Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

 ANALYSIS

Local Government Committee

 

 

HB 1000

Brief Description: Regulating the authority of metropolitan municipal corporations to acquire property.

 

Sponsors: Representatives Sullivan, Cooper, Chase, O'Brien, Haigh and Nixon.


Brief Summary of Bill

    Prohibits a metropolitan municipal corporation from condemning lands for an essential public facility outside its component county boundaries without first completing the city or county siting process for an essential public facility where the facility is to be located.


Hearing Date: 1/20/03


Staff: Amy Wood (786-7127).


Background:


A "Metropolitan Municipal Corporation" is a municipal corporation of the state, and can be formed in any area of the state containing two or more cities, at least one of which is of 10,000 or more in population. A metropolitan municipal corporation may perform any one or more of the following functions: water pollution abatement, water supply, public transportation, garbage disposal, parks and parkways, and comprehensive planning.


Any county with a population of 210,000 or more in which a metropolitan municipal corporation has been established countywide may, by ordinance or resolution of the county legislative authority, assume the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of such metropolitan municipal corporation. Any county assuming a metropolitan municipal corporation retains any existing rights acquired under the original provisions.


Metropolitan municipal corporations have the power of eminent domain both within and outside its boundaries for its purposes in the same manner and procedure as cities.


Summary of Bill:


Metropolitan municipal corporations are prohibited from exercising eminent domain for essential public facilities outside its component county boundaries without first completing the city or county siting process for an essential public facility where the proposed facility is to be located.


Appropriation: None.


Fiscal Note: Not Requested.


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