2017-03-27-minutes-public-works-study-session

Home Browse Search

Dept. of Public Works Page 2 At that time the decision can be appealed to the Board of County Commissioners. Mark added that he is trying to raise awareness of the dysfunction of the committee in its current state. Commissioner O'Brien inquired as to what other cities and counties do in processing of variance requests. Mark replied that it is different across the state but in his experience the request is given to the County Engineer for review then to the Director. Commissioner O'Brien would like to address the topic sooner rather than later and requests to schedule further discussion at the next study session. Discussion was held. Board Direction: Place topic on the next Study Session for further discussion and options. FLOOD CONTROL ZONE DISTRICT PROPOSED MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. Mark stated that in 2012 the County adopted the FCZD, a small county program that levy's about $420,000 to $450,000 a year in levy rates. Since 2012 staff has been very successful in leveraging that levy money at about 7:1 to generate additional revenues that we've used to do a host of floodplain management activities and much of the work has resulted in a couple of adopted plans including the Lower Yakima River Reach, Manastash Creek prior to that and currently wrapping up the Naneum, Wilson, Cherry Watershed Assessment. Out of each of these plans comes a host of recommended actions. These actions are typically prioritized by those working groups prior to the completion of the work. The difficulty now is that there is a mature and lengthy list of recommendations all of which cannot be implemented by the District due to fiscal constraints but more importantly staff does not have the frame work defined for us to bring to the BOCC a prioritized project list. Mark is suggesting to the BOCC that rate payer's need to start seeing things built. We spent a couple of years getting our minds around the need, getting the needs assessments done and then build a capital facilities plan for the District. The question now is how we build a system that not only allows the BOCC priorities and interests but also in a way that includes the rate payers. Mark stated that there are two models he has typically seen in County Government with utilities of this type. The first is a strong board model where the Board works directly with the Flood Control Zone District Administrator and staff brings the proposals for action or the alternative model is to look at some sort of a Citizen's Advisory that's primary built from rate payers and that way they get full representation and they 411 N. Ruby, Ste. #1 TEL (509) 962-7523 Ellensburg, WA 98926 FAX (509) 962-7663