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HomeMy WebLinkAbout4115 Resolution - 2022 Legislative Priorities RESOLUTION NO. 4115 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF PASCO, WASHINGTON, DECLARING THE CITY'S LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES FOR THE 2022 SESSION OF THE WASHINGTON STATE LEGISLATURE. WHEREAS, the 2022 Legislative Session of the Washington State Legislature commences on January 10, 2022; 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 2022 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 2022 Legislative Session. • DOWNTOWN PASCO INVESTMENTS: In partnership with the state,the City has invested in Peanuts Plaza, Lewis Street, and the MLK Community Center to revitalize downtown Pasco — a historic centerpiece that has struggled with aging infrastructure. In response, the beginnings of a vibrant downtown with diverse businesses has emerged. The COVID-19 pandemic presented a setback that the city is eager to move beyond. To aid in that effort, the City requests that the state continue in its partnership to revitalize downtown by allocating $250,000 in state capital funding to improve signage,walkability, street furniture, lighting, and other community amenities. In conjunction,the City has committed funding to life safety upgrades for downtown businesses, such as fire sprinklers. Together, these amenities will attract residents, visitors, and patrons into downtown Pasco to experience its lively, culturally diverse community. • SR 395/SYLVESTER BIKE/PEDESTRIAN CROSSING: The City requests $4 million to complete the final segment of a continuous bike-pedestrian facility along Sylvester Street - a key connection between low-income neighborhoods on the west side of SR 395 and essential services to the east. The City has secured funding to add bicycle/pedestrian facilities along the entire corridor, except for the Resolution—2022 Legislative Priorities- 1 portion that bridges SR 395. The requested $4 million would fully fund and complete this connection. • SR 12 SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS: The City requests $1.5 million to design safety solutions at two at-grade crossings at SR 12 (A Street and Tank Farm Rd.), and a commitment to fully fund the identified solution. The Pasco community has expressed concerns about the safety of these at-grade crossings after several serious vehicle/truck accidents resulted from challenging access on and off the state route. • BROADMOOR BIKE/PEDESTRIAN CROSSING: Pasco is experiencing significant growth in the Broadmoor area. To accommodate this growth, the City is urgently investing $6 million in improvements to the state system. The City is proactively working to ensure this development supports multimodal transportation options. As such, the City requests $3 million for a bicycle/pedestrian facility crossing over I-182 at the Broadmoor Interchange. • SR 395/I-182 INTERCHANGE: In recent years, Pasco has grown significantly to the north. The City requests $2 million for WSDOT to complete an Access Revision Report to allow eastbound access onto I-182 from the region north of the interchange, which currently only provides westbound exits. • PROCESS WATER REUSE FACILITY: In partnership with local food processors, Pasco is investing nearly $40 million in its process water reuse facility — a facility that reuses wastewater from local food processors to irrigate nearby farmland. As part of the upgrade, the City envisions transitioning the facility to establish greater industrial symbiosis such as providing renewable natural gas production to meet low carbon fuel standards, providing high-nitrogen water to farm algae biomass far other markets, and other interests. The City asks for the state's partnership in the coming years to accomplish this ambitious objective. • WATER RIGHTS AVAILABILITY: To accommodate existing and future demands, the City needs to secure adequate water rights for residential irrigation and drinking water. One way to accomplish this is to ensure existing groundwater rights, when permitted for irrigation of a city-owned industrial wastewater treatment facility, are protected from relinquishment when converting irrigation water rights to municipal water rights. The City supports proposals to increase water rights availability for growing municipalities. • MENTAL HEALTH & TREATMENT FUNDING: The Pasco community is experiencing increased homelessness, rising crime rates, and other public safety concerns. The Legislature's recent decision to require diversion of those in possession of controlled substances has put additional pressure on need for treatment facilities. As such,the City requests increased funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment services,including but not limited to additional local option tools, to best meet the community's needs. Resolution—2022 Legislative Priorities-2 • PUBLIC SAFETY: The City supports the Legislature revisiting police reform proposals adopted during the 2021 legislative session to provide greater clarity and consistency in application across the state and to address unintended negative impacts to public safety. Section 2. The City Manager is hereby directed to inform state legislators and other appropriate parties of the City's 2022 Legislative Priorities. PASSED by the City Council of the City of Pasco, Washington on this 15t" day of November, 2021. � Saul Martinez Mayor ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM: ���� '�1,4� �-� De ra Barham, CMC err� ergu, ,aw, PL `����g City Clerk City Att , Resolution—2022 Legislative Priorities-3 I}'���� = t �f�����i e, �..�s=� I'1 ��,� v.•:. �E•_•� � � � � .�t �p �� 6 � � � �i�i t v��� 1 f��1k y -. es�:7'.vl�`i '4.� T� � a _ `;�� �I�F��+_# _ �a"�;��.T�# `d S i � : �.f�-L_3 ' . -� _ _`�F .--�sa`-r �, � .^�. � � - � — � �~� �� � City of Pasco . , 2022 State Legislative Priorities . . - . . - DOWNTOWN PASCO INVESTMENTS: In partnership with the state, the City has -•- invested in Peanuts Plaza, Lewis Street, and the MLK Community Center to revitalize �' � � �' downtown Pasco — a historic centerpiece that has struggled with aging infrastructure. In response, the beginnings of a vibrant downtown with diverse businesses have emerged. - -'" ' The COVID-19 pandemic presented a setback that the city is eager to move past. To aid '' ' ` " in that effort, the City requests that the state continue in its partnership to revitalize downtown by allocating $250,000 in state capital funding to improve signage, walkability, . ..�� � street furniture, lighting, and other community amenities. In conjunction, the City has committed funding to life safety upgrades for downtown businesses, such as fire sprinklers. Together, these amenities will attract residents, visitors, and patrons into downtown Pasco to experience its lively, culturally diverse community. TRANSPORTATION FUNDING: The City of Pasco encourages the Legislature to adopt a transportation revenue package. The City asks that funding be allocated to preserve the local and state transportation system, and to the following projects: SR 395/SYLVESTER BIKE/PEDESTRIAN CROSSING: The City requests $4 million to complete the final segment of a continuous bike-pedestrian facility along Sylvester Street- a key connection between low-income neighborhoods on the west side of SR 395 and essential services to the east. The City has secured funding to add bicycle/pedestrian facilities along the entire corridor, except for the portion that bridges SR 395. The requested $4 million would fully fund and complete this connection. SR 12 SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS: The City requests $1.5 million to design safety solutions at two at-grade crossings at SR 12 (A Street and Tank Farm Rd.), and a commitment to fully fund the identified solution. The Pasco community has expressed concerns about the safety of these at-grade crossings after several serious vehicle/truck accidents resulted from challenging access on and off the state route. BROADMOOR BIKE/PEDESTRIAN CRQSSING: Pasco is experiencing significant growth in the Broadmoor area. To accommodate this growth, the City is urgently investing $6 million in improvements to the state system. The City is proactively working to ensure this development supports multimodal transportation options. As such, the City requests $3 million for a bicycle/pedestrian facility crossing over I-182 at the Broadmoor Interchange. SR 395/1-182 INTERCHANGE: In recent years, Pasco has grown significantly to the north. The City requests $2 million for WSDOT to complete an Access Revision Report to allow eastbound access on to I-182 from the region north of the interchange, which currently only provides westbound exists. PROCESS WATER REUSE FACILITY: In partnership with local food processors, Pasco is investing nearly $40 million in its process water reuse facility—a facility that reuses wastewater from local food processors to irrigate nearby farmland. As part of the upgrade, the City envisions transitioning the facility to establish greater industrial symbiosis such as providing renewable natural gas production to meet low carbon fuel standards, providing high-nitrogen water to farm algae biomass for other markets, and other interests. The City asks for the state's partnership in the coming years to accomplish this ambitious objective. WATER RIGHTS AVAILABILITY: To accommodate existing and future demands, the City needs to secure adequate water rights for residential irrigation and drinking water. One way to accomplish this is to ensure existing groundwater rights, when permitted for irrigation of a city-owned industrial wastewater treatment facility, are protected from relinquishment when converting irrigation water rights to municipal water rights. The City supports proposals to increase water rights availability for growing municipalities. MENTAL HEALTH 8�TREATMENT FUNDING: The Pasco community is experiencing increased homelessness, rising crime rates, and other public safety concerns. The Legislature's recent decision to require diversion of those in possession of controlled substances has put additional pressure on need for treatment facilities. As such, the City requests increased funding for mental health and substance abuse treatment services, including but not limited to additional local option tools, to best meet the community's needs. PUBLIC SAFETY: The City supports the Legislature revisiting police reform proposals adopted during the 2021 legislative session to provide greater clarity and consistency in application across the state and to address unintended negative impacts to public safety. � The City of Pasco Supports/Opposes , . Pasco receives approximately$1.3 million annually from the state, State-Shared Revenues categorized as "state-shared revenues." The City urges the State to preserve and enhance these 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. Public Bidding Requirements Pasco supports proposals that provide technical assistance and increased flexibili when biddin ublic �ro'ects. • • � • - Local Transportation Funding Pasco supports increased funding and tools for cities to fund the local trans ortation s stem. Complete Street 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 mobili# throu hout the Tri-Cities. Lower Snake River Dams Pasco opposes the removal of dams along both the Columbia and Snake Rivers. Pasco supports legislative proposals to address housing affordability and a Affordable Housing diversity of housing. The City has completed Housing Action Plan to address affordabili locall . 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. Pasco is working with neighboring jurisdictions to establish a crisis response Crisis Response Team team and encourages the state to make grant funding available for such efforts. Basic Law Enforcement Academy Pasco supports funding at levels adequate to ensure newly hired officers can corra lete trainin throu h the Basic Law Enforcement Academ . Opioid Epidemic Pasco supports proposals that increase funding to address the opioid e idemic. Marijuana Laws Pasco supports policies that honor the City's authority to ban marijuana within city-limits. � 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 supports incentives that encourage annexation, including utilizing Annexation utility extensions, and mechanisms that facilitate the annexation of unincorporated islands.