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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAR Chair David Wilkinson Letter to BoCC FINAL 2018 06 16.dw e V _ Regular Agenda ' 615 Sheridan Street � enson Port Townsend, WA 98368 www.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org Public Heeftat% September 25,2018 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners Philip Morley, County Administrator FROM: Stuart Whitford,Environmental Public Health Director Tami Pokorny,Natural Resources Program Coordinator DATE: October 1, 2018 SUBJECT: Agenda Request: Public Hearing and Possible Decision Regarding Applications for Conservation Futures Funding in 2018 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: On September 17t,the BoCC approved a Public Hearing Notice to hold a public hearing on the Conservation Futures Program project applications received in 2018 on October 1,2018 at 10:15 AM. The notice was published in the Port Townsend&Jefferson County Leader on September 19,2018.The Conservation Futures Program(JCC 3.08)requires a duly noticed public hearing to be held as part of the public process of allocating conservation futures funding to worthy projects that protect public open spaces.After the hearing,the BoCC may decide which project(s)to fund by passing resolution(s)to include a factual finding as to whether each project would reduce the county's capacity to accommodate growth. ANALYSIS/STRATEGIC GOALS: The five applications to the Conservation Futures Fund are: 1. Chimacum Forest(Short's Forest), $140,000 towards the fee simple acquisition of two parcels totaling 65 acres of rural residential and rural forest lands with mature,mixed species forest on the east side of Center Valley as a component of a community forest project on Chimacum Ridge. The proposed match of $1,952,000 would include funding from the U.S.Forest Service and U.S.Navy REPI Program as well as private contributions.Jefferson Land Trust is the project sponsor and applicant. Project location: Sec.23 26&27,T.29N,R. 1W. 2.Dabob Bay Natural Area Addition,$100,000 towards the fee simple acquisition of one parcel of 5.1 acres of rural residential land, including areas of forest,bluff shoreline and beach,for possible inclusion in the Washington Dept.of Natural Resources Dabob Bay Natural Area.The source of the proposed Community Health Environmental Health Developmental Disabilities Water Quality 360-385-9400 360-385-9444 360-385-9401 (f) Always working for a safer and healthier community (f)360-379-4487 match of$223,100 would be a National Coastal Wetland Conservation Grant.Northwest Watershed Institute is the project sponsor and applicant. Project location: Sec. 17,T.28N,R. 1W. 3.Marrowstone Mize, $45,000 towards the purchase of a conservation easement on 35.2 acres of undeveloped rural residential land in nine parcels, located one mile south of Fort Flagler State Park,as open space for wildlife, future agriculture and compatible recreation.The source of the proposed match is a donation of the property's value by the current landowner.Jefferson Land Trust is the project sponsor. Marrowstone Preserve LLC is the applicant.Project location: Sec. 29,T. 30N,R. 1E. 4. Ruby Ranch Preservation, $60,000 towards the purchase of a conservation easement on approximately sixty acres in two parcels bordering the east fork of Chimacum Creek in Beaver Valley about three miles south of Chimacum for agriculture and wildlife corridors.A matching contribution would be provided by the U.S.Navy REPI Program. Jefferson Land Trust is the project sponsor.Joseph and Val Goularte are the project applicants. Project location: Sec.25 and 36,T. 29N,R. 1W. 5. Snow Creek Middle Reach Forest Protection, $25,385 towards the fee-simple acquisition of four parcels of rural residential land totaling 8.7 acres located on both sides of Snow Creek near the junction of Highways 101 and 104 for floodplain,mature native forest and fish and wildlife habitat.A RCO Salmon Recovery Funding Board would be the source of match. Jefferson Land Trust is the project sponsor and applicant.Project location: Sec. 2,T.28N,R. 2W. At its May 9,2018 meeting,the Conservation Futures Citizen Oversight Committee voted to recommend all five projects as worthy of funding at the full requested amounts.Due to the limit of available funding,however,they recommend that all of the projects receive the requested amounts with the exception of the Dabob Bay Natural Area Addition,which would not be funded at all. This briefing packet contains: • Five conservation futures project applications and the relevant sponsor information: 1). Chimacum Forest(Short's Forest) 2). Dabob Bay Natural Area Addition 3). Marrowstone Mize 4). Ruby Ranch Preservation 5). Snow Creek Middle Reach Forest Protection 6). Sponsor Information-Jefferson Land Trust 7). Sponsor Information—Northwest Watershed Institute • Conservation Futures Citizen Oversight Committee recommendations(delivered on June 25, 2018) • Map of conservation futures projects 2003-2017 • Matrix of conservation futures applications 2003-2017 • Letter from Joel Peterson,Jefferson County Department of Community Development associate planner regarding the five projects,all of which are located in the County. • Draft resolutions consistent with the recommendations of the CF Citizen Oversight Committee. The purpose of the CF 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 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 Community Health Environmental Health Developmental Disabilities Water Quality 360-385-9400 360-385-9444 360-385-9401 (f) Always working for a safer and healthier community (f)360-379-4487 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." On January 3,2006,the BOCC approved Ordinance No. 01-0103-06 in response to Chapter 449 of that year which allowed up to 15%of the conservation future levy monies raised in the preceding year to be used for operations and maintenance needs.Fifteen percent of the revenue for in 2017($239,647) is $35,947.No requests for operations and maintenance funding were received in this funding cycle. Chapter 449 also states that local governments must consider and develop findings on whether or not new CF projects would reduce the County's capacity to accommodate planned growth. Grant agreements for approved projects between Jefferson Land Trust and the county will be developed by Environmental Public Health and submitted to the BoCC for approval. FISCAL IMPACT: The explicit purpose of the Conservation Futures 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 five combined projects total$370,385.Up to $275,000 is available for award from the Conservation Futures Fund in this cycle.The four projects recommended for full funding by the CF Committee total$270,385 for acquisition and$0 for reimbursement of 0&M expenses. The following projects are anticipated to close during the remainder of 2018: Big Quilcene River-Moon Valley Reach: $5,000 Resolution No.28-16(portion of project) Pending project approval: Chimacum Forest(Short's Forest) The following previously approved projects are anticipated to close after 2018: Bishop Dairy Preservation: $56,225 Resolution No. 20-15 Iglitzin Farm: $110,000 Resolution No. 26-17 Serendipity Farm: $106,600 Resolution No.24-17 Snow Creek Uncas Preserve Taylor: $13,434 Resolution No.25-17 RECOMMENDATION: 1) Review the five project proposals brought forth by the Oversight Committee. 2) Hold a public hearing on October 1,2018 at 10:15 AM.Consider the written and oral testimony at the public hearing and adopt any of the enclosed funding resolutions(with or without revisions)for project proposals and funding amounts that the Commissioners may wish to approve. REVIEWED BY: ' dip Morl ,unty A. •finis or Date Community Health Environmental Health Developmental Disabilities Water Quality 360-385-9400 360-385-9444 360-385-9401 (f) Always working for a safer and healthier community (f)360-379-4487 Always working for a safer and healthier community 615 Sheridan Street Port Townsend, WA 98368 www.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org Community Health Environmental Health Developmental Disabilities Water Quality 360-385-9400 360-385-9444 360-385-9401 (f) (f) 360-379-4487 To: Jefferson County Board of Commissioners From: David Wilkinson, Chair Conservation Futures Citizen Oversight Committee Date: June 18, 2018 Subject: Conservation Futures Citizen Oversight Committee – 2018 Funding Round Recommendations As Chair of the Conservation Futures Citizen Oversight Committee (CF Committee), I’m pleased to present our recommendations for the 2018 funding cycle. The CF Committee received five applications for funding this year for a combined total of $370,385 in requests. Conservation Futures Funds available to projects equal $275,000 of which $35,947 may be used to reimburse operations and maintenance expenses. However, no O & M funds have been requested. The 2018 applications are: 1. Chimacum Forest (Short’s Forest), $140,000 towards the fee-simple purchase of 65 acres of residential and forest land south of Chimacum along Center Road located in two parcels. The property contains mature, mixed species second-growth forests and links protected agricultural open space on the valley floor with working forest on Chimacum Ridge, which is part of an effort to establish a community forest. The proposed match of $1,952,000 includes funds from the U.S. Forest Service, Navy REPI Program, private sources and donation of partial value of the property from the seller. Jefferson Land Trust is the project sponsor and applicant. Project location: Sections 23, 26 & 27, T25N, R2W. 2. Dabob Bay Natural Area Addition, $100,000 towards the fee-simple acquisition of 5.11 acres of rural residential land including 200 feet of shoreline along Dabob Bay for eventual inclusion in the DNR Dabob Bay Natural Area, which protects rare saltmarsh habitat. The proposed match is $251,600 from a National Coastal Wetland grant. Northwest Watershed Institute is the project sponsor and applicant. Project location: Sec. 17, T28N, R1W. 3. Marrowstone Mize, $45,000 towards the acquisition of a conservation easement on nine parcels of vacant land totaling approximately 35.19 acres located on Marrowstone Island one mile south of Fort Flagler State Park for wildlife habitat, future agriculture and recreation. The proposed match of $180,000 is a partial donation of easement value. The project sponsor is Jefferson Land Trust. Marrowstone Preserve LLC is the project applicant. Project location: Sec.29, T.30, R.1E. 4. Ruby Ranch Preservation, $60,000 towards the acquisition of a conservation easement on two parcels of residential and agricultural lands totaling approximately 60 acres in Beaver Valley located three miles south of Chimacum to protect important agricultural lands and support the local food system. The proposed match is $90,000 from the Navy REPI Program. Jefferson Land Trust is the project sponsor. Joseph and Val Goularte are the project applicants. Project location: Sections 25 & 36, T.29N, R.1W. Always working for a safer and healthier community Community Health Environmental Health Developmental Disabilities Water Quality 360-385-9400 360-385-9444 360-385-9401 (f) (f) 360-379-4487 5. Snow Creek Middle Reach Forest Protection, $25,385 towards the fee-simple acquisition of four parcels of vacant land totaling approximately 8.7 acres of riparian habitat including 720 bank feet of shoreline to help create a continuous open space corridor along Snow Creek. The proposed match is $124,015 from the Recreation and Conservation Office for salmon recovery. Jefferson Land Trust is the project sponsor and applicant. Project location: Sections 25 & 36, T.29N, R.1W. The Committee ranked the projects in the following order: Project Points Awarded/Percentage of Points Available Ruby Ranch Preservation 220/69 Chimacum Forest (Short’s Forest) 203/63 Marrowstone Mize 199/62 Snow Creek Middle Reach Forest Protection 199/62 Dabob Bay Natural Area Addition 190/59 All five projects were considered worthy of funding. Due to a shortfall in available funds, the CF Committee recommends by unanimous vote that the top four projects be awarded full funding. Together, these total $270,385, which is $4,615 less than the total amount available. The CF Committee followed the scoring and ranking procedures as described in the 2018 Conservation Futures Manual with one exception. None of this year’s submissions met the 70% threshold for funding. This resulted, in part, from an increase in total available points from 306 in 2017 to 321. A motion was made and passed with nine in favor and two abstentions to waive the 70% requirement. Adjustments to the scoring or threshold levels are anticipated in recommendations for approval of the 2019 program materials to mitigate this issue going forward. We feel that these four diverse projects add significantly to the County’s open space reserves. Marrowstone Mize is the first proposal for Marrowstone Island and will support open space recreation and agriculture in a quickly developing area. The other three projects make strong local contributions to salmon recovery, sustainable agriculture or timber production. We hope you will concur with our recommendations and approve these four projects for funding at the appropriate time.