County Executive’s Land Conservation Advisory Group

Open Space Equity

November 2, 2017

Proposal: Based on 10/19 Adv. Group request for policy objective, funding level & implementation plan

1. Policy Statement / Objective

2. Funding Level & Map

3. 2018 Planning

4. Implementation Plan

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Policy Objective:King County, in partnership with cities and communities, should allocate funding to eliminate disparities in access and proximity to open spaces and trails in communities with the greatest and most acute needs.

The pace of acquisition should match or exceed the pace of other land categories under the Conservation Initiative. 3

Funding Level:

Step 1 - Target Areas• Proximity & Access - households > ¼ mile public O.S.

• Income - households in lowest 1/3 of census tracts

• Health - households in highest 1/3 of census tracts for hospitalization rates of chronic disease

Step 2 - # acquisitions in Target Areas to ensure ¼ mile access X cost per acquisition

Step 3 - Appreciation & inflation

= $160 million (30 yr cost for: land, trans., O&M; amount will vary due to pace)

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Q1/Q2 Planning Process:

Goal: Develop high level of “Community Readiness” – i.e. willingness and engagement from cities & communities

• 2018 equity-focused planning process with 2-3 cities & communities

• Work with Communities Of Opportunities “COO” effort

• Broad-based participation using “deliberative democracy” to identify open space investments that align with community needs

• Seek foundation / philanthropic funding to help fund 2018 planning work

• Resources to engage communities of color / non-English speaking communities

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Implementation Plan:

• Create an “Open Space Equity Cabinet” staffed by KC

– Composition: cities, community members, County, healthcare providers, non-profit orgs. & businesses

– Roles: (1) create equity criteria (2) oversight (3) thought leader (4) messaging campaign to cities

• Eligible projects: (1) located in Target Areas and/or meet specific equity criteria, (2) city involvement, (3) high level of ‘community readiness’

• Allocation of funds by the CFT Citizens Oversight Committee

• No funding match required for eligible projects

• Use philanthropic $ to help enable community groups to develop projects

• Deploy KC acquisition staff resources to assist cities without resources.7