SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6108

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

As of January 16, 2018

Title: An act relating to regional funding priority for major military installations.

Brief Description: Concerning regional funding priority for major military installations.

Sponsors: Senators Conway, O'Ban, Miloscia and Zeiger.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Local Government: 1/16/18.

Brief Summary of Bill

  • Requires the Metropolitan Planning Organization (MPO) and Regional Transportation Planning Organizations (RTPO) that include the most populous municipality in the state to give major military installations regional funding priority equal to the largest municipality in the county in which the military installation is located.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Staff: Bonnie Kim (786-7316)

Background: RTPO. RTPOs are voluntary associations of local governments within a county, or within geographically contiguous counties, created primarily to prepare regional transportation plans and to ensure local and regional coordination of transportation planning within counties. An RTPO can cover both urban and rural areas and receives state funding in support of its planning efforts.

An RTPO must contain at least one complete county and:

An RTPO must include at least 60 percent of the cities and towns in the region representing at least 75 percent of the cities' and towns' populations.

MPO. Federal legislation created the MPO, which covers an urbanized area and receives federal funding in support of its planning efforts. In urbanized areas, the RTPO under state law is the same as the MPO designated for federal transportation planning purposes.

Summary of Bill: Updates to multicounty planning policies adopted by the MPO and RTPO that include the most populous municipality in the state must give regional funding priority to major military installations and jurisdictions adjacent to or including a major military installation. The regional funding priority must be equal to the priority given to the largest municipality in the county in which the military installation is located. Major military installation means an installation with at least 5000 enlisted and service personnel stationed at the installation.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Creates Committee/Commission/Task Force that includes Legislative members: No.

Effective Date: Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony: PRO: Our state has become very important militarily in terms of strategic defense of the Pacific Coast. Joint Base Lewis-McChord (JBLM) is really a major city that lives in Pierce County. The bill asks for recognition that Tacoma and Pierce County have incurred major costs to support the base. JBLM has 210,000 inhabitants; it is the fourth largest military installation in the world. The base provides the county with economic development opportunities and protection.

CON: Under Vision 2040, development in and around military installations are supposed to be looking at dense housing, fixed bus routes, other frequent transit service, and sidewalk and bike routes. These transportation planning conversations should be kept at the local level.

Persons Testifying: PRO: Senator Steve Conway, Prime Sponsor; Ted Wicorek, Veterans Legislative Coalition; John Caulfield, City of Lakewood; Derek Young, Pierce County Council. CON: Bryce Yadon, Futurewise.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: No one.