HomeMy WebLinkAbout092021cabs01 JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Brent Butler, DCD Director
David Johnson, Interim Planning Manager
Donna Frostholm, Associate Planner
DATE: September 20,2021
RE: Washington State Department of Ecology Grant Opportunities
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
Washington State Department of Ecology (Ecology) is currently offering competitive grant
funding to assist local planning efforts. Jefferson County Department of Community
Development (DCD) may submit up to three applications during this funding cycle. One grant
opportunity is through the Flood Control Account Assistance Program (FCAAP), which is
intended to assist a local jurisdiction with floodplain management planning. The other two
grants are through a Shoreline Master Program Pilot Program, which is intended to assist with
local shoreline planning efforts.
The purpose of this afternoon briefing is to apprise the Jefferson County Board of County
Commissioners (BoCC) of the grants and obtain feedback.
ANALYSIS:
FCAAP Grant: DCD is interested in submitting a grant application to (1) have a land
acquisition study funded and (2) have a Comprehensive Flood Hazard Management Plan
(CFHMP) prepared for two rivers in Quilcene. Both are briefly described below. If DCD is
awarded funding, work would begin in November 2021 and must be completed by June 30,
2023.
In 2009, Jefferson County completed a Duckabush and Dosewallips Comprehensive Flood
Hazard Management Plan using FCAAP grant funds. This plan identified 20 flood hazard
management options that could potentially be funded through future FCAAP grants cycles.
One of the options included in this plan is to acquire property in high risk flood hazard areas.
Under the current funding cycle, land acquisition is not likely to be funded; however, a study
that focuses on acquisition feasibility may receive funding. The majority of the funds would
be used by a DCD planner to manage the grant, although some work may need to be
contracted out (e.g., consulting geologist to assess geohazards in adjacent uplands).
Under this FCAAP grant application, DCD could also apply to have a Comprehensive Flood
Hazard Management Plan prepared for the Big Quilcene and Little Quilcene rivers. A
CFHMP was prepared in 1998 for the Big Quilcene River that could be updated. There is no
CFHMP for the Little Quilcene River. DCD would hire a consultant to prepare most of the
report, with a DCD planner taking the lead for project management, meeting coordination, and
document coordination.
Shoreline Grants: DCD is interested in submitting two grant applications: one that pertains to
improving implementation of Shoreline Master Plan (SMP) policies and regulations and
another that assesses sea level rise. Both are briefly described below. If Ecology funds one or
both of the grants, work would begin in January 2022 and must be completed by June 30,
2023.
To meet the need of providing the public with a better understanding of shoreline regulations
and why protection standards are needed, DCD would apply for grant funding to prepare a
Shoreline User Guide. If this application is funded, Jefferson County would prepare a
document that explains some of the commonly-used and/or complex SMP provisions in a way
that is easier for general public to understand. The document would include illustrations,
diagrams, and flowcharts that could be used by shoreline property owners, potential purchasers
of shoreline properties, realtors, and professionals hired to work within shoreline jurisdiction
(e.g., contractors, septic designers, consultants.). The purpose and intent of this project would
be to prepare a `user-friendly' document that (1) increases understanding of shoreline
development regulations and(2) presents detailed reasons for why protection standards are
included as regulations in the SMP. A Jefferson County planner would prepare this document.
Ecology is also funding sea level rise planning efforts. If Ecology funds this application, DCD
would oversee preparation of a sea level rise report for east side county shorelines. This report
would describe some of the potential effects of climate change on shorelines and shorelands in
the county, assesses the potential risk of sea level rise, and presents strategies that could be
implemented to protect shorelines. The results would focus on protection of life and property
along east side county shorelines, and would be used as a Best Available Science document for
periodic revisions to our Critical Area Ordinances and Shoreline Master Programs. Much of
this work would be completed by a consultant.
FISCAL IMPACT:
FCAAP Grant: The grant amount requested will likely be approximately $250,000 and
FCAAP grants require a 25 percent match(about $62,500), with much of the match provided
by planner work on the grant.
To assess the feasibility of land acquisition, a planner would review existing county GIS
mapping, state and federal mapping, and other documents. Some grant funding may need to
be contracted out (e.g., engineering hydrologist).
To prepare a CFHMP for the Big Quilcene and Little Quilcene rivers, DCD would hire an
engineering consulting firm to collect, review, and assess existing documents, and to prepare
draft and final versions of the flood plan. A DCD planner would be assigned as project
manager and would oversee the consultant. Much of the grant funding would be pass through
for the consultant.
Shoreline Grants: The estimated funding request for the SMP User Guide is $25,000 while the
request for the sea level rise study would be approximately 35,000. The shoreline planning
grants do not require a match.
RECOMMENDATION:
This meeting is intended to apprise the BoCC of these grant opportunities and to seek
feedback. DCD requests BoCC support for submitting three planning grant applications.
DEPARTMENT CONTACT:
Donna Frostholm, Associate Planner 379-4466
REVIEWED BY:
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