Kenmore Sound

Development · Occurred · Outcome pending · Sep 21, 2026

Kenmore Council to weigh park impact fee rate — 75% vs. 80% of maximum — and code amendments

Kenmore's City Council is scheduled to discuss and give direction on park impact fees and amendments to KMC Chapter 20.47 at its September 21, 2026 meeting, including whether to set 2027 fees at 75% or 80% of the calculated maximum rate. 1

What the records say

The September 21, 2026 City Council agenda includes a discussion-and-direction item on park impact fees and amendments to Kenmore Municipal Code (KMC) Chapter 20.47, presented by Principal Planner Todd Hall and Deputy City Manager Debbie Bent. Council is being asked to give direction on the maximum Park Impact Fee (PIF) rate and other potential amendments. Depending on Council direction, a public hearing may be required before any ordinance is adopted. A public hearing on draft Ordinance 26-0643 was already held July 13, 2026, and at the July 20 meeting the Council asked staff to research a sliding percentage fee and to consider raising the implementation rate from 75% to 80% starting January 1, 2027. Staff, after consulting the City attorney and two fee consultants, concluded a sliding percentage fee would be arbitrary and would not meet statutory criteria; raising the rate to 80% would itself require an additional public hearing as a substantive change. 1

  • Council will discuss and give direction on the maximum Park Impact Fee rate and potential amendments to KMC Chapter 20.47; staff conclude a sliding percentage fee requested at the July 20 meeting would be arbitrary and would not meet statutory criteria. 1
  • The choice on the table is implementing fees at 75% of the maximum rate (as proposed at the July 13 public hearing) or 80% starting January 1, 2027; moving to 80% would require an additional public hearing as a substantive change. 1
  • Under the draft ordinance, 2027 fees effective January 1, 2027 would range from $2,495.71 for units under 500 sf to $7,183.91 for 3,000–3,999 sf units at the 75% rate, with 80% figures shown for comparison; the maximum rate is driven by average household size per unit at a City-adopted cost of $3,109.92 per person. 1
  • Kenmore adopted park impact fees in 2001, last updated by Ordinance 19-0483 effective January 1, 2020; the 2025–2026 budget anticipates a Park Impact Fee fund ending balance of $452,626. 1

Why it matters

Park impact fees are charges paid by new residential development to reimburse the City for new public park facilities that benefit that development. The rate Council selects directly sets what builders of new homes in Kenmore will pay starting January 1, 2027 — for example, $2,495.71 versus $2,662.09 for units under 500 square feet, and $6,484.18 versus $6,916.46 for units over 4,000 square feet — and those fees fund park improvements residents use. 1

What changed / what's next

  • No action has occurred yet. The September 21, 2026 City Council agenda schedules a discussion-and-direction item on park impact fees and KMC Chapter 20.47 amendments; the outcome is not established by the available record. 1
  • Whether Council directs staff on the 75% versus 80% rate and schedules the additional public hearing that an 80% rate would require. 1
  • Whether Council accepts staff's conclusion that the sliding percentage fee it requested in July cannot be applied. 1
  • The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.