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Council hears legislative updates; agrees to support several funding requests and monitor a Growth Management Act bill
Summary
Councilors instructed staff to write a letter supporting an eCityGov Alliance funding request, indicated support for I-5 bridge bonding authority, voiced mixed views on a bill clarifying mental-health sales-tax use for new facility construction, and asked staff for more analysis on a Growth Management Act change proposal.
Clark County staff provided a legislative update on several bills and funding requests and the council gave direction on how to proceed.
Jordan Bogie, senior policy analyst, said the eCityGov Alliance is requesting $2.7 million from the Washington State Department of Commerce to complete a permitting software modernization project; councilors gave consensus support to send a letter of support to the appropriate committee and to the county’s legislative delegation.
Bogie briefed the council on Senate Bill 5734 and House Bill 1958, a bill pair that would provide up to $1.6 billion in bonding authority to support design and construction of the Interstate 5 bridge replacement and would allow the bonds to be backed by tolls, state gas tax/vehicle fees, and ultimately the state’s full faith and credit. Council members indicated their support for the bill at the meeting.
Staff also discussed Senate Bill 5,696, which would explicitly clarify that mental-health sales tax funds can be used for construction of new facilities (the current language explicitly allows modifications of existing facilities but is less clear on new construction). Councilors discussed the bill and Councilor Belcott stated, “I’m gonna abstain from this,” when the item was raised; other councilors indicated support and asked staff to track the bill.
Finally, staff flagged House Bill 1135/Senate Bill 5197, a proposed change to Growth Management Act appeals that could alter the hearings board’s jurisdiction; county counsel Chris Cook warned the council that the change could open comprehensive-plan decisions to extended litigation beyond current time limits and create legal uncertainty, and councilors asked for more analysis before taking a position.
Ending
Council asked staff to draft the eCityGov Alliance support letter and to continue tracking all bills discussed; the council expressed support for the I-5 bridge bonding bill and asked for follow-up material on the Growth Management Act proposal before taking a formal position there.
