9a Presentation Draft State Legislative Agenda
Item No. 9a Date: October 27, 2020 Draft 2021 State Legislative Agenda Briefing to Port of Seattle Commission October 27, 2020 Eric ffitch, Manager, State Government Relations, Port of Seattle Trent House, Contract Lobbyist, Port of Seattle 1 Overview Olympia preview what to expect from 2021 Session Budget shortfall Virtual session Election outcomes Agenda development process Evaluate progress made last session Incorporate ongoing work and core priorities This year: critical to acknowledge the focus on COVID-19 recovery and social injustice Next steps Incorporate additional Commission feedback between now and 11/17 Seek Commission adoption of final agenda in 11/17 Questions on process? 2 Priority Agenda Items: Focus on Statewide Recovery and on Equity Promoting broad-based, inclusive, and equitable statewide economic recovery: Consistent with the Port's mission and statutory authorities, we will seek partnership with Washington State Legislature and Executive Agencies on broad-based economic recovery in Washington and pursue recovery in a manner that is equitable, inclusive, and acknowledges the disparate impacts to historically underserved communities. Examples include: Transportation Revenue Package: Building infrastructure and investing in moving people and freight supports economic activity and puts people back to work. Key transportation priorities: West Seattle Bridge partnership Puget Sound Gateway Program Support for hard-hit transit agencies Progressive climate action: Enactment of progressive climate policies spurs investment in new technologies and generates demand for a newly skilled workforce while reducing emissions and improving environmental justice outcomes. Key climate policy priorities include: Low Carbon Fuel Standard Carbon price, through either a carbon fee or a cap-and-trade policy Response and relief: Essential activities that kept the economy running early in the pandemic included maritime and freight operations, air cargo and more. The Port urges the state continue to consider the impact the pandemic has had on essential businesses and their workers as we move toward reopening, including: Tax structure changes that support essential industries Investments in the workers, including the future workforce, employed in essential industries Support broad-based, equitable, statewide recovery 3 Priority Agenda Items Continued Equity and community focus: The onset of the pandemic was accompanied by a nationwide push to address historic inequities and systemic racism. The Port supports state leadership in addressing social injustice, and specifically supports action in the following areas: Police reform and accountability: The Port supports the state advancing legislation to improve civilian oversight of police decertification processes; to mandate anti-racist and de-escalation training; to prohibit restraints that rely on neck pressure; and others measures consistent with the Port's own work Public contracting and grantmaking: The Port's newly formed Office of Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion is eager to work with our community to increase the share of grants and contracts that go to underserved populations. Legislative changes may be required to assist us and other local governments in meeting our goals, and we will partner with the State Legislature to pursue such changes. Additional priorities: Beyond the above-listed priorities that respond to urgent society-wide issues, the Port will also pursue the following legislation consistent with our priorities as a public agency: Reduced local macth for community improvements: The Port supports reducing the local match that non-profit entities must provide in order to receive small dollar grants for public improvement projects. This statutory change will help the Port distribute grant funding at a time when many local governments may be forced to reduce grantmaking. Prioritizing Equity and Promoting Community Partnerships 4 Priority Issue Areas: Quality Jobs and Small Business Quality Jobs: Support proposals that are consistent with the Port's focus on bringing quality, sustainable jobs to the region, including through proposals that: State-level support for worker training programs in port-related industries Career-connected and work-based learning efforts at the state Apprenticeship and pre-apprenticeship programs Responsible enforcement of labor standards and culture of respect and inclusion Wage and benefit fairness for workers at port facilities State partnership on tourism promotion Support rural economic development Quality, Sustainable Jobs Workplace Equity SWMBE Support 5 Priority Issue Areas: Quality Jobs and Small Business Continued Small Business: Reduce barriers and provide equity in the workplace; promote inclusion of small businesses, including disadvantaged, minority, and women owned business enterprises (SMWBEs): Continued support for repeal of Initiative 200 Contracting flexibility for public owners SMWBEs compete for small works projects Small business capacity building and SMWBEs compete in the government marketplace Quality, Sustainable Jobs Workplace Equity SWMBE Support 6 Priority Issue Areas: Transportation Revenue Package The Port of Seattle supports enactment of a long-term transportation revenue package to support trade and Washington's international gateway, stimulate job growth, and support economic recovery. Transportation investment must be undertaken in a way that does not disproportionately impact disadvantaged communities. Transportation package revenue raisers: Transportation package investments: Price on carbon West Seattle Bridge. Road usage charge Continue support for critical freight routes Gas tax increase Invest in transit Port-specific grant program Reduce conflict between passengers and freight Adoption of a 2021 Transportation Revenue Package is Critical 7 Priority Issue Areas: Transportation and Competitiveness Continued funding of state transportation projects that are critical to Port of Seattle and Northwest Seaport Alliance operations Speed the movement of freight and passengers from origin to destination through seaport and airport facilities Improve the trade competitiveness of Washington state and our gateway. Allow for creative approaches to infrastructure development including potential new revenue mechanisms Affirm the authority of the Port Commission to control access to port facilities by all transportation modes Move Passengers and Freight Swiftly and Safely 8 Priority Issue Areas: Transportation and Competitivness Continued Potential increase in passenger vessel routes; other mobility options that ease access to port facilities. Promote resilience in the transportation network, including on issues of climate resilience. Coordinated approach to regional transportation planning, including aviation planning Move Passengers and Freight Swiftly and Safely 9 Priority Issue Areas: Transportation and Competitivness Continued Land Use Priorities: Continue to advocate on land use issues facing Washington state ports, including: Proposals reflecting the "Guiding Principles" adopted by NWSA Managing Members in 2016 Proposals that reflect the Port's commitment to environmental sustainability Proposals that recognize the role industrial lands play in port competitiveness Proposals that seek to strengthen the Container Ports Element of the Growth Management Act Recommendations related to the Interbay Public Development Advisory Committee Legislative changes that impact the efficient functioning of statewide essential public facilities Move Passengers and Freight Swiftly and Safely 10 Priority Issue Areas: Energy and Environment Support environmental cleanup programs and state-level policies that promote the adoption and implementation of clean energy sources, including: Low-carbon fuels for transportation, low or zero emission transit options, and otherwise support the continued reduction in the cost of low-carbon energy sources to consumers in the state Puget Sound health overall, including underwater noise partnership Model Toxics Control Act (MTCA) funding and partnerships Funding for the state's Recreation and Conservation Office, partnerships and funding on environmental cleanup Disbursement of funds from the national Volkswagen settlement Clean energy technology, building energy efficiency, statewide goals for clean power Partner with State on Environmental Cleanup and Clean Energy Promotion 11 Priority Issue Areas: Energy and Environment Continued State partnership with the Port on sustainable aviation fuels Climate change resilience Reduce carbon and air pollution emissions for passengers and employees traveling to and from Port facilities Policies advanced as part of the Washington Maritime BLUE: 2050 initiative Partner with State on Environmental Cleanup and Clean Energy Promotion 12 Priority Issue Areas: Tax, Governance, Technology, and more Tax: Support tax policies at the state level that support the economic health of port-related businesses and activities, including: Supports those communities that house the warehousing and distribution infrastructure necessary to support the Port of Seattle, the Northwest Seaport Alliance, and its partners Policies that reduce the cost of manufacturing activities that support port-related businesses Governance: Oppose legislation that would create an imbalance of representatives between the two homeports in their governing of the Northwest Seaport Alliance Cybersecurity: Vulnerability of public governments that manage critical infrastructure. Broadband: Bridge the digital divide Port Facilities Support Thousands of Jobs at Businesses across WA 13 Priority Issue Areas: Tax, Governance, Technology, and more - continued Technology: Monitor biometric technology proposals. Human trafficking: Continued partnership with state and local governments to combat human trafficking Lost and Found: Confirm that port districts have authority to partner with nonprofits on the disposition of unclaimed property Biometric, Human Trafficking, Lost and Found 14 Next Steps Today Commission briefing in public session Now through November 17, 2020 Incorporate feedback received November 17, 2020 Seek Commission adoption in public session November and December 2020 Distribute agenda to key legislators; continue staff and elected level meetings with legislators January 11, 2021 First day of 2021 state legislative session Questions? 15
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