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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/02/2010 12 2010 Federal Priorities Reports/Recommendations from Council Committees • BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL • YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 1 2-- For Meeting Of: March 2, 2010 ITEM TITLE: Report and recommendation from City Council Committees on Economic Development, Transportation, Neighborhood Development and Public Safety to adopt 2010 Federal Priorities. . SUBMITTED BY: Richard A. Zais, City Manager Michael Morales, Deputy Director, CED CONTACT: Michael Morales, 575 -3533 0 SUMMARY EXPLANATION: Attached is a draft copy of the City of Yakima's 2010 Federal Legislative Issues. A summary of the city's appropriations requests was presented to the city council on February 16, and the overview of federal issues has been discussed during various committee meetings. The top federal legislative priority for 2010 is passage of S. 1222/HR1677, a bill to extend the time period and expand the boundaries of federal Renewal Communities. Yakima is one of only 40 designated RC's in the country, and this designation provides significant tax incentives that are a central component of our economic development efforts. The designation expired in ® 2009, but is included in the one year tax extenders legislation. Yakima is working with a coalition of communities from around the country to advocate passage of this law, or to have its provisions included in other pieces of tax or economic legislation. The city is also requesting additional appropriations for COPS Tech funding for a regional communications system; Phase 4 of the Downtown Futures Initiative; gap funding for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Boulevard Underpass; Economic Development Initiative funds for the Yakima B Sawmill Redevelopment Project, and Transportation Enhancement funds for the William O. Douglas Trail. In addition, our legislative priorities include advocacy for continuation of competitive grant funds for capital projects, community development 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 later this month. Mayor Cawley, Assistant Mayor Coffey, Councilman Ettl, Dick Zais and Michael Morales will attend. Resolution_ Ordinance Contract Other (Specify): Funding Source � Approval for Submittal: � City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends adoption of the 2010 Federal Priorities. O . COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: Council committees recommend adoption COUNCIL ACTION: ' ® CITY OF YAKIMA 2010 FEDERAL ISSUES PROPOSED COMMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT • Pass legislation (HR 1677/S 1222) to extend Renewal Community tax incentives through 2015, and expand RC boundaries. This is the City of Yakima's top federal priority. • Increase CDBG and HOME funding, restoring cuts made over the past several years. • Yakima Mill District Redevelopment Project: $2,000,000 appropriation to assist and accelerate redevelopment efforts. • Yakima Downtown Futures Initiative: $1,000,000 appropriation to complete Phase 4 of the project. 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 S • Support Yakima Fire Department SAFER grant request. • Restore cuts made to COPS, First Responder, and Local Law Enforcement Block Grant programs. • Office of National Drug Control Policy: Restore funding for the Accelerated Domestic Market Disruption Program. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS Support for the Yakima Trans Action Priorities, including: $2,000,000 -- Martin Luther King, Jr. Railroad Grade Separation Project $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. • Support legislation to authorize and funding to restore passenger train service along the Amtrak North Coast Hiawatha rail line, and include stops in Pasco and Yakima. ENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES • Congressional delegation support to secure Brownfieids Assessment, Cleanup and Redevelopment grants from the EPA Region 10 office. • Support of Yakima County Flood Control funding request through FEMA COMMMUNITY & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT ®. Passing legislation to extend Renewal Community tax incentives through 2015 and expand RC boundaries is the City of Yakima's top federal priority. Yakima was designated a federal Renewal Community (RC) in 2002. Without congressional action, this designation and its tax incentives will expire. 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 provide critical infrastructure and /or loan capital that will accelerate redevelopment of the site and 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. • Yakima Downtown Futures Initiative Phase 4 -- $1,000,000 The City requests $1,000,000 to help fund a continuation of the Yakima Downtown Futures Initiative Project. Phases 1, 2 and 3 of the Downtown Futures Initiative (DFI) have attracted nearly $75 million of private investment in Yakima's Central Business District over the past three years that has created over 200 jobs and dozens of new businesses. The City of Yakima has also contributed over $20 million of tax incentives and $4 million of low- interest loans to businesses as part of this effort through our Renewal Community and Section 108 loan programs. Given the tight market conditions for private investment, we need to continue improving the public infrastructure for businesses, customers, and visitors as a way to mitigate the restricted availability of private financing for projects. • 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 Toss of $1 million in Section 108 economic development loan authority, and a substantial negative effect on our community. • PUBLIC SAFETY Combating violent crime and building a safe community is a Yakima Valley priority. Thank you for funding public safety programs in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The City of Yakima received over $500,000 and served as the lead agency in Yakima County for Byrne Justice Assistance Grants through ARRA. These funds prevented layoffs of . police officers throughout the Yakima Valley. 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. • 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 alternative 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.. • • COPS Tech Appropriation for Yakima County Integrated Public Safety System: The Yakima Valley Public Safety community is grateful for the $500,000 appropriations included in the FY 2009 and 2010 Omnibus spending bill. 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 • 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. Department of Homeland Security SAFER Grant Application SAFER grants provide financial assistance to help fire departments increase 'their cadre of frontline Firefighters. YFD has applied for 3 Firefighter positions that would allow YFD to place an additional engine company into service. These grants were to be awarded in 2009, but the 0 Department of Homeland Security has extended the grant application and period for several months, allowing more applications to be considered without additional funding. REGIONAL TRANSPORTATION SOLUTIONS Thank you for providing funding for local and regional projects in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The City of Yakima used $900,000 to construct a section of Nob Hill Boulevard that is critical to continued redevelopment of the Congdon Orchards property. As Congress considers legislation for continued investment, we urge you to provide full funding for federal transportation programs that support bridges, roads, highways, and transit. Support funding that goes directly to local governments, such as transportation enhancements, and the Congestion Management Air Quality Program that helps reduce congestion and protect 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, The Lincoln Avenue underpass will begin construction 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 and funding to restore 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 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.I ENERGY AND THE ENVIRONMENT Thank you for funding the Energy Environment and Conservation Block Grant in the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009. The City of Yakima received over $800,000 from this program that is allowing us to make significant investments that will reduce energy consumption, improve safety and save local tax dollars for items such as streetlights and efficiency improvements to city buildings, including the Southeast Community Center, Miller Park Activity Center and the Office of Neighborhood Development Services. An additional $2 billion for the Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant program in 2010 will help communities to further these local efforts. • Support reauthorization of EPA Brownfield Programs. The City supports reauthorization and increase 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, and the Environmental. Clean -up Deduction available to federal Renewal Communities such as Yakima. Shaw and Wide Hollow Creeks Flood Control Project FEMA Grant Application (FEMA Application Number: PDMC- P3-10 -WA -2010 -002; State Application Number: WA- 2010 -003) Yakima County has submitted a grant request to FEMA for $1,002,921 for a project to reduce predicted flooding damage in an area that has been rapidly urbanized on the west side of Yakima. This project has been identified in the Draft Ahtanum -Wide Hollow Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan as one of the four flooding problems in this flood prone drainage and the highest priority short term action. The proposed overflow channel will remove approximately 550 acres and 1000 existing and potential residential lots out of the Floodplain and Floodway as indicated on the attached maps • and will protect existing developments and future developable land from flooding, allowing continued residential development in this area.