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Shoreline council adopts 2025–26 federal legislative priorities, backs ‘medium‑sized city’ grant set‑aside push
Summary
The Shoreline City Council unanimously approved the city’s 2025–26 federal legislative priorities after a staff presentation that highlighted local capital projects, RAISE grant work, and a campaign to create a medium‑sized city funding set‑aside in federal discretionary grants.
Shoreline City Council on Monday unanimously approved the city’s 2025–26 federal legislative priorities, directing staff to advance federal advocacy for local capital projects and policy changes intended to make federal grants more accessible to mid‑sized cities.
City Manager’s Office staff member Jim Hammond and contract lobbyist Jake Johnson summarized the agenda and the city’s federal strategy, emphasizing continued work on capital projects tied to light rail, RAISE grant implementation and a coordinated effort to secure a permanent “medium‑sized city” tranche in federal discretionary infrastructure programs.
The priorities document is intended to give staff policy guidance and flexibility when advocating in Washington, D.C. Hammond said the list focuses on “what we’re trying to accomplish” rather than on ideological issues, and Johnson described a campaign Shoreline has led among more than three dozen Washington cities to ask Congress to reserve portions of federal grant programs for communities of Shoreline’s size. Johnson said the goal is to avoid direct competition with much larger cities on funding rounds where population can skew scoring.
Presenters highlighted ongoing federal work on specific local projects, including a north–south bike trail referred to as “Trail Along the Rail,” seismic safety work on a major corridor, and continued implementation of a previously awarded RAISE grant. Staff told council that the city’s federal delegation has been broadly supportive and that visits to Capitol Hill are scheduled to press the medium‑sized city proposal with committee staff.
Council members asked about the prospects for bipartisan support for a set‑aside and about project‑level risks if federal funding changes. Staff said transportation authorization and other large spending measures have historically drawn bipartisan support, but acknowledged uncertainty in the current federal political environment. Staff also told the council the 170th corridor seismic work has been phased so the most urgent seismic protection can move forward first and staff will continue to press for state and federal matches for later phases.
The council voted unanimously to adopt the priorities, giving staff authorization to advance the agenda during upcoming meetings with federal officials.
The vote gives Shoreline staff a formal mandate to pursue earmarks, appropriations and legislative language that would support the city’s projects and the medium‑sized city funding approach.
What’s next: staff said meetings with congressional committee staff are scheduled in the coming week, and the city will continue coordination with the federal delegation and coalition cities as it refines legislative asks and application strategies.
