North Greenacres Neighborhood

State Park Land Auction/ Transfer --Park Comm to Vote 6-22-06

State Park Commissioners will vote on June 22, 2006

It is important to send letters in support of the State Park property located along the north bank of the spokane river to be transferred to Spokane Valley. It is in danger of being auctioned off to developers as its best use. People decided protested at the May meeting of any move of the State Park to sell these public properties.
It is important to send letters to the State Park Commission by June 19th.
The Washington State Park Commission will convene here on June 22, 2006 at Centerplace - located in Spokane Valley to vote on whether to auction these properties to the highest bidder or transfer them to the local municipalities. Spokane Valley's Attorney Carey Driscoll representing our city, brought a letter of resolution, that was voted on unanimously by the council to have the properties transferred to our city - any properties that were within our city limits. North Greenacres Neighborhood collected 64 signatures in support of retaining our state park land and having it transferred to ensure it is safely kept in public hands at our May 3, 2006 Neighborhood Meeting.

State Park Report to Park Commission for consideration

June 22, 2006

Item E-5: Long-Term Boundary Revision and Land Disposal—Selected Properties at Riverside State Park—Centennial Trail—Requested Action

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY: This item asks the Commission to determine that state park properties located on the north side of the Spokane River and east of the The Islands Trailhead are surplus to the needs of the state for development for state park purposes and should be transferred to a local government. This complies with our Centennial 2013 Plan element, “Our Commitment - Stewardship.”

SIGNIFICANT BACKGROUND INFORMATION: In 1998, the Commission adopted land classifications and a long-term boundary for Riverside State Park, which included the Centennial Trail area. Since that time, staff has done a more detailed analysis of Parks property ownership associated with the Centennial Trail. In addition to the trail corridor itself, State Parks owns a number of parcels disconnected from the trail. These properties constitute a string of public lands interspersed along several miles of the northern shore of the Spokane River and east from The Islands Trailhead, the Centennial Trail lies on the southern shore of the Spokane River (Appendix 1). As staff reviewed these properties an underlying premise was that an open space corridor would be retained along the river shore for habitat and access purposes.

Staff then further evaluated those properties not connected to the Centennial Trail. These are properties that do not contribute directly to public recreation opportunities, or provide riparian habitat and river corridor green space value. Staff analysis concluded that these disconnected properties cannot be advantageously used for park purposes and should be considered for transfer to another public entity or disposal via sale by auction.

The central function of properties deeded to the Commission by Inland Empire Paper Company and others was to expand Riverside State Park and facilitate creation of the Centennial Trail. With adoption of the Centennial 2013 Vision by the Commission in January 2005, an ongoing systematic review of park properties is underway to ensure that all Commission owned and managed properties are consistent with the Vision and are best managed by the Commission.
For those properties that are not consistent with the Centennial 2013 Vision or that may be better managed by others, the Commission has embarked on a program of property disposal by either transfer to others who will retain the property for park and open space purposes, or by sale at auction with the proceeds going to purchase properties of high recreation value to expand existing state parks. On May 11, 2006, staff held a public meeting in Spokane regarding a staff recommendation for seven selected properties in this area. The advertisement for the public meeting noted the properties were under consideration for disposal, possibly at auction. Approximately 80 people attended the meeting. Sentiment strongly favored retention of the property in public ownership. Uses noted included public travel along the banks of the river corridor, habitat, access to the river from the adjoining uplands, possible future use as a trail, and open space. People noted the decline in open space in general and particularly water access sites. They mentioned that the community was seeking sites like this for community use, including several recent purchases by local governments.

STAFF RECOMMENDATION
The properties that were proposed for public auction fall within the jurisdiction of two local governments, the City of Spokane Valley and Spokane County. Each government noted the high value of these properties for public open space and habitat purposes, and their efforts to acquire like properties within their jurisdictions as driven by local open space planning. Attached are letters sent from each government (Appendix 2). Staff recommends that the Commission authorize the Director to transfer the properties proposed for auction to the city of Spokane Valley and Spokane County as authorized by statute and upon receipt of a public use plan for the properties. Staff additionally requests Commission authorization to enter into discussions that would lead to the transfer to the city of Spokane Valley and Spokane County all remaining Commission owned property not required for the Centennial Trail within Riverside State Park east of the Islands Trailhead and north of the Spokane River. The primary public purpose for this property is for riparian habitat and river shore open space that is much more consistent with local open space objectives and management than as part of Riverside State Park and the Centennial Trail.
Authority -- RCW 79A.05.170
Under RCW 79A.05.170 (see Appendix 3), when the Commission finds that property under its control “...are surplus to the needs of the state for development for state park purposes…” it may deed the land to local government for outdoor recreation purposes. The statute further prescribes that a deed transferring lands shall contain a reversionary clause stating that the land shall revert to the Commission if not used for outdoor recreation purposes.

SUPPORTING INFORMATION:
Appendix 1: Vicinity and Parcel Maps
Appendix 2: Letters from City of Spokane Valley and Spokane County
Appendix 3: RCW 79A.05.170

REQUESTED ACTION OF COMMISSION:
That the Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission unanimously:
1. Receive staff’s “Determination of Non-significance” that the proposed action is minor and the environmental effects are not significant;
2. Find that the Commission owned properties located east of the Islands Trailhead and on the north side of the Spokane River are surplus to the needs of the state for development for state park purposes;
3. Authorize the Director pursuant to RCW 79A.05.170 to transfer at no cost to the city of Spokane Valley and Spokane County the Commission owned properties within their separate jurisdictions that were proposed for disposal by public auction upon receipt of a public use plan; and
4. Authorize the Director to transfer at no cost to the city of Spokane Valley and Spokane County the remaining Commission owned properties east of the Islands Trailhead and on the north side of the Spokane River not required for the Centennial Trail pursuant to RCW 79A.05.170 and upon submittal to the Director of a formal request for transfer and a public use plan for the properties.
________________________________________
Authors:
Bill Koss, Manager, Planning Program
bill.koss@parks.wa.gov
360-902-8629

Steve Hahn, Manager, Lands Program
steve.hahn@parks.wa.gov
360-902-8683

Reviewer(s):
SEPA REVIEW: Following review, staff has determined the action proposed for the Commission by staff is a preliminary step needed before the action is sufficiently definite to allow meaningful environmental analysis. Meaningful analysis will be possible when the City of Spokane Valley and Spokane County submit a use plan for the properties, as described in requested action, item 4.

Fiscal Impact Statement: There is potential lost revenue by State Parks transfer of this property to local government.

Larry Fairleigh, Parks Development Service Center Assistant Director

Judy Johnson, Deputy Director: __________________________


Approved for Transmittal to Commission:



_______________________________
Rex Derr, Director