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Council reviews 2026 state legislative priorities as staff warns of tight revenue outlook
Summary
City staff reviewed Shoreline’s proposed 2026 state legislative agenda, highlighting transportation funding needs (including the 170th/5th corridor and a proposed North City Commons capital request) and warning the short 2026 session will face an estimated $2 billion state revenue shortfall.
City staff presented a draft 2026 state legislative agenda to the Shoreline City Council, emphasizing transportation priorities, a proposed local capital request for the North City Commons/Rotary Park area, and broader issues that may require council attention during a compressed legislative session.
Jim Hammond, the city’s intergovernmental-relations manager, and legislative consultant Deborah Munguia briefed the council on the short session timeline (session begins Jan. 12, 2026, and can last up to 60 days) and the challenges posed by the state revenue forecast. Staff cited a projected state revenue shortfall of about $2 billion and said agencies were preparing for significant reductions, which will make securing state capital or operating dollars more difficult.
Staff highlighted two Shoreline priorities for outreach to the city’s legislative delegation: continued groundwork for future state transportation funding for projects such as the 170th/5th corridor improvements and a capital community-project request to revitalize the area around 10th and 180th (the so-called North City Commons concept). The North City Commons request would seek capital investments to support a pop-up retail/placemaking pilot (space for vendors, events and food trucks) and site improvements to encourage local economic activity, staff said.
Other policy topics on the draft agenda include local and state transportation funding, land-use and permitting refinement related to housing supply, climate and greenhouse-gas measures, behavioral-health funding, fish-passage/culvert issues, and a potentially significant state policy affecting wastewater treatment (state nutrient general permit). Staff described many of these as “evergreen” priorities carried from prior agendas but said the city will need to refine specific, action-focused asks to be effective in Olympia. Several council members urged staff to sharpen the agenda into concrete, achievable requests (for example, specific funding amounts or program goals) rather than broad topic areas.
Council members also discussed the practical limits of pursuing state capital funding in the current budget environment. Staff and council agreed that even if the city pursues a sponsored capital request through the delegation, the state’s constrained fiscal picture and the compressed short-session timeline will make outcomes uncertain; councilmembers urged continued advocacy and targeted, well-scoped asks.
No formal council vote was taken on the draft legislative priorities at this meeting. Staff indicated the draft would return for council action at a future meeting, and councilmembers requested the agenda be tightened to identify clearer policy outcomes and measurable asks.
