File #: 2022-0303    Version:
Type: Ordinance Status: Passed
File created: 7/26/2022 In control: Local Services and Land Use Committee
On agenda: Final action: 8/23/2022
Enactment date: 9/2/2022 Enactment #: 19488
Title: AN ORDINANCE determining the Issaquah Park and Recreation Service Area is inactive under state law and it is in the public interest to dissolve the Issaquah Park and Recreation Service Area.
Sponsors: Sarah Perry, Reagan Dunn
Indexes: Issaquah, City of, Park and Recreation Service Districts
Attachments: 1. Ordinance 19488, 2. 2022-0303 Amendment 1, 3. 2022-0297_0298_0299_0301_0303_Staff Report with Attachments, 4. 2022-0297, -0298, -0299, -0301 & -0303 INVOICE & AFFIDAVIT

Title

AN ORDINANCE determining the Issaquah Park and Recreation Service Area is inactive under state law and it is in the public interest to dissolve the Issaquah Park and Recreation Service Area.

Body

                     BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:

                     SECTION 1.  Findings:

                     A.  Under RCW 36.96.020, once a county legislative authority has been informed that a special purpose district appears to be inactive, that legislative authority is required to hold public hearings and determine whether or not that special purpose district is "inactive."  After a finding of inactivity, the legislative authority may then also determine whether it is in the public interest to dissolve such an inactive special purpose district.

                     B.  In accordance with RCW 36.96.020, the director of the department of elections provided written notice to the King County council on May 31, 2022, of apparent inactive special purpose districts located in the county.  According to the department of elections, it has no records showing that since 1987 the Issaquah Park and Recreation Service Area ("the district") has held any election for commissioners or run any bond measure.  A proposed bond measure was rejected by voters in 1987.  The department of elections concluded that the district appears to be "inactive" under RCW 36.96.010(3).  On further information, there is no record of initial commissioners being appointed.

                     C.  In accordance with state law, the King County treasurer acts as the treasurer for parks and recreation districts created within the county.  The treasurer has confirmed that it holds no moneys in the name of the district.

                     D.  In accordance with RCW 36.96.030, a public hearing on whether the district is "inactive" under chapter 36.96 RCW and whether it is in the public interest to dissolve the district was held on August 23, 2022.  Notice of the hearing was provided in accordance with RCW 36.96.030.  In addition, notice of the hearing was mailed to each active voter household in the district on July 29, 2022.

                     E.  The council finds that the district has not carried out any of the special purposes or functions for which it was formed within the preceding consecutive five-year period, and no process has been initiated for the purpose of electing a member of the governing body within the preceding consecutive seven-year period.  Therefore, it meets the criteria for being "inactive" under RCW 36.96.010(3).

                     F.  In accordance with RCW 36.96.040, the council finds that the dissolution of the district is in the public interest since the district is defunct and does not provide the public function for which it was formed.  The district's dissolution would reduce administrative burdens imposed on King County in providing monitoring and financial oversight services and reduce costs to taxpayers resulting from those administrative burdens.

                     SECTION 2.  The Issaquah Park and Recreation Service Area is dissolved in accordance with RCW 36.96.040.

                     SECTION 3.  In accordance with RCW 36.96.040, the Issaquah Park and

Recreation Service Area shall cease to exist thirty-one days after the effective date of this ordinance.