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KITTITAS COUNTY <br />DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS <br />PUBLIC WORKS — BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS <br />2023 STL-DY SESSION STAFF REPORT <br />STUDY SESSION DATE: December 11, 2023 <br />TOPIC: Washington State Department of Natural Resources 2024 Legislative <br />Agenda <br />ACTION REQUESTED: Informational — no action requested. <br />LEAD STAFF: <br />Mark R. Cook <br />RECOMMENDATION: <br />Evaluate the proposed 2024 legislative agenda for the Washington State Department of <br />'Natural Resources (DNR) and engage the legislative process as appropriate. <br />BRIEFING SUMMARY: <br />• DNR's 2024 legislative agenda includes: law enforcement changes, the leasing of <br />DNR assets, commercial use fees and Smokey the Bear license plates. <br />• Staff summarizes each of the legislative items and provides detail as exhibits to this <br />brief. <br />BACKGROUND: <br />Given the vast amount of DNR lands in Kittitas County and our ongoing working <br />relationship with D'-1R; staff has obtained the 2024 DNR legislative agenda for Board of <br />County Commissioner (BoCC) consideration. <br />DISCUSSION: <br />Revisions to RCW 43.12 are intended to allow the Commissioner of Public Lands to delegate <br />enforcement activity to federally recognized tribes on DNR lands. Revisions to RCW 79.13 <br />are intended to allow DNR to lease water and implement a state-wide water bank. This <br />proposal will require additional vetting by our Water Resources Manager and Public <br />Works/Community Development Services Director — prior to further briefing of the BoCC. <br />The department desires setting permit fees for recreational events. More analysis is required <br />to advise the BoCC on impacts to county revenues and operations resulting from successful <br />legislation. Who wouldn't want a Smokey the Bear license plate? <br />FISCAL IMPACTS: <br />Impacts to our water banking program from successful legislation may have financial impacts <br />to our water banking program. More review is needed to advise the BoCC. Imposing <br />recreation fees may have financial implications to the county and more evaluation is needed <br />prior to advising the BoCC. <br />ATTACHMENTS: <br />EXHIBIT 1: DNR 2024 LEGISLATIVE AGENDA ITEMS <br />Page 1 of 2 <br />Public Works "Work Session Staff Report", 2023 <br />