Brief Description: Providing for metropolitan park districts.

Sponsors: Representatives Fromhold, Boldt and Newhouse.

Hearing Date: 2/5/04

Staff: Kiki Keizer (786-7109).

Background:

A metropolitan park district (park district) may be created for the management, control, improvement, maintenance, and acquisition of parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreational facilities. A park district may include territory located in portions or all of one or more cities or counties.

Voters, who live in the area proposed to be included in the park district, vote on a ballot proposition that authorizes the creation of a park district. The ballot proposition is initiated either (1) by a petition of 15 percent of the voters in the area to be included or (2) by resolution of the governing body of each city, in which all or a portion of the proposed park district is located, and each county, in which all or a portion of the proposed park district is located in the unincorporated portion of the county.

If territory is annexed to a city that lies entirely within a park district, that territory is deemed to be within the limits of the park district.

Governing bodies of certain counties planning under the Growth Management Act may initiate annexation of territory that is within a particular city or town's urban growth area (UGA) if that territory is at least 60 percent contiguous to that annexing city or town. The process of annexation begins through negotiated interlocal agreements.

Summary of Bill:

Allows certain counties planning under the Growth Management Act to propose to voters the creation of a metropolitan park district consisting of the unincorporated portions of an urban growth area, even if the portions are not contiguous, if there is a joint provision of parks and recreation services by the city and the county, or an interlocal agreement with the city and the area is not part of an existing metropolitan park district.

Territory entirely within an unincorporated park district is automatically excluded from the district upon annexation to a city through an interlocal agreement with the city that disburses assets and debt in an orderly and equitable way.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Effective Date: The bill takes effect 90 days after adjournment of session in which bill is passed.