SENATE BILL REPORT

                   SB 6123

              As Passed Senate, February 7, 2000

Title:  An act relating to sponsorship of public events by parking and business improvement areas.

Brief Description:  Authorizing parking and business improvement areas to sponsor public events.

Sponsors:  Senators B. Sheldon, Wojahn, Swecker, Franklin and Kohl‑Welles.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  State & Local Government:  1/13/2000, 1/20/2000 [DP].

Passed Senate 2/7/2000, 48-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON STATE & LOCAL GOVERNMENT

Majority Report:  Do pass.

  Signed by Senators Patterson, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Haugen, Horn and McCaslin.

Staff:  Diane Smith (786-7410)

Background:  The legislative authorities of all counties and incorporated cities and towns are authorized to establish by ordinance parking and business improvement areas.  These are areas within the county, city or town that have the authority to levy special assessments on the businesses and multifamily residential or mixed-use projects within the area that are specially benefitted by the activities of the parking and business improvement area.  The activities in which the parking and business improvement area may engage are six in number and involve provision of parking lots, decoration of and furnishing music in public places, promotion of public events in the area, promotion and management of retail trade activities and security and maintenance of the common public areas.

Summary of Bill:  The sponsorship of public events is added to the permitted purpose of promotion of public events to be held in the public places in the area.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

Effective Date:  Ninety days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.

Testimony For:  This is a good government bill.  It corrects an unnecessarily strict definition of what a parking and business improvement area can do.  The sponsorship of business-enhancing events that the law already allows the area to promote is only logical and appropriate.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  Senator Betti Sheldon (pro).