Council MIN 01-08-2014 Special - 30th District4% CITY OF
.:� Federal Way
MINUTES
FEDERAL WAY CITY COUNCIL
SPECIAL MEETING /BREAKFAST
WITH 30TH DISTRICT STATE LEGISLATORS
Federal Way Community Center — Forest Lounge
876S.333 rd Street — Federal Way, WA 98003
January 8, 2014
7:30 a.m.
1. Welcome and Introductions
Attending: 'Mayor Ferrell, City Councilmembers, Sen. Tracey Eide, Reps. Roger Freeman,
Linda Kochmar
Staff: City Attorney Pat Richardson, Chris Carrel
Mayor Ferrell opened the meeting at 7:34 a.m.
The Mayor welcomed Sen. Tracey Eide, Rep. Roger Freeman, Rep. Linda Kochmar, City
Councilmembers, other electeds and members of the public. He noted that the purpose of the
meeting was to discuss the City's priority legislative issues as described in the Legislative
Agenda.
The Mayor thanked the legislators for their efforts on behalf of the community. He noted that
Federal Way is fortunate to have Senator Eide and Representatives Freeman and Kochmar
working on their behalf and thanked them for their availability to attend the legislative
breakfast.
2. Discussion of Priorities for the 2014 Legislative Session
Complete the Triangle Project
Deputy Mayor Burbidge introduced the Triangle Project. Completion of the final phase of the
project is estimated at $114 million and will include ramps connecting southbound 1 -5 to SR
161 and S. 356th Street, northbound 1 -5 to eastbound SR 18, reconstruction of the 1 -5 /SR 161
undercrossing, and restoring the Weyerhaeuser Way connection to SR 18.
The Deputy Mayor thanked Sen. Eide for her leadership in securing past funding for the
Triangle and stated that completing the project is critical to Federal Way's economic
development, and will improve access to local businesses while enhancing freight mobility for
Port of Tacoma traffic. The City requests that the legislators support funding for completion of
the Triangle Project.
Sen. Eide noted that it is her goal to pass a statewide transportation funding package that
would include the Triangle Project. She noted that there were some challenges to passing a
statewide package. Reps. Freeman and Kochmar also expressed their support.
City Council Minutes — January 8, 2014 Special Meeting Page I of 4
Transportation investment funding
Councilmember Celski introduced the City's priorities for Transportation investment funding.
He noted that along with the Triangle, the City also supports including the bridge widening at I-
5 and S. 320th and 1 -5 /SR -509 improvements in a statewide package. The City also supports
including local transportation funds — the "last mile" and transit as well as continued funding
for Transportation Improvement Board (TIB).
Councilmember Celski stated that the City has $230 million of transportation projects on our 6-
year comprehensive improvement plan, but only has $2.4 million /year in available funding for
those projects, so including a local transportation funding mechanism is critical. A key priority
for the City will be to ensure that any funding for local roads does not penalize cities like
Federal Way that have consistently invested in roads maintenance.
Sen. Eide discussed the importance of funding road maintenance and local options in the
statewide package. She noted that there is opposition in the Senate on the issue of funding
Metro transit and asked for the City's help to contact key senators to support transportation
funding.
Rep. Kochmar articulated concerns regarding the need for transportation reforms and
distributed information on transit. She stated her support for recognizing cities that have
maintained their roads. Councilmember Burbidge discussed the history of the Puget Sound
Regional Council's criteria for funding equity.
• Metro Transit funding
Councilmember Duclos introduced the City's priority for METRO Transit Funding
She stated that in 2011, the state legislature authorized a 2 -year funding source for METRO
that is expiring in June of this year. Without replacement funding, Metro has indicated that up
to 600,000 service hours will be eliminated across the county, including deep, painful cuts in
Federal Way that would eliminate four routes and reduce six other routes that serve Federal
Way. Federal Way is a transit- dependent community and these are unacceptable cuts to
Federal Way commuters that will cause real harm, particularly to middle and lower- income
workers who depend on transit to reach their jobs. It will also put more cars on the highways,
worsening congestion.
Councilmember Duclos stated that the City supports providing King County authority to put a
funding measure before King County voters in the event that funding is not provided through
the legislature. The Councilmember offered her personal opinion that it is not fair to put the
entire funding burden for transit on car owners.
Councilmember Moore discussed the severe impact of transit cuts to people with disabilities.
Mayor Ferrell stated his plans to articulate in Olympia the importance of transit funding and
impacts to Federal Way.
Senator Eide discussed the importance of transit funding, especially its impact on reducing
road congestion.
• Restoring local liquor revenue sharing
Councilmember Moore introduced the City's priority to restore local liquor revenue sharing to
historic levels. For over 70 years, the state has shared revenues from liquor profits and from
liquor excise taxes with local communities to mitigate the public safety and public health
impacts of liquor sales. He noted that liquor privatization has increased the availability of
alcohol and led to growing demand for public safety at the same time that the Legislature has
significantly reduced liquor revenue sharing to cities. In 2012, the legislature suspended liquor
excise tax revenue sharing, only restoring it to 50% during 2013. This cost the City of Federal
City Council Minutes — January 8, 2014 Special Meeting Page 2 of 4
Way approximately $675,000 over two years, an amount equivalent to three police officers
during that time. Also, in 2012 the legislature capped liquor profit sharing at $49.4 million,
which effectively reduced the percentage shared with local government from 50% to 35%
Councilmember Moore articulated the City's position that it is imperative for the legislature to
restore both liquor excise tax and liquor profit revenue sharing to cities to historic levels to
provide for public safety
Rep. Kochmar agreed that privatization has led to increased availability and impacts on
community, and also expressed concern about the impact of marijuana legalization. She
noted that she appreciated the city council passing a moratorium on marijuana.
Rep Freeman voiced concerns on marijuana legalization and stated that there is a need to
find funding for law enforcement on this issue.
Sen. Eide noted that restoring revenue back to cities will be a challenge, due to other priority
issues for funding, such as education.
Councilmember Maloney addressed the marijuana issue, and articulated the City's position
asking legislators to support a revenue sharing model to provide cities with law enforcement
funding on marijuana and to preserve cities' authority to enact moratoria on this issue.
Representative Kochmar noted her concern over the absence of marijuana in the DUI laws.
There was a comment from the audience regarding a need for the legal framework of
marijuana legalization to recognize the need for banking infrastructure for legal marijuana
businesses.
Restore the Building for the Arts grant
Councilmember Honda introduced the item to Restore the Building for the Arts Grant. Federal
Way was awarded a $325,000 Department of Commerce grant in 2010 for design for the
performing arts and conference center, of which $98,023 has been reimbursed. Due to
impacts of the Great Recession and timing of the conceptual design phase, the City sought an
extension through the 2013 -2014 Capital Budget. While Commerce staff confirmed in July,
2013 that the grant had been re- appropriated, we were later informed that that information
was in error and that the grant had, in fact, not been re- authorized. The City is seeking an
appropriation of $218,852 to restore the grant funding for design costs. Councilmember
Burbidge encouraged for attention to this item and noted the distinction between design and
construction grants.
• Increased sentencing for felony attempts to elude police
Mayor Ferrell introduced the item for Increased sentencing for felony attempts to elude police.
The Sentencing Reform Act includes an oversight that allows car thieves to go unpunished for
causing dangerous car chases that endanger police and bystanders. Mayor Ferrell stated that
the City is proposing language to correct this oversight in the law and require that the 12-
month jail time enhancement for causing dangerous car chases is served at the end of any
other jail time served.
• Fully fund the 2013 Metal Theft Prevention legislation
The Mayor also discussed the City's support for allocating funding to fully implement the Metal
Theft Prevention legislation that was passed in 2013. Legislators noted their support though
cautioned that funding would be difficult to get this session.
City Council Minutes — January 8, 2014 Special Meeting Page 3 of 4
• Enact effective local framework for legalized collective gardens and
marijuana sales
Discussion on this item occurred during the Restoring local liquor revenue sharing item.
3. Legislator Updates — 30th District Members
• Senator Tracey Eide
Sen. Eide noted that transportation is one of her top priorities for the 60 -day session. It
is important for the local and statewide economy. She discussed details of the Senate
transportation proposal. She also noted the importance of the Legislature providing
additional funding for education, according to the recent guidance from the Supreme
Court. She stated that because it is a short 60 -day session, that will limit the number of
issues that get addressed.
• Representative Roger Freeman
Rep. Freeman stated that he is focusing on the needs of parents and families with
disabled children. He expressed his support for the City's legislative agenda. He will
also be addressing the way that school districts receive state funding, and the way that
the state taxes new businesses, with an aim to provide incentives for technology -
based businesses.
• Representative Linda Kochmar
Rep. Kochmar noted that it was very important that Federal Way does not have a B &O
tax. She said that is an advantage that we should preserve. She noted that last
session; the Legislature was able to balance the budget without new taxes, while
providing schools with more funding. With regards to transit, she stated that 60% of
transportation funding in the state goes to transit while only 6% of the state population
uses transit. She also noted the difficulty of new funding during this session.
Trise Moore with the federal Way Public Schools spoke to the importance of
providing funding for education and meeting the mandates of the Supreme Court
McCleary Decision. She thanked Sen. Eide for support of funding for family
coordinators. Sen. Eide also noted last session's passage of the Seahawks and
Sounders license plates provides new funding for education.
4. Wrap -Up & Adjournment
The Mayor adjourned the meeting at 8:55 a.m.
Attest:
Chris Carrel
Communications and Government Affairs Coordinator
Approved by Council: January 21, 2014
City Council Minutes — January 8, 2014 Special Meeting Page 4 of 4