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AN ORDINANCE establishing the grant award criteria and process for the King County parks, recreation, trails and open space levy grant programs as well as the proposed composition of advisory committees established in accordance with Ordinance 18890, Section 6, Motion 15378, Section F.1., and Attachments A, B, D and E to Motion 15378.
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STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. On April 17, 2019, the King County council adopted Ordinance 18890, which called for a special election to authorize the King County parks, recreation, trails and open space levy for the purpose of maintaining and operating King County's open space system; improving parks, recreation, access and mobility in the King County open space system by acquiring lands and continuing to develop regional trails; improving parks and trails in and acquiring lands by metropolitan parks districts, towns and cities in King County; provide for environmental education, maintenance and conservation programs at the Woodland Park Zoo; provide moneys for capital construction at the Seattle Aquarium; and distribution of levy proceeds for capital improvements at publicly owned pools, for all King County residents.
2. On August 6, 2019, King County voters approved the levy, which included moneys for various grant programs to include targeted equity, aquatics facilities, open space - river corridors and urban parks and open spaces.
3. On April 17, 2019, the King County council passed Motion 15378.
4. In accordance with Motion 15378, Section F.1., the department of natural resources and parks to transmited this proposed ordinance to the council on January 30, 2020, to implement one or more advisory committees to review and make recommendations on grant awards for the grant programs described in Attachments A, B, D and E to the motion, which are the parks capital and open space grant program, the targeted equity grant program, the aquatic facilities grant program and the open space and river corridors grant program (collectively, "the parks levy grant programs").
5. The parks capital and open space grant program under Attachment A to this ordinance will provide moneys for a range of land improvements, including land acquisition, park and open space development, habitat conservation, community gardens and construction of passive and active recreation facilities. The goal of the program is to not only acquire those lands that might be lost to the future development pressures, but to construct new and improved facilities to address rapid growth in urban areas.
6. The targeted equity grant program under Attachment B to this ordinance will provide levy proceeds for a broad range of projects that will increase access and use of parks and open spaces as well as develop programs for public recreation in underserved communities. The program builds upon the King County Equity and Social Justice Strategic Plan with an emphasis on building internal capacities of community-based partners and providing access and facilities for people with disabilities.
7. The aquatic facilities grant program under Attachment C to this ordinance will provide levy proceeds for a wide range of improvements to public aquatics facilities located in King County. The projects may include feasibility studies, design, permitting and new construction or improvements to existing capital facilities. The grant program will assist communities as our region grows and existing facilities become obsolete or reach capacity.
8. The open space - river corridors grant program under Attachment D to this ordinance will provide levy proceeds to incentivize projects that integrate multiple attributes of projects inside river corridors, such as flood control, habitat, passive recreation and trails. The goal of the program is to deliver projects that help restore the natural functions of rivers and the benefits they provide to our environment and communities, including providing or restoring public access to the water, improving the ecological function of a waterbody or increasing public awareness of river corridors as valuable natural resources.
9. In accordance with Motion 15378, Section F.1. this ordinance proposes grant processes and protocols for the parks levy grant programs.
10. In accordance with Motion 15378, Section F.1., Attachments A, B, C and D to this ordinance outline the implementation of the parks levy grant programs, including the purpose, criteria, eligibility for grant awards, staffing and project selection process.
11. Also in accordance with Motion 15378, Section F.1., this ordinance identifies proposed membership composition and guidelines on advisory committees for the parks levy grant programs. Motion 15378 also required that each grant program have an advisory committee or committees to review and make recommendations on grant awards and include representatives from a variety of stakeholders to include cities, towns, metropolitan park districts and community members and organizations.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. The implementation guidelines that establish the grant award process and criteria for the parks capital and open space grant program, the targeted equity grant program, the aquatic facilities grant program and the open space - river corridors grant program, which are Attachments A, B, C and D to this ordinance, are hereby adopted.
SECTION 2. Consistent with direction outlined in Motion 15378, advisory committee representation recommendations as outlined in Attachments A, B, C and D to this ordinance, are hereby adopted.
SECTION 3. Moneys appropriated through the biennial budget process or a supplemental budget process, shall be awarded and distributed in accordance with the processes and guidelines identified in Attachments A, B, C and D to this ordinance.