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Home My WebLink About06/14/2022 06. Potential City of Yakima delegation trip to Washington, D.C.B US INE S S O F T HE C I T Y C O UNC I L YAK I M A, WAS HING T O N AG E ND A S TAT E M E NT I tem No. 6. F or Meeting of: J une 14, 2022 I T E M T IT L E :P otential City of Yakima delegation trip to Washington, D.C. S UB M IT T E D B Y:Randy B eehler, Communications & Public A ffairs Director S UM M ARY E X P L ANAT I O N: A trip to Washington, D.C. by a delegation of Council members and City staff in S eptember 2022 is being considered. I n addition to the delegation visiting the offices of Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell, and Representative Newhouse, it would also be visiting with leaders of federal agencies. Due to requirements of the Washington S tate Open Public Meeting Act, no more than three members of the City Council would be able to be part of the delegation. Visiting with federal agencies regarding City projects, funding requests, initiatives, programs, etc. has proven to be effective in advancing the City’s interests in D.C. I T E M B UD G E T E D:No S T RAT E G I C P RI O RI T Y:NA AP P RO V E D F O R S UB M IT TAL B Y T HE C IT Y M ANAG E R RE C O M M E ND AT I O N: N/A AT TAC HM E NT S : Description Upload Date Type Memorandum re: Potential City of Yakima delegation trip to Washington, D.C.6/8/2022 Cover Memo 2022 City of Yakima Federal Legislative Priorities 6/8/2022 Cover Memo 1 1 MEMORANDUM To: Council Members From: Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler Subject: Potential Washington, D.C. Trip Date: Wednesday, June 8th, 2022 Council members, City staff is currently evaluating a potential trip to Washington, D.C. by a City of Yakima delegation in September 2022, during which the delegation would meet with members of the Washington State Congressional delegation and leaders of several federal agencies. In-person visits with federal elected officials and leaders of federal agencies regarding City projects, funding requests, initiatives, programs, etc. has historically proven to be effective in advancing the City’s interests in Washington, D.C. The City of Yakima delegation would include City Manager Bob Harrison and likely one or two City staff members. Due to requirements of the Washington State Open Public Meeting Act, no more than three members of the City Council would be able to be part of the delegation. In addition to meeting with Senator Murray, Senator Cantwell, and Representative Newhouse (or members of their staffs) regarding the City’s current federal legislative priorities, the City of Yakima delegation would visit with leadership of federal agencies including the following: - Federal Aviation Administration (re: Yakima airport funding) - Federal Highway Administration (re: issues related to development of the former mill site) - U.S. Department of Homeland Security (re: grant funding, specifically SAFER funding) - U.S. Department of the Interior (re: Yakima Trolleys National Historic Landmark designation) - U.S Department of Commerce (re: energy and utility projects funding) - Federal Transit Administration (re: funding for buses, specifically electric buses) - U.S. Army Corp of Engineers (re: issues related to the wastewater treatment plant) - U.S. Bureau of Reclamation (re: Nelson Dam replacement funding and fish passage issues) - National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (re: Nelson Dam replacement funding and fish passage issues) Visits with other members of Congress and leaders of other federal agencies may also be added to the City of Yakima delegation’s itinerary. The proposed dates for a potential visit by a City of Yakima delegation to Washington, D.C. are September 11th through September 14th. The delegation would travel to Washington, D.C. on September 11th, meet with federal elected officials and leaders of federal agencies on September 12th and 13th, and return to Yakima on September 14th. During the City Council’s June 14th study session, the City’s current federal legislative priorities will be reviewed and a potential visit by a City of Yakima delegation to Washington, D.C. will be discussed. If the Council approves a City of Yakima delegation trip to Washington, D.C. in September 2022, which Council members will be part of the delegation (a maximum of three) will need to be determined. Please let me know if you have questions or need additional information about this issue prior to the Council’s June 14th study session. 2 City of Yakima 2022 Federal Legislative Priorities Actively Pursue - Funding for loss of local government revenues as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic - Efforts to address homelessness and to reduce barriers to affordable housing and human services programs locally, regionally, and nationally - Regulatory and legislative advocacy to preserve community access to health care services - Ensure the Connecting Washington WSDOT I-82/Yakima to Union Gap – Corridor Improvements Project includes approval by the Federal Highway Administration of new Interstate 82 on and off ramps, which are key elements of the Yakima County East-West Corridor Project and the City’s Bravo Company Boulevard project - Yakima Basin Integrated Plan funding requests, including funding requests for completion of the Nelson Dam Removal and Replacement Project - Increased funding for Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention (“OJJDP”) and other federal programs designed to combat gang crime and violence - Comprehensive immigration reform, including passage of the Bar Removal of Individuals Who Dream of Growing Our Economy ("BRIDGE") Act, Development, Relief, and Education for Alien Minors ("DREAM") Act, or similar legislation - Development of adequate, predictable, and sustainable funding for airport capital projects and airport economic development projects Support - Ongoing funding assistance provided to local public safety entities through programs such as Community Oriented Policing Services (“COPS”), Staffing for Adequate Fire and Emergency Response (“SAFER”), the Assistance to Firefighters Grant Program ("AFG") and Local Law Enforcement Block Grants (“LLEBG”), which are consistently utilized by the City - Grant programs to support the expansion of domestic water and sewer systems to underserved, low-income neighborhoods - Allocation of additional HUD housing vouchers to the Yakima Housing Authority - Legislation to improve broadband accessibility in rural communities - Continued funding of the Community Development Block Grant (“CDBG”) program at current or increased levels. Enhance flexibility for use of funds in the CDBG program. - Passage of the Breaking the Chain of Violence Act 3