The
county wanted to update the IAC/GMA
parks element to anticipate the impact increasing population growth would have on
county staff, facility, maintenance, and funding requirements within the 7 urban
growth areas in the county and for regional or county-wide recreation programs
and park facilities.
We inventoried programs, facilities, and properties provided by the cities, county, school districts, port, state, federal, Indian tribes, non-profit, and for profit organizations. We projected population change and the impact future population levels and characteristics would have on present and future levels-of-service (LOS) including joint venture programs and project opportunities with other jurisdictions, non-profit, and for profit entities.
Our process
projected the staff, program, and facility requirements necessary to sustain the
proposed LOS through the next 6-20 year programming periods including various
revenue enhancement strategies. Finally, we conducted a mail-out/phone-back
survey of registered voters in the county to determine final project proposals and
financing preferences particularly concerning impact fees and a possible property tax levy adjustment.
The
Department used our resulting strategies to create an interactive recreation
program website clearinghouse, and start work on a possible county-wide property
tax levy to fund the acquisition, development, maintenance, and operation of
shared regional facilities within the county.