Title: An act relating to disposition of surplus property by a metropolitan park district.

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).

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 1/24/05 [DPS].

Passed Senate: 1/28/05, 40-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: That Substitute Senate Bill No. 5151 be substituted therefor, and the substitute bill do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Fairley, Haugen, Kline, Mulliken, Pridemore and Roach.

Staff: Diane Smith (786-7410)

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 of Bill: 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, the completion of which will result in a project that provides programming and activities for disadvantaged youth, the funding endowment for which equals or exceeds thirty million dollars and that requires the transfer of title to a charitable organization.

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

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill declares an emergency and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: This bill allows governments and private nonprofits to work together to better serve our communities on a regional basis. This bill does require quick action. It is strictly limited to allow the multimillion Kroc Foundation grant to flow through to the benefit of underserved populations in our region.

Testimony Against: None

Who Testified: PRO: Thomas Morrow, The Salvation Army; Frank Walton, The Salvation Army; Victoria Woodords, Metro Parks Tacoma.

Signed In/Did Not Testify: T.K. Bentler, Metro Parks Tacoma; Nancy Davis, Metro Parks Tacoma.