The bill seeks to improve collaboration between cities and counties in Washington State regarding road construction and maintenance, with a particular focus on rural communities. It introduces a new section that highlights the role of county resources, such as road construction crews, in assisting cities with various road-related tasks. The bill amends existing laws, specifically RCW 35.22.620 and RCW 35.23.352, to clarify definitions and limitations on public works projects, including the percentage of work that can be performed by city employees versus contracted work. Notably, it specifies that public roadway striping and paving performed by counties for first-class cities will not count towards the 10 percent limitation on public works performed by city employees.

Additionally, the bill amends RCW 35.77.030 to permit county commissioners to utilize funds from the county road fund for the construction, repair, and maintenance of city or town streets, along with related engineering and administrative services. It establishes that payments made by cities under this agreement will be directed to the county treasurer and deposited into the county road fund. The bill also mandates that all construction work exceeding ten thousand dollars must be conducted by contract, except in emergencies or when competitive bids are unobtainable. Furthermore, it introduces language allowing construction work to be performed by "regularly employed county personnel" and emphasizes that no street construction project should be divided into smaller parts to avoid competitive bidding requirements, promoting transparency and fairness in the process.

Statutes affected:
Original Bill: 35.77.030
Substitute Bill: 35.77.030