HomeMy WebLinkAbout10/20/2015 04A 2016 Legislative and Administrative PrioritiesITEM TITLE:
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BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
YAKIMA, WASHINGTON
AGENDA STATEMENT
Item No. 4.A.
For Meeting of: October 20, 2015
Consideration of 2016 State Legislative & Administrative Priorities
Randy Beehler, Communications & Public Affairs Director
The Council is being asked to approve 2016 City of Yakima State Legislative & Administrative Priorities.
The proposed priorities are divided into three categories. Items in the "Actively Pursue" category are
considered the City's top priorities and City resources are devoted to ensuring legislators and key state
agency leaders are keenly aware of them. Items in the "Support" category a considered important but fewer
resources are devoted to them. Items in the "Monitor" category are noteworthy to the City, but the City does
not take an advocacy position for or against their passage.
Due to successful lobbying efforts, items on the 2015 priorities list that were accomplished last year have
been removed from the proposed 2016 list. The "Strengthening access to public records by curbing abusive
requests" item has been moved from the "Support" category where it resided in 2015 to the "Actively
Pursue" category in 2016. Identifying funding partner for the Yakima Central Plaza has been added to the
item related to North 1st Street, which also was included in the "Actively Pursue" category in 2015. "Yakima
Basin Integrated Plan funding requests" has been added to the "Support" category for 2015. The remainder
of the items on the 2016 priorities list are carryovers from the 2015 priorities list.
Resolution: Ordinance:
Other (Specify):
Contract: Contract Term:
Start Date: End Date:
Item Budgeted: NA Amount:
Funding Source/Fiscal Impact: N/A
Strategic Priority: Partnership Development
Insurance Required? No
Mail to:
Phone:
APPROVED FOR
SUBMITTAL:
RECOMMENDATION:
City Manager
The Council Partnerships Committee unanimously recommended approval of the proposed 2016 City of
Yakima State Legislative & Administrative Priorities at its September 29th meeting.
ATTACHMENTS:
Description
Proposed 2016 State Legislative & Administrative
Priorities
d
0
2016 Association of Washington Cities Legislative
Priorities
Upload Date
10/8/2015
10/8/2015
Type
Coker Memo
Coker Memo
City of Yakima
2016
State Legislative and Administrative Priorities
Actively Pursue
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- Strengthening access to public records by curbing abusive requests (moved
from 2015 "Support" category)
- Funding partners to assist with North 1st Street and Yakima Central Plaza
project costs (plaza costs added to previous North 1St Street priority)
- Funding partners to assist with Mill Site infrastructure and landfill cleanup
costs
- Amending existing state statutes to accommodate cities being able to be
granted administrative warrants to investigate potential building code
violations
- Development of a sustainable funding model for gang prevention, intervention,
and suppression programs given current funding will expire in 2017
- Development of a sustainable funding model to assist in meeting increased
indigent defense costs given current funding will expire in 2017
Support
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- Yakima Basin Integrated Plan funding requests
- Giving cities more authority regarding liquor license renewals
- Halting the diversion of funds from infrastructure programs that benefit cities, such as the
Public Works Trust Fund and the Local Revitalization Financing program
- Adding "ability to pay" to considerations regarding labor union arbitration settlements
- Eliminating current requirement for cities to pay medical costs for felons
- Allowing cities to use Real Estate Excise Tax ("REET) 2 funds for capital debt service
Monitor
- Efforts to amend the Open Public Meetings Act regarding committee meetings (new)
- Voting Rights Act
ASSOCIATION
OF WASHINGTON
CiTiES
Legislative Session
City Priorities
Washington's 281 cities and towns are where most residents live, learn, work, and play.
Working together, we need to make a concerted and assertive effort to ensure every
legislator knows that the state is only as strong as its cities and towns.
Infrastructure
Halt the diversion from critical infrastructure
programs to help cities grow and prosper
City infrastructure systems are a critical part of a larger
network that serves and benefits the entire state. Diversion
from programs that support basic local infrastructure means
that communities cannot affordably maintain and secure new
infrastructure. We need to reboot, and potentially reformulate
this partnership.The state's abandonment of these programs
cannot be the only option.
Fiscal Sustainability
Ensure sufficient and flexible revenue for
essential city services
The current method of funding city services is fundamentally
broken. Many available revenue options are either constricted,
restricted, or unpredictable. Cities need stable revenue
streams to provide essential services such as public safety,
infrastructure, and environmental protection to our growing
population.
Emergency Responsiveness
Help cities prepare for and address impacts o
natural disasters and other emergencies
As a result of recent experiences with devastating wildfires,
landslides, and other emergencies, cities need better ways to
address emergency management. Examples include greater
ability to coordinate response and enhance communication in
emergencies, and the authority to ban fireworks sales and use
during dangerous conditions.
Contact:
Dave Williams
Director of Government Relations
davew@awcnet.org • 360.753.4137
Public Records
Strengthen the Public Records Act in response to
changing technology and burdensome requests
Cities support open and transparent government and
continue to seek the best ways to meet this commitment.
Unfortunately, there are a growing number of requestors who
monopolize resources with broad, voluminous, commercially -
driven, or retaliatory requests that do not provide a public
benefit proportionate to the taxpayer dollars needed to
fulfill these requests. Cities need additional tools to resolve
conflicts outside the courtroom and the authority to charge
a reasonable fee for electronic and commercial requests. We
also need to address the impact changing technology has on
public records.
Human Services, Homelessness
and Affordable Housing
Enhance the provision of much needed human
service programs to address issues that drive
increased homelessness and public safety costs
Cities believe that investment in the state's human services
network is necessary. Greater access to mental health and
substance abuse services is essential. Cities throughout the
state are grappling with affordable housing shortages and
homelessness. Together with the state, counties, and other
partners, we need to develop strategies to address housing
shortages and homelessness in cities of all sizes and locations.
Association of Washington Cities • 1076 Franklin St SE, Olympia, WA 98501 • 1.800.562.8981 • awcnet.org
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