Updated 08/2010
Public Corporations/Public Development Authorities (PDA)
(RCW 35.21.730 - 35.21.755)
Contents
About PDAs
Under RCW 35.21.730, et seq., cities, towns, and counties may establish "public corporations, commissions or authorities." These special purpose quasi-municipal corporations have become known as "PDA's." The statutory purpose for the creation of a public corporation under these statutes is to improve the administration of authorized federal grants or programs, to improve governmental efficiency and services, or to improve the general living conditions in the urban areas of the state. The provision was initially enacted to authorize cities, towns and counties to participate in and implement federally assisted programs, including revenue sharing.
Many communities have established public corporations for a variety of public purposes. In the opinion of many municipal attorneys, a public corporation created under RCW 35.21.730, et seq. is best used for unusual endeavors, which for a variety of reasons, the parent municipality would not want to undertake itself.
See also MRSC's List of Known Public Corporations/Public Development Authorities.
Articles
- Fifty Years of 63-20 Financing: Revisiting an Alternative Development Tool for Washington State Agencies and Municipalities (
), Pacifica Law Group, 09/2012
- Public Development Authorities (), by Jay Reich, Stacey Crawshaw Lewis, and Deanna Gregory, Preston Gates and Ellis LLP, from MRSC Budget Suggestions, Information Bulletin No. 416, 08/2003
- City and County Options for Creative Financing: PFDs, PDAs and 501(c)(3)s : Alternative Financing Mechanisms (), by Jay Reich and Stacey Crawshaw-Lewis, Attorneys, Preston Gates & Ellis, Washington Economic Development Association's Spring Conference in Pasco on April 15-16, 2003
- Tacoma News Tribune Series on SafeHarbor, Grays Harbor PDA, 2002 - Suggested reading for officials at any city or county considering the formation of a PDA: a cautionary tale
- Efficient and Effective Uses of Public Corporations/PDA's (), by B. Gerald Johnson, Attorney, Preston Thorgrimson Shidler Gates & Ellis, Information Bulletin No. 473 (1992), Legal Notes, pp. 191-197, Proceedings of June 20-21, 1991
- Public Corporations Created under the Laws of 1974, 1st Ex. Sess., ch. 37 (), by Robert F. Hauth, Assistant Attorney General, State of Washington, Information Bulletin No. 356 (1974), Legal Notes, pp. 87-90
- Public Development Authorities: Are We Getting Our Money's Worth?, Municipal League Foundation Issue Watch, 08/1991 (Available through MRSC Library Loan - G 10.0000)
- Public Development Authorities in Seattle (), by Donald H. Stout, General Counsel, City of Seattle Law Department. Information Bulletin No. 473 (1992), Legal Notes, pp. 198-214, Proceedings of June 20-21, 1991
- Public Development Authorities in Seattle (), League of Woman Voters of Seattle, 05/1989.
Samples of Local Government Ordinance Provisions, Charters, Bylaws
This list is a sampling Washington local governments that have enacted provisions allowing the formation of public corporations. In some instances, provisions were enacted providing for public corporations, but no actual public corporation was created by these jurisdictions, or the corporation created is no longer active.
Cities and Joint City-County
- Almira, Creston, Wilbur Regional Public Development Authority Agreement () - Includes Interlocal Agreement Ordinance, Charter, and Bylaws, 06/2001
- Interlocal Agreement() between Lincoln County and Wilbur, Almira and Creston), 2000 - To allow NW Lincoln County Regional Development Authority to operate outside the limits of the incorporated cities and townsAuburn, Burien, Des Moines, Federal Way, Renton, SeaTac, and Tukwila South Correctional Entity (SCORE) to build and operate a 668-bed misdemeanor jail. Web site provides copy of interlocal agreement
- Bellevue Meydenbauer Center and Convention Center Fact Sheet, Bellevue Convention Center Authority
- Bellingham
- Bellingham Municipal Code Ch. 6.64 - Public Authorities
- Bellingham Ordinance No. 2008-05-247 (), passed 05/2008 - Creates the Bellingham Public Development Authority to assist with development of downtown, Old Town and the waterfront - Includes bylaws
- First Operating Agreement () between Bellingham and the Bellingham Public Development Authority, 11/20/2008, terminates 2038
- Carnation Municipal Code Ch. 19.04 - Public Corporations
- Everett Municipal Code Ch. 2.104 - Public Corporations
- Federal Way, Kent, Renton, Tukwila - Valley Communications Center Development Authority
- Kent Ordinance No. 3396 (), Kent Downtown Market Development Authority, 1998 - Authority has completed work and is in the process of being dissolved, 06/2003
- Port Angeles
- Hurricane Ridge Public Development Authority
- Port Angeles Ordinance No. 3061 (), 08/2000 - Creates the Hurricane Ridge Public Development Authority
- Charter of Hurricane Ridge Public Development Authority ()
- Hurricane Ridge Ski and Snowboard Area
- Harbor Works PDA Press Release and Statement from President of Board of Directors () - Harbor-Works Board votes to dissolve Public Development Authority: Rayonier turns down Harbor-Works’ best and final offer, 09/02/2010
- Port Angeles Resolution 02-09, signed 05/21/2008 - Authorizes an interlocal agreement with the Port of Port Angeles for the preservation and enhancement of the Port Angeles harbor and waterfront - Outlines agreement to cooperate in cleanup and redevelopment of harbor and former Rayonier Mill Site through the creation of a public development authority. The board of the PDA to be made up persons nominated by the city and port
- Port Angeles Ordinance No. 3333 () - Creates the Port Angeles Harbor Works PDA, authorizes charter and bylaws; notes that city and port are authorized to cooperate under Ch. 39.34 RCW, community renewal, Ch 35.81 RCW and RCW 53.08.400, and certain revitilization activities under Ch. 39.39 RCW and RCW 53.08.049
- Port of Port Angeles Special Joint Meeting with the Port Commission and City of Port Angeles Minutes, 05/20/2008 - Adoption of Port of Port Angeles Resolution 08-968 and acceptance of Port Angeles Ordinance No. 3333
- Port of Port Angeles Press Release, 05/30/2008 - Port and City Form Port Angeles Harbor-Works Development Authority
- Odessa Ordinance No. 546 and Charter, Odessa Public Development Authority (), passed 01/2000
- Republic Ordinance No. 2003-07 (), 04/2003 - Creates the Republic Public Development Authority, includes Bylaws
- Seattle Municipal Code Ch 3.110 - Public Corporations
- Spokane Municipal Code Ch. 4.25 - Public Development Authority
- Tacoma Municipal Code Ch. 1.60 () - Public Development Corporations
- Vancouver
- Vancouver Municipal Code Ch. 2.73 - Downtown Redevelopment Authority (DRA)
- Vancouver Ordinance No. M-3738 - Approves changes to the Charter of the Downtown Redevelopment Authority (Vancouver Hotel and Convention Center Project), 02/2006 (Available through MRSC Library Loan)
- Vancouver Ordinance No. M-3739, 02/2006 - Creates the City Center Development Authority, grants charter, and approves bylaws (Vancouver City Center Vision Project (Available through MRSC Library Loan)
- Union Gap Municipal Code Ch. 2.110 - Public Corporations
Counties
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