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Home My WebLink About36-0624-24R Doc uwt.pAil s4ti- 13 STATE OF WASHINGTON County of Jefferson Dedication of Conservation Futures Funds to the } Tarboo Wildlife Preserve-West Slope Forest } Addition Project, as Authorized by and in } Accordance with Jefferson County Code } RESOLUTION NO 36-0 6 2 4-2 4 R Section 3.08.030(7)to Provide a System of Public } Open Spaces } WHEREAS, Conservation Futures Fund tax levy collections,authorized under RCW 84.34.230, are an important means of retaining community character and accomplishing the open space policies and objectives of the Jefferson County Comprehensive Plan that encourage the coordinated acquisition of key open space lands for long-term protection; and WHEREAS, Jefferson County is authorized by RCW 84.34.210 and 84.34.220 to acquire open space land, agricultural and timber lands as defined in RCW 84.34.220; and WHEREAS, the Conservation Futures Fund Citizen Oversight Committee has reviewed project applications for 2024 and made its funding recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners in accordance with Jefferson County Code Chapter 3.08; and WHEREAS, under the provisions of the Jefferson County Conservation Futures Fund Program,Northwest Watershed Institute, as project sponsor,requests funding towards the fee simple acquisition of two (2)parcels of land located in S28 T28N R1W with Assessor's Parcel Numbers 801282005 and 801283001; and WHEREAS, the County retains enough developable land to accommodate the Tarboo Wildlife Preserve, West Slope Forest Addition project as well as the housing and employment growth that it is expected to receive,thus satisfying the requirement in RCW 84.34.240(3); and WHEREAS, Jefferson County considers it in the best public interest to contribute financially to this open space project. NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that: 1. Jefferson County hereby dedicates up to $150,000 in Conservation Futures Funds towards eligible acquisition expenses for the Tarboo Forest-West Slope Addition project, contingent upon presentation of a matching contribution of at least fifty percent (50%). The sponsor anticipates that the matching contribution will be eighty-two percent(82%) at the time of project completion. 2. This dedication of funding may be nullified if a submittal for reimbursement, accompanied by documentation of matching funds sufficient to complete the acquisition, is not received from the sponsor within three years of the signing of this resolution. - 2-�f- Resolution No. re: Dedication of Conservation Futures Funds to the Tarboo Wildlife Preserve, West Slope Forest Addition project APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 142aay of `T t Y1 _ , 2024 in Port Townsend, Washington. SEAL: JEFFERSON COUNTY ',,NINM//N,, BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ,,,,,OFERS "''�r paAMI$.Cb g, R"• ? Kate Dean Chair ATTEST: -,°A:' 0� • �,� �gS • HING� .�`��, �� .. ,Ios11111111f 1N11`1� Ai , IV r` ro erton, Member CarolyfiGallaway, CMCY Clerk of the Board eidi Eisenhour, Member Page 2 of 2 615 Sheridan Street Qof[e son Port Townsend, WA 98368 www.JeffersonCountyPublicHealth.org Public Healt JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners Mark McCauley, County Administrator FROM: Pinky Feria Mingo, Environmental Public Health and Water Quality Director Tami Pokorny, Natural Resources Program Coordinator DATE: June 24, 2024 SUBJECT: Public Hearing and Possible Decision Regarding Applications for Conservation Futures Funding in 2024 STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The Conservation Futures Fund program (JCC 3.08) requires a duly noticed public hearing to be held as part of the process for allocating funds to projects that protect public open spaces. On June 10th, 2024, the BOCC approved a Public Hearing Notice to hold a public hearing June 24th, 2024 at 9:45 a.m on the 2024 Conservation Futures Program project applications.The Notice was published in the Port Townsend&Jefferson County Leader on June 12th and June 19th, 2024. The BOCC may decide which project(s)to fund and pass resolution(s) for funding, after hearing public comment and considering an analysis by the Department of Community Development on impacts to growth. ANALYSIS STRATEGIC GOALS: The three (3) applications to the Conservation Futures Fund in 2024 are: 1. Deerfoot Forest: Applicant requests$88,000 towards the acquisition of a conservation easement on two parcels totaling 36.9 acres, located in the Tarboo Creek watershed along Center Road in Quilcene. The conservation easement would create protected open space for a second growth forest and wetlands.The applicant also requests$12,000 towards reimbursement of operations and maintenance costs.The proposed match is $114,000 in funds from the Navy's Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program and/or a landowner contribution.The project applicant and sponsor is Jefferson Land Trust. Project location: S5 T27N R1W. 2. Humbleberry Farm: Applicant requests$140,000 towards acquisition of a conservation easement on three parcels totaling 50.9 acres, located in the Donovan Creek watershed in Quilcene. The conservation easement would create protected open space for continued agriculture on prime soils. The applicant also requests$12,000 towards reimbursement of operations and maintenance costs. The proposed match is$685,000 in funds from the State Farmland Preservation program and the Navy's Readiness and 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 Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program.The project applicant and sponsor is Jefferson Land Trust. Project location: S18 T27N R1W. 3.Tarboo Wildlife Preserve—West Slope Forest Addition: Applicant requests$150,000 towards the fee simple acquisition of two parcels totaling 80.8 acres in the Tarboo Creek watershed north of Quilcene Bay. Acquisition of the property would create protected open space to restore old growth characteristics to a commercial forest over time.The applicant does not request reimbursement of operations and maintenance costs.The proposed match is$675,000 in funds from the Navy's Readiness and Environmental Protection Integration (REPI) program and private donations.The project applicant and sponsor is Northwest Watershed Institute. Project location:S28 T28N R1W. At its April 23`d meeting,the Conservation Futures Fund Citizen Oversight Committee (CFF Committee) voted by majority to declare all three projects worthy of funding. However, only Tarboo Wildlife Preserve—West Slope Forest Addition and Humbleberry Farm were ultimately recommended for funding.The CFF Committee voted unanimously to fully fund Tarboo Wildlife Preserve—West Slope Forest Addition at$150,000, and to designate the remaining$130,000 in CFF funds to Humbleberry Farm, with up to$12,000 of this sum to be used for reimbursement of operations and maintenance costs. This briefing packet contains: • Conservation Futures Fund Citizen Oversight Committee recommendations memo, presented to the BOCC on June 3rd, 2024 by Committee Chair Joanne Pontrello. • Three (3)Conservation Futures Fund project applications and the relevant sponsor information. • Draft summary of the April 23rd CFF Committee meeting • Analysis from Joel Peterson,Jefferson County Department of Community Development • Map of conservation futures projects 2003-2023 • Draft resolutions consistent with the recommendations of the CFF Committee The purpose of the CFF 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 Fund 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 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." JCC 3.08.030 allows up to 15%of the Conservation Futures Fund levy monies raised in the preceding year to be used for operations and maintenance needs. Fifteen percent of the revenue collected in 2023 ($285,000) is$42,750.The total request for operations and maintenance funding in 2024 is$24,000. RCW 84.34.230 and 84.34.240(3) require that rights or interests in real property acquired with CFF funds shall not "reduce the capacity of land suitable for development necessary to accommodate the allocated housing and employment growth plans" of the County.An analysis on the impact to growth from the Jefferson County Department of Community Development is provided here,which concludes that"the proposals do not negatively impact housing supply or employment growth." Community Health Environmental Public 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 Grant agreements for approved projects between project sponsors 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 Fund 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 following previously approved CFF projects are anticipated to close during the remainder of 2024: Schmidt Farm: $60,000 Lower Chimacum Creek Mainstem Acquisitions (portion of): $52,000 North Barry Snow Creek: $74,000 The following previously approved CFF projects are anticipated to close after 2024: Dosewallips River Lazy C: $7,649 RECOMMENDATION: 1) Review the three (3)CFF project proposals and supporting documentation. Hold a public hearing on June 24th, 2024 at 9 :45 a.m. Consider written and oral testimony at the public hearing and adopt any of the enclosed funding resolutions,with or without revisions. REVIEWED BY: // Mark McCaule unty Administrator ` Date Community Health Environmental Public 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