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Lacey staff readies public information as voters consider creating Metropolitan Park District in August
Summary
City staff told the Parks, Culture and Recreation Board that Resolution 1166 sent Proposition 1 — to create a Lacey Metropolitan Park District (MPD) — to the Aug. 5 ballot, explained legal limits on advocacy at public meetings, and outlined a communications plan including a website, a mailed flyer and stakeholder outreach.
City staff told the Lacey Parks, Culture and Recreation Board on May 7 that City Council approved Resolution 1166 on April 1, sending Proposition 1 — a measure to create a Lacey Metropolitan Park District — to the Aug. 5, 2025 ballot.
The board was briefed on what an MPD would be and on rules the city must follow now that the measure is on the ballot. Jenny Wilson, the city’s senior parks planner, said "state law ... prohibits the use of public facilities to promote or oppose any ballot measure; public comment for or against the Lacey Metropolitan Park District cannot be accepted at this meeting." She added that the board and staff may provide factual information about the proposal but cannot advocate for or against it while acting in an official capacity at city facilities.
Wilson described the city’s communications plan for the measure, which includes a public webpage at cityoflacey.org/mpd, stakeholder presentations, event flyers and a mailed informational piece currently slated for about July 9. She said ballots are scheduled to be mailed July 16 and Election Day is Aug. 5. Staff will lead most of the outreach and presentations; board members were encouraged to refer residents to the city’s factual materials and may communicate on their own time using their personal resources.
Board members asked about distribution channels — libraries, schools and homeowners associations were discussed — and Wilson said staff will check legal limits that apply to specific locations and partners. The board also asked whether its advisory role would change if voters approve an MPD; staff said existing duties in the Lacey Municipal Code (Section 2.44) would remain unless the code is amended, and that, under a local MPD model, the City Council would serve as the MPD board.
No formal board action was taken on the measure at the meeting; the item was informational and the board received copies of the drafted flyer and the communications plan.
The discussion emphasized two limits: city meetings and facilities cannot be used to advocate for or against the ballot measure, and staff must avoid wearing an official "city" hat when doing private advocacy. Wilson said the city’s role is to provide factual information so voters can make an informed choice.
Looking ahead, staff will finalize mailer timing with the communications team, continue stakeholder presentations, and maintain the public webpage with Q&A and factual materials.
