2024-02-12-minutes-public-works-study-session

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The Upper County Search and Rescue Facility to be constructed, owned, and operated by Kittitas County 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) but does fall within the Upper County groundwater rule area. The proposed use is consistent with the large area permit 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 abilityfor 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 Plan within the Comprehensive Plan, and the Upper County Emergency Operations Center & Search and Rescue Facility is identified in the current six -Year Capital Improvement Program. 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 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. As such, the proposal has no negative fiscal impacts. Page 2 of 2 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT