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Council Moves to Place Sales-Tax Option on Ballot as Staff Weigh Synthetic Turf for Major Park
Summary
Council reported consensus to pursue a sales-tax increase (suggested 0.2%) to fund parks improvements. Parks staff described synthetic-turf conversions that drove higher use, increased revenues in peer jurisdictions and lifetime/maintenance tradeoffs for Lake Stevens facilities.
The Lake Stevens City Council reported consensus to move a proposed sales-tax increase onto the ballot to support parks projects after staff outlined follow-up items from an April retreat.
City staff member Jean (city staff) told the council there was consensus to seek voter approval for a sales-tax increase to fund parks; during the meeting staff and council discussed a suggested rate described in the packet as two-tenths of a percent (0.2 percentage points). "Yes. Correct," a staff presenter said when asked about the suggested rate.
Parks staff described outreach and data collection on synthetic turf. David Green, the parks field supervisor, contacted several jurisdictions that recently upgraded fields and reported a consistent pattern: conversions from grass to synthetic turf produced large increases in youth-use, attracted tournaments, extended hours (with lights) and increased net revenues for some cities. Staff said warranty life for synthetic turf typically runs about 12 years and fields can last up to 20 years with proper maintenance.
Parks staff said synthetic turf requires higher up-front capital but generally lower annual operating costs compared with grass. The staff presentation noted constraints at the Lake Stevens ball-field parcel — limited undeveloped land on the tax parcel — and that parking at the site currently exceeds 200 stalls. Staff also said some questions about infield surfacing and movable infrastructure (backstops, storage) remain and promised to provide more detailed cost comparisons and maintenance-cost analyses to council.
Council and staff also discussed Cavaliero Park (spelled 'Caballero' in materials); staff said one restriction on the property expires in "02/1929" and that other conservation-futures restrictions remain. Staff said a Snohomish County Conservation Futures Board release would likely require paying the current value of the land to lift covenants, similar to other Land and Water Conservation Fund releases.
Council asked staff to return with a detailed financial comparison (capital and lifecycle operating cost), program and revenue estimates, and a clearer schedule for potential bond or ballot timelines. "I'll send out the presentation and more detailed follow-up on the finances," staff said.
The council’s consensus to pursue a sales-tax option does not, by itself, place a measure on the ballot; staff will follow statutory deadlines to submit ballot language and deadlines to the county clerk.
