Drafter
Clerk 03/08/2010
Title
A MOTION urging the Washington state Legislature to enact the Clean Water Act of 2010 as a means to fund needed projects to address stormwater pollution in King County and statewide.
Body
WHEREAS, King County and other local governments are required by the federal Clean Water Act to control and clean up stormwater pollution within our jurisdictions, and
WHEREAS, cleanup and restoration of Puget Sound is a local, statewide and national priority with the listing of Chinook salmon and orcas under the Endangered Species Act, and
WHEREAS, contaminated stormwater runoff is the number one water pollution problem in the state of Washington and in Puget Sound, and contaminated runoff from our roads and urban areas has harmed virtually urban creeks, streams and rivers in the state, and
WHEREAS, cleaning up stormwater pollution is a daunting task because the sources of pollution are widespread and difficult to pinpoint, and the costs for compliance and cleanup can be prohibitive, and
WHEREAS, King County government is facing a structural budget gap in its general fund caused by increasing costs and declining revenues, threatening our government's ability to provide even basic mandated services including stormwater pollution cleanup, and
WHEREAS, local governments and residents statewide are struggling with the economic crisis, heightened unemployment, and the need to revive the economy and create jobs, and
WHEREAS, the Clean Water Act of 2010: Working for Clean Water, which is House Bill 3181 or Senate Bill 6851, as originally introduced would address these issues by creating a funding source for projects that clean up storm water, creating jobs in the construction industry and helping fund basic state services, and
WHEREAS, the Clean Water Act of 2010 as originally proposed would raise the existing voter-approved Hazardous Substance Tax from seven-tenths of one percent to two percent, raising $225 million each year, allocating the bulk of the dollars to the state general fund in the near term and transitioning the funding back to clean water purposes over time, and
WHEREAS, because of the nexus between hazardous substances and the pollution they produce, the Hazardous Substance Tax seems to be an appropriate vehicle to pay for associated stormwater cleanup costs, and
WHEREAS, as originally proposed the Clean Water Act of 2010 would accomplish the important goals of avoiding immediate cuts to core services, funding local governments' obligations for stormwater pollution cleanup, creating construction jobs and providing a clean water legacy we will be proud of for generations, and
WHEREAS, the bill was introduced in the state Legislature this session with broad support locally and statewide from the Environmental Priorities Coalition, Washington Association of Cities, Washington Association of Counties and the Washington State Labor Council, as well as a coalition of education, health care and social services groups unified behind solutions to maintain core public services;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The metropolitan King County council urges the Washington state Legislature to enact The Clean Water Act of 2010, which is House Bill 3181 or Senate Bill 6851, as a
means to fund needed projects to address stormwater pollution in King County and statewide.