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City seeks RCO-compliant ILA with school district and updates park-fee method
Summary
Mountlake Terrace staff presented an Amendment 3 to the interlocal agreement with the Edmonds School District so the city can build and maintain lighting and other athletic-field improvements needed to access state Recreation and Conservation Office grants; staff also outlined administrative changes to park impact fees to comply with recent state law shifting fee structure to a per-bedroom/square-foot basis.
Recreation and Arts Director Jeff Betts told the council that Amendment 3 to the interlocal agreement with the Edmonds School District would allow the city to plan, design, permit, construct and maintain athletic-field lighting and similar improvements on district-owned land so the city can receive reimbursement through the Recreation and Conservation Office (RCO) grant program.
Betts said the district declined an earlier draft of the amendment last December and that staff have worked with the district to craft language that addresses RCO requirements while accommodating the district—s concerns about tying future school boards— hands. The staff recommendation is that the council authorize the city manager to sign the amendment on the October consent calendar.
Park impact fees: Betts also presented administrative updates to the parks impact fee schedule to conform with recent state law (transcript reference: "s b 52 58"), which changes fee calculations toward per-bedroom or per‑square‑foot measures. Staff did not present a full new rate study due to cost and time; instead they proposed an administrative update to comply with the statute now and plan a full park/open-space master plan and rate study in 2026.
Why it matters: The ILA amendment preserves the city's eligibility for state grant funding for field lighting projects and clarifies responsibilities for long-term maintenance or replacement if the district repurposes property. The parks fee changes are intended to lower fees for smaller units and align the city with the new statutory framework.
Next steps: Staff recommended placing the ILA Amendment 3 on the October consent calendar and to begin the full recreation/park master planning and impact-fee rate study in 2026.
Provenance: Presentation from Jeff Betts, Recreation and Arts Director.
