HomeMy WebLinkAboutHEARING re Noxious Weeds assessment JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Josh Peters, County Administrator
FROM: Sophie DeGroot, Noxious Weed Control Coordinator
DATE: September 15,2025
SUBJECT: PUBLIC HEARING NOTICE RE: In The Matter of Amending Chapter 3.65 of
the Jefferson County Code(JCC)for the Jefferson County Noxious Weed
Control Board Assessment Rate.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
In 2015,the Noxious Weed Control Board and the Board of County Commissioners passed an ordinance
creating a special assessment fee to fund the Noxious Weed Control Board programming and staff. The fee
has stayed stagnant since then, despite the rising costs of materials and labor due to inflation.
ANALYSIS:
The Noxious Weed Control Board budget, supported by the Special Assessment Fee is quickly becoming
inadequate to support the program. Increased expectations,demand for services, and the constant pressure to
remove noxious weeds has meant the Noxious Weed Control Board needs to increase staff and educational
programming. An increase to the special assessment fee will facilitate hiring more staff throughout the year,
allowing the coordinator to dedicate more time to education, outreach, and volunteer management, as well as
implementing a cost-share program for County residents.
The Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board voted on August 11,2025 to recommend BoCC pass an
ordinance with proposed amendments to chapter 3.65 to increase the special assessment fee to the
recommended rate of$5.50 per parcel and$0.45 per acre.
Previous Ordinance 07-1109-15 Establishing an Assessment for Funding the Jefferson County Noxious
Weed Control Board,JCC 3.65.020 incorporated by reference an"Attachment A,"regarding Land
Classification, consistent with the requirements outlined in RCW 17.10.240. However,when trying to
determine the Special Assessment Fee per land classification type (i.e., forest and non-forest),this inevitably
required finding the old ordinance to review the land classification types. In the proposed amendments,the
Land Classification language formerly found in Attachment A to Ordinance 07-1109-15 is now moved into
the body of section 3.65.020 JCC. This change has been made for better understanding. All proposed
changes to sections 3.65.020 and 3.65.030 JCC are indicated in the attached proposed ordinance,
Attachment A.
Attached for Review:
• Proposed Ordinance recommending amendments to sections 3.65.020 and 3.65.030 JCC.
• Public Hearing Power Point Presentation.
1
FISCAL IMPACT:
The recommendation from the Noxious Weed Control Board is to increase the Special Assessment Fee from
$4.00 per parcel and $0.30 per acre to $5.50 per parcel and $0.45 per acre. These numbers account for
inflation over the last decade, plus the need to increase program staff.
RECOMMENDATION:
BoCC move to approve the proposed ordinance Amending Chapter 3.65 of the Jefferson County Code
(JCC) for the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board Assessment Rate.
REVIEWED BY:
Josh/ eters County Administrator Date
2
STATE OF WASHINGTON
County of Jefferson
In The Matter of Amending Chapter 3.65 of
the Jefferson County Code (JCC) for the ORDINANCE NO.
Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control
Board Assessment Rate.
WHEREAS, the Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners (BoCC) created the
Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board (Noxious Weed Board) on March 23, 1998 by
Jefferson County Resolution No. 24-98; and
WHEREAS,BoCC adopted new Noxious Weed Control Board District Boards in 2000 by
Resolution No. 75-00 and in 2007 by Resolution No. 61-07;and
WHEREAS, BoCC established an Assessment for funding the Noxious Weed Board's
programming in 2015 by Ordinance No. 07-1109-15;
WHEREAS, the Noxious Weed Board serves an important purpose in maintaining and
promoting the general health, safety and welfare of the citizens of Jefferson County by limiting
economic loss and adverse effects to local agricultural, natural, and human resources due to the
presence and spread of noxious weeds on terrestrial and aquatic areas within Jefferson County;
and
WHEREAS,the Noxious Weed Board's services are paid for by the annual Noxious Weed
Board Assessment authorized by chapter 3.65 JCC and monies received from the county's General
Fund; and
WHEREAS, the Noxious Weed Board's rates have stayed stagnant since creating an
Assessment for funding its programming in 2015;and
WHEREAS, RCW 17.10.240(1)(a)requires the Noxious Weed Board to annually submit
a budget to the county legislative authority for the operating costs of the county's weed program
for the ensuing fiscal year; and
WHEREAS, RCW 17.10.240(1)(c), authorizes the county legislative authority to levy an
assessment against certain lands within the county; and
WHEREAS, like other aspects of local government,the Noxious Weed Board has had to
adjust for inflation and increasing costs in order keep up with the volume of work, compounded
by a growing demand for services; and
WHEREAS,the Noxious Weed Board offers invaluable services with a high level of local
expertise and desires to continue serving the needs of Jefferson County;and
WHEREAS, the Noxious Weed Board held a public hearing on August 11, 2025, and
passed a motion to amend the Noxious Weed Board Assessment Rate authorized by chapter 3.65
JCC to account for reasonable cost increases based on inflation, subject to BoCC approval;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT ORDAINED BY THE BOARD OF COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY,STATE OF WASHINGTON,AS FOLLOWS:
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. Purpose. The purpose of this ordinance is to amend chapter 3.65 JCC in order to
reflect reasonable cost of living increases for the Noxious Weed Board's annual Assessment
rate codified in section 3.65.030 Rates and update related section 3.65.020 Land
classification for consistency with applicable law.
Section 3. Amendments to Chapter 3.65 JCC Adopted. Amendments to chapter 3.65 JCC,
including section 3.65.020 Land classification and section 3.65.030 Rates, as reflected in
ATTACHMENT A, are hereby adopted.
Section 4. Severability. If any section, subsection, sentence, clause, or phrase of this ordinance or
its application to any person or circumstance is held invalid,the remainder of this ordinance or its
application to other persons or circumstances shall be fully valid and shall not be affected.
Section 5. Effective Date. This ordinance shall be effective January 1, 2026.
Section 6. SEPA Categorical Exemption. This ordinance is categorically exempt from the State
Environmental Policy Act under WAC 197-11-800(19).
(SIGNATURES FOLLOW ON THE NEXT PAGE)
2
APPROVED and ADOPTED this day of ,2025.
JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF
SEAL: COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
Heidi Eisenhour, Chair
Greg Brotherton, Member
Heather Dudley-Nollette, Member
ATTEST: APPROVED AS TO FORM:
Carolyn Gallaway,CMC Date Philip C. Hunsucker, Date
Clerk of the Board Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney
3
ATTACHMENT A
AMENDMENTS TO CHAPTER 3.65 JCC
ASSESSMENT LEVIED FOR COORDINATING NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL
Strikethrough and underline indicate recommended changes to code section below.
Section 3.65.020 Land classification.
The Jefferson County noxious weed control board has classified land in Jefferson County
pursuant to the requirements outlined in RCW 17.10.240. The classifications of land subject to
assessment are defined as forest and nonforest as provided_n Attachment " to the ordina ce
below:
(1)Non-Forestry. All real property parcels in Jefferson County that have an upland component
or distributed land share and are not classified in another category listed here. Includes,but is not
limited to condominiums(timeshares and non-timeshares), State Parks,County Parks,
conservation lands, schools, libraires, fire district facilities, churches, agricultural lands,ports,
and other real property parcels not-classified elsewhere.
(2)Forestry. Real property parcels in Jefferson County that are in the designated Timber and
Forestlands(chapter 84.33 RCW),Open Space,Agricultural, Timberlands(chapter 84.34 RCW),
and public lands managed for timber as identified by the Jefferson County land use codes 9710
(County owned timberlands), 9720 (State DNR managed timberlands)and 9725 (State Forest
Board timberlands).
(3)Public Roads(State, County, City). State, County, and City roads will each be assessed as
one parcel per jurisdictional entity, with an aggregate assessment determined by evaluating the
length and functional width of each segment under the jurisdiction of the fee assessment payer
and develop an appropriate parcel count and acreage aggregate. The non-forestry rates will be
used.
(4)Lands not subject to the Noxious Weed Assessments
a. Federal and Tribal Trust lands.
b. Mineral rights.
c. Standalone tideland parcels and tideland acreage.
d. Standalone water parcels and water acreage.
e. Common areas and open space as separate parcels where the land is assessed through
other parcels(acreage may be distributed to the other parcels for calculating the Noxious
Weed Assessment(NWA)fees).
f. Private roads as separate parcels where the land is assessed through other parcels
(acreage may be distributed to the other parcels for calculating the NWA fees).
g. Parcels with taxable values exempted under RCW 84.36.015.
4
h. Improvements Only parcels(no direct land component).
i. Parcels determined by the county assessor to qualify for a senior citizen or disabled
persons property tax exemption under RCW 84.36.381 on January 1st of the tax year.
j. If a portion of a real property parcel does not satisfy any exemption criteria specified in
this section,then the parcel shall be subject to said fee.
Section 3.65.030 Rate.
(1)An assessment for the Jefferson County noxious weed control program of$4.00-peF
$5.50 per parcel and $0.45 cents per acre on all property not
classified as forest land shall be imposed annually. Under RCW 17.10.240 forest lands
may be subject to an annual noxious weed assessment that does not exceed one-tenth of
the weighted average of the per acre and per parcel rate levied on other lands that are
subject to the weed assessment. Property classified as forest land, as defined in
RCW 84.33.035, which is used solely for the planting, growing or harvesting of trees and
which is typified, except for a single five-year period following clear-cut logging, by
canopies so dense as to prohibit the growth of an understory
as specified in RCW 17.10.240(2) shall be
assessed at one-tenth the non-forestland rate or$0.55 per parcel and $0.045 cents per
acre. State forest lands managed under RCW 79.22 shall be considered to be forestland
for the purpose of this assessment. The classifications of land subject to assessment are
further defined as forest and non-forest as provided in section 3.65.020 Land
classification.
f2)Annual Assessment will be adjusted per Annual Fee Indexing. Fixed amount fees
established by this ordinance shall be adjusted annually on the first business day of
January(adjusted date)by the amount of the increase in the Consumer Price Index
(CPIW). The CPIW is the Consumer Price Index—U.S.City Average for All Urban
Wage Earners and Clerical Workers,published by the Bureau of Labor Statistics for the
United States Department of Labor. The annual fee adjustment shall be calculated as
follows: The fee in effect immediately prior to the adjustment date will be increased by
the percentage increase in the CPIW as reported for the month of September preceding
the adjustment date. Increases to the Noxious Weed Annual Assessment will be rounded
to the nearest cent for the per parcel rate and the nearest tenth of a cent for the per acre
rate. Timber rates are one tenth of each per parcel and per acre rate. A fee shall not be
reduced by reason of such calculation. However, fee increases in accordance with this
calculation shall not exceed five percent per year.
5
Noxious Weed
Assessment
Increase
Recommendation
September 15, 2025
Presented by Sophie DeGroot, Jefferson County Noxious Weed Coordinator
Jefferson County Courthouse, BoCC Chambers
•
Overview
• What is a Noxious Weed?
• What is the Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board?
• Weed Board Funding
�1.-. un�anass
• Why Increase the Assessment Now? „I,Illla
• Budget
�,..• It
.
• Increased needs t aayaanl
t
• Proposed Rate ` - <-, 9
♦ .�
• Forested Parcels A. '.: • .`'
Uwl . . �) s • .
audios Null 4 %/' ��� y'L
• Inflation Adjustment I° °I`"'4 :`.; j
t
• Acre Rate Comparison ,!`"' ti r-------------41r1'
• County Rate Comparison r.,..• .�,••t�• �p
•
• Procedure for Assessment Increase
Weed Points in Jefferson County
• Recommendations
What is a Noxious Weed?
• Noxious weeds are invasive, non-native plants that
threaten agricultural crops, local ecosystems, or fish & h . , 1 1444
r
wildlife habitats. �►�* t
p ' t
• Specific weed species are detailed in Washington's RCW '�
Chapter 17.10. These are required for control within the 'l ' i
County and State. - 4-Air ,01. i `` 4 "1
4
Mr t
• About half of all invasive, noxious weeds are escapees ....1
-
from gardens.
r
th
• The rest are plants accidentally introduced to .1%
Washington through human travel and trade borders
and oceans. Milk thistle
What is the Jefferson County
Noxious Weed Control Board?
• JCNWCB is a regulatory board of 5 members that represent the 5
weed districts of Jefferson County
• Mission: "To protect lands within Jefferson County from the
degrading impacts of noxious weeds by educating residents, property
owners, land managers, and public agencies in how to serve as
responsible stewards and aid in the protection and preservation of
the land, water, and natural resources."
• RCW 17.10.060
• The Weed Board employs staff to carry out this missions through outreach
and education, survey and control, and assisting land owners and
managers in preventing and managing noxious weeds. The program aims
to help achieve compliance with state and county weed laws.
Weed Board Funding
• State law only allows county weed boards two ways to be funded
(RCW 17.10.240)
• General fund
y
• Levy an assessment on property within the county 0111114.10-
• Rates based on land classification
• Forested lands assessed at 1/10th average rate
• Jefferson County enacted a weed assessment in 2016
• Non-forested lands: $4.00 per parcel plus $0.30 / acre
• Forested lands: $0.40 per parcel plus $0.03 per acre 4' k
• Assessment has not been reevaluated or changed in 10 years
• In 2024, $147,717 was collected in Assessment Funds
Giant hogweed
Why increase assessment now?
:4 ,, .
• Since 2016, inflation has increased an
average of 33.94%
• Things are on average, 1.34 times more _ ,
-
expensive , ;
• This includes the cost of materials and -_4- �- W -
labor. b�
f....- . , ,
fifte -,.. ,L ,
I. y" -7- Pb I
AI(
1 R., v•
Il ,
r�
. •..
50 acres of holly controlled at
Anderson Lake State Park
Whyincrease assessment now?
NWC Revenues 2021-2025
$250,000.00
$200,000.00
$150,000.00 — --
$100,000.00
$50,000.00
5-
ACTUAL ACTUAL ACTUAL ACTUAL BUDGET
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
—Assessment —Contracts —other —Total Revenue
Why increase assessment now?
NWC Expenses 2021-2025
s2so,000.00
$200,000.00
$150,000.00
$100,000.00
$50,000.00
J
s-
ACTUAL ACTUAL ACTUAL ACTUAL BUDGET
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025
-Personnel -Contracts -Admin -Other -Total Expenses
Whyincrease assessment now?
Revenue vs Expenses, 2021-2028
$300,000.00
$250,000.00
$200,000.00
$150,000.00
$100,000.00
$50,000.00
$-
ACTUAL ACTUAL ACTUAL ACTUAL BUDGET PROJECTED PROJECTED PROJECTED
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
-Total Revenue -Total Expenses
Whyincrease assessment now?
Fund Balance vs Reserve Requirement, 2021-28
s25o,o00.00
$2oo,o00.00
siso,00o.00
sioo,o00.00
sso,000.00
s-
ACTUAL ACTUAL ACTUAL ACTUAL BUDGET PROJECTED PROJECTED PROJECTED
2021 2022 2023 2024 2025 2026 2027 2028
-Ending Fund Balance -Reserve Requirement
Whyincrease assessment now?
,, 41,. . .
E,-
• Increased staffing levels to meet program mandates and K'`
level of service expected "` -
• With no increase in revenue, the program cannot grow to - ,
meet high standards
• Seasonal employees have drastically increased the amount of ,j, 4 i•`
work we are able to do, but funding for these positions is - 4�
3
unstable and running a budget deficit. `
• 2023 totals — no seasonal employees: 150 - .., . 4. ._tt,
• 2024 totals — 1 seasonal employee: 295 acres
• 2025 to-date — 2 seasonal employees: 230 acres . _ , ,
• Seasonal employees removing holly
0,
What can we do with an 1
increase ?
• Hire additional year-round staff or more seasonal - �, t' om
employees ^� ¢ 1�' _a c �� it
• Uphold higher standards of weed control across the i\- .
County
• Assist with treatments of rare noxious weeds on private ) 4 8 , • ,a " Y %.- i
property , . '�, _ '�• t
• Continue to survey and improve weed maps +'� -�_ t t=� "
. _ 1 *ret,
Implement a cost share program for County Residents \ \ ., I a
• More noxious weeds controlled on private property ``a=0 `I i A
d � tit a �4°`lri." ' \ - ,
kt
• Host Volunteer Events _-11 s 1r t 6 r
• Increased outreach and printingof educational �r> '
�
materials `�.. •- , ` ' * ' � t ,A , r ,
• Purchase a second vehicle Spotted knapweed
• Plantings
• Support increased cost of supplies
Proposed Rate Increase
. . . .
• Current rate. R' �:.: iT � I
v f4 �
• $4.00 / parcel R �, =,
• $147,717
• $0.30 / acre ` J• *
, - .
11,4
• it''‘'73';:! .-' -7'r de .*48 '''
w /
• Proposed Rate ' 4.:-'. ',..-..',7 : -4..':
• $5.50 / parcel ,` ?,'
• $0.45 / acre r. . .` '1'76: 3-. . '\ 4 + s;
114
• $215,543 ;
, f A ' 7 a ur4,i
It i-
lic
v 1 ,.-
Itoild.,
Poison hemlock vs bur chervil
Inflation Increase
2016
$4.00 0.30.
2017 2% 4.08 0.306
2018 2.80% 4.19 0.315
2019 2.80% 4.31 0.324
2020 2.10% 4.4 0.331
2021 2.10% 4.49 0.338
2022 6.2% (5%)* 4.71 0.355
2023 8.7% (5%)* 4.95 0.373
2024 4.10% 5.15 0.388
2025 2.25% 5.27 0.398
2026 2.25% 5.39 0.406
*There is a 5%cap on inflation rate used.See below.
Proposed Rate Increase
• This rate takes into account the $1.39 / $0.11 increases for inflation. The additional
$0.11 / parcel and $0.09 / acre support the current need to grow the program past
what it has been for the last 10 years.
• This rate would support increased permanent staffing. It would also support a full
$10,000 cost-share program.
Non Tmber Count Rate Total
Parcels 27,677 5.50 $152,224
Acres 90,466 0.45 $40,710
Timber
Parcels 2,066 0.55 $1,136
Acres 358,706 0.05 $16,142
Roads
Miles* 608 8.77 $5,332
$215,543
Rate/Mile=7.27 acres* .5/acre+1 parcel @ 5.5=9.14/mile
Acres/mile=5,280'long*60'wide/43,560
Forested Parcels
• Section 3.65.030 Rate.
• (1) An assessment for the Jefferson County noxious weed control
program of $ . per parcel and $ per acre on all
property not classified as forest land shall be imposed annually.
Under RCW 17.10.240 forest lands may be subject to an annual
noxious weed assessment that does not exceed one-tenth of the
weighted average of the per acre and per parcel rate levied on other
lands that are subject to the weed assessment. Property classified as
forest land, as defined in RCW 84.33.035, which is used solely for the
planting, growing or harvesting of trees and which is typified, except
for a single five-year period following clear-cut logging, by canopies
so dense as to prohibit the growth of an understory shall be assessed
at the rate of $ . per parcel and $ . per acre.
• The County will include DNR parcels in this rate bracket.
Proposed
inue Rate arison
Comp_
2 acre parcel
Parcel Fee Acre Fee Total Difference (per year)
Current $4.00 $0.30 $4.60
Proposed Rate 5.50 0.45 6.40 1.80 s ,\
5 acre parcel
Parcel Fee Acre Fee Total Difference (per year)
Current $4.00 $0.30 $5.50
Proposed Rate $5.50 $0.45 $7.75 $2.25 (� !'-` _
10 acre parcel
Parcel Fee Acre Fee Total Difference (per year) 1
Current $4.00 $0.30 $7.00 � -
Proposed Rate $5.50 $0.45 $10.00 $3.00 ��
75 acre forested parcel ���8 . 't,` `. v AA
12,000 lbs of Scotch broom removed
Parcel Fee •Acre Fee Total Difference (per year) ' from the PUD corridor this year
Current $0.40 $0.03 $2.65
Proposed Rate $0.55 $0.045 $3.925 $1.275
Inflation Adjustment
• Annual Assessment will be adjusted per Annual Fee Indexing.
• Fixed amount fees established by this ordinance shall be adjusted annually
on the first business day of January (adjusted date) by the amount of the
increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPIW).
• The annual fee adjustment shall be calculated as follows: Each fee in effect
immediately prior to the adjustment date will be increased by the
percentage increase in the CPIW as reported for the month of September
preceding the adjustment date.
• Increases will be rounded to the nearest cent for the per parcel rate and
the nearest tenth of a cent for the per acre rate. Timber rates will be one
tenth of each per parcel and per acre rate.
• A fee shall not be reduced by reason of such calculation.
• Fee increases in accordance with this calculation shall not exceed five
percent per year.
Compare to other Counties
County Parcel Fee Acre Fee Last updated Notes
San Juan $9.25 $1.85 2022
Cowlitz $8.00 $0.30 2022
Lewis $8.00 2018
King $6.20 $0.44 2023
Thurston $4.40 $0.40 SO.15 per acre for each acre over 5
Jefferson $4.00 $0.30 2015
Clallam $3.60 $0.31 2022
Pacific $3.00 $0.10 2019
Kitsap $2.00 $0.08 2011
Pierce $1.79 $0.13 2007
Procedure for increasing
assessment
1. Weed Board decides whether to pursue investigating assessment increase and debate
preliminary proposals
• Can occur over multiple board meetings
2. Weed Board public hearing August 11
• Present proposed rate to public
• Public comment
4. At board meeting following public hearing, Weed Board discusses and votes on
recommendation to BoCC
5. Board of County Commissioners hold a public hearing for public comment on
September 15, 2025, then vote to pass or deny the ordinance that establishes new rates
starting in 2026.
YOUARE HERE
, .�..
R ecommen d ati• o n s ,.,,,,,. „_
l'
• On August 11, 2025, the JCNWCB r,7: y Y
voted to: s a ' , �� f ,sss Y .;
• Raise the assessment: ,� z l ` 5. `' ` :x{
Y
T J •;
• $5.50 / parcel ;�f ro
• $0.45 / acre ' °�� k
so
• Add Inflation Adjustment _% •
V.. t juJi 11frn� ' +..
Sophie DeGroot
sdegroot(a)co.jefferson.wa.us - 600_1bs of poison hemlock
360-316-9332 removed from City of PT 5/19/2025,
,