BILL REQ. #:  S-0952.1 

Read first time 02/02/2005.   Referred to Committee on Government Operations & Elections.

     AN ACT Relating to the creation of pilot projects for the promotion of safe neighborhoods through more effective community planning; adding a new chapter to Title 70 RCW; and creating a new section.

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

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 1   The legislature finds that:
     (1) The state can enhance the safety of our neighborhoods by encouraging local governments to implement community planning policies and environmental design concepts intended to reduce the opportunities for crime and thus promote public security. Model approaches to crime prevention through environmental and community planning processes, such as those promoted by the crime prevention through environmental design movement, provide an opportunity for our communities to reduce crime at the neighborhood level. By making crime reduction a priority in the planning and organization of our neighborhoods, communities can begin to shape neighborhood environments in such a way as to discourage criminal behavior;
     (2) Local governments can utilize appropriate environmental design, community programs, architectural concepts, land use policies, building codes, zoning laws, and community development policies in order to create physical environments conducive to increasing public safety. In doing so, local governments can facilitate the creation of neighborhoods that discourage criminal activity and enhance the sense of personal safety to which our citizens are entitled; and
     (3) To this end, local governments should be provided with the opportunity to obtain assistance from the state for the purpose of adopting or revising community planning processes to include concepts and policies designed to achieve the goal of improving neighborhood safety and security. This goal should be accomplished through community-based pilot projects funded through matching funds to be implemented through a grant process administered by the department of community, trade, and economic development.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 2   The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise.
     (1) "Department" means the department of community, trade, and economic development.
     (2) "Local government" means a city, code city, town, or county.
     (3) "Safe neighborhood planning" means policies, community programs, plans, ordinances, rules, regulations, and studies relating to comprehensive planning for the creation of safe neighborhoods and crime reduction through the implementation of innovative environmental design and planning principles. Such planning may involve both public and private development projects, and should involve coordination between the public and private sectors. The components of safe neighborhood planning may include, but are not limited to:
     (a) The physical design of neighborhood environments, including public and private infrastructure, buildings, streets, sidewalks, parks, lighting, parking areas, and other facilities;
     (b) The application of innovative planning and design concepts with respect to the development of building codes and zoning regulations;
     (c) Land use policies;
     (d) The criteria for the approval of building permits;
     (e) The various environmental design principles developed by the crime prevention through environmental design movement; and
     (f) Community crime prevention programs involving coordination between local law enforcement agencies and property owners.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 3   (1) Subject to funding made available for this purpose, the department shall include in its program of technical and financial assistance established in RCW 36.70A.190, two pilot projects created by local governments to encourage and facilitate both the study and implementation of safe neighborhood planning. Priority should be given to programs:
     (a) Aimed at facilitating improvements to existing private properties for the purpose of crime prevention;
     (b) Integrated into a comprehensive crime prevention and property improvement plan; and
     (c) Involving a partnership between the public and private sectors.
     (2) The department shall include in its grant program under RCW 36.70A.190, direct financial assistance to local governments for the implementation of two pilot projects for safe neighborhood planning under this chapter. Such financial assistance shall be provided in the form of matching funds which shall be distributed on a dollar-for-dollar basis.
     (3) The grants made under this chapter may be expended for any purpose directly related to the study, preparation, or implementation of safe neighborhood planning by a local government, including the conducting of studies and other data gathering, management activities, the training of public employees, the retention of planning consultants, and other related purposes. Local governments may allow the participation of neighborhood associations in the study, planning, or implementation of a safe neighborhood planning program.
     (4) The department shall include in its program of technical assistance, established under RCW 36.70A.190, the development of safe neighborhood planning.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 4   The department of community, trade, and economic development shall make a written report to the house of representatives local government committee by December 1, 2005, containing a description and evaluation of the pilot projects implemented under this act.

NEW SECTION.  Sec. 5   Sections 1 through 3 of this act constitute a new chapter in Title 70 RCW.