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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: May 23, 2022 <br />TOPIC: Water Mitigation Refund Policy <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Arden Thomas <br />RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to implement proposed refund policy <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• Kittitas County code requires those who mitigate through the Kittitas County <br />water bank to submit an application for a residential building permit within two <br />(2) years of issuance of the mitigation certificate (KCC 13.40.010(b)). <br />• If a building permit is not obtained within two years, the issued mitigation <br />certificate is no longer valid. <br />• Kittitas County's current business practice is to refund the full fee (minus $3 <br />charged by the auditor) for the water mitigation upon request by the current parcel <br />owner for mitigation certificates that are no longer valid because the building <br />permit requirement has not been met. <br />• Kittitas County incurs staff costs associated with issuing the mitigation certificate, <br />in addition to general program administration for the mitigation program. We <br />propose to withhold a portion, about 25%, of the original permit fee to cover these <br />costs. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Kittitas County code requires those who mitigate through the Kittitas County water bank <br />to submit an application for a residential building permit within two (2) years of issuance <br />of the mitigation certificate (KCC 13.40.010(b)). For those who wish to purchase water <br />without immediate plans to build a residence, acquiring water through a private bank is <br />an option. When water bank customers apply for a water mitigation certificate, they must <br />attest that they understand that they are required to apply for a building permit within two <br />years. Issued water mitigation certificates also identify that a building permit must be <br />applied for within two years. If a building permit is not obtained within two years, the <br />issued mitigation certificate is no longer valid. Kittitas County's current business practice <br />is to refund the full fee (minus $3 charged by the auditor) for the water mitigation upon <br />request for mitigation certificates that are no longer valid because the building permit <br />requirement has not yet been met. <br />Pagel of 3 <br />PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />