M.
YAKIMA CONVENTION CENTER
10 NORTH 8 STREET
1. Call to Order
County Commissioner Mike Leita called the meeting to order
2. Roll Call
Yakima County
Commissioners: Mike Leita, Presiding, and Ron Gamache
Staff: Diana Soules, Elections Manager; and Gary Ekstedt,
Assistant Public Services Director /Road Engineer
Yakima
City Council: Mayor Paul George (after 8:13 p.m.), Ron Bonlender, Neil
McClure, Mary Place, Bernard Sims (after 8:13 p.m.), and
Susan Whitman
Absent: Dave Edler (excused)
Staff: City Manager Zais; Acting City Clerk Watkins; Chris
Waarvick, Director of Public Works; and Debbie Moore,
Executive Assistant to the City Manager
Selah
City Council: Mayor Bob Jones, and Mayor Pro Tem Allen Schmid
3. Legal Review of Hearing
City Attorney, Ray Paolella, gave an overview of the framework for the hearing.
The purpose is to receive information about Initiative 912 and to provide the
public opportunity to speak both for and against it. State law provides that public
funds and facilities may not be used as part of an election campaign; however,
the Legislature provided through the Public Disclosure Act that elected officials
are permitted to consider impacts of an initiative and take a position if they
choose to, either as a collective decision or individually. First, if an elected body
is inclined to take a position, there must be a public hearing at which members of
the public and elected officials will receive information about the initiative and be
given an opportunity to speak equally for and against. Once that occurs, elected
officials may collectively take a position for or against the initiative. In addition,
individuals may also take a stand on an issue at an open conference or if they
are asked. Many respond, however, that they should not be giving an opinion
while they are being compensated or using any public facility or vehicle.
4. Initiative 912 Introduction
Diana Soules, Yakima County Elections Manager, presented the initiative as it
appears on the ballot. She advised that the full measure of the initiative is in the
voter's pamphlet and encouraged everyone to read it.
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5. Transportation Partnership
Washington State Department of Transportation South Central Region
Administrator, Don Whitehouse, gave an overview of what the gas tax covers.
As a state employee he cannot oppose or support the initiative. He explained
that the Department of Transportation (DOT) is not supported by the general
fund, but only by the gas tax and permit and license fees. Based on the 18
Amendment, they can only spend those funds for highway purposes.
• We are currently paying 31 cents a gallon in tax at the pump
• The 3 cents implemented in July funds 274 projects ($7 billion);including
area projects:
- Snoqualmie Pass
- 40 and Fruitvale Avenues
- Valley Mall interchange
- Selah
• The nickel gas tax that started in 2003 funds 160 projects; including area
projects:
-SR 24 project
- Vantage truck lane
- Toppenish widening
- Several projects in Tri -Cites
• 11 cents go to Cities and Counties for more lane miles
• Remaining 12 cents = 4 cents to pay bonds, 4 cents on maintenance and
operation across the state (striping, patching, snow plowing, incidence
response), and 4 cents for preservation, safety improvements and
congestion relief.
• One cent of gas tax generates $30 million in revenue
• Until recently, for every tax dollar paid, the east side of the state received
$1.25 in return. It is now closer to $1.00 return per $1.00 paid.
• We're the 10 highest state for gas tax, but we fund highways with just the
gas tax while other states use other funds to pay for their highway systems.
• The DOT goes through many audits: State Auditor, Transportation
Performance Audit Board, fiscal audits, the Federal Highway Administration
and Joint Legislative Audit Review Committee.
6. Priority Projects in the Upper Yakima Valley
Trent Marquis, TRANS - Action Committee Chair, described the committee and its
goals. They have identified top transportation priorities, and held public hearings.
They support increased transportation funding. They believe the projects will
encourage tourism, reduce congestion, improve recreational opportunities,
revitalize the upper valley, create a healthy business environment, improve
access to developed areas, and expedite truck movement. Mr. Marquis showed
conceptual views of their 25 to 50 year plans that include a beltway around the
community of Yakima. They also hope to beautify from the Firing Center to the
Gap and out to Naches.
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7. Local Projects /Maintenance
• Selah Projects
Mayor Bob Jones of Selah spoke about how it is critical to get their project
done to eliminate congestion problems they are currently experiencing. For
the past 30 years they have been unable to come up with enough money to
even maintain the residential streets. These taxes allotted $7.3 million to
take the truck traffic off of Valley View to ease the congestion problem.
Without this outside help, Selah's economy will suffer.
• Yakima Projects
City of.Yakima Senior Engineer, Bob Desgrosellier, presented projects
funded by the gas tax; the 40 Avenue /Fruitvale /US 12 intersection and the
Railroad Grade Separation project.
• Yakima County Projects
Yakima County Assistant Public Services Director /Road Engineer, Gary
Ekstedt, spoke about the purchasing power of the gas tax receipts and
where the money goes. The money primarily goes into the actual
construction of individual projects.
• Local O &M Funds
Yakima Public Works Director, Chris Waarvick, spoke about the everyday
maintenance aspect. Yakima cites and county receive $1.2 million annually
from the new gas tax. He spoke of the magnitude of maintenance with 258
miles of neighborhood roads and 92 miles of classified streets.
8. Open Public Hearing
Commissioner Leita opened the public hearing.
• 1 -912 Proponents
Jerry Mellen, of "No New Gas Taxes ", claimed this initiative is a common
sense issue, and simply stated is poor legislation that was poorly
constructed and rushed through the Legislature at the last moment in an
attempt to get something approved by special interest groups. They have
raised 420,000 signatures to get the initiative on the ballot. They obtained
the second largest amount of signatures in the state from Yakima County.
He said we are dealing with a fragile economy and this bill is inflationary.
He claimed that today's government is addicted to money and it is time for
people to say "no ". It is their message for the Legislature to go back and do
it right by creating a bill the people can live with.
• I -912 Opponents
Jim Armstrong of- "Keep Washington Rolling ", said he couldn't believe he
was standing up supporting taxes as he's a fiscal conservative and a
business person. But he supports this legislation because it is important to
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our economy. As a region, we do well with the gas taxes and have made
out like bandits by receiving $1.25 per $1.00 spent in the past. Our dollar is
staying in our area. He spoke about the gas tax being a user fee with those
who use the roads paying more. He said the average person will pay just
over $4 per month per vehicle and that contributes to critical projects vital to
our quality of life and our economy.
• Public Comments
Sandra Swanson with Yakima's So Tired Of Paying Committee, said this is
not an issue of where the new tax money is going but where does the
current money go. Their committee supports outside performance audits.
She suggested those audits be paid by the auditors keeping a percentage
of the money they save. She said her group is saying they want proof the
money is needed. She spoke against the bike lanes on Tieton Drive saying
they are not used. She also spoke against the State Ferry system.
Larry Mattson said, although he is a DOT employee, he was speaking
instead as a concerned citizen. He spoke highly about the Yakima
community. He also - encouraged people to go to the Department of
Transportation website and read about their accountability, also to read the
voters' pamphlet and get informed. He raised the issue of responsibility,
how the roads we drive on today were paid for by our parents and
grandparents. We inherited the investment that was built over time and we
have an obligation to maintain them and invest for our future generations.
With no further citizens coming forward to speak, Commissioner Leita opened
the public hearing up for questions and answers.
Don Whitehouse was asked to clarify a comment made by Sandra
Swanson about the DOT running tow trucks now instead of private
companies. Mr. Whitehouse explained they only have incident response
vehicles equipped for emergency use. About half of the traffic backups
on the west side of the state are caused by accidents. The DOT vehicles
go to the accident scene, control traffic, and call emergency vehicles.
They are not tow vehicles. Their only role is to get traffic moving again.
Mr. Whitehouse also clarified that bike lanes are federally mandated and
come from arterial funds from the federal government.
Trent Marquis spoke again comparing the cost of a latte to what a citizen
would be paying for an interchange. He pointed out how Representatives
Skinner and Clements, and Senator Deccio have worked hard back in
Washington D.C. to get us this money. He spoke passionately in support
of the gas tax and against the initiative.
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Barbara Harrer, Mayor of Harrah, spoke about the street needs of the
many small towns in the state. Many of them are farm to market streets
and the small town people cannot keep them up. There is a small town
pavement project that did street paving for 157 small towns. That
program was eliminated, then re- enacted in the last legislature by Senator
Mulliken, but has been put on hold again until a decision is made on this
initiative.
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George Pechtel related how much the cost to fill his gas tank has
increased over the years and yet he definitely supports the nine cent tax
increase. He described what he learned about the road needs and the
lack of funds while he was on the Capital Facilities Committee. He
pointed out how much more expensive repairs will be if we delay the
work. Mr. Pechtel also spoke about the need to maintain the roads in
order to have something to hand off to the next generation.
Jerry Mellen spoke again to clarify that Initiative 912 does not eliminate
the Department of Transportation. He said their budget is $4 billion (a
biennium), or $2 billion a year. Then he said that $4 billion was raised by
the transportation bill and were not affected by 1 -912. He claimed that
was $8 billion in transportation. He said his group is not saying "don't
spend money on roads ", they're just saying to do it right. He then referred
to the viaduct in Seattle as a fiasco and used a major chunk of this
money. He told the members on the dais that their constituency is going
to pass 1 -912 by a large amount and they are watching what the elected
officials are doing. Commissioner Leita asked Mr. Mellon what "doing it
right" means. Mr. Mellon said the additional funds need to be prioritized
and the funds dedicated to those projects. He claimed that many of the
projects would go ahead whether this initiative passes or not. He claimed
this was a "trust me" bill as no money was dedicated to any particular
project. He said the 18 Amendment says the money must go to the
highway system and that the DOT is stretching it when putting it toward
the viaduct and building a seawall.
Don Whitehouse (DOT) clarified that the money is project specific. The
Legislature chose 274 projects and there is a line item budge. The
money can only be used for those projects and the amounts cannot
exceed the budgeted amount. With regard to the viaduct issue, the State
has an obligation to maintain the bridges of the state and replace
structures, in kind. Although the City of Seattle wants more than the
structure replaced (they would like to put it underground and replace their
seawall that is in trouble), the Legislature is only going to pay for the state
component, $2 billion. Putting it underground and replacing the seawall
would have to be paid for by the City of Seattle, it is not part of this tax
package. He also addressed the issue of prioritizing. He said he sits on
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INITIATIVE 912
the Statewide Committee Transportation Improvement Board. After a
meeting, he comes back to Yakima feeling like we live in the best place in
the world considering the problems on the west side of the state. If they
doled out the tax dollars strictly on priority, the east side wouldn't get a
penny. The west side streets are a disaster and he is glad they don't just
go by where the greatest needs are based on vehicle traffic.
Mary Place spoke on behalf of the Association of Washington Cities who
- represent 281 cities across the State of Washington. As a Board they
voted in opposition to the initiative because it gravely affects all 39
counties and all 281 cities. In 1956 president Eisenhower began the
interstate highway system. It had a contentious beginning but it was
important to move the military around to protect our borders. It is one of
the largest public works programs in the country putting people to work
and strengthening our economy.
Kim Owen, Mayor Pro Tem of the City of Union Gap but speaking only as
a citizen, spoke about the criticality of the south end interchange project
and the need for it in order to development Main Street.
Dave Earling with the Cascadia Discovery Institute, a think tank dealing
with transportation issues with emphasis on the northwestern area of the
state, said they are a grass roots organization that wants to start a
statewide system looking at transportation issues. They have a three -
pronged mission; to create a 50 -year common vision that all in the state
could agree to; continue to seek ongoing advocacy for accountability and,
encourage increased funding in transportation with traditional and
innovative funding. He said he wasn't there to take a position on 1 -912.
He emphasized how education effort is very important. He also
encouraged people to go to the DOT website noting that Under Secretary
Doug McDonald has been completely transparent and they have turned
around internal practices and now walk their talk. He stressed the
importance of providing an education forum so people understand the
facts before making a decision.
Ken Huntzinger, a retired DOT engineer, said he was very proud of the
DOT staff and management when he worked there and he hasn't seen
any reason to change that. Having worked there gives him the
opportunity to watch how the department administers its funds and
constructs it projects and he is pleased with what he sees. He said he
was surprised that no one had mentioned that, if this gas tax is rolled
back, the Legislature in their frustration, may finally have to come to the
point of authorizing toll roads in Washington State. He has always
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opposed toll roads and doesn't think it's the way to finance highway
construction. It creates two separate bureaucracies of management for
operating the highway system; DOT as well as a transportation authority.
This would cause parallel salaries. The transportation authority can
basically set the price of a toll at the cost to operate the road. Then we
• would not only be paying a gas tax, but also the tolls. He hopes that
people who oppose the gas tax think long and hard about whether they
are willing to pay a toll as an alternative.
Mayor Paul George, Yakima, noted that the Chamber of Commerce took
a rare step and endorsed the transportation package passed by the
Legislature.
9. Close Public Hearing
Commissioner Leita closed the public hearing at 8:51 p.m.
10. Council /Commission Discussion
Commissioner Leita told how he built roads under contract for the State
Department for 22 years. Our transportation system is very complex because of
the state we live in. The State Department of Transportation maintains and
operates a complex ferry system through salt and fresh water, has the complexity
of many bridges including the floating bridges, mountain passes, and difficult
terrain and geology to work with. All the easy stuff is gone. If we are going to
expand our road system, it will cost proportionately more. He said he is willing to
make an investment in our community and the State of Washington
Council Member Place commended several legislators for their work for us. We
asked for these things and it is only fair that we support them. This initiative does
not support our community. She encouraged people to vote no on 1 -912.
Mayor Bob Jones, Selah, commended the work of the TRANS - Action committee.
Commissioner Gamache noted that Yakima County is an agricultural community
and we bring a lot of product across the mountains so truck traffic is critical,
therefore, he feels strongly about keeping the funding. Council Member
Bonlender said he felt the proponents of 1 -912 have a very weak argument. He
felt that the nine cent tax as a percentage of the actual price of gas is miniscule
considering the payoff is a rock solid investment with great dividends. He is
strongly against 1 -912. Yakima Mayor George commented that he will stand
behind the Legislature and will vote no on 1 -912.
Mary Skinner, State Representative for the 14 District, said she voted for the
transportation package because she believes in her community. We need jobs
and economic development is part of that infrastructure.
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