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HomeMy WebLinkAboutDISCUSSION re BNR election ballot for WSAC JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Josh D. Peters, County Administrator DATE: August 11,2025 SUBJECT: DISCUSSION and POTENTIAL ACTION re: Board of Natural Resources election ballot for submittal to WSAC STATEMENT OF ISSUE: Per statute (Revised Code of Washington(RCW) 43.20.205-295), Washington State has a Board of Natural Resources with a role in policymaking for natural resource management statewide. There is a seat on the Board of Natural Resources for counties that contain state forestlands(acquired or transferred under RCW 79.22.010, .040, and .020). Jefferson County is among those counties. The Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC)manages selection of that county representative. The election ballot(attached) is due to WSAC before 5:00 PM on August 13, 2025. ANALYSIS: RCW 43.30.205 outlines composition of the Board of Natural Resources: (1)The board shall consist of six members: (a)The governor or the governor's designee; (b) The superintendent of public instruction; (c)The commissioner; (d)The director of the University of Washington school of forest resources; (e)The dean of the Washington State University college of agricultural,human, and natural resource sciences; and (f)A representative of those counties that contain state forestlands acquired or transferred under RCW 79.22.010, 79.22.040, and 79.22.020. (2)(a)The county representative on the board shall be selected by the legislative authorities of those counties that contain state forestlands acquired or transferred under RCW 79.22.010, 79.22.040, and 79.22.020. In the selection of the county representative, each participating county shall have one vote. The Washington state association of counties shall convene a meeting for the purpose of making the selection and shall notify the board of the selection. (b)The county representative must be a duly elected member of a county legislative authority who shall serve a term of four years unless the representative should leave office for any reason. The initial term shall begin on July 1, 1986. (1)(f)and(2)describe county involvement, including the selection process for the county representative. 1 Powers and duties of the Board of Natural Resources are outlined at RCW 43.30.2 1 5: The board shall: (1)Perform duties relating to appraisal, appeal, approval, and hearing functions as provided by law; (2)Establish policies to ensure that the acquisition, management, and disposition of all lands and resources within the department's jurisdiction are based on sound principles designed to achieve the maximum effective development and use of such lands and resources consistent with laws applicable thereto; (3)Constitute the board of appraisers provided for in Article 16, section 2 of the state Constitution; (4)Constitute the commission on harbor lines provided for in Article 15, section 1 of the state Constitution as amended; (5)Constitute the board on geographic names as provided for in RCW 43.30.291 through 43.30.295; and (6)Adopt and enforce rules as may be deemed necessary and proper for carrying out the powers, duties,and functions imposed upon it by this chapter. Note that reference to"the department" in Title 43 RCW is to the Washington State Department of Natural Resources(DNR). Reference to"rules" is to the applicable Washington Administrative Code(WAC) implemented by DNR. If the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners(BoCC) is not unanimous in this vote, the BoCC could"fractionalize"Jefferson County's vote. See the attached ballot for description. FISCAL IMPACT: None. RECOMMENDATION: Review information about the Board of Natural Resources. Review the WSAC ballot to select a county representative to the Board of Natural Resources. As a BoCC action, complete the ballot and direct staff to submit the completed ballot to WSAC by the August 13, 2025 deadline. REVIEWED BY: , . oici!1, 8/7/2025 Jo D. Peters, County Administrator Date WSAC WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES Board of Natural Resources Election Ballot Election Deadline: August 13, 2025, 5:00 PM County: Is this ballot fractionalized?* If so, please indicate the percentage of the vote next to each nominee in the boxes below: Commissioner Randy Johnson (Clallam County) Write In Chair Signature: Name (Please Print: *Each County with State Forestlands has one vote in this election and shall submit only one ballot. A Board of Commissioners or County Council may choose to fractionalize it's one vote among candidates to reflect the vote of each Commissioner or Councilmember. The total of all fractionalized votes must be equal to 1 vote. Ballots must be received by WSAC via email no later than August 13, 2025, 5:00 PM. Completed ballots must be emailed to Paul Jewell, WSAC Government Relations Director (pjewell©wsac.orq).