AN ACT Relating to park districts; amending RCW 35.61.010, 35.61.020, 35.61.030, and 36.69.090; adding a new section to chapter 35.61 RCW; adding a new section to chapter 36.68 RCW; and adding a new section to chapter 36.69 RCW.

BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

NEW SECTION. Sec. 1. A new section is added to chapter 35.61 RCW to read as follows:

In addition to the provision of general park and recreation lands, facilities, activities, and related equipment, a metropolitan park district may engage in historic preservation activities, including the acquisition, restoration, improvement, and maintenance of buildings, improvements, and sites of historic significance. A metropolitan park district may advertise and promote the use and enjoyment of park and recreation lands and facilities, and the use and enjoyment of historic buildings, improvements, and sites.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 2. A new section is added to chapter 36.68 RCW to read as follows:

In addition to the provision of general park and recreation lands, facilities, activities, and related equipment, a park and recreation service area may engage in historic preservation activities, including the acquisition, restoration, improvement, and maintenance of buildings, improvements, and sites of historic significance. A park and recreation service area may advertise and promote the use and enjoyment of park and recreation lands and facilities, and the use and enjoyment of historic buildings, improvements, and sites.

NEW SECTION. Sec. 3. A new section is added to chapter 36.69 RCW to read as follows:

In addition to the provision of general park and recreation lands, facilities, activities, and related equipment, a park and recreation district may engage in historic preservation activities, including the acquisition, restoration, improvement, and maintenance of buildings, improvements, and sites of historic significance. A park and recreation district may advertise and promote the use and enjoyment of park and recreation lands and facilities, and the use and enjoyment of historic buildings, improvements, and sites.

Sec. 4. Section 35.61.010, chapter 7, Laws of 1965 as amended by section 1, chapter 416, Laws of 1985 and RCW 35.61.010 are each amended to read as follows:

((~~Cities of five thousand or more population~~)) The voters of any city or town and such contiguous ((~~property the residents of which may decide in favor thereof in the manner set forth in this chapter~~)) area proposed to be included in a metropolitan park district may create a metropolitan park district for the management, control, improvement, maintenance, and acquisition of parks, parkways, and boulevards((: PROVIDED, That no municipal corporation of the fourth class shall be included within such metropolitan park district, and any such fourth class municipal corporation heretofore included within such district is hereby automatically withdrawn)) as provided in this chapter.

Sec. 5. Section 35.61.020, chapter 7, Laws of 1965 and RCW 35.61.020 are each amended to read as follows:

At any general election, or at any special election which may be called for that purpose, ((~~or at any city election held in the city in all of the various voting precincts thereof,~~)) the city council or commission may, or on petition of fifteen percent of the qualified ((~~electors~~)) voters of the city and any contiguous area proposed to be included in a metropolitan park district, based upon the registration for the last preceding general ((~~city~~)) election, shall, by ordinance, submit to the voters of the ((~~city the~~)) area proposed to be included in the metropolitan park district a proposition ((of)) creating a metropolitan park district((~~, the limits of which shall be coextensive with the limits of the city as now or hereafter established, inclusive of territory annexed to and forming a part of the city~~)).

Territory by virtue of its annexation to any city having heretofore created a metropolitan park district, and which is not located within the metropolitan park district, shall be deemed to be within the limits of the metropolitan park district.

The city council or commission shall submit the proposition at a special election to be called therefor when the petition so requests.

Sec. 6. Section 35.61.030, chapter 7, Laws of 1965 as amended by section 32, chapter 469, Laws of 1985 and RCW 35.61.030 are each amended to read as follows:

In submitting the question to the voters for their approval or rejection, the city council or commission shall pass an ordinance declaring its intention to submit the proposition of creating a metropolitan park district to the qualified voters of the city and any contiguous area proposed to be included in the metropolitan park district. The ordinance shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in the official newspaper of the city((~~, and the city council or commission shall cause to be placed upon the ballot for the election, at the proper place,~~)). The ballot proposition ((~~which~~)) shall be expressed in the following terms:

¨ "For the formation of a metropolitan park district."

¨ "Against the formation of a metropolitan park district."

Sec. 7. Section 36.69.090, chapter 4, Laws of 1963 as last amended by section 30, chapter 126, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 36.69.090 are each amended to read as follows:

Elections for park and recreation district commissioners shall be held biennially in conjunction with the general election on the first Tuesday after the first Monday of November in each odd-numbered year. Residence anywhere within the district shall qualify an elector for any position on the commission after the initial election. Following the initial election declarations of candidacy for the office of commissioner shall be filed with the county auditor not more than sixty nor less than forty-six days prior to said election. Any candidate may withdraw his declaration at any time to and including the first Friday after the last day for filing a declaration of candidacy. All names of candidates to be voted upon shall be printed upon the ballot alphabetically in a group under the designation of the title of the offices for which they are candidates. There shall be no rotation of names.

All commissioners shall serve until their successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170. At the first election following the formation of the district, the ((~~candidate receiving the highest number of votes shall serve for a term of six years, the~~)) two candidates receiving the ((~~next~~)) highest number of votes shall serve for four years and the ((~~two~~)) three candidates receiving the next highest number of votes shall serve for two years. Thereafter all commissioners shall be elected for ((~~six~~)) four year terms. As of the effective date of this section, the terms of all commissioners shall be reduced two years, to reflect the reduction from six-year terms of office to four-year terms of office.