KING COUNTY

January 2017

LAND CONSERVATION ADVISORY GROUPPhase 1 Report

i

KingCountyLandConservationAdvisoryGroup

Phase1Report

January2017

ExecutiveSummary

ExecutiveConstantinehasproposedacountywideinitiativeto“finishthejobofprotectingourgreatplacesforever.”TheLandConservationandPreservationInitiative(“Initiative”)setsforththegoalofconservingandpreservingremaininghighconservationvaluelandsthroughoutKingCountywithinthenext30years.Fivecategoriesoflandaretargeted:naturalareas,farmland,forests,rivervalleyandnearshorelands,andtrailcorridorconnections.TheInitiativecallsforpreservingsuchlandsincitiesaswellasruralandurbanunincorporatedareasoftheCounty.

TheAdvisoryGroupwasconvenedbytheExecutiveinSeptember2016andtaskedwithreviewingandproposingrefinementstotheInitiative.TheAdvisoryGroupendorsestheInitiative,recommendssomeadjustmentstotheproposedscope,andrequeststhattheCountyundertakeasecondphaseofwork.TheAdvisoryGrouprequeststobereconvenedinthefallof2017soitcanissueafinalsetofrecommendationsbeforetheendof2017.FinalendorsementoftheInitiativeisdependentupontheAdvisoryGroup’sreviewofthePhase2workandfurtherdeliberationontheissuesnotedinthisreport.

TheAdvisoryGroup’smainPhase1recommendationsinclude:

• AddingasixthcategoryoflandstotheInitiative:urbangreenspace.ThiscategoryshouldbegenerallyconsistentwiththeCounty’sfivelandcategoriesidentifiedaboveandshouldbedefinedthroughworkwithcitiesandhistoricallyunderservedcommunitiesinthenextseveralmonthsbeforetheAdvisoryGroupisreconvened.

• Workingwithcitiestocompletealistofurbanprioritylandsandtrailsinthenextsixmonths,andtoensureongoingfundingisavailabletocitiestopreservebothhighvalueconservationlandsandurbangreenspacethatcitiesmayidentifylater.

• Workingtobetterdefineandquantifytheinterestofsomecitiesinfindingrevenuesourcesforrestorationofurbangreenspacesalreadyinpublicownership,aswellascityneedsforparklandmaintenancedollars.

• IncorporatingequityandsocialjusticeconsiderationsintotheInitiative,includingaddressingdisparitiesthatexistamongstsomecommunitiesregardingaccessandproximitytoopenspaceandgreenspace,andworkingwithhistoricallyunderservedcommunitiestoidentifythetypesofurbangreenspacesthattheyvaluemost.

• Refiningcostassumptionswithrespecttothe66,000acresofidentifiedKingCountypriorityland,andtheacreageyettobeidentifiedinsidecities.

• Workingtobetterdescribeandeffectivelycommunicatethebroadrangeofenvironmental,humanhealth,communityresilienceandeconomicprosperitybenefitsthatcouldbederivedfromthisInitiative.

ii

• Ensuringthataccelerationoffundingisavailablesothatquickactioncanbetakentopreservelandsunderthreatofdevelopment.

• DevelopingastrategythatwillensurebothsuccessoftheInitiativeasrefinedoverthenextseveralmonths,andrenewalofthecurrentCountyParksLevy.

• Leavingfourpotentialpublicfundingsourcesonthetablefornow,pendingfurtherworktorefinethescopeandcostoftheInitiative.Ofthefourpublicfundingoptionsdiscussed,theAdvisoryGroupismoststronglysupportiveofConservationFuturesTax.Thegroupexpressedalesserdegreeofsupportfornewrealestateexcisetaxauthority,anotherpropertytaxlevyorgeneralobligationbondsasInitiativefundingsources.

• DoingadditionalworktotesttheassumptionsabouttheroleofprivatefundinginsupportingtheInitiative.

• Proceedingwithasenseofurgency,asdevelopmentpressurescontinuetogrow.

TheAdvisoryGrouprequestsworkproceedoverthenextseveralmonths,withtheCountyworkinginconcertwithcitiesandotherstakeholders,toaddresstheitemsoutlinedabove,inorderthattheAdvisoryGroupmaybereconvenedearlyinthethirdquarterof2017toreviewtheresultsofthisworkandissueafinalreportandrecommendationsbeforetheendof2017.

TheAdvisoryGroupbelievesthatbypreservingtheremainingnaturalareasandopenspacesinourruralandurbanareas,ensuringaccessiblegreenspacesineverycommunity,strengtheningourregion’scommitmenttopreserveworkingfarmsandforests,andcompletingourtrailnetworks,wecanensureKingCountyremainsoneofthebestplacesinwhichtoliveandworkforgenerationstocome.

iii

TABLEOFCONTENTS

Topic PageExecutiveSummary iTableofContents iiiReportBody 1

I. TheLandConservationandPreservationInitiative 1A. SummaryoftheAdvisoryGroupProcessandMission 3B. OurSupportfortheGoalsoftheInitiative 6

i. TheVision 6ii. BenefitsoftheInitiative 7iii. InclusionofLandsInsideCities 7iv. EquityandSocialJustice 9v. BuildableLandsandAffordabilityIssues 9vi. Phase2WorktobeCompletedBeforeFall2017 9vii. Urgency 9

II. RecommendedRefinementstotheWorkPlan 10A. TheCountyProposalforUnincorporatedAreas 10

i. ProposedScope 10ii. Costs 13iii. ExistingRevenues 13iv. AdditionalStepsNeeded 14

B. ConservationLandsInsideCities 14C. EquityandSocialJusticeConsiderations 15D. ImplicationsfortheCounty’sParksLevy 17E. PrivateFundingSources 18F. PublicFunding 20

i. ConservationFuturesTax(CFT) 21ii. REET 21iii. PropertyTaxLidLift 21iv. GeneralObligationBonds 22v. NextSteps 22

III. BuildingtheOverallPackage 22A. TheProposedScopeandUrbanGreenSpace 22B. Overall.FundingRequirementsandCityPriorities 22C. AccelerationStrategies 24D. PublicandPrivateFunding 24E. InterplaywithParksLevy 25F. EquityConsiderations 25G. Metrics 25

IV. Conclusion:Phase2Work,TimelineandNextSteps 25 Exhibits:

A. KingCountyLandConservationAdvisoryGroupMembers 27B. KingCountyExecutive’sLandConservationWorkPlan:Summary 28C. HighLevelMapshowinglocationofCountyPriorityLands 30D. Phase2WorkPlan 31E. Glossary 32

iv

FiguresandTables: PageFigure1:OverviewoftheLandConservationandPreservationInitiative 2Figure2:CurrentPublicFundingandthe“FundingGap” 4Figure3:BenefitsoftheLandConservationInitiative 8Figure4:AcquisitioninFeeversusEasement 11Figure5:LandsRemaininginCurrentUseTaxation(CUT) 11Figure6:RangeofOperationsandMaintenance(O&M)CostsandLevels 12Figure7:StructureofCurrentKingCountyParksLevy 18Figure8:PossiblePrivateFinancingMechanisms 19Table1:PublicFundingOptionsSummary 23

1

KingCountyLandConservationAdvisoryGroup

Phase1Report

January2017

TheresidentsofKingCountyhavealongrecordofsupportingboldinitiativestoadvancethequalityoflifeinourregion—fromtheForwardThrustbondprogramofthe1960s,totheFarmlandsPreservationProgramofthe1980s,theOpenSpaceBondseffortofthelate1980sandearly1990s,andtheseriesofregionalparksleviesbeginningin2002thathelpedgrowtheCountyParkssystemintotheState’ssecondlargestparksystem.Morerecently,CountyvotersapprovedtheBestStartsforKidsinitiativeandathirdphaseofgrowthinourregionaltransitsystem.Asaregion,wehaverepeatedlyapprovedmeasurestoensureourgrowingpopulationcanenjoythespectacularnaturalsettingthathasdrawnsomanyofushereoverthedecades.

Buildingonthisheritage,ExecutiveConstantinehasnowofferedupanotherboldinitiative,onethatwill,inhiswords,“finishthejobofprotectingourgreatplacesforever.”Havingdeliberatedforthelastfourmonthsuponthisvisionandtheworkplantoaccomplishit,weissuethisreportendorsingthegoalsoftheExecutive’sLandConservationandPreservationInitiative,recommendingsomechangesandrefinementstoit,andrequestingthattheCountyundertakeaphaseofinterimworkinorderthatwemayissueafinalsetofrecommendationswithrespecttotheInitiativeinthefallof2017.

I. THELANDCONSERVATIONANDPRESERVATIONINITIATIVE

TheExecutivetransmittedthe“LandConservationandPreservationWorkPlan”totheCountyCouncilinMarch2016,inresponsetoCouncilMotion14458askingtheExecutivetodevelopandtransmitaworkplanforimplementingaprogramtoprotectandconservehighvaluelandandwaterresourcesthroughouttheCounty.ThatMotion,unanimouslyadoptedinNovember2015,statesinpart:“ItisthepolicyofthecountytoensurethatKingCountyremainsoneofthegreenestmetropolitanareasintheworldbyprotectingandconservinglandandwaterresourcesthatwillenhanceourqualityoflife,strengthenourregion’seconomy,enhancebiodiversity,providerecreationalopportunitiesandpromotesustainableforestryandfarmingandlocallygrownfood.”TheCouncil’sTransportationEconomyandEnvironmentCommitteereceivedabriefingontheExecutive’sworkplaninspringof2016.

TheWorkPlansetsforththegoalofconservingandpreservingremaininghighconservationvaluelandsthroughoutKingCountywithinthenext30years,inbothunincorporatedareasandincities.Highconservationvaluelandsaredefinedas:

• Landswithimportantnaturalorscenicresources,suchasforests,streams,rivers,wetlands,soils,nearshoreresources,beaches,andothertypesoffishandwildlifehabitat;

2

• Landsthatareimportantforspeciesandbiologicaldiversityandimportanttosupportandrecoverthreatenedandendangeredspecies;

• Landsthatareimportantforhabitatrestorationorfloodhazardreductionprojects;• Landsprovidingpassiverecreationorregionaltrailopportunities;• Timberlandoragriculturallandssupportingcommercialproduction.

Basedonthisdefinition1,theCountyhaspresentedfivecategoriesoflandstobeconservedorpreserved:naturallands;farmland;forests;rivervalleyandnearshorelands;andtrailcorridorconnections.SeeFigure1.2

Figure1.OverviewoftheLandConservationandPreservationInitiative

Source:KingCounty.

Inthelastseveralyears,theCountyhasundertakenanintensiveefforttoidentify,parcel-by-parcel,landsintheunincorporatedarea(andafewparcelsinsidecities)to“protectourgreatplacesforever,”resultinginalistofover5,500parcelstotalingapproximately66,000acres.

1SeeExhibitEforaglossaryoftermsusedinthisreport.2Throughoutthisreport,weincorporateworkproductsfromtheCountythathelpillustratetheInitiative.

3

TheCountyhasdevelopedarangeofestimatesforwhatitwouldcosttoacquire,orotherwiseprotectandmaintain,these“Countyprioritylands.”Therangeofestimatesisbasedonvaryingassumptionsabout:(1)howmuchlandisacquiredinfeeversuseasement;(2)howmuchlandnowintheCurrentUseTaxationProgram3mustbeacquired(infeeoreasement)toensureitscontinuedprotection;and(3)whatlevelofmaintenancefundingisneededforCounty-acquiredparcels.FortheCountyprioritylands,thecostforthis30-yeareffortisestimatedbytheCountyat$1.5to$1.8billion.Thiscostestimateexcludesthecostoflandsthatcitiestargetforpreservation.

TheworkplanfortheInitiativeincludesthegoalofidentifyinghighvalueconservationlandswithincitiesforpreservation.Theworkwithcitieshasbegun,butisfarfromcomplete.

TheCountyhascataloguedexistingfundingavailabletosupporttheInitiative.Atallyofprojectedfundingavailablefromtheseexistingsourcesoverthenext30years(afterdeductingexistingcommitmentstowhichsuchfundsareapplied),resultsinanestimated“fundinggap”of$223millionto$533million(again,excludingthecostofyettobeidentifiedcitylandsandexcludingexistingcityfundingavailabletoacquirecitylands).SeeFigure2.TheCountyhasidentifiedarangeofpotentialfundingoptionstofillthisgap,includingbothpublicandprivatesources.SeeTable1.

AsummaryoftheLandConservationandPreservationInitiative(“Initiative”)aspresentedtousisreproducedatExhibitB.ExhibitCmapsthelocationoftheCountyprioritylandsatahighlevel.

A. SummaryoftheAdvisoryGroupProcessandMission

TheAdvisoryGroupiscomposedof25CountyresidentsconvenedbyExecutiveDowConstantineinSeptember2016,aftercloseconsultationwithCountyCouncilmembers.AlistofourmembersispresentedatExhibitA,andincludesprofessionalsfromlocalbusinesses,realestatecompanies,environmentalnon-governmentorganizations,investmentfirms,aswellaslocalphilanthropists,localfarmers,ruralforesters,twoformercountycouncilmembersandfiverepresentativesfromcities.

Ourmission,insummary,wastoreviewtheExecutive’sproposaltoprotectremainingunprotectedhighconservationvaluelandsinKingCountywithinagenerationandmakerecommendationsforapreferredapproachorapproachestoimplementtheproposal.Morespecifically,wewereaskedtoofferourrecommendationson:

3TheCurrentUseTaxationprogramisauthorizedbytheWashingtonStateOpenSpaceTaxationAct(1970;RCW84.34).Landownersreceiveapropertytaxreductioninexchangeforvoluntarypreservationandstewardshipofopenspace,farmland,orforestlandontheirproperty.Onceenrolled,thepropertyisassessedata‘currentuse’ratherthanthe‘highestandbestuse’value

4

Figure2.CurrentPublicFundingandthe“FundingGap”

Source:KingCounty

5

• AnyrefinementsproposedtotheExecutive’sproposal• Theexpectedbenefitsof,andchallengesassociatedwith,implementationofthe

proposal,inparticularconsideringthehealthandqualityoflifeforCountyresidentsandequityandsocialjusticeconsiderations

• Apreferredtimelineforimplementation,includingconsiderationofoptionstoacceleratethepaceoflandacquisition

• Theamountofprivatefundingthatcanreasonablybeanticipated• Strategiesforengagingprivate,nonprofitandNGOagenciesinKingCountywithsimilar

landconservationgoalsandprogramstointegrateandleverageeffortswhereappropriate

• Preferredpublicfundingoption(s)• ImplementationstrategiesHowhighconservationvaluelandswithincitiesshouldbe

addressed• ImplicationsfortheCounty’sParksLevy,whichisupforrenewalin2019

WemetninetimesbetweenSeptember2016andJanuary2017.TheExecutiveappointedformerCountyCouncilmemberLarryPhillipsandTukwilaCityCouncilmemberDe’SeanQuinntoserveasourCo-Chairs.WeweresupportedbyCountystaffandanindependentfacilitator.Allourmeetingswereopentothepublic,andourmeetingmaterialswerepostedonline.Overthecourseofourwork,theCountyalsoconductedthreepublicmeetingsontheInitiative,inadditiontoholdingmanyadditionalmeetingswithcitiesandotherstakeholders.

WebeganourworkbyhearingfromExecutiveConstantineaboutwhythisInitiativeisimportanttohim.WethenheardfromCountystaffabouttheprocesstheywentthroughtoidentifytheCountyprioritylands,theirassumptionsregardingtheircostoftheselands,andfundingthatiscurrentlyavailableforthispurpose.TheDirectoroftheCountyOfficeofPerformance,StrategyandBudgetidentifiedforusarangeofpublicfundingoptionsthatcouldfillthefundinggap.

Weheardfromavarietyofsubjectmatterexperts,includingmedicalprofessionalsstudyingthehealthbenefitsofgreenspace,leadersfromlocalphilanthropicorganizationsandnonprofitagenciesworkingtoengageprivatemarketsinpreservationofland.

TheCountyandForterrapartneredonapollseekinginformationonhowpeopleperceivethevaluesandbenefitsoflandconservation.Thepollresultsweresharedwithus,togetherwithresultsfrompollingcommissionedbyForterraonPugetSoundarearesidentattitudesaboutgrowthandtheenvironment.(AsummaryoftheCountypollresultscanbefoundathttp://your.kingcounty.gov/dnrp/library/water-and-land/land-conservation/meeting-12-14-16/presentation-polling-summary.pdf.)

Atourlastfourmeetings,wediscussedthecomponentsofthemissionstatementandprovidedourthoughtsanddirectiontothefacilitatorandstaffteam,whopreparedthisreportonourbehalfandatourdirection.

6

B. OurSupportfortheInitiative

i. TheVision

WeendorsethevisionandtheInitiativeaspresentedbytheExecutive.ItdescribesalevelofaspirationappropriateandnecessarytokeepKingCountysustainableandinclusiveinthe21stcenturyandbeyond.Itrepresentsagenerationalefforttohelppreservethefoundationofwhywelivehereandwhywehopeourchildrenwillwanttolivehere.

Identifyingandpreservingopenspaces–frompocketsofgreenspaceinurbanareas,toourworkingfarmsandforests,tothelastbestwildandnaturalareasofourCounty–advancesthehealthandqualityoflifeofeachandeveryresidentofKingCounty.Manyofusweredrawnherebythemountains,forestsandwatersthatmagnificentlyframeourcommunities–andwestayherebecauseofthem.Weunderstandthatourbeautifulnaturalenvironmentisnotonlysomethingweenjoypersonally:italsodirectlybenefitsoureconomy,drawingnewpeopleandemployerstotheregion.

WesharetheExecutive’svisionofaregionwherewe,andthegenerationsbeyondus,liveinsustainableneighborhoodsinvibrantcommunities,withmyriadlocalnaturalareasandgreenspacestoenjoy.Thevisionreinforcesourregion’slongcommitmenttopreservingworkingfarmsandforests.Ithelpsimplementourcommitmenttosalmonrecoveryandspeciesdiversityinournaturalareas.Itpromotesathrivingeconomyandthecompetitivenessoflocalbusinessesbymakingthisaplacepeoplewanttolive,andthatbusinesseswillwanttocallhome.Itseekstoimproveequityacrossallcommunitiesinaccesstonaturalareasandgreenspaces.Itfurthersourcommitmenttoaddressingtheimpactsofclimatechangelocally.Webelieveitcanalsobethelaunchingplatformforbroader,regionalpreservationandconservationworkwithourneighboringPugetSoundcounties.

Oneofthepointsthataroseearlyinourdialoguewasthataccomplishingaregionalenvironmentalvisioniscomplex.Weseektoprotectapricelessenvironmentalheritagethatisoverlainbydozensofjurisdictionsthatarehometonearlytwomillionpeople.Wewanttodothisinawaythatwillcontinuetogrowjobsandopportunityforresidents,maintainlivableandaffordableneighborhoodsanddiversecommunities,whilepromotingequityandsocialjustice.Webelievewemustembracethiscomplexityinordertosucceed.

Asourpopulationgrows,theneedtopreserveopenspaceandurbangreenspacesbecomesevermoreimportant.Newtoolsneedtobedevelopedtoenablepreservation.Thetimetoactisnow,beforetheselastpreciouswildareasandgreenspacesarelosttousforever.

Asnotedabove,theAdvisoryGroupendorsestheInitiative.However,afewofourmembersprefertoreservejudgmentastoanyspecificmeasureorfinalimplementationplanfortheInitiativependingassessmentoftheworkandinformationgatheredoverthenextseveralmonths—particularlytheworktoengagethecitiesandtounderstandbothcityprioritiesandtheoverallcostoftheInitiativeoncecityprioritiesareincluded.

7

ii. BenefitsoftheInitiative

TherangeofbenefitsfromtheInitiativeisextremelyfar-reaching—fromtheobviousenvironmentalpreservationconsiderations,toadvancingthehealthandwellnessofresidents,improvingsocialequity,andstrengtheningoureconomy.Figure3presentsatabledevelopedbyCountystaffatourdirectionthatprovidesahigh-levelmappingofthesebenefits.Benefitswillvarydependingonthelocationandtypeoflandbeingpreserved,andoursuccessinidentifyingandimplementingstrategiestopromotesocialequityandhealth.Insomeplaces,weseeanopportunitytofocusonclimatechangegoals.Instillothers,wecansavewetlandareasandprotectcommunitiesfromflooding.

Wecallattentiontothegrowingbodyofevidencearoundthehealthbenefitsofhavingaccesstogreenspace.Whileinsomewaysintuitive,itisaffirmingtoseetheearlydataonthesehealthbenefits,andwefindthisoneofmanycompellingreasonstopursuethisInitiative.Theissueofhealthbenefitsalsoreinforcestheneedtoincorporatecitiesinthisinitiative,givenexistingdisparitiesingreenspaceaccess.

iii. InclusionofLandsInsideCities

Eightythreepercent(83%)ofthepopulationofKingCountylivesinsidecities.4Landsinsidecitiescompriseapproximatelyone-fifthofthetotalacreageintheCounty.5ProtectinghighconservationvaluelandsandurbangreenspaceswithincitiesisessentialtoachievingthevisionandbenefitsoftheInitiativeandthesupportandactiveengagementoflocalcitygovernmentissimilarlyessential.CitiesarenecessarypartnersinthesuccessofthisInitiative.

WehopeandexpectthatcitieswillidentifyalloftheimportanturbanincorporatedlandsofhighconservationvalueforpreservationorconservationthroughthisInitiative.Werecognizethatthetypesoflandandtheconservationopportunitiesinsidecitiesmaydifferfromthoseintheruralareaandthatcitieshaveadditionalneedsandprioritiesthatcomewithhigherdensityandurbanspaces,asmadeclearbythecityrepresentativesoftheAdvisoryGroup.Inrecognitionofthis,werecommendaddingan“urbangreenspace”categorytotheInitiative,andworkingwiththecitiesincomingmonthstomoreclearlydefinethisadditionaldimensiontotheInitiative.ThegoalistoreachanalignmentwiththesepartneragenciessothattheycanbroadlysupporttheInitiative.

Itisimportanttoacknowledgethatworkbycitiestoidentifyconservationlandsanddefineurbangreenspacesisjustgettingunderway–andisasignificanttask.

4WashingtonStateOfficeofFinancialManagement,2016officialpopulationcounts.5PercentageofapproximateareabasedonpoliticalboundariesandexcludingPugetSoundandLakeWashington.Datasource:KingCountyGIS.

Figure3.BenefitsoftheLandConservationInitiative

8

9

iv. EquityandSocialJustice

WestronglyendorsetheincorporationofequityandsocialjusticeprinciplesintothisInitiative.WemustacttoensuretheresultsoftheInitiativeareasholisticasourvision.Thiswillrequirefullengagementofcities,aswellasworkingwithunderservedcommunities.TheCountymustreachouttohistoricallyunderservedgroups,communitiesofcolorandlowincomeresidents,aswellasorganizationsthatworkwiththesecommunities,toidentifythebestapproachestoimprovestewardshipof,andaccessto,greenspaceintheirlocalcommunities—tolearnfromthemwhattheyvalueandwanttoseehappenwheretheylive.

CountystaffpresenteddatatousshowingdisparitiesinaccessandproximitytoopenspacesandtrailsinmultiplecommunitiesandneighborhoodsthroughouttheCounty,particularlyinurbanareas.TheCounty’sanalysisisaworkinprogress.WeaskthattheCountycontinuetoexploresocialequityinrelationshiptoopenspace,greenspaceandconservationandreportbacktousonhowthisinformationcanbeincorporatedintotheInitiative.WeencouragetheCountyandcitiestoengagetogetheronwaystoreduceandeliminatethosedisparitiesthroughthisInitiative,byensuringweareidentifyinggreenspacesandconservationprioritiestoprotectinthesecommunitiesandneighborhoods.

v. BuildableLandsandAffordabilityIssues

ThisInitiativedoesnotexistinavacuum.Localgovernmentsandthepeopletheyservefacemanycompetingchallenges.OnechallengeinparticularthatwecalloutforPhase2interimworkrelatestohousingaffordabilityandtherelatedissueofbuildablelands.Basedontheinformationprovidedtous,preservationoftheCountyprioritylandslocatedinruralareaswillhaveaminimalimpactontheinventoryofbuildablelandsinKingCounty.Butthecitylandshaveyettobeidentified,andwhetherthereisanysignificantimpactonoverallbuildablelandsoraffordabilitytobeexpectedfrompreservingsuchlandshasyettobequantified.WewillwanttoreviewtheresultsofafullexaminationofhousingaffordabilityandbuildablelandsimpactsinthefinalInitiativescope.

vi. Phase2WorktobeCompletedBeforeFall2017

Asoutlinedaboveandthroughoutthisreport,thereisimportantworktobedoneinthenextsixmonthsinorderforustodevelopasetoffinalrecommendationsonhowwethinktheCountyshouldproceed.Workwithcitiesisparticularlycritical.Forthisreason,weasktobereconvenedfora“Phase2effort”earlyinthethirdquarterof2017.WeexpandfurtheronthescopeofthePhase2workplanlaterinthisreport.TheworkplanforPhase2,outliningtheareasofinquiryandageneraltimeline,issetforthatExhibitD.

vii. Urgency

Thereisurgencytothiswork.Ourpopulationisgrowingandwewantourcitiesandneighborhoodstoremainvibrantandlivable.Everyday,weareatriskoflosingourremaining

10

greenspacestodevelopment.So,whileweareaskingforaninterimphaseofwork,itisveryimportantthatwemaintainmomentum.

II. RECOMMENDEDREFINEMENTSTOTHEWORKPLAN

TheCountyhaspresentedathoughtfulandwellresearchedapproachtopreservinghighconservationvaluelandsinunincorporatedareas,andtheCountyispursuingworkwithcitiestocompletethepicture.Asstated,weendorsethevisionandtheInitiative,butsomeoftheAdvisoryGroupmemberswillneedtoseeadditionalinformationbeforesupportingimplementation.Inthissectionofthereport,weofferourrecommendedrefinementstotheInitiativescopeandworkplanpresentedbytheCounty.

A. TheCountyProposalforUnincorporatedAreas

TheCountyhasidentifiedfivecategoriesoflandsashavinghighconservationvalue.ExhibitBoutlinesthescopeoftheInitiativewithrespecttounincorporatedareaacquisitions—the“Countyprioritylands.”AhandfuloftheseCountyprioritylandsarelocatedinurbanareasandcities.(Notincludedinthe“Countyprioritylands”aresomelandswhich,althoughimportantforconservation,duetotheirlocationaremoreappropriatelyprotectedbythefederalorstategovernment,cityutilities,oralandtrust.)

ThecostofacquiringCountyprioritylandshingesuponthreemajorassumptions:

• Howmuchlandisacquiredinfeeversuseasement;• Howmuchland,ifany,isassumedtobepermanentlypreservedthroughtheCurrent

UseTaxationProgram;and• Whatlevelofmaintenancefundingisdeterminedtobeappropriateforparcels

acquired.Figures4,5and6outlinetherangeofassumptionspresentedtousonthesethreeissues.Asnotedabove,theestimatedtotalcostofacquiringtheseCountyPriorityLandsinfeeoreasementrangesfrom$1.5to$1.8billion,dependingontheseassumptions.Citylandswilladdtothetotalcostandcitylandsareasyetunidentified.CitiesalsohavesomededicatedresourcestobringtobearinsupportoftheInitiative.

i. ProposedScope

WesupporttheapproachofidentifyingCountyPrioritylandsbasedonthefivecategoriesidentifiedintheInitiative.WebelievetheCountyhasappropriatelydefinedthefivelandcategoriesandthecriteriaforselectinghighpriorityconservationlandswithineachcategory.Moreworkneedstobedoneinthenextseveralmonthstorefinethecostassumptions.

11

Figure5.LandsRemaininginCurrentUseTaxation(CUT)

Ofthe66,000acresoftargetedKingCountypriorities,62%(40,500acres)isenrolledinCUT.Theremaining38%(25,500acres)isnotenrolledinCUT.IfaparcelstaysinCUTforever,itisassumedtobeadequatelyprotected.Sothequestionishowmuchlanddowethinkwillstayintheprogram?ThefollowingtablelistsvariouspercentagesofCUT-enrolledlandthatcouldbeleftinCUT(thusnotacquired)andindicatesthecorrespondingamountofacreagewewouldneedtoacquiretopreserveall66,000acres.

%ofCUT-enrolledparcelsretainedinCUT–insteadofacquired

…resultsintotalacrestobeacquired(inFeeorEasement)*

0%remainsinCUT 66,000acres33%remainsinCUT 52,700acres50%remainsinCUT 46,000acres66%remainsinCUT 39,400acres

*includingCUTandnon-CUTparcels.

Source:KingCounty.

Figure4.AcquisitioninFeeversusEasement

Coststoprotectlandwillvarybasedonhowmuchisacquiredinfee(titleheldbyCounty—highercost)versusparcelsbeingprotectedthroughrestrictiveeasementsbeingplacedonthelandbyagreementwiththeowner(lowercost).Costestimatespresentedrangedfromprotecting14-30%infee,resultinginarangeof$170millioninlandacquisitioncostsbetweenthosetwoendpoints.

Source:KingCounty.

12

OnescopeadjustmentwerecommendwithrespecttoCountyprioritylandsrelatestohistoricbarns.TheInitiativeproposesthepreservationof174historicallysignificantbarns,with$11M-$22Mforthatpurpose.TheAdvisoryGroupsupportsthepreservationofhistoricallysignificantbarns.Theyareaniconicpartoftherichagriculturalheritageofourregion—andalsosupporttheday-to-dayworkoffarmersandranchers.Weaskedstafftoprovideusinformationonwhatsourcesoffundingcurrentlyareinplacetopreservehistoricbarns.Twoprogramswereidentified:(1)theCounty’sBarnAgainHistoricBarnPreservationProgram,relaunchedin2016,and(2)the4CultureLandmarksCapitalGrantProgram.Theseprogramsareimportant,butdonotprovidesufficientresourcestoensurepreservationofhistoricallysignificantbarns.Indeed,asaregionwehavedonewellinpreservingagriculturalland,butwehavenotdoneaswellinprotectingtheviabilityoffarmingasalivelihoodinKingCounty.Thatsaid,wedonotrecommendincludinghistoricbarnpreservationfundingintheInitiative.Wedonotseeastrongnexusbetweenbarnpreservationandlandconservation.WebelieveitisimportanttostayfocusedonlandacquisitionandpreservationfortheInitiativetosucceed.But,mindfuloftheimportanceofthesestructures,westronglyurgetheCountyandstatetoexpandresourcesavailableforhistoricbarnpreservation.

Figure6.RangeofOperations&Maintenance(O&M)CostsandLevelsTheCountypresentedfourpotentiallevelsofO&MfundingforcareofparcelsoflandthatareacquiredandheldbytheCountyforpreservation/conservation.Numbersshow30-yearO&Mcosts.

Option WhatisfundedinthisOption 30-yearcostA CurrentParksLevylevelof

maintenancefundingfornewpropertyacquisitions(2entrylevelfieldstaffaddedannually).

$140million

B“

+Directcosts(vehicles,materials)

$172million

C“ “

+Fullyfundedfieldstaff(rangeoftasks)

$225million

D“ “ “

+SupervisionandSupportfunding

$255million

Source:KingCountyParksDivisionanalysisandestimate.Assumes50%ofCUT-enrolledparcelsarenotacquiredandapproximately76%ofacquiredparcelsarepreservedthrougheasement.

13

ii. Costs

Overall,theCounty’sapproachtodevelopingacostestimateforpreservationofCountyprioritylandsseemssoundtous.However,therangeofthecostestimateisfairlywide,andwehopeitcanbenarrowedoverthenextseveralmonths.Forthesubsetofparcelswherethereisstillaquestionofwhetherfeeoreasementisthebestapproach,weencouragetheCountytoundertakeadditionalparcel-by-parcelworktoassessthebestwayofpreservingtheselands.

Similarly,weagreeitisimportanttofurtheranalyzewhetherpropertiesnowenrolledintheCurrentUseTaxation(CUT)programwillremainsoenrolled.Landsinthisprogramaremorelikelytobeconserved–throughcontinuedprivatestewardship–withoutanyadditionalCountyexpenditure.Historically,over95%ofparcelsenrolledinCUThaveremainedinCUT.Butasdevelopmentpressuregrows,weagreeitisrealistictoexpectCUTretentionlevelstodrop.Wearenotinapositiontosecond-guesstheCounty’srangeofassumptionsonCUTretention.

WeencouragetheCountytolookintotheissueofCUTpreservationassumptionsfurtherinthecomingmonths—tocreatearefinedproposalaboutwhenandwhereparcelsshouldbeprioritizedforacquisitionoreasementprotectioninthefaceofthisuncertainty.ItmayalsobehelpfulfortheCountytofurtherexplorewhetheradjustmentstotheCUTprogram(bynewlegislationatthestatelevel)couldincreasethelikelihoodofpropertiesjoiningandremainingintheprogram.

IntermsoftherangeofmaintenancefundinglevelsidentifiedbytheCountyforlandsacquiredthroughthisInitiative,westronglyagreemaintenancefundingmustbeincludedintheInitiative.Acquiredlandswillnotretaintheirconservationvaluewithoutmaintenance.Thepublicwill—and,webelieve,should—demandassuranceofadequatemaintenancefundingaspartofthisInitiative.Wecannotsaywhatthecorrectleveloffundingisformaintenance.However,weagreethattheCountyshouldexaminewhetheradditionalfundingoptionsareavailableandreportbacktotheAdvisoryGrouponthisissuewhenwereconvenethisfall.

Aperhapsobviousbutimportantpointaroundcosts:weareexploringa30-yearlandacquisitionandpreservationprogram.Costestimatesmadenowwillnottranslatetorealitywithprecisionovertime.Someidentifiedparcelsmayneverbecomeavailable;otherscouldbeaddedtothelistovertime.Revenueassumptionsshouldincorporatethisvariability.

iii. ExistingRevenues

ThearrayofexistingfundingavailabletosupporttheInitiativeisimpressive,butinsufficient.(SeeFigure2).Theremaybesomecompetingdemandsforsomeofthesefunds,whichwehavenotexploredindepth.Andwearenotsanguineaboutthefutureforfederalenvironmentalgrantfunding.ThisInitiativemaybeevenmoreimportantiffederalfundingforconservationisreduced.Thelikelihoodofsuchadecreaseshouldbefiguredintothefuturefundingpicture.

14

Overall,however,wearestartingfromaverypositivepositionintermsofavailablepublicfunding.

iv. AdditionalStepsNeeded

InadditiontothePhase2workidentifiedbelow,weemphasizethechallengeofcommunicatingthegoalsandbenefitsofthisInitiativeinthemosteffectivewaypossibletothepublic.Thelabelsappliedtothelandstobeprotectedareimportant,andtheCounty-proposedlabelsmaynotresonateaswellasotherpossibleterms.HolisticallydescribingthebenefitsoftheInitiativeisalsocriticaltobuildingsupportforit.Andthismeansreachingoutbeyondthetraditionalconstituenciesofoutdoorenthusiastsandenvironmentaladvocates.Itmeansalsoensuringwecommunicatebenefitstoallresidents,historicallyunderservedcommunities,aswellasthebusinesscommunity,inwaysthatresonatewiththem.Workshouldcontinueoverthenextseveralmonthstodevelopathoughtfulandeffectivepublicoutreachstrategy.

B. ConservationLandsInsideCities

Asstatedpreviously,protectinghighvalueconservationlandsandurbangreenspacewithincitiesisessentialtoachievingthevisionandbenefitsoftheInitiative,andthesupportandactiveengagementofcitiesissimilarlyessential.Onapracticallevel,theCountywillneedtodemonstratebenefitsinurbanareastosecurevotersupportforanyregionalfundingsourcetoimplementtheInitiative.

TheCountybeganoutreachtocitiesontheInitiativeseveralmonthsago,andworkhasbeguninearnest.JustastheCountyhasspentthelastmanymonthsdevelopingthedataonunincorporatedlandstoconserve,wesimilarlyexpectitwilltakeconsiderabletimeandeffortforcitiestodeveloptheirownlistofconservationprioritylands.

Intermsofenvironmentalbenefits,thefivecategoriesoflandidentifiedbytheCountyarerelevanttocityacquisitions,andwestronglyencouragecitiestoidentifysuchlandswithintheirrespectiveborders.

Weendorseaddingasixthcategoryof“urbangreenspace”tothescopeoftheInitiativetoaddressurbangreenspaceopportunitiesthatexistwithincitiesthataredifferentthanthefivecategoriestheCountydeveloped.Thedefinitionofthiscategoryshouldbedevelopedthroughworkwithcitiesandurbancommunitygroupsinthecomingmonths.Weanticipatethatthe“urbangreenspace”categorywillbebroaderandmoreflexiblethantheotherfivecategories,butgenerallyconsistentwiththem.Forexample,citiesmaybeseekingtoexpandareaswhere“P-Patches”orcommunitygardenscanbeestablished.Outreacharoundequityandsocialjustice(discussedinthenextsectionofthisreport)maysuggestotherideasforinclusioninthe“urbangreenspace”category.ItisimportantthattheCounty,communitystakeholdersandcitiesworktogetherinthisoutreacheffort.

15

Inthecourseofourdeliberations,membersoftheAdvisoryGrouprepresentingcitiesalsomadeclearthatforsomecities,acquiringnewlandmaybealowerprioritythanredevelopingorrestoringlandalreadyinpublicownership.TheextenttowhichthesedifferentprioritiescanbeaccommodatedwithinthisInitiative—oracompanioneffort,perhapstheCountyParksLevyrenewal—needstobeexplored.

Insum,Citylandsmustbeidentified.Thelevelofdevelopmentthreatislikelyhighforin-citylands,sothereisrealurgencytothiswork.Afteridentifyingpriorityurbanparcels,cost-effectivepreservationstrategiesforeachparcelmustbeidentified,andtheextentofexistingCityresourcesthatcanbeappliedinsupportoftheeffortmustalsobeconsidered.AllthisworkthenneedstobeevaluatedagainstwhateverregionalfundingsourceorsourcesareselectedtosupporttheInitiative,andhowthoseregionalfundingsourcescanorcannotbeappliedinsupportofproposedCitylandpreservationpriorities.

Fortunately,mostcitieshavealreadyrespondedtotheCounty’srequestfordirect,one-on-oneengagementontheInitiative.However,thisworkwillnotbecompletedforseveralmonthsatbest—indeed,engagingall39citiesinthelevelofdetailedanalysisalreadycompletedbyKingCountyforunincorporatedlandscouldtakeyears,andwecannotwaitthatlong.Sothereisabalancetobestruckherebetweenperfectknowledgeandaction.

Amid-2017targetdateshouldbeestablishedbytheCountyforcompletingworkwithcitiessothattheInitiativecanbefinallyscopedandwecanproceedtowardsfundingandimplementation.Giventheamountofworkyettobedoneincities,itseemsappropriatetoustoplanforaninitialroundofspecificin-cityacquisitionsandalsoensureanongoingfundingstreamisavailableforin-cityacquisitionsovertimeasinformationisdeveloped.Workwillalsobeneededtoclarifytheprocessandprioritiesforallocatinganyfuturefundingstream.

C. EquityandSocialJusticeConsiderations

TheCounty’sworkplanfortheInitiativenotestheimportanceofincorporatingequityandsocialjusticeconsiderations.Weagree.ThereareseriousinequitiesinourCountybetweencommunities,includinginequitiesrelatedtoaccessandproximitytoopenspaceandgreenspace.

Severalyearsago,theCountylaunchedanequityandsocialjusticeinitiative,andtheCountyhasapolicygoalofincorporatingequityandsocialjusticeintoallitsprograms.TheCountydefines“equity”or“socialequity”asfullandequalaccesstoopportunities,powerandresourcessoallpeoplemayachievetheirfullpotential.“Socialjustice”isdefinedashavingaspectsincludinglegal,political,economicandenvironmentalconsiderations–requiringthe

16

fairdistributionofandaccesstopublicgoods,institutionalresourcesandlifeopportunitiesforallpeople.6

TheCountypresentedtoussomeintriguingworkoverlayingGISdataonincome,healthandothermetricsofdisadvantagedandunderservedcommunitiescomparedtoopenspaceaccess.ThepreliminarydataidentifiesareasinKingCountywheretherearehigherlevelsofdiversity,environmentallyrelatedhealthconcerns,lowerincomes,andmorelimitedaccesstoopenspace.Staffstressedthatthisdataisaworkinprogressandplantorefinethemappingasworkproceeds.Evenatthisdraftstage,however,thedataillustratestousthattheInitiativeprovidesanimportantopportunitytoaddressequityandsocialjustice.

WeseeaclearnexusbetweenthebenefitsofthisInitiativeandimprovedequityandsocialjusticeoutcomesinourCounty.IncorporatingequityandsocialjusticeconsiderationsintotheInitiativewouldalsomakethiseffortmoreappealingtoourbroadercommunityandpotentially,privatefunders:allcommunitieswillbeaskedtosupportthisInitiativeintermsofcontributingtowardsthepublicfunding—andtheyshouldallseesomebenefitfromit.

ThisdoesnotmeanshiftingtheprimaryfocusoftheInitiativeawayfrompreservinghighvalueconservationlands.Rather,itmeansapplyinganadditionallenstotheprioritizationprocess,particularly,thoughnotexclusively,inurbanareas.Thenexusbetweenconservationandsocialequityvariesbythetypeandlocationofland.Asmallpocketofurbangreenspacemaynotpresentthesamelevelofhabitat-relatedconservationvalueasaruralparcel,butcouldstronglyadvancesocialequityandhumanhealthgoalsinadisadvantagedcommunity.Conversely,aruralparcelprovidingsignificanthabitatbenefitsmayrateextremelyhighintermsofconservationvaluebutprovidelittledirectopportunitytoadvancesocialequitygoals.Inourview,theInitiativeshouldincludepreservationofbothtypesofparcels.

SpecificgoalsshouldbeidentifiedwithintheInitiativeforaddressingknowninequitiesinaccessandproximitytoopenspaceandgreenspace.Thesegoalsshouldbeestablishedinclosecoordinationwithcitiesandwithorganizationsworkingtoadvanceequityandsocialjusticeinunderservedanddisadvantagedcommunities.Desiredoutcomesmaydifferacrossdifferentcommunities.

Inthenextseveralmonths,theCountyshouldengagedirectlywithunderservedanddisadvantagedcommunities,withcommunitygroupsworkingonsocialequityissues,andwithcities,toidentifyparametersofurbangreenspacethatcanadvanceequityandsocialjustice.Specifically,theworkshouldtrytoidentifythespecificactionsandprioritieswithinthescopeofalandconservationinitiativethatcanimproveequityandsocialjusticeoutcomes.ThisworkshouldalsoconsiderwaystoeffectivelycommunicatethevalueoftheInitiativetounderservedanddisadvantagedcommunities.

6DefinitionsinKingCountyEquityandSocialJusticeStrategicPlan.

17

D. ImplicationsfortheCounty’sParksLevy

In2001,facingageneralfundcrisisthatthreatenedtoclosetheentireCountyParkssystem,theCountylaunchedanefforttorefocusthesystemonregionalparks,openspaceandtrails,shiftingawayfromactiveandlocalurbanparkpropertieswhileretaininglocalparksinruralareas.TheParksDivisionwasdirectedtoincorporateentrepreneurialactivitiesandbuildrevenuesfromtheseactivitiestohelpsustainparkoperations.In2002,forthefirsttime,theCountysoughtvoterapprovaltofundparksoperationswithashorttermlevy.Thevotersagreed.Thatlevyhasbeenrenewedtwiceintheyearssince,withgrowingmarginsofvotersupport.

Today,theCountyParkssystemretainsitsfocusonregionalparks,naturallands,openspaceandtrails,andisthesecondlargestparksysteminourstate—with200parksandnaturalareas,175milesofregionaltrails,over200milesofback-countrytrails,and28,000acresofopenspace.Itmorethanlivesuptoitsmottoofbeing“yourbigbackyard.”EntrepreneurialrevenuescontinuetocontributesubstantiallytotheParksbudget.TheParksLevyprovidesover80%oftheoperatingbudgetfortheCountyParkssystem,aswellasimportantfundingforallcityparkssystemsandtheWoodlandParkZoo.(SeeFigure7.)Thiscriticallevyexpiresin2019.Thus,thetimingandscopeofthelandconservationInitiativecouldhaveimportantrepercussionsfortherenewaloftheParksLevy.

ItisvitallyimportantthattheParksLevyberenewed.ThelandconservationInitiativemustbepursuedinamannerthatdoesnotundercuttheabilitytorenewtheParksLevy.TheconstituenciesfortheParksLevyandthisInitiativeoverlap,butarenotidentical:awell-designedandtransparentstrategyisneededtoensureapprovalofbothefforts.AdditionalworkbytheCounty,andothers,shouldexplorewhetherlinkingbothmeasuresontheballot–orseparatingthembyayearormore–ismorelikelytobesuccessful.

ParksLevyrevenuesareextremelyflexibleastohowtheycanbeused.WerecommendthattheCountyexplorehowtheParksLevyrenewalcanhelpaddressissuesraisedbycitiesinourprocessesthatcannotbeservedbyotherfundingsources.Forexample,ifprojectstorestoreurbanparklandstoamorenaturalandusablecondition,orsignificantlyexpandedmaintenanceandoperationsfunding,becomeprioritiesastheInitiativeisfurtherdeveloped–andthefundingsourcechosenfortheInitiativecouldnotfundthoseefforts–weshouldexplorewhetheritmakessensetoallowcities(ortheCounty)toswitchoutallocationsbetweenLevyandInitiativefundingsources.Similarly,itmaymakesensetoincreaseoperationandmaintenancefundingallocationswithintheParksLevy.

18

Figure7.StructureofCurrentKingCountyParksLevy

Source:KingCounty.

E. PrivateFundingSources

JustasentrepreneurialrevenueshavebeenimportanttofundingtheCountyParkssystem,theCountyisproposingemployingnon-traditionalsourcestosupportthelandconservationInitiative.SomeofthisinvolvesexpansionofexistingCountyprograms—transferofdevelopmentrightsand“in-lieufeemitigation.”7Inaddition,theCountyhasreachedouttofirms,foundationsandindividualsintheprivatesectortoexploreotherwaysinwhichprivatesectorfundingcouldhelpfundtheInitiative.Theprivatefundingapproachesbeingexploredincludephilanthropy,capitalinvestment(althoughlikelyatalowerthanmarketrateofreturninexchangeforanenvironmentallybeneficialoutcome)andprivatelendingtohelpacceleratethepaceofacquisition.IncludingprivatefundingwouldreducetheoverallneedforpublicfinancingoftheInitiative.Figure8summarizessomeofthetypesofprivatefundingbeingexamined.

7TheTransferofDevelopmentRights(TDR)programenablespurchaseofunuseddevelopmentrightsfromruralareasandsubsequentsaleofthedevelopmentrightstourbandeveloperswhocanbuildhigherdensityprojects.TheInLieuFee(ILF)mitigationprogramenablesdeveloperswhoseprojectscreateanenvironmentalimpacttopayafeetoKingCountyinlieuofcompletingtheirownoffsetproject;KingCountythenusesthemoneytorestorehabitat(andaportionoffeescanbeusedtoacquirenewrestorationsitesorprotectintacthabitat).

19

Figure8:PossiblePrivateFinancingMechanisms

Source:KingCounty.

TheCountyfundingsource“wheel”(Figure2)showsthattheseprivatefundingsourcesareestimatedtocontribute$100milliontowardsthelandconservationInitiative–$50millionfromphilanthropyandanequalamountfrom“futureecosystemservicemarkets.”

Isthisrealistic?AfterhearingfromapanelofimpressiveindividualsleadingthewayonthesestrategiesintheNorthwest,wecannotsayforcertain.SomeofthoseonthepanelobservedthattheCounty’stargetforprivatefundingseemsrealistic.However,thisislargelyunchartedterritory.Ecosystemmarketsareintheirinfancy,thoughtherearesomespecificsuccessestopointtoinourregion–includingthe2015Microsoftpurchaseofcarboncreditstotaling37,800metrictonsCO2equivalentfromtheNisquallyLandTrustona520-acrepropertyintheMountRainierGatewayReserve.8Privatefundingmechanismscouldbeacatalystforinnovation,andcouldbeanimportantmeansofacceleratingtheavailabilityofmoniesforacquisition(eventuallyrepaidwithpublicdollars).Insomeinstances,privatesectoractorsmayhavea

8http://nisquallylandtrust.org/nisqually-land-trust-makes-news-and-history/andTJDiCaprio,pers.Comm.Jan2017.

20

greaterabilitytorespondquicklyandeffectivelyinafast-changingrealestatemarket,ascomparedtogovernmentagencies.Itseemslesslikelytousthatprivatefundingsourceswillgeneratesubstantialdollarsto“fillthegap”–andifso,theamountofpublicfundingrequiredwillincreasecorrespondingly.Theapparentleadtimetodevelopnewsourcesofprivatefunding(i.e.years,notmonths)alsoconflictswiththeurgencywefeeltoacttopreservelandsthatmaybelostforevertodevelopment.

MembersoftheAdvisoryGrouphavenotedthatnationally,thescaleofprivatephilanthropiccontributionstoenvironmentalcausesisquitesmallcomparedtothecontributionsofpublicfunding.Insum,privatefundingisaplus,butpublicfundingisthekeytosuccessorfailureoftheInitiative.

Withallthisinmind,weneverthelesssupporttheCounty’sworktoincorporateprivatefundingmechanismsintotheInitiative.Itisimportanttobeabletotellthepublicwearepursuingthisopportunity.

Oneareawheresuccessismoreclearlywithinourgraspisthetransferofdevelopmentrights(TDR)program.WesupporttheCounty’seffortstoexpandthisprogramthroughadditionalcitypartnerships.ThereareonlyfourcitieswhichcurrentlyhaveTDRagreementswiththeCounty:theseagreementscannotonlyreducethecostoflandpreservation,theyalsodirectlymitigateconcernsaboutthelossofbuildablelandsasareasarepreserved—whilekeepingthelandinprivateownership.

WealsoencouragetheCountytoworkoverthenextseveralmonthswithexpertsfromprivatefundingmarketstodevelopaproposedplanforengagingprivatecapitalinsupportoftheInitiativeandtodevelopabettersenseofthelong-termcapacityhere.Itmaybeusefultoconveneanotherpanelofexpertsinthisinquiry.TheCountyshouldalsoexplorethepotentialforalandconservationpilotprojectusingprivatefunding.

F. PublicFunding

Inadditiontotheideaofprivatefundingcontributions,theCountyhaspresentedfouroptionsforpublicfundingto“fillthegap”betweenexistingCountyfundingsourcesandthecostoftheInitiative.Wereviewedthecapacitiesandimplicationsofthesevarioussourcesoverseveralmeetings.Allfouroptionswouldrequirecountywidevotersupport,andtheproceedsofallfourwouldberemittedtotheCountyforallocationregionally.Threeoftheoptionsarepropertytaxbased.Thefouroptionsare:

• RestoringtheexistingConservationFuturesTax(CFT)toitsmaximumlevyrateof6.25centsper$1,000ofassessedvalue

• EstablishinganadditionalRealEstateExciseTax—“REET3”• Seekingapropertytaxlidlift

21

• Seekingapprovaltoissuegeneralobligationbonds

ThefouroptionsaresummarizedinTable1.

Asbetweenthefouroptions,theAdvisoryGroupmoststronglysupportstheideaofusingtheConservationFuturesTax(CFT)tofundthelandconservationInitiative.Thatsaid,atthistime,wewouldleaveallfourfundingsourcesonthetableforfurtherconsideration.

i. ConservationFuturesTax(CFT)

InKingCounty,CFTwasinitiallyenactedbytheKingCountyCouncilin1982atthestatutorymaximumrateof6.25centsper$1000ofassessedvalue.CFThasbeenaquietsuccessfordecades,andhasbeenextensively–andsuccessfully–usedbyboththeCountyandcities.Theallocationprocessinplaceiswellunderstoodandhasstoodthetestoftime.Becauseallocationisbuiltaroundagrantprocess,itcanaddressemergentneedsovertime.

Asaresultofstatelawslimitingthegrowthofpropertytaxrevenuesyear-to-year,overtimetheeffectiverateoftheCFTlevyhasfallento4.45centsper$1,000ofassessedvalue.ForthelandconservationInitiative,wewouldbeaskingvoterstosimplyrestorethelevytoitsinitiallyauthorizedrate.RestoringCFTtotheoriginal6.25centratewouldgeneratesubstantialfunding,particularlyifasecondliftwasvotedupontoagainrestorethetaxratemid-waythroughthe30-yearInitiative.Onedownsideofthissourceisthatitmaynotbeabletobeappliedinsupportofsomeofthebroaderinterestsofcities,andthatitisnotusedformaintenancefundingbyCountypolicy(thoughlimiteduseformaintenance—upto15%oftotalrevenuesgenerated–isallowedbystatestatute).ThispointsouttheimportanceofconsideringwaystocoordinatetheParksLevyrenewalwiththefundingoftheInitiative,andalsotheneedtoconsideradjustingtheCounty’spolicyonlimitingCFTuseformaintenanceandoperationsexpenditures.

ii. REET3

REET3hassomesupporterswithintheAdvisoryGroup,butalsoraisessomeconcerns.Ithastremendousfund-raisingcapacityandisarguablythemostprogressivetaxoptionpresented.However,itmaybeabiggerpoliticalhurdletosecureapprovalthantheotheroptions.LimitationsontheuseofREET3dollarsraisesimilarconcernsasforCFT:sometypesofcityprojectsmaynotbefundedwithREET3.

iii. PropertyTaxLidLift

PropertyTaxLidLiftsareroutinelysoughtbylocalgovernments,giventhelimitationsongrowthofpropertytaxrevenues.Onbalance,wearelessenthusiasticaboutthisfundingsourcethanothers.Itisfamiliartopeople,andthemoniesgeneratedcanbeusedmoreflexiblythananyothersource.However,wehavesomeconcernaboutvoterfatiguewiththissource.

22

TheexistingCountyParksLevyisapropertytaxlevylidlift.WethinktheCountyshouldexplorewhetheradjustmentstothenextParksLevywouldbeappropriatetohelpaddresscityprioritiesrelativetothisInitiative,aswellasotherInitiativeitemsthatcouldnotbeafundedbyCFTorREET.

iv. GeneralObligationBonds

GeneralObligationBondsrequire60%voterapprovalandvalidation,andtheproceedscannotbeusedformaintenance.Thoseareimportantlimitationswhichmakeusnotstronglyfavorthisoption.Again,however,wewouldleaveitonthetablefornow.

v. NextSteps

Inthenextyear,pollingtofurthertestthelevelofvotersupportforthesevariousoptionsshouldbepursued.WeunderstandtherearelimitationsonwhatpollingtheCountycanfund,soitmaybeadvisabletoreachouttonongovernmentalgroupsforassistancehere.RefininghowcitieswouldliketoengageinthisInitiativemayalsoimpactthechoiceoffunding,givenstatutorylimitationsonhowthesevariousrevenuesmaybeapplied.

III. BUILDINGTHEOVERALLPACKAGE

WesummarizebelowthekeycomponentsoftheoverallpackagewebelieveareneededfortheInitiative,ifitproceeds,tobesuccessful.

A. TheProposedScopeandUrbanGreenSpace

WesupportconservingthefivecategoriesoflandidentifiedbytheCounty.TheCountyprioritylandsinventoryhasbeenthoughtfullyandcomprehensivelydeveloped.However,itisimportantthatthepreservationofhighconservationvaluelandsinbothunincorporatedandincorporatedareasbeaccomplishedthroughthisInitiative.Urbanareahighconservationvaluelandsmustbeidentified.And,asdiscussedabove,weareconvincedthatitisappropriatetoaddamoreflexiblecategoryof“urbangreenspace”totheInitiativetoaddressthevarietyofcityopenspacepriorities.ThescopeofthisurbangreenspacecategoryshouldbeconsistentwiththeopenandgreenspacepreservationgoalsoftheoverallInitiative,butshouldultimatelyberefinedanddeterminedthroughworkingwithcitiesoverthenextseveralmonths.

B. OverallFundingRequirementsandCityPriorities

Asnoted,theInitiativemustincludeidentificationandpreservationofhighvalueconservationlandswithincities.However,theselandshaveyettobeidentified,andworkisalsoonlybeginningtowardsdefining“urbangreenspace”priorities.Urbanlandstendtobemoreexpensivethanrurallands.SothepricetagfortheInitiativecannotbereasonablydevelopedwithoutmoreworkwithcities.

23

Table1:PublicFundingOptionsSummary

Source ImplementationMechanics

RevenueGenerated PotentialCostfor$416,000AVhome

ConservationFuturesTax(CFT)

50%voterapproval;Nominimumvoterturnout.Originallyauthorizedat6.25¢,haserodedtoabout4.45¢today.

Liftto6.25¢creates$340Mnewfundingover30yrs.With2ndlidlifttorestoreto6.25¢15yearsout,add$290Mmoretototal$630M.

Increaseof$7.50peryear(from$18.50peryearto$26peryear)ona$416Khome.

REET3 50%voterapproval;nominimumvoterturnout.Canbeauthorizedatrateofupto1%.Itisataxonthepropertybuyer.BothREET1and2areineffectinKingCounty;thesearetaxesonthepropertyseller.

A0.10%tax(1/10thofmaximum)wouldgenerate$1.8Bover30years.A0.021%taxgenerates$386Mover30years.

At0.10%,buyerpays$416ona$416Ktransaction;$10,000on$10Mtransaction.At0.021%,buyerpays$87on$416Ktransaction;$2,100on$10Mtransaction.

PropertyTaxLidLift

50%voterapproval;nominimumvoterturnout.ThisistheCountyParksLevymechanism(levyexpires2019;authorizedin2014atrateof18.77¢per$1,000ofassessedvalue.)Structurecanvaryastoyearsimposed,rateimposed.AKingCountypropertytaxlevylidliftcouldreducethetaxingcapacityofjuniortaxingdistrictssuchasparksdistricts.

Optionsherecouldinclude:• Ashorterterm,higher

taxratelevy.o Moremoneyavailable

foracceleration.o Higherratecosts

propertyownersmoreperyear,forashorterduration

o Leviesofupto6yearscanincludeinflationadjustor(exemptingreceiptsfrom1%/yeargrowthlimit)

• Alonger-term,lowertaxratelevy.o Cannotbondagainsta

levylongerthan9years–limitsmoneyavailabletoacceleratepurchases

o Lowerratecostspropertyownerslessinanysingleyear.

In2016,aCountywide1¢propertytaxlevygenerates$4.3M,andcosts$4.16peryearforamedianhomeowner(homevalueof$416,000).Thefollowingscenariosraise$385millionin6or9years:A12.5¢,6-yearlevycosting$52ayearona$416Khome.An8¢,9-yearlevycosting$33ayearona$416Khome.

GeneralObligationBonds

60%voterapprovalValidationrequirement

Assuming20-yearbonds,$385Mcouldberaisedatannualavg.homeownercostofabout$22(2016)

A15-yearbondat2.8%costs$27ayearona$416Khome.A20-yearbondat3.0%costs$22ayearona$416Khome.

Source:KingCounty.

24

Thatsaid,giventheurgencyofactingtopreservelands,itisimportanttopushforwardonplanningsoonerratherthanlater.Wehaveaskedtobereconvenedearlyinthefallof2017inorderthatwemayissuefinalrecommendationsbeforetheendoftheyear.Thus,thechallengeinthenextsixmonthswillbeforthecitiestodevelopalistofknownhighprioritylandstoprotect,andtoworkwiththeCountytoidentifyaprincipledbasisbywhichtosizearevenuestreamtosecureboththeselandsandadditionalas-yetunidentifiedin-citypurchasesand“urbangreenspace”priorities.

C. AccelerationStrategies

Anotherimplicationoftheurgencyhereisthattheremustbeanaccelerationstrategyforfunding.Itiscriticallyimportanttofront-loadsomefundingtoprotectasmanylandsaspossiblebeforetheyaredevelopedandlostforever.Themostlikelytacticsherewouldbebondingofcertainpublicfundingsourcesorpossiblytheuseofprivatemarketstrategies(advancefundingforpurchase,toberepaidovertimebypublicfunds).

Atthesametime,however,allidentifiedparcelswillnotnecessarilybeavailableinthenextfewyears—andnotallparcelswillbeidentified,particularlywithincities.Therefore,theremustalsobearevenuestreamtoacquireorotherwisepreservelandasitisidentifiedorbecomesavailableovertime.

D. PublicandPrivateFunding

AvarietyofregionalpublicfundingsourcesarealreadyinplacetosupportasignificantportionoftheInitiative.Justhowlargethatportionisdependsuponthesizeofthecities’prioritylandscomponent–andwhatcityfundsareappliedtosupportthoseacquisitions.Inanyevent,however,thereisasizeablefundinggaptoachievethevision.

Webelievethattheregionmustapprovebothnewpublicfundingofsomesort,aswellassupporteffortstosecureprivatefundingtofillthegap.Givennationaldataonenvironmentalphilanthropy,andtherelativelynascentstateofprivatelyfundedenvironmentalmarkets,weagreethatnewpublicfundingismuchmoreimportantfor“fillingthegap”thanprivatefunding.Privatefundingshouldbefurtherexplored,butseemsmorelikelytousatthispointtoassistwithaccelerationstrategies.

OfthepublicfundingoptionsidentifiedbytheCounty,wemoststronglysupportConservationFuturesTaxasafundingsource.However,afinaldecisionshouldbemadeonlyafteradditionalworkisdonetoidentifycitylandsincoordinationwithcitiesandcommunities,includingthescopeoftheurbangreenspacecategory,andalsoafterastrategytoaddresstheCountyParksLevyisdeveloped.

25

E. InterplaywithParksLevy

ContinuedoperationoftheCountyParkssystemisdependentonperiodicrenewalofaregionalpropertytaxlevy.TheParksLevy,whichalsoallocatesmillionsofdollarseachyeartocityparksystems,expiresin2019.Wemustbemindfulnottofocusonwinningthebattleatriskoflosingthewar:implementingtheInitiativecannotundercuttheabilitytopreserveCountyParkssystemfunding.Thetimingofthetwomeasures–theInitiativefundingsourcepotentiallyontheballotin2018,withtheParksLevyfollowingthenextyear—needstobecarefullyconsideredandcoordinated.Wethinkitispossiblethatacomplementarystrategycanbedevelopedbetweenthetwoefforts.TheCountyshouldexplorewhethercityfundingissuesrelatedtotheInitiativecanbeintegratedtoadvantagewiththeParksLevyrenewal.CityrepresentativesontheAdvisoryGroupnotetheimportanceofadequatemaintenanceandoperationsfundingforlocalsystems,aswellasurbangreenspaces–thesemightnotbefullyfundedbysomeofthepublicfundingoptionsweconsideredfortheInitiative.ThiscreatesanopportunityfortheParksLevytobescopedinsupportoftheInitiative.

F. EquityandSocialJusticeConsiderations

ItisimportanttoincorporateequityandsocialjusticeconsiderationsintotheInitiative.Moreworkwithhistoricallyunderservedanddisadvantagedcommunitiesneedstobedoneinthenextseveralmonthstodeterminehowtofullyincorporateasocialequityperspectivetotheselectionoflandstobepreserved,andalsohowthe“urbangreenspace”categoryshouldbedefined.

G. Metrics

MetricsforthesuccessofthisInitiativeshouldbedeveloped.TheCountyandcitiesneedtobeabletotellthepublicwhattheywillachievewithanynewfunding.AreviewofproposedmetricscouldbeapartofthePhase2workoftheAdvisoryGroup.WeencourageKingCountytoworkwithotheragenciesandresearchersindevelopingthesemetrics.

IV. CONCLUSION:PHASE2WORK,TIMELINEANDNEXTSTEPS

TheExecutivehaslaidoutaboldvisionintheInitiative,andweendorsethatvision.By“finishingthejob”ofpreservingthelastbestplacesinKingCounty,wewillfurtherinvestinourgrowthmanagementvisionofensuringvibrantcommunitiesandasustainableeconomywhileourpopulationcontinuestogrow—andensureahealthyecosystemandaccesstobeautifulgreenspacesforallresidentsforgenerationstocome.

26

ThisreportofferstheCountyExecutiveandCountyCouncilourrecommendationsandrefinementswithrespecttotheInitiativeandsupportingworkplan.WebelievethatitisnecessarytotaketimetopursueseveralpathsofinquirybeforefinalizingtheactionplanfortheInitiative.Wethereforerespectfullyasktobereconvenedinearlyfallof2017.Asoutlinedinthisreport,issuesthatwebelievemusttobeaddressedina“Phase2”effortinclude:

• Cityengagementtoidentifycitylandconservationpriorities,expanduponthedefinitionoftheurbangreenspacecategorywepropose,explorefundingoptions.

• Communityengagement,particularlyaroundequityandsocialjusticeissues,toensurethatbenefitsoftheinitiativecanbebroadlyrealizedandwecanfurthertaketheopportunitytoaddressopenspacedeficienciesinunderservedcommunities.

• Equitymappinganalysistosupportequityandsocialjusticegoals—identifyhowandwherewecanaddresslimitedgreenspaceinunderservedcommunitiesthroughtheInitiative.

• ExploreprivatefundingopportunitiesandtestexpectationsforhowprivatefundingcansupporttheInitiative.

• PlanningfornextParksLevycycletodevelopapreferredstrategythatcanensuretheCountyparkssystemstaysopenandexplorewaysinwhichthelevyrenewalmaybeintegratedwiththeInitiative.

• Updatecostmodelingincorporatingcityprioritiessothatwecanmostaccuratelysizethefundinggap,includingconsiderationofrevisedscopeandtheneedforsomedegreeoffundingacceleration.

• BuildableLandsImpactAnalysisincorporatingdataoncity-identifiedlands.• Modelpotentialfundingpackagesconsideringthefullprojectedcostovertime.• Developtargetsandmetricsofsuccesstoensureaccountabilitytothevotersand

confirmthegoalstobeaccomplished.

ThesetasksandothersareallincludedinExhibitD,thePhase2WorkPlan.Thereisasubstantialamountofworktobeaccomplishedinarelativelyshortperiodoftime.Giventheurgencyofthemission,westronglyurgethesupportoftheCountyandcitiestopursuethesetaskscollaborativelyoverthenextseveralmonths,inorderthatwemaybereconvenedearlyinthethirdquarterof2017toreviewtheresultsofthiswork.Our,goalistoprovidetheExecutiveourfinalrecommendationsbeforetheendof2017.

Inclosing,wethanktheExecutiveforconveningus,andfortheoutstandingworkoftheCountystaffinsupportofourefforts.WeareinspiredbythevisionthatExecutiveConstantinehassetforthandbytheCouncil’spolicysupportforthiseffort.WelookforwardtohearingtheirfeedbackonthisReport,andtolaterreconveningin2017tofinishourpartinthiseffortto“finishthejob.”Bypreservingtheremainingwildareasandgreenspacesinourruralandurbanareas,ensuringurbangreenspacesineverycommunity,andexpandinguponourregion’scommitmenttopreservingworkingfarmsandforests,wecanensureKingCountyremainsoneofthebestplacesintoliveandworkforgenerationstocome.

27

ExhibitA:KingCountyLandConservationAdvisoryGroupMembers&SupportStaff

AdvisoryGroupMembersLarryPhillips–Co-Chair,formerKingCountyCouncilmemberandStateLegislatorDe’SeanQuinn–Co-Chair,TukwilaCouncilmemberandForterraBoardMemberChristopherWilliams,SeattleParksandRecreationDepartmentLyliannaAllala,SeattleParksDistrictOversightCommitteeMarcBerejka,REITomDean,Vashon-MauryIslandLandTrustTamara"TJ"DiCaprio,MicrosoftPattiDillGeneDuvernoy/LedaChahim,ForterraJonHoekstra,MountainstoSoundGreenwayTrustGregJohnson,WrightRunstad&CompanyMarthaKongsgaard,formerlyofPugetSoundPartnershipLeadershipCouncilLeannKrainick,KingCountyAgricultureCommissionPaulKundtz,TrustforPublicLandTerryLavender,ConservationFuturesCitizensOversightCommitteeHankMargeson,RedmondCityCouncilrepresentingSoundCitiesAssociationJamesMcNeal,BothellCityCouncilLouiseMiller,formerStateRepresentativeandKingCountyCouncilmemberMichaelOrbino,JohnL.ScottRealEstateAlannaPeterson,WashingtonTrailsAssociation,PacificaLawGroupLLPSteveShestag,TheBoeingCompanyVandanaSlatter,formermember,BellevueCityCouncilMikeStevens/MoMcBroom,TheNatureConservancyNateVeranth,KingCountyRuralForestCommissionSteveWhitney,BullittFoundation

SupportStaffAdvisoryGroupFacilitator:

KarenReed,KarenReedConsultingLLCKingCountyDepartmentofNaturalResources&Parks(DNRP)staff:

ChristieTrue,DirectorBobBurns,DeputyDirectorMichaelMurphy,TransferofDevelopmentRights&In-LieuFeeMitigationProgramMgr.IngridLundin,NaturalLandsPlannerCharlieGovernali,LandConservationProjectManager

28

ExhibitB

KingCountyExecutive’sLandConservationWorkPlan:SummaryNovember2016

(Note:ThisdocumentwassharedwithallCitiesinNovember2016)KingCountyExecutiveDowConstantineisconsideringanewlandconservationefforttoprotecttheremaininghighconservationvaluelandsinKingCountywithinageneration.ExecutiveConstantinesubmittedaLandConservation&PreservationWorkPlantoKingCountyCouncilinMarch2016.Anadvisorygrouphasbeenconvenedtoreviewtheworkplan.KingCountyismeetingwithcitiestointegratecitypriorities,inordertocompletethevisionforconservationacrosstheentirecounty.FinishingtheJobofConservationinKingCounty

KingCounty’slandscapeisspectacular–fromPugetSound,throughathrivingmetropolisandquietruralcommunities,abundantfarmsandworkingforests,totheCascadeMountains.OurlandscapegivesKingCountyacompetitiveeconomicadvantageintheglobalmarketplace.Peoplewanttolivehereandbusinesseswanttobehere,inpartbecauseofthenaturalbeautyandaccessibleopenspace.AsoneofthefastestgrowinglargecountiesintheU.S.,KingCounty’spopulationof2millionpeopleisexpectedtoincreaseby25percentby2040.

Residentsinourregionhavemadesignificantinvestmentsinopenspaceandtrails,butthereismoreworktodotofinishthejobofconservationandkeepourenvironment,communities,andeconomyhealthy.ForKingCountytothriveweneedtokeepournaturallandsandrivercorridorsintact,maintainviableworkingresourcelands,andpreservegreatplacesforpeopletoexplore,relaxandstayconnectedtothenaturalworld.Wemustactquicklytoprotectourmost-importantremainingconservationlandsbeforepricesescalateandweloseopportunitiestodevelopment.

LandConservation&PreservationWorkPlan

TheLandConservation&PreservationWorkPlanincludesaninitialanalysisofconservationopportunities,availablerevenues,andnewfundingpossibilities.Theworkplanfocusedonfivemainconservationcategories:

• NaturalAreas(landacquiredinfeeoreasementthatpreservesnaturalecosystemsforfish&wildlifehabitat,providesnature-based/passiverecreation,completescorridorsofpubliclandownership,buffersnaturalanddevelopedlandscapes)

• Forests(landoftenacquiredineasementthatsupportsworkingforests,holdsthelineagainstsprawl,supportswildlifehabitat,protectswaterquality,helpsrespondtoachangingclimate)

• Farmland(landacquiredineasementwhichpreserveslocalfoodproduction,farmeconomiesandaffordability,inAgriculturalProductionDistrictorruralareas)

• RiverCorridors(landacquiredalongriversinruralandurbanareastohelpprotectcommunitiesfromfloodsandrepetitivelosses,whichalsosupportnaturalwatershedfunctions)

29

• RegionalTrails(completingexistingandplannedcorridorsforshared-use,non-motorizedtrails,providingmobilityandrecreationopportunities,spanningurbanandruralKingCounty)

NextSteps

Movingforward,near-termactionsidentifiedintheplaninclude:

• RefinetheanalysisoflandstheCountyseekstoprotect.

• Identifyexistingandnewrevenuestreamstosupportconservationacquisitions.

• Lookforopportunitiestoforgepublicandprivatepartnerships.

• CollaboratewithcitiesinKingCountytoidentifytheirprioritiesforconservingland.

• Provideopportunitiesforpublicengagementandinput.

• ConveneanAdvisoryGrouptoprovideinputontheCounty’soveralllandconservationgoal;inputandrecommendationsonfinancialstrategies;andapproachesandtimingconsiderationsforachievingthegoal.TheAdvisoryGroupwillissueareporttotheExecutiveinearly2017.

InitialanalysisfocusedonconservationprioritiesthatKingCountywouldlead,andrevenuesavailabletoKingCounty.Approximately66,000acresoflandhasbeenidentifiedbyKingCountyforconservation,primarilyintheruralareaofKingCounty.

Theworkplanrecognizesthatitisvitalforthecountyandcitiestoworktogethertoidentifycitypriorities,inordertoidentifyregionallyimportantconservationlandsacrossKingCounty.ThecountyisactivelymeetingwithcitiestodeterminehowtointegratecityconservationprioritiesintothepictureofconservationacrossKingCounty.Urbanlandisimportanttohelpmeetnotonlyregionalconservationgoals,butalsotohelpsupporthealthandsocialequityamongallresidentsofthecounty.

FillingtheFundingGap

Thetotalcosttoconservethecurrentscopeoflands(66,000acres)isontheorderof$1.5-$1.8billion.Approximately$1.27billioninexistingrevenuesisestimatedtobeavailabletoKingCountytofundtheseacquisitionsoverthenext30years.Theestimatedfundinggapidentifiedatthispointintimeisontheorderof$300-500million.Ascitylandsareadded,coststoprotecttheselandswillrise,butavailablerevenueswillalsoriseasrevenuesavailabletocitiesaretakenintoaccount.

Potentialfundingsourceswereidentifiedintheworkplanthatcouldgenerateadditionalfundsforlandconservation.Mostofthesewouldrequireacountywidevotetoauthorize:

• acountybond

• propertytaxlevylidlift

• increaseintheconservationfuturestaxtothefullyauthorizedamount

• REET(RealEstateExciseTax)3

OtheroptionstheExecutivehasproposedareexpandingphilanthropyandnewecosystemmarketstosecureprivatefundingforlandconservation.

Websites: WorkPlan:http://kingcounty.gov/land-conservationAdvisoryGroup:http://www.kingcounty.gov/conservation-advisory-group

30

ExhibitC:HighLevelMapshowinglocationofCountyPriorityLands

31

ExhibitD:Phase2WorkTasksTASK January Feb. March April May June July August Sept. October Nov. Dec. 1. Phase 1 Wrap-up Report submittal, briefings, etc. 2. City Engagement

Meet w/ cities–land priorities & feedback Report back to cities re discussions

3. Equity Mapping Finalize model

Work with cities in priority areas 4. Community Engagement ID key questions & refine messaging Conduct outreach, with cities where applicable Assemble and aggregate input 5. Explore Private $ Opportunities Property-specific product sheets Outreach; advance partnerships 6. Buildable Lands Impact Assessment Update assessment model Meet with development community 7. Planning for Parks Levy Plan ahead for levy renewal 8. Update Cost Model Refine county priorities; CUT; etc. Integrate city priorities into model 9. Model Funding Packages Update funding model Re-evaluate funding gap & options 10. Develop Targets/Metrics Develop metrics 11. Track Regional/Nat’l Issues Track trends in conservation funding 12. Plan for Phase 2 Advisory Group Status emails every 1-2 months Phase 2 Advisory Group meetings

32

ExhibitE

Glossary

CurrentUseTaxationProgram:TherearefourcurrentusetaxationprogramsinKingCountythatofferanincentive(apropertytaxreduction)tolandownerstovoluntarilypreserveopenspace,farmlandorforestlandontheirproperty.Onceenrolled,aparticipatingpropertyisassessedata“currentuse”value,whichislowerthanthe“highestandbestuse”assessmentvaluethatwouldotherwiseapplytotheproperty.TheseprogramsencouragetheconservationofnaturalresourcesinKingCountybyconservingitslandandwaterresources,whichincludeimportantwildlifehabitat,wetlandandstreams,workingforestsandproductivefarmlands.Theprogramsencouragelong-termenrollmentbyapplyingapenaltytopropertiesthatwithdraw(guidedbystatestatute,oftenincludingrepaymentofsevenyearsofbacktaxes).9Equity,orSocialEquity:Fullandequalaccesstoopportunities,powerandresourcessothatallpeoplemayachievetheirfullpotentialandthrive.10Farmland:Agriculturallandsthathavelong-termsignificanceforthecommercialproductionoffoodorotheragriculturalproducts.11Agriculturalproductsinclude,butarenotlimitedto:horticultural,viticultural,floricultural,vegetable,fruit,berry,grain,hops,hay,straw,turf,sod,seed,andapiaryproducts;feedorforageforlivestock;Christmastrees;hybridcottonwoodandsimilarhardwoodtreesgrownascropsandharvestedwithintwentyyearsofplanting;andlivestock,includingboththeanimalsthemselvesandanimalproductsincluding,butnotlimitedto,meat,uplandfinfish,poultryandpoultryproducts,anddairyproducts.12GreenSpace:Atermrelatedto‘openspace’asdefinedbelow.ConsideredbytheAdvisoryGroupinthecontextof“urbangreenspace”whichwouldgenerallyrefertopassive-useopenspacelandsofvariouspurposeslocatedinurbansettings.TermistobefurtherdefinedthroughPhase2work.HighConservationValueLandsmayinclude:

• Landswithimportantnaturalorscenicresources,suchasforests,streams,rivers,wetlands,soils,nearshoreresources,beaches,andothertypesoffishandwildlifehabitat;

• Landsthatareimportantforspeciesandbiologicaldiversityandimportanttosupportandrecoverthreatenedandendangeredspecies;

• Landsthatareimportantforhabitatrestorationorfloodhazardreductionprojects;• Landsprovidingpassiverecreationorregionaltrailopportunities;• Timberlandoragriculturallandssupportingcommercialproduction.

NaturalAreas:Naturalareasarethosepropertiesinthecounty’snaturallandsinventorywhoseprimarypurposeistoconserveandrestoreecologicalvalue.Theymaynotbecompletelynaturalandundisturbedbutmaybeimportantinpreservingrareorvanishingflora,fauna,geologicalsitesorfeaturesofscientific,traditional,cultural,oreducationalvalue.Thesesitesmayallowpublicusethat

9http://www.kingcounty.gov/services/environment/stewardship/sustainable-building/resource-protection-incentives.aspx10DefinitionsinKingCountyEquityandSocialJusticeStrategicPlan.11KingCounty2016ComprehensivePlan,fromtheGlossarydefinitionofResourceLands,Designated12KingCounty2016ComprehensivePlan,Glossary–AgriculturalProducts

33

doesnotharmtheecologicalresourcesofthesite.AlsoreferredtoasEcologicalLandsorEcologicalsites.13OpenSpace:"Openspaceland"means"openspaceland"asnowdefinedinRCW84.34.020(1)and"openspaceuse"meansanyoftheusesprovidedinsuchdefinition.14RCW84.34.020(1):(1)"Openspaceland"means(a)anylandareasodesignatedbyanofficialcomprehensivelanduseplanadoptedbyanycityorcountyandzonedaccordingly,or(b)anylandarea,thepreservationofwhichinitspresentusewould(i)conserveandenhancenaturalorscenicresources,or(ii)protectstreamsorwatersupply,or(iii)promoteconservationofsoils,wetlands,beachesortidalmarshes,or(iv)enhancethevaluetothepublicofabuttingorneighboringparks,forests,wildlifepreserves,naturereservationsorsanctuariesorotheropenspace,or(v)enhancerecreationopportunities,or(vi)preservehistoricsites,or(vii)preservevisualqualityalonghighway,road,andstreetcorridorsorscenicvistas,or(viii)retaininitsnaturalstatetractsoflandnotlessthanoneacresituatedinanurbanareaandopentopublicuseonsuchconditionsasmaybereasonablyrequiredbythelegislativebodygrantingtheopenspaceclassification,or(c)anylandmeetingthedefinitionoffarmandagriculturalconservationlandundersubsection(8)ofthissection.

ParksLevy:TheKingCountyParks,Trails,andOpenSpaceReplacementLevy,approvedbyKingCountyvotersonAugust6,2013.Themeasurewillgenerateanestimated$66millionperyearfrom2014through2019throughaCPI-indexedpropertytaxlevylidliftofupto18.77centsper$1,000ofassessedvalue.TheParksLevyreplacedtwoearliercountywideparkslevies,theKingCountyParksLevyandtheOpenSpaceandTrailsLevy,whichexpiredattheendof2013.15SocialEquity:See“Equity”SocialJustice:Allaspectsofjustice–includinglegal,political,economicandenvironmental–andrequiresthefairdistributionofandaccesstopublicgoods,institutionalresourcesandlifeopportunitiesforallpeople.16RegionalTrails:Regionaltrailsarenonmotorizedfacilitiesandmaybepavedorsoft-surface(gravel)oracombinationofboth.Regionaltrailsprovidebothrecreationalopportunitiesandmobilityoptions,connectinguserswithdedicatednonmotorizedroutestoparks,work,schoolandotherdestinations.Trailscanbeusedforwalking,jogging,cycling,skating,and,whereappropriate,horsebackriding.17WorkingForests:Workingforestsarelandswithimportantecologicalvaluefortheretentionandinfiltrationofstormwaterfortheeliminationofrunoffandreplenishmentofgroundwater,asasourceofwaterforriversandstreamsthatsupportfishpopulations,forprovidingfishandwildlifehabitat,improvingairquality,reducingwildfirerisk,sequesteringandstoringcarbondioxideandhelpingmitigatetheimpactsofclimatechange.Workingforestscanalsoprovideeconomicvalue,bothasasourceofrevenuegeneratedfromharvestingtimberandotherforestproductsandasarecreation

13KingCounty2016ComprehensivePlan,Glossary14KingCountyCode26.04.020(L)15http://kingcounty.gov/services/parks-recreation/parks/about/levy.aspx16DefinitionsinKingCountyEquityandSocialJusticeStrategicPlan.17KingCountyOpenSpacePlan2016Update,page25

34

destination.18Also,Workingforestsincludeforestlandsthathavelong-termsignificanceforthecommercialproductionoftimber.19

18KingCountyOpenSpacePlan2016Update,page27-2819KingCounty2016ComprehensivePlan,fromtheGlossarydefinitionofResourceLands,Designated.

Graphics Production: Wendy Gable Collins, King County Information Technology

Photo Credits: Front cover: Three Forks Natural Area, Two Rivers School volunteer event, November 2016 (photo credit: King County Parks)

Inside front cover: top - Interpretive walk & restoration work at Skyway Park, bottom - Three Forks Natural Area, Two Rivers School volunteer event, November 2016 (photo credit: King County Parks)

Inside back cover: photo credit: Karen Reed

Back cover: Maury Island Marine Park (photo credit: King County Parks)