AN ACT Relating to metropolitan park districts; and amending RCW 35.61.010, 35.61.020, 35.61.030, and 35.61.050.

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

Sec. 1. Section 35.61.010, chapter 7, Laws of 1965 as amended by section 1, chapter 416, Laws of 1985 and RCW 35.61.010 are each amended to read as follows:

((~~Cities of five thousand or more population~~)) The voters of a city and such contiguous ((~~property the residents of which may decide in favor thereof in the manner set forth in this chapter~~)) area proposed to be included in a metropolitan park district may create a metropolitan park district for the management, control, improvement, maintenance, and acquisition of parks, parkways, and boulevards as provided in this chapter: PROVIDED, That no municipal corporation of the fourth class shall be included within such metropolitan park district, and any such fourth class municipal corporation heretofore included within such district is hereby automatically withdrawn.

Sec. 2. Section 35.61.020, chapter 7, Laws of 1965 and RCW 35.61.020 are each amended to read as follows:

At any general election, or at any special election which may be called for that purpose, ((~~or at any city election held in the city in all of the various voting precincts thereof,~~)) the city council or commission may, or on petition of fifteen percent of the qualified ((~~electors~~)) voters of the city and any contiguous area proposed to be included in a metropolitan park district, based upon the registration for the last preceding general ((~~city~~)) election, shall by ordinance, submit to the voters of the ((~~city the~~)) area proposed to be included in the metropolitan park district a proposition ((of)) creating a metropolitan park district((~~, the limits of which shall be coextensive with the limits of the city as now or hereafter established, inclusive of territory annexed to and forming a part of the city~~)).

Territory by virtue of its annexation to any city having heretofore created a metropolitan park district, and which is not located within the metropolitan park district, shall be deemed to be within the limits of the metropolitan park district.

The city council or commission shall submit the proposition at a special election to be called therefor when the petition so requests.

Sec. 3. Section 35.61.030, chapter 7, Laws of 1965 as amended by section 32, chapter 469, Laws of 1985 and RCW 35.61.030 are each amended to read as follows:

In submitting the question to the voters for their approval or rejection, the city council or commission shall pass an ordinance declaring its intention to submit the proposition of creating a metropolitan park district to the qualified voters of the city and any contiguous area proposed to be included in the metropolitan park district. The ordinance shall be published once a week for two consecutive weeks in the official newspaper of the city((~~, and the city council or commission shall cause to be placed upon the ballot for the election, at the proper place,~~)). The ballot proposition ((~~which~~)) shall be expressed in the following terms:

¨ "For the formation of a metropolitan park district."

¨ "Against the formation of a metropolitan park district."

Sec. 4. Section 35.61.050, chapter 7, Laws of 1965 as amended by section 24, chapter 126, Laws of 1979 ex. sess. and RCW 35.61.050 are each amended to read as follows:

At the same election at which the proposition is submitted to the voters as to whether a metropolitan park district is to be formed, five park commissioners shall be elected to hold office respectively for the following terms: Where the election is held in an odd-numbered year, one commissioner shall be elected to hold office for two years, two shall be elected to hold office for four years, and two shall be elected to hold office for six years. Where the election is held in an even-numbered year, one commissioner shall hold office for three years, two shall hold office for five years, and two shall hold office for seven years. The initial commissioners shall take office immediately when they are elected and qualified, and for purposes of computing their terms of office the terms shall be assumed to commence on the first day of January of the year they are elected. The term of each nominee for park commissioner shall be expressed on the ballot. Thereafter, all commissioners shall serve six-year terms of office and until their respective successors are elected and qualified and assume office in accordance with RCW 29.04.170. Vacancies shall be filled by majority action of the remaining commissioners appointing a voter to fill the remainder of the term of the vacant commissioner position. Where more than one county or city is included within the boundaries of the proposed metropolitan park district, commissioners may be elected from and represent five subareas within the district, such subareas being designated in the ordinance or petition by which the proposition is submitted to the voters.