Kenmore Planning Commission scheduled final review of draft Parks, Recreation, and Open Space Plan on Dec. 2

What the records say

Kenmore's Planning Commission was scheduled to continue reviewing the draft Parks, Recreation, and Open Space (PROS) Plan at its December 2, 2025 meeting, covering Chapter 7 (Implementation) and the appendices, with suggested edits from the prior meeting already incorporated. Staff's stated objective was to gather Commission feedback and revisions before forwarding a recommendation to the City Council at the January 6, 2026 meeting. ¹ The plan is the citywide framework for parks, trails, open space, and recreation facilities, and its financing appendix lays out three funding alternatives that include higher park impact fees, a larger share of real estate excise tax, and a property tax levy lid lift. ¹

• The December 2, 2025 Planning Commission agenda listed 'PROS Plan Updates' with the staff memo, a clean draft plan version, a Word draft, executive summary options, Appendix F, Appendix F.2, and Kenmore ELOS materials. ¹
• The staff memo stated the meeting would continue review of the Draft PROS Plan, including Chapter 7 (Implementation) and the appendices, with suggested edits from the last meeting already made. ¹
• The memo stated the objective was to receive Commission feedback and suggest revisions before making a recommendation to forward to the City Council at the January 6, 2026 meeting. ¹
• PROS stands for Parks, Recreation, and Open Space; the state Recreation and Conservation Office requires the plan be updated at least every six years for the city to qualify for certain state and federal park, open space, and trail grants. ¹
• Appendix F presents three 2026–2032 financing alternatives totaling $63,447,456, differing in park impact fee capture (55%, 65%, or 75% of the $5,913 per-person level-of-service cost), REET allocation (40%, 50%, or 60%), and an annual levy lid lift cost of $82.85, $74.47, or $66.09 on a median $869,800 home. ¹
• At the prior November 20 meeting, commissioners debated whether the plan reads as firm recommendations or a menu of options, and asked that an executive summary clarify what the plan is and is not; the December 2 packet includes two draft executive summary options. ¹

Why it matters

The PROS Plan determines how Kenmore funds and builds parks, trails, and recreation facilities for the next six to twenty years, and the financing options under review would reach residents' wallets: under the three alternatives, a property tax levy lid lift would cost between roughly $66 and $83 per year on a median-value home ($869,800) over six years, alongside park impact fee increases on new development and a larger REET allocation for parks. ¹ The plan update is also required for the city to qualify for state and federal park grants. ¹ Residents who want input on which facilities get built — and how they are paid for — should follow the plan as it moves to Council.

What changed / what's next

• The pre-meeting record for the December 2, 2025 Planning Commission meeting scheduled continued review of the draft PROS Plan's implementation chapter and appendices, ahead of a planned January 6, 2026 recommendation to City Council. ¹
• The supplied records are pre-meeting materials and do not establish what the Commission decided on December 2 or whether the recommendation to Council occurred as planned. ¹
• The January 6, 2026 Planning Commission meeting is listed on the agenda's upcoming schedule; the December 16, 2025 meeting was canceled. ¹
• The available records do not establish the meeting's outcome.