8b - 2023 State Legislative PrioritiesCity of Federal Way State Legislative Priorities
2023
` CITY OF
4, Federal Way
Centered on Opportunity
Federal Way City Council Regular Meeting
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MOTU Way
December 6, 2022
Presented by: Steve McNey
Intergovernmental & Public Affairs Officer
Public Safety
Restoring "Reasonable Suspicion" Standard
for Police Vehicular Pursuits
The amount of car thefts and the number of criminal suspects dangerously fleeing the
police have increased dramatically since the evidentiary standard for police vehicular
pursuits was increased far beyond the constitutional requirements of "reasonable
suspicion" by the State Legislature in Zoai.
To restore the prior level of community safety throughout the state, the City of Federal Way
supports a return to "reasonable suspicion" (from the current "probable cause") as the
standard for police vehicular pursuits, at least for violent offenses, sex offenses, escape
offenses and automobile theft.
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Public Safety continued...
Restoring the Role of The Courts in Enforcing Drug
Possession Laws
• In the wake of the Blake decision (which invalidated the State's existing
prohibition on possession of illegal drugs for lack of an element of intent), the
State Legislature passed SB 5476 in 2021, a stop -gap measure that will expire
in the summer of 2023. Failure to adopt further legislation in 2023 would
result in the decriminalization of the possession of every type of drug in our
State.
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Plan for Growth
Maintain the Ability of Local Government to Plan
for Growth
The City of Federal Way has not sought to limit
growth generally or the construction of new and
affordable housing, but has invested considerable time
and effort, through deliberate processes that involve
extensive public participation, to plan for smart
growth. Instead of proposing to mandate zoning
standards from Olympia, the state should look to
provide incentives to cities which would promote
higher densities and leave local zoning decisions with
city elected officials.
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Condominium liability and housing affordability
Supports condominium liability reform aimed at
lowering regulatory barriers associated with
building affordable condos and improve the
climate for condominium construction statewide.
Changes are needed to create more certainty for
developers and insurers and remove disincentives to
building affordable condominium projects while
maintaining consumer protections. The City of
Federal Way would also welcome other proactive
approaches to create new tools/incentives/revenues for
cities to use to support increasing housing supply and
addressing housing affordability.
Capital Budget
Turf Ball Fields at Celebration Park (si.8 Million
The City of Federal Way has already compiled $i.z
million for this project. The additional funding will
support the resurfacing of two ball fields.
Transportation Budget
Funding for infrastructure systems
City CenterAccess ($A;o Million
The City Center Access project improves access from
Federal Way's City Center to and across I-5.
Additionally, it improves intermodal and multi -modal
access by modifying the existing over -utilized S 32oth
Street interchange in order to better accommodate
concentrated urban growth and provide multi -modal
connections with transit agencies.
Transportation Budget, Continued
Improvements to the SW ,36th-SW34oth Corridor
($2OMillionj
Construct the SW 336th St to SW 34oth St corridor,
including a roundabout at SW 34oth Street and Hoyt
Road SW. With traffic from the City of Tacoma's
Brown's Point area and the City of Federal Way, this
area has seen an increased level of congestion. Traffic
is projected to continue to increase, and with the
anticipated Sound Transit South Federal Way station
improved connections between Tacoma and Federal
Way are needed.
Transportation Budget, Continued
Increase Circulation and Traffic Capacity in
Downtown Federal Wa-
Million
The City of Federal Way has limited connections from the
downtown area to the regional transportation network,
with limited ways to disperse traffic. To partially address
this, this circulation improvement project includes:
Reconstruction of S 314th St between Pete von Reichbauer
Way S and Z3rd Ave S, (all but 25% of this section of
roadway is a private street in a failing condition); extending
sidewalks on S 312th Street from Steel Lake Park going east
to 28th and; and construction of frontage improvements
and a safe walking route for students between 312th and
Truman High School.
Transportation Budget, Continued
WSDOT Triangle Project
Currently the triangle project includes construction of
the southbound off ramp to 161, and replacement of
the northbound to eastbound ramp if funds allow. The
City supports funding the project to allow full
construction.
Behavioral and Mental Health Resources
Supports creating greater access to behavioral and
mental health services and establishing funding to
support communities' efforts in establishing response
programs like designated peer professionals and crisis
responders who work alongside law enforcement, the
courts, and jails. People experiencing mental and
behavioral health challenges continues to increase and the
mental health system struggles to respond. Oftentimes it is
police officers who are solely responding to people
suffering mental health issues. In addition, the lack of
coordinated behavioral health intervention and adequate
state resources contributes to the seemingly endless cycle
people experience in the criminal justice system.
Mayor's Recommendation
Option One — Approve the 2023 City of
Federal Way Draft State Legislative Agenda
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State Legislative Priorities 2023
Questions and Discussion
CITY OF
Federal Way
Centered on Opportunity
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