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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMeeting Minutes 092820 SMP TF.docx MINUTES Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Task Force Regular Meeting – September 28, 2020, 5:30 p.m. Jefferson County Courthouse – Commissioners’ Chambers 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA MEMBERS: Arlene Allen Lorna Smith Richard Hull Cliff O’Brien Gordon King Amy Leitman Chris Kelley Brent Vadopalas Phil Andrus David Wilkinson Craig Durgan Ron Rempel REVIEW MEETING OBJECTIVES: Lisa Grueter, Facilitator with BERK Consulting, called the meeting to order at 5:32 and called attendance. All Task Force members were present. Task Force member Amy Leitman introduced herself; she is part of the Marine Surveys and Assessment Co- op that helps with shoreline, aquaculture, and critical areas permits. Also present was Jefferson County Commissioner Greg Brotherton, and Jefferson County Department of Community Development Associate Planner David Wayne Johnson, and Acting Director Linda Paralez. Julia Tesch with BERK Consulting, Inc. and Amy Summe, Shannon & Wilson supported the meeting on behalf of the consultant team. Michelle McConnell Washington Department of Ecology Regional Shoreline Planner was also present. Consultant Grueter presented the meeting objectives, which were to review additional issues to address in the scoping document and review early input from the survey/story map. MEETING MINUTES: Consultant Grueter identified an added agenda item to approve the minutes from the September 21, 2020 meeting. Task Force members agreed they had reviewed the minutes. Phil Andrus made a motion to approve the minutes of September 21, 2020, which was seconded by Richard Hull. Consultant Grueter asked if there was anyone who cannot agree with this motion. Hearing no objections, the minutes were approved by consensus. PUBLIC COMMENT: Patricia Jones commented that she will be submitting comments to the Task Force with respect to the public engagement plan and scoping. Patricia alerted the Task Force to technical difficulties in viewing the meeting online. Greg Brotherton indicated how to access meeting materials and the recording. The meeting is accessible to the public via phone. The meeting is being recorded and will be posted online after. RESULTS ON STORY MAP AND SURVEY: David Wayne Johnson shared preliminary survey findings, with five survey responses at the time of the meeting. Responses to date addressed an interest in aquaculture. Regarding monitoring of released salmon in net pens, there are no net pens in Jefferson County. The survey would be extended to the end of October or into November. A meeting with the Chamber of Commerce is scheduled for October 25, 2020 to continue to share the SMP Periodic Review process with stakeholders. GROUP DISCUSSION RESPONSES TO PRIOR MEETING: Consultant Grueter reviewed the follow up information on Shorelines of Statewide Significance from the Washington State Department of Ecology; the Task Force members suggested a better understanding of how this class of shorelines is reflected in the SMP use matrix, e.g. level of scrutiny in permitting, including aquaculture. Consultant Grueter reviewed Periodic Review Checklist Findings with the Task Force members, and the Task Force was generally interested in carrying forward the optional items that assist with clarifications/process improvements. Associate Planner Johnson suggested some work had been accomplished on wording for the recommended optional items and more work may be done on others after setting the scope. Consultant Amy Summe with Shannon & Wilson presented a comparison of Jefferson County’s shoreline use permit review processes for expansion of nonconforming single family structures, beach access structures, and residential mooring buoys with permit review processes for Whatcom, Kitsap, and Clallam counties. The Task Force discussed potential tribal interests in mooring buoys, and considerations with SMP standards addressing eelgrass beds. Task Force members discussed the balance between establishing mooring buoys versus having recreational boaters anchoring. Consultant Grueter noted that there will be some engagement with tribes in the periodic review process. Consultant Summe suggested current Jefferson County mooring buoy regulations require avoidance of eel grass beds. There are several considerations to improve regulations and work with Tribes. CLIMATE CHANGE AND SEA LEVEL RISE: Consultant Grueter reviewed the background information provided to task force members and potential options to address sea level rise for the periodic review scope: 1) Retain current SMP policy and monitor Ecology rules, 2) Integrate/reference Comprehensive Plan policies in SMP and monitor Ecology rules, 3) Review policies such as how to consider new information over time and improvements with longer life, or 4) Other. Option 2 only focuses on consistency with Comprehensive Plan, whereas Option 3 is a more robust review. Associate Planner Johnson posed selecting Option #2 and offering to the Planning Commission to take on Option #3, which would be a more serious review taking place beyond the Periodic Review. The Task Force discussed the options. RECESS: The Task Force members recessed the meeting at 6:30 p.m. and reconvened at 6:40 p.m. GROUP DISCUSSION SCOPING: The Task Force continued the discussions about sea level rise. The Task Force discussed whether current policies and regulations are sufficient to have information at time of permitting, e.g. ordinary high water mark defined with biologist. Most Task Force members agreed with ensuring consistency with the Comprehensive Plan at a minimum via Option 2, with more information desired on Port Townsend’s approach to the issue in their Periodic Review. Information from Port Townsend’s process may allow the County to consider Option 3 in its Periodic Review. Both options will be described in the draft scoping document. Regarding requests for information, Johnson reviewed code interpretations issued by the County. Patterns had to do with interpretation problems. Consultant Grueter asked for other subjects that the Task Force wanted to address in the scoping document. Amy Leitman suggested reviewing mooring buoys and eelgrass patches. The SMP could encourage more ecologically benign structures, such as one-point impact. The Task Force discussed mooring buoys versus anchoring, and as part of the SMP permit process review will be brought back in the draft scoping document. Phil Andrus suggests ensuring the SMP permit process doesn’t unduly burden marine trades in the South County to support economic development. This topic was supported as a scoping topic by several Task Force members to address employment opportunities other parts of the county and information on how such uses are treated in the SMP would be brought back to the Task Force. Christopher Kelley suggested the County could help promote aquaculture development. Task Force member Gordon King suggested that the County generally supported aquaculture, and the SMP should be reviewed for tweaks; it is not clear that additional aquaculture could happen. Michelle McConnell will provide additional information on past policy efforts regarding aquaculture. Craig Durkan suggested the County consider the condition and number of boat launching ramps. Linda Paralez, Acting Director of Community Development, expressed appreciation for the Task Force discussion and the professional nature and expertise of Task Force members. Director Paralez worked with a climate change group in Seattle and can connect the Task Force to any of those professionals. PUBLIC COMMENT: Consultant Grueter suggested a second public comment section since the Task Force had completed their discussion a little early. Commissioner Brotherton asked members of the public if they wished to speak. No members of the public made comments. Consultant Grueter adjourned the meeting at approximately 7:21 p.m. Respectfully submitted by: ____________________________________ ___________ David Wayne Johnson, DCD Date