HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/15/2022 10. 2023 State and Federal Legislative Priorities 1
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 10.
For Meeting of: November 15, 2022
ITEM TITLE: 2023 State and Federal Legislative Priorities
SUBMITTED BY: Randy Beehler, Communications & Pubilc Affairs Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Draft 2023 State and Federal Legislative Priorities have been developed based on observation
of issues the Council has focused on in 2022, progress made on the City's 2022 state and
federal legislative priorities, input from the City's contracted lobbyists in Olympia and Washington,
D.C., City senior staff input, and review of legislative priorities established by other municipal
advocacy organizations. The Council is being asked to consider adopting 2023 State and
Federal Legislative Priorities at its November 15th regular meeting.
ITEM BUDGETED: NA
STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Public Trust and Accountability
APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL BY THE CITY MANAGER
RECOMMENDATION:
Approve 2023 state and federal legislative priorities
ATTACHMENTS:
Description Upload Date Type
D Draft City of Yakima 2023 State Legislatiie Priorities 11/9/2022 Corer Memo
❑ Draft City of Yakima 2023 Federal Legislatiie Priorities 11/9/2022 Corer Memo
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City of Yakima
2023
State Legislative Priorities
Actively Pursue
1. Full funding of the Washington State Patrol Crime Lab in order to address the backlog of
cases.
2. Funding for construction of a community pool at MLK, Jr. Park
3. Regulatory and legislative advocacy to preserve community access to health care services,
including additional funding for mental health response assistance to local governments and
mental health providers
4. Legislation and state funding designed to address the high rate of domestic violence present
in Washington State
5. Increased state funding in the Affordable Housing Trust Fund, funds for affordable housing,
and funds to reduce homelessness including additional funding rounds for CHIP grants
6. Opportunities to provide financial incentives for downtown redevelopment for all cities
7. Funding for parking structures that will enhance the City's parking availability and provide
opportunities for redevelopment of existing surface parking lots
Support
1. Efforts to continue to clarify and/or modify police reform legislation adopted during the 2021 state
legislative session
2. Amendments to the WSDOT budget in order to ensure completion of committed projects in
the Connecting Washington transportation package
3. Replacing the one percent property tax revenue increase limit with a limit tied to cost drivers
4. Legislation restricting the conversion of hotels located near event venues to housing
5. Effort to expand the ability and flexibility of cities to use Real Estate Excise Tax (REED funds for
additional capital needs, including maintenance and operation, and to support affordable housing
Monitor
- Legislation providing greater flexibility in the use of public funds for economic development purposes
- Cuts to intergovernmental shared revenue
- Enhancing distribution of marijuana excise tax revenue to local governments
- Modification of authorized outlets for publishing office local government notices
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City of Yakima
2023
Federal Legislative Priorities
Actively Pursue
- Funding to support the expansion of domestic water and sewer systems to
underserved, low-income neighborhoods in Yakima
- Funding for the replacement of the Yakima Air Terminal/McAllister Field terminal
building
- Yakima Basin Integrated Plan funding requests, including funding requests for
completion of the Nelson Dam Removal and Replacement Project and the Gap-
to-Gap Ecosystem Restoration Project
- Ensure the 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
- Efforts to address homelessness and to reduce barriers to affordable housing
and human services programs locally, regionally, and nationally
-A Congressionally Directed Spending request for the MLK, Jr. Park Community
Pool.
Support
- Regulatory and legislative action to preserve community access to health care
services
- Increased funding for Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention ("OJJDP")
and other federal programs designed to combat gang crime and violence
- Development of adequate, predictable, and sustainable funding for airport capital
projects and airport economic development projects
- 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
Monitor
- 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.