“The GBD augments baseline City services like sidewalk cleaning, graffiti abatement and trash removal. We maintain, improve and expand community- created public green spaces and aid in maintenance of and improvements to Esprit Park (the district’s sole Recreation & Parks Department-owned public park) and the Woods Yard play area (the district’s only children’s playground). The GBD adds street trees and sidewalk gardens and advocates for pedestrian and bicycle routes and other streetscape improvements. We advocate for the needs of the district with a wide variety of City and State agencies, with charitable organizations and private companies and individuals. We encourage and support neighbourhood volunteerism to further enhance our public realm. The GBD helps ensure that the needs of our district are being considered, addressed and funded.”
assessed valuation. 5 All parks and recreation lands, facilities, and equipment are the property of the City of Seattle. The Park District is a separate local government than the City, but shares the same boundaries and is governed by City Council under an interlocal agreement such that the City’s Parks and Recreation Department provides services with the District’s funding. 6 A Board of Parks and Recreation Commissioners provides oversight for the Park District’s investments and activities.
Community Benefit Charges
Introduced in 2020 under section 37 of the Planning Act, Community Benefit Charges (CBCs) are a mechanism for funding capital costs for the provision of public services not otherwise covered by development charges. Prior to Bill 23, CBCs were based on a maximum rate of 4% of the land value. Under Bill 23, the maximum CBC amount is based only on the land proposed for new development, not the entire parcel of land that may have existing developments on it. CBCs are also now excluded from affordable, attainable, and non-profit housing units.
In 2014, Seattle residents voted to form an independent Seattle Parks District with taxing authority. 4 Known as Proposition 1, it replaced an expiring parks levy to authorize an additional regular property tax levy to fund the County’s parks, trails, and green spaces as well as environmental education programs, capital and major facility maintenance projects, and flood mitigation measures. The levy’s duration is six years and began in 2020 at $0.1832 per $1,000 of
5 https://info.kingcounty.gov/kcelections/Vote/ contests/ballotmeasures.aspx?cid=90156
4 https://nextcity.org/urbanist-news/ cities-money-parks-funding-ideas
6 https://www.seattle.gov/seattle-park-district/about
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Appendix D
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