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 district was in the public interest given the state legislature's actions to encourage local government support for passenger-only ferry service, the county's experience with the Elliott Bay Water Taxi and business plan preparations, and the recommendations from the state's Passenger-Only Ferry Task Force.
G. The King County Ferry District requests that King County provide services to it.
H. King County is authorized by chapter 36.54 RCW to undertake the activities contemplated by the King County Ferry District and is willing and able to perform such services for the King County Ferry District.
I. The parties can achieve cost savings and benefits that are in the public's interest by having King County provide such services to the King County Ferry District.
J. Chapter 39.34 RCW authorizes counties to enter into agreements to provide services to other governmental agencies such as Attachment A to this ordinance.
K. Speedy approval of this interlocal agreement is necessary so the county can provide support to the ferry district including entry into a contractual agreement for the 2008 operation of the Elliott Bay Water Taxi with service beginning on April 27.
L. Speedy approval of this interlocal agreement is also necessary to allow the county to negotiate with the state for operation of the passenger-only ferry between Vashon Island and downtown Seattle for a twelve-month period commencing on July 1, 2008.
SECTION 2. The county executive is hereby authorized to execute an interlocal agreement, substantially in the form of Attachment A to this ordinance, with the King County Ferry District for the provision of services.
SECTION 3. For the reasons set forth in section 1 of this ordinance, the metropolitan King County council finds as a fact and declares that an emergency exists
and that this ordinance is necessary for the immediate preservation of public peace, health or safety or for the support of county government and its existing public institutions.