Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout9-9-2024_PW_CDS SS Briefings KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS -BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: September 9, 2024 TOPIC: Kittitas County Water Mitigation for Kittitas Public Utility District No. 1 ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff LEAD STAFF: Arden Thomas RECOMMENDATION: Direct Staff to Prepare Resolution Authorizing Mitigation through the Kittitas County Water Bank. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Kittitas County has acquired water rights for the purpose of providing Total Water Supply Available mitigation for domestic ground water uses within the Yakima Basin portion of Kittitas County and administers this water though a water mitigation bank. • Kittitas Public Utility District No. 1 (Kittitas PUD)purchased land in unincorporated Kittitas County for future construction of a new office building and storage yard. • The new Kittitas PUD Facility will be served by an individual well and will require legal mitigation for the new use. • Two package A mitigation certificates are needed to meet the estimated water demand of the new facility. • County staff recommend that the Board of County Commissioners authorize mitigation be provided out of the County bank, under the "Special Use Program" identified in KCC 13.40.010. • County staff also recommend that mitigation provided for this use be provided per pricing and package size terms for standard water bank packages. BACKGROUND: Kittitas County has acquired water rights for the purpose of providing Total Water Supply Available mitigation for domestic ground water uses within Kittitas County and administers this water though a water mitigation bank. Most of the water mitigation provided through the bank is offered through the Standard Program. To be eligible for the standard program, an applicant must: 1)be within the water bank service area, and 2)require a quantity of water consistent with available mitigation packages, and 3) submit an application for a residential building permit within two years (commercial uses not eligible), or 4) submit a short plat application. Commercial uses are not eligible. If the proposed mitigation falls outside these eligibility criteria, Page 1 of 2 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT Commissioner approval under the Special Use Program authorized by KCC 13.40.010(2) is required. The Kittitas PUD Facility will be served by an individual well and will require legal mitigation for the new use. The proposed new use will be permit-exempt(RCW 90.44.050) and does not fall within the Upper County groundwater rule area. The proposed use is consistent with the large area permits issued to Kittitas County by the Department of Ecology and so mitigation can be allocated through the County Over-the-Counter process. However,the proposed use does not meet eligibility criteria 3 or 4 identified in the standard program in Kittitas County Code. DISCUSSION: County staff recommend that the Board of County Commissioners authorize mitigation be provided out of the County bank, under the "Special Use Program" identified in KCC 13.40.010. For Special Use Program authorization,the Board of County Commissioners consider: • Current water right holdings and the ability for the water bank to serve the long-term needs under the standard program and fulfill the transfer proposed in the special use program. The proposed transfer is consistent with the water bank to serve the long-term needs under the standard program. Currently, the water bank portfolio is sufficient to provide water for a 40-year period at the current demand. In general,providing water mitigation for public facilities not served by municipal water systems is not expected to create a significant increase in demand. • Whether the proposed use of water is consistent with and advances the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan. The proposed use supports the Capital Facilities and Utilities Plans within the Comprehensive Plan. • Whether the proposed use of water permits local governmental entities to make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage. The proposed use makes the most efficient use of Kittitas County internal resources and supports a facility with a broader, cooperative government mandate. • Cost-reimbursement. Cost-reimbursement is proposed at the current pricing under the standard use program. • Temporary authorizations for drought or emergency response. Not applicable Kittitas PUD provided water meter data from the past year to help estimate how much water will be needed for the new facility. Based on the meter data an estimated 500 gallons per day will be used for the facility at full build out. One package A mitigation certificate provides 275 gallons per day so two certificates will be required to fully mitigate the project and provide a small buffer. FISCAL IMPACTS: County staff recommend that mitigation provided for this use be provided per pricing and package size terms of our standard water bank packages which totals to $6,472.00.As such, the proposal has no negative fiscal impacts. Page 2 of 2 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS—BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: September 9, 2024 TOPIC: Hazard Mitigation Plan Outreach ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff LEAD STAFF: Arden Thomas RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to publicize opportunities for public comment on Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Local jurisdictions are required to update their Hazard Mitigation Plan every 5- years to maintain eligibility for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs. • During the past year, Kittitas County has been working with our contractor and 15 additional participating jurisdictions to update this plan. • Public outreach was initiated during the 2023 Kittitas County Fair, and we hosted in-person public meetings in February,2024. • A draft version of the plan will be available for public comment in early October, 2024. • To help facilitate public comment on the draft plan, our consultant recommends that we host virtual meetings, which are currently scheduled for October 911, 2024. • We plan to advertise the virtual meeting and opportunities to provide public comment utilizing a press release and social media and will encourage other participating jurisdictions to help publicize these opportunities as well. BACKGROUND: FEMA approved and locally adopted mitigation plans are a requirement for local governments, (including special districts)to be eligible for projects funded under the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs. These grant programs include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)Program. As part of FEMA's approval process,mitigation plans must be reviewed and updated every five (5)years and formally adopted by each participating jurisdiction's governing body. DISCUSSION: FEMA requires that the public be provided with opportunities for involvement during the planning process. Public outreach opportunities were initiated during the 2023 Kittitas Page 1 of 2 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT County Fair, when a community booth informed visitors about the plan update and opportunity for involvement by taking a survey offered in both English and Spanish. We also hosted 2 in-person evening public meetings, one in Cle Elum and one in Ellensburg, in February 2024. In early October we will have a review draft available for public comment and will host virtual meetings. We plan to advertise public comment opportunities by issuing a press release and ask the Board of County Commissioners to post on Facebook. Significant revisions to the Hazard Mitigation Plan include upgrading the Wildfire Hazard Ranking (from medium to high risk), upgrading the drought risk(from low to medium risk), and adding wildfire smoke and pandemic hazards. Some of the newly identified mitigation actions include: Working with the Elk Meadows HOA to address the McElroy Road Bridge Hazard; Addressing Group A Water system vulnerabilities; improving Channel Migration Zone mapping; identify, educating,and promoting heating and cooling centers in the community for the vulnerable populations and people with disabilities; implementing wildland fuels reduction projects that includes reduction of fuel at ingress/egress routes, creating shaded fuel breaks, and use prescribed burns to reduce fuel loads that threaten safety and property; and supporting partner efforts to implement Yakima Basin Integrated Plan projects. Kittitas County is not obligated to implement identified mitigation actions but including them in the plan makes them eligible for FEMA funding. FISCAL IMPACTS: Flood Control Zone District Levy funding is being used for the plan update. Page 2 of 2 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS—BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: September 9,2024 TOPIC: Upper County Traffic Calming- Gates ACTION REQUESTED: Direct Staff LEAD STAFF: Joshua Fredrickson RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to investigate gate installation on upper county roads. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Fehr& Peers identified and evaluated possible traffic calming devices for various County roads in Upper County in 2021 • Over forty traffic calming measures or roadway modifications were discussed during the process • Gate installation at locations are being requested for consideration on County roads • Provide for limited local access, limiting I-90 bypass traffic BACKGROUND: In 2020 Public Works solicited for professional services supporting transportation planning. Public Works solicited the planning firms to inventory County roads impacted by I-90 weekend traffic and identify various traffic calming measures or roadway modifications on these corridors. Fehr& Peers was selected to perform said work within Upper County, with a final memo provided in 2021. Recommendations have been implemented as possible, with additional traffic calming resources being considered. DISCUSSION: Fehr& Peers 2021 traffic calming device report included a review and recommendations of multiple traffic calming devices. Recommendations included items such as signing and pavement markings. Recommendations were focused on traffic calming, and not specific to reducing traffic volumes. The installation of gates was not considered as part of the traffic calming report. Traffic from I-90 continues to seek bypass routes when I-90 becomes congested or stopped. Gates and local access only restrictions are occasionally used on roadways during severe weather or emergency situations. Exploring their use on a regular basis on public roadways,to identify if feasible and practical. Topics to consider include the operation of the gates, locations, impact to businesses, cost and possible funding and legal ability to limit access during non-emergency times. FISCAL IMPACT: Additional traffic calming measure implementation will require funding not currently programmed ATTACHMENTS: None KITTITAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES—BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS 2024 STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: September 9,2024 TOPIC: Letter of Support for Odd Fellows Affordable Housing Project ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff LEAD STAFF: Jamey Ayling, Planning Manager RECOMMENDATION: Direct Staff to provide letter of support to the Odd Fellows grant application for an affordable housing project BRIEFING SUMMARY: CDS Staff have been approached by Dave Sturgell, Representing the Odd Fellows requesting a letter of support to include in their grant application to the Housing Trust Fund for affordable housing grant funds. The grant fund will provide funding for their proposed affordable housing project on Pfenning Road within the City of Ellensburg. BACKGROUND: The Odd Fellows have been attempting to develop an affordable housing project on Pfenning Road south of the Cemetery for several years. Project costs have continued to rise and without grant funding this project will not be feasible for the Lodge to complete. The Odd Fellows have partnered with the Office of Rural Farmworkers to complete a funding request from the Housing Trust Fund. In order to complete the application they are in need of a letter of support from the City or County. DISCUSSION: This funding request in excess of 5 million dollars would help make the housing project a reality for the Odd Fellows and would be a step towards reducing the lack of affordable housing in Kittitas County. Staff is asking for the Boards support by authorizing staff to sign and submit a letter of support for this funding application. FISCAL IMPACTS: No fiscal impacts are anticipated. ATTACHMENTS: Exhibit 1: DRAFT Letter of Support Page 1 of 2 Community Development Services"Study Session Staff Report",2024 EXHIBIT 1: DRAFT Letter of Support Page 2 of 2 Community Development Services"Study Session Staff Report",2024 Gp50pDE5...T0 pHE,C KITTITAS COUNTY COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT SERVICES ��E o�G °`� °�, 411 N.Ruby St.,Suite 2,Ellensburg,WA 98926 CDS@CO.KITTITAS.WA.US Office(509)962-7506 "Building Partnerships—Building Communities" RITTITAS COUNTY David Sturgell Odd Fellows Lodge 20 Housing Project PO Box 154 Ellensburg, WA 98926 housing@ellensburgoddfellows.org Dear David: Your proposal to build a 30-unit affordable housing development for veterans, individuals and families is very exciting and we strongly support your efforts. There is no question that additional quality-built, affordable housing is greatly needed in Ellensburg, WA. During these difficult economic times, the comfort and stability of a place to call home is of great importance. This letter is to confirm that the proposed housing project is consistent with the Kittitas County Homeless and Affordable Housing Plan's goal of increasing available affordable housing. The gap between income and the cost of available housing is one of the causes of homelessness,particularly in Kittitas County where housing prices have risen faster than incomes. There is an extreme need for affordable housing in Ellensburg and this project although exceeding the 5 million dollar project limit would be a great step in addressing that need. In addition, this proposed development supports the Kittitas County Comprehensive Plan Housing Element. (Chapter 3). Some of the goals in the plan which are supported are the following: GPO 3.13 Provide for housing to be developed which is affordable to all economic groups GPO 3.15 Provide for a range of housing types within Kittitas County. GPO 3.17 Provide a sufficient number of housing units for future populations while maintaining the rural character of Kittitas County. GPO 3.18 Provide sufficient housing units while maintaining environmental quality. Kittitas County looks forward to this opportunity to work with the Odd Fellows Lodge 20 on helping to alleviate our county's housing crisis. We wish you success in this new endeavor and lend you our full support. If I can be of further assistance,please let me know. Sincerely, Jamey Ayling Kittitas County Planning Manager COMMUNITY PLANNING•BUILDING INSPECTION•PLAN REVIEW•ADMINISTRATION•PERMIT SERVICES•CODE ENFORCEMENT