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Home My WebLink About47-0721-25R STATE OF WASHINGTON County of Jefferson In the Matter of Dedicating Conservation Futures Funds to the Upper Yarr Creek Protection RESOLUTION NO.47-0721-25R Project as Authorized by and in Accordance with Jefferson County Code (JCC) Chapter 3.08 to Provide a System of Open Spaces WHEREAS, Conservation Futures Fund tax levy collections, authorized under RCW 84.34.230, are an important means of retaining community character and accomplishing the open space policies and objectives of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan that encourage the coordinated acquisition of key open space lands for long-term protection;and WHEREAS, Jefferson County is authorized by RCW 84.34.210 and RCW 84.34.220 to acquire open space land,agricultural and timber lands as defined in RCW 84.34.220;and WHEREAS, the Conservation Futures Fund Citizen Oversight Committee has reviewed project applications for 2025 and made its funding recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners in accordance with chapter 3.08 JCC;and WHEREAS, under the provisions of the Jefferson County Conservation Futures Fund Program, Northwest Watershed Institute,as project sponsor,requests funding towards reimbursement for acquisition of one (1)parcel of land in S29 T28N RI W with Assessor's Parcel Number 801293003; and WHEREAS, the County retains enough developable land to accommodate the Upper Yarr Creek Protection project as well as the housing and employment growth that it is expected to receive,thus satisfying the requirement of RCW 84.34.240(3);and WHEREAS, Jefferson County considers it in the best public interest to contribute financially to this open space project; NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY,STATE OF WASHINGTON: Section 1.Whereas Clauses Adopted as Findings of Fact. The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby adopts the above"Whereas"clauses as Findings of Fact. Section 2. Dedication of Acquisition Funds Approved. Jefferson County hereby dedicates up to $26,000 in Conservation Futures funds towards reimbursement of eligible acquisition expenses for the Upper Yarr Creek Protection project. Funding is contingent upon presentation of a matching contribution of at least fifty percent (50%). The sponsor anticipates that the matching contribution will be fifty percent (50%) at the time of project completion. Section 3. Nullification. This dedication of funding may be nullified if a submittal for reimbursement, accompanied by documentation of matching funds sufficient to complete the acquisition, is not received from the sponsor within three years of the signing of this resolution. Section 4. Severability. If any section,subsection,sentence,clause,or phrase of this resolution or its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid, the remainder of this resolution or its application to other persons or circumstances shall be fully valid and shall not be affected. Section 5. Effective Date. This resolution is effective upon adoption. Section 6. SEPA Categorical Exemption. This resolution is categorically exempt from the State Environmental Policy Act under WAC 197-11-800(19). (SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON THE NEXT PAGE) Page 2 of 3 APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 2/'day of V u`�)✓ 2025. JEF ERSON COUNTY www,n,w,,,_ BO OF C UNTY COMMISSIONERS SEAL: rr�.'(4•FFERSp4,c, `.0....SSA OGs : ...0.... �' p•. i E nhour,Chair U1. : D • ; �'. •1 = therton, Me ber ,y%.,74SH11*". +f '44w„wwwu e dley-Nollette, Member ATTEST.- APPR VED AS TO FORM: a % C a 7 ZI/ic C _Ai-- Caroly allaway, Date Philip C. Hunsucker, Date per/23 h S I rk of the Board Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorn / �' Page 3 of 3 \ 615 Sheridan Street jleffeikm Port Townsend, WA 98368 +t vvww.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org Public Health JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS REGULAR AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Michael Dawson, Water Quality Manager,Environmental Public Health and Water Quality Tami Pokorny, Natural Resources Program Coordinator DATE: July 21, 2025 SUBJECT: Public Hearing and Possible Decision Regarding Applications for Conservation Futures Funding in 2025 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The Conservation Futures Fund program (chapter 3.08 JCC) requires a duly noticed public hearing to be held as part of the process for allocating funds to projects that protect public open spaces. On July 7, 2025, BoCC approved a Public Hearing Notice to hold a public hearing July 21, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. on the 2025 Conservation Futures Program project applications. The Notice was published in The Port Townsend and Jefferson County Leader on July 9 and July 16, 2025. BoCC may decide which project(s)to fund and pass resolution(s)for funding, after hearing public comment and considering an analysis by the Department of Community Development on impacts to growth. ANALYSIS STRATEGIC GOALS: The three(3)applications to the Conservation Futures Fund in 2025 are: 1. Deerfoot Forest: Applicant requests $98,000 towards the acquisition of a conservation easement on two parcels totaling 36.9 acres, located within the Donovan and Tarboo Creek watersheds along Center Road in Quilcene. The conservation easement would create protected open space for a second growth forest and wetlands. The applicant also requests$12,000 towards reimbursement of operations and maintenance costs. The proposed match is$114,000 in funds from the Navy's Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI)program. The project applicant and sponsor is Jefferson Land Trust. Project location: S5 T27N RI W. 2. Upper Yarr Creek Protection: Applicant requests $26,000 towards fee simple acquisition of a 1.03-acre parcel located in the Tarboo Creek watershed in Quilcene. The acquisition would create protected open space to conserve riparian slope and stream habitat. The proposed match is $20,000 in a donation of land value and $6,000 in crew time from Northwest Watershed Institute. The project applicant and sponsor is Northwest Watershed Institute. Project location: S29 T28N RI W. Oomr-inry Heo':'r ,',onmertc! Hec Deveiopmente sy 360-385-9400 36C-385-9444 360-385-940' !" Always working for a safer and healthier community iti 360-379-4,487 3. Toandos Forest Acquisition and Restoration: Applicant requests $76,000 towards the fee simple acquisition of a 6.38-acre parcel on the Toandos peninsula within the Dabob Bay Natural Area. The acquisition would create protected open space to conserve water quality and habitat connectivity in the Dabob Bay ecosystem. The applicant also requests $18,500 towards reimbursement of operations and maintenance costs. The proposed match is$65,000 in funds from the Navy's Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI)program and $29,500 in private donations to Northwest Watershed Institute. The project applicant and sponsor is Northwest Watershed Institute. Project location: S15 T27N RI W. At its April 22, 2025 meeting, the Conservation Futures Fund Citizen Oversight Committee (CFF Committee)voted unanimously to declare all three projects worthy of funding. As a second motion, the CFF Committee voted unanimously to fully fund Toandos Forest Acquisition and Restoration and Deerfoot Forest. The Committee also voted eleven (11) for and one (1)against to fully fund Upper Yarr Creek Protection. This briefing packet contains: • Draft resolutions consistent with the recommendations of the CFF Committee • Three (3)Conservation Futures Fund project applications • Draft summary of the April 22, 2025 CFF Committee meeting • Analysis from Joel Peterson,Jefferson County Department of Community Development • Map of conservation futures projects 2003-2024 • Conservation Futures Fund Citizen Oversight Committee recommendations memo, presented to BoCC on May 19, 2025 by Committee Vice Chair Ron Rempel The purpose of the CFF Program is to address the "general and increasing need to provide a system of public open spaces...for the health, welfare, benefit and safety of the residents of Jefferson County,"and to maintain "Jefferson County as a desirable place to live, visit and locate businesses."Conservation Futures Fund tax levy collections, authorized under RCW 84.34.230 are an important means of retaining community character and accomplishing open space policies and objectives of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan. The goal of the program is to preserve and protect the county's open space resources from development, and from being "negatively and permanently affected." JCC 3.08.030 allows up to 15%of the Conservation Futures Fund levy monies raised in the preceding year to be used for operations and maintenance needs. Fifteen percent of the revenue collected in 2024($323,200) is $48,480. The total request for operations and maintenance funding in 2025 is $30,500. RCW 84.34.230 and 84.34.240(3) require that rights or interests in real property acquired with CFF funds shall not"reduce the capacity of land suitable for development necessary to accommodate the allocated housing and employment growth plans"of the County. An analysis on the impact to growth from the Jefferson County Department of Community Development is provided here, which concludes that"the proposals,totaling ca. 44 acres,do not negatively impact housing supply or employment growth." De,,e oo ,>,, 350-38 -' 80 3: -1444 Always working for a safer and healthier community . '50-379.4887 Grant agreements for approved projects between project sponsors and the County will be developed by Environmental Public Health and submitted to BoCC for approval. FISCAL IMPACT: The explicit purpose of the Conservation Futures Fund Program is to fund acquisition projects to support a system of public open spaces. There is no impact to the General Fund for this effort. The following previously approved CFF projects are anticipated to close during the remainder of 2025: • Tarboo Wildlife Preserve—West Slope Forest Addition: $150,000 • Lower Chimacum Creek Mainstem Acquisitions (portion of): $52,000 • Humbleberry Farm: $130,000 The following previously approved CFF projects were cancelled: • North Barry Snow Creek: $74,000 • Dosewallips River Lazy C: $7,649 RECOMMENDATION: Review the three(3)CFF project proposals and supporting documentation. Hold a public hearing on July 21, 2025 at 2:30 p.m. Consider written and oral testimony at the public hearing and adopt any of the enclosed funding resolutions, with or without revisions. REVIEWED BY: , / - J ttPeters, County Administrator Date 0 0," biic-ec,�r ,e,,t;ec ,Do e= 'th.e s 36-.-Es ,^ 360-3 - Always working for a safer and healthier community 360-3/9-»467