About the Task Force
Our Objective:
The objective of the Task Force is to make recommendations to King County concerning how its parks and recreation facilities and open space should be owned, operated and funded in the future, and how to eliminate the reliance of these parks and facilities on the County’s diminishing Current Expense (CX) revenues, while considering the long and short-term effects of recommended actions. These recommendations should provide the foundation for the continuation of the delivery of a first-class parks and open space system throughout the county.
Our Charge:
The charge of the Parks Task Force is complimentary to the work of several other committees now looking at various foundation elements of park and open space system. These include Conservation Futures Citizens Committee, King County Active Sports and Youth Recreation Commission, as well as the Rural Forest Commission and Agriculture Commission. The Task Force will consider the issues and concerns of key stakeholders of the parks and recreation system, including but not limited to user groups, school districts and cities. Its work should provide for a parks system that performs at an optimal level and is up to addressing the challenges and expectations that arise in the future.
Recommendations:
The Task Force will review the current funding issues for the Parks system and assemble a package of recommendations to best address those issues. These recommendations may include approaches to reduce expenses, transfer assets and/or management responsibility, potential new partnerships or other entrepreneurial means of leveraging resources as well as potential new dedicated funding sources for parks operation and maintenance The Task Force recommendations also may include exploration of other governmental options and structures available under state law.
Process and Timeline:
The Task Force has been asked to report to the County Executive and County Council by June 2002. It is estimated that the Task Force will meet approximately 6 times in order to accomplish its work. In addition, the Task Force Chairs will consult with the Natural Resources, Parks and Open Space Committee of the County Council, among others. The work of the Task Force, and its meetings, are open to the public.
|
