Bill Analysis - HB 1456, Minimum Staffing for Washington Main Street Programs (Hearing 2/9/21)

Summary

A bill analysis of HB 1456, concerning minimum staffing levels for Washington main street programs, prepared by the House of Representatives Office of Program Research for the Community & Economic Development Committee. The sponsors are Representatives Rule, Ramel, Robertson, Lekanoff, Shewmake and Harris-Talley, the hearing date is 2/9/21, and the staff contact is Cassie Jones. The analysis states that the DAHP operates the Main Street Program through a contract with the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. Under the summary of the bill, a jurisdiction with a population of 10,000 or greater must maintain at least a full-time, paid executive director, and the pilot grant program expires June 30, 2025. A fiscal note was requested on February 5, 2021.

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Full text

Washington State                 BILL
House of Representatives
Office of Program Research  ANALYSIS
Community & Economic Development
Committee
                                        HB 1456
Brief Description: Concerning minimum staffing levels for Washington main street programs.

Sponsors: Representatives Rule, Ramel, Robertson, Lekanoff, Shewmake and Harris-Talley.


                                     Brief Summary of Bill
          • Modifies the required minimum staffing levels for local Main Street
            Programs.
          • Creates a pilot grant program to assist with costs related to establishing
            the required minimum levels of staffing for a local Main Street
            Programs.


Hearing Date: 2/9/21

Staff: Cassie Jones (786-7303).

Background:

The state Main Street Program provides technical assistance for local comprehensive downtown
or neighborhood commercial district revitalization initiatives. The Department of Archeology
and Historic Preservation (DAHP) operates the Main Street Program through a contract with the
Washington Trust for Historic Preservation. The DAHP provides initial site evaluations by
technical specialists, training for local programs and staff, and design and implementation
assistance to local governments, businesses, organizations, and property owners undertaking
revitalization initiatives. The DAHP also may provide financial assistance for initial start-up
costs for a local program.




     This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative
     members in their deliberations. This analysis is not part of the legislation nor does it
     constitute a statement of legislative intent.

House Bill Analysis                             -1-                                         HB 1456
The DAHP may designate local downtown or neighborhood commercial district revitalization
programs and official local Main Street Programs for such assistance based on certain criteria
including:
    • the degree of interest and commitment to comprehensive downtown or neighborhood
      commercial district revitalization and historic preservation by both the public and private
      sectors;
    • the evidence of potential private sector investment in the downtown or neighborhood
      commercial district;
    • a downtown or neighborhood commercial district with sufficient historic fabric to become
      a foundation for an enhanced community image;
    • the capacity of the organization to undertake a comprehensive program and the financial
      commitment to implement a long-term downtown or neighborhood commercial district
      revitalization program that includes a commitment to employ a professional program
      manager and maintain a sufficient operating budget;
    • the DAHP's existing downtown revitalization program's tier system; and
    • the National Main Street Center's criteria for designating official Main Street cities.

The DAHP's rules relating to eligibility criteria include a requirement that an application for
designation as a Washington Main Street community include information demonstrating that the
applicant can maintain a minimum level of staffing to achieve its mission, goals, and annual
work plan. According to the rule, a jurisdiction's population determines the required level of
minimum staffing as follows:
    • a jurisdiction with a population of 2,500 or less must maintain a part-time volunteer
      executive director;
    • a jurisdiction with a population of 2,501 to 5,000 must maintain a half-time, paid executive
      director; and
    • a jurisdiction with a population of 5,001 or greater must maintain a full-time, paid
      executive director.

Summary of Bill:

In developing criteria for designation of local downtown or neighborhood commercial district
revitalization programs and official local Main Street Programs, the DAHP must consider the
capacity of the Program to maintain a minimum staffing level.

Each application for designation as an official local Main Street must include information
demonstrating that the applicant can maintain a minimum level of staffing to achieve the
applicant's mission, goals, and annual work plan. The minimum staffing level required is
determined according to the population of the local jurisdiction as follows:
    • a jurisdiction with a population of 5,000 or fewer must maintain at least a part-time,
      volunteer executive director;
    • a jurisdiction with a population of greater than 5,000 but fewer than 10,000 must maintain
      at least a half-time, paid executive director; and
    • a jurisdiction with a population of 10,000 or greater must maintain at least a full-time, paid


House Bill Analysis                             -2-                                         HB 1456
      executive director.

The minimum staffing level requirements apply only to programs created after the effective date
of the act.

The DAHP must establish a pilot project grant program to award grants to programs applying for
designation as an official local main street program. The purpose of the grant program is to
assist with costs related to establishing a minimum level of staffing. In order to be eligible for a
grant, the program applying for designation as an official local main street program must:
    • be located within a city with a population of fewer than 20,000;
    • establish, to the satisfaction of the DAHP, that financial inability to meet minimum
       staffing level requirements is a significant factor that is preventing the program from
       qualifying for designation as an official local main street program; and
    • report to the DAHP on the diversity of the program's overseeing board.

Subject to the availability of amounts appropriated for this specific purpose, the DAHP must
employ additional staff as needed to administer the grant program. The grant program expires
June 30, 2025.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Requested on February 5, 2021.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of the session in which the bill is
passed.




House Bill Analysis                             -3-                                         HB 1456

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