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SUBJECTS › PARKS AND RECREATION › Metropolitan Park Districts (MPD)
Updated 02/09

Metropolitan Park Districts (MPD)

Contents

Statutory Reference

History

Chapter 98, Laws of 1907 authorized cities of the first class to create metropolitan park districts. The metropolitan park district statutes were reenacted in 1943, when, according to an AWC legislative bulletin, the previous statutes had been inadvertently repealed by one of the state highway acts. The statutes were amended by Chapter 88, Laws of 2002.

In December 2001, the Legislative Task Force on Local Parks and Recreation Maintenance and Operations ( 480 KB) recommended that the statutes be amended to make it practical for cities and counties, or a combination of them, to create metropolitan park districts. Prior to 2002, cities under 5,000 and counties could not create metropolitan park districts.

The 1907 legislation was effective immediately, and Tacoma voters approved the formation of a metropolitan park district a month after the law was passed (Tacoma Metropolitan Park District). A second metropolitan park district was formed in Yakima around 1945 and functioned until 1969. In September 2002, Pullman voters approved the creation of a metropolitan park district and in February 2003 voters around North Bend approved the creation of the Si View Metropolitan Park District. These are the first new districts to be created since the legislature amended the metropolitan park districts statutes in 2002 (Chapter 88, Laws of 2002 (SHB 2557)).

Purpose

A metropolitan park district may be created for the management, control, improvement, maintenance, and acquisition of parks, parkways, boulevards, and recreational facilities.

Government Type

Municipal Corporation

Function and Powers of Metropolitan Park District

List of District's Powers

  • May purchase, acquire and condemn lands within or without the boundaries of park district.
  • May issue and sell warrants, short- term obligations, or general obligation bonds.
  • May issue revenue bonds.
  • Can petition for the creation of local improvement districts.
  • May employ counsel, provide for park police officers, secretary of the board, and all necessary employees.
  • May establish civil service for employees.
  • Has power to regulate, manage and control, improve, acquire, extend and maintain, open and lay out, parks, parkways, boulevards, avenues, aviation landings and playgrounds, within or without the park district.
  • Has power to authorize:
    • conduct and manage the letting of boats, or other amusement apparatus,
    • the operation of bath houses,
    • the purchase and sale of foodstuffs or other merchandise,
    • the giving of vocal or instrumental concerts or other entertainments,
    • the management and conduct of such forms of recreation or business as it shall judge desirable or beneficial for the public, or for the production of revenue for expenditure for park purposes.
  • May sell, exchange, or otherwise dispose of surplus property.
  • Can annex territory.

Formation of Metropolitan Park District

A metropolitan park district may include territory located in portions or in all of one or more cities or counties, or in one or more cities and counties, when created or enlarged. There are two ways to initiate the formation of a park district: by petition and by a resolution of the governing body or bodies within which the district is to be located. (RCW 35.61.020)

Local Government Resolution Method: A city or county may initiate district formation by adopting a resolution submitting a proposition for its formation to voters within the proposed district boundaries. If the district includes area within the county or other cities and counties, the legislative body of each city and/or county that includes a portion or all of the area in the district must adopt a resolution submitting the proposition to the voters.

    • Pullman Resolution submitting a proposition to voters in September 2002 for authority to create a metropolitan park district.
    • Si View Metropolitan Park District  Proposition No. 1 (Adobe Acrobat Document10 KB), to create a metropolitan park district with all the powers provided in chapter 35.61 RCW, including, but not limited to, the authority to levy a general tax on all property located in the district each year not to exceed seventy-five cents per thousand dollars of assessed valuation, 2003.
    • King County WA Ordinance No. 14505 (Adobe Acrobat Document 27 KB), to establish February 4, 2003, as the date for an election on the question of the formation of a metropolitan park district within the city of North Bend and portions of unincorporated King County, 2002.
    • North Bend Resolution No. 900 (Adobe Acrobat Document 89 KB), calling for a special election on February 4, 2003, for the purpose of placing on the ballot a proposition regarding the formation of a metropolitan park district.

Citizen Petition Method: A metropolitan district may be initiated if a petition proposing its creation is submitted to the county auditor of each county in which all or a portion of the proposed district would be located, signed by at least 15 percent of the registered voters residing in the area to be included. Where the petition is for creation of a district in more than one county, the petition must be filed with the county auditor of the county having the greater area of the proposed district, and a copy filed with each other county auditor of the other counties covering the proposed district.

Petition or resolution contents: The petition proposing the creation of a metropolitan park district, or the resolution submitting the question to the voters, must indicate the choice and describe the composition of the initial board of commissioners of the district that is proposed under RCW 35.61.050 and must list a name for the district. (RCW 35.61.030)

Three Governing Body Alternatives

The resolution or petition submitting the ballot proposition must designate the composition of the board of metropolitan park commissioners from among three alternatives.  Metropolitan park districts created by a vote of the people prior to June 2002 may not change the composition and method of selection of their governing authority without approval of the voters.

  • Five commissioners - elected at time of formation:
    • Five commissioners of the district may be selected at the same election at which the proposition is submitted to the voters as to whether a metropolitan park district is to be formed.
      • The election of park commissioners is null and void if the metropolitan park district is not created.
      • Candidates must run for specific commission positions.
      • No primary is held to nominate candidates.
      • The person receiving the greatest number of votes for each position is elected as a commissioner.
    • The staggering of the terms of office occurs as follows:
      • The two persons elected receiving the two greatest numbers of votes are elected to six-year terms of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or five-year terms of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year;
      • The two persons elected receiving the next two greatest numbers of votes are elected to four-year terms of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or three-year terms of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year; and
      • The other person elected is elected to a two-year term of office if the election is held in an odd-numbered year or a one-year term of office if the election is held in an even-numbered year.
    • The initial commissioners take office immediately when elected and qualified, and, for purposes of computing their terms of office, the terms are assumed to commence on the first day of January in the year after they are elected.
    • Thereafter, all commissioners will be elected to six-year terms of office.
    • All commissioners serve until their respective successors are elected, qualified, and assume office in accordance with RCW 29A.20.040.
    • Vacancies are to be filled as provided in chapter 42.12 RCW.
  • District wholly in city or in county: 
    • The governing body of such city or legislative authority of such county may be designated to serve in an ex officio capacity as the board of metropolitan park commissioners, provided that when creation of the district is proposed by citizen petition, the city or county approves by resolution such designation.
  • District within more than one city, more than one county, or any combination of cities and counties:
    • Each city governing body and county legislative authority may be designated to collectively serve ex officio as the board of metropolitan park commissioners through selection of one or more members from each to serve as the board, provided that:
    • When creation of the district is proposed by citizen petition, each city governing body and county legislative authority approves by resolution such designation.
    • Within six months of the date of certification of election results approving creation of the district, the size and membership of the board is determined through interlocal agreement of each city and county.
    • The interlocal agreement specifies the method for filling vacancies on the board.

Feasibility and Cost Studies Requirement

None required.

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA) Review

Since "creation of a district" is defined by SEPA regulations (WAC 197-11-704(2)(b)(iv)) as a "nonproject action," the proposed establishment of a metropolitan park district is subject to SEPA review, which, at a minimum, requires a threshold determination under WAC 197-11-310(1).

Hearing Requirement

None required for formation. Hearing required for annexation.

Resubmittal of Petition

Not addressed.

Election to Form District

Where no boundary review board exists

    • The ballot proposition authorizing creation of a metropolitan park district appears on the ballot of the next general election or at the next special election date specified under RCW 29A.04.330 occurring 60 or more days after:

      • the last resolution proposing the creation of the park district is adopted;
      • or the date the county auditor certifies that the petition proposing creating the district has sufficient valid signatures.
    • Where a petition is filed with two or more county auditors, the county auditors must confer and issue a joint certification.

Where a boundary review board exists:

    • Where the proposed district is located wholly or in part in a county where there is boundary review board, notice of the proposal must be filed with the boundary review board.
    • A special election is held on the date specified under RCW RCW 29A.04.330 that is 60 or more days after proposal is approved or is deemed to have approved by boundary review board.

City exception:

The creation of a metropolitan park district is not subject to review by a boundary review board if the proposed district only includes one or more cities.

Ballot proposition

    The proposition must include the following terms:

      "For the formation of a metropolitan park district to be governed by [insert board composition described in ballot proposition]."
      "Against the formation of a metropolitan park district."

Election of Commissioners, see Election of Five Commissioners At Formation.

Passage of Proposition

If a majority of the voters voting the creation of the metropolitan park district, the metropolitan park district, is created as a municipal corporation effective immediately upon certification of the election results and its name will be that designated in the ballot proposition. (RCW 35.61.040)

Governing Body

See Three Alternative Governing Body Forms under Formation for details.

  • The metropolitan park board may be composed in any of the following alternatives:
    • Five commissioners may be elected at the same election creating the district;
    • For a district located entirely within one city or the unincorporated area of one county, the legislative authority of the city or county may act as the metropolitan park board; or
    • For a district located in multiple cities or counties, each legislative authority may appoint one or more members to serve as the board.
  • The governing structure of an existing (before June 13, 2002) metropolitan park district may not be changed without the approval of the voters.
Compensation of Governing Body
  • Only separately-elected metropolitan park commissioners are entitled to receive compensation.
  • Commissioners selected by election according to RCW 35.61.050(2) may provide, by resolution passed by the commissioners, for the payment of compensation to each of its commissioners at a rate of up to 70 dollars for each day or portion of a day devoted to the business of the district.
  • Compensation for each commissioner must not exceed $6,720 per year.
  • Any commissioner may waive all or any portion of his or her compensation payable under this section as to any month or months during his or her term of office:
    • By a written waiver filed with the clerk of the board.
    • The waiver must be filed any time after the commissioner's election and prior to the date on which the compensation would otherwise be paid.
    • The waiver must specify the month or period of months for which it is made. (RCW 35.61.150)

Metropolitan Park District Finance

Adding Area - Enlargement

  • Territory by virtue of its annexation to any city that lies entirely within a park district is deemed to be within the limits of the metropolitan park district.
  • Such an extension of a park district's boundaries is not be subject to review by a boundary review board independent of the board's review of the city annexation of territory. (RCW 35.61.020)
  • The territory adjoining a metropolitan park district may be annexed into the district upon petition and an election.
    • The petition must define the territory proposed to be annexed and must be signed by 25 registered voters, resident within the territory proposed to be annexed, unless;
    • The territory is within the limits of another city, in which case it must be signed by 20 percent of the registered voters residing within the territory proposed to be annexed. (RCW 35.61.250)

Dissolution

  • A district may be dissolved by majority vote of members.
  • Upon dissolution, the district's liabilities are prorated, and turned over to the city and/or county to the extent the district was respectively located in each, when:
    • Such city and/or county, through its governing officials, agrees to, and petitions for, such dissolution and the assumption of such assets and liabilities, or;
    • Ten percent of the voters of such city and/or county who voted at the last general election petition the governing officials for such a vote. (RCW 35.61.310)
  • Disincorporation of district located in county with a population of 210,000 or more and inactive for five years, see Chapter 57.90 RCW.

 Metropolitan Park Districts Proposed and Formed Including Various Sample Documents

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