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Home My WebLink About4267 Resolution - 2023 Legislative Priorities RESOLUTION NO. 4267 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON, DECLARING THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2023 SESSION OF THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE. WHEREAS, the 2023 Legislative Session of the Washington State Legislature commences on January 9, 2023; and WHEREAS,the City of Pasco, as a municipal corporation and political subdivision of the State of Washington can be substantially affected by the actions of the Washington State Legislature; and WHEREAS, the City Council has evaluated conditions impacting the City of Pasco and opportunities to improve the services the City provides to its citizenry; and WHEREAS, the City Council desires to identify the legislative priorities for the 2023 Legislative Session so they can be provided to state legislators prior to the commencement of the next legislative session. NOW,THEREFORE,BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO,WASHINGTON: Section 1. That the legislative objectives stated herein constitute the priorities of the City of Pasco for the 2023 Legislative Session. � • DOWNTOWN PASCO NORTH PLAZA: The City requests $750,000 to renovate the nearly 50-year-old outdated Downtown Pasco North Plaza. When combined with other downtown investments, the North Plaza will serve as a catalyst for Pasco's vibrant downtown and attract visitors to support small businesses and economic growth. • PROCESS WATER REUSE FACILITY (PWRF): The City requests $5 million as part of a public-private partnership to upgrade its Process Water Reuse Facility to make it more efficient and environmentally friendly. The total investment to upgrade the facility is $80 million. • GESA STADIUM: The City joins communities throughout the state to request $24 million to improve publicly owned baseball stadiums. The City of Pasco owns Gesa Stadium, a public gathering place, and is the home of the Dust Devils. The Dust Devils attract 108,836 visitors to the Tri-Cities annually and are a fixture in the community. Of the $24 million, $3 million would be allocated to improve Gesa Stadium. • HOUSING: The City supports state funding to ensure housing is constructed to serve the community's most vulnerable populations. Additionally, the City supports state policies to allow the market to increase housing supply. The City amended its zoning Resolution—2023 Legislative Priorities- 1 code to allow middle housing types in 80%of the city,and now asks the state to remove other barriers to the construction of housing, such as relaxing condominium liability regulations, reducing construction costs, and providing tax incentives. • PUBLIC SAFETY & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: The Pasco community has experienced a significant increase in crime. In response, the City requests the following: o Allocate $925,000 annually to fund two Basic Law Enforcement Academy classes in the Tri-Cities to expedite the training of police officers once hired. o Increase funding for alternative response teams, treatment facilities for adults and juveniles, and funding for social workers, treatment providers, and system navigators to help direct people to treatment. o Allow officers to take a custodial action for the possession of controlled substances, and fund adequate treatment options. o Clarify that officers can engage in vehicular pursuits when appropriate. • TRANSPORTATION: The City requests that the state make the following investments: o Funding to preserve and maintain the local transportation system o $3 million for the Road 76 Overcrossing Project o $8 million for the Broadmoor Bike/Ped Crossing over I-182 o $1.5 million for State Route 12 Safety Improvements o $2 million for a feasibility study to allow access to I-182 from Hwy 395 to Argent o Fully fund grant programs, such as the WSDOT Bike/Ped Program, that will allow the City to receive grant funds for eligible projects such as the Sylvester Street Overpass. Section 2. The City Manager is hereby directed to inform state legislators and other appropriate parties of the City's 2023 Legislative Priorities. PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington on this 7th day of November, 2022. -- -.� �` , Blanc 'as Mayor ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: �-�— � ,C�� _ C-._ Debra Barham, CMC Kerr Ferguson aw PLLC City Clerk City Attorney Resolution—2023 Legislative Priorities-2 M1'_� �I I" � - .�.�,,.�F�f�FT,�.' �; �' � � � i ��F Ea� _ �, ., e �t i � _ F � �p � � y9 .escs.n„� . r �1/'�'-'.: r `�' -►y{, _ C.' I � . ' : - _ _ _ _ _ a . .��S U ~ �z � 4 I City of Pasco . . 2023 State Legislative Priorities DOWNTOWN PASCO NORTH PLAZA: The City requests $750,000 to renovate the �� ", "� , �, nearly 50-year-old outdated Downtown Pasco North Plaza. When combined with other downtown investments, the North Plaza will serve as a catalyst for Pasco's vibrant ,�_ , downtown and attract visitors to support small businesses and economic growth. �� PROCESS WATER REUSE FACILITY (PWRF): The City requests $5 million as part of .. . a public-private partnership to upgrade its Process Water Reuse Facility to make it - •• more efficient and environmentally friendly. The total investment to upgrade the facility is $80 million. GESA STADIUM: The City joins communities throughout the state to request $24 million to improve publicly owned baseball stadiums. The City of Pasco owns Gesa Stadium, a public gathering place, and is the home of the Dust Devils. The Dust Devils attract 108,836 visitors to the Tri-Cities annually and are a fixture in the community. Of the $24 million, $3 million would be allocated to improve Gesa Stadium. HOUSING: The City supports state funding to ensure housing is constructed to serve the community's most vulnerable populations. Additionally, the City supports state policies to allow the market to increase housing supply. The City amended its zoning code to allow middle housing types in 80°/a of the city, and now asks the state to remove other barriers to the construction of housing, such as relaxing condominium liability regulations, reducing construction costs, and providing tax incentives. PUBLIC SAFETY & BEHAVIORAL HEALTH: The Pasco community has experienced a significant increase in crime. In response, the City requests the following: • Allocate $925,000 annually to fund two Basic Law Enforcement Academy classes in the Tri-Cities to expedite the training of police officers once hired. • Increase funding for alternative response teams, treatment facilities for adults and juveniles, and funding for social workers, treatment providers, and system navigators to help direct people to treatment. • Allow officers to take a custodial action for the possession of controlled substances, and fund adequate treatment options. • Clarify that officers can engage in vehicular pursuits when appropriate. TRANSPORTATION: The City requests that the state make the following investments: • Funding to preserve and maintain the local transportation system • $3 million for the Road 76 Overcrossing Project • $8 million for the Broadmoor Bike/Ped Crossing over I-182 • $1.5 million for State Route 12 Safety Improvements • $2 million for a feasibility study to allow access to I-182 from Hwy 395 to Argent • Fully fund grant programs, such as the WSDOT Bike/Ped Program, that will allow the City to receive grant funds for eligible projects such as the Sylvester Street Overpass. The City of Pasco Supports/Opposes . . State-Shared Revenues Pasco supports preserving and enhancing state-shared revenue streams. Local Control Pasco opposes any proposals that restrict, mandate, or otherwise interfere with the city's ability to make local decisions. Election of Judges Pasco opposes legislation mandating that part-time municipal court judges be elected rather than a ointed. Labor Reform Pasco opposes legislation that increases labor costs. Pet Adoption PRA Exemption Pasco supports legislation that would create an exemption from the Public Records Act the disclosure of et ado tion information. � • � � - Complete Streets Funding Pasco supports increased funding for complete streets grants. Tri-Cities Mobility Pasco supports efForts to explore a third crossing over the Columbia River to im rove re ional mobilit throu hout the Tri-Cities. Lower Snake River Dams Pasco opposes the removal of dams along both the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Economic Development Tools Pasco supports economic development tools to spur development downtown and in ke commercial corridors. Public Work Assistance Account Pasco supports increased funding to the Public Works Assistance Account to fund basic infrastructure like drinkin and wastewater. . � Growth Management Act Paco opposes any proposals that create new planning obligations within the Growth Mana ement Act that are not cou led with ade uate fundin . Pasco will continue working collaboratively with DNR to develop the Pasco DNR Property commercially-zoned properties west of Road 68. Pasco is opposed to DNR buying land within the City's UGA and asks that DNR divest itself of the undevelo ed land it currentl owns within the UGA. Pasco supporfs incentives that encourage annexation, including utilizing Annexation utility extensions, and mechanisms that facilitate the annexation of unincorporated islands. Water Rights Pasco supports legislation that increases the ability for cities to secure municipal water rights.