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AN ORDINANCE authorizing the King County executive to execute a thirty-year use agreement with Kirkland Youth Lacrosse, a Washington nonprofit corporation, for the design, installation and use of a synthetic turf lacrosse/soccer field located at Big Finn Hill park in King County, Washington.
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BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. King County, a home rule charter county and political subdivision of the state of Washington, is the owner of the site, located at NE 138th and Juanita Drive NE, Kirkland, WA 98028, and described and depicted with greater particularity in Attachment A to this ordinance.
B. Kirkland Youth Lacrosse ("KYL") is a not-for-profit Washington corporation that is tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. KYL is a community-based, open-membership club organized to provide public opportunities for youth lacrosse.
C. KYL has the experience, ability, and resources to develop a synthetic sports field and associated facilities at the site and intends to develop a facility for lacrosse, soccer and other athletic and recreational uses at Big Finn Hill park.
D. The parks and recreation division of the department of natural resources and parks has determined that a synthetic lacrosse/soccer field located at Big Finn Hill park will have significant regional and/or rural public recreation value as it will be the only dedicated lacrosse field located in east King County.
E. In December 2009, the Kirkland city council took action to approve the annexation of the Finn Hill, North Juanita and Kingsgate neighborhoods. The King County council approved Ordinance 4229 formally adopting the annexation of the area to the city of Kirkland with an effective date of June 1, 2011. As part of the annexation, Edith Moultan, Juanita Heights, Kingsgate and Winsor Vista parks were transferred to the city of Kirkland, effective June 1, 2011, and 132nd Square Park transferred as of January 1, 2012. Big Finn Hill park was not transferred as part of the Kirkland annexation and remains under King County's jurisdiction.
F. King County Ordinance 14509 authorized the department of natural resources and parks to create new public recreation opportunities by empowering user groups, sports associations, and community organizations to develop mutually agreed-upon capital improvements for public recreation facilities on King County land, and thereby address regional and/or rural recreation needs without increasing tax-funded operations and maintenance costs.
G. Allowing KYL to develop certain mutually agreed-upon capital improvements, including a synthetic lacrosse/soccer field at Big Finn Hill park, will serve to implement the authority provided in Ordinance 14509. In addition, allowing KYL to convert the field to a synthetic surface will benefit the public by increasing playing time, improving safety, and reducing ongoing maintenance costs.
H. In accordance with K.C.C. 4.56.150.E. the King County council may adopt an ordinance permitting the county to enter into agreements for the use of county property with a bona fide nonprofit organization if the property is to be used by the nonprofit organization to make improvements to the county property or to provide services that will benefit the public.
I. The parks and recreation division is willing to allow KYL to develop a lacrosse/soccer field at the Big Finn Hill park under the terms and conditions set forth in Attachment A to this ordinance, and to give KYL scheduling priority over a term of thirty years in accordance with Section 2.6 of Attachment A to this ordinance.
SECTION 2. The King County executive is hereby authorized to sign a use agreement, substantially the same as Attachment A to this ordinance, with Kirkland
Youth Lacrosse, for the design, installation and use of a synthetic turf lacrosse/soccer field located at Big Finn Hill park in King County, Washington.