SENATE BILL REPORT

                                    SB 6277

             AS REPORTED BY COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS,

                               FEBRUARY 5, 1992

Brief Description:  Modifying the elections for commissioners of the metropolitan park district of Tacoma.

SPONSORS: Senators Rasmussen, Wojahn, Madsen and Johnson

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENTAL OPERATIONS

Majority Report:  That Substitute Senate Bill No. 6277 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass. 

      Signed by Senators McCaslin, Chairman; Roach, Vice Chairman; Madsen, and Sutherland.

Staff:  Eugene Green (786‑7405)

Hearing Dates: February 3, 1992; February 5, 1992

BACKGROUND:

A metropolitan park district may be formed in a city with a population of at least 5,000 which has contiguous property for the management, control, improvement, maintenance, and acquisition of parks, parkways, and boulevards.  A metropolitan park district board consists of five commissioners.  All commissioners serve six-year terms of office.  The commissioners are currently elected at-large.  Some feel that a board consisting of commissioners elected from districts would be more representative of all interests of a metropolitan park district.

SUMMARY:

The election procedure for commissioners of a metropolitan park district is changed from elections at-large to elections from districts.  A metropolitan park district is divided into five electoral districts.  One commissioner shall be elected from each electoral district.

EFFECT OF PROPOSED SUBSTITUTE:

The board of commissioners of a metropolitan park district in a county with a population of 500,000 or more may submit a ballot proposition to the voters of the district authorizing the board of commissioners to be elected from districts.  Such a ballot proposition may also be placed before the voters of the district by a petition signed by at least 10 percent of the district voters voting in the last park district election.  If a ballot proposition is approved, the current board of commissioners shall divide the park district into five electoral districts of equal population.  At the first park district election after an election by electoral district is called for, a primary and general election shall be held in all five districts.  Procedures are established for staggering the terms.  Commissioners are nominated and elected from districts.

Appropriation:  none

Revenue:  none

Fiscal Note:  none requested

TESTIMONY FOR:

Areas of district have no representation; some areas repeatedly receive unfair share of budget and projects.

TESTIMONY AGAINST:

Commissioners are needed with a district-wide perspective; the present system has worked well.

TESTIFIED:  Gilbert Brown (pro); C. Dan Mundland, Metropolitan Park Board (pro); Douglas Delin (pro); Steven C. Rodli (pro); Catherine Egan, Metropolitan Park Board (con); Debbie Regala (con)