Drafter
Clerk 4/15/2008
Title
AN ORDINANCE authorizing the King County executive to execute an interlocal agreement with the King County Ferry District for King County to provide services to the King County Ferry District; and declaring an emergency.
Body
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE COUNCIL OF KING COUNTY:
SECTION 1. Findings:
A. On April 30, 2007, the King County council approved Ordinance 15739, establishing the King County Ferry District. As authorized by RCW 36.54.110, the ferry district is a municipal corporation, an independent taxing "authority" within the meaning of Article VII, section 1 of the state Constitution, and a "taxing district" within the meaning of Article VII, section 2 of the state Constitution.
B. In 2003, 2006, and 2007 the legislature made statutory changes to facilitate passenger-only ferry service and related services by county ferry districts.
C. The state Passenger-Only Ferry Task Force, which completed its work in January 2006, found that passenger-only ferry service is an important component of state, regional and local transportation infrastructure but is not sustainable at this time without public subsidies.
D. The stated intent of creation of the ferry district is to provide passenger-only ferry service to various parts of the county, including potential routes serving Vashon Island, West Seattle, Des Moines, Downtown Seattle, North Bay, Magnolia, Shilshole, Shoreline, Lake Union, North Renton, the University of Washington, Kenmore and Kirkland. The county submitted to the governor a business plan for passenger-only ferry service between Vashon Island and downtown Seattle, and the governor approved this plan.
E. In 1997, King County began operating seasonal water taxi service across Elliott Bay with increasing ridership in each year of operation. In 2006, the Elliott Bay Water Taxi carried in excess of one hundred twenty two thousand passengers.
F. The county council found that creation of the ferry dis...
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