Federal Way Mayor Jim Ferrell and Federal Way City Council members met with 30th District State Representative Jesse Johnson, Representative-elect Jamila Taylor and Sen. Claire Wilson on Tuesday morning to lay out the city’s legislative asks for the 2021 session.

The city’s asks, totaling nearly $1.1 million in local social issue priorities and about $100 million in transportation, focus on police body cameras for Federal Way officers, humanitarian relief amid the Covid-19 pandemic, support for local businesses, and more.

This year’s session will be unprecedented due to the pandemic with a record-low number of bills, Johnson said, with an importance placed on recovery and relief from this year’s events.

In addition, equity is a foundational part of all of the policy priorities, said Sen. Wilson.

In the House, the four main priorities include equity in all decision making, focus on Covid-19 responses for residents, economic recovery and climate justice, Rep.-elect Taylor said.

In the Senate, seven main priorities include police accountability, criminal justice reform, climate action and resiliency, a just economy, Covid-19 for the health of families and communities, childcare, and education opportunities.

Federal Way’s priorities began with humanitarian relief, zeroing in on assistance for residents who may be impacted by late fees or other charges when eviction moratoriums come to an end, said Councilmember Leandra Craft. The city is also asking for the expansion of support for food security, rent support, and transitional housing.

“If people do get evicted, it’s going to exasperate the homelessness issue that we’re already trying to address and understand,” said Councilmember Lydia Assefa-Dawson. Council President Susan Honda also noted the importance of advocating for protection of both residents and businesses when it comes to evictions.

Looking at education equity issues, Councilmember Martin Moore Moore discussed a $100,000 pilot program ask for expansion of broadband internet in Federal Way of broadband in order to ensure each resident, student, and educator has reliable internet access. Many areas of Federal Way are currently broadband deserts with limited access to internet and wifi.

On the crime and safety front, Federal Way leaders are asking for $350,000 to initiate a body camera pilot program for Federal Way officers. The program funding would allow for 20 body cameras, along with the necessary IT and staffing, for patrol officers and selected specialty units, Councilmember Greg Baruso said. The city is also asking for $100,000 to install 30 more Safe City cameras in eight intersections throughout Federal Way. An additional request includes $100,000 for a pilot program to combat copper wire theft at the Celebration Park ballfields. In recent years, copper wire theft has totaled between $82,000 to $132,000, Baruso said.

For education opportunities, Councilmember Craft asked for additional support to continue progress on the Highline College and University of Washington satellite campus in Federal Way. The city is still looking for a specific site within the city, however this project will bring increased educational access and opportunities to the local community.

Councilmember Moore presented an ask requesting $100,000 for a youth resource center in Federal Way, in addition to $200,000 (distributed evenly over two years) to establish a community stakeholders group to coordinate policy and services in response to homelessness. Two other asks in community programs include $100,000 to re-introduce the youth substance abuse program and $80,000 to re-introduce a staff position to oversee youth violence prevention efforts.

The city’s largest ask is in the transportation realm. Two of Federal Way’s projects score high with the state priority. The first project is the S. 288th Road Diet, which asks for $3.5 million to re-stripe four lanes into three lanes and a bike lane and provide a trail connection to the Pacific Highway South trail from S. 288th Street to S. 308th Street, including enhanced lighting, traffic signal replacement and ADA upgrades.

The second project, which scored No. 3 with the state, Honda said, is a $5.95 million ask for the Pacific Highway non-motorized trail, which would allow for a safe pedestrian and bike trail for residents along Pacific Highway South and 16th Avenue South.

Coucilmember Baruso presented an ask of $50 million for improved city center access to increase the mobility within downtown Federal Way and ease traffic congestion and increase transit access. Another $5 million is requested to fund work improving pedestrian, bicycle circulation and traffic capacity in Federal Way near S. 314th Street. For a project widening SW 336th Way and SW 340th Street corridor for better access, Federal Way leaders are requesting $20 million and a widening of S. 356th Street for better access to the Sound Transit Link Extension and Highway 18 requires an ask of another $20 million.

Sen. Wilson said the focus of this year’s legislative lesson is going to be on recovery, and that this may not be the year to bring in major transportation projects.

“We will always fight and talk about what’s best for our community, but I also want folks to be really realistic in entering this session about what we may come out with just given our current economic structure and knowing what we know,” Wilson said.

To watch the meeting, visit Federal Way’s YouTube channel.