Drafter
Clerk 03/14/2002
Title
A MOTION requesting the executive to examine and identify, in consultation with the King County district court, possible areas for expansion of the court's work crew program to include program alternatives that could provide for certain maintenance services to temporarily closed parks.
Body
WHEREAS, King County faces continuing current expense fund deficits, on the order of fifty million dollars for 2003, because of declining revenues and increasing governmental expenses, and
WHEREAS, addressing the continuing deficits have led to the elimination of a number of King County programs and services in 2002 and similar reductions are projected for 2003. King County began the winter closure of forty-four parks on January 1, 2002 in response to budget cuts caused by a shortfall in general fund tax revenue, and
WHEREAS, These King County parks will be closed during 2002 for the months of January, February, November and December. The closed parks are located throughout much of the urban area of King County. During the closure, all facilities at the parks will be closed, including restrooms, and some amenities will be removed, such as swings. All activities at the parks have been cancelled, including games and practices on athletic fields, and
WHEREAS, On February 25, the King County executive announced that twenty of these parks will remain closed throughout the year. The closed parks are located throughout much of the urban unincorporated area of King County, and
WHEREAS, In addition, mid-year budget reductions were announced that will eliminate the annual Heritage Festival at Marymoor Park, playground and pre-school programs and further decrease maintenance of parks countywide. Park user fees are also proposed to be increased ten to twenty percent, and
WHEREAS, The council required, as part of addressing escalating costs, that the district court develop plans for alternative sentencing to dentention...

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