The city of Enumclaw and its downtown business community will be represented as King County reconfigures its fair board and expands that group's concentration from just the annual King County Fair to year-round revenue generating opportunities at the fairgrounds.
"The King County fairgrounds has tremendous potential to attract revenue-generating events year-round," Sims said. "Until now, our fair board has focused only on the King County Fair. But the fairgrounds can gain great benefit from a citizen board that provides input into the fairgrounds operations year-round and helps to enhance the revenue capabilities of the fairgrounds."
The King County Parks Division in recent years faced a budget crisis and an advisory group created by Sims issued a blueprint for scaling back costs in the county's park system. That blueprint calls for a redefined Parks Division role, focusing on entrepreneurial initiatives as a way to generate new revenue for parks. Sims established a new Parks business plan to do business differently, including reconfiguring the King County Fair Board to support the goal of making the fairgrounds self-sustaining by 2006.
In June 2003, Sims sent a fairgrounds study to the King County Council. The study recommended that the board's scope increase from just the annual fair to year-round operation of the fairgrounds with sitting members having the skills necessary to bring an entrepreneurial spirit to the fairgrounds to help market the facility and attract new events. The council supported those changes.
The new fairgrounds board will have 11 members, representing the following interests: fundraising, marketing and advertising, accounting principles and standards, event production and promotion, fair events and activities, livestock and agriculture, youth and youth oriented activities, the downtown Enumclaw business community, the city of Enumclaw. The King County general public will be represented by two at-large members.
Nominations to the Fairgrounds Board will be made by the members of the King County Council or the King County Executive, with final selection by the executive and confirmation by the council. The city of Enumclaw representative will be chosen and confirmed by the city.
For more information, or to submit nominations, contact Margaret Anthony at 6046 W Lake Sammamish Pkwy. NE, Redmond, Wash. 98052; or, call 206-296-4169; or e-mail margaret.anthony@metrokc.gov.
