CITY OF SEATTLE
ORDINANCE __________________
COUNCIL BILL __________________
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AN ORDINANCE relating to the Board of Park Commissioners; changing the name to the Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners; requesting that the Code Reviser revise the Seattle Municipal Code accordingly; amending the Board’s composition and processes; authorizing an amendment to the Interlocal Agreement between The City of Seattle and the Seattle Park District; and amending Sections 3.26.010 and 3.26.030 of the Seattle Municipal Code.
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WHEREAS, the Board of Park Commissioners was originally established in 1887, to oversee the City’s first park, and serves in its current form as established in 1968 by Ordinance 96453 as an advisory body to the City Council, Mayor, and Superintendent regarding Parks and Recreation policies for the planning, development, and use of the City’s park and recreation facilities; and
WHEREAS, on April 28, 2014, the Seattle City Council approved Ordinance 124468, which authorized the Mayor to sign an interlocal agreement formalizing the relationship between The City of Seattle and the Seattle Park District for implementation of park and recreation services and infrastructure in Seattle; and
WHEREAS, voters approved Proposition 1 on August 5, 2014, creating the Seattle Park District as authorized under chapter 35.61 RCW; and
WHEREAS, the interlocal agreement authorized by Ordinance 124468 establishes a Community Oversight Committee (Park District Oversight Committee) to provide oversight of the projects, programs and services undertaken jointly by the City and the Seattle Park District; and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance 125722 of the City and Resolution 24 of the District Board, the City and the Seattle Park District agreed to enter into that certain First Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement, (the “First Amendment”); and
WHEREAS, pursuant to Ordinance 126199 of the City and Resolution 36 of the District Board, the City and the Seattle Park District agreed to enter into a Second Amendment to the Interlocal Agreement (the “Second Amendment”); and
WHEREAS, members of the public have expressed confusion and frustration regarding the lack of clarity on whether they should engage with the Board of Park Commissioners, Park District Oversight Committee, or both on Seattle Parks and Recreation issues; and
WHEREAS, there is overlap of efforts in communicating information and discussions that occur in separate, parallel meetings of the two bodies; and
WHEREAS, a proposed combining of these two advisory boards has the support of the Board of Park Commissioners and Park District Oversight Committee; and
WHEREAS, Seattle Parks and Recreation and the City have benefited from the diverse membership of the Park District Oversight Committee that reflects of the communities Seattle Parks and Recreation serves through race and ethnicity, expertise, and geographic representation; and
WHEREAS; the Board of Park Commissioners wishes to update its name to reflect the fact that it acts in an advisory capacity on both parks and recreation matters; and
WHEREAS, combining the Park District Oversight Committee with the Board of Park Commissioners will enable Seattle Parks and Recreation to utilize the expertise and knowledge of community volunteers in a more efficient manner; and
WHEREAS, The City of Seattle and the Seattle Park District desire to amend and restate the original interlocal agreement in its entirety, together with all amendments; NOW, THEREFORE,
BE IT ORDAINED BY THE CITY OF SEATTLE AS FOLLOWS:
Section 1. Statement of intent. It is the intent of The City of Seattle that the Board of Park Commissioners and the Park District Oversight Committee are combined and that the Board of Park Commissioners assume the roles and responsibilities of the Park District Oversight Committee as specified in section 4.4 of the interlocal agreement.
Section 2. Name. The Board of Park Commissioners is renamed “The Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners.” This is the Board of Park Commissioners for the purposes of Article XI, Section 2 of the City Charter.
Section 3. The City Council requests that the Code Reviser, pursuant to the authority established by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.03.030, revise the Seattle Municipal Code to replace references to "Board of Park Commissioners" with "Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners."
Section 4. Section 3.26.010 of the Seattle Municipal Code, last amended by Ordinance 123803, is amended as follows:
3.26.010 Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners-Membership
A. The Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners is the Board of Park Commissioners for the purposes of Article XI, Section 2 of the City Charter.
B. The Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners shall consist of ((nine members. Members in the positions numbered one, three, five and seven on the Board shall be appointed by the Mayor subject to confirmation by a majority of the City Members in positions numbered two, four, six, and eight on the Board shall be appointed by a majority vote of the City Council. The member in position number nine)) 15 members.
1. Seven members shall be individuals from each City Council district and nominated and appointed by the City Council.
2. Eight members shall be nominated by the Mayor subject to confirmation by a majority vote of the City Council.
a. Four members shall be at-large members.
b. Three other members shall be from existing City boards and commissions that have expressed an interest in serving on the Board. If a board or commission representative is not identified for a position, the Mayor shall nominate an at-large member for that position.
c. One member shall be a designated young adult position((, as defined in Section 3.51.020,)) pursuant to the Get Engaged((: City Boards and Commissions)) Program, Chapter 3.51. The Mayor and Parks Superintendent must make all reasonable and diligent efforts to appoint a Get Engaged ((,Chapter 3.51)) young adult to the Board. After a showing to the Board that all reasonable and diligent efforts have resulted in not obtaining a Get Engaged((, Chapter 3.51,)) young adult for ((position number nine,)) the position, the Mayor shall appoint any person to ((to position number nine)) the position subject to confirmation by a majority of the City Council.
C. The City will seek to appoint members with a diversity of expertise, experience, and perspectives including but not limited to parks management, public financing, economic development, land use, anti-displacement, urban horticulture, landscape architecture, art, contract management, social and human services, youth development, recreation, and the interests of Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) and other historically underserved communities.
D. Except for Get Engaged members, whose terms are governed by Chapter 3.51, ((Appointments for position numbers one through eight)) appointments shall be for three-year terms ending on ((March 31. If a Get Engaged, Chapter 3.51, young adult serves in position number nine, his or her term shall be for one year, pursuant to Section 3.51.040. If a member other than a Get Engaged, Chapter 3.51, young adult serves in position number nine, his or her term shall be for three years ending on March 31.)) the third anniversary of their appointment. No member shall serve more than two terms.
E. Any vacancy shall be filled ((for the unexpired term)) in the same manner as the original appointment ((for that term was made)). The term for the member filling a vacancy shall be three years. Members of the ((Park)) Board shall annually appoint one ((member)) or more members to serve as Chair(s) for a term of one year, ((beginning on April 1st)) pursuant to Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners Operating Procedures. ((The Mayor may remove any Commissioner who was appointed by the Mayor for cause. The City Council may remove any Commissioner for cause by a majority public vote.)) A member whose term is ending may continue on an interim basis as a member with voting rights until such time as a successor for that position has been appointed by the City Council or confirmed by the City Council.
Section 5. Section 3.26.030 of the Seattle Municipal Code, enacted by Ordinance 96453, is amended as follows:
3.26.030 Board-Duties((.))
The Board shall act in an advisory capacity to the Mayor, City Council, Department of Parks and Recreation, and other City departments in respect to park and recreation matters and in furtherance thereof shall have the following specific responsibilities:
A. To consult with and make recommendations to the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation and other City departments and officials with regard to the development and amendment from time to time of the City's parks and recreation comprehensive plan and capital improvement program;
B. To consult with and make recommendations to the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation regarding policies for the planning, development, and implementation of policy concerning the City's recreation program;
C. To consult with and make recommendations to the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation regarding policies for the planning, development, and use of all of the City's park and recreation facilities;
D. To consult with the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation on matters pertaining to the proposed annual budget of the Park and Recreation Department during the period of its preparation and from time to time thereafter;
E. To hold public meetings from time to time in various parts of the City for the purpose of reviewing park and recreation programs and objectives with citizen groups and the community at large. A major objective of the Board shall be to develop public interest in the activities of the Park and Recreation Department and to solicit, to the fullest extent, participation of community groups, the general public, and public and private agencies;
F. To make recommendations on the acceptance of gifts and bequests to the City's Park and Recreation System;
G. To meet from time to time with local, regional, and national park and recreation agencies and, when possible, attend park and recreation meetings and seminars in order to keep informed of new trends in policy, programs and park facilities' development; and
H. To provide advice to the Mayor, City Council, and Superintendent of Parks and Recreation, and to provide oversight of the projects, programs, and services undertaken jointly by the City and the Seattle Park District, pursuant to the interlocal agreement between The City of Seattle and the Seattle Park District.
Section 6. Amendment to interlocal agreement authorized. The Mayor is authorized to execute and deliver, on behalf of The City of Seattle, an amendment to the interlocal agreement between The City of Seattle and the Seattle Park District (the “Third Amendment”), set out as Attachment 1 to this ordinance.
Section 7. Amended and restated interlocal agreement authorized. The Mayor is authorized to execute and deliver, on behalf of The City of Seattle, the interlocal agreement as amended by Ordinance 125722, Ordinance 126199, and this ordinance (“Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement”) set out as Attachment 2 to this ordinance.
Section 8. This ordinance shall take effect and be in force 30 days after its approval by the Mayor, but if not approved and returned by the Mayor within ten days after presentation, it shall take effect as provided by Seattle Municipal Code Section 1.04.020.
Passed by the City Council the ________ day of _________________________, 2021, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its passage this _____ day of _________________________, 2021.
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President ____________ of the City Council
Approved / returned unsigned / vetoed this ________ day of _________________, 2021.
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Jenny A. Durkan, Mayor
Filed by me this ________ day of _________________________, 2021.
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Monica Martinez Simmons, City Clerk
(Seal)
Attachments:
Attachment 1 - Third Amendment to Interlocal Agreement between The City of Seattle, Washington, and the Seattle Park District
Attachment 2 - Amended and Restated Interlocal Agreement between The City of Seattle, Washington, and the Seattle Park District