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11/03/2021 MINUTES 1 <br />COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON WEBEX SPECIAL MEETING <br /> WEDNESDAY 6:00 P.M. NOVEMBER 3, 2021 <br />Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith; Vice-Chairman Laura <br />Osiadacz; and Commissioner Cory Wright. <br /> <br />Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Dan Carlson, CDS <br />Director; Mandy Buchholz, Administrative Supervisor; Jeremy <br />Johnston, Planning Official; Dan Nickel, Consultant; Carly <br />Brettmann, Communications Director; Kelly Bacon, Staff Planner; Neil <br />Caulkins, Deputy Prosecutor; Jeramiah Cromie, Staff Planner; and <br />approximately 12 members of the public. <br /> <br />Per Governor Inslee’s Proclamation 20-28 et seq., the public was <br />encouraged to join the meeting virtually. <br /> PUBLIC HEARING CRITICAL AREAS CDS <br />At 6:00 p.m. CHAIRMAN WACHSMITH opened a Public Hearing to consider <br />the 2021 Kittitas County Critical Area’s Ordinance. <br /> JEREMY JOHNSTON, PLANNING OFFICIAL reviewed a Staff Report. He said <br />the Washington State Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A) requires all <br />jurisdictions to adopt and maintain a critical areas policy which <br />includes most current information and data. He reviewed the <br />background on the update process; Staff review and summary of <br />proposed amendments; environmental review; agency and public <br />comments; takings impact analysis, and Planning Commission <br />recommendations. NEIL CAULKINS, DEPUTY PROSECUTOR answered questions <br />from the Board. GREG JOHNSTON, CONSULTANT provided information <br />including the RMZ widths under the Forest Practices Act. ELIZABETH TORREY, DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE provided information and the <br />benefits on riparian eco-systems and maintaining habitat types. <br /> THOSE REQUESTING TO TESTIFY: ELIZABETH TORREY, DEPARTMENT OF FISH & WILDLIFE recommended approval of the proposal and encouraged the <br />Board to adopt the Critical Ordinance. She said the riparian <br />guidelines were the best available science and they were supportive <br />of buffer averaging for property owners in order to utilize their <br />lands and protect critical areas. GARY GRAFF, REGIONAL SECTION MANAGER FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF ECOLOGY, spoke of interest in wetlands <br />and impacts. He said they’ve looked at the documents are supportive <br />of what they’ve done as well as Staff’s recommendations. JOHN MARVIN, YAKAMA NATION DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES noted they had <br />previously provided comments to the County. RYAN ROCKHILL provided <br />information on how he felt his property would be affected in a