HomeMy WebLinkAbout2019-12-30-minutes-forest-health-funding-bill 12/30/2019 MINUTES 1
COMMISSIONERS' MINUTES KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON COMMISSIONER’S AUDITORIUM SPECIAL MEETING MONDAY 11:00 A.M. DECEMBER 30, 2019
Board members present: Chairman Cory Wright; Vice-Chairman Brett
Wachsmith and Commissioner Laura Osiadacz.
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; Reese Lolley, The Nature
Conservancy; and a Representative from the U.S. Forest Service.
SPECIAL MEETING DEDICATED FOREST HEALTH FUNDING BILL COMMISSIONERS
At 11:00 a.m. Chairman Wright opened a Special Meeting to receive an
update on the Dedicated Forest Health Funding Bill.
Commissioner Osiadacz explained how the language in the proposed Bill
had been changed since last year and it is to be considered during this
upcoming Legislative Session.
Darcy Batura, The Nature Conservancy, said fire suppression is no longer
included in the proposed Bill and explained how the language is now more
flexible in order to meet the needs of communities and agencies; has
science/fire background support; and the 20-Year Forest Health Strategic
Plan. Chief Sinclair explained how he is very concerned of a potential
wildfire which could completely devastate the Upper County. He expressed
concerns relating to not having enough volunteer firefighters in the
area if a significant fire were to break out; lack of egress/ingress in
various areas; mounting fuel and increased growth; and a high potential
for fast moving/wind driven fires. Gary Berndt, Department of Natural
Resources provided information to the Board on the proposed Bill and
said although they cannot fully prevent all fires, they can make it less
impactful. There was information provided on the benefits of the Good
Neighbor Authority.
The current draft of the Bill is available online, but it will not be
official until it gets closer to the beginning of the Legislative
Session. If the Bill passed, the funding would be from a surcharge on
insurance. Chairman Wright said he would like to support the Bill but
needs to see the plan and where the investments are being placed before
he’d take official action. The Board agreed to wait and review the Bill
and all the details before considering an official action of support.
Once the Bill has been submitted, a follow up meeting would be scheduled
12/30/2019 MINUTES 2
in mid-January for the Board to consider acting on whether to support it
or not.
The meeting was adjourned at 11:56 a.m.
KITTITAS COUNTY COMMISSIONERS CLERK OF THE BOARD KITTITAS COUNTY, WASHINGTON Julie Kjorsvik Cory Wright, Chairman