Resolution 12441/12/10
RESOLUTION NO. 1244
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF
EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, OPPOSING THE CREATION OF
A REGIONAL WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES DISTRICT
THAT WOULD RESULT IN PARTIALLY SHIFTING THE
STATE RESPONSIBILTY TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN A
STATEWIDE TRANSPORTATION INFRASTRUCTURE TO
LOCAL COMMUNITIES.
WHEREAS, Washington State Ferries make 180,000 trips and carry 23 million passengers and
10 million cars annually, and is the largest ferry system in the nation, yet remains significantly
underfunded annually,
WHEREAS, The Governor has stated an intention to introduce legislation to create a regional
ferry district to operate the ferries in order to address financial challenges,
WHEREAS, The Governor's proposal would:
• Place the proposed ferry district's decision making in the hands of a board directly
accountable to customers and communities and the district's funds would come from
fares, a state subsidy to pay for a core level of service, and regional taxing authority
• Create a ferry district within all western Washington counties now served by ferries
• Create a ferry district board that would be elected from areas near current ferry routes
and at large board members appointed by the Governor
• Establish a dedicated and ongoing state subsidy level
• Establish a local taxing authority
WHEREAS, Washington State ferry routes are an essential part of the overall statewide highway
network, and its 200 miles of marine highway integrates ferry service with other parts of the highway
system within urban areas on all sides of Puget Sound,
WHEREAS, Washington State Ferries receives a share of statewide gas -tax money and the state
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constitution reserves gas taxes for highway purposes and names state ferries as such a purpose,
WHEREAS, The proposed action assumes that Washington residents who live nearer an
expensive part of the highway system should pay more of the cost (not counting user fees) than people
who live farther away,
WHEREAS, The proposed action is asking the people of Edmonds, and those nearer Washington
State ferry terminals, to pay for the states' failing infrastructure, and as a result, compounds the city's and
local communities' shouldering of preexisting burdens to mitigate impacts of state system users, such as
traffic congestion, pollution and blights to road and water ways,
WHEREAS, Isolating the needs of the ferry state highway system, and creating another layer of
government to address those needs, is not a viable solution as current users and non -users of ferries
already pay into the highway system via gas taxes, thus resulting in a double dipping at the local level to
fund Washington State Ferries' capital, operational and maintenance needs,
WHEREAS, the proposed action could jeopardize the State's substantial investment in ferry
facilities and operations by creating a regional ferry district whose funding recommendations are subject
to local voter approval, thus increasing the uncertainty as to whether funding will be available for
necessary capital, operational and maintenance needs,
WHEREAS, The State of Washington needs to prioritize existing and future dollars as they relate
to funding the ferry system and a develop a comprehensive transportation package that meets the future
needs of the entire statewide highway system, including ferries, roads, rail and transit.
WHEREAS, the proposed action will foster a long term major confrontation which is not in the
best interests of the State, Cities, Counties and communities where ferry terminals are located, now,
therefore,
THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF EDMONDS, WASHINGTON, HEREBY
RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. The City Council opposes the creation of a regional Washington State Ferries
District that would result in the shifting of any statewide responsibility related to capital, operations and
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maintenance of the Washington State Ferry system to local communities.
Section 2. Without major reform, ferry customers and ferry dependent communities will face
continued uncertainty. Now is the time to address the underlying structural and financial issues that
challenge this critical piece of our state's transportation infrastructure,
Section 3. The State of Washington needs to prioritize existing and future dollars as they relate
to funding a Washington State Ferry system and develop a comprehensive transportation package that
meets future needs of the entire statewide highway system, including ferries, roads, rail and transit.
RESOLVED this 18`h day of January, 2011.
APPROVED -
MAYOR, MIKE COOPER
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
CITY CLERK, SANDRA S. CHASE
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: 01-14-2011
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 01-18-2011
RESOLUTION NO. 1244
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