City Manager’s Weekly Report
for week ending March 13, 2020
COVID-19 City Hall Closure. All Recreation Center programs are closed, including the preschool. These programs will not re-open until public schools re-open. Outdoor field use may be available with provision for social distancing. (For instance, soccer drills but no competition.) City Hall is closed except for appointments; see the city website for details. City staff are working, but telecommuting as much as possible. For Normandy Park Police Department assistance call 911. All city meetings are cancelled, unless we figure out a way to comply with the Open Public Meetings Act and hold remote Zoom meetings, which per a current Washington State Attorney General opinion require an open public facility location during the conduct of remote meetings. I am unwilling to expose the public and city employees to unscreened people, and currently we have no such screening available. Wash your hands, maintain social distance, and support your neighbors by taking care of your household. I’ve noticed a great number of people being thoughtful of others. Thank you.
State Legislature Closes Up. On one hand, legislative bills of practical financial use to the City of Normandy Park did not pass, which is normal for midterm sessions. On the other hand, the city was not damaged by new legislation either. Here the legislative summary with links:
On the final day of the session, the Legislature approved bipartisan legislation (HB 2965) to expend $200 million from the state’s rainy day fund to address the COVID-19 outbreak. Of this, $175 is million dedicated to public health and $25 million to a new COVID-19 unemployment fund. The bill also allows the State Board of Education to establish an emergency waiver program to give flexibility from graduation requirements due to the virus outbreak.
Address the Affordable Housing and Homelessness Crisis
In addition to the bills listed below, the supplemental budget approved by the Legislature added $160 million to fund additional shelter beds and expand access to affordable housing.
HB 2797 extending the deadline for jurisdictions to participate and expands allowable uses of funds authorized in 2019 by HB 1406, under which cities and counties receive a portion of state sales taxes collected in the jurisdiction for affordable housing.
Status: Passed the legislature.
HB 1590 providing councilmanic authority for cities and counties to impose a sales tax for affordable housing and related services.
Status: Passed the legislature.
HB 2497 adding the development of permanently affordable housing to the allowable uses for community revitalization financing, local infrastructure financing tool, and local revitalization financing.
Status: Passed the legislature.
HB 2907 / HB 2948 allowing King County to impose a payroll tax for every employee making $150,000 or more to fund affordable housing and homelessness services.
Status: Did not pass.
HB 2620 / SB 6411 authorizing local governments to extend qualified Multi-Family Tax Exemptions an additional 12 years.
Status: Did not pass.
Invest in Transportation Infrastructure and Mobility
HB 2362 / SB 6652 creating new local transportation options, including a city utility tax, countywide motor vehicle excise tax, and increased sales tax authority for transportation benefit districts.
Status: Did not pass.
Preserve Local Decision-Making Authority
HB 2343 expanding the list of actions that cities planning fully under the Growth Management Act are encouraged to take in order to increase urban density and housing supply.
Status: Passed the legislature.
SB 6617 requiring cities and counties planning under GMA to adopt regulations that do not require off-street parking for Accessory Dwelling Units within a quarter mile of a major transit stop unless the jurisdiction determines there is a lack of access to street parking or other impediments.
Status: Passed the legislature.
HB 2230 making permanent a property tax exemption for tribal properties being used for economic development purposes, which was established in 2014 and set to expire in 2022. The bill also expands the tribal properties eligible for the exemption by removing a provision that allowed it only to be applied to properties acquired prior to March 1, 2014. Allows cities to participate along with counties in payment-in-lieu-of-tax negotiations with tribes.
Status: Passed the legislature.
HB 2780/SB 6536 requiring allowance of the development of duplexes, triplexes, quadplexes, townhouses, and courtyard apartments in areas zoned for detached single-family residences.
Status: Did not pass.
HB 2570 requiring cities to adopt development regulations allowing at least one Accessory Dwelling Unit on all single-family lots.
Status: Did not pass.
Provide the Tools for Cities to Address Local Priorities and Infrastructure Needs
HB 1948 providing mitigation payments for the support of manufacturing and job centers in manufacturing and warehousing communities negatively impacted by the Streamlined Sales and Use Tax Agreement.
Status: Passed the legislature.
HB 2804 expanding Local Revitalization Financing projects by providing new funding, increasing the state’s annual contribution supporting projects, and revise the application process.
Status: Did not pass.
HB 2145 eliminating the 1% limit on increases to local property taxes.
Status: Did not pass.
HB 2778 authorizing Tax Increment Financing (TIF), and its companion legislation, and HR 4212 to amend the Washington State Constitution to allow the implementation of TIF in Washington State have not been voted out of committee.
Status: Did not pass.
Other
HB 1390 providing a one-time increase to the Public Employees’ Retirement System and Teachers’ Retirement System Plan 1 monthly benefits of three percent, not to exceed $62.50.
Status: Passed the legislature.
HB 2342 aligning deadlines for updates to comprehensive plans and shoreline master plans and extends the deadline for the next update to local comprehensive plans in King County to June 30, 2024 (previous deadline was June 30, 2023).
Status: Passed the legislature.
Mark E. Hoppen, City Manager
City of Normandy Park
801 SW 174th Street
Normandy Park, WA 98166
(206) 248-8246 (Direct Phone)
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