HomeMy WebLinkAbout3525 ResolutionRESOLUTION NO.
A RESOLUTION declaring the city's legislative priorities for the 2014 session
of the Washington State Legislature.
WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature conducts its annual legislative session during
the first few months of each calendar year; and
WHEREAS, the City of Pasco, as a municipal corporation and subdivision of the state, can
be substantially affected by the actions of the legislature; and
WHEREAS, over the past several years, the city has contracted with a legislative consultant
to assist its effort to monitor and influence actions of the state legislature so as to minimize
negative consequences of new legislation as well as to realize legislative action that will benefit
the majority of Pasco citizens; and
WHERAS, the City Council desires to identify its legislative priorities for the 2014
legislative session so they can be provided to state legislators prior to commencement of the next
legislative session; NOW, THEREFORE,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON, DO RESOLVE
AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. That the legislative objectives stated herein below constitute the priorities of the
City of Pasco for the 2014 legislative session.
LEWIS STREET OVERPASS: The overpass project (which replaces a 1937 railroad underpass
on a former state highway) is a major Council priority which will require federal and state
funding, as the $29 million construction cost is simply beyond the financial capacity of local
taxpayers. With prior aid from the state, the city has completed right -of -way acquisition and
design of the new structure; the project is now "shovel ready." The City must seek
construction funding allocations from the state and federal governments to make this
essential replacement project a reality and is supportive of reforms in conjunction with a state
transportation revenue package, including associated taxes, if full funding is allocated to the
Lewis Street Overpass project.
PRESERVE "STATE- SHARED REVENUES" FOR
dollars annually from the state, categorized as
nuclear generating tax, sales tax mitigation,
increasing difficulty of the state in balancing it s
jeopardy during the 2014 session; their loss w
CITIES: Pasco receives nearly one million
"state- shared revenues" (liquor excise tax,
city /county assistance, etc.). Given the
budget, these payments to cities may be in
ould jeopardize delivery of important local
■ BINDING ARBITRATION LAW: Under state law, police and fire personnel are guaranteed
binding arbitration for wages and benefits (in lieu of the right to strike). While arbitration
can be an appropriate form of contract resolution disputes, the current statutory language
obligates the arbitrator to give paramount consideration to what "comparable departments"
are paying, rather than the ability of the particular employer to absorb the additional cost.
Police officers and firefighters collectively represent about half of total general fund
expenditures; cost impositions beyond the city's fiscal capacity can have severe
consequences on other important city services and, in some cases, may even hamper public
safety. Modification of the arbitration statute to "level the field" would better balance the
interests of uniformed employees with those of the taxpayer.
■ PUBLIC RECORDS REFORM: Support reform to statutes governing public records requests.
While the city recognizes the need for and benefits of transparency and accountability in
government, all too often the right to obtain public records is abused and extraordinary public
costs are absorbed by cities. Preliminary findings of the Ruckelshaus mediation process
have indicated that a majority of respondents are interested in a non judicial path to
resolution of public records requests. The City requests that the state allocate funding to
continue the mediation process.
■ ELECTION OF JUDGES: The Bureau for Judicial Administration's perennial effort to require
that all judges (including part-time) be elected will again require involvement of cities.
Appointed judges are equally qualified professionally and there is no compelling evidence
that appointed judges are a threat to the administration of justice. In fact, requiring election
of all judges would be very problematic for part-time courts, particularly in small and rural
communities found throughout eastern Washington. Pasco should continue to join other
cities to oppose mandatory election of municipal court judges.
■ MARIJUANA LAWS: The new recreational marijuana industry is subject to a state excise tax
as high as 75 %, but none of this potential funding is directed to local agencies to address
public safety needs and other local impacts. Cities and counties must enforce marijuana laws
and need shared revenue to do this. The City supports legislation that would create this
revenue sharing.
Section 2. The City Manager is hereby directed to inform state legislators and other
appropriate parties of the City's 2014 legislative priorities.
PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco at its regular meeting this 16th day of
December, 2013.
Matt Watkins
Mayor
A'TET:
i
ebra Clark
City Clerk
APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Leland B. Kerr
City Attorney
2014 Legislative Priorities
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