HOUSE BILL REPORT
SB 5865
As Reported by House Committee On:
Trade & Economic Development
Title: An act relating to recreation facilities.
Brief Description: Including recreation facilities under certain public facilities districts' authority.
Sponsors: Senators B. Sheldon and Oke.
Brief History:
Committee Activity:
Trade & Economic Development: 3/21/03, 4/3/03 [DPA].
Brief Summary of Bill (As Amended by House Committee) |
• Authorizes a public facilities district created after January 1, 2000, to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair and operate a recreation facility, other than a ski area, together with a contiguous parking facility. |
HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRADE & ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT
Majority Report: Do pass as amended. Signed by 11 members: Representatives Veloria, Chair; Eickmeyer, Vice Chair; Skinner, Ranking Minority Member; McDonald, Assistant Ranking Minority Member; Blake, Chase, Condotta, Kristiansen, McCoy, Pettigrew and Priest.
Staff: Tracey Taylor (786-7196).
Background:
A public facilities district may be created upon adoption of a resolution by the county legislative authority in which the proposed district is located. A public facilities district is a municipal corporation, and 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. A public facilities district is a body corporate and possesses all the usual powers of a corporation for public purposes or specially conferred by statute.
A public facilities district is authorized to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair, and operate sports facilities, entertainment facilities, convention facilities or regional centers, together with contiguous parking facilities.
Summary of Amended Bill:
A public facilities district created after January 1, 2000, may acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair and operate regional centers, which includes recreation facilities, other than a ski area, together with a contiguous parking facility.
Amended Bill Compared to Original Bill:
Excludes ski areas from the type of facilities a public facilities district is authorized to acquire, construct, own, remodel, maintain, equip, reequip, repair and operate.
Appropriation: None.
Fiscal Note: Not Requested.
Effective Date of Amended Bill: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.
Testimony For: In certain areas, like Kitsap County, there is a shortage of recreational facilities. Current statutory language limits the public facilities districts to sports facilities that are solely for competitive sports, thus excluding many members of the community. This simple change would allow the public facilities districts to have facilities, such as walking trails, that appeal to a broader range of the community─both young and old.
Testimony Against: None.
Testified: Linda Berry-Maraist and Anne Blair, Kitsap Public Facilities District; and Mike Ryhard, City of Bremerton.