King County Council corrects technical error in parks levy ordinance, appoints voters' pamphlet committee

At a special meeting April 29, 2025, the King County Council adopted an ordinance correcting cross-reference errors in a proposed parks levy measure and appointed a three-member committee to prepare the voters’ pamphlet statements, steps council members said were needed to ensure the measure could appear on the Aug. 5, 2025 special-election ballot.

The council’s action replaced and repealed the earlier ordinance tied to the parks levy and declared an emergency so the Elections Department could include the measure on the August ballot. Council staff briefed members that the corrections addressed an erroneous statutory cross‑reference that would have prevented some levy proceeds from being distributed to cities and towns, and an incorrect reference in a zip‑code reporting requirement.

“An erroneous cross reference was identified that would preclude the distribution of a significant portion of levy proceeds to cities and towns contrary to the intent of the council,” Wendy Sahu, council staff, told members as she explained the technical corrections and the need to repeal the prior ordinance and replace it with the corrected text.

Councilmember Von Reichbauer said the corrections were the result of an inclusive process in the Regional Policy Committee, and he thanked committee members and staff for their work in incorporating amendments from cities and the Sound Cities Association. “I want to thank Councilmember Dombowski because he understands that if this measure is going to pass, it’s going to pass because our Sound Cities members want it to pass,” Von Reichbauer said.

The ordinance the council adopted would submit a levy measure to voters that, as described in the ordinance text read into the record, would authorize property tax collections in excess of the levy limit in chapter 84.55 RCW for six consecutive years to maintain and operate King County’s open‑space system, improve parks, recreation access and mobility by acquiring land and supporting parks and regional trails, and to fund environmental education, maintenance and conservation programs at institutions including Woodland Park Zoo, the Seattle Aquarium and the Pacific Science Center, development and programming for Seattle’s waterfront park, a capital project at Memorial Stadium, and capital improvements at public schools for King County residents.

Separately, the council approved Motion 2025-0128 to appoint a three‑person committee to draft the statement in support of the parks levy for the voters' pamphlet. The committee named by the council includes Councilmember Dombowski, Tracy Myers and Susan Pablardo; staff said the council also replaced references to the earlier ordinance in the motion so the pamphlet committee would prepare statements reflecting the newly adopted ordinance. Council staff explained that state law allows the council to appoint committees and, if the council does not appoint an author for the opposing (against) statement by the statutory deadline, the county elections process opens the opportunity to others to file.

During the meeting public comment included an individual in chambers who made disruptive remarks; staff and the chair interceded and the hearing moved on. The council took both actions on unanimous or near‑unanimous voice and roll‑call votes: the ordinance passed with seven ayes, one no vote, and one member excused; the motion to appoint the pamphlet committee passed with seven ayes and one excused. Councilmembers emphasized the changes were technical corrections intended to preserve the council’s original distribution and reporting intent and to keep the measure on the August 5 ballot for voters to decide.

Votes at a glance: - Adopt proposed ordinance (replacing and repealing prior ordinance tied to the parks levy; declares an emergency for ballot submission): outcome — approved. Recorded roll call in meeting: Councilmember Balducci — aye; Councilmember Barong — aye; Councilmember Dombowski — aye; Councilmember Dunn — no; Councilmember Mosqueda — aye; Councilmember Quinn — aye; Councilmember Von Reichbauer — aye; Chair Zahilay — aye; Councilmember Perry — excused. Tally reported in the meeting: 7 ayes, 1 no, 1 excused. - Motion 2025‑0128 (appoint committees to write voters’ pamphlet statements for the parks levy, as amended to reference the replaced ordinance): outcome — approved. Recorded roll call in meeting: 7 ayes, 0 no, 1 excused (names recorded during roll call as above).

What’s next: Because the ordinance includes an emergency declaration, council staff said it will allow the Elections Department to print the corrected measure and associated materials for the Aug. 5, 2025, special election. The petition language, levy uses, and the appointed pamphlet committee will frame pro statements ahead of the statutory deadlines for the voters’ pamphlet.