HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/18/2022 05.A. Report on Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Board meeting by Councilmember CousensI
BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 5.A.
For Meeting of: October 18, 2022
ITEM TITLE: Report on Association of Washington Cities (AWC) Board meeting
by Councilmember Cousens
SUBMITTED BY: Robert Harrison, City Manager
SUMMARY EXPLANATION:
Councilmember Cousens attended the AWC Board meeting on September 23, 2022 and will
report on their activities.
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ATTACHMENTS:
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D fact sheet 1
10/10/2022
Coaer Memo
D fact sheep 2
10/10/2022
Co\A-r Memo
D fact sheet 3
10/10/2022
Cover Memo
D fact sheet 4
10/10/2022
Cover Memo
D fact sheet 5
10/10/2022
Cover Memo
Background:
Cities throughout the state are struggling with the
impacts of individuals with untreated behavioral health
issues. In 2022, nearly a quarter of adults with mental
illness in Washington state said that they were not able
to receive the treatment they needed. Unfortunately,
these individuals are more likely to engage with law
enforcement or experience homelessness.
Cities are not traditionally direct service providers, yet
are often tasked with finding solutions for the outward
impacts of the lack of available services. Cities call for
expanded capacity and access to the full statewide
continuum of community -based behavioral health
services. A comprehensive behavioral health system
doesn't just involve responding to a crisis, but supports
healthy behavior and prevention services before a
problem occurs.
A number of cities are adopting alternative response
programs that complement or replace a traditional
law enforcement response with one that takes a
holistic approach to an individual's needs. Community
diversion options like mental health co -responders, Law
Enforcement Assisted Diversion (LEAD), and Community
Advocates for Referral and Education Services (CARES)
programs have proven successful. In 2022, the
Legislature provided $2 million for grants to cities to
establish new programs.
Candice Bock
° � -C Government Relations Director
candiceb@awcnet.org
Strongiti
Greater access to community -based behavioral health
services, including substance use disorder treatment
and dual diagnosis treatment facilities.
Continued state funding to help communities
establish alternative response programs that provide
options beyond law enforcement for responding to
situations with individuals suffering from behavioral
health issues.
ASSOCIATION
OF WASHINGTON
Association of Washington Cities Q 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 - 1.800.562.8981 « wacities.org C f j g
Cpynght m 2022 by Association ofWA1hMgto Citles, Inc All rights eue &109/15/22
Despite an impressive list of policy advancements
and record investments in housing by state and local
governments, Washington state still faces a complex
constellation of interrelated housing challenges.
Even in the face of record new construction, the state still
ranks lowest nationally in housing units per household —
housing underproduction has more than doubled
since 2012.This decade -long shortage —coupled
with increasing costs for materials, labor, and land —is
making new construction too expensive for the average
Washingtonian. A prospective homebuyer earning the
area median income can afford to purchase a home in
only two counties, both in the southeast corner of the
state.
Renters are faring no better. Cities are still experiencing
a severe shortage of rental housing, with a statewide
vacancy rate of less than 4%. Due to low housing supply
and high housing demand, rental prices have risen
dramatically to levels that are now out of reach for many
low- to moderate -income earners. Some communities
have experienced a 50% increase in rent in the last five
years. As a result, 44% of renters in the state are rent
burdened, spending more than a third of their income
on housing.
As average working individuals and families are less
able to become homeowners, they get simultaneously
squeezed by ever-increasing uncertainty and cost
increases in the rental sector.
This unhealthy housing market:
• Contributes to our homelessness crisis
• Creates an economic burden on those who can secure
housing
• Deepens racial disparities in homeownership
Strongii
• Investments to support housing for the lowest
income levels.
• Regulatory flexibility to respond to local housing
needs.
• Incentives to increase the supply of housing
development for all incomes.
• Tools to preserve existing affordable units.
The challenge is daunting and will worsen as more
people relocate to the Pacific Northwest to escape
extreme climate conditions.
One -size -fits -all policies will not address a problem
caused by multiple factors spanning more than a decade.
There is no silver bullet. We need holistic policy and
revenue proposals that are scaled to the size of the need
and will provide a sustainable solution into the future.
Cities ask the Legislature to pass a comprehensive
housing policy package that addresses low-income
housing affordability; permanently affordable
homeownership opportunities; necessary infrastructure
upgrades to support private and nonprofit development;
and measures to ensure that all communities have the
means to address our housing crises.
• Reduces our competitiveness in attracting new hires
and economic development
Carl Schroeder Shannon McClelland
°Government Relations Deputy Director Legislative & Policy Analyst
carts@awcnet.org shannonm@awcnet.org
ASSOCIATION
OF WASHINGTON
Association of Washington Cities Q 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 .1.800.562.8981 - wacities.org C f 1
Cpynghtm 2022 by Association ofWJ ,hMgt.n Cities, Inc All rights eeserved.l 09/15/22
unaffordableOwnership housing is r
Households earning 100% of AMI can only afford the median home in 2 counties
Required income
(% of area median
income, or AMI) to
afford the median
value home in each
county assuming a 5%
down payment.
Pend
Oreille
154%
Source: Zillow, HUD, Freddie Mac, ECONorthwest Calculations
Despite a ten-year trend of multifamily housing construction increasing
single-familyihousing
For the first time in Washington history, more 5+ unit structures permitted than detached
90% Share of housing permits by unit type, Washington State
80% 78%
72% _
70%
6o�io Detached housing
1%
50%
40% ::.,: ' 44%
30% 5+ unit multifamily, ... ....:
23%
20%
10% 5% 2 to 4 unit multifamily 5%
0%
1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017 2018 2019 2020 2021
Source: HUD; ECONorthwest Calculations
Carl Schroeder Shannon McClelland
0 r Government Relations Deputy Director Legislative & Policy Analyst
carls@awcnet.org shannonm@awcnet.org'
.ASSOCIATION
OF WASHINGTON
Association of Washington Cities - 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 ® 1.800.562,8981 a wacities.org C i j j
Copyright � 2022 by Assoctatl-ofWashington Citl,s Inc. All rights rue d.l09115/22
Background:
City infrastructure systems are a critical part of the larger
network that serves the entire state. Cities support
development by building and maintaining needed
infrastructure to keep pace with a growing population
that demands safer and more equitable access to public
services.
However, Washington infrastructure continues to suffer
from inadequate investment. The American Society of Civil
Engineers recently graded Washington's infrastructure:
More than 80% of cities say their aging water and
wastewater infrastructure requires critical repair. Yet
cities face steep administrative costs to address these
basic needs.
Nearly 60% of cities say they need state assistance with
infrastructure funding, and more than a quarter report
significant challenges in meeting grant and loan fund
match requirements, in addition to public contracting
and bidding requirements.
Small cities and towns have limited tax bases and feel
the impact of chronic underinvestment the most.
w.. * Brandy Derange
Government Relations Advocate
brandyd@awcnet.org
Strongiti
• Full funding of the Public Works Assistance Account;
• The return of diverted revenue streams to the Public
Works Assistance Account; and
• Direct and robust state investment in local
infrastructure to maintain and improve aging systems.
Public Works Assistance Account:
Essential support for cities
Cities use a diverse range of financing options to fund
their local infrastructure projects, but they rely on the
Public Works Assistance Account (PWAA) the most for
state -level funding.
Due to ongoing state diversions and sweeps, and the
Legislature's lack of investments in the account, the
PWAA hasn't been fully funded since 2009. As a result,
nearly $1 billion worth of infrastructure projects have
gone unfunded.
Before these sweeps and revenue diversions, the PWAA
provided a regular and sustainable source of affordable,
low -interest infrastructure financing to cities.
Investing in infrastructure pays back
Infrastructure is the foundation of a strong, competitive
economy and thriving communities. Every dollar
invested in public infrastructure produces up to 2.2
dollars in economic activity.
Cities own a significant share of Washington's critical
infrastructure and are home to the majority of the state's
residents.
Investing in city infrastructure systems helps local
leaders overcome the financial challenges of building
and repairing municipal infrastructure that is vital to the
health of the state's economy, the environment, and the
people of Washington.
MMIUMURM
Legislative & Policy Analyst
briannam@awcnet.org
ASSOCIATION
OF WASHINGTON
Association of Washington Cities . 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 • 1.800.562.8981 . wacities.org C i j i E S
C.pynght m 2022 by Association ofM,h,bgt Ob,s Inc All rights ee,e,ed. 109/15/22
6
/
Cities employ the most law enforcement officers in
Washington state, which is why cities are deeply involved
in recent law enforcement reforms. Police departments
need clarity to implement state requirements and meet
the unique needs of their community.
In 2021, the Legislature adopted a package of reforms
related to policing and in 2022, it updated some of
those changes to help law enforcement better respond
to pressing community needs. One area still needing
further refinement is the ability of law enforcement to
use vehicular pursuits as a public safety tool.
Additionally, due to a variety of factors including a strong
job market and high rate of retirement, cities continue to
struggle to fill law enforcement positions. To help with
this challenge, cities need continued state investment in
training and public safety programs.
178 cities employ 61 % of all law enforcement
Number of low enforcement officers by jurisdiction
Cities: 6,582
Counties:
2,240
Other (ports,
State: 1,332 transit,
Tribes:226
.. 1�
356 universities):
Source: 2021 CJIS Statistics and Reports
�Candice Bock
C ,y Government Relations Director
candiceb@awcnet.org
Clarity around allowable use of police pursuits: AWC
supports clarifying the ability to conduct vehicular
pursuits using a reasonable suspicion standard. This
is essential to address concerns about impacts to
public safety and allow for effective and safe pursuit of
suspects when there is an immediate threat to public
safety. Cities continue to support safety standards and
training for officers who engage in vehicular pursuits.
Investments in the future: Washington state is facing
historic vacancies in law enforcement. Around 22%
of officers are already eligible for retirement, and
another 17% will be eligible in the next few years. AWC
supports the proposal to create and fund regional
campuses to train Washington police. The creation of
these campuses, alongside continued investments in
the Basic Law Enforcement Academy (BLEA), will help
cities hire and provide timely training of new officers.
Ongoing public safety funding: In the 2021-2023
biennial budget, the Legislature provided $20 million
for Washington's cities to help offset costs associated
with implementing law enforcement -related
legislation. Those costs are ongoing, and cities need
continued state support to help with the growing costs
of public safety programs.
ASSOCIATION
OF WASHINGTON
Association of Washington Cities « 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 - 1.800.562.8981 A wacities.org C f 1 t
Copyright m 2022 by Association ofWAlhing— Gtles, Inc All rights ee—,ed.109/15,22
mom
In 2021, the Legislature passed SB 5476 to address
the impacts of the Washington Supreme Court's ruling
on State v. Blake, which declared unconstitutional the
previous law that had categorized drug possession as a
felony. The bill establishes misdemeanor -level criminal
penalties for the possession of controlled substances,
but also requires a referral step for someone's first two
offenses, creating an uncertain legal scenario without a
fully developed treatment system in place.
In 2022, cities received approximately $30 million in
investments from the state, including:
• $21.5 million to offset the costs of repaying legal
financial obligations and vacating criminal convictions;
• $4.9 million to fund municipal therapeutic courts;
• $2 million in grants to create alternative response
teams; and
• Additional investments in services like transportation
and case managers to support individuals referred to
therapeutic courts.
Cities have been placed on the front lines for carrying
out the new public policy created under SB 5476. Yet
cities lack dedicated, ongoing resources to do this work
on their own. Extreme disparities in access to drug
treatment are found in communities across the state.
Most communities don't have local options to divert
people into drug treatment —or the nearest service
center is often located many miles away from the
community.
The Legislature must invest in statewide services to
provide substance use disorder treatment for those who
need it and to share the burden of building a statewide
support system to address addiction and behavioral
health needs.
Candice Bock
Government Relations Director
candiceb@awcnet.org
Strong cities •
Clarification regarding the legality of possessing a
controlled substance.The current two -referral requirement
has created legal uncertainty and, in some cases, impedes
individuals from accessing treatment. Without a statewide
tracking system, there is no way to verify the number of
times an individual may have received a referral.
• Continued funding to help offset the costs of
vacating criminal convictions, repaying legal financial
obligations, administering diversion programs, and
mitigating municipal court impacts, including the
development of new therapeutic courts.
State investment in alternative response teams;
treatment facilities for adults and juveniles; treatment
in jails; and social workers, treatment providers, and
system navigators to help direct people to treatment.
Key pitfacts:
• Washington cities operate 100 municipal courts.
• Many, but not all, municipal courts operate specialized
court programs, including therapeutic courts, veteran
courts, drug courts, domestic violence courts, teen
courts, and homeless courts.
• In 2021, the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC)
launched the Therapeutic Courts Grant, which allocated
$4.5 million to municipal and district courts. The AOC
received 41 requests totaling over $9.4 million - the
need continues to outpace investments.
• 178 cities have their own law enforcement
departments, employing a total of 6,582 officers.
• Cities are investing in alternative response models
such as co -responders, crisis responders, law
enforcement assisted diversion, and other community -
based outreach programs.
ASSOCIATION
OF WASHINGTON
Association of Washington Cities Q 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 ® 1.800.562.8981 . wacities.org C f j j
C.pynghtm 2022 by Association.fWJ ,hingt.n Gti,s Inc All rights eeserved.l 09/15/22