End of Legislative Session report for City of Chelan projects

CHELAN - City of Chelan’s legislative  priorities fell short in the 105-day long legistative session for 2019. As Josh Weiss of Gordon Thomas Honeywell Governmental Affairs reported to Chelan City Council it was not a sucessful session in particular with the City’s funding requests.

Chelan’s legislative priorities included:
 

Pedestrian Safety in Downtown Chelan on State Routes
The City was asking for $700,000 for 21 rectangular rapid flashing beacons for crosswalks within city limits. However the request was not successful, due to the lack of funding in the transportation budget. The funding was also denied due to the funds given last year that helped with the Woodin Ave. Bridge Project.
 

Affordable Housing
Since Mayor Mike Cooney travelled to Olympia twice to testify, advocate for this and other issues, the legislature had the chance to hear about this issue in Chelan and it’s particular challenges.
 

Chelan Butte Conservation Funding
The City requested $2 million in funding to help acquire 890 acres of the Chelan Butte; with the goal of preserving 850 for public access and 40 acres for affordable housing. There was mixed reviews from the 12th District Delegation on the request, Rep. Mike Steele went forward and submitted the request. At the end of the day, no funding was included in either the House of Senate budget proposals.  
Lakeside Park Improvements
Last year, the City completed the Lakeside Park Master plan to renovate it. They applied for the Recreation and Conservation Office Grant (RCO) and ranked 14 on the list. The legislature only included funding for the first nine projects.

Support for Regional Transportation Projects
The City supported the regional transportation priorities of the Chelan-Douglas Transportation Council which included a $1 million request for the Confluence Parkway Environmental Impact Statement. Funding was not secured due to the decrease in gas tax revenues.

Work will continue on for the 2020 session. The plan is to work with Mayor Cooney and City Administrator Mike Jackson and develop an interim plan. Lobbying efforts will go on throughout the year, “persistence does pay off,” said Weiss.