SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 5677

              As Reported By Senate Committee On:

            State & Local Government, March 1, 1999

Title:  An act relating to planning by general purpose and special purpose local governments.

Brief Description:  Planning by general purpose and special purpose local governments.

Sponsors:  Senators Patterson, Eide, Haugen, Kline, Goings, Gardner and Heavey.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  2/17/99, 3/1/99 [DPS, DNPS].

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5677 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Haugen and Kline.

Minority Report:  Do not pass substitute.

  Signed by Senators Hale, Horn and McCaslin.

Staff:  Sharon Swanson (786-7445)

Background:  Counties are regional governments within their boundaries and cities are primary providers of urban governmental services within urban growth areas.  A countywide planning policy is a written policy statement used solely for establishing a countywide framework from which county and city comprehensive plans are developed and adopted.  The legislative authority of a county that plans under the Growth Management Act must adopt a countywide planning policy in cooperation with the cities located in whole or in part within the county.  This framework ensures that city and county comprehensive plans are consistent as required in the Growth Management Act.

Summary of Substitute Bill:  Special purpose districts must comply with local comprehensive plans and development regulations when such plans and regulations are consistent with the countywide planning policies.

No later than July 1, 2001, a county planning under the Growth Management Act must initiate a collaborative process for the development of a countywide planning policy for the coordination of planning for the following public facilities:

$sanitary and storm sewers;

$potable water facilities;

$park and recreational facilities;

$fire suppression;

$libraries;

$schools;

$transportation, including roads, mass transit, marine transportation, and general aviation.

The policy must be developed collaboratively among the county, the cities located in whole or in part within the county, and special purpose districts providing one or more of such public facilities.

The policy must address ongoing procedures to achieve and maintain consistency of public facility planning and development with comprehensive land use plans adopted by the county and the cities located within the county.

The policy must establish time-lines for revision of existing comprehensive plans and public facility plans to achieve consistent planning.

Substitute Bill Compared to Original Bill:  A new element is added to countywide planning policy.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  It is very important to bring special purpose districts into the process under the Growth Management Act.  Special purpose districts need to be an equal partner, though, not part of a collaborative process.  Give special purpose districts the right to appeal and make them an equal player in all phases of the process.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO:  Steve Wells, CTED; Jerry Heller, Port of Skagit County, WPPA; Joe Daniels, WA Assn. of Sewer and Water Districts; Roger Ferris, WA Fire Comm. Assn.; Dave Williams, AWC; Steve Lindstrom, Sno-King Water District Coalition.