HOUSE BILL REPORT

EHB 2745

As Passed House:

February 17, 2016

Title: An act relating to ferry advisory committees.

Brief Description: Modifying the authority to appoint members to a certain ferry advisory committee.

Sponsors: Representatives Fitzgibbon and Cody.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:

Transportation: 2/4/16, 2/8/16 [DP].

Floor Activity:

Passed House: 2/17/16, 98-0.

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 23 members: Representatives Clibborn, Chair; Farrell, Vice Chair; Fey, Vice Chair; Moscoso, Vice Chair; Orcutt, Ranking Minority Member; Hargrove, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Harmsworth, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Bergquist, Gregerson, Hayes, Hickel, Kochmar, McBride, Morris, Ortiz-Self, Pike, Riccelli, Rossetti, Sells, Shea, Stambaugh, Tarleton and Young.

Staff: Paul Ingiosi (786-7114).

Background:

Ferry Advisory Committees.

In 1961 the Legislature created local ferry advisory committees (FACs) originally consisting of five members appointed to four-year terms by the legislative authority of each county served by the Washington State Ferry (WSF) system. These FACs exist to represent the interests and concerns of persons in their area who are frequent users of the ferry system. There are currently two FACs representing the various routes served by the WSF system. The chairs of each FAC make up an executive committee of the Washington ferry users. The executive committee works directly with the WSF management on ferry issues including schedule development, customer problems, and regional issues. By law, the executive committee meets at least twice each year with the WSF representatives.

A 1988 bill, Engrossed Second Substitute House Bill 537, restructured the FACs changing the area from which most members of the FACs were picked among other adjustments. San Juan, Skagit, Clallam, and Jefferson counties continued to select members from a countywide area, while the remaining FACs select three members by terminal area. With one exception, both countywide and terminal area committee appointments are made by the legislative authorities of the counties in which they exist. The exception is Vashon Island, which despite having two terminals, by law has only one committee, and under current law its members can only be appointed by the Vashon/Maury Island Community Council.

Vashon/Maury Island Community Council.

The Vashon/Maury Island Community Council (VMICC) has been in existence in some form since the 1940s. Originally, it was a function of the local chamber of commerce, later called a "civic assembly," and most recently the VMICC existed as a nine-member community council tasked with preserving the rural nature of Vashon and Maury islands. The VMICC was recognized by King County as an unincorporated area council on May 28, 1996. Around August 2010, the majority of the VMICC resigned and King County later disbanded the unincorporated area council in July 2011. Since that time, the VMICC has continued to exist in some form.

Summary of Engrossed Bill:

The bill allows the legislative authority of King County to make an appointment to the Vashon Island Ferry Advisory Committee if the Vashon/Maury Island Community Council fails to appoint a qualified person within 90 days of the occurrence of the vacancy.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is passed.

Staff Summary of Public Testimony:

(In support) Vashon is one of the most ferry-dependent communities in the region. Only the VMICC can appoint members to the Vashon FAC; however, the VMICC has been defunct for six years. The goal is to make the Vashon FAC like every other FAC and allow the county legislative authority to appoint members so the members of that unincorporated island can have a voice. There are new people who want to serve on the FAC but there is no process to appoint them.

(Opposed) None.

Persons Testifying: Representative Fitzgibbon, prime sponsor.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.