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HomeMy WebLinkAbout24-041 Adopting the City's 2025 State Legislative AgendaResolution 24-041 RESOLUTION NO. 24-041 A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF PORT TOWNSEND, WASHINGTON, ADOPTING THE CITY'S 2025 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 residents; and WHEREAS, Port Townsend benefits from nurturing strong relationships with our legislators and agency partners, who have together provided significant benefits to our residents; and WHEREAS, the Port Townsend City Council believes that it is appropriate and important to communicate its position regarding issues affecting the City and local government that may come before the State Legislature during the 2025 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 2025 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 the City of Port Townsend at a regular meeting thereof, held this 16 1h day of December 2024. David Faber Mayor Attest: c�gLies City c I City0f Port Townsend City of Port Townsend 2025 State Legislative Agenda Workshopped at Port Townsend City Council on 1219124, adopted by Resolution 24-041 on 12116124 1. Housing Top Request: State Tax Reform: Allow a tax on vacant land to discourage land banking, create more fairness, and deliver needed infrastructure improvements and incentivize needed infill housing in urban areas. Additional Requests: • Lift the escalating pressures on local governments in dealing humanely and effectively with homelessness and the suite of complex structural issues at the state and federal levels. Fund intervention and direct service provision. • Allocate and expand CHIP grants to include eligibility for transportation mitigation. • Scrutinize positive and negative impacts from changes to RCW 58.17 and 36.70.13 to ensure positive outcomes for housing and reduce unnecessary administrative burden. • Expand definition of affordable housing to allow public subsidy to support middle -income housing. For instance, increase Area Median Income (AMI) threshold to 150% or replace AMI with an affordability index that affects a variety of subsidies like MFTE, tax increment financing, fee waivers/deferrals/exemptions, and affordable housing sales tax funding eligibility. • Allow local governments to assess affordable housing impact fees as part of the GMA. • Provide greater tools and authority for local municipalities to address escalating rents and to ensure housing stability. 2. Transportation Top Request: Regional SR19/20 Mill Road Roundabout and Jacob Miller Safety and Economic Development Project: Provide $500,000 for preliminary design to help facilitate construction funding in a future state revenue package. Additional Request: Protect and enhance the Port Townsend-Coupeville and Edmonds -Kingston Ferry Service as an important segment of the maritime highway and a critical economic connector to and from Port Townsend and the Olympic Peninsula. Over the coming years, consider enhancements of ferry docks and load/unload areas to gain efficiencies, access, and better use of the ferry system as well as larger hybrid -electric vessels to provide better service and address financial and technical challenges of converting existing 64-car diesel -mechanical boats to hybrid -electric. 250 Madison Street . Suite 2 • Port Townsend • WA 98368 1 www.cityofpt.us lf1us(AA1 4I„h, 5 w% Townsend I Climate Action Top Request: Incentivize urban density to decrease vehicle miles traveled by building on middle housing legislation in areas traditionally dedicated to single-family detached housing. Additional Requests: Provide more electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure incentives and grant opportunities for municipal fleet conversion. Increase active mode and transit trips to reduce our region's #1 climate pollutant. Develop and prioritize capital funding for climate resilient infrastructure design and construction. 4. Fort Worden State Park Top Request: Provide steady capital funding to properly confront deferred campus maintenance and ensure the $87 million of regional economic impact from Fort Worden State Park is not squandered. Additional Request: Explore "buying out" legacy Land Water Conservation Fund payments to allow for sensible enhancements to accommodation/housing stock and enhance the value -generation of the Fort. The City of Port Townsend actively supports the legislative agendas of our key partners, including Jefferson County, the Port of Port Townsend, Jefferson County Public Utility District #1, the North Olympic Legislative Alliance (NOLA), the Association of Washington Cities (A WC), and Peninsula Regional Transportation Planning Organization (PRTPO). Contact: City Manager John Mauro, jn-M'r, MCcktyo pLy 360.531.2916 - ....... ..... .. ,.,, ,,......... .......,,.....r� 250 Madison Street. Suite 2 • Port Townsend . WA 98368 1www.cityofpt.us'��