The City of Tumwater is updating its landscaping regulations in 2023.  This is one of the next steps the City is undertaking to implement the City’s Urban Forestry Management Plan, which the City Council adopted in 2021.  The Plan guides the stewardship of the urban forest within the City.  The focus of the Plan is the “The Right Tree in the Right Place.”

As part of this project, the City’s consultant, SCJ Alliance, and City staff are meeting with stakeholders to talk about the update the City’s landscaping regulations Tumwater Municipal Code Chapter 18. 47 Landscaping).

The process for updating the City’s landscaping regulations started this fall.

The first project stakeholder meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Monday, March 13, 2023.  The first meeting will be a hybrid meeting both online and in person in the Sunset Room in Tumwater City Hall at 555 Israel Road SW.

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_7znUtqG5QPGk4zPjJxLduQ

The second project stakeholder meeting will be at 7:00 p.m., Monday, April 3, 2023.  The second meeting will be a hybrid meeting both online and in person in the Tumwater Fire Department Training room at 311 Israel Road SW. 

Register in advance for this webinar:

https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_SStYTDXGQgOZhwu_xgFQRQ

To join the meeting, register online.  Questions? Contact Brad Medrud at bmedrud@ci.tumwater.wa.us or call (360) 754-4180.  For more information, please visit the Tumwater Urban and Community Forest Online Open House on the City website.

• Water-Smart Solutions for Gardens & Landscapes , a new resource on GardenWashington.com, is available to share with your customers and clients.  It includes water wise tips, resources to consult with WSNLA members, and a list of links to dive deeper into water efficiency solutions.
  
  
  WSNLA member content can be added to the GardenWashington water-smart solutions resource page and blog feed.  If you have video content; blogs; social media materials; or upcoming events you would like to share, please email email them to  breanne@wsnla.org.
  
  
• Getting more trees planted for climate change is part of the solution.  Proper watering to get them established is essential. Over the past year, nursery and landscape businesses have been reporting record demand. Washington residents who have invested greatly in their outdoor spaces - and the environment - through the planting of trees, shrubs and flowers need to protect these new landscape assets.  The Saving Water Partnership's  Smart Watering guide (pdf) and    How to Water New Plants  (pdf) are available to use as resources for your customers and clients.
  
  
• Any recommendation for the voluntary curtailment of water will come at the local level. Be aware of any local restrictions that might apply to your city and/or county and advise your customers and clients to check with their local water jurisdictions regarding any relevant water restrictions. As previously mentioned, the Everett, Seattle and Tacoma metro areas are excluded from this declaration, as they are reporting adequate levels of water. 
  
  

WSNLA continues to advocate for member businesses.  If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to let me know.

Read WA State Department of Ecology news release.

Warmly,

Breanne Chavez
WSNLA Executive Director
cell: 253.279.7061  |  breanne@wsnla.org

Growing the Success of Our Members!


Resources for Pros: www.WSNLA.org
Find Plants & Products: www.FindPlantsPNW.com
Resources for Consumers: www.GardenWashington.com

WSNLA LEGISLATIVE & REGULATORY UPDATE

WSNLA eNews – March 29, 2019

by Heather Hansen, WSNLA Lobbyist

When the Washington State Revenue Forecast Council released its recent forecast for the next four years, the prediction was for an additional $860 million available to spend for the next state budget, on top of the billions that were already available when this year’s legislative session began.  Budget writers will have a total of $50.6 billion in revenue for the 2019-21 budget cycle. To put that in perspective, in March 2017, budget writers had $41.6 billion to work with. 

In spite of the rosy revenue forecast, more new tax bills have been introduced.  (The Governor’s budget release in December proposed $3.7 billion in new taxes.)  Here are a few of the new tax proposals likely to affect you.

Property tax

HB 2145 would do away with the 1% annual limit on property-tax growth (approved by the voters through Initiative 747 in 2001) so property taxes can increase at a more rapid rate.

Real estate excise tax

SB 5991 would increase the tax on real-estate transactions. The revenue it generates would supposedly go toward education, but once revenue is in the general fund, it can be used for anything.

Low carbon fuel standard – Just like California
HB 1110 would direct the Department of Ecology to adopt standards to reduce the greenhouse gas emissions per unit of fuel energy in transportation fuels. This is something California implemented years ago, and after decades of litigation it has finally gone into effect. As a result, California's gas prices have gone up 16 cents per gallon and will continue to rise. As this program increases the cost of fuel, it results in an increase in the cost of anything that needs to be transported, which is nearly everything you purchase for your business or home.  Washington already has some of the highest gas prices in the nation.

Transportation funding

SB 5971 would impose a carbon tax of $15 per metric ton of carbon dioxide on gasoline, $10 per metric ton on electricity and home heating, and add a six-cent-per-gallon gas tax. The tax is structured this way because gas taxes are protected by the 18th Amendment of the state constitution and can be used “exclusively for highway purposes.” Carbon taxes, however, would go into the general fund and could be used for anything the legislature chooses.

Cap and Trade – also like California

SB 5981 would create a cap-and-trade program aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Washington. If it passes, the program would be overseen by the Department of Ecology. The state would set limits on carbon dioxide emission and then sell permits to companies covered by the limits. This is the system used in California and the cost is about $15 per metric ton of carbon dioxide reduced, the same price as the carbon tax proposed by Initiative 1631 which failed on the November ballot. The cost of the permits would be passed on to consumers, just like a carbon tax.

Do farmers pay taxes?

Of course, if you are one, you know you do, but that’s not what some Senators think.  During a debate over a senate bill, Senator John McCoy, who represents the 38th legislative district from Everett north, said, “Ag producers in this state do not pay any taxes, none what so ever, now, they do pay some fees I give you that, but they are not being double taxed.”  McCoy makes the fourth Democratic senator to make a similar statement during this legislative session.  In earlier debates, Senators Saldana, Carlyle and Palumbo have made similar comments.

June 12, 2018

Mary Beth Cowardin

Vice President Marketing & Member Engagement

MaryBethC@AmericanHort.org

614-884-1137

AmericanHort Commends Senate Agriculture Committee on Farm Bill Release

Washington, DC – AmericanHort, the leading association for the horticulture industry, applauds the leaders of the Senate Agriculture Committee with the release of their draft Farm Bill, The Agriculture Improvement Act of 2018. The Committee will formally take up and consider the bill on Wednesday, June 13.

“AmericanHort is greatly appreciative of the time, effort, and manner that Chairman Roberts and Ranking Member Stabenow took to craft this important piece of legislation — as it sustains funding to initiatives and programs that are essential to the horticulture industry,” said AmericanHort Senior Vice President Craig Regelbrugge. “The committee should also be lauded for their commitment to continuing the tradition of developing a bipartisan Farm Bill.”

Horticulture industry priorities such as the Plant Pest and Disease Management Program, National Clean Plant Network, and Specialty Crop Block Grants remain intact, with stable funding and funded at respectable levels going forward. “This is not an easy task in this budget-tightening era,” said Regelbrugge.

The Specialty Crop Research Initiative, another key AmericanHort priority, will benefit from another $25 million in funds being available to all specialty crop industries. Additional positive developments include the creation of regional specialty crop liaisons for crop insurance, as well as the requirement for the Secretary of Agriculture to implement a strategy to accelerate the development and availability of mechanization and labor-saving technology solutions in the production of specialty crops, including nursery and floriculture crops.

“We look forward to working with the Senate to pass this vital piece of legislation as quickly as possible,” said Tal Coley, Director of Government Affairs for AmericanHort.

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About AmericanHort

Green industry businesses perform better, grow faster and prepare for the future as a member of AmericanHort, the green industry’s leading association. With a rich history of serving horticultural professionals, AmericanHort supports nearly 14,000 member and affiliated businesses that include breeders, greenhouse and nursery growers, garden retailers, distributors, interior and exterior landscape professionals, florists, students, educators, researchers, manufacturers, and all of those who are part of the industry market chain. The horticulture industry's production, wholesale, retail, and landscape service components have annual sales of $196 billion, and sustain over 1.6 million full- and part-time jobs. 

Columbus, Ohio – AmericanHort is deeply disappointed at the House of Representatives’ failure to renew the H-2B Returning Worker Exemption, a policy that was enacted on a bipartisan basis one year ago, and would help to ensure that small and seasonal businesses in the landscape industry and beyond will have an adequate workforce for the peak spring season that is only a few months away.  Now, an orderly spring 2017 is in jeopardy.   

Renewing this policy is good for American small and family businesses and American workers, whose livelihood is linked to the ability of their employers to meet production peaks with legally authorized supplemental workers. For the H-2B visa holders themselves, the policy rewards good behavior, helping to ensure that those who have obeyed our immigration laws will get back to the employers they know and trust. 

Special thanks go to all the House members that signed a letter urging House leaders to do once again what they did fewer than 12 months ago. And special thanks as well to Reps. Andy Harris (R-MD), Dan Newhouse (R-WA), Jared Polis (D-CO), Louise Slaughter (D-NY), and Alcee Hastings (D-FL) for last-ditch efforts to persuade the Rules Committee to address this issue in a timely fashion. Finally, thanks to all our members and state association partners, who mobilized to send hundreds of messages and make many calls to Congress. Your perseverance will be critical as we move forward.  

AmericanHort, our grassroots Lighthouse Program partners, and our dedicated members will continue efforts toward renewal of this provision, and other sensible improvements to our visa and immigration system.  

# # #

The AmericanHort community includes professionals from all facets of the industry. From growers to retailers, breeders to installers, suppliers to innovators, students to researchers, and everyone in between, businesses across the horticulture industry call AmericanHort their inspiration, voice, community, success, business partner, leader, and advocate. With $163 billion of market influence and the generation of 1.15 million jobs, the horticulture industry is a key player in the global economy. AmericanHort supports businesses in their continuous growth and success with knowledge resources, staff development, in-person meetings, and government advocacy. The strength of our influence depends on the strength of our collaboration, and AmericanHort unites the industry as a major force. What we do together matters. #WWDTmatters.

Dec. 1, 2016                                                                               #16-054

Minimum wage climbing to $11 in 2017 as a result of November election

TUMWATER ─ The minimum wage in Washington will increase to $11 an hour starting on Jan. 1, 2017. Since the recent election, the Department of Labor & Industries has received scores of calls asking for clarity on the details of the new law.

The new minimum wage, a result of the passage of Initiative 1433, applies to all jobs, including those in agriculture. Workers under 16 years old can be paid 85 percent of the adult minimum wage, or $9.35 per hour, in 2017. In addition to minimum wage, the initiative addresses paid sick leave. 

Seattle, Tacoma, and the City of SeaTac have higher minimum wage rates for 2017. For employers in those areas, the local minimum wage rate will apply as long as it is higher than the state minimum.

The new law does not change minimum wage exemptions or regulations regarding overtime pay.

Since 1998, L&I has been responsible for calculating the state’s minimum wage each September. Under Initiative 1433, the minimum wage will increase to $13.50 by 2020. L&I will resume calculating the minimum wage for calendar years 2021 and beyond.

Paid sick leave starting in 2018

Along with increasing the state minimum wage, the initiative requires employers to provide paid sick leave starting Jan. 1, 2018.

Under the initiative, L&I must adopt rules to enforce the new requirement, including, “…procedures for notification to employees and reporting regarding sick leave, and protecting employees from retaliation for the lawful use of sick leave…”

The official rulemaking process, which will include public comment opportunities, will take place in 2017. Interested parties can sign up for updates on the process on L&I’s Employment Standards Program listserv (Lni.wa.gov/Main/Listservs/WRWageHour.asp).

Worker rights

L&I provides materials to help employers inform workers about the minimum wage and their rights as workers. Employers are required to post L&I’s “Your Rights as a Worker” poster in the workplace. The poster has general information about employment issues. An optional, minimum-wage poster is also available for employers. Both are free from L&I.

L&I enforces the state’s wage-and-hour laws. The agency investigates all wage-payment complaints. More information on Washington’s minimum wage is available on L&I's wage and hour webpage. Employers and workers may also call 360-902-5316 or 1-866-219-7321.

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Media information: Matthew Erlich (Matthew.Erlich@Lni.wa.gov), Public Affairs, 360-902-6508. Connect with L&I on Facebook(facebook.com/laborandindustries) and Twitter (twitter.com/lniwa)

If you no longer want to receive e-mail from this mailing list, you can unsubscribe or if you need to change your subscription to a different e-mail address, go to http://www.lni.wa.gov/Main/Listservs/LNINews.asp to leave the list and/or rejoin it with a new e-mail address.

You may also visit the L&I News Center at http://www.lni.wa.gov/news to see or search the archives of news releases sent out by the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries.

 

On November 4, Reps. Chabot (R-OH), Goodlatte (R-VA), Harris (R-MD) and Boustany (R-LA) introduced the "Strengthen Employment and Seasonal Opportunities Now (SEASON) Act," H.R.3918.  The introduction follows the prior week's introduction of the bipartisan "Save Our Small and Seasonal Businesses Act of 2015," (S. 2225) by Senators Tillis (R-NC), Mikulski (D-MD), Cassidy (R-LA) and Warner (D-VA).
 
While the bills are slightly different, both the House and Senate bills would address the key issues that employers continue to face with the H-2B program.  Both bills would exempt returning workers from the 66,000 annual cap, streamline the H-2B process, provide for a fair wage formula, allow for the use of private wage surveys and address the problems stemming from the new H-2B regulations.  
 
The House bill goes further in that it would essentially remove the Department of Labor (DOL) from the H-2B process.  The Senate bill includes provisions not in the House bill that would require greatly increased coordination between the Departments of State and Homeland Security in terms of the cap count, as well as improving public transparency about the cap numbers.
 
Now is the time to urge your two U.S. Senators, and your Representative in the House, to support these bills.  Congress may also consider some of the H-2B fixes of these bills in a final FY2016 spending measure that must be acted on before December 11. 

Click the link below to log in and send your message:
https://www.votervoice.net/BroadcastLinks/em1Pzvp0zEVqXPjX-OiThw