Resolution 1006RESOLUTION NO. 1006
A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY
OF EDMONDS SUPPORTING THE PASSAGE OF THE
SNOHOMISH COUNTY PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT AREA CORPORATION'S (COMMUNITY
TRANSIT) MEASURE TO IMPOSE UP TO AN
ADDITIONAL THREE -TENTHS OF ONE PERCENT
RETAIL SALES TAX IN ORDER TO RETAIN AND
RESTORE MUCH NEEDED PUBLIC TRANSIT
SERVICES IN OUR JURISDICTION AS WELL AS THE
REMAINDER OF THE PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION
BENEFIT AREA.
WHEREAS, the laws of the State of Washington, RCW 82.14.045, permit the
Snohomish County Public Transportation Benefit Area Corporation (Community Transit)
to submit to the voters an authorizing proposition to increase the rate of retail sales and
use tax up to an additional three -tenths of one percent; and
WHEREAS, Community Transit provides much needed local, commuter, and
paratransit bus service and ridesharing services including ridematching/vanpooling to
Snohomish County residents and businesses; and
WHEREAS, Community Transit was severely impacted with a 30% loss of
operating funds through the passage of Initiative 695 and the resultant loss of Motor
Vehicle Excise taxes; and
WHEREAS, the remarkable growth period that started in 1994 increased
ridership by fifty-six percent to more than 340,000 hours annually while the vanpool
program increased to be the third -largest in the nation; and
WHEREAS, the loss of operating revenue created the need to cut service by
twenty-three percent, including all weekend service in February 2000; and
WHEREAS, the loss of operating revenue also created the need to increase
commuter fares by 50% and vanpool fares by 100%; and
WHEREAS, in September, thanks to third and fourth quarter MVET receipts, as
well as one-time bridge funding from the legislature, Community Transit reinstated 87
percent of Saturday service on a temporary basis through the end of 2001 in anticipation
of a successful sales tax ballot in September 2001; and
WHEREAS, since the passage of 1-695, numerous park and ride lot expansion
and development projects have been halted and Community Transit's bus replacement
schedule seriously interrupted with the need to abandon or defer new vehicle or bus
acquisitions pending long-term funding solutions; and
WHEREAS, without the successful passage of a sales tax measure in the PTBA,
the Saturday bus and paratransit service and some week -day service will have to be cut
and Sunday service will not be restored; and
WHEREAS, these actions to cut service, raise fares and defer capital needs
have been made in a climate that clearly supports transit with Community Transit
transporting 56 percent of the Snohomish County commuters that go into Seattle's
central business district; and
WHEREAS, the loss of Saturday and Sunday service would result in the loss of
jobs and the inability for transit -dependent citizens to travel to church to visit
friends/relatives, to shop or to engage in recreation; and
WHEREAS, the paratransit service for our most vulnerable disabled citizens
would not operate on week -ends leaving them stranded without access to medical care
and other travel needs; and
WHEREAS, the economic vitality of Snohomish County is dependent on an
efficient transportation system including a healthy and strong public transit system; and
WHEREAS, the passage of a three -tenths of one percent retail sales and use tax
would come close to Motor Vehicle Excise Tax restoration with projections showing that
by 2010, MVET would have risen to approximately $35 million and a sales tax would be
approximately $31 million by that same year.
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED by the City Council of the City of
Edmonds that the passage of the three -tenths of one percent sales and use tax to fund
Community Transit is in the best interest of Snohomish County and we hereby support
this measure, its placement on the ballot, and the ability of all citizens in the PTBA to
decide its outcome.
APPROVED AND PASSED this 17th day of July, 2001.
APPROVED:
M OR, G Y HAAKENSON
ATTEST/AUTHENTICATED:
CITY CLERK, SANDRA S. CHASE
FILED WITH THE CITY CLERK: 07/13/2001
PASSED BY THE CITY COUNCIL: 07/17/2001
RESOLUTION NO. 1006