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HomeMy WebLinkAbout21-008 Adopting the 2021 State Legislative Agenda Resolution 21-008 RESOLUTION NO. 21-008 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING THE 2021 STATE LEGISLATIVE AGENDA WHEREAS, the actions of the Washington State Legislature in respect to local government issues, services, and funding have a profound effect on the City's ability to provide adequate local services to its citizens; and, WHEREAS, the Port Townsend City Council believes that it is appropriate to communicate its position regarding issues affecting the City and local government that may come before the State Legislature during the 2021 legislative session; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of Port Townsend, Washington, as follows: Section 1. The City Council adopts the 2021 Legislative Agenda as set forth at Exhibit A. Section 2. The City Manager shall transmit a copy of this Resolution to the 24th Legislative District representatives and to other regional government entities. Additionally, the City Manager shall continue to work with the other regional government entities to advocate for regional needs as well as City priorities. ADOPTED by the City Council of Port Townsend, WA at a regular meeting thereof, held this 4th day of January 2021. Michelle Sa;rid t.. vex Mayor Attest: Approved as to form: Joanna Sanders M ' MC ca recn :cl City Clerk City Attorney Resolution 20-008 Exhibit A Page 1 of 2 Exhibit A clu,�i1 t '�� , 1,6 4�rt 11 f City of Port Townsend DRAFT 2021 Legislative Agenda The City of Port Townsend's legislative agenda draws from core principles like regional partnership,shared prosperity and integrated sustainability to focus on three main priorities: housing, transportation and climate action. Our local priorities are nested and in sync across regional and state priorities. This is meant to reflect a pragmatic consistency and our commitment to strong collaboration as we all seek to recover from and build resilience in the face of COVID-19. City of Port Townsend's Top Three Priorities The City's top priorities align with State priorities, the Governor's proposed budget,AWC priorities and the regional priorities of other jurisdictions and partners. Housing Baca nd:As in other areas of Washington State, lack of local affordable housing supply has devastating ripple effects to families, critical services, our education system and our local economy. Rapidly rising house prices have driven out individuals and families who have long lived and worked in Port Townsend. With a higher percentage of residents living in poverty(16.6%)than Jefferson County (12.7%),WA(9.8%) or the USA(11.8%), Port Townsend renters (52%) and homeowners(39%) are significantly cost-burdened and this has virtually doubled since 1990. Our most recent 20-year affordability need projection concluded the need for 1300 new units in the next 25 years(Hovee,2015). Land is available but generally lacking in infrastructure—one of the key barriers to construction of affordable housing in Port Townsend. Solution Request: Support from the state for funding for designing and constructing backbone infrastructure(water,sewer,stormwater and roads)through a new partnership or program to help make shovel ready land — including City-owned land —readily available for affordable housing development. Transportation Background: Competition for limited state transportation dollars is fierce and local municipalities like Port Townsend are often unable to fulfil basic transportation needs and critical maintenance. Port Townsend has an unusually extensive road network (over 90 miles) for a town our population size/scale and out of sync with our abilities to raise local transportation funding. Port Townsend is also relatively remote and depends strongly on the "marine highways" of the Washington State Ferry system for the regular movement of people and goods. Finally, transportation investment helps unlock affordable housing provision and climate action, with additional dependencies and opportunities for recreation and tourism. Solutions/Requests: • Protect and enhance the Port Townsend-Coupeville Ferry Service (see recent Ferry Study') • Partner with WSDOTto optimize the Mill Road and Kearny Road Signal Replacements and deliver best practice in compact roundabout development for further statewide deployment. Request for$1.7 million to support and augment programmed $1.9 million of WSDOT investment for signal replacement. • Build the Olympic Discovery Trail (ODT) Extension from Anderson Lake to Discovery Bay as a shovel-ready integrated investment in recreation,transportation and sustainable water supply. Request for$13.5 million to connect Port Townsend and Quimper Peninsula to the expanding ODT as part of this regionally significant economic development and recreation opportunity. 2020.Hovee,Eric. Ferry.... (pdf link) Resolution 20-008 Exhibit A Page 2 of'2 Exhibit A cilyorpor Townsen Climate Action � Background:Climate change is an existential threat to humanity and the impacts are already being felt in Port Townsend, the region and around the globe. Embracing climate action as an investment in the future and doing so with an equity lens is critical to ensure emissions reductions and adaptation approaches build lasting value, economic prosperity and wellbeing for all and competitive edge for Washington State in the next economy. Solutions R iuests: Provide funding for municipalities to adapt to climate impacts. The City of Port Townsend is exploring a small-scale grant-funded partnership with the North Olympic Development Council (NODC)to begin work on a climate risk assessment. Give local jurisdictions tools, signals and resources to drive down emissions statewide. We support the recently-announced Climate Commitment Act, including a clean fuel standard, carbon pricing,funding and investment in a clean transportation, transitioning buildings to 100% clean energy, and promoting a clean and just economy through procurement policies. We also suggest consideration of language in the GMA to address climate change at all levels of planning as well as funding for implementation. The City of Port Townsend Aligns and Advocates with Key Partners Through the Four-Agency Intergovernmental Collaborative Group (ICG)in Jefferson County and the North Olympic Legislative Alliance(NOLA) with Clallam County, the City advocates and supports wider regional approaches with our partners. • We support accelerated expansion of rural broadband. • We support bringing Tax Increment Financing(TIF)to Washington. • We support growing Marine Tourism and the Maritime Economy. The City of Port Townsend Supports AWC's Legislative Agenda The City works closely with AWC in support of programs that impact all cities. • Maintain Revenue Sharing with Cities Locally,we support restoring and enhancing state shared revenues to meet critical community needs in Port Townsend where the local tax base is small and strained. Port Townsend governmental services is largely driven by highly cyclic sales tax. • Transportation Revenue Package Locally,we support the Peninsula RTPO's priority list with the two projects listed above. • Fiscal Flexibility Locally, we support lifting the arbitrary 1% property tax cap and use of REET funding for 0&M. • Housing Stability Assistance Locally,we support rent assistance, eviction mediation, legal aid services, and foreclosure prevention assistance to keep Port Townsend residents in their homes. Addressing the housing ladder is a key need for the City. * Statewide Policing Reforms Locally, and identified through our own council-led process to address racial equity in policing, we support greater local control to better and more appropriately protect our communities and our officers based on our specific needs and circumstances.