Title
Approval of a Resolution Authorizing an Agreement to Transfer Primary Management and Control of Certain City-Owned Properties from the Olympia Public Works Department to the Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Department
Recommended Action
Committee Recommendation:
Not referred to a committee.
City Manager Recommendation:
Move to approve a resolution authorizing an agreement to transfer primary management and control of certain City-Owned Properties from the Olympia Public Works Department to the Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Department.
Report
Issue:
Whether to approve a resolution authorizing an agreement to transfer primary management and control of certain City-Owned Properties from the Olympia Public Works Department to the Olympia Parks, Arts and Recreation Department.
Staff Contact:
Jonathon Turlove, Director of Park Planning and Maintenance, 360.753.8068
Eric Christensen, Water Resources Director, 360.570.3741
Presenter(s):
Jonathon Turlove, Director of Park Planning and Maintenance
Background and Analysis:
The Olympia Public Works Department has acquired multiple properties for utility purposes such as stormwater management, water quality protection, habitat restoration and enhancement and groundwater protection. Staff has identified four of these properties that also have strong recreation potential: Black Lake Meadows, Taylor Wetlands, Indian Creek and Yauger Wetland.
The Olympia Parks, Arts, and Recreation Department (OPARD) and Public Works staff have met and believe that the four properties should be transferred to the Parks inventory and that a cooperative partnership between the two departments on property, stormwater, and habitat management would be cost effective.
Public Works would continue to manage the stormwater and habitat functions of the properties while OPARD would manage public access and recreational amenities and would provide Park Ranger patrolling. The specific roles of each department are spelled out in the attached Memorandum of Understanding.
Neighborhood/Community Interests (if known):
There is strong community support for additional parkland, and this will add approximately 98 acres to Olympia’s park inventory.
Options:
1. Approve the resolution.
2. Modify the resolution - giving staff other direction.
3. Do not approve the resolution - these properties would remain entirely managed by Public Works.
Financial Impact:
There is no financial impact related to the transfer.
Attachments:
Resolution
Agreement