We are excited to announce that we’re changing things up just a bit with this new column titled View from the Hill. Many of you have been regular readers of “From the Director” for the past several years. We want to bring you more of the best information as it happens, and what it means for cities. View from the Hill is where your AWC Government Relations team will share our insights and insider views about the happenings on “the Hill,” Olympia’s Capitol Hill, that is. This section is where you can expect to learn the latest about AWC’s advocacy efforts and how you can be part of it, during legislative session and the interim.
As summer wraps up, AWC’s Legislative Priorities Committee has also been wrapping up its work to develop priority recommendations for 2019. The committee met on August 24 to consider and debate possible issues for inclusion as city legislative priorities for 2019. The members of the committee had a robust discussion and vote that resulted in the following priorities recommendations (along with a short synopsis about what cities need from the Legislature):
Economic development – Develop a value capture tool that can help fund public investment that supports economic development like the Building Business Ecosystems proposal.
Criminal Justice Training Commission funding – Cities need a responsive funding model to ensure newly-hired law enforcement officers and corrections officers have timely access to basic training. Seek sufficient funding for at least 19 Basic Law Enforcement Academy classes and at least seven Corrections Officers Academy classes per year.
Infrastructure funding – Advocate for critical infrastructure funding programs. Focus on retaining existing funding for the Public Works Assistance Account (PWAA) through repayments and the 2 percent of dedicated REET. Seek to reinstate the diverted PWAA funding to support infrastructure projects that are aligned with housing availability related development.
Affordable housing – Continue to support new resources for subsidized affordable housing. Provide greater flexibility and refinement of programs that support affordable housing. Develop and support proposals to encourage voluntary densification and infill development. Explore opportunities for shared housing programs and support efforts to address condominium liability.
Culverts – Secure ongoing and significant funding for city culvert repair/replacement in recognition of the state’s obligation to address culverts that impede fish passage.
A huge thank you to the members of the committee who dedicated time and energy to this process. We very much appreciate your efforts. The AWC Board will consider these recommendations at the meetings in late September.
While these priorities are a key part of the AWC legislative agenda for 2019, it is important to remember that your AWC team works on many other issues throughout the year and into the legislative session. We still fully expect to work on a number of other issues in addition to our priorities in areas like behavioral health, transportation, public records, and annexation, among others. We will be developing and providing more in-depth information about the 2019 priorities that we will share with our members here in upcoming editions of the Bulletin.
To hear more about our 2019 agenda and to talk with our team in-person, please join us for one of the regional meetings we will be holding around the state this fall.
In the meantime, keep checking out View from the Hill for the latest info, insights, and insider scoop.