Resolution 4386 - Laserfiche WebLink

EL� ETT RESOLUTION NO. 4386 A resolution in support of a state transportation financing package that includes additional funds to address state and local transportation needs — including an increase in direct distributions to assist local governments. WHEREAS, the City of Everett is continuing to undergo a period of rapid growth, as evidenced by the recent arrival of the Naval aircraft carrier of the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln with its crew of 3,200; a surge in employment at the Boeing-Everett plant; increasing traffic congestion due to greater population and employment growth; and WHEREAS, Everett also serves as the key center within Snohomish County for employment, medical services, social services, cultural amenities, waterfront activities and commerce, and recreational opportunities; and WHEREAS, within the Central Puget Sound Region, Everett is designated a main urban center and recognized as one of the region's critical employment centers, importing jobs at a rate that results in nearly a 1:1 ratio between jobs and day-to-day population; and WHEREAS, all of these factors have combined to further degrade the City's congested highways, roads, and arterials to periods of complete gridlock; and WHEREAS, the City Council, in recognition of this problem, has listed enhanced transportation funding at the state level as one of its top lobbying priorities for the 1997 state legislative session; and WHEREAS, this priority listing calls not only for enhanced funding for the State Department of Transportation's highway-project needs, but,just as importantly, for an increase in direct distributions of funding for local government needs; and WHEREAS, in preparation for the 1997 state legislative session, the City organized and prioritized its transportation needs and provided this list (ATTACHED) to state legislators and organizations and hosted a transportation forum in June 1996 at which legislators, community leaders and others were unanimous in underscoring the tremendous needs within the City and Snohomish County; and WHEREAS, City also have worked closely and cooperatively with the Everett area business community whose positions are represented through the Snohomish County Committee for Improved Transportation (SCCIT) to advocate increased transportation funding; and WHEREAS, in its advocacy of additional transportation funding, the City has worked cooperatively with the Boeing Co., which employees more than 1/3 of its entire Puget Sound work force at its Everett manufacturing facilities and which has made increased transportation funding one of its top legislative agenda items for 1997; and WHEREAS, a significant increase in the gas tax must be one of the key ingredients in any transportation financing package addressed by the 1997 State Legislature; and