Tri Cities Real Estate News & Views

There was the usual suspense, but the recipients were more surprised than the audience when the Kennewick man and woman of the year were announced Monday night.

Two fine, generous community leaders were chosen this year - Craig Eerkes as Man of the Year and Sandi Strawn as Woman of the Year.

Generosity and leadership mark both of these outstanding citizens.

Eerkes, head of Sun Pacific Energy and chairman of AmericanWest Bank, has led many community fundraising endeavors. He’s generous with his time, talents and personal resources.

Strawn, who owns Dependable Janitor Service with her husband, Dean, is a former Benton County commissioner known equally for her charitable works, leadership and her musical gifts.

Leadership and generosity are two main characteristics for selection as Kennewick’s man and woman of the year.

So is commitment. Eerkes and Strawn have been strong supporters of United Way and many other worthwhile community organizations for years.

The independent panel of judges could not have chosen better. The awards are given by the Past Kennewick Men of the Year and the Soroptimists.

Eerkes and Strawn are two of the principal reasons and examples of why the Tri-Cities, not just Kennewick, has such a fine reputation for community service - and involvement by its leading citizens.

Story from the Tri-City Herald

West Richland will accept public comment through Tuesday on a proposed residential and commercial project near Van Giesen Street and Ruppert Road as the city reviews a preliminary plat for the project.

The proposed Red Mountain Center project includes single and multi-family housing, retail and light industrial development on more than 300 acres of land owned by real estate developers MacKay & MacDonald, of Vancouver.

The plan is to develop 470 lots for single-family homes and 22 lots for apartments, public and commercial use, said Todd Stowell, West Richland’s senior planner. A school and public park is also included in the plans.

“It is good for the community,” he said.

The Port of Kennewick leased 12 acres of land in the area a few months ago to Pacific Rim Wine Co. after the port and the developers swapped parcels of land.

The developers are paving 1,500 feet of Keene Road to provide access to the port’s property. That’s also abonus for the city, said Dan Cryer, port’s director of operations.

The port’s original 11.3-acre plot fronting Van Giesen was deemed to be in the commercial zone, said port Executive Director Tim Arntzen. The port agreed to take a 15-acre parcel in the adjacent light industrial zone, Arntzen said. The exchange also helped the developers consolidate its holdings.

As part of the lease agreement, the wine company will set up three wineries in the next seven years, Cryer said. Up to 15 jobs will be created after the first winery goes up, he added.

Dan MacKay, a partner in MacKay & MacDonald, said his company is moving cautiously on the project. MacKay said he hasn’t worked out the total cost of the project, because work will be completed in increments over a long period of time.

The road, scheduled to be completed in June, is costing the company a little less than a million dollars, he said.

There’s a possibility that the company may sell parts of this huge project to other builders, MacKay said. “Our schedule is evolving,” he said.

Stowell said after getting input from residents and various public agencies, the city will review the plan and follow it up with an environmental assessment.

In the past, water and drainage issues may have caused some concern in the area, but the developer has agreed to make several water, sewer and street improvements, he said.

As the property develops, the city’s tax base will develop substantially, Stowell said, adding that the final plans could be reviewed by West Richland City Council in less than two months.

By Pratik Joshi, Tri-City Herald Staff Writer

The owner of California’s famous and quirky Bonny Doon Vineyards plans to break ground this week on a $5.7 million winery in West Richland.

Pacific Rim Wine Co. would be the largest winery in the U.S. dedicated solely to producing riesling wines if the owners produce their planned 300,000 cases yearly.

Washington’s Chateau Ste. Michelle is the single largest riesling producer in the world, making 600,000 cases last year.

The 30,000-square-foot Pacific Rim winery will be built in the Port of Kennewick’s industrial park in West Richland and is to be completed in time for this year’s crush.

Randall Grahm — owner of Bonny Doon — started Pacific Rim in 1984. The winery produces about 100,000 cases of three styles of riesling — sweet, dry and dessert. The dry and sweet white wines sell at $11.99 a bottle and the dessert sells for about $15.99 a half-bottle.

The project is a collaboration between Grahm and Mid-Columbia brothers Andy and Bill Den Hoed, who own Desert Hills Vineyard near Prosser and Wallula Vineyard on the Columbia River southeast of Finley. The partners have no plans to open a tasting room.

The wine always has been made from Mid-Columbia grapes that are pressed in Washington, with the juice trucked to California. But about three years ago, Bonny Doon officials decided it would be better to produce and market the wine closer to where the grapes are harvested.

The Den Hoeds plan to grow the grapes and produce the wine, while Pacific Rim officials will market the wines and provide the general manager and winemaking team.

“I know that my gifts lie in producing quality grapes,” Andy Den Hoed said. “This is the perfect fit for us, because they’ve done sales and marketing for more than 20 years.”

Den Hoed said he wants the Pacific Rim wines to be made as sustainably as possible from the vineyard to the table. The winery’s grape waste will be composted, the winery’s design includes many windows to cut down on power use, and the company will try to minimize its trucking.

Den Hoed said he is glad to get into the winemaking business so he can assure his vineyard’s quality grapes end up as quality wine.

Nicolas Quille — general manager of Bonny Doon and a former winemaker for Hogue Cellars in Prosser — will manage the winery.

The move to the Pacific Northwest is part of Bonny Doon’s recent restructuring, he said.

The winery laid off about 40 of its 100 employees in California, sold two of its largest labels — Bonny Doon’s Big House and Cardinal Zin — and has cut production from 400,000 cases to 40,000 cases, he said. All the remaining wine for Bonny Doon will be made from estate vineyards, he added.

The new winery is a dramatic investment in one grape variety, but riesling is on the rise, Quille said.

Quille explained that wine sales have been increasing rapidly in the United States, riesling has proved a popular choice for pairing with a variety of foods and younger generations of wine connoisseurs are increasingly choosing riesling over chardonnay and white zinfandel.

“The younger generation is picking up wine as their favorite beverage,” he said. “They are also trying new things from all different countries.”

Although Pacific Rim would compete with some of Ste. Michelle’s riesling wines that are in a similar price range, there appears to be room in the market for more of the popular white wine.

“We sell everything we make,” said Lynda Eller, Ste. Michelle spokeswoman. “We are really limited by the vines in the ground.”

Story By Anna King, Tri-City Herald Staff Writer

RICHLAND, Wash. (AP) - Taking a page from archaeologists looking for dinosaur bones, workers at the Hanford nuclear reservation are testing a technology to map the path of radioactive and chemical leaks from underground tanks.

In a demonstration project, CH2M Hill Hanford Group is using electricity in a process called high-resolution resistivity to map contamination at the federal nuclear reservation’s tank farms.

“If we can get a picture of where it may or may not be, we can go out and take a physical sample,” said John Kristofzski, a CH2M Hill program director.

According to a story published in the Tri-City Herald, the technology has been used to scan for outlines of dinosaurs in rock, but the Hanford project will use it to chart contamination as it travels through soil.

Radioactive and chemical wastes from Cold War weapons plutonium processing were stored in 149 underground steel tanks at Hanford.  As many as 67 have leaked as much as 1 million gallons of liquid wastes into the soil. Some contamination has flowed through the soil and reached the water table.

Historical documents tell Hanford officials what wastes may be in the soil and where they are. But they need more information to come up with a plan to clean up the contamination before more of it reaches the ground water.

Sending electrical current through the ground may provide a map of contamination without excavation or drilling holes that can expose workers to hazardous chemicals or radiation, CH2M Hill officials said.

Working with Columbia Energy and Environmental Services of Richland and HydroGeophysics of Tucson, Ariz., CH2M Hill is looking for places in the soil where electricity moves with less resistance.

Soil moistened by waste conducts electrical current better than dry, uncontaminated soil. In addition, the tank waste often has heavy chemical salt concentrations that increase conductivity.

In the pilot project, two car batteries will be used to send an electric current through grids of wires attached to probes. As the electricity travels between probes farther and farther apart, it creates a triangular image of soil resistivity as far down as the ground water.

Those results will be mapped on a computer to come up with a picture of where waste lies beneath the soil.

The probes create a two-dimensional picture, but probes inserted down wells already drilled will help to expand the picture to three dimensions to provide more information about the depth at which waste lies.

“We want to understand what’s out there and where it’s moving,” Kristofzski said.

By The Associated Press

March 31-April Used Cell Phone Collection at Mid-Columbia Libraries and Richland Public Library
March – April Reuse-A-Shoe Contest with area schools, 372-7201
March 31 10 a.m. -12 Volunteer Clean up and Planting, Highlands Grange Park, Kennewick, 735-3551
March 31 12-4 p.m. Earth Month Kick-0ff & Celebration, Highlands Grange Park, Kennewick, 531-5677
March 31 Gently Used Art, Allied Art Gallery, 84 Lee Blvd, Richland, 943-9815
March 31 All-day free bus fare, Ben Franklin Transit, fixed routes only, 735-5100
April 1 10 a.m. CORKIE the Robot children’s Earth Month kick-off, Richland Public Lib., 942-7452
April 2-8 Richland Neighborhood Yard Debris Collection, Leslie Groves Park area, 942-7490
April 2 2 p.m. Family Science Program, CREHST Museum, 95 Lee Blvd 942-9000
April 3&6 10 a.m. Birds – story time, Richland Public Library, 942-7452
April 4 10 a.m., Kite Making, Richland Community Center, registration & fee, 942-PLAY
April 6 10 a.m. Birds – story time, Richland Public Library, 942-7452
April 7 All-day free bus fare, Ben Franklin Transit, fixed routes only, 735-5100
April 9-15 Richland Neighborhood Yard Debris Collection, Badger Mountain area, 942-7490
April 10 10 a.m. Worms story time, Richland Public Library Children’s story circle, 942-7452
April 12 7 p.m. CBC Lecture-Col. River as Imperial Prize, Mid-Columbia Library, Kennewick, 435-0511
April 13 6:30 p.m. Family Game Night, Richland Community Center, 942-PLAY
April 14 8:30 a.m. Multiple Sclerosis Walk, flag pole, Columbia Park, 206-284-4254
April 14 9 a.m. Educational program at McNary Wildlife Refuge, 311 Lake Rd Burbank, 943-3951
April 14 All-day free bus fare, Ben Franklin Transit, fixed routes only, 735-5100
April 17&20 10 a.m., Insects - story time, Richland Public Library, 942-7452
April 17 7 p.m. Predicting Ecosystem Change & Damage to Salmon, CBC - P Bldg Pasco, 372-4977
April 21 Community Clean-up, various locations, visit www.earthmonthmc.org, 942-7730
April 21 All-day free bus fare, Ben Franklin Transit, fixed routes only, 735-5100
April 21 9:30 a.m. Spring Composting Workshop, Mid-Columbia Library-Kenn. register, 942-7730
April 21 9 a.m. Trail Clean-up & Completion, Duportail Trail, Chamna/WE Johnson Park, 627-3621
April 22 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kite Festival, Leslie Groves Park, 942-PLAY
April 22 10 a.m. - 4 p.m., Lakeside Gem & Mineral Show, Benton Franklin Fairgrounds, 586-9211
April 24 9 a.m. Family Bike Race, Col. Point to Leslie Groves, preregister and fee, 942-PLAY
April 24 10 a.m. story time and nature walk, Richland Public Library, 942-7452
April 25 3:45 p.m. Recycled Origami Animals, Richland Public Library, 942-7452
April 25 7 p.m. Wildlife Rehabilitation Lecture & Demo, Mid-Columbia Library, Kenn. 783-7878×106
April 27 9:30 to 4 p.m. Alternative Energy Expo, Columbia Basin College, Pasco, 546-5944
April 28 10 to 4 p.m. Alternative Energy Expo, Awards & Electrathon Race, CBC, Pasco, 546-5944
April 28 All-day free bus fare, Ben Franklin Transit, fixed routes only, 735-5100
For more information visit www.EarthMonthMC.org

GET INVOLVED IN THE HEALTH OF YOUR COMMUNITY IN APRIL
Community Clean-up Day
Saturday, April 21
Find an “eye sore” and work to clean, beautify and restore it
Attend one of the many environmental activities occurring in April
Register your Project or Volunteer for one!

EARTH MONTH KICK-OFF
Saturday, March 31 Noon to 4
Highlands Grange Park, 15th & Union St., Kennewick
Mid-Columbia Library Kennewick Branch
Exhibits, Entertainment & Presentations

EARTH MONTH FINALE
Alternative Energy Expo
Friday April 27 9:30 to 4:00
Saturday, April 28 10:00 to 4:00
Columbia Basin College Campus, Pasco
Electrathon Race & Awards – Saturday

Bill Moffitt, the chair of the Kadlec Health System and Kadlec Medical Center Board of Directors, has earned a prestigious national award for hospital trustees. Modern Healthcare magazine has named Moffitt one of its 2007 Trustees of the Year. The magazine honors two hospital board members in categories for large and smaller hospitals. Moffitt earned runner-up recognition in the large hospital category.  Since 1999, he has served on the volunteer Kadlec Medical Center Board of Trustees, and has been board chair since 2002. Under his leadership, the medical center has:

• developed into a regional referral center. Kadlec has grown its monthly gross revenues from $8 million, to $30 million a month today. Kadlec’s employee workforce has also doubled during this time. Moffitt’s leadership has also seen Kadlec put $150 million into new and updated facilities into past and current building projects, including the $71.8 million North Tower that is set to open next year.

• built collaborative partnerships, such as a $2 million donation to Columbia Basin Community College to build a state of the art $13 million Health Science Center dedicated to training the next generation of health care professionals. 

• raised over $100,000 to help the victims of Hurricane Katrina within days of the storm battering the Gulf Coast and sent a team of employees to provide relief months after the story was no longer front page news.

• and it is his leadership and personal integrity in leading the board and medical staff to focus the medical center on striving to continually improve patient safety and quality.

After a distinguished career as a senior executive with the Westinghouse Corporation, Bill retired in Pasco, and turned his energies to volunteer service to the community. Bill has served as chair of the Columbia Basin College Foundation, was a founding member of the Three Rivers Community Foundation, and worked as a full-time volunteer at the Richland Baptist Church.

Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (NY) and Senator Wayne Allard (CO) introduced “The Community Choice in Real Estate Act,” S.413, which clarifies Congressional intent that real estate brokerage and management are not banking activities. Clinton and Allard explained that allowing banks into real estate would “upend one of our nation’s most fundamental policies – the separation of banking and commerce- and put our economy at risk.”

As part of the City of Seattle and ULI speaker series “Housing Our Future,” former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development Henry Cisneros recently addressed the growing disparity between workforce wages and housing costs. “As he described severity of Seattle’s housing affordability gap, the imbalance of housing supply and demand and the resulting social and quality of life problems, Secretary Cisneros drew heavily from data supplied by Sam Pace, Washington REALTORS® Legislative Steering Committee Vice Chair,” said Randy Banneker, of Banneker and Associates and Housing Specialist for Seattle-King County Association of REALTORS® (SKCAR). Cheri Brennan, SKCAR’s PR Specialist observed, “Using the information we provided, he underscored the importance of implementing policies and strategies to make housing more available and affordable for hardworking families.”

At a panel discussion that included Kari Burrell from the Governor’s office, Sen. Rodney Tom and Rep. Larry Springer during the Association of Washington Cities Hill Day, Washington REALTOR® past president Mike Flynn explained our legislative solutions to improve home choices for Washington families. The Q & A period went overtime with lines at both microphones. “One after another, local elected officials wanted to know how they could put our ideas to work in their communities, how they could ‘do something’ to make homes more affordable,” Flynn explained. “In three words, they want help.”

Consumer and Business Affairs
REALTORS® are working with Sen. Karen Fraser to establish a vacant land disclosure statement in order to protect buyers and sellers of vacant land without changing the intent of the seller disclosure statement or making it more burdensome. REALTORS® are providing input to ensure legislation regarding new home warranties and condo conversions do not negatively impact real estate. And, we are providing support for affordable housing programs.

Land Use
REALTORS® are supporting legislation that addresses the protection of critical areas. We are also working to allow the concept of rural villages to promote economic development and housing opportunities and we are supporting legislation for a regional program of the transfer of development rights. We are working to protect property owners by supporting legislation that requires proper notice on condemnation decisions.

Tax and Fiscal
Any Real Estate Excise Tax increases are off the table as no one wants to touch the issue since we worked to bury the issue so deep it doesn’t come up again. REALTORS® are working to protect our business by supporting legislation to limit license fees. We support legislation to close a ‘loophole’ in state law regarding the local use of the real estate excise tax. We are working to support infrastructure funding mechanisms that will help provide the framework our growing communities need.

In response to the growing home affordability crisis, REALTORS® have introduced measures to improve housing opportunities in Washington so that we plan more effectively as more people move here to live and work, increase the number of homes to meet job growth, develop the tools to accurately plan for growth and measure how we’re doing and fund the roads, water, sewers and parks needed for new homes in our communities.

Measure allows chambers of commerce continued use of ‘hotel-motel’ tax.

The House Community, Economic Development and Trade Committee has approved legislation sponsored by Rep. Barbara Bailey that would clarify that chambers of commerce may continue the practice of using “hotel-motel” taxes for tourism promotion. House Bill 1254 cleared the committee today on a vote of 8-1.

“Various chambers of commerce in the 10th District have previously received monies to help finance their tourism enterprises. Those efforts included production and mailing of tourism brochures, phone inquiries and other expenses of running a tourist information center,” said Bailey, R-Oak Harbor. “After the attorney general’s opinion, some municipalities were unclear whether they could provide those funds and have subsequently put those monies on hold until the law is clarified.”

Some local governments, said Bailey, are not set up to promote tourism. So those governments have provided funding from the “hotel-motel” tax to their local chambers of commerce for tourism promotion and activities. Mount Vernon Chamber of Commerce President and CEO Kristen Whitener said the measure is needed to ensure chambers of commerce may continue to use those funds.

“Representative Bailey’s bill just clarifies the law to say that the municipality does not have to have ownership of visitor centers to provide operational expenses which keep those front doors to the communities open,” said Whitener, who had previously testified in favor of the bill during a Feb. 1 hearing.

The measure would authorize local lodging tax revenues to be used for tourism-related facilities owned by a public entity or a nonprofit 501 (c)(6) organization. In addition, it authorizes municipalities using local lodging tax revenues for tourism promotion to contract with nonprofit organizations for tourism promotion activities.

Bailey noted that her bill would address the use of the funds for chambers of commerce, but it would not broaden the scope of the law to allow other uses.

The measure now goes to the House Rules Committee which will decide when the legislation will be sent to the House floor for a vote.

OLYMPIA…As a member of the Washington State Gambling Commission, Sen. Jerome Delvin today announced his disappointment at the commission’s Friday vote in favor of the Spokane Indian Tribe compact, a gaming proposal that will vastly increase the tribe’s gaming machines and expand gambling in Washington – in direct opposition to the will of the voters.

“For months, the commission learned how this gaming compact would add thousands more machines, give the state no revenue at all, reward the Spokane Tribe’s illegal operations, and pave the way for off-reservation gambling,” said Delvin, R-Richland. “In 2004, Washington voters said ‘NO’ to expanding gambling in Washington by rejecting I-892. I kept faith with those voters by personally voting ‘NO’ to the Spokane compact.  But the Democrats on the commission followed the governor’s wishes – not the people’s.”

Delvin noted that early last week Gov. Chris Gregoire spoke out on the issue, first decrying gambling (“It’s no secret I don’t like gambling — never have; never will.”) then claiming impotence in the matter because the tribe has a federal “right.” He said that since the Gambling Commission had the right to negotiate for the governor and could have voted ‘no,” that’s not true at all. As it stands now, if the governor signs the measure, Washington will be left wide open to the stampede of tribes that will come forward demanding the same deal.

“This is a lucrative deal for the Spokane Indian Tribe, but it ignores our citizens’ wishes and leaves Washington behind the eight ball,” Delvin said.  The compact rewards the Spokane Tribe — the tribe that has been illegally operating slot machines for more than 10 years – one of the most favorable gambling compacts on record. It authorizes five casinos, 4,700 new gambling machines and unlimited wagering at five gaming tables. Every other tribe is limited to $500 wagers. It also guarantees the tribe’s right to expand gambling well into the future.

“The governor can still reject the application for off-reservation gambling,” Delvin said.  “It’s high on the Spokane Tribe’s wish list.”  The measure goes to the governor’s desk immediately for signature or veto.

Sen. Delvin represents the 8th Legislative District that includes Richland, Kennewick, Benton City and Prosser.  For more information contact Pat Albright (360) 786-7519, albright.pat@leg.wa.gov  For the latest news and information from the Senate Republican Caucus visit the Senate Republican Media Center at http://www.src.wa.gov/

The cities of Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland have jointly embarked on a study to identify a process to determine the best locations for regional facilities in the Tri-Cities. The approval, planning or funding for any of these facilities have not yet been determined. This meeting is informational in nature with a request for public comment.

The Tri-Cities Oversight Committee consists of City Managers and Council members representing Kennewick, Pasco, and Richland. A total of 18 potential regional centers project concepts have been identified through this study. This includes consideration for a Regional Aquatics Center and a Performing Arts Center. 

The Aquatics Center is intended to augment existing pools, provide greatly expanded indoor and outdoor leisure and competitive aquatics activities and facilitate economic development as a local and regional destination.  The Performing Arts Center is intended to offer 2-3 theater venues for local performing art groups as well as touring shows and concerts, and serve as quality of life and economic development asset to the greater Tri-Cities region.

A complete copy of the study is available prior to the forum on the cities’ websites, beginning Friday February
16, 2007. The website addresses are: http://www.ci.kennewick.wa.us/, http://www.ci.pasco.wa.us/, http://www.ci.richland.wa.us/.

There are homes that are on the market for a very long time. When other properties around a house are selling and this one hasn’t, it can cause potential buyers to be wary.

Firstly, all homes are not equal, this is self-evident. Some are new, some are old, some have a modern design, some are small, others extremely large, some are just plain quirky! However, time and again it will be the seller who is responsible for the house not selling. Usually it’s as simple as not listing the property at the price it is actually worth. An appropriate price is determined by the condition of the property and neighbourhood competition.

Ultimately, at the right price all homes will be sold. And this puts the ball directly in the seller’s court. A long-standing no sale home is often a clear indication that the poor condition of the property has not been taken into consideration by the seller.

So if you are a potential seller, bear this advice in mind when putting your property on the market. Overpricing your property will only make your realtor’s job all the more difficult. And having your home on the market for a long period of time will only give potential buyers more leverage.

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.30 percent with an average 0.4 point for the week ending February 15, 2007, up from last week when it averaged 6.28 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.28 percent.

The 15-year FRM this week averaged 6.03 percent with an average 0.4 point, up slightly from last week when it averaged 6.02 percent. A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.91 percent.

Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 6.01 percent this week, with an average 0.5 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.99 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.95 percent.

One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.52 percent this week with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.49 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.36 percent.

(Average commitment rates should be reported along with average fees and points to reflect the total cost of obtaining the mortgage.)

“Mortgage interest rates exhibited little change in the past week according to our weekly Primary Mortgage Market Survey, as there was little new information that would cause any great change,” said Frank Nothaft, Freddie Mac vice president and chief economist. “For example, January’s retail sales were virtually unchanged from December’s level. Further, Fed Chairman Bernanke testified before the Senate committee and forecasted that the economy seemed likely to expand at a moderate pace this year and next with gradual easing in core inflation.

“In the course of the coming week, January’s housing starts, producer price index and consumer price index are all scheduled for release. These will be the first indicators of the housing market and inflation in early 2007, and we could see interest rates move in response.”

Freddie Mac is a stockholder-owned company established by Congress in 1970 to support homeownership and rental housing. Freddie Mac fulfills its mission by purchasing residential mortgages and mortgage-related securities, which it finances primarily by issuing mortgage-related securities and debt instruments in the capital markets. Over the years, Freddie Mac has made home possible for one in six homebuyers and more than four million renters in America.

Freddie Mac defines its regions as follows:

Northeast: NY, NJ, PA, DE, MD, DC, VA, WV, PR, ME, NH, VT, MA, RI, CT, VI
Southeast: NC, SC, TN, KY, GA, AL, FL, MS
North Central: OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, MN, IA, ND, SD
Southwest: TX, LA, NM, OK, AR, MO, KS, CO, NE, WY
West: CA, AZ, NV, OR, WA, UT, ID, MT, HI, AK, GU

Freddie Mac’s Primary Mortgage Market Survey (PMMS) is for informational purposes only and Freddie Mac is not responsible for business decisions made based on the reported results of the PMMS. Freddie Mac may change the methodology used to conduct the PMMS survey at any time and without notice.

DEFINITIONS

Commitment Rate is the interest rate a lender would charge to lend mortgage money to a qualified borrower exclusive of the fees and points required by the lender. This commitment rate applies only to conventional financing on conforming mortgages with loan-to-value rates of 80 percent or less.

ARM Index - is the One-year Treasury

Loan to Value Ratio (LTV) is the ratio of the loan amount of a mortgage loan to the lower of the appraisal value or purchase price of the property securing the loan.

Origination Fees and Discount Points are the total charged by the lender at settlement. One point equals one percent of the loan amount.

Margin is a fixed amount added to the underlying index to establish the fully indexed rate for an ARM.

Weighted Averages for the Primary Mortgage Market Survey have been adjusted as of October 26, 2006. The new weights use the dollar volume of conventional mortgage originations within the 1-unit Freddie Mac loan limit as reported under Home Mortgage Disclosure Act (HMDA) for 2005. The weights are listed in the table below.

RICHLAND, Wash. Battelle, working in partnership with Washington State University Tri-Cities, has expanded its long-standing scholarship program to fund two scholarship awards for the 2007-08 academic year.

Battelle has traditionally awarded an annual scholarship to a high school graduate from Benton or Franklin County, to be used at the college or university of his/her choice. In addition to this scholarship, Battelle has added a second scholarship for the 2007-08 school year, to be awarded to a student who is accepted and enrolled as part of the historic first freshmen class at WSU Tri-Cities.

In subsequent years, the Battelle scholarship program will focus entirely on students planning to attend WSU Tri-Cities.  Both 2007-08 scholarships are for $2,000 per year, renewable for up to four years. Recipients are selected based on their potential for leadership and academic achievement.  WSU Tri-Cities is current accepting applications for its new four-year degree programs. The Richland campus’ first freshmen class will begin attending classes this coming August.  “Battelle is committed to the long-term success of a four-year university in the Tri-Cities and its ability to train the next generation of scientists and engineers,” said Battelle Senior Vice President Len Peters. “WSU Tri-Cities is now providing a comprehensive educational experience for our community – one that will enable the Tri-Cities to be a stronger, more dynamic and more intellectually alive community – and Battelle is intent on seeing the best students have access to that education.”  Battelle manages Pacific Northwest National Laboratory in Richland for the U.S. Department of
Energy.

The submission deadline for scholarship applications is March 12, 2007.  For more information on eligibility requirements for the Battelle scholarships, or to obtain application materials, contact Mary Bauer, WSU Tri-Cities Financial Aid Coordinator at 509/372-7228 or by e-mail at mbauer@tricity.wsu.edu.

Date: April 12, 2007
Time: 7:00 am to 6:00 pm
Location: Meydenbauer Center, Bellevue, Wash.
Agenda and Registration: www.watechcenter.org
Cost: $150 until 2/28/07; $199 starting 3/1/07

Washington Technology Center is pleased to announce that Washington Governor Chris Gregoire will deliver the morning keynote speech at the 2007 Washington State Technology Summit.  This yearly innovation conference brings together more than 450 industry, academic, and government leaders to discuss the opportunities, challenges, and trends in four key growth industries in Washington state: Energy, Life Sciences, Nanotechnology, and Wireless & telecommunications.  Attendees will hear about the opportunities available within the global high-tech marketplace and will learn what companies in Washington state are doing to make their businesses successful in their global endeavors.

The event begins with a keynote speech by Washington Governor Chris Gregoire and follows with industry leaders such as Karen Hedine, President and CEO, Micronics; Scott Jackson, VP of External Affairs, Program for Appropriate Technology in Health (PATH), plus more than 30 exciting speakers and panelists including:
• Lewis Rumpler of the Institute for Systems Medicine in Spokane who will speak about the bold plan that he and others are creating to help transform the vision of personalized medicine into a reality for the future.
• Tom Huseby, Managing Partner of Seapoint Ventures, who will share his views on how the state of Washington is participating in, and can take advantage of, the global business potential and opportunities in the area of Wireless and Telecommunications.
• Patricia Irving, Ph.D., President and CEO of Innovatek (Richland, WA) regarding the exciting partnership they recently formed with the Chevron Corporation in the area of hydrogen generation.
• Pete Lancaster, Ph.D., Scientific Advisor at Weyerhaeuser who will share the plans for incorporating nanotechnology into Weyerhaeuser’s products.
• Bill Center, President, Washington Council on International Trade
• Larry Williams, Assistant Director-International Trade Division, Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED) The conference structure includes opportunities to gather in a large group through plenary sessions and also provides in-depth focus on each industry through smaller breakout sessions.  Networking opportunities and a closing reception are highlights of the Summit.  To register visit the Washington Technology Center Web site at www.watechcenter.org or for more information please call 206-685-1920.

(Kennewick, WA), Kennewick General Hospital has signed an agreement with a newly organized group of radiologists for professional services to the hospital. Under terms of the agreement, Dr. Richard Rhee will be responsible for developing a permanent, full-service, 24/7, on-site radiology department at KGH. Dr. Rhee received his medical doctor degree from Boston University and completed residencies at Dartmouth and the University of Washington. He most recently worked as a Medical Resonance Imaging fellow at the University of California at San Diego. The new radiology team will include consistent, on-site radiologists providing comprehensive radiology services.

One of the radiologists joining Dr. Rhee in practice at KGH will be Dr. Sonny Patidar, a Boston radiologist. Dr. Patidar was previously an attending radiologist at Massachusetts General Hospital and an instructor at Harvard Medical School.

The new on-site radiology team will provide timely readings for patients and providers at KGH both in-patient and out-patient. “This new radiology team has the expertise and skill that we need to provide our patients with top quality imaging services,” stated Glen Marshall, CEO at Kennewick General Hospital. “These physicians are highly regarded in their field and will significantly enhance our surgical and patient care services. We are very fortunate they have chosen to work for Kennewick General,” said Marshall.

Dr. Richard Rhee added, “We are extremely pleased to have been selected to provide radiology consultative services to KGH. We look forward to becoming part of the exciting growth in the community and at the hospital. This hospital will set the standard for advanced imaging services in the region, and we are proud to be a part of its development.”

AT ISSUE
Support a water policy that supports a future for a growing economy for municipal and agricultural uses, and defining a water right as a property right.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Support legislation to:
* Eliminate the current water right “relinquishment” provisions under the water code.
* Change the definition of “beneficial use” to reflect the peak-year use under the history of water rights.
* Support continuing solutions for bringing surface water to relieve the Odessa Su-Area aquifers.
• Support a Columbia River water resources management policy that:
* Supports the Kennewick Irrigation District pump, exchange and diversion point change for stream flow in the Yakima River.
* Supports actions to make the proposed drawdown of Lake Roosevelt transparent to all parties so that the economy of the Lake Roosevelt area is not devastated for the benefit of others. All storage of smaller tributaries should be explored as well as increasing the storage of Banks Lake and the Potholes reservoir before there is any drawdown of Lake Roosevelt.

BACKGROUND
Water users should have their own options with what to do with “saved” water after achieving greater efficiencies. It should be their property to sell or transfer to other land owners.  The Washington State Department of Ecology’s policy of using “relinquishment” statutes to eliminate or impair water rights must be changed, as well as their delays in issuing new water rights. The TCLC also supports the work of the state’s local Water Conservancy Boards to authorize water right changes and transfers.  The Tri-Cities Legislative Council has long endorsed and supported the use of irrigation Best Management Practices (BMPs). We also believe there should be policy that allows the conversion of interruptible Columbia River mainstem water rights to firm status, based on an adoption of BMPs. In addition, allows for the issuance of new Columbia River water rights based on BMPs and hydropower mitigation fees. Finally, we support the uses mitigation fees to fund water conservation measures within the tributaries, particularly the Yakima River Basin.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
Currently there are taxes levied on Hotels and Motels that are designated for the City and are to be used for tourism and economic development. These dollars are under attack to be used for areas other than tourism or economic development. The State of Washington invests one of the lowest amounts of funding for tourism in comparison to the rest of the nation; to cut this even further would only hurt this state more in its attempts to attract revenue from out of our state.  In addition, there are many regional capital tourism projects that need the States funding support.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• The TCLC believes that all tax dollars collected under the hotel-motel tax surcharge should be designated only for the purposes of developing tourism and economic development and not for municipal costs incurred by a city or county.
• Support for the Hanford Research Interpretive Center, Confluence Project Sacajawea State Park, Walter Clore Culinary Center and Red Mountain AVA.

BACKGROUND
In the last two legislative sessions there has been cities and counties wanting to use the tax dollars collected for tourism and economic development for municipal costs such as their fire department, police department, or waste management. This is justified by saying that these services are also used by visitors and monies should be used from the hotel-motel tax to help pay for these services. The truth be told is that the backfill monies from the state for cities and counties is being cut and they are looking for revenue sources to replace it.  In addition these concerns there are many regional tourism projects that cannot be solely funding by Hotel Motel tax funds. The State’s financial support of these capital tourism projects will enable the growth of our region as a tourism destination location.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
The Cities of Richland and Kennewick have proposed to extend Steptoe Street from Gage Boulevard to 10th Avenue along the border between the two cities. This is the highest priority joint project of the two cities and would provide badly needed north-south connectivity for the highest growth area in the region.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Support the critical appropriation of $4,500,000 for the Steptoe Extension.

BACKROUND
The Steptoe Project supports extensive public/private and office/retail development in the corridor that joins South Richland and West Kennewick including the 400 acre Clearwater Business Park, which at build-out is forecast to add 14,000 jobs. Projecting 10% build-out within 3 years of completion, 1400 jobs would be created for the community. There are several immediate committed private sector businesses that are dependent on this roadway for their development. This includes a 110,000 sq. ft. project consisting of retail and restaurants that would provide approximately 600 jobs. Another announced project would provide approximately 300,000 sq. ft. of retail on 22 acres and 300 jobs. The $4 million 30,000 sq. ft. addition to an existing complex would also be supported by this project.  This area of the Tri-Cities is considered to be the center of activity and the hub for financial centers, and is the site of multiple locations of professional services, including law, financial planning, medical, engineering and other technical firms. This project will support important commercial centers, including Columbia Center, Columbia Center West, the Tapteal Business Park, the Clearwater Business Park, Gage Boulevard commercial development and other housing and mixed use developments such as the 780 acre Hansen Park and the 2400 acre Southridge area by reducing severe congestion and poor circulation and improving access to all of these areas. Additional benefits would be improved mobility on Columbia Center Boulevard and Leslie Road and improved access to SR 240, as well as an additional grade separation along the BNSF mainline.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
The Bonneville Power Administration (BPA) is not only the region’s largest supplier of electricity; it is the primary funding source for salmon protection. Approximately $750 million is spent annually by BPA either directly on fish and wildlife protection or on purchases to replace lost generation. There was approximately $70 million in lost power generation in 2006 alone due to summer spill. BPA’s fish and wildlife mitigation goals and obligations are not clearly defined, resulting in BPA spending millions of dollars on protection projects that at best are not prioritized for effectiveness, or at worst, are a waste of ratepayer dollars. We need long range planning for a salmon strategy that is scientific and performance based, cost effective, and is measurable and accountable by BPA.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• The four lower Snake River dams produce enough clean, reliable, renewable energy to power the entire city of Seattle. The region can not afford to lose the energy produced by these renewable energy sources. We strongly oppose the breaching of any dam on the Snake and Columbia rivers.
• Achieve scientifically sound mitigation plans for fish and wildlife and efficient and costeffective river operations, including reduction or elimination of summer spill. Promote cost-effective, responsible salmon recovery policies that maintain vital benefits of the river system.
• Local interests along with legislative overview should decide rules on shoreline management.  Proposed rules could result in taking of property and have a severe impact upon the local and state’s economy.
• Buffers should be set by common sense with weather conditions, wind directions, and velocity considered.

BACKGROUND
While we believe in protecting the environment, we believe it is time we have accountability for the billions of dollars that are wasted in salmon “recovery” each year. The debate over salmon protection rages on. We have seen our power rates almost doubled, putting our jobs, industries, and economic base elsewhere.  The Washington State Department of Ecology must consider the pesticide findings of the Washington State Department of Agriculture when establishing rules on shorelines as well as meeting with local affected parties and giving them authority to shape any rules.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
Adequate water storage for the Columbia and Yakima River Basins for irrigation, municipal and recreational use.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Encourage the acceleration of the feasibility study of new water storage projects for the Columbia and Yakima River Basins, as well as other possible sites for water storage and/or aquifer recharge that are cost-effective and timely.
• Revise the Yakima Basin’s 20-year irrigation demand forecast to include probable trends for: 1) non-programmatic efficiency gains in water use (based on technology change cycles and increased water system costs); and 2) changing crop rotations and perceivable market trends affecting Basin production.
• Encourage the Department of Ecology to issue the Kennewick Irrigation District (KID) water permit, allowing for an exchange of water withdrawals between the Lower Yakima River and the Columbia River (KID’s “Alternative 5” approach).  The net increase in flows at Prosser Diversion Dam would be about 400 cfs, raising the flows in a low water-year period to 700 cfs. Under the KID water right, the Red Mountain American Viticultural Area and West Richland would be allowed access to new and much needed water supplies.

BACKGROUND
The droughts of 2001 and 2005 brought long needed attention to the lack of adequate water storage in the Columbia Basin region. The agricultural community was devastated by the shortage of water and related businesses suffered as well. Yakima Basin agriculture generates over $1.3 billion annually and employs over 50,000 people forming the foundation of the Central Washington economy.  New or expanded reservoirs could substantially improve water supply needs for the Columbia Basin area, operating in conjunction with cost-effective and pragmatic water conservation programs.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
The state approved $200,000 in the 2006 legislative session to develop a Master Site Plan for the Red Mountain American Viticultural Area (AVA), which is currently being developed. To become a world class destination location, issues such as reliable water and adequate transportation will need to be addressed.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Encourage the Department of Ecology to issue the Kennewick Irrigation District (KID) water permit, allowing for an exchange of water withdrawals between the Lower Yakima River and the Columbia River (KID’s “Alternative 5” approach). Under the KID water right, the Red Mountain AVA and West Richland would be allowed access to new and much needed water supplies.
• Support the development of the I-82 Red Mountain Interchange to provide adequate transportation needs for economic development and tourism.
• Support the Regions efforts to develop viticulture and enology and the associated tourism activity and to further diversify the local economy.

BACKROUND
The Red Mountain AVA is an unincorporated, triangular-shaped, 4400 acre, federally-designated grape-growing and wine producing region on the south facing slope of Red Mountain between West Richland and Benton City, established in 2001. The newly formed AVA shares the same latitude as the French Bordeaux Region. Red Mountain is the smallest appellation in our State and has a uniquely excellent microclimate of air, drainage, light soils and deeply rooted vines. A Viticultural Park at Red Mountain would provide a State wide visitor destination for wine related tourism and would serve to increase tourism from out of state. Tourists would also visit wineries of the Columbia River, Walla Walla and the Yakima Valley AVA’s, as well as some of the other emerging visitor-serving assets, such as the regional trails system and the Hanford Reach National Monument and Interpretive Center.  Continued investment and the expansion of basic infrastructure services to provide a reliable water source and adequate transportation access will allow for the community to leverage this asset to meet market demand.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
The United States currently ranks 17th in the industrialized world for number of students receiving science and technology degrees. The percentage of American attainment in these areas is thirty-one percent of all degrees granted, compared to China at fifty-nine percent. Washington ranked 46th out of 50 states in support of its own research universities. TCLC applauds the state Legislature for passing the Life Sciences Discovery Fund legislation (SB 5581) in 2005. The passage of this legislation was a critical step to increasing Washington State’s competitiveness.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
During the 2007 Legislative Session, the TCLC will advocate for:
• Continue the state’s investment in implementing the Washington Life Sciences Strategy by keeping the commitment to fund the Life Sciences Discovery Fund Authority with tobacco-settlement funds starting the in the spring of 2008.
• The TCLC is supportive of the State providing the necessary start-up funds to establish an effective grant-making organization and to maintain the state’s commitment to collect and distribute the $350 million dollars in Washington State’s share of the tobacco settlement funds starting in 2008.
• Continued support of Washington’s and the Tri-City’s existing assets including the Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, the State’s world-class research universities, institutes and companies.
• Invest in university research that supports business innovation and growth.

BACKGROUND
Beginning in the 1940’s, the Hanford Project created a knowledge economy based upon math, science, and technology that have sustained the Tri-Cities to the present. The Hanford workforce has declined by over 1,000 workers during 2005. Also, the Department of Energy estimates significant force reductions in the years to come. Scientists who are retiring with lifetimes of practical experience are, in many cases not being replaced, because of the lack of qualified
replacements. The Tri-Cities is working diligently to retain and grow a technology based economy. During 2005 the Legislature supported the Bio-Products Science and Engineering Laboratory, a joint venture between Battelle Memorial Institute and Washington State University’s Tri-Cities Campus. The passage of the Life Science Discovery Fund is a statement to the rest of the nation and to the world that Washington is committed to the advancement of the State and the Tri-City region as a major hub for technology and biotech/life sciences research.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
As part of Governor Gregoire’s Next Washington plan, she has proposed the identification and funding of potential Innovation Zones to keep Washington competitive in the global market place.  One such Innovation Zone exists in the research nexus created by the proximity and cooperation of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory and WSU-Tri-Cities, which was recently expanded to a four-year University. The Governor’s Administration is seeking legislative support and funding for the development of Innovation Zones across the state.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Support the creation and funding of Innovation Zones within the Community, Trade and Economic Development budget.

BACKGROUND
There is growing consensus within the economic development community that the traditional focus on cost-based recruitment, through the use of incentives, are unsustainable in a global market place. Due to constitutional restrictions on gifting of public funds, Washington State has always lagged behind other parts of the United States in recruiting cost conscious industries. With focus shifting to innovation growth, the State is poised to take a proactive economic development role, a fact recognized by the Governor. Our community is well positioned to take advantage of this initiative, and should make efforts to support the initiative in the legislature.

A community team, lead by the Port of Benton, created a plan for developing the Tri-Cities Research Park on 100 acres between the PNNL and WSU-TC campuses. If successfully implemented, the research park plan could create a research nexus capable of replacing the community’s Hanford dependant economy. Based on those efforts, the community lead by TRIDEC, prepared a response to the State’s request for proposals on Innovation Zones, outlining to the State what criteria should be used to create an Innovation Zone and where funding could best be placed to spur regional growth. However, to create a successful innovation zone requires the development of a private sector research capability, currently under represented in the community.

As potential Innovation Zones are primarily located in urban and relatively healthy economies, obtaining funding for Innovation Zones will be difficult as it may diminish the current practice of providing funding in impoverished areas. Due to the potential lack of state-wide support, it is imperative that our community and our legislators are firmly behind Innovation Zones as a viable concept for developing the entire state economy.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
While close to 775 initiatives have been filed in our state since the law enabling their use was enacted in 1913, the actual number that have been certified and adopted is much less. However, recent trends have caused an increasing number of lawmakers and organizations to have strong concerns with the initiative process.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Require that a fair or equal percentage of valid signatures on initiatives be obtained from specified areas (e. g. Congressional Districts) in the state.
• Require that initiatives deemed to require increased expenditures identify the revenue sources (taxes, fees, cuts in programs) that are necessary for implementation.
• Require a super majority, for the passage of initiatives deemed to have a fiscal impact.
• Require that independent analyses and information on the financial impacts of initiatives be conducted — similar to legislative fiscal notes.
• Require an independent legal opinion be rendered on the constitutionality of an initiative before it appears on the ballot.
• Require the initiative to include a reasonable cost estimate and funding plan for the initiative’s implementation and ongoing costs.

BACKGROUND
During the last decade, voters approved several initiatives that had major impacts on the fiscal management of state and local governments. I-601 established spending limitations on the state budget. I-695 essentially repealed a previously approved referendum (R-49) and removed a major revenue source for state and local governments. Even though 695 was found to be unconstitutional by the State Supreme Court on the grounds it contained more than one subject, the legislature enacted a statute that mirrored the initiative. I-728 mandated that money be allocated to reduce class sizes in public schools statewide. I-732 established a set formula for increasing the salaries of public school teachers. I-722, approved by the voters in 2000, placed limitations on the growth of property tax revenue, but it faced the same constitutional challenge in the courts that faced by I-695. Several years ago, voters approved a measure to annually raise the minimum wages statewide, using the increase in the Consumer Price Index for the Seattle market as the basis. This has been particularly burdensome to small businesses (e.g. restaurants, agricultural enterprises, etc.).

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
The Legislature needs to work together with business leaders and other public officials to improve the State’s business climate. According to the 2006 Competitiveness Guidebook by the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy, our state’s business costs are the 8th highest nationally. We lead the country in unemployment insurance taxes, rank 11th in weekly unemployment insurance benefit payments, and 9th in length of time benefits are collected. Our minimum wage tops the nation again this year.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
Support legislation to:
• Maintain and extend proven business and economic development tax incentives
• Restore common sense, fairness, predictability, and efficiency to the legal system
• Reduce regulatory burdens facing employers and consolidate state agency rules
• Remove annual minimum wage indexing; freeze the State minimum wage until it matches the Federal minimum
• Support counties in local comprehensive planning; mitigate GMA revenue impact
• Return State child labor law standards to Federal standards.
• Invest in university research that supports business innovation and growth.
• Increase funding for the Job Skills Program to $6 million per biennium based upon a successful track record of helping employers
• Add permanent funding for the CERB program through a dedicated funding source in order to support the growth of our businesses
• Oppose legislation that mandates paid leave or healthcare coverage.

BACKGROUND
Business competitiveness in the Tri-Cities depends to a large extent on the State’s overall business climate and competitiveness nationally. A wide array of issues decided in Olympia determines how well the economy will fare in Tri-City communities. Unfortunately for us, the State of Washington ranks in the
lower half of all states for healthy business climate. The 2006 Competitiveness Guidebook, published by WashACE, has been providing an objective set of benchmarks to evaluate our business climate for five years. We suggest legislators review this year’s updated edition when considering competitiveness issues this session.  The TCLC believes that legislation and public policy should promote a healthy, free-market and nationally and globally competitive business climate. The private sector should be allowed to prosper and expand without interference from the public sector. If the business community is harmed, the State should provide consistent and appropriate mitigation.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
According to the 2006 Competitiveness Handbook, published by the Washington Alliance for a Competitive Economy, state government health and hospital spending per capita is 10th highest in the country. The percentage of uninsured in the State has increased 4% since 1990, ranking 20th nationally.  Although there is no increase in 2006 workers’ compensation rates proposed by State Department of Labor & Industries, there are fundamental problems with the system. The WashACE Competitiveness Guidebook shows State benefits paid per worker ranks 4th nationally, which implies higher coverage costs among private and State insurance providers.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Small Group Health Insurance: Expand access; eliminate requirement to provide same benefits as in basic health plan
• Mandated Benefits: Reduce requirements that add costs; place moratorium on addition of mandatory benefits to health care plans
• Medical Malpractice: Reduce costs associated with medical malpractice claims
• Medicaid/Medicare Reimbursement: Pursue more adequate reimbursement levels; urge Legislature to urge federal government to increase funding.
• Independent Workers’ Compensation System Audit: Require an audit to ensure that lower rates are sustainable, and reserve levels are adequate, but not excessive. Support legislation similar to SB 6414 from last session.
• Retrospective Rating Programs: Maintain the independence and integrity of “retro” programs.

BACKGROUND
Washington’s individual health care market collapsed in 1999. Availability of individual insurance is slowly returning, but overall health care remains heavily regulated and expensive.  As a result of governmental cuts in Medicaid and Medicare coverage, new governmental regulations, mandated benefit requirements, and labor shortages, employers continue to face double-digit increases in health care coverage.  The workers’ compensation system goal should be to provide effective treatment for employees so they can return to work as soon as possible. Employers should have an efficient system with the lowest possible costs and which is free from fraud and abuse.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
There exists a Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) between the Hanford Reach National Monument Heritage and Visitor Center (The Reach) and the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission to support development of the Reach Heritage Center, subject to specific legislative appropriation, in the amount of $5 million. $2 Million was appropriated by washington State in the FY 2005-2007 budget. This request is for the remaining $3 million.

TRI CITY LEGISLATIVE COUNCIL POSITION
• Support the remaining $3 million appropriation
• Support specific legislation to fund development of The Reach in accordance with the MOA between the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission and the Hanford Reach National Monument Heritage and Visitor Center.
• Support the efforts of the Hanford Reach National Monument Heritage and Visitor Center, the Richland Public Facilities District and others to develop and build the Reach Heritage Center.

BACKGROUND
A group of organizations including the City of Richland, Richland Public Facilities District, Friends of the Hanford Reach national Monument, Environmental Science and Technology Foundation, US Fish and Wildlife Service and Tri-Cities Visitor and Convention Bureau are working to bring the Mid Columbia Region an Interpretive Center to showcase the Hanford Reach National Monument, referred to as the Reach Heritage Center. The Center will showcase the geological, technological, cultural and natural history of the Columbia Basin and disperse visitors to various points of interest throughout the state. This project enjoys broad support from the cities of West Richland, Kennewick and Pasco, the counties of Benton, Franklin, Grant and Walla Walla including local residents.

Over $20 million has already been raised toward the completion of the center.  The appropriation is to be specifically used to develop public education and interpretive elements to unveil the mysteries of the great Ice-Age Floods in accordance with the Commission’s Centennial 2013 plan. The State Parks Commission has estimated the cost at $9 million were the state to build it independently.

For more information, contact the Tri Cities Chamber of Commerce.

AT ISSUE
In an unprecedented collaboration, Washington State University, Battelle as operator of Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, and the Washington State Department of Agriculture have come together to develop a $6.7 million comprehensive joint Bioenergy and Bioproducts research program. This program utilizes WSU and PNNL capabilities to accomplish specific identified outcomes to reduce Washington State’s foreign energy dependence and boost economic development through production of high-value consumer goods using in-state crops and biomass.

TRI CITIES LEGISLATIVE COUNSEL POSITION
Support the joint research program including $4.7 million for Washington State University and $2 million for the Washington State Department of Agriculture to:
• Utilizing a collaboration between WSU and Battelle, provide $2 million in matching state funds to complete a team of ten scientists in the Tri-Cities that would have joint appointments at Washington State University Tri-Cities and PNNL. The ten scientists will occupy the new Bioproducts, Sciences, and Engineering Laboratory. BSEL is jointly funded by WSU and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory, which is operated by Battelle for the U.S. Department of Energy.  These scientists will also educate undergraduate and graduate students at WSU Tri-Cities. 
Tri-Cities also supports the following WSU requests:
• Provide $1.6 million to fund a system-wide Center for Bioproducts and Bioenergy (CBB) at Washington State University led by a nationally recognized leader. The CBB would be the overarching program that links together the efforts system-wide of WSU faculty and coordinates with Battelle scientists at PNNL and the WSDA.
• Fill three critical gaps in state bioproducts research capacity with new Pullman-based scientists in metabolic engineering, microbiology and molecular biology; and a crop scientist/extension specialist. The cost is $1.1 million.
• Conduct $2 million in pressing applied agronomic, economic and engineering research on technology and cropping systems for more efficiently growing energy crops and more economically converting biomass to fuel. WSU will partner with Battelle researchers at PNNL to execute portions of this applied research. [WSDA Request]

BACKGROUND
This proposed program builds on a number of existing state and federal studies and investments. It will be guided by a joint working group in cooperation with the state Department of Ecology and the state Department of Agriculture. Last year $13.1 million in state funds was allocated for the construction of the $24 million BSEL facility.

For more information, visit Tri City Chamber of Commerce

Fewer Kennewick, Richland, Pasco, and West Richland homes were built in the Tri-Cities area in the first half of the year than during the same period in 2005, but builders and other industry experts remain upbeat about the market.

During the first half of 2005, 1,077 new home permits were issued throughout Benton and Franklin counties. Through June 30 of this year, only 898 had been issued.

“It has slowed down, but we are keeping up at a more comfortable pace,” said Jeffrey Losey, executive director of the Home Builders Association.

And although the number of building permits has dropped, the estimated valuation of those permits has been more closely aligned with the 2005 numbers.

For instance, during the first half of 2005, 206 building permits were issued in Kennewick. This year, only 182 permit were given out — a 12 percent drop. But the total valuation of those permits only dropped 1 percent, from $38.5 million in 2005 to $38.1 million this year.

“The cost of things is just creeping up,” said Keith Sexton, co-owner of the Richland-based Mahalo homes.

Benton County and West Richland saw the largest decreases in the number of building permits.

In Benton County, building permits issued for the first half of the year dropped from 93 in 2005 to 73 this year. West Richland went from 77 permits last year to 57 this year during the same period.

The only city that saw an increase was Prosser, which doubled the amount of residential home permits it issued, from three during the first half of 2005 to six this year.

The cost of developing land — laying down asphalt, which is petroleum-based, and putting in sidewalks — has increased. And the cost of lumber is slowly, but steadily creeping up. And asphalt shingles. And copper wiring.

“It all goes right back to the cost of fuel,” he said. “And we have to bring everything to the job site, so this year it costs us twice as much to get the materials to the job.”

Building the same home in the same neighborhood would cost at least $10,000 more this year over last year because of those increases in construction costs, said Sexton, whose company has built about 300 homes in the Tri-Cities in the past four years.

Rick White, Kennewick’s city planning director, said the drop in new home permits likely reflects the nationwide trend.

Nationwide, new residential construction building permits were down 4.6 percent through June, according to statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau, and in the Western region, they were down 13.5 percent.

“I’m not concerned with the slowdown, because we still have a lot of product, in various price ranges available,” said White.

Appraiser Paul Henderson, M.I.A., president of Henderson & Associates, said although high-end homes are moving a little slowly, those priced below $350,000 appear to be selling well.

In fact, homes sales for the first half of the year are up about 2 percent, compared with last year, according to statistics from the Tri-City Association of Realtors.

During the first half of 2005, 1,727 homes were sold.

That number was up by 32 homes through the first half of this year.

Henderson said he also tracks the inventory of homes available to determine how healthy the market is.

“We compute the available market supply, and based on the number of homes, determine how long it would take to sell them out,” he said.

Henderson said in July, if no more homes were built or put on the market, it would have taken 4.6 months to sell every home available.

And although the number fluctuated throughout the past year, it never rose above 4.6, which is a reasonable inventory, he said.

“We had other periods of time where the market was having problems,” he said.

“In July 1995, that indicator was 7.6, so overall, the real estate market is stable.”

This story was originally published Saturday, August 19th, 2006, by Mary Hopkin, Tri City Herald staff writer.

The budget for Hanford’s vitrification plant could jump back to $690 million this year under a resolution passed by the House of Representatives.

That would be enough to gear up to resume construction on the two largest buildings at the vitrification plant by October if technical issues are resolved.

Work on most other programs across the Hanford nuclear reservation would continue at the current pace, if the 2007 Hanford budget plays out as anticipated at $1.88 billion, up from $1.75 billion in fiscal year 2006.

The current budget year began Oct. 1, but Congress hasn’t approved a spending package. After the new congressional session started in January, congressional leaders announced they would pass a continuing resolution to cover the Department of Energy appropriations through Sept. 30 rather than take up unpassed budget bills.

The House passed the continuing resolution this week, and some details emerged Friday during a meeting in Richland. The resolution gives the Department of Energy broad authority to spend $5.7 billion as it sees fit on cleanup of former weapons sites such as Hanford, rather than detailing how much money must be spent on specific projects.

DOE leaders intend to increase spending at the vitrification plant to $690 million, said Shirley Olinger, deputy manager of DOE’s Hanford Office of River Protection at the meeting of the Hanford Advisory Board.

However, DOE still must wait to see if the Senate approves the continuing resolution with the same budget amount and same free rein for DOE. The Senate could consider the resolution next week.

Work is continuing at the $12.3 billion vitrification plant based on an annual budget of $526 million, the amount set for fiscal year 2006. Because of studies and other costs, the 2006 amount available to contractor Bechtel National was actually closer to $490 million.

Long-term planning for the plant had been done based on an annual budget of $690 million. To meet the reduced 2006 budget, Bechtel National laid off about 1,700 workers.

Work has stopped temporarily on the largest and most technically complex structures, the Pretreatment Building and the High Level Waste Facility.

The vitrification plant, officially named the Waste Treatment Plant, is to turn some of the worst waste left from production of plutonium for the nation’s nuclear weapons program into a stable glass form for permanent disposal. The waste now is stored in underground tanks.

A budget of $690 million would allow work to resume on those buildings by Sept. 30, Olinger said.

However, some technical issues remain. DOE leaders in Washington, D.C., would need to approve a revised earthquake standard for both buildings.

Data from new bore holes drilled on the vitrification plant site indicate the revised earthquake standard is sufficient, Olinger said. The standard was strengthened after a smaller 2004 study showed the previous standard might be inadequate.

Approval of the revised standard would allow work to ramp up at the High Level Waste Facility, she said. And at least concrete work could resume at the Pretreatment Facility.

Some additional technical issues are being addressed at the Pretreatment Facility, such as the possible collection of hydrogen in piping and the best ways to keep the waste mixed.

At the Office of River Protection’s other project, the tank farms holding 53 million gallons of radioactive waste, DOE would plan to spend $274 million this year, Olinger said.

That is down by about $52 million from 2006, allowing no money for the bulk vitrification pilot plant. However, it would allow waste to continue to be retrieved from leak-prone older tanks at the current rate.

The other DOE Hanford project office, the Richland Operations Office, would receive $917 million under tentative plans based on the House version of the continuing resolution. That’s up from about $900 million in fiscal year 2006.

Work would continue at the same level, and DOE could meet its legal requirements for cleanup, said Dave Brockman of the Richland Operations Office. The office’s assignments include cleanup along the Columbia River and central Hanford, with the exception of the tank farms. Its contractors include Fluor Hanford and Washington Closure Hanford.

However, Hanford DOE officials still were uncertain Friday about money for some projects that were separate budget items added into the fiscal year 2007 budget under the earlier plan. That included extra money to research cleaning up ground water and money to perform preservation work at B Reactor.

This story was published Saturday, February 3rd, 2007, by Annette Cary, Tri City Herald staff writer.

Two words on a red sign sparked a tempest of rumor in Richland on Friday.

The words were “adult entertainment.”

A city official had taped the sign on the window of the old Samovar Russian Restaurant on the Jadwin Avenue side of the Uptown Shopping Center. It announced the business proposing to locate there couldn’t legally open until the owners explain what those words mean.

Bryan Watts, one of the owners, said it’s all a misunderstanding.

The Tabu Playhouse Ultra Lounge will be a restaurant and bar, Watts said. It may add nightclub to its moniker in the future, but it won’t be the strip club some people feared, he said.

“It is not anything to do with adult entertainment,” Watts said.

The confusion stems from the business license application filed with the Washington State Department of Licensing, Watts said. The Richland restaurant is only one part of the application and bears the same name as an adult entertainment business the company plans to open elsewhere.

Watts is the registered agent for Y.E.S. Group LLC, according to the Washington Secretary of State’s office. Y.E.S. Group applied for a Washington business license using the registered trade names E-Advisors, Tabu Playhouse From Mild to Wild Adult Entertainment Service, and Tabu Playhouse Ultra Lounge, according to the state Department of Licensing.

A self-described “adult entertainment co.” called Tabu Playhouse advertised for “male and female talent” in the help wanted section of Friday’s Herald.

Businesses can apply for state and city licenses at the same time using the licensing department’s Web site. The City of Richland is notified when someone submits an application. In this case, those two words — adult entertainment — caught the eye of Kevin Rex, Richland’s building inspections supervisor, because the Uptown isn’t zoned for such a business.

Rex posted signs at the business Thursday stating the city needs more information about what kind of business will be done at the Tabu Playhouse Ultra Lounge, including a clarification of what the business license application meant by “adult entertainment.”

City code defines adult use establishments to include movie theaters showing films or videos depicting specified sexual activities for a fee; commercial establishments featuring go-go dancers, strippers or male or female impersonators; and retail establishments that sell adult-oriented merchandise.

Businesses falling within that definition cannot operate in Richland, except in areas zoned industrial or C3 general retail, then only if more than 500 feet away from residences, schools, churches and parks, said Rick Simon, city development services manager.

The Uptown is zoned C2 retail business, and adult use establishments are banned there, Simon said.

The city also is asking for a detailed floor plan showing the proposed restaurant’s seating and kitchen and a written statement showing the building’s fire sprinklers are up to code, according to the letter.

Watts hopes to have those issues resolved with the city by Monday or Tuesday, but he remained emphatic the business will be the same kind of establishment that existed in the building before.

“We are not opening a strip club in Richland,” he said.

This story was published Saturday, February 3rd, 2007, By Michelle Dupler, Tri City Herald staff writer

Considering Pasco Wa homes for sale?  Well, consider Pasco’s youth basketball.  For the youth of Pasco Wa there are just to many outdoor activities to pass the time, to socialize and do develop healthy habits. Free basketball games will be held for girls and boys aged 7-14 years on March 31st  in 2007. Players will be provided with three one minute opportunities to shoot balls from “hot spots” positioned anywhere on the basketball court. The competitions will start at 11:00am at the Pasco City Hall Gym. Players can pre-register for the comp at the Pasco Recreation office by January 12th. However, late registrations will be accepted on the day between 10:30-10:45am

For the younger children keen to develop their interest in the sport, a program has been designed for the 4-6 year old age group in Pasco Wa Real Estate. Players will learn hand-eye coordination, foot movements, throwing and catching, as well as team building skills, by learning how to run, dribble and shoot. A smaller than normal court is available for this young age group, with mini-balls and baskets set at 6 foot, so that they are not frustrated by their efforts. This scaled down basketball program will focus on the basics of the sport. The children will also receive a t-shirt as part of the program.

Enquiries can be made at Pasco City Hall Gym.  Consider Pasco Wa Home for Sale Today!

Considering Richland Wa Homes for Sale?  Well, Richland’s Columbia River Exhibition of History Museum is an attraction to live for.

Richland Wa is home to the excellent Columbia River Exhibition of History, Science, and Technology (CREHST) museum.  The CREHST has both a museum and a science center to deliver the exciting story of the history of the Columbia Basin and land area.

Two and three-dimensional displays provide visitors with an interactive experience with hands-on activities. An early styled irrigation system can be viewed, to that of the use of robotics, to present a variety of features that are available in the Columbia Basin area.

Journey through prehistoric times at the Richland Wa Real Estate area and learn about the history and geology of the region. Nuclear energy is an important industry in the area and so displays are available that feature nuclear technology and molecular science. Hydroelectric power and a history of Hanford Reach are also available. Experience also the wealth of agriculture of the Columbia Basin.
CREHST welcomes donations, and membership can be done via their website at:
http://www.crehst.org/  

The Museum is open Monday to Saturday from 10 a.m. to 5pm, and on Sunday from noon to 5 pm. Cost for adults is $3.50, and for students (7-17 years) $2.50, Seniors have an entry price of $2.75.  Group bookings are possible, if there are 10 or more of you, phoning ahead is necessary, and there is a discount.

Consider The Lane Real Estate Team for all Richland Wa Homes questions.

McLean, VA – Freddie Mac (NYSE:FRE) today released the results of its Primary Mortgage Market Survey® (PMMS®) in which the 30-year fixed-rate mortgage (FRM) averaged 6.34 percent with an average 0.4 point for the week ending February 1, 2007, up from last week when it averaged 6.25 percent. Last year at this time, the 30-year FRM averaged 6.23 percent. The 30-year FRM has not been higher since the week ending October 26, 2006, when it was 6.40 percent. The 15-year FRM this week averaged 6.06 percent with an average 0.4 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.98 percent. A year ago, the 15-year FRM averaged 5.81 percent. The 15-year FRM has not been higher since the week ending October 26, 2006 when it averaged 6.10 percent. Five-year Treasury-indexed hybrid adjustable-rate mortgages (ARMs) averaged 6.04 percent this week, with an average 0.6 point, up from last week when it averaged 6.00 percent. A year ago, the 5-year ARM averaged 5.87 percent. One-year Treasury-indexed ARMs averaged 5.54 percent this week with an average 0.7 point, up from last week when it averaged 5.49 percent. At this time last year, the 1-year ARM averaged 5.33 percent. The 1-year ARM has not been higher since November 9, 2006, when it averaged 5.55 percent.

Yard, garage and rummage sales in Pasco Wa Real Estate require a permit at the cost of $5.00 form City Hall. Each resident is permitted only two of such sales per year; however the sales can be up to three days in length. The sale can be advertised with portable signage as long as the signs are only displayed at the site of the sale.

A yard sale is often a great opportunity to meet and socialize with others in the Community; especially if you are new to the area. It can also be an ideal opportunity for long-term residents to spruce up their property and clear it of unsightly or unsafe elements. For example, old signs, buildings, vehicles or overgrown vegetation. What better excuse for a landscaping make over then to host a yard sale.

Prepare for you Pasco Wa Real Estate sale with bright signage to draw attention to your home, balloons are always a great help! Place an ad in the local newspaper, and remember to state clearly when the sale starts – unless you want bargain hunters on your doorstep at 6 a.m. Small change is a must as must; and be flexible in your pricing, sometimes taking a negotiation approach can yield more sales to each customer.

The Richland Wa Real Estate area was part of Lewis and Clark’s Corps of Discovery, the USA’s first scientific expedition that was funded by the government. The Columbia and surrounding Rivers were mapped in detail, and information was also collected about soils, flora and fauna, and the indigenous inhabitants.

President Thomas Jefferson commissioned Meriwether Lewis to strike forth and explore the western country of the USA all the way to the Pacific Ocean. This expedition was to become the first of many government sponsored surveys of the wealth of natural resources in the west of the USA.

The Lewis and Clark Bicentennial Commemoration began in 2003, was held to enhance public awareness of the value of science as a way to understand the complex issues of resource management.

The Bicentennial was an opportunity for the natural science of Lewis and Clark’s age and the science of the modern times to be presented to the public by way of museum exhibits and visitor centers. Also, a comprehensive website was developed providing video presentations and other multimedia educational resources at:
http://www.usgs.gov/features/lewisandclark.html 

A traveling classroom was also created to retrace the route of Lewis and Clark’s expedition, that visited the Richland Wa Real Estate area.