Pretty important week for the council, if you're into the budget and how the city plans for growth and all that rot. I  certainly am, but its boring to write about and there isn't any time at all for a difference to be made. So I'm just going to point out the city's legislative agenda for this 2007 session.

Almost every week this is the "What's on the city council's plate this week" review. I don't cover everything, so if you want the full rundown, read the packet and agenda yourself.

This report on what we want from the state is a pretty fun read, it says a lot about how Olympia is different than any other town with our status as state capital. Our needs are different. The best part of this report is the misspelling of Sleater-Kinney near the bottom:

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A. RECOMMENDED TOP PRIORITY ISSUES

These issues are those that Olympia will develop a work plan and actively communicate its position on Top Priority issues to members of the State Legislature and the Association of Washington Cities, and will work to form partnerships with other agencies, groups and municipalities that have potential, similar interests.

1. Percival Landing: Request state funding through grants and the Governor’s Capital Budget to begin a phased approach to reconstructing Percival Landing. The City has submitted a request for $2.5 million in the Governors Capital Budget that when combined with committed local funds, possible federal funds and future private donations, will pay for the following:
a) Hiring a contract project engineer to serve as project manager for the City. b) Hiring an engineering team to prepare all permit, design and construction documents.
c) Preparation of 30% Design documents and estimate of construction costs for all of Percival Landing. Step will include public process and involvement with state and federal natural resource agencies and Squaxin Island Tribe. This step will result in the scoping of a Phase 1 reconstruction project based on costs and available project funds.
d) Preparation of 60%, 90% and 100% design and engineering documents for Phase 1 Reconstruction Project.
e) Preparation of local, state and federal permits for the Phase 1 Reconstruction Project.
f) Conduct public bidding process and award bid for a Phase 1 Reconstruction Project.
g) Manage and construct Phase 1 Reconstruction project.
h) Dedicate Phase 1 Reconstruction Project upon final completion. The City of Olympia is seeking $7.8 million in federal, state and private donations to match $4.5 million in local funds for the Phase 1 Project.

2. Bikeways & Sidewalks on 5th Avenue Dam: The Department of General Administration plans to improve the 5th Avenue Dam and will be proposing full funding of $1 million for the project from the Legislature. The project would modify the dam and the walkways on the north and south side to provide bike lanes and sidewalks in both directions. The dam and roadway on top of it is state right-of-way. The City and State improvements on Deschutes and 5th Avenue have provided bicycle facilities in this area and the dam remains the missing link and we have received public comments stating that this is a problem. This project is consistent with the comprehensive plan for bicycle facilities,

3. Large Scale Employers’ Minimum Health Care Expenditures/Small Business Assistance: New legislative proposals are expected to be introduced this session to provide expansion of health insurance coverage for low income employees in this state. Options being discussed include: requiring large employers to pay a certain percentage of payroll toward employee health coverage or pay the state a fee to cover them on state programs; requiring employers to reimburse the state for costs of Medicaid or the Basic Health Plan that cover their employees; and development of a mechanism to allow employees of small business to compare and access a health plan from a pool exchange, the cost of which is shared by the employer and employee through payroll deduction. Low-wage employees would receive a premium subsidy. Health costs over a specified threshold would be covered through re-insurance that is financed by the exchange (often termed “the connector”), which helps keep premiums affordable. B. ISSUES OF INTEREST These are issues that Olympia will monitor and communicate Olympia’s position to members of the State Legislature and the Association of Washington Cities. During the session, Olympia may choose to raise an Issue of Interest to a Top Priority, depending on proposed Legislative action.

4. State Office Buildings: Provide continued support for the design and construction of the State Executive Building and the Heritage Building projects.
5. Liquor Control Board: Liquor Control Board: Work with legislative leaders, other interested cities, AWC, and the Liquor Control Board regarding potential legislation to amend the LCB’s license renewal procedures to require the LCB to take into account the objections of cities, towns and counties. The statute currently requires the LCB to deny renewal of licenses for establishments within a specified distance of a school if the school district objects, but is silent as to the LCB’s response to objections by cities, towns and counties, even where those local governments document an establishment’s significant impacts on public safety and/or police resources.

6. GCCM Authority: The Capital Projects Advisory Review Board (CPRAB) has been conducting a review of alternative public works contracting during the past year. Legislation is in the drafting stages, but a final draft is not yet ready for release. Three components are being considered: GCCM; Design Build and Job Order Contracting. With regard to GCCM, at this stage it appears the proposal will eliminate the current population thresholds for cities. For projects over $10 Million, the public owner is given two choices:
(1) Demonstrate its proficiency in managing public works contracts to a review committee and obtain a three-year “certification” which could be applied to GC-CM projects; or
(2) Without “certification”, the public owner will be required to go before the review committee on a project by project basis.

7. Purple Pipe Infrastructure: Urge the State to partner with the City in extending reclaimed water up to the Capitol Campus. The project estimate is between $3-3.5 million for a storage reservoir, pump station and main extension. This partnership would allow the state and city to share costs and complete a project that will become a showcase on reclaimed water for the state.

8. West Olympia Access: Ensure that funding for DOT to conduct the access study remains in place. Based on the study’s result, work with the State legislature and the Federal Government in the future to obtain project funding.

9. Lodging Tax: AWC is working with Rep Dean Takko of Aberdeen and Sen Karen Fraser on legislation that will provide cities flexibility regarding the expenditure of hotel/motel taxes on tourism related activities and facilities in response to the Attorney General’s Opinion.

10. Streamlined Sales Tax: The climate for enactment of a streamlined sales tax bill with full mitigation remains optimistic. As a top legislative priority of AWC, cities, counties, the business community and the department of revenue continue to meet on potential modifications to last year’s bill, reflecting changes at the national level. Recently adopted amendments to the agreement regarding durable medical equipment, for example, will reduce the fiscal impact here in Washington State. The number of businesses that have registered for voluntary compliance has grown to 1,000 participants, which is more than four times the level just one year ago. A training session by AWC and WFOA will be conducted on December 12 for city officials to learn more about the status of the project nationally, implementation and mitigation in this state, and impacts to cities.

11. Transportation: The creation of Transportation Benefit Districts with independent taxing authority was a major achievement in the 2006 Session of the Legislature. Now the focus for transportation will shift to key areas: regional transportation issues in Puget Sound and escalating transportation project costs. Recent recommendations by the Regional Transportation Commission on transportation governance will set the stage for likely legislation. To address the WSDOT project list, with limited or no new state funding available, AWC is indicating a preference for delaying or restaging projects rather than cancellation. As the session moves forward, it is likely that transportation revenue proposals will surface to support council decision making authority and additional funding options.

12. Local Infrastructure Financing Tool (LIFT): Many discussions are underway to make changes to the Local Infrastructure Finance Tool (LIFT) that passed the Legislature in 2006. Lifting the one project per county restriction in the law would be of great benefit to Olympia and cities will also advocate for expanding the number of projects allowed.

13. Mental Health Services: A major focus in the 2007 Session will be children’s mental health. DSHS has requested $5.2 Million to extend services to children in foster care who do not meet current access to care standards and to provide evidence based practices. In addition, DSHS is launching a pilot program in Thurston and Mason Counties through the RSN to focus on children’s mental health needs. Rep Mary Lou Dickerson will be introducing a more comprehensive mental health bill to expand even further access opportunities for children to receive mental health services.

14. Cable & Telecom Reform: There is activity occurring at the federal level to usurp local control/management of rights-of-way. This is taking place in the guise of cable and telecom reform. Monitor at the state level in case the issue drifts downward from DC.
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Common Legislative Agenda for Area Local Governments The cities of Lacey, Olympia, and Tumwater along with Thurston County and the Thurston County Chamber of Commerce and Economic Development Council have joined together to develop a common legislative agenda to address some key needs of this area:

1. Funding to complete the Chehalis Western Trail
2. Establishment of a Thurston County Incubator
3. Interchange Justification Report (Slater-Kinney to Nisqually)
4. Fund Tumwater Blvd/I-5 Interchange project.