Suburban Cities Association Executive Director Karen Goroski told the Snoqualmie City Council July 13 that her organization is preparing to oppose Initiative 1033.
Goroski updated the council on what the organization was doing to advocate for the interest of King County’s suburban cities. Initiative 1033 seeks to limit the growth of city, county and state governments by not allowing general fund revenues to exceed the rate of inflation and population growth. The initiative requires that any revenue collected by the state, county, or a city government that is in excess of the rate of inflation and population growth would be used to reduce property taxes. Fund transfers to the state’s constitutionally required “rainy day” fund, federal funds and voter-approved revenues are exempted from the affects of the initiative.
Critics of the initiative say it will hamstring governments by not allowing them to put aside for future infrastructure improvements. The initiative was prepared by so-called initiative king Tim Eyman, who has brought many initiatives to voters over the years.
Eyman submitted over 300,000 petition signatures in support of the initiative to the state on July 10, which is more than the 241,153 signatures needed to get on the November general election ballot.
Goroski told Snoqualmie’s City Council that the Suburban Cities Association would help them get out the word about how the initiative would hurt local governments.
The council also heard the final report from University of Washington professor Jill Sterrett, who has worked with the city’s sustainability team and UW students to develop plans for improving Snoqualmie’s sustainability. The sustainability team has been working since last fall on the project and Sterrett presented policy and other recommendations from the group.
The presentation highlighted several things that the city could get started on right away. One of those things is increasing recycling rates in the city to 45 percent. Snoqualmie residents already recycle about 32 percent of municipal solid waste. Mayor Matt Larson said that he is looking at hiring an intern to coordinate recycling programs and community education with the county as part of a pilot program.
Sterrett said that there were other sustainability programs that the city could jump on, like conducting a greenhouse gas inventory, and using recycled cooking oils from local restaurants to power its bio-diesel shuttles.
Some of the other top recommendations for programs that Snoqualmie could pursue in the future include developing green businesses in Snoqualmie or attracting those businesses to the area. The team also recommended allowing greater density in residential developments, and helping residents with weatherization of homes to save energy.
Snoqualmie’s Planning Commission will study the sustainability team’s report and consider making its own recommendations to the council for implementation.
Reach reporter Michael Bayless Rowe at mrowe@snovalleystar.com or 392-6434, ext. 248.
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