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KITTITAS COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS PUBLIC WORKS—BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS STUDY SESSION STAFF REPORT STUDY SESSION DATE: September 9, 2024 TOPIC: Hazard Mitigation Plan Outreach ACTION REQUESTED: Direction to Staff LEAD STAFF: Arden Thomas RECOMMENDATION: Direct staff to publicize opportunities for public comment on Draft Hazard Mitigation Plan. BRIEFING SUMMARY: • Local jurisdictions are required to update their Hazard Mitigation Plan every 5- years to maintain eligibility for Hazard Mitigation Assistance grant programs. • During the past year, Kittitas County has been working with our contractor and 15 additional participating jurisdictions to update this plan. • Public outreach was initiated during the 2023 Kittitas County Fair, and we hosted in-person public meetings in February,2024. • A draft version of the plan will be available for public comment in early October, 2024. • To help facilitate public comment on the draft plan, our consultant recommends that we host virtual meetings, which are currently scheduled for October 911, 2024. • We plan to advertise the virtual meeting and opportunities to provide public comment utilizing a press release and social media and will encourage other participating jurisdictions to help publicize these opportunities as well. BACKGROUND: FEMA approved and locally adopted mitigation plans are a requirement for local governments, (including special districts)to be eligible for projects funded under the Hazard Mitigation Assistance (HMA) grant programs. These grant programs include the Hazard Mitigation Grant Program, Building Resilient Infrastructure and Communities (BRIC) Program and Flood Mitigation Assistance (FMA)Program. As part of FEMA's approval process,mitigation plans must be reviewed and updated every five (5)years and formally adopted by each participating jurisdiction's governing body. DISCUSSION: FEMA requires that the public be provided with opportunities for involvement during the planning process. Public outreach opportunities were initiated during the 2023 Kittitas Page 1 of 2 PUBLIC WORKS BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS WORK SESSION STAFF REPORT