Title: An act relating to public lands.

Brief Description: Transferring certain common school trust land.

Sponsors: Representatives B. Sullivan, Dunshee and Chase.

Brief History:

Natural Resources, Ecology & Parks: 2/18/05, 2/22/05 [DP].

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON NATURAL RESOURCES, ECOLOGY & PARKS

Majority Report: Do pass. Signed by 10 members: Representatives B. Sullivan, Chair; Upthegrove, Vice Chair; Buck, Ranking Minority Member; Kretz, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, DeBolt, Dickerson, Eickmeyer, Orcutt and Williams.

Staff: Jeff Olsen (786-7157).

Background:

At the time of statehood, the federal government granted certain lands to the state to be held in trust for several specified purposes. Beneficiaries of these trust lands include the common schools, the University of Washington, Washington State University, the regional universities, the capitol buildings and grounds, and charitable, educational, penal and reform institutions. These lands are overseen by the Board of Natural Resources and administered by the Department of Natural Resources (DNR). There are approximately 1.75 million acres of common school trust lands, and the income from these trust lands is appropriated in the capital budget for common school construction.

The DNR, with the approval of the Board of Natural Resources, may exchange any state land for any land of equal value in order to acquire other lands when the exchange is determined to be in the best interest of the trust. The DNR may directly transfer or dispose of real property without public auction by transferring directly to a public agency. Real property may be transferred only after appraisal and for at least fair market value, and only if the transaction is in the best interest of the state or the affected trust. The Natural Resources Real Property Replacement Account consists of funds transferred or paid to the DNR for the disposal or transfer of real property.

Summary of Bill:

The Board of Natural Resources (Board) must transfer Common School trust land known as "Harbor Pointe" to the City of Mukilteo for public and recreational purposes. Four and a half million dollars from the State Building Construction Account is appropriated to the Natural Resources Real Property Replacement Account for the purposes of buying replacement land. The Board may not expend more moneys than the valuation of the land based on a third party independent appraisal.

Appropriation: $4.5 million from the State Building Construction Account is appropriated to the Natural Resources Real Property Replacement Account.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: The City of Mukilteo has very little open space for recreation, particularly ballfields. The current demand for recreation areas for children exceeds availability, and residents are currently traveling to neighboring areas for recreation needs. This is a unique undeveloped property that has type one wetlands and would be difficult for the Department of Natural Resources to develop. The Boys and Girls Club needs to secure a new location to accommodate demand and obtain an adequate facility, and this land transfer presents an opportunity for a win-win situation for all involved. The City of Mukilteo also needs a new site for city hall.

Testimony Against: None.

Persons Testifying: Representative B. Sullivan, prime sponsor; Lori Kaiser and Tony Tinsley, Mukilteo City Council; Terry Preshaw, Friends of the Community Center and Mukilteo School District President; Beth Lucas, Chuck Davis and Paul Seely, Boys and Girls Club; and Marko Liias, Sierra Club and Snohomish Group.

Persons Signed In To Testify But Not Testifying: None.