Form revised December 4, 2006
FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS
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Department: |
Contact Person/Phone: |
DOF Analyst/Phone: |
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Legislative |
Norm Schwab/684-9292 |
N/A |
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Summary of the Legislation:
The proposed resolution addresses items related to the proposed levy lid lift to be submitted to the voters by the ordinance that was introduced as Council Bill 116274. If the levy passes, the Department of Parks and Recreation (“Department”) will be required to submit a proposed spending plan allocating expected additional taxes and interest earnings among the categories, subcategories, and projects for the coming year as part of the annual budget process. To assist the Council in reviewing such spending plans, the resolution requests that the Superintendent of Parks and Recreation to develop a Management Plan for Council review that: (1) sets outs the schedule for project implementation; (2) identifies the key positions that will manage the programs and projects funded under the levy lid lift; and (3) describes each position’s specific role in levy implementation. The resolution also requests the Superintendent to update the Plan annually and submit the updated Plan to the Mayor and City Council.
In addition, the resolution requests the Mayor and various City departments to undertake the following policy and program recommendations from the Parks and Green Spaces Citizens’ Advisory Committee, as follows:
1. Consider proposing a levy for the ballot in 2010 focused on parks facilities or combined with the Seattle Center to address the unfunded projects considered by the Parks and Green Spaces Citizens’ Advisory Committee.
2. Add a task to the Parks Department Strategic Action Plan 2009 implementation work program to assess additional means to fund the acquisition and development of parks in rapidly growing neighborhoods that have deficits in parks and green spaces, as well as funding for operations and maintenance.
3. Create an interdepartmental work group, comprised of the departments of City Light, Planning and Development, Parks and Recreation, Transportation, Seattle Public Utilities, and the Office of Sustainability and Environment, to better coordinate City efforts to create green infrastructure and green connections on City-owned land including but not limited to street ends, and utility and street rights-of-way. (Staffing to be provided by the Office of Policy and Management). This interdepartmental work group would develop prototype programs and projects to green City-owned land and identify strategies to better coordinate programs and funds from various City departments.
4. Add a task to the Parks Department Strategic Action Plan 2010 implementation work program to consult with other public agencies, in particular the Seattle School District, to identify creative uses of school (and other public agency) facilities and grounds to help meet park, recreation, and open space needs throughout the City.
5. Add a task to the Parks Department Strategic Action Plan 2009 implementation work program to assess the use of proceeds from the City’s golf course operations to pay for multi-purpose improvements at City golf courses such as perimeter trails.
6. Encourages the Parks Department and other departments to help foster creation of green jobs in the implementation of the parks and green spaces levy, in particular projects such as reforestation and stream and shoreline restoration.
7. Urges the Parks Department to strengthen its partnerships with nonprofits that have the potential to leverage additional resources to achieve the goals of the levy through programming and volunteer efforts.
The resolution also states the Council’s intent that prior to appropriating any funds for playfield projects to be funded under the levy, the Council will review available research on use of synthetic turf and alternative means to improve the City’s existing fields. Depending on the results of this analysis, Council will either direct funding to the synthetic turf projects that are identified in the proposed levy or redirect the funding associated with those projects to other playfield enhancements.
· Background:
In mid- April 2008, the Seattle City Council adopted Substitute Resolution 31055, creating the Parks and Green Spaces Citizen’s Advisory Committee to develop a potential ballot package of parks, open space, boulevards, trails, green infrastructure, and recreation projects.
Based on the work of the Committee, C.B. 116274 would submit to the voters of Seattle a proposal for $139.2 million, six-year property tax levy for the purpose of improving and expanding the city’s parks and green spaces. The following table summarizes the funding that is proposed for each of the major categories proposed in the levy.
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Levy Category |
Funding ($ M) |
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Acquisition |
$34.1 |
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Development |
$82.9 |
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Environmental Restoration and Stewardship |
$9.0 |
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Opportunity Fund |
$15.0 |
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Total |
$140.0* |
The $139.2 million Levy revenues will be supplemented by roughly $800,000 in interest earnings and provide total sources of approximately $140.3 million.
In the course of the Committee’s work several important policy and program change issues emerged that the Committee believed are worthy of consideration by the Mayor and Council. This resolution is in response to these identified issues and recommendations from the Committee.
· Please check one of the following:
____ This legislation does not have any financial implications. (Stop here and delete the remainder of this document prior to saving and printing.)
__X_ This legislation has financial implications. (Please complete all relevant sections that follow.)
Appropriations: N/A
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Fund Name and Number |
Department |
Budget Control Level* |
2007 Appropriation |
2008 Anticipated Appropriation |
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TOTAL |
NA |
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*See budget book to obtain the appropriate Budget Control Level for your department.
Notes: