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Home My WebLink AboutHearing Notice re Opposing Initiative 2117 JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CONSENT AGENDA REQUEST TO: Board of County Commissioners FROM: Mark McCauley,County Administrator DATE: October 14,2024 SUBJECT: Hearing notice,re: Resolution of the Jefferson County,Washington Board of Commissioners,Opposing Initiative No.2117 Relating to the Repeal of the Climate Commitment Act and Prohibiting Carbon Tax Credit Trading,Scheduled for this November 5,2024,General Election STATEMENT OF ISSUE: During the Board of County Commissioners meeting on Monday, October 7,2024 several attendees spoke during public comment regarding their opposition to Initiative 2117,which would repeal the Climate Commitment Act. In addition,they asked that the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners consider taking formal action to announce their opposition to the initiative. ANALYSIS: Jefferson County has a long history of supporting actions to foster a healthy environment with clean air to breath, clean water to drink and a stable climate for our children and future generations. This includes adopting a number of resolutions adopting ambitious carbon and greenhouse emission reduction targets and taking part in the Climate Action Committee. The Climate Commitment Act is a key policy to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions that will help us meet our reduction targets and is consistent with the County's goals and objectives. Repeal would be a significant setback for our program and for the state as a whole. The attached resolution, if adopted,will make the Board's opposition to repeal clear. The attached hearing notice includes the title and number of the ballot proposition,announces the date,time and location of the public hearing to consider adopting the resolution. At the hearing,members of the Commission and public will be afforded an approximately equal opportunity for the expression of an opposing view. FISCAL IMPACT: This request has no fiscal impact. RECOMMENDATION: That the Board of Commissioners approve the attached hearing notice. REVIEWED BY: Mark McCauley, County Administrator Date Please publish one(1)time: October 16, 2024 Contact Person: Carolyn Gallaway Bill to: Commissioners Office P.O. Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368 NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING An Ordinance Opposing Initiative No. 2117, relating to the repeal of the Climate Commitment Act and prohibiting carbon tax credit trading, scheduled for this November 5,2024, general election NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing has been set by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners(Board) for MONDAY, October 28, 2024 at 11:00 MnL in the Commissioners' Chambers, County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368.Notice of said public hearing is to be published in the official newspaper of Jefferson County. The ordinance is available for viewing on the County website by clicking on: www.co.iefferson.wa.us—Services—Laserfiche Web Portal (username and password is: public)— Board of Commissioners—BOCC Agenda Packets—2024 Weekly Agenda Items— 10 October 2024 — 102824—Hearing re Opposing Initiative No. 2117 You are welcome to participate in this hearing. You will need to join the meeting by 11:00 a.m. using the following methods: VIRTUALLY: Via the following Zoom, link: https:Hzoom.us/j/93777841705, PHONE: Dial 1-253-215-8782 and enter access code: 937-7784- 1705#and press *9 to"raise your hand"to be called upon. Access for the hearing impaired can be accommodated using Washington Relay Service at 1-800-833-6384,or IN-PERSON: in the Board Chambers. If you experience difficulties joining the meeting or viewing documents,please call 360-385-9100 to report any issues. In addition, written testimony is also invited beginning on October 16, 2024 and ending at the end of the Public Hearing, unless extended by the Board. Written public testimony may be submitted by Email to:jeffbocc e`.jefferson.wa.us You may view testimony received by clicking here: www.co.jefferson.wa.us—Services—Laserfiche Web Portal (username and password is: public— Board of Commissioners—BOCC Agenda Packets—2024 Weekly Agenda Items— 10 October 2024 — 102824—Hearing re Opposing Initiative No. 2117 You can also Mail your testimony to: Jefferson County Commissioners' Office; PO Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Written testimony must be received by the Board of County Commissioners by the end of the hearing testimony period. Signed this 14t'day of October 2024. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS /S/Kate Dean, Chair STATE OF WASHINGTON COUNTY OF JEFFERSON A RESOLUTION OF THE JEFFERSON COUNTY,WASHINGTON BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS, OPPOSING INITIATIVE NO.2117,RELATING TO THE REPEAL OF THE CLIMATE RESOLUTION NO. COMMITMENT ACT AND PROHIBITING CARBON TAX CREDIT TRADING, SCHEDULED FOR THIS NOVEMBER 5, 2024,GENERAL ELECTION WHEREAS, Washington State has placed a ballot measure before the voters with the official ballot measure title of"Initiative Measure No. 2117 Concerning Carbon Tax Credit Trading"; and WHEREAS, Initiative 2117 is scheduled to go to the voters during the November 5, 2024 Washington General Election; and WHEREAS, in accordance with RCW 42.17A.555(1), the Board of County Commissioners may take action at an open public meeting,to express a collective decision, or to actually vote upon a motion, proposal, resolution, etc. to support or oppose a ballot proposition so long as any required notice of the meeting includes the title and number of the ballot proposition and members of the legislative body, members of the board, council, or commission of the special purpose district, or members of the public are afforded an approximately equal opportunity for the expression of an opposing view; and WHEREAS, the Board of County Commissioners believes it has the responsibility of informing constituents of ballot measurers as they relate to the County's current operations,as well as broader ballot impacts that affect the County's long-term strategic planning efforts; and WHEREAS,Initiative 2117 reads as follows:This measure would prohibit state agencies from imposing any type of carbon tax credit trading, including "cap and trade" or"cap and tax" programs, regardless of whether the resulting increased costs are imposed on fuel recipients or fuel suppliers. It would repeal sections of the 2021 Washington Climate Commitment Act as amended, including repealing the creation and modification of a "cap and invest" program to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by specific entities; and WHEREAS,the Climate Commitment Act's"cap and invest"quarterly auctions have already advanced efforts to protect our air and water and has generated over $2 billion to date. See Auction revenue - Washington State Department of Ecology. ; and ' See https://ecology.wa.gov/air-climate/climate-commitment-act/auction- revenue#::text=Cap%2 Dand%2D1 nvest%20quarterly%20auct ion s,the%20state%2C%20prioritizing%20environme ntal%202ustice. 1 WHEREAS,Jefferson County has a history and dedication to recognizing the need to foster a healthy environment, with clean air to breathe, healthy drinking water, and a stable climate for our children and future generations;and WHEREAS,on May 29,2007,the Board of County Commissioners and the City of Port Townsend adopted a joint resolution(County Resolution No. 44-07 and City Resolution No. 07-022) to Commit to Addressing Energy Use and Climate Change/Global Warming; and WHEREAS,on January 7,2008,the Board of County Commissioners and the City of Port Townsend adopted a joint resolution(County Resolution No. 02-08)and City Resolution No. 08-001) Providing Compensation, Terms of Office and Procedural Rules for the Climate Action Committee(CAC); and WHEREAS, on January 12, 2009, the Board of County Commissioners and the City of Port Townsend adopted a joint resolution Adopting Inventory of Energy Usage and Associated Greenhouse Gas Emissions, Backcasts, Forecasts, and Interim Targets & Approving Climate Change Workplan(County Resolution No. 06-09 and City Resolution No. 09.002); and WHEREAS, the Climate Action Committee is responsible for developing strategies to implement the goals specified in County Resolution No. 44-07/City of Port Townsend Resolution No. 07-22 via the Climate Action Plan. The Board of County Commissioners and the City Council adopted the Climate Action Plan on November 14, 2011 (County Resolution No. 53-11 and City Resolution No. 11-036). The plan recommends how to achieve the goal of an 80% reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from 1990 levels by the year 2050. WHEREAS, the Climate Commitment Act is a key policy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and support implementation of the Climate Action Plan;and WHEREAS, the County is already involved in critical climate mitigation and resilience efforts as documented by the Climate Action Committee's on-going work; and WHEREAS, the County is a founding member and active participant in Jefferson County Climate Action Committee,which advocates for comprehensive,federal,regional,and state science-based limits and a market-based price on carbon pollution; and WHEREAS,On October 16,2024,public notice of the public hearing on the initiative was published in the Port Townsend Leader; and WHEREAS, on October 28, 2024, an open meeting of the Board of County Commissioners was held wherein proponents and opponents of this Resolution were given an approximately equal opportunity to express views; and WHEREAS,The Board of County Commissioners,as a governing body can adopt a resolution supporting or opposing a ballot proposition; make facilities available on a nondiscriminatory,equal access basis for political purposes; and/or make an objective and fair presentation of the facts relevant to a ballot proposition if such an action is part of the 2 normal and regular conduct of the agency. See, e.g., WAC 390-05-271 (general applications of RCW 42.17A.555 and WAC 390-05-273 (definition of normal and regular conduct). WHEREAS, with this resolution the Board of County Commissioners desires to oppose Initiative 2117. NOW, THEREFORE, THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF JEFFERSON COUNTY,WASHINGTON,HEREBY RESOLVES AS FOLLOWS: Section 1: Official Position of Jefferson County on Initiative 2117. The Board of County Commissioners of Jefferson County hereby declares its official position is to oppose Initiative No. 2117,relating to the repeal of the Climate Commitment Act. Section 2: Whereas Clauses Adopted as Facts. The Jefferson County Board of Commissioners hereby adopts the above "Whereas"clauses as Findings of Fact. Section 3: Purpose. The purpose of this resolution is to declare the Board of County Commissioners' position in opposition of Initiative No. 2117,relating to the repeal of the Climate Commitment Act. Section 4: Effective Date. This resolution shall take effect immediately upon adoption. Section 5: SEPA Compliance. This resolution is categorically exempt from the threshold determination and Environmental Impact Statement requirements of the State Environmental Policy Act under WAC 197-11-800(19). Section 6: Severability. If any one or more section,subsections,or sentences of this Resolution are held to be unconstitutional or invalid, such decision shall not affect the validity of the remaining portion of this Resolution and the same shall remain in full force and effect. (SIGNATURES APPEAR ON THE NEXT PAGE) 3 APPROVED and ADOPTED this day of October, 2024. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS Kate Dean, Chair Greg Brotherton, Member Heidi Eisenhour, Member SEAL: ATTEST: Carolyn Gallaway, CMC Date Clerk of the Board Approved as to form only: Philip C. Hunsucker, Date Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney 4