H-4103.1          _______________________________________________

                                  HOUSE BILL 2642

                  _______________________________________________

State of Washington              54th Legislature             1996 Regular Session

By Representatives Conway, Van Luven, Mason, Veloria, Sheldon, Chopp, Scheuerman, Dickerson, Regala, Cody, Patterson and Scott

Read first time 01/16/96.  Referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.

Creating parking and business improvement areas.

     AN ACT Relating to parking and business improvement areas; and creating new sections.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  The legislature finds that economic development and neighborhood revitalization of inner cities is best accomplished through a cooperative partnership involving business, government, and the community.  It is the intent of this act to develop a sustainable economic base in inner cities through private, for-profit initiatives and investment based on economic self-interest and genuine competitive advantage.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  (1) The parking and business improvement areas task force is hereby established.  The task force shall be for the purposes of:

     (a) Developing strategies to assist parking and business improvement areas, created under chapter 35.87A RCW, in their revitalization efforts;

     (b) Identifying existing public and private resources that may be used by parking and business improvement areas in their revitalization efforts; and

     (c) Proposing public initiatives that will assist parking and business improvement areas in their revitalization efforts.

     (2) The task force shall be composed of the following members:

     (a) The director of community, trade, and economic development or the director's designee, who shall serve as chair;

     (b) The director of revenue or the director's designee, who shall serve as vice-chair;

     (c) Two representatives from the house of representatives, appointed by the speaker of the house of representatives, one from each caucus;

     (d) Two representatives from the senate, appointed by the president of the senate, one from each caucus;

     (e) Four representatives of businesses located within parking and business improvement areas, appointed by the director of community, trade, and economic development;

     (f) Two representatives from local governments, one from a city and one from a county, to be appointed by the director of community, trade, and economic development; and

     (g) Three representatives from the general public, appointed by the director of community, trade, and economic development.

     (3) The task force shall:

     (a) Review and inventory the existing programs and services available at the federal, state, and local government level that can be used in inner city business revitalization efforts;

     (b) Examine inner city business revitalization efforts in other states and countries;

     (c) Identify public and private incentives that would assist inner city business revitalization efforts; and

     (d) Provide a written report on its findings and recommendations to the legislature no later than December 15, 1996, including any legislation the task force finds necessary for the implementation of its findings and recommendations.

     (4) The department of community, trade, and economic development shall provide necessary staff support for the purposes of the task force.

     (5) The task force shall expire January 1, 1997.

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