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:
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Resolution—2022 Legislative Priorities-3
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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.