H-2861              _______________________________________________

                                                   HOUSE BILL NO. 2238

                        _______________________________________________

State of Washington                               51st Legislature                              1989 Regular Session

By Representatives Nelson, Bristow, Moyer, Hargrove, Prince, Grant, Chandler, Inslee, Bowman, Basich, Hankins, Jesernig and Rector

Read first time 4/19/89 and referred to Committee on Trade & Economic Development.

AN ACT Relating to growth planning; and creating new sections.

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

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.     The legislature finds that a balanced growth strategy relies on the ability of cities to grow to the capacity of their infrastructure and planning, and that all sections of the state must share in the state's development and population growth.

          The legislature finds that the greatest potential for dispersing population growth and development is with cities such as Aberdeen, Hoquiam, Longview, Centralia, Chehalis, Mt. Vernon, Ellensburg, Yakima, Pasco, Richland, Kennewick, Moses Lake, Pullman, and Spokane.  State and local governments can help disperse population growth by identifying those cities with the capacity and planning to handle growth and by pursuing a strategy that directs growth in the direction of these identified cities.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.     The department of community development shall prepare a list of cities where the local government, business community, and citizens have expressed the willingness to accept population growth and additional development.  To be eligible for placement on the list, cities shall have the infrastructure capacity to handle additional growth without damaging the city's viability and attractiveness.  The department shall establish a state policy reflecting the findings in section 1 of this act that shall guide state budgeting and planning.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3.     If the Washington state growth strategies commission is established, the responsibilities for developing the list described in section 2 of this act shall be transferred to the commission and shall be included in the commission's January 1991 recommendations.