A Message from Doug Levy, WRPA Lobbyist
Friday, May 29, 2020
A Message from Doug Levy, WRPA Lobbyist
A Message from Governor Jay Inslee
This memorandum serves to make further clarifications for Outdoor Recreation, Phase 1, and sets forth additional Phase 2 criteria. This memorandum is effective as of May 14, 2020.
A Message from Peter Mayer, Metro Parks Tacoma
Good morning! First of all, I hope this finds you healthy and rested. I wanted to send a “shout out” of thanks and share a few developments.
I hope this email finds you healthy and well during this difficult time. We have heard from many of you about the extraordinary work you are doing on behalf of your community. We know that special park districts are in a difficult place with respect to the ability to receive funding while still facing the challenges that COVID-19 has brought.
NRPA has drafted a memo that will provide you additional information about the federal response along with a letter that we plan to send to federal leaders on behalf of special park districts. This letter asks for equitable treatment when funding is provided.
Hiking and Other Outdoor Activities Restart COVID-19 Requesremts and Recommendations.This week an amendment was made to Proclamation 20-25.2. Read the full proclamation from Governor Jay Inslee and view the quick guide banner.
Gov. Jay Inslee will address media Monday via streaming video and telephone to provide an update on the state's COVID-19 response.
The governor will be joined by Hilary Franz, commissioner of public lands, Kelly Susewind, director of the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, and Don Hoch, director of the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission.
WRPA & Other Western Associations Are Advocating for Park & Rec Safety During COVIDA Message from WRPA's Lobbyist Doug Levy
On April 23, 2020, WRPA sent out a proposal outlining a framework on how public parks and recreation service providers can serve a vital role in assisting you to safely return Washingtonians to public life. On Tuesday, May 21, 2020, the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board (RCFB) voted unanimously to support an RCO staff proposal to reduce the local match requirements during the COVID-19 period. Read more below
Recreation & Conservation Office (RCO) Votes to Reduces Local Match Requirements
A Message from WRPA Lobbyist Doug Levy
On a wet day in early February, 130 advocates descended on Olympia to speak up for our outdoors. Folks from Manson near Lake Chelan to Longview on the Columbia River committed their time and energy to tell lawmakers why the outdoors matters. Their voices made an impact with legislators, and we’re so thankful for the support of so many passionate outdoor advocates from across the state.
We’ve done the research so you don’t have to, endorsing the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI) as our preferred background screening provider. NCSI is a youth safety advocacy group and leading background screening provider. Their comprehensive background screenings uncover pivotal information other screening services may miss.
The one-month Stay at Home extension to May 4th the big thing by far. Also covered:
On other fronts, during Q&A the Governor made it clear he will:
Learn more about the following:
Relief to Citizens – Direct Income Assistance Payments
I wish I wasn’t writing this e-mail, but I need to. Barring some unforeseen circumstances, our WRPA priority local parks funding options bill (ES HB 2625), which was tantalizingly close to passage this Session, is not going to make it up for a Floor vote by the Friday COB deadline. The bill is in the Rules Committee – and were it to get to the Floor, the votes are there to pass it. But we are doubtful it will get there.
What I can tell you is that we worked very hard to get this bill out of the Senate Ways & Means Committee last Friday, and had “pulls” lined up for the Senate Rules Committee both Wednesday and today to get 2625 to the Floor Calendar. We also had strong support from the Senate Floor Leader (Sen. Liias) who spoke to the bill in the Ways & Means Caucus – and had support in that Caucus discussion from Sens. Keiser and Conway.
Good Morning, Everyone!
Here is my usual Weekly Report and Weekly list of hearings – I’d note that on the Weekly Hearings list, with fiscal committees coming down the homestretch and public hearings reducing in numbers, all my recommendations for today (2/10) and tomorrow (2/11) are “MONITOR.”
What are your primary functions as the State Lobbyist for the WRPA?As WRPA’s state lobbyist, I’m responsible for helping to develop the annual Legislative Agenda, promoting priority issues for WRPA, and protecting WRPA’s interests to head off any legislation or budget initiatives that are adverse to us. I’m also responsible for ongoing communications with WRPA Member agencies, for keeping local parks officials informed and aware of happenings in Olympia, and hopefully for enhancing agencies’ knowledge of how to move the needle forward for local parks and recreation overall.
The annual Great Outdoors Day/Legislative Day is a day in Olympia and on “the Hill” where both WRPA and our co-sponsors, the Washington Wildlife & Recreation Coalition (WWRC), can bring a concentration of Members to Olympia to speak with a unified and loud voice about our priorities and about the importance of outdoor recreation and the outdoors when it comes to quality of life, public health, economic development, and environmental stewardship.
Have you expressed an interest or submitted an application for the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program? The Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) is seeking your input on the possibility of establishing a maximum amount of funding that can be applied for in any one grant in the WWRP Trails Category. Currently, there are no grant limits.
If you could please take 5 minutes to participate in a survey no later than December 10, 2019, we would be most appreciative. We will share the results with the Recreation and Conservation Funding Board to help them make an informed decision about this issue.
Seattle, WA / December 3, 2019 - Washington Recreation and Park Association announced today that it has formed a partnership with the National Center for Safety Initiatives (NCSI), a leader in youth-centered safety solutions to offer background checks as part of NCSI’s Affinity Program.
NCSI will serve as the official provider of background checks for the Washington Recreation and Park Association. A SportsEngine, Inc. company, NCSI provides the “Gold Standard” in background screening, serving youth sports organizations, national governing bodies and over 3,000 city and county recreation departments across the country. NCSI is accredited by the National Association of Professional Background Screeners (NAPBS) and is the only background check provider endorsed by the National Council of Youth Sports.
WRPA is excited to announce the 2020 Legislative priorities. Some of the initiatives include:
