HOUSE BILL REPORT

HB 2587

BYRepresentatives Prince, Nealey and P. King 

Authorizing port districts to spend money on road improvements.

House Committe on Local Government

Majority Report:  The substitute bill be substituted therefor and the substitute bill do pass.  (12)

      Signed by Representatives Haugen, Chair; Cooper, Vice Chair; Ferguson, Ranking Republican Member; Horn, Kirby, Nealey, Nelson, Nutley, Phillips, Raiter, Rayburn and Zellinsky.

House Staff:Steve Lundin (786-7127)

AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON LOCAL GOVERNMENT

FEBRUARY 1, 1990

BACKGROUND:

Port districts are granted a variety of powers, including the authority to provide and operate docks, wharves, warehouses, canals, airports, bridges, and rail and motor vehicle transfer and terminal facilities.  In addition, port districts are authorized to provide various improvements on their own lands related to industrial and commercial purposes.

SUMMARY:

SUBSTITUTE BILL:  Port districts are authorized to expend port funds on improving or repairing roads, streets or highways serving port facilities.  Such moneys may be expended in conjunction with any plan of improvements undertaken by the state of Washington, an adjoining state, or a county or municipal government, or any combination of such public entities, notwithstanding whether such roads are located in this state or a neighboring state.

SUBSTITUTE BILL COMPARED TO ORIGINAL:  Limitations on the amount of money a port district could spend on streets and roads is eliminated, as is the limitation that at least 90 percent of the movement of freight destined for the port must have used the road or street.

Fiscal Note:      Not Requested.

House Committee ‑ Testified For:    Jack Thompson, Port of Whitman County; Mike Doubleday, City of Seattle; Don White, Washington Public Ports Association; and Stan Finkelstein, Association of Washington Cities.

House Committee - Testified Against:      No one.

House Committee - Testimony For:    This will help the Port of Clarkston.  Ports should make contributions for these roads.

House Committee - Testimony Against:      None.