Brief Description: Changing the authority of a metropolitan park district to dispose of surplus property.

Sponsors: Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections (originally sponsored by Senators Franklin, Oke, Regala, Benton, Rasmussen, Roach, Eide, Haugen, Berkey, Kline and Fairley).

Senate Committee on Government Operations & Elections
House Committee on Local Government

Background: A metropolitan park district is a special purpose district created by a vote of the people in the proposed district. The ballot proposition can be proposed either by citizen petition or by resolution of the governing bodies of the cities and counties in which the district would be created. Governance is determined by the mixture of cities and counties within the district. The only metropolitan park district in the state at this time is the Metropolitan Park District of Tacoma. It is governed by a five-member board of elected commissioners who serve six-year, staggered terms of office.

Park district property can be acquired in various ways, which include: by right of eminent domain, annexation, transfer from the city, transfer from the county, and donation or dedication. Disposal of district property can be by unanimous decision of the board of park commissioners which declares that park property is surplus and if sold, the property must be sold by public bid to the highest and best bidder.

Summary: An additional method of disposing of surplus park property is created. By this method a simple majority of the board of park commissioners may dispose of surplus park district property. If sold, the sale must be conducted by public bid and made to the highest or best bidder.

This method only applies to real estate transactions that require the transfer of title to a charitable organization and the completion of which will result in a project that does both of the following: provides programming and activities for disadvantaged youth; and has a funding endowment that equals or exceeds thirty million dollars.

This additional method of disposing of surplus park property expires December 31, 2006.

Votes on Final Passage:

Senate      40   0
House      69   29

Effective: February 24, 2005