Title 36, COUNTIES

The legislature finds that regional solutions to the state's transportation needs are of paramount concern. The legislature further recognizes that different areas of the state will need the flexibility to fashion local solutions to their transportation problems, and that regiona…

At the option of the planning committee, and with the explicit approval of the regional transit authority, the participating counties may choose to impose any remaining high capacity transportation taxes under chapter 81.104 RCW that have not otherwise been used by a regional tra…

The regional transportation investment district account is created in the custody of the state treasurer. The purpose of this account is to act as an account into which may be deposited state money, if any, that may be used in conjunction with district money to fund transportatio…

(1) The most populous city, within the three-county region eligible to create a regional transportation investment district under this chapter, shall submit an advisory ballot to the city voters at the 2006 general election regarding voter preference of the tunnel and rebuild alt…

(1) The legislature finds the challenge of developing realistic, effective, and efficient solutions to the conservation and management issues facing Puget Sound and Washington's outer coast requires calling on all available sources of knowledge and creative thinking available in …

(1)(a) The legislative authority for each county that borders the marine waters of southern Puget Sound may establish marine resources committees consistent with the procedures outlined in RCW 36.125.020. Counties authorized to establish marine resources committees in the souther…

(1) A marine resources committee, as described in RCW 36.125.010, may be created by the legislative authority of any county bordering the marine waters of the outer coast or Puget Sound, in cooperation with all appropriate cities and special districts within their boundaries. Adj…

(1) The Puget Sound action team, or its successor organization, shall serve as the regional coordinating entity for marine resources committees created in the southern Puget Sound and the department of fish and wildlife shall serve as the regional coordinating entity for marine r…

Nothing in RCW 36.125.010 or 36.125.020 is intended to expand or limit the authority of local marine resources committees established under the Northwest Straits marine conservation initiative by federal act in San Juan, Whatcom, Skagit, Island, Snohomish, Clallam, and Jefferson …

Outer coast marine resources committees, in conjunction with their regional coordinating entity, shall meet and consult with key state, federal, local, and tribal governments, and private interest groups to develop a collaborative process to address ocean policy issues. This coll…

(1) The outer coast marine resources committee program is created to provide support for the development, administration, and coordination of outer coast marine resources committees and their projects. (2) The director of fish and wildlife is the administrator of the outer coast …

It is the public policy of the state to assist in making affordable housing available throughout the state. The legislature recognizes that despite ongoing efforts there is still a lack of affordable housing in many areas. The legislature also recognizes that some local governmen…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Affordable housing development" means a housing development in which at least twenty-five percent of the dwelling units within the development are set aside for or ar…

(1) A city, county, or other local governmental entity or agency may not adopt, impose, or enforce requirements on an affordable housing development that are different than the requirements imposed on housing developments generally. (2) This section does not prohibit any city, co…

Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, the definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter. (1) "Capital facilities plan" means a capital facilities plan required under chapter 36.70A RCW. (2) "Local government" means cities, towns, counties, special purpose dis…

(1) County legislative authorities may establish local public works assistance funds for the purpose of funding public works projects located wholly or partially within the county. Moneys may be deposited in local public works assistance funds from existing revenue sources of the…

(1) Counties, in consultation with cities and towns within the county, may make loans to local governments from funds established under RCW 36.135.020 for the purpose of assisting local governments in funding public works projects. Counties may require terms and conditions and ma…

(1) County legislative authorities utilizing or providing money under this chapter must develop a prioritization process for funding public works projects that gives priority to projects necessary to address public health needs, substantial environmental degradation, or increases…

County legislative authorities providing funding for public works projects under this chapter must keep proper records of accounts and are subject to audit by the state auditor. [ 2009 c 45 s 5.]

(1) Any county legislative authority of a county where a public utility district owns and operates a plant or system for the generation, transmission, and distribution of electric energy for sale within the county may construct, purchase, acquire, operate, and maintain one facili…

The legislature finds that: (1) The state is projected to experience substantial population growth in the next two decades and this growth will require substantial new housing, places of employment, community facilities, and supporting local, subregional, and regional infrastruct…

The definitions in this section apply throughout this chapter unless the context clearly requires otherwise. (1) "Board of supervisors" or "board" means the governing body of a community facilities district. (2) "Community facilities district" or "district" means a district creat…

Community facilities districts are authorized to be formed for the purposes authorized under this chapter. Community facilities districts may only include land within urban growth areas designated under the state growth management act, located in portions of one or more cities, t…

A public hearing on the petition for formation of a district must be held by each applicable legislative authority, not less than thirty, but not more than sixty days, from the date that the lead county auditor issues the certificate of sufficiency required under RCW 36.145.020. …

Notice of all public hearings must include a description of the proposal, be mailed to all petitioners, and must be published once a week for three consecutive weeks in the official paper for each applicable legislative authority, prior to the date set for the hearing. The notice…

At the time and place of the public hearing, the legislative authority must consider the petition. The legislative authority may receive any evidence it deems material that supports or opposes the formation of the district, including the inclusion or exclusion of land. Unless an …

(1) The legislative authority may act on the petition to form a community facilities district at the public hearing held under RCW 36.145.050 and in no event may the legislative authority's decision be issued later than thirty days after the day of the public hearing. The applica…

(1) Any person who objects to formation of the district may appeal the final decision of a legislative authority to approve a petition for formation of a community facilities district by filing an appeal with the superior court of the county in which any part of the district is l…

(1) A community facilities district must be governed by a board of supervisors possessing the powers set forth under RCW 36.145.090. The board of supervisors must be appointed by each applicable legislative authority within sixty days of the formation of the district. Except as e…

(1) A community facilities district created in accordance with this chapter is an independently governed, special purpose district, vested with the corporate authority included under Article VII, section 9 of the state Constitution to make local improvements by special assessment…

(1) Through the use of district revenue derived through special assessments and bonds authorized under this chapter and, consistent with the terms and conditions of a petition approved in accordance with this chapter, a community facilities district may finance all or a portion o…

(1) The board of supervisors of a community facilities district may impose special assessments on property located inside the district and benefited by the facilities and improvements provided, or to be provided, by a district, whether the facilities and improvements are located …

(1) The district may utilize the special assessments and revenue derived in accordance with this chapter for the payment of principal and interest on bonds issued pursuant to the authority granted under this chapter to fund or reimburse the costs of facilities authorized under th…

No bonds issued by or on behalf of a community facilities district are obligations of any city, town, county, or the state of Washington or any political subdivision thereof other than the district and the bonds must so state. [ 2010 c 7 s 504.]

(1) If a district includes land that is entirely within a county and the land is not surrounded entirely by a city or town, then the treasurer of that county is the treasurer of the district. If a district includes land that is entirely within a county and the land is entirely su…

All assessments imposed on the respective lots, tracts, parcels of land, and other property included within the boundaries of an approved district in accordance with this chapter are a lien upon the property from the date of final approval and are paramount and superior to any ot…

Any county with a population of one million or more in which a county ferry district has been established pursuant to RCW 36.54.110 through 36.54.190 with boundaries coterminous with the boundaries of the county may by ordinance or resolution of the county legislative authority a…

The assumption of the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of a county ferry district may be initiated by the adoption of an ordinance or a resolution by the county legislative authority indicating its intention to conduct a hearing concerning the assumption of such rights,…

At the time scheduled for the hearing in the ordinance or resolution of intention, the county legislative authority must consider the assumption of the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of the county ferry district and hear those appearing and all protests and objections…

(1) If, after receiving testimony, the county legislative authority determines that the public interest or welfare would be satisfied by the county assuming the rights, powers, immunities, functions, and obligations of the county ferry district, the county legislative authority m…

Employees and personnel of the county ferry district do not automatically become employees of the county. [ 2014 c 51 s 5.]

No transfer of any function made pursuant to this chapter may be construed to impair or alter any existing rights acquired under RCW 36.54.110 through 36.54.190 or any other provision of law relating to county ferry districts, nor as impairing or altering any actions, activities,…

(1) All rules and regulations, and all pending business before the board of any county ferry district transferred pursuant to this chapter[,] must be continued and acted upon by the county. (2) All existing contracts and obligations of the transferred county ferry district remain…

(1) When the rights, powers, functions, and obligations of a county ferry district are transferred pursuant to this chapter, all real and personal property owned by the county ferry district becomes that of the county. (2) All reports, documents, surveys, books, records, files, p…

(1) The county must assume and agree to provide for the payment of all of the indebtedness of the county ferry district, including the payment and retirement of outstanding general obligation and revenue bonds issued by the county ferry district. Until the indebtedness of a count…

(1) The legislature finds that: (a) Many Washington cities and counties and their residents are experiencing the lingering effects of the recession. While there are many residents who have been able to successfully weather the economic downturn, unfortunately there are still indi…