Form revised February 12, 2004

FISCAL NOTE FOR NON-CAPITAL PROJECTS

Department:	Contact Person/Phone:	DOF Analyst/Phone:
Parks and Recreation	Michael Shiosaki, 615-0823	Marilynne Gardner, 233-5109

Legislation Title:

AN ORDINANCE relating to off-leash areas; adding a new off-leash area at the Interstate 5 Open Space Project to the list of designated off-leash areas in Subsection 18.12.080 B of the Seattle Municipal Code.

· Summary of the Legislation:

This legislation establishes an off-leash area for dogs at Interstate 5 Open Space Project, effective January 1, 2005. The off-leash area will be managed by the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR).

The legislation authorizes this use to provide recreation opportunities for dogs and their owners and to improve the utilization of the Interstate 5 Open Space Project by reserving a portion of the open space as an off-leash area. Currently, there are no off-leash areas in the Capitol Hill and Eastlake neighborhoods, and the use is strongly supported by many community members. The impacts of off-leash activities will be reviewed after eighteen months of operation.

Background: There is an existing CIP project (Interstate 5 Open Space – Development, K733057) that leases and develops a 7.8 acre portion of Washington State Department of Transportation property under Interstate 5 immediately south of East Howe Street into open space. The project will develop an off-leash area, stairs to make pedestrian connections between the North Capitol Hill and the Eastlake neighborhoods, mountain biking trails, lighting, landscaping, and other site amenities. This project is funded by the 2000 Parks Levy (Neighborhood Parks, Green Spaces, Trails and Zoo Levy), an eight-year, $198.2 million levy lid lift approved by Seattle voters in November of 2000.

Uses and Sources for Operation and Maintenance Costs for this Project:

O&M		2004		2005		2006		2007		2008		2009		Total
	Uses
	Start Up		-		-		-		-		-		-		-
	On-going		-		8,500		8,670		8,843		9,020		9,200		44,233
	Sources (itemize)
	2000 Parks Levy Fund (33850)		-		8,500		8,670		8,843		9,020		-		35,033
	To be determined		-		-		-		-		-		9,200		9,200

Notes:

The New Facilities costs listed above represent the maintenance costs for only the off-leash area of the Interstate 5 Open Space Development project. The O&M numbers listed above assume a 2% inflation rate in each successive year. Funding available from the 2000 Parks Levy for project related O&M ends in 2008 and an alternative funding strategy has yet to be determined for the following years. O&M work will include fence maintenance, maintenance of irrigation lines, trimming & mowing, removal of invasive plants, litter and trash pick up, removal of encampments, and other related maintenance work. Citizens for Off-Leash Areas (COLA) will enter into a management agreement with DPR that will include some maintenance and improvements. O&M funding for the full scope of the completed Interstate 5 Open Space Development project has already been identified ($62,000 annually inclusive of the off-leash element) and is included in the 2004-2009 Adopted CIP.

· Please check one of the following:

____ This legislation does not have any financial implications. (Stop here and delete the remainder of this document prior to saving and printing.)

__X__ This legislation has financial implications. (Please complete all relevant sections that follow.)

Appropriations: Not Applicable. This legislation does not request additional appropriation.

Fund Name and Number	Department	Budget Control Level*	2004 Appropriation	2005 Anticipated Appropriation
TOTAL

*See budget book to obtain the appropriate Budget Control Level for your department.

Notes:

Anticipated Revenue/Reimbursement: Resulting From This Legislation: Not applicable.

Fund Name and Number	Department	Revenue Source	2004 Revenue	2005 Revenue
TOTAL

Notes:

Total Regular Positions Created Or Abrogated Through This Legislation, Including FTE Impact: This legislation will neither create nor abrogate positions. It is expected that maintenance and operations will be achieved using existing positions.

Position Title and Department*		Fund Name	Fund Number	Part-Time/ Full Time	2004 Positions	2004 FTE	2005 Positions**	2005 FTE**
	TOTAL

* List each position separately

** 2005 positions and FTE are total 2005 position changes resulting from this legislation, not incremental changes. Therefore, under 2005, please be sure to include any continuing positions from 2004

Notes: There will be no revenues collected in conjunction with this off-leash area. However, the community organization, Citizens for Off-Leash Areas, has stated its intent to solicit contributions to make improvements to the off-leash area. Donations are not estimated at this time, as the community won’t develop a fundraising plan until the use is approved. COLA will also contribute to maintenance through work parties.

· Do positions sunset in the future?):NA

Spending/Cash Flow: Not applicable.

Fund Name and Number	Department	Budget Control Level*	2004 Expenditures	2005 Anticipated Expenditures
TOTAL

* See budget book to obtain the appropriate Budget Control Level for your department.

Notes:

· What is the financial cost of not implementing the legislation?

The Interstate 5 Open Space Development project could move forward without the off-leash area (OLA) element. However, a lengthy process to identify a replacement for the closed Volunteer Park site in the area did not find acceptable alternative locations. Therefore, re-evaluation of alternative sites for an OLA and designing another off-leash area would require staff time and consultant expenses. DPR has no budget to undertake this effort.

· What are the possible alternatives to the legislation that could achieve the same or similar objectives?

Consideration of an off-leash area at the Interstate 5 site began when problems arose with a pilot off-leash area at Volunteer Park. In response to concerns about that area, City Council Resolution 29628, which established permanent off-leash areas, also directed the Parks and Recreation to find an alternative to the Volunteer Park Off-Leash Area. DPR considered a number of alternative locations for an off-leash area to serve the north Capitol Hill area between 1998 and 2000. After considering each of these options, DPR staff and the Park Board of Commissioners recommended the I-5 Open Space site as the most viable site for an off-leash area.

During the site planning phases of the Interstate 5 Open Space Development project, several locations within the 7.8 acre site were considered. These included a larger off-leash area at the current location and an off-leash area to the north of the proposed one. The northern area was not selected because it was closer to residents and a larger off-leash area at the proposed site was not feasible because of slope concerns.

· Is the legislation subject to public hearing requirements: No.

· Other Issues (including long-term implications of the legislation):

The Board of Park Commissioners held a public hearing on August 14, 2003 to take comment on the site plan for the development of the Interstate 5 Open Space Development project, including the OLA. On August 28, 2003, the Board of Park Commissioners recommended that DPR adopt the site plan that establishes an off-leash area at Interstate 5 Open Space Development project.

Please list attachments to the fiscal note below: