2020-01-13-minutes-forest-health-funding-bill-

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01/13/2020 MINUTES 1 COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONER’S CONFERENCE ROOM SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY 11:00 A.M. JANUARY 13, 2020 Board members present: Chairman Brett Wachsmith; Vice-Chairman Laura Osiadacz (arrived at 11:09 a.m.) and Commissioner Cory Wright. Others: Julie Kjorsvik, Clerk of the Board; Gary Berndt, Department of Natural Resources; John Sinclair, Kittitas Valley Fire & Rescue Chief; Darcy Batura, The Nature Conservancy; and Reese Lolley, The Nature Conservancy. Via phone: Loren Torgerson, Wildfire Policy Advisor for the Public Lands Commissioner; Chelan County Commissioners Kevin Overbay, Bob Burgert, (joined the meeting at 11:15 a.m.) Doug England; Okanogan County Commissioner Chris Branch (joined the meeting at 11:40 a.m.). SPECIAL MEETING DEDICATED FOREST HEALTH FUNDING BILL COMMISSIONERS At 11:00 a.m. Chairman Wachsmith opened a Special Meeting to receive an update on the draft Dedicated Forest Health Funding Bill. Loren Torgerson, Wildfire Policy Advisor for the Public Lands Commissioner, reviewed the proposed Bill concerning funding for wildfire prevention and preparedness activities. The Office of the Insurance Commissioner are aware of the proposed Bill, but they are not part of the team. The Bill includes increasing the resources required to implement the State’s 20-Year Eastern Forest Health Strategy”, “10-Year Wildland Fire Protection Strategy” and the “Forest Action Plan”. There was discussion on the differences between suppression versus preparedness. The models being projected demonstrate the westside of the State will eventually become impacted too, as they are already seeing results of poor air quality from the wildfires on the eastside. It was noted that insurance agencies are not supporting the Bill at this time. Commissioner Osiadacz said WSAC was supporting the Bill. She reviewed a letter of support she had drafted and could be signed by the Kittitas, Chelan and Okanogan County Commissioners. There were suggestions to include in the letter such as making sure the funds were a dedicated resource and could not be swept by the State. The meeting was adjourned at 12:15 p.m.