SHB 2525 -
By Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation
ADOPTED 03/05/2010
Strike everything after the enacting clause and insert the following:
"Sec. 1 RCW 35.57.010 and 2009 c 533 s 1 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1)(a) The legislative authority of any town or city located in a
county with a population of less than one million may create a public
facilities district.
(b) The legislative authorities of any contiguous group of towns or
cities located in a county or counties each with a population of less
than one million may enter an agreement under chapter 39.34 RCW for the
creation and joint operation of a public facilities district.
(c) The legislative authority of any town or city, or any
contiguous group of towns or cities, located in a county with a
population of less than one million and the legislative authority of a
contiguous county, or the legislative authority of the county or
counties in which the towns or cities are located, may enter into an
agreement under chapter 39.34 RCW for the creation and joint operation
of a public facilities district.
(d) The legislative authority of a city located in a county with a
population greater than one million may create a public facilities
district, when the city has a total population of less than one hundred
fifteen thousand but greater than eighty thousand and commences
construction of a regional center prior to July 1, 2008.
(e) At least ((two legislative authorities, one or more)) three
contiguous towns or cities with a combined population of at least one
hundred sixty thousand, each of which previously created a public
facilities district ((or districts)) under (((b) or (c))) (a) of this
subsection, may create an additional public facilities district
((notwithstanding the fact that one or more of those towns or cities,
with or without a county or counties, previously have created one or
more public facilities districts within the geographic boundaries of
the additional public facilities district. Those existing)). The
previously created districts may continue their full corporate
existence and activities notwithstanding the creation and existence of
the additional district within ((all or part of)) the same geographic
area. ((Additional public facilities districts formed under this
subsection may be comprised of a maximum of three contiguous towns or
cities separately or in combination with a maximum of two contiguous
counties.))
(2)(a) A public facilities district ((shall be)) is coextensive
with the boundaries of the city or town or contiguous group of cities
or towns that created the district.
(b) A public facilities district created by an agreement between a
town or city, or a contiguous group of towns or cities, and a
contiguous county or the county in which they are located, ((shall be))
is coextensive with the boundaries of the towns or cities, and the
boundaries of the county or counties as to the unincorporated areas of
the county or counties. The boundaries ((shall)) do not include
incorporated towns or cities that are not parties to the agreement for
the creation and joint operation of the district.
(3)(a) A public facilities district created by a single city or
town shall be governed by a board of directors consisting of five
members selected as follows: (i) Two members appointed by the
legislative authority of the city or town; and (ii) three members
appointed by legislative authority based on recommendations from local
organizations. The members appointed under (a)(i) of this subsection,
shall not be members of the legislative authority of the city or town.
The members appointed under (a)(ii) of this subsection, ((shall)) must
be based on recommendations received from local organizations that may
include, but are not limited to the local chamber of commerce, local
economic development council, and local labor council. The members
shall serve four-year terms. Of the initial members, one must be
appointed for a one-year term, one must be appointed for a two-year
term, one must be appointed for a three-year term, and the remainder
must be appointed for four-year terms.
(b) A public facilities district created by a contiguous group of
cities and towns ((shall)) must be governed by a board of directors
consisting of seven members selected as follows: (i) Three members
appointed by the legislative authorities of the cities and towns; and
(ii) four members appointed by the legislative authorities of the
cities and towns based on recommendations from local organizations.
The members appointed under (b)(i) of this subsection shall not be
members of the legislative authorities of the cities and towns. The
members appointed under (b)(ii) of this subsection, ((shall)) must be
based on recommendations received from local organizations that
include, but are not limited to the local chamber of commerce, local
economic development council, local labor council, and a neighborhood
organization that is directly affected by the location of the regional
center in their area. The members of the board of directors ((shall))
must be appointed in accordance with the terms of the agreement under
chapter 39.34 RCW for the joint operation of the district and shall
serve four-year terms. Of the initial members, one must be appointed
for a one-year term, one must be appointed for a two-year term, one
must be appointed for a three-year term, and the remainder must be
appointed for four-year terms.
(c) A public facilities district created by a town or city, or a
contiguous group of towns or cities, and a contiguous county or the
county or counties in which they are located, ((shall)) must be
governed by a board of directors consisting of seven members selected
as follows: (i) Three members appointed by the legislative authorities
of the cities, towns, and county; and (ii) four members appointed by
the legislative authorities of the cities, towns, and county based on
recommendations from local organizations. The members appointed under
(c)(i) of this subsection shall not be members of the legislative
authorities of the cities, towns, or county. The members appointed
under (c)(ii) of this subsection ((shall)) must be based on
recommendations received from local organizations that include, but are
not limited to, the local chamber of commerce, the local economic
development council, the local labor council, and a neighborhood
organization that is directly affected by the location of the regional
center in their area. The members of the board of directors ((shall))
must be appointed in accordance with the terms of the agreement under
chapter 39.34 RCW for the joint operation of the district and shall
serve four-year terms. Of the initial members, one must be appointed
for a one-year term, one must be appointed for a two-year term, one
must be appointed for a three-year term, and the remainder must be
appointed for four-year terms.
(d)(i) A public facilities district created under subsection (1)(e)
of this section ((may)) must provide, in the agreement providing for
its creation and operation, that the district must be governed by ((a
board of directors appointed under (b) or (c) of this subsection, or by
a)) an odd-numbered board of directors of not more than nine members
who are also members of the legislative authorities that created the
public facilities district or of the governing boards of the public
facilities districts ((or districts, or both,)) previously created by
those legislative authorities, or both.
(ii) A board of directors formed under this subsection must have an
equal number of members representing each city((,)) or town((, or
county)) participating in the public facilities district. If ((a
public facilities district is created by an even number of legislative
authorities, the members representing or appointed by those legislative
authorities shall appoint an additional board member)) there are
unfilled board member positions after each city or town has appointed
an equal number of board members, the members so appointed must appoint
a number of additional board members necessary to fill any remaining
positions. For a board formed under this subsection to ((approve))
submit a proposition to the voters under RCW 82.14.048, ((the
proposition must be approved by)) a majority of the members
representing or appointed by each legislative authority participating
in the public facilities district must agree to submit the proposition
to the voters; however, the board may not submit a proposition to the
voters prior to January 1, 2011.
(4) A public facilities district is a municipal corporation, an
independent taxing "authority" within the meaning of Article VII,
section 1 of the state Constitution, and a "taxing district" within the
meaning of Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution.
(5) A public facilities district ((shall)) constitutes a body
corporate and ((shall)) possesses all the usual powers of a corporation
for public purposes as well as all other powers that may now or
hereafter be specifically conferred by statute, including, but not
limited to, the authority to hire employees, staff, and services, to
enter into contracts, and to sue and be sued.
(6) A public facilities district may acquire and transfer real and
personal property by lease, sublease, purchase, or sale. No direct or
collateral attack on any public facilities district purported to be
authorized or created in conformance with this chapter may be commenced
more than thirty days after creation by the city and/or county
legislative authority.
Sec. 2 RCW 35.57.020 and 2009 c 533 s 2 are each amended to read
as follows:
(1)(a) ((Except for a public facilities district created under RCW
35.57.010(1)(e),)) A public facilities district is authorized to
acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair,
finance, and operate one or more regional centers. For purposes of
this chapter, "regional center" means a convention, conference, or
special events center, or any combination of facilities, and related
parking facilities, serving a regional population constructed,
improved, or rehabilitated after July 25, 1999, at a cost of at least
ten million dollars, including debt service. "Regional center" also
includes an existing convention, conference, or special events center,
and related parking facilities, serving a regional population, that is
improved or rehabilitated after July 25, 1999, where the costs of
improvement or rehabilitation are at least ten million dollars,
including debt service. A "special events center" is a facility,
available to the public, used for community events, sporting events,
trade shows, and artistic, musical, theatrical, or other cultural
exhibitions, presentations, or performances. A regional center is
conclusively presumed to serve a regional population if state and local
government investment in the construction, improvement, or
rehabilitation of the regional center is equal to or greater than ten
million dollars.
(b) A public facilities district created under RCW 35.57.010(1)(e):
(i) Is authorized, in addition to the authority granted under (a)
of this subsection, to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain,
equip, reequip, repair, finance, and operate one or more recreational
facilities other than a ski area;
(ii) If exercising its authority under (a) or (b)(i) of this
subsection, must obtain voter approval to fund each recreational
facility or regional center pursuant to RCW 82.14.048(3); and
(iii) Possesses all of the powers with respect to recreational
facilities other than a ski area that all public facilities districts
possess with respect to regional centers under subsections (3), (4),
and (7) of this section.
(2) A public facilities district may enter into contracts with any
city or town for the purpose of exercising any powers of a community
renewal agency under chapter 35.81 RCW.
(3) A public facilities district may impose charges and fees for
the use of its facilities, and may accept and expend or use gifts,
grants, and donations for the purpose of a regional center.
(4) A public facilities district may impose charges, fees, and
taxes authorized in RCW 35.57.040, and use revenues derived therefrom
for the purpose of paying principal and interest payments on bonds
issued by the public facilities district to construct a regional
center.
(5) Notwithstanding the establishment of a career, civil, or merit
service system, a public facilities district may contract with a public
or private entity for the operation or management of its public
facilities.
(6) A public facilities district is authorized to use the
supplemental alternative public works contracting procedures set forth
in chapter 39.10 RCW in connection with the design, construction,
reconstruction, remodel, or alteration of any regional center.
(7) A city or town in conjunction with any special agency,
authority, or other district established by a county or any other
governmental agency is authorized to use the supplemental alternative
public works contracting procedures set forth in chapter 39.10 RCW in
connection with the design, construction, reconstruction, remodel, or
alteration of any regional center funded in whole or in part by a
public facilities district.
(8) Any provision required to be submitted for voter approval under
this section, may not be submitted for voter approval prior to January
1, 2011."
SHB 2525 -
By Committee on Economic Development, Trade & Innovation
ADOPTED 03/05/2010
On page 1, line 2 of the title, after "authorities;" strike the remainder of the title and insert "and amending RCW 35.57.010 and 35.57.020."
EFFECT: Limits the creation of new, overlapping public facilities districts to only those created by three contiguous cities with a combined population of at least 160,000, each of which must have already established a public facilities district. Allows new, overlapping public facilities districts to construct regional centers and special events centers in addition to recreational facilities. Requires new, overlapping public facilities districts to specify the recreational facility or regional center to be funded in a sales and use tax proposal sent to the voters.