Metro Parks Tacoma 2021 Legislative Agenda

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2021-2022

2021 LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES CREATING EQUITABLE PARKS AND RECREATION SERVICES Five Key Washington State Policy Initiatives Strengthening Community Safety MPT, together with the City of Tacoma, seeks to advance reforms that address the disparate impacts of our systems and institutions on Black, Indigenous and People of Color. Local agencies are exploring how resources may be better deployed to reduce reliance on traditional police and fire services and to respond with the most effective and appropriate service provider. From Park Rangers, school patrol, transit security and homelessness outreach teams, efforts are underway to transform and align safety and security services across multiple agencies and service sectors. Improving Public Health MPT is committed to increasing the community’s health through equitable access to recreation programs and the outdoors. MPT will lead an effort to create a Parks Prescriptions Pilot Program that will serve as a local case study to inform a future statewide initiative. By partnering with public health, doctors, and other health care providers, patients will be prescribed time to pursue experiences for healthier lifestyles and improved mental and physical well-being. Supporting Children, Youth and Families Together with Tacoma Public Schools, Graduate Tacoma, Tacoma-Pierce County Health Department (TPCHD), Washington State Department of Children, Youth and Families (DCYF) and others, MPT is committed to ensuring that our community’s youth and children are provided safe, dependable and healthy places to play, learn and grow…all day and every day so families can thrive.

Childcare Licensing: MPT supports legislation that streamlines childcare licensing processes and strengthens the ability to leverage existing public infrastructure and expertise in the childcare sector.

Puget Sound Taxpayer Accountability Account (PSTAA): MPT supports development of a collaborative expenditure plan for PSTAA funds authorized to improve educational outcomes in early learning, K-12, higher education and for programs for children and youth that are low-income, homeless, in foster care, or among other populations experiencing inequities. MPT urges Pierce County to adopt a transparent and equitable process to disburse these funds for their intended purpose across the greater TacomaPierce County area.

Increasing Resiliency and COVID-19 Recovery Partnering with the Association of Washington Cities (AWC) and the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) at the state and federal levels, MPT seeks more resilient tools to enable recovery from millions of dollars in revenue losses associated with the COVID-19 pandemic. Enabling Greater Local Discretion A recent statewide survey of public park and recreation providers noted between a 17% to 33% average increase in demand over the past 5 years. Yet, the average increase in resources for the same time period was only 4.5% year-over-year. With restrictions on property taxes combined with COVID-19 impacts, local agencies need resources to address vital maintenance and operations and preservation needs. MPT supports a Washington Recreation and Park Association (WRPA) initiative enabling parks and recreation agencies to take a 0.1 percent sales tax increase to their voters and to bond against the new sales tax proceeds upon voter approval.


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