Drafter
Clerk 05/24/2005
Title
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the executive to enter into an interlocal agreement between King County and the city of Snoqualmie for transfer to the city of a portion of the Three Forks natural area.
Body
STATEMENT OF FACTS:
1. King County and the city of Snoqualmie ("the city") have agreed to terms for an interlocal agreement for the transfer of a portion of the Three Forks natural area that is within the city limits.
2. The recitals in the agreement set forth relevant facts supporting and explaining the terms of the transfer.
3. The city desires to own, operate, and maintain parks, open space, recreation facilities and programs and other municipal programs, facilities and property inside its boundaries.
4. The county, under the authority of RCW 36.89.050, King County Resolution 34571 and other federal, state and county laws, has acquired and developed a substantial park, recreation and open space system that depends on the continued operation of its many individual properties and facilities in order to fully serve the needs of the residents of King County and the cities within it.
5. The county acquired the five-hundred-twenty-eight-acre Three Forks natural area property with open space bonds and conservation futures funds to preserve and enhance its flood protection, habitat and ecological systems.
6. The county's Three Forks Master Plan identified the portions of Three Forks natural area that lie south of the Snoqualmie river within the city's corporate boundary as a functioning river plain, with significant riparian attributes, which should remain in a natural state and should not be developed for ball fields, hiking trails or other active recreation.
7. The Three Forks natural area contains river and flood protection facilities, including the Railroad and Pratt levees that the county currently maintains.
8. The city and county have a mutual interest in maintaining and enhancing the flood protection, habitat and ecological functions of the property through cooperative stewardship.
9. The county desires to divest itself of ownership, management, and financial responsibility for parks, open space, recreational facilities and programs inside and near the city boundaries.
10. The county does not have a sufficient, stable source of revenue to continue to manage and maintain its parks, open space, recreational facilities and programs at current levels.
11. The county is legally restricted from converting many of these parks, open space, and recreational facilities from their current uses without expending funds to replace the converted facilities.
12. Given the legal restriction regarding conversion of the properties, the marketability of the properties is limited and, as a result, the cost of operating the facility is approximately equal to the value of the property to the county.
13. It is in the best interest of the public that the city and the county take those actions necessary to meet those desires and to cooperate in any transition to insure a smooth transition and avoid service disruption.
14. King County and the city have agreed that the transfer will take place within thirty days following execution of the interlocal agreement by both parties.
15. Transfer of a portion of Three Forks natural area under the terms and conditions of the attached agreement will serve an important county purpose by transferring in-city land to the city while also ensuring that the park will remain open and available to all county residents.
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. The King County executive is hereby authorized to enter into an interlocal agreement, substantially in the form of the attached agreement, with the city of Snoqualmie relating to the transfer of a portion of Three Forks natural area.
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