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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