Washington State

House of Representatives

Office of Program Research

BILL

ANALYSIS

State Government & Tribal Affairs Committee

HB 1938

This analysis was prepared by non-partisan legislative staff for the use of legislative members in their deliberations. This analysis is not a part of the legislation nor does it constitute a statement of legislative intent.

Brief Summary of Bill

Establishes that Capitol Lake and its associated grounds are part of the "historic facilities" of the Washington State Capitol.

Requires that the State Capitol Committee provide for the management, protection, preservation, and coordination of Capitol Lake as a lake environment.
Establishes that the grounds of the Washington State Capitol, including Capitol Lake, are subject to the stewardship, preservation, operation, and maintenance responsibilities of the Department of General Administration.

Background:

State Capitol Committee.

The State Capitol Committee (SCC), with the assistance of the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee, is responsible for fully or partially erecting permanent and temporary buildings, excavating such buildings, or making other temporary or permanent improvements to the capitol grounds and Sylvester Park in Olympia. The SCC also provides for the construction, remodeling, and furnishing of capitol office buildings, parking facilities, and the Governor's mansion, and is authorized to issue state bonds to pay for those activities. The SCC is comprised of the Governor or the Governor's designee, the Lieutenant Governor, the Secretary of State and the Commissioner of Public Lands.

Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee.

The Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee advises the SCC by reviewing design and landscaping plans of capitol facilities and grounds, and making recommendations concerning architectural, aesthetic, functional, and environmental issues. The advisory committee is comprised of four legislators, two architects, a landscape architect, an urban planner, and the Secretary of State.

Department of General Administration.

The Department of General Administration (GA) owns and manages a number of public and historic facilities in Thurston County, including the State Capitol grounds, the Visitor Center, the Governor's Mansion and the public spaces in the Legislative, O'Brien, Cherberg, Pritchard, and Temple of Justice buildings. The State Capitol grounds include the main capitol campus, Sylvester Park, Heritage Park, Marathon Park, Centennial Park, Capitol Lake, the Interpretive Center, Deschutes Parkway, and the landscape, memorials, artworks, fountains, streets, sidewalks and lighting in each of these areas.

The GA is also responsible for the stewardship, preservation, operation, and maintenance of the public and historic facilities of the State Capitol, subject to the policy direction of the SCC and the guidance of the Capitol Campus Design Advisory Committee.

Capitol Lake.

Capitol Lake is a man-made lake located on the grounds of the State Capitol in Olympia, Washington, and is adjacent to the capitol campus, Puget Sound, and Olympia's downtown. The lake is part of the watershed of the Deschutes River and drains into Puget Sound.

Summary of Bill:

Capitol Lake and its associated grounds are declared to be part of the "historic facilities" of the Washington State Capitol and as such must be managed and maintained to the highest standards of excellence. The lake should be managed and maintained as a lake environment to ensure that overall aesthetic, recreational, sediment management, and environmental benefits are achieved.

The SCC is required to provide for the management, protection, preservation, and coordination of Capitol Lake as a lake environment.

The grounds of the State Capitol, including Capitol Lake, are subject to the stewardship, preservation, operation, and maintenance responsibilities of the GA. In administering this responsibility, the GA must coordinate with the jurisdictions with interests within the Deschutes watershed and Budd Inlet.