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ENGROSSED SUBSTITUTE SENATE BILL 5024

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State of Washington      57th Legislature     2001 Regular Session

By Senate Committee on Natural Resources, Parks & Shorelines (originally sponsored by Senators Jacobsen, Oke and Carlson)

READ FIRST TIME 01/31/01. 

_1      AN ACT Relating to policies of the parks and recreation

_2  commission; adding a new section to chapter 79A.05 RCW; and

_3  creating a new section.

_4  BE IT ENACTED BY THE LEGISLATURE OF THE STATE OF WASHINGTON:

_5      NEW SECTION. Sec. 1.  (1) The legislature finds that:

_6      (a) All lands known as public parks and parkways, and

_7  recreational, natural, cultural, and historic sites are unique

_8  public treasures preserved for the benefit, vitality, and

_9  enjoyment of the public; and

10      (b) All lands administered by the state parks and recreation

11  commission are significant to the state of Washington, requiring

12  thoughtful stewardship and appropriate use to ensure their

13  preservation for and availability to future generations; and

14      (c) All of the public ought to be able to enjoy these lands

15  without any sort of fee for basic parkland access, including day

16  use fees and daytime parking fees.  Basic parkland access fees are

17  not conducive to maximizing public access to these lands which all

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_1  members of the public have helped to pay for.  Automobile parking

_2  fees also encourage park visitors to park on neighboring land,

_3  causing disruption to citizens that are located near parks.

_4      (2) Based on the foregoing, the legislature declares that it is

_5  the mission of the commission to acquire, operate, enhance, and

_6  protect a diverse system of recreational, cultural, historic, and

_7  natural sites, and foster outdoor recreation and environmental

_8  education statewide to provide enjoyment and enrichment for all, a

_9  valued legacy to future generations, and perpetuate the character

10  and culture of the citizenry.

11      (3) Towards these ends, in addition to the policies set forth

12  in RCW 79A.05.305, the state parks and recreation commission,

13  using its own resources and through partnerships with private and

14  public entities shall:

15      (a) Protect and preserve natural, recreational, cultural, and

16  historical resources of significance to the state;

17      (b) Foster public enjoyment, understanding, appreciation, and

18  safe use of these resources through education;

19      (c) Host a wide range of public recreation experiences to renew

20  the human spirit;

21      (d) Welcome visitors from all cultural, ethnic, and social

22  backgrounds, as well as seniors, youth, and the physically and

23  mentally challenged;

24      (e) Provide safe, attractive, high-quality facilities and

25  programs to those who use the state's park system;

26      (f) Promote state and community tourism and economic vitality;

27  and

28      (g) Ensure that parks are open to all individuals, regardless

29  of means, by not charging any sort of fee for basic parkland

30  access including daytime parking fees, except that the commission

31  may charge a boat moorage fee.

32      NEW SECTION. Sec. 2.  A new section is added to chapter 79A.05

33  RCW to read as follows:

34      In addition to other duties the commission may from time to

35  time impose, it is the duty of the director to, on or before

36  December 1st of each even-numbered year, provide to the

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_1  legislature a comprehensive summary report of all state parks and

_2  recreation operations to reflect the previous fiscal period.

_3      (1) The summary report shall include, but not be limited to,

_4  descriptions of all department activities including:  Revenues

_5  generated, program costs, capital expenditures, personnel, special

_6  projects, condition of the infrastructure, new and ongoing

_7  research, environmental controls, cooperative projects,

_8  intergovernmental agreements, outlines of ongoing litigation, and

_9  recent court decisions and orders on major issues with the

10  potential for state liability.

11      (2) The summary report shall describe the operation of the park

12  system including park utilization details and trends,

13  opportunities to improve services, and public desires for new

14  services.

15      (3) The summary report may include other information and

16  recommendations as the director deems useful.

17      (4) The summary report must be delivered to the chairs of the

18  following legislative committees or their successor committees:

19      (a) Senate natural resources, parks, and shorelines;

20      (b) Senate ways and means;

21      (c) Senate transportation;

22      (d) House natural resources;

23      (e) House appropriations;

24      (f) House capital budget; and

25      (g) House transportation.

26      (5) One copy of the summary report must also be delivered to

27  the staff of each of the committees.  The summary report must be

28  made available to the public.

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