2019_KittitasCountyHMP_Volume2_For Adoption

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1 Chapter 1. Planning Partner Participation 1.1. BACKGROUND The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) encourages multi-jurisdictional planning for hazard mitigation. Such planning efforts require all participating jurisdictions to fully participate in the process and formally adopt the resulting planning document. Chapter 44 of the Code of Federal Regulations (44 CFR) states: “Multi-jurisdictional plans (e.g. watershed plans) may be accepted, as appropriate, as long as each jurisdiction has participated in the process and has officially adopted the plan.” (Section 201.6.a(4)) In the preparation of the Kittitas County Hazard Mitigation Plan, a Planning Partnership was formed to leverage resources and to meet requirements of the federal Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA) for as many eligible local governments in Kittitas County as possible. The DMA defines a local government as follows: “Any county, municipality, city, town, township, public authority, school district, special district, intrastate district, council of governments (regardless of whether the council of governments is incorporated as a nonprofit corporation under State law), regional or interstate government entity, or agency or instrumentality of a local government; any Indian tribe or authorized tribal organization, or Alaska Native village or organization; and any rural community, unincorporated town or village, or other public entity.” There are two types of Planning Partners in this process, with distinct needs and capabilities: incorporated municipalities (cities and the County); and special purpose districts. 1.2. THE PLANNING PARTNERSHIP Initial Solicitation and Letters of Intent The planning team solicited the participation of the County and all County-recognized special purpose districts at the outset of this project. All eligible local governments and special purpose districts in the planning area were invited to participate. All interested local governments were provided with a list of planning partner expectations developed by the planning team and were informed of the obligations required for participation. Local governments wishing to join the planning effort were asked to provide the planning team with a “letter of intent to participate” that agreed to the planning partner expectations (see Appendix A) and designated a point of contact for their jurisdiction. In all, formal commitment was received from 13 planning partners by the planning team, and the Kittitas County Planning Partnership was formed. Maps for each participating city are provided in the individual annex for that city. These maps will be updated periodically as changes to the partnership occur, either through linkage or by a partner dropping out due to a failure to participate. Planning Partner Expectations The planning team developed the following list of planning partner expectations, which were confirmed at the kickoff meeting: – Each partner will provide a “Letter of Intent to Participate.”