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HomeMy WebLinkAbout090313_cabs01County Administrator Briefing JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners Philip Morley, County Administrator FROM: Carl Smith, Director, Department of Community Development Stacie Hoskins, Planning Manager, DCD DATE: September 3, 2013 SUBJECT: Discussion and possible guidance to participate in Navy funded finalization of Nearshore Assessment Tool: STATEMENT OF ISSUE: DCD seeks the Board's guidance on whether to participate in a Navy funded project. This is a continuation of the existing In -Lieu Fee (ILF) Program in which DCD participates through the Hood Canal Coordinating Council. The ILF project entailed creating a Draft Nearshore Assessment Tool. At the completion of the existing project as funded, there will be a few steps left that are of benefit including take the tool from draft to final, including field testing, calibration, developing economic basis for the outputs and creating user documents. Staff believes the project in general and specifically the user documents will benefit greatly from Jefferson County staff involvement. The Navy requests written confirmation that the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Hood Canal ILF Program IRT members and the stakeholder group will continue meaningful participation in this effort. Without continued participation, Navy funding will be unlikely for this effort that they believe to be of value to permitting agencies and permit applicants. Attachments: Department of the Navy letter dated August 1, 2013. ANALYSIS /STRATEGIC GOALS/PROS and CONS: The Navy estimates involvement from DCD at an average of 2 -5 hours per month of participation over 12 -24 months. FISCAL IMPACT /COST- BENEFIT ANALYSIS: The project will be fully funded by the proposed grant. RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends the Board direct DCD to provide written confirmation to the Navy via the Hood Canal Coordinating Council that Jefferson County is interested in and would participate in further development of the Nearshore Assessement Tool. REVIEWED BY: p Morle , unty Admiri r Date N DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY NAVAL FACILITIES ENGINEERING COMMAND NORTHWEST 1101 TAIITOG CIRCLE SILVERDALE, WA 98315 -1101 5090 Ser EV21 /241 AUG 0 1 2013 Mr. Scott Brewer Hood Canal Coordinating Council 11791 Fjord Dr. NE Suite 122/124 Poulsbo, WA 98370 -8481 Dear Mr. Brewer: SUBJECT: NEARSHORE ASSESSMENT TOOL In the spring of 2011, based upon input from both stakeholders and regulators, the Navy embarked on an effort to develop a tool to perform a rapid, repeatable, and scientifically sound method to assess nearshore impacts and restoration. The Navy chose to lead this effort since there were no existing tools to measure impacts or restoration and the Navy's desire to support the development of an In Lieu Fee Program (ILF). For the past two years, Naval Facilities Engineering Command (NAVFAC) Northwest has led a multi- disciplinary stakeholder group in the development of the draft Nearshore Assessment Tool. The draft Nearshore Assessment Tool incorporates input and direction received from stakeholders, as well as a peer review team and an independent science team. At the completion of this phase of the process, there will be a few critical steps left to take the tool from draft to final, including field testing, calibration, developing economic basis for the outputs, and creating user documents. As the first phase of the Nearshore Assessment Tool development draws to a close, we thank the Hood Canal Coordinating Council for their critical leadership, and to all the members of the stakeholder group for their participation and support. With continued support from your Council, as well as the members of the Hood Canal ILF Program Interagency Review Team (IRT) and the stakeholder group, we would continue to pursue funding for and finalizing the draft Nearshore Assessment Tool. 5090 Ser EV21 /241 " a 1 2013 Before embarking on the next phase of this effort, NAVFAC Northwest requests written confirmation that the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, Hood Canal ILF Program iRT members, and the stakeholder group will continue meaningful participation in this effort. Without continued participation, Navy funding will be unlikely for the next phase of this effort, an effort we believe will be of value to permitting agencies and permit applicants. NAVFAC Northwest anticipates that finalizing the Nearshore Assessment Tool will require review of documents, attending periodic meetings, attending a two -day training on the tool including a field test, reviewing results of field testing, providing input on calibration of the Nearshore Assessment Tool, and providing input on the user manual. On average, approximately 2 -5 hours a month of meaningful participation is expected until the Nearshore Assessment Tool is finalized. Finalizing the Nearshore Assessment Tool is likely to take 12 to 24 months depending on the complexity of the technical details. Again, we thank you for your support of the Nearshore Assessment Tool to date, and request your written confirmation that you are interested in further development of this tool. In addition, we respectfully request your assistance in distributing this letter to IRT members and the stakeholder group for their consideration, and collecting and forwarding responses received. We would appreciate receiving responses within a month of receipt of this letter. Copy to: Mr. Richard Brocksmith, HCCC USACE WDOE Sincerely, C. S. LaPLATNEY Captain, CEC, U.S. Navy Commanding Officer 2