Drafter
Clerk 06/17/2021
Title
A MOTION relating to the acquisition of parcels along SE Renton Maple Valley Road.
Body
WHEREAS, RCW 84.34.010 "declares that it is in the best interest of the state to maintain, preserve, conserve and otherwise continue in existence adequate open space lands for the production of food, fiber and forest crops and to assure the use and enjoyment of natural resources and scenic beauty for the economic and social well-being of the state and its citizens," and
WHEREAS, parks, natural areas and trails contribute to a high quality of life, and a robust system of parks and trails provides physical, social and mental health benefits to individuals and environmental benefits and cultural resource protection through open space conservation, and
WHEREAS, RCW 84.34.210 authorizes the county to acquire property rights "to protect, preserve, maintain, improve, restore, limit the future use of, or other otherwise conserve, selected open space land, farm and agricultural land, and timber land," and
WHEREAS, property right acquired under this authorization are defined as conservation futures, and
WHEREAS, RCW 84.34.230 authorizes the use of a property tax levy to fund the acquisition of conservation futures and the maintenance and operation of acquired properties, and
WHEREAS, RCW 84.34.240 authorizes counties to establish a special conservation futures fund to which the levy proceeds are credited, and
WHEREAS, King County has established a conservation futures tax levy and fund, and
WHEREAS, King County is required to establish a process to help ensure, over time, that the distribution of the tax levy is throughout the county, and
WHEREAS, K.C.C. 2.16.045 states that the water and land resources division of the department of natural resources and parks is responsible for planning, site selection, financing, acquisition, project budget management and purchasing fee and less than fee interests for the county park, open space, trails, agri...

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