WHEREAS, the Mounted Patrol Unit facility has been located in "temporary" facilities at Discovery Park since the early 1970's; and

WHEREAS, the facility needs major rehabilitation; and

WHEREAS, the continued use of the Discovery Park site is incompatible with the community's and the Parks Department's plan to have Discovery Park serve as a natural area; and

WHEREAS, with the implementation in 1994 of park improvements funded through the Shoreline Park Improvement Fund (Metro secondary sewage treatment plant mitigation funds), the pressure to relocate the Mounted Patrol Unit has increased; and

WHEREAS, the Mayor and City Council have asked that a new Mounted Patrol Unit facility be located on City-owned property within the city limits of Seattle; and

WHEREAS, Councilmember Pageler has explored the possibility of private fund-raising efforts that could finance or partially finance a new facility; and

WHEREAS, if a private fund-raising effort is sufficiently successful, the City would commit to fund at least the site preparation and office costs; and

WHEREAS, the Parks Department, the Police Department, the Department of Administrative Services, and the Office of Management and Planning, among others, have spent considerable time looking at and evaluating over a dozen City-owned properties for their feasibility as a Mounted Patrol Unit facility based on a set of operational criteria; and

WHEREAS, at the conclusion of this evaluation process, a consensus was reached by the participating departments to recommend a City-owned site located in southwest Seattle, adjacent to Westcrest Park, and part of which is currently being used by the Engineering Department for its West Seattle Shops ("the West Seattle Shops' site"); NOW, THEREFORE,

BE IT RESOLVED BY THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF SEATTLE, THE MAYOR CONCURRING, THAT:

Section 1. The Council adopts the following work plan for development of the new Mounted Patrol Unit.

A. During the first quarter of 1996, the Department of Administrative Services shall:

(1) Go forward with preliminary site design feasibility, facility cost estimates/fiscal analysis, and environmental review for construction of the Mounted Patrol Unit facility at the West Seattle Shops' site.

(2) Prepare a summary analysis comparing the feasibility, costs, environmental impacts, and operational criteria of the West Seattle Shops' site, Magnuson Park site, Seward Park site, and Discovery Park ("no action") alternative.

(3) In cooperation with the Council, solicit input from the affected communities and from other City departments such as the Department of Neighborhoods, Neighborhood Planning Office, Department of Construction and Land Use, Office of Management and Planning, Engineering Department, and Police Department to measure community acceptance and address community concerns.

B. During the second quarter of 1996, Councilmember Margaret Pageler and others will work with the community to secure private funding for all or part of the construction of the Mounted Patrol Unit facility and will recommend to the Public Safety Committee that the City proceed with site work for the facility or explore other financing based on the results of that effort.

ADOPTED by the City Council of the City of Seattle this ________ day of ____________________, 1995, and signed by me in open session in authentication of its adoption this ________ day of ____________________, 1995.

______________________________________

President ____________of the City Council

MSL MPU-RES; #7 12/6/95