SENATE BILL REPORT

SB 6798

As Passed Senate, February 18, 2002

Title:  An act relating to street vacations.

Brief Description:  Revising provisions relating to street vacations.

Sponsors:  Senators Horn and Gardner.

Brief History:

Committee Activity:  Transportation:  2/11/02, 2/12/02 [DP].

Passed Senate:  2/18/02, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Majority Report:  Do pass.

Signed by Senators Haugen, Chair; Gardner, Vice Chair; Benton, Eide, Finkbeiner, Horn, Jacobsen, Kastama, Keiser, Oke, Prentice, T. Sheldon and Shin.

Staff: Jennifer Ziegler

Background:  Owner of property that abuts a street or alley may petition to have the street or alley vacated and acquire that portion of the vacated street or alley that abuts their property.  A city or town may also initiate a vacation procedure.

A city or town may only receive the full appraised value for street right-of-way property if it has been owned by the city for more than 25 years.  For property held less than 25 years, the city or town may receive one-half of the appraised value.  Half of the revenue from vacating street rights-of-way must be used for open space or transportation capital projects within the city or town.

Summary of Bill:  A city or town may receive the full appraised value for street right-of-way property if it has been owned by the city for more than 25 years or the property was acquired at public expense.

Appropriation:  None.

Fiscal Note:  Not requested.

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

Testimony For:  This is a technical correction.  The bill makes it clear that if land is acquired at public expense, the city can receive the full appraised value of the property.

Testimony Against:  None.

Testified:  PRO: Senator Horn, prime sponsor; Ashley Probart, AWC.