[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6204690,"mediaKeyId","3778362-212cd502933488ae71c3beea8720b717","parentId",3778362,"title","Parks previews new golf management agreement; vote delayed for further briefings","audioSeconds",1997,"startMs",1921580,"endMs",3919470,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778362-212cd502933488ae71c3beea8720b717&start=1921&end=3919","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778362-212cd502933488ae71c3beea8720b717/thumbnail_1921580.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6204690/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Parks-previews-new-golf-management-agreement-vote-delayed-for-further-briefings","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204690-10b09dd2d75213f53475fdd53b053181/orig.mp4?Expires=1771074577&Signature=dlp9tpUEzsnDKhHlBe0omL5PwIDAtCZuL-4AeJ7q7mtrAmvZJp11vMtyB-W5QLlfXchaL6xg1Rfbqqm8bhwJ1aBXWJnw4qiA5i09yLhIQzPhj1COJtwtlJ2qiQnOfD8gGkdqiThy3XRne7o7J2PNqmfSfJdu2j1d-SfuDV9j4Bhwbhmk-z5yjHIDPo2q9mDbv6HsI9RNACLyRuOPiAJHml3COSy6rLA63KyRZWHDu-hEVxDTskSANVa84JkcVhJf0afO9ZCv6xJ~VRCUIsMm-pKo23VA8B3CDF-sfLE6c1n1lwHZf7wTLiO7k426FjSqctjwNlUT3Uw5MAYH4JoUcQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Seattle City, WA","date","2025-06-12T02:16:22Z","article","Seattle Parks and Recreation and its current operator briefed the Parks, Public Utilities and Technology Committee on June 11 about a proposed golf-course management agreement under Council Bill 120999 and the department's expectations for public benefits, capital investment and reporting.

Parks Superintendent AP Diaz and golf manager Patrick Merriman outlined the department's goals for accessibility, affordability, environmental stewardship and youth outreach. Premier Golf Centers — the city's incumbent operator — and representatives from Troon described recent pilots and community programs, and Premier's director of operations, Michael Fosnick, said the company will formalize annual public-benefit targets and provide an annual public-benefit report within 60 days after each fiscal year.

Key figures and commitments: Premier agreed to a capital commitment of $1,500,000 over the contract term (approximately $100,000 per year). Parks staff said the golf program covers about 500 acres across four municipal sites and uses 23 full-time city staff for course maintenance. Using 2024 as an example, Parks reported golf operating expenses of about $17 million, revenues of about $19 million, and transfers to golf capital projects of roughly $2 million; transfers since 2020 have ranged between $1.3 million and $2.0 million per year.

Parks described the relationship as an operating agreement (not a lease) in which Premier manages day-to-day operations (tee times, pro shops, restaurants and programs) and the city retains maintenance responsibilities. The draft agreement updates payment-card industry compliance requirements, requires annual target metrics for public benefits, and formalizes reporting and transparency obligations so future priorities can be adjusted with the operator.

Premier highlighted youth outreach pilots and one-day community events. Fosnick said a recent citywide \"Seattle swing\" event delivered free lessons, Toptracer access and discounted green fees and that the one-day public-benefit value for the event was about $17,000. Premier and Parks described plans to expand successful partnerships — for example, Jefferson Park programming has grown from 7 to 35 youth participants year-over-year — and to explore expanded coordination with community centers near each course.

Committee reaction and next steps: Councilmembers praised the department's stewardship, raised questions about stronger integration with nearby community centers and asked that Parks and Premier work with council offices on any additions to the public-benefit package. Councilmember Strauss emphasized environmental and multiuse benefits at Interbay and other courses; Councilmember Kettle pressed for clearer community-center integration plans; and Councilmember Rivera and others stressed mental-health and youth-access benefits.

The committee did not vote on the ordinance on June 11; members said they wanted additional briefings and to refine public-benefit metrics before final action. Parks and the operator said they are willing to continue working with council offices on potential public-benefit adjustments before a future committee vote.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Parks, Public Utilities and Technology Committee 6/11/25","oneSentenceSummary","Seattle Parks and Recreation briefed the Parks, Public Utilities and Technology Committee on June 11 on a proposed golf-course management agreement (Council Bill 120999) that would continue private management of four municipal courses and require formal public-benefit reporting; committee members delayed a final vote for additional briefings.","taxTitle","Seattle, King County, Washington","taxId",2543,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204696,"Committee recommends current-use tax break for Indigenous group's Rainier Beach garden near Kubota Garden",1426,491990,1918070,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778362-212cd502933488ae71c3beea8720b717&start=491&end=1918","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778362-212cd502933488ae71c3beea8720b717/thumbnail_491990.jpg","/articles/6204696/Seattle/King-County/Washington/Committee-recommends-current-use-tax-break-for-Indigenous-groups-Rainier-Beach-garden-near-Kubota-Garden","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204696-302d5b800ac2d677518cd8b9f8055868/orig.mp4?Expires=1771074577&Signature=g4ZuPNNSfsgeI2VLjkR4JyykTKFM5xskF-XJfOARcbxgHZNgglJ-u2O~ssD8tfyBC5kJxzgeiRTXwZ1pqRVSSac81sTrdhhwrenC0xSGYWndycxaU9LgkFSu6Cx-tNOxiKxncMdzowpthiJIvBP721mvcs-h2oH9pOqfLC40qwRBW93kpANxhvPbjBc~I2VUcEuwXlHuAuR1RGx2WoIsXhHcjbrYRDKNW~bmJkqKPcxin7ZCPW8E5AxhCbHx0E2WsdunWYwakYLqF0TluxrTCUhntWf-CdgXHfbEXaB~Cy8FwKvZxCjV4CdsNrEtIBRyoVtOggh2PtY9R0w7zIyrew__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Seattle's Parks, Public Utilities and Technology Committee on June 11 voted to recommend passage of Council Bill 120997, approving a current-use taxation application for a 1.4-acre property north of Kubota Garden in Rainier Beach owned by the Yahau Indigenous Creatives Collective and used as a community garden.

The measure would enroll the property in the state-established current-use taxation program and, based on a King County Department of Natural Resources recommendation of 38 points under the Public Benefits Rating System, would reduce the property's taxable value by 90% — from $1,850,000 to $185,000 in the example using 2024 figures, lowering the property's annual tax bill to about $1,500 compared with roughly $17,000 in 2024. If the city approves the application and King County's action remains in place, the reduction would be eligible beginning in 2026.

Why it matters: The program trades lower property tax for long-term conservation and public access. Committee members said the site will remain privately owned but open to the public, and staff told the committee that the owner has committed to invasive-species removal and restoration in creek buffer zones.

Council Central staffer Corina Bull told the committee the current-use taxation program \"reduces property taxes in exchange for long term open space preservation,\" and described the property as a community garden with walking paths and a greenhouse that consists of nine parcels and a creek.

Bill, a King County representative on the presentation panel, characterized the site in the same terms: \"This is a really unique piece of property... they are very committed to really making this a native, diverse kind of, open space oasis in the city.\" Asia Veil, director of the Yahau Indigenous Creatives Collective, added that \"It is salmon bearing habitat down at Lake Washington,\" and said the group has been coordinating with Kubota Garden stakeholders and the Green Seattle Partnership on stewardship and possible connecting pathways.

Committee members asked whether the parcels under the proposed assessment would become parks property; staff and the applicant clarified they would remain privately owned and managed but open to the public under the program. Staff also said King County had held its hearing earlier and approved the application May 20.

The committee suspended council rules and voted to recommend passage of the bill to the full City Council; the committee's recommendation will be transmitted to the council meeting on June 17. If the property were removed from the program in the future, staff said the owner could be required to repay taxes that would have been due for up to seven years plus a possible 20% penalty. The application also requires annual monitoring reports and a five-year restoration plan for the creek buffer area.

The discussion included requests for follow-up briefings about the property's relationship to adjacent park buffers and Kubota Garden; Councilmember Strauss said she wanted more detail on coordination and maintenance standards before full council consideration. The committee recorded no dissent and moved the recommendation to full council.

The bill is now scheduled for the June 17 City Council agenda; if the council approves it, the property owner would need to maintain the open space and submit required monitoring to remain eligible for the tax reduction.

","Seattle's Parks, Public Utilities and Technology Committee voted June 11 to recommend passage of Council Bill 120997, which would approve a current-use taxation application for a 1.4-acre, nine-parcel property north of Kubota Garden owned by an Indigenous-led nonprofit and used as a community garden and open space.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6204686,"External auditors give Seattle Public Utilities a clean 2024 audit; no material internal-control weaknesses found",517,2430930,2948050,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3778362-212cd502933488ae71c3beea8720b717&start=2430&end=2948","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3778362-212cd502933488ae71c3beea8720b717/thumbnail_2430930.jpg","/articles/6204686/Seattle/King-County/Washington/External-auditors-give-Seattle-Public-Utilities-a-clean-2024-audit-no-material-internal-control-weaknesses-found","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6204686-4e507f7a89458e0f9639aa60d9a21009/orig.mp4?Expires=1771074577&Signature=FF1fHOs1EsptHnHndRsuNdxFe-RomyhuiwanHdbWbl6IWv0Kjq1AUpHj3FoJhzNx5sSiv9~mfoU2CsvkpmH9Vy68UzJAfRcypWAYe0823I1hj5QRmUZ4ktvE52w~pYTHe4hNuyF1fatVExwyUB5BgzlZmpEUTrXlvXPS7nAv-s1K-xI5Zqdi7gmQGuSAgbpvL4nuGAIX3PW64pKCgtCm-T1H6g~hd~E0lmmFt5xYEVXfYxCLeGMeOHFeeCm6oz-24zWiudPWPxjKwanfoF9Erdat-2oyP-UJvmE-e2Zs7WoB9gg0s7TvRD3juUS0gkxEco781ENtma71yhJKDsHYVA__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","External auditors reported to the Parks, Public Utilities and Technology Committee on June 11 that Seattle Public Utilities' 2024 financial statements received unmodified (clean) audit opinions and that auditors found no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal controls.

Representatives from Moss Adams (which informed the committee of a recent merger with Baker Tilly during the presentation) said they completed separate audits of the water, drainage and wastewater, and solid-waste funds. Lead auditor Keith Simovic summarized the results as a clean opinion on each utility's financial statements and told the committee that detailed testing of contracts, invoices and supporting documentation supported those findings.

Audit scope and findings: Auditors said their work included tests of accounting policies, management estimates (including accounts receivable allowances, depreciable lives, environmental liabilities, litigation contingencies and landfill closure-care obligations), and internal controls. Auditors reported no significant difficulties working with SPU management, no corrected or uncorrected misstatements requiring disclosure, and no disagreements with management's accounting conclusions.

The audit team also noted adoption of a new Governmental Accounting Standards Board standard related to compensated absences (GASB 101) for 2024; management concluded the city's policies were already closely aligned with the new standard and the change had minimal impact. Auditors emphasized the role of SPU finance staff in assembling documentation and said the audit supports the citywide financial statements and the State Auditor's Office work.

Moss Adams presenters (Lori Tisch, Keith Simovic and Anna Waldron) described major audit emphasis areas — cash and investments, receivables, bond-related accounts, accrued liabilities, revenue and expense recognition and net position — and said the audit work supports bond market disclosures. They reiterated that SPU's financial position and reporting are reliable for stakeholders, bondholders and the State Auditor's Office.

Committee members thanked the audit team and SPU staff; no committee action was taken on the audit presentations beyond receiving the reports.","Moss Adams (now merged with Baker Tilly) reported unmodified opinions on Seattle Public Utilities' 2024 financial statements for water, drainage/wastewater and solid waste and found no material weaknesses or significant deficiencies in internal control; auditors noted one new GASB standard (compensated absences) had minimal impact.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Parks previews new golf management agreement; vote delayed for further briefings

Committee recommends current-use tax break for Indigenous group's Rainier Beach garden near Kubota Garden

External auditors give Seattle Public Utilities a clean 2024 audit; no material internal-control weaknesses found