2020/02/26 Council Agenda Packet

Parks Options: • Create an MPD • Create a Parks& Recreation District Definitions: A Metropolitan Park District(MPD) is a special taxing district that may be created under Ch. 35.61 RCW to manage, control, improve, maintain, and acquire parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreational facilities. An MPD may also be formed for a limited purpose, such funding a specific swimming pool, playfield, or park. A Park&Recreation District is a special taxing district that may be created under Ch. 36.69 RCW to provide leisure time activities and facilities and recreational facilities, of a nonprofit nature as a public service to the residents of the geographical areas included within their boundaries. The term "recreational facilities" means parks, playgrounds,gymnasiums, swimming pools,field houses, bathing beaches, stadiums,golf courses, automobile racetracks and drag strips, coliseums for the display of spectator sports, public campgrounds, boat ramps and launching sites, public hunting and fishing areas, arboretums, bicycle and bridle paths, senior citizen centers, community centers, and other recreational facilities. Park& Recreation Districts may acquire, hold, or sell real or personal property; enter into contracts, sue and be sued, borrow money, establish facility use fees, establish rules for property use; acquire, construct, reconstruct, maintain, repair, add to, and operate recreational facilities Formation Options: There are two ways to initiate the formation of a Metropolitan Park District, both of which require approval by a majority of voters within the proposed district: • By citizen petition. A metropolitan district may be initiated if a petition proposing its creation is submitted to the county auditor of each county in which all or a portion of the proposed district would be located, signed by at least 15%of the registered voters residing in the area to be included. • By City Council Resolution. A city or county may initiate district formation by adopting a resolution submitting a proposition for its formation to voters within the proposed district boundaries. If the district includes area within the county or other cities and counties,the legislative body of each city and/or county that includes a portion or all of the area in the district must adopt a resolution submitting the proposition to the voters. (RCW 35.61.020) A Park&Recreation District may only be formed by: • By citizen petition. A park& recreation district may be initiated if a petition proposing its creation is submitted to the county auditor of each county in which all or a portion of the proposed district would be located, signed by at least 15%of the registered voters residing in the area to be included. in Alternative Service Delivery/Funding Models 17 I P a g e