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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/16/2016 04A Olympia Visit by Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez v o 01 n l BUSINESS OF THE CITY COUNCIL YAKIMA, WASHINGTON AGENDA STATEMENT Item No. 4.A. For Meeting of: February 16, 2016 ITEM TITLE: Memorandum re: Olympia visit of Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez SUBMITTED BY: Randy Beehler, Communications & Public Affairs Director SUMMARY EXPLANATION: On January 26 a City Council delegation consisting of Mayor Avina Gutierrez and Councilmember Dulce Gutierrez traveled to Olympia to attend the Association of Washington Cities ( "AWC ") City Action Days conference and meet with Yakima Valley legislators, Governor Jay Inslee, and other local and state elected officials. Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler accompanied the delegation. The City's Olympia lobbyists, Jim Justin and Jennifer Ziegler, coordinated the visit. Attached is a memorandum which includes summaries of the meetings the delegation attended while in Olympia from January 26 to January 28 ITEM BUDGETED: NA STRATEGIC PRIORITY: Partnership Development APPROVED FOR SUBMITTAL: Interim City Manager STAFF RECOMMENDATION: N/A BOARD /COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: N/A ATTACHMENTS: Description Upload Date Type Memorandum re: a ymplia w of Mayor Gutierrez and 2/2/2016 Omer Memo Counc lillmember Gutierrez OC MO °AJOUO To: City Council Members From: Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler Subject: Yakima Delegation Visit to Olympia — January 26th — 28 th Date: Wednesday, February 3 2016 Council members, On January 26 a City Council delegation consisting Mayor Avina Gutierrez and Councilmember Dulce Gutierrez traveled to Olympia to attend the Association of Washington Cities ( "AWC ") City Action Days conference and meet with Yakima Valley legislators, Governor Jay Inslee, and others local and state elected officials. Communications & Public Affairs Director Randy Beehler accompanied the delegation. The City's Olympia lobbyists, Jim Justin and Jennifer Ziegler, coordinated the visit. Following are summaries of the meetings the delegation attended while in Olympia from January 26 to January 28 Tuesday, January 26 - 14 Dist. Rep. Norm Johnson — Representative Johnson offered his congratulations to Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez on their election to the Yakima City Council, a body Representative Johnson served on from 2005 to 2008. Representative Johnson asked about progress related to the Mill Site Redevelopment Project. He was supplied with updated information regarding cleanup of a former City landfill at the site. Lobbyist Ziegler thanked the representative for having signed on to a public records reform bill and an indigent defense funding bill, both of which are part of the City's 2016 State Legislative & Administrative Priorities. - 14 Dist. Rep. Gina McCabe — Representative McCabe mentioned a bicameral, bipartisan caucus she is helping to launch that will focus on local business - related legislation. The Washington State Voting Rights Act (HB 1745) was briefly discussed. Councilmember Gutierrez mentioned that Representative McCabe had done a good job of engaging the Latino community during her most recent campaign. Representative McCabe referenced the "Yes Vets" campaign she helped launch in 2015 and urged the Yakima City Council to support the campaign in whatever way it may be able to. Wednesday, January 27 - AWC City Action Days Conference — Newly- Elected Officials Welcome Breakfast — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez attended a breakfast for newly - elected officials at the AWC City Action Days conference (held at the Olympia Red Lion hotel). AWC staff provided an overview of the AWC and the services it provides to members. Newly- elected officials also had an opportunity to introduce themselves and discuss key issues facing their communities. - AWC City Action Days Conference — Advocacy Academy 1 & 2 — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez attended two sessions at the AWC City Action Days conference that focused on the state legislative process and how to effectively convey local issues to state legislators. - AWC City Action Days Conference — Washington is 281 Cities Strong Luncheon — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez attended a luncheon at the AWC City Action Days conference that included presentations by AWC staff regarding the association's 2016 legislative priorities. - AWC City Action Days Conference — Governor's Address — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez attended an address at the AWC City Action Days conference by Washington State Governor Jay Inslee. Governor Inslee reviewed recent legislative accomplishments related to cities and discussed his efforts during the current legislative session to make progress on issues important to cities. - 22 Dist. Rep. Sam Hunt — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez met with Representative Hunt, chair of the House State Government Committee. The Washington State Voting Rights Act (HB 1745), of which Representative Hunt is a primary sponsor, was briefly discussed. The bill had at that point cleared committee and was likely going to be scheduled for a floor vote the following week. Legislation concerning revising the state Public Records Act was also briefly discussed, as was legislation concerning indigent defense funding and legislation concerning increasing the number of ballot drop boxes available in the state. - Governor Jay Inslee — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez met with Governor Inslee and other members of the House and Senate to discuss both legislation related to issues of concern to the City of Yakima and legislation of particular interest to the governor. Governor Inslee asked about the Mill Site Redevelopment Project and was provided updated information related to cleanup of a former City landfill at the site. - 38 Dist. Sen. John McCoy — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez met with Senator McCoy and briefly discussed the Washington State Voting Rights Act (HB 1745). Senator McCoy shared experiences he has had working on racial equity issues at the local, state, and national levels. Lobbyist Jim Justin noted that the AWC has adopted a "neutral" position on the Washington State Voting Rights Act (H 1745). - AWC City Action Days Conference — Legislative Reception — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez attended a reception hosted by the AWC as part of the AWC City Action Days conference. Other local elected officials, members of Governor Inslee's cabinet, state legislators, and others also attended the reception. - AWC Leadership Dinner — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez met with leadership of the AWC including CEO Peter King, Government Relations Director Dave Williams, current President Paul Roberts, and incoming President Jim Restucci. The function of the AWC was discussed as were current AWC legislative priorities. Thursday, January 28 - AWC City Action Days Conference — Legislative Champions Check -In — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez attended an event on the Capitol Campus that was part of the AWC City Action Days conference. The purpose of the event was to provide an opportunity for local elected officials to network with one another and prepare for a day of meetings on the Capitol Campus with legislators. - 15 Dist. Sen. Jim Honeyford — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez met with Senator Honeyford and discussed the Mill Site Redevelopment Project and the progress that has been made regarding cleanup of a former City landfill at the site. Senator Honeyford, the chair of the Senate Capital Budget Committee, also discussed the potential for a supplemental capital budget this session and the prospects for the capital budget during the 2017 session, which will be a biennial budget writing session. Senator Honeyford also discussed the potential for local infrastructure projects to benefit by utilizing the full faith and credit of the state to obtain low interest loans. - 15 Dist. Rep. Bruce Chandler — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez met with Representative Chandler and briefly discussed the Mill Site Redevelopment Project and the North 1 Street Revitalization Project. Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez thanked Representative Chandler for his assistance during the 2015 legislative session in the passage of a transportation funding package. Representative Chandler reference efforts to provide resources to combat gang crime and gang violence, specifically encouraging the City to talk with ESD 105 about the district's school safety template. Representative Chandler also mentioned a bill that he introduced during the 2015 session (HB 2148) concerning local government audits that has been reintroduced during the 2016 session and asked the City Council considering supporting the legislation. - 14 t " Dist. Sen. Curtis King — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez met with Senator King and specifically thanked him for his leadership in the passage of a transportation funding package during the 2015 session. Progress on the Mill Site Redevelopment Project was discussed and the senator was provided with updated information regarding cleanup of a former City landfill on the site. Senator King also discussed a few local projects that received funding as part of negotiations over the 2015 transportation package. Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez again thanked the senator for his assistance on the transportation package. - 41 st Dist. Rep. Tana Senn — Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez met with Representative Senn to learn more about her efforts to create a House local government caucus consisting of House members who have previously served as city council members, county commissioners, or in some other local elected official capacity. The purpose of the caucus is to focus on legislation that specifically impacts local government. As an example, Representative Senn mentioned legislation moving its way through the House that concerns revisions to the Public Records Act. Please let me know if you have questions regarding the visit to Olympia by Mayor Gutierrez and Councilmember Gutierrez or any legislative issues.