The 2009 CDA Winners are Part of a Nation Wide Trend

The AIA Washington Council held it's annual Civic Design Awards (CDA) on Thursday, May 14, 2009 at the ACT Theater in downtown Seattle. Eight awards were handed out to local firms and agencies. Each design was praised for its transparency which was especially noted as a grand contribution to schools, where vibrant design can be a tactile encouragement of children's growth.

This exciting focus on sustainable design of schools is leading a nation wide trend. According to a recent article in the New York Times, “school districts across the county are experimenting with new construction and renovations that save energy as well as improve educational facilities.”

The 2009 CDA winners continue to demonstrate how environmental awareness can still function beautifully for a community. For more information about the winners, and to see pictures of the winning projects please visit our website.

AIA/WA Testifies on a New Bond Bill

Rep. Hans Dunshee introduced a new bond bill, HB 2334, to fund higher education and elementary and secondary education projects. The bill focuses on “funding construction of safety, health, and energy-saving improvements to public facilities.” In addition, the bill says that “energy efficiency projects shall take priority” for funding.

AIA/WA testified in support of the goals of this legislation today the House Capital Budget Committee. Video of the testimony will be available here soon. For now you can listen to testimony by clicking below.

The money and purposes of projects in this legislation are certainly needed. The proposed state budget transfers $750 million out of the Capital budget and into the operating budget. That is creating a significant long-term problem for capital projects.

The AIA/WA also has a few concerns namely: accountability provisions in the bill and the section on “performance based contracting.”

The legislation supplies funds for building regardless of demonstrated value or worthiness of projects. Further, the bill does not ensure that institutions taking these funds, and making improvements, have a long term master plans for the buildings that will keep them from building inadequate facilities that they can’t alter cost effectively for a long time.

In summary, the design and construction monies in this bill are needed. Saving energy and improving health and safety are worthy endeavors. But, they are just a part of the purposes for which our buildings are built and operated.

Senate Passes School Levy Simple Majority Amendment

Today the Washington Senate passed Engrossed House Joint Resolution 4204. This measure proposes to amend the Washington State Constitution to allow school levies to pass by a simple majority of voters voting in an election. The measure passed with the bare minimum 33 votes needed to pass a constitutional amendment. Because the measure was unchanged in the Senate, it now goes to Governor Gregoire, who is expected to sign it. After being singed by the Governor, the measure will be put before the voters for adoption in the November 2007 election. The measure does not change the 60% super-majority requirement to pass school construction bonds.

Senate Adjourns Early Amid Wrangling on Simple Majority

In an unusual move, the Senate adjourned almost 2 hours before the 5 p.m. deadline on Wednesday. Senator Joe Zarelli (R-18, Ridgefield) moved to bring SJR 8207, simple majority for school levies, back to the floor. That move took precedent over other matters before the Senate. The Republicans had intended to provide enough votes to pass the measure out of the Senate and had informed the Democrats of that fact. However, the Senate Democrat leadership unexpectedly moved to adjourn rather than have another vote on SJR 8207.

The House version, HJR 4204, passed earlier in the week. Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown stated that she intends to move the house bill.

The Daily Olympian and the Vancouver Columbian have additional coverage of the story.

NOTE: This report has been updated to clarify the circumstances around the Senate’s early adjournment.

House Passes Simple Majority for School Levies

The House debated and passed Engrossed House Joint Resolution 4204 today to send to the voters a Constitutional amendment eliminating the supermajority voter requirement for excess property levies for school districts. The vote was 79-19. Current law requires that such levies must be approved by more than 60% of the voter turnout must be equal or greater than 40% of the turnout in the last general election. This is the companion bill to the senate measure, Engrossed Substitute SJR 8207 that failed to pass the Senate earlier this session. The bill was amended on the House floor to clarify that that the voter-turnout requirement in the current law does not apply to maintenance and operations levies. EHJR 4204 now goes to the Senate for further consideration. If it passes both bodies it would go before the voters in November 2007 and need a simple majority of voters to be adopted.

Simple Majority for School Levies Fails to Pass Senate

The Senate today failed to pass Engrossed Substitute Senate Joint Resolution (ESJR) 8207, sponsored by Senator Tracey Eide (D-30, Federal Way) to amend the Washington Constitution to allow school excess levies to pass with a simple majority of votes (50% plus one). The vote was (30-17) and a constitutional amendment needs 33 votes to pass the Senate.

ESJR 8207 was amended on the Senate floor to apply the simple majority clause only if the levy is voted on during a general election. Senator James Hargrove (D-24, Hoquiam) sponsored the amendment. If a levy is put forward at another time of year, the current requirements would apply (60 percent majority and 40 percent of total voters voting in the last preceding general election.

After the vote, Senate Majority Leader Lisa Brown (D-3, Spokane) moved to allow the bill to be reconsidered by the Senate at a later date.

If the bill were to be passed by the Legislature, it would be put before the voters for a vote in November 2007. It would need to receive a simple majority of voters to be adopted.

Simple Majority for School Levies Gets a Hearing

On Monday, the Senate Early Learning and K-12 Education Committee held a hearing on several proposals to put a Constitutional amendment before voters to pass school levies (SJR 8207) and bonds (SB 5028, SJR 8203) with a simple majority. Currently, it takes a 60% majority of those voting and the number of voters in the election must meet certain standards. The AIA Washington Council supports changing these voting requirements to a simple majority for levies and bonds. It is unclear which specific bill or bills will move this year, but it is expected that something will be passed this year. To listen to the hearing visit Television Washington’s (http://www.tvw.org/) website and put one of the bill numbers in the search engine.

School Levies & Bonds Simple Majority

On the positive side, bills have been introduced to remove the supermajority requirement to pass school levies (HJR 4201, SJR 8202, SJR 8207) and bonds (SB 5028, SJR 8203). These bills had hearings this week and will have more hearings next week. AIA/WA is signing in at the hearings in support of the bills proposals. Prospects look very positive for at least the levy proposals. The House has passed it several times with enough members to send it to the ballot. The problem in the past was a lack of votes in the Senate. The Democrat supermajority in the Senate brightens prospects for passage considerably. If it passes the legislature, then it would go before the voters in November.