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STATE OF WASHINGTON
County of Jefferson
Dedication of Conservation Futures Funds to the
Finnriver Farm Project as Authorized by
84.34 RCW and in Accordance with Ordinance
No. 06-0708-02 to Provide a System of Public
Open Spaces
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RESOLUTION NO, 47-08
WHEREAS, conservation futures tax levy collections, authorized under RCW 84.34.230
are an important means ofretaining community character and accomplishing 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,
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,
WHEREAS, the Conservation Futures Citizen's Advisory Board has reviewed project
applications for 2008 and made its funding recommendations to the Board of County Commissioners
in accordance with Ordinance No. 06-0708-02,
WHEREAS, under the provisions ofthe Jefferson County Conservation Futures
Program, the Jefferson Land Trust, as project applicant and sponsor, requests assistance to aid in
financing the acquisition of a conservation easement in perpetuity on 33 acres of agricultural land in
Sec. 26, T 29N, R I W with Assessor's Parcel Numbers 901263020, 901263018, 901263021,
901274002,
WHEREAS, The County retains enough developable land to accommodate the Finnriver
Farm Project as well as the housing and employment growth that it is expected to receive, thus
satisfying the requirements of Chapter 449, Laws of 2005, and
WHEREAS, Jefferson County considers it in the best public interest to contribute to this
acquisition project.
NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED, that:
1. Jefferson County hereby dedicates up to $203,500 in conservation futures funds to
reimburse the Finnriver Farm Project for acquisition expenses contingent on a matching
contribution of no less than the amount of conservation futures funds requested,
2. Jefferson County hereby dedicates up to $4,000 in conservation futures funds to
reimburse the Finnriver Farm Project for operations and maintenance expenses incurred
within ten years of the signing of this resolution,
RESOLUTION NO. 47-08
3. This dedication offunding 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,
Julv ,2008 in Port Townsend,
CJt-C
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
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John Austin, Member
Page 2 of2
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Consent Agenda
JEFFERSON COUNTY PUBLIC HEALTH
615 Sheridan Street. Port Townsend' Washington. 98368
www.jeffersoncountypublichealth.o.g
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
Dennis Richards, County Administrator
FROM: Neil Harrington, Water Quality Division Manager
Tami Pokorny, Environmental Health Specialist II
DATE: July 14, 2008
SUBJECT: Agenda Request: Resolution to Dedicate
Conservation Futures Funding to the Finnriver Farm
Project.
STATEMENT OF ISSUE:
At its meeting on June 16, 2008, the BoCC heard the recommendations of the Jefferson
County Conservation Futures Citizen Advisory Board and took public comment on the
Finnriver Farm Project application for conservation futures funding. The advisory board
recommended full funding for the Finnriver Farm Project and, in its statement of June 2,
2008, the Department of Community Development recommended a finding that the
proposed acquisitions not be found to reduce the County's capacity to accommodate
growth.
The advisory board proposes that the BoCC dedicate $207,500 in conservation
futures funds towards the purchase of a perpetual conservation easement on 33
acres off of Barn Swallow Road in Center Valley south of Chimacum. This sum
includes $4,000 to reimburse operation and maintenance costs. Proposed match
would be grants from the Washington State Farmland Protection program and the
Federal Farm and Ranchland Protection program and/or community fund raising.
Jefferson Land Trust is the applicant and sponsor.
After the public hearing, the BoCC directed staff to draft a resolution to articulate the
advisory board's recommendation and also satisfy the requirements of Chapter 449,
Laws of 2005. Staff now requests that the BoCC consider the accompanying
resolution to grant full funding, contingent on the requisite 50% match, to the
Finnriver Farm Project.
COMMUNITY HEALTH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
MAIN: 360385-9400
FAX: 360-385-9401
PUBLIC HEALTH
.AlWAYS WORKiNG FOR A SAFER AND
HEALTHIER COMMUNITY
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
WATER QUALITY
MAIN: 360-385-9444
FAX: 360-3794487
ANALYSIS/STRATEGIC GOALS:
According to Ordinance No. 06-0708-02, the explicit purpose of the conservation futures
levy and program is to fund the acquisition of properties to support a system of public
open spaces and protect the county's open space resources from development, and
from being "negatively and permanently affected." 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 Comprehensive Plan.
The Conservation Futures Citizen Advisory Board ranked the Finnriver Farm Project
against preservation criteria established by the BoCC designed to implement projects
that meet the established goals of the Conservation Futures Program.
FISCAL IMPACT:
The explicit purpose of the conservation futures levy is to fund acquisition projects to
support a system of public open spaces. There is no impact to the county's generai fund
to support the Finnriver Farm Project. At the conclusion of 2007, the balance in the
Conservation Futures Fund was $483,344. Subtracting anticipated 2008 expenses and
the working capital requirement (10% of expenditures in the previous year), leaves
$215,000 for 2008 projects. Funds available to operation and maintenance costs
specifically are limited to $33,000.
The request for this project is $207,500 including $4,000 reimburse the operations and
maintenance costs related to the easement.
RECOMMENDATION:
Staff recommends that the BoCC sign the accompanying resolution to satisfy Chapter
449, Laws of 2005 with regard to the Finnriver Farm Project and to dedicate $207,500 in
conservation futures funding towards its implementation.
REVIEWED BY:
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Dennis Richards, County Administrator
7/9/df
Date! /
COMMUNITY HEALTH
DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES
MAIN 360385-9400
FAX: 36G385.B401
PUBLIC HEALTH
ALWAYS WORKING FOR A SAFER AND
HEALTHIER COMMUNITY
ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH
WATER QUALITY
MAl N: 360385-9444
FAX: 36G379-4487