Title
Olympia Metropolitan Park District (OMPD) Interlocal Agreement Discussion
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Briefing only.
Report
Issue:
Discussion on the Olympia Metropolitan Park District (OMPD) Interlocal Agreement
Staff Contact:
Paul Simmons, Parks, Arts and Recreation Director, 360.753.8462
Presenter(s):
Paul Simmons, Parks, Arts and Recreation Director
Background and Analysis:
Following the passage of successful ballot measure to create the Olympia Metropolitan Parks District, the City of Olympia and the Olympia Metropolitan Park District entered into an Interlocal agreement. The terms of the interlocal agreement were modeled after other cities that took similar actions. The agreement was also thoroughly reviewed and negotiated by the City of Olympia City Council Finance Committee working in coordination with the Coalition of Park Advocates (now known as the YES Olympia Parks Coalition). The final agreement was approved in 2016 by both the City of Olympia and the Olympia Metropolitan Park District Board and has been in place ever since.
The interlocal agreement was created to provide transparency and strengthen trust in the community, by outlining how the City and the Park District funding resources work together. The Interlocal agreement includes several specific commitments by the City regarding funding for park operations, acquisition, development, and maintenance. It also outlines the formation and role of a citizen advisory committee for oversight, which has been operating since 2016 under the name OMPD Advisory Committee.
The funding agreement has been in place for 9 years and provides predictable funding for the Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department. These funding sources have been leveraged to receive nearly $12 million in additional state and federal grants. The funding agreement also provided the foundation for the Capital Investment Strategies outlined in the 2016 and 2022 Parks, Arts and Recreation Plan. These investment strategies and funding commitments have resulted in the creation of a new dedicated Park Ranger Program; multiple park acquisitions; Oly on Ice; 3 dog parks developed; 2 spraygrounds opened; expanded summer day camps; Equity, Inclusion and Belonging initiatives including a new cultural events series; over $1 million annually invested into CAMP (asset replacement and major maintenance), the OPARD ADA Transition Plan, and the Percival Landing Maintenance Fund. This funding agreement has also provided ongoing investments that have set the stage for transformative projects in 2025-2026 such as Phase I of the Olympia Armory and Yelm Highway Community Park.
This agreement was designed to build and maintain trust with the community and has provided confidence for past department investments in both capital and maintenance and operations. Past investments outlined in the Parks, Arts and Recreation Plan’s Capital Investment Strategy, as well as future operations for the developed properties, are also heavily dependent on the commitments outlined in the Interlocal Agreement.
Climate Analysis:
MPD funding is utilized to fund projects and programs that benefit carbon sequestration and reduce greenhouse gas emissions. Examples include full funding for the Park Stewardship program which manages and enhances natural areas, including planting thousands of native trees and plants each year. The Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department is also leading a cross-department effort to develop a new vision for the Olympia Waterfront and Percival Landing, which has been identified as one of four vulnerability points in the Olympia Sea Level Rise Response Plan.
Equity Analysis:
The MPD funding provides benefits to the community that would not have been realized without the funding. The City is committed to Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging and the Parks Department has adopted a system to prioritize park development in areas with underserved populations. The City has also worked in partnership with a variety of organizations to support a cultural event series. Beyond events and belonging, The MPD funds provide funding for the Department’s ADA transition plan, and the Park Ranger program that focuses on voluntary compliance with park rules and connecting those in need with social services, such as housing and food.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
The YES Olympia Parks Coalition was heavily involved in the formation of the Olympia Metropolitan Park District and some of their members continue to take a strong interest in the Interlocal Agreement and activities related to the OMPD.
Options:
1. Receive the briefing about the OMPD Interlocal Agreement.
2. Do not receive the briefing about the OMPD Interlocal Agreement.
Financial Impact:
This discussion is a briefing only and does not include any financial impacts. That being said, the Interlocal Agreement itself does include specific requirements for the level of resources that will be dedicated to Parks, Arts, and Recreation.
Attachments:
Interlocal Agreement