Elected Officials Encouraged to Weigh in

This fall the Department of Ecology will be reissuing National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES) stormwater permits. The re-issued permits will apply to those covered under the previous permit (Phase 1 jurisdictions) as well as covering new permittees (Phase 2 jurisdictions). As part of that process, WSAC and county staff have been working for the past two years to recommend a regional stormwater monitoring program using pooled funding. Ecology will be taking comments on the draft permit during an informal comment period May 2 - June 3.

Neil Aaland, who represents WSAC's interests on the Stormwater Workgroup (SWG), and Jim Simmonds, Supervisor of King County's Water Quality and Quantity Unit and SWG Chair, encourage elected county Commissioners, Councilmembers and Executives to review and comment on those monitoring recommendations along with other input about the draft permit.

The SWG grew from concerns that Phase I permittees had with current monitoring requirements, including the high costs of required monitoring and questions about the usefulness of the data the monitoring provided.

WSAC has created a stormwater monitoring webpage with more information and an interview with Jim Simmonds about the subject. For more information, contact Neil Aaland.

Western Interstate Region Annual Conference is set for Wenatchee, May 18-20

 Chelan County and WSAC are hosting the 2011 NACo Western Interstate Regional Conference in Wenatchee May 18-20. Between 275 - 375 conference attendees including County Commissioners, Council Members, Supervisors, Executives and other County Officials will be in attendance. This is an opportunity for Commissioners and Council Members from Washington State to participate and attend a NACo Conference.

View more information on the conference and register online.

Kitsap County Commissioner sworn into office

On March 14, Rob Gelder was sworn in as District 1 Commissioner for Kitsap County. The precinct committee's first choice to replace Commissioner Steve Bauer, who retired earlier this month, was appointed by Commissioners Josh Brown and Charlotte Garrido. Welcome Commissioner Gelder!

WSAC Members selected to serve

Congratualtions to these WSAC members who were recently announced as county representatives on the following boards and committees:

• Commissioner Larry Guenther, Stevens County - Public Works Board
• Commissioner Laura Merrill, Pend Oreille County - NACo Telecommunications & Technology Steering Committee
• Commissioner Obie O'Brien, Kittitas County - Washington State Affordable Housing Advisory Board
• Commissioner Dale Snyder, Douglas County - Arid Lands Initiative
• Councilmember Carl Weimer, Whatcom County - Washington State Pipeline Safety Committee

Program Goals Identified

The Joint WSAC and WSU Extension Task Force launched its work March 3rd in Olympia. Eight county commissioners/county council members and six WSU administrators/faculty reviewed the current mechanisms for funding Extension (federal, state, county, and grant funds) as well reviewed goals and areas to strengthen and improve Extension's effectiveness in the future. Those top ten goals are:

1. Value and retain powerful community connections
2. Improve administrative efficiency and role clarity for administrators and faculty
3. Simplify and reduce complexities in organizational processes
4. Accomplish better integration across programs and missions
5. Balance our attention to rural and urban populations
6. Examine process and system-wide participation for updating Strategic Plan
7. Emphasize our distinctive mission to develop cutting-edge educational programs
8. Reach new audiences with research-based responses to contemporary issues
9. Optimize our position as an organization that spans the entire university
10. Continue to grow partnerships and extramural funds

Dates are set for the next two meetings, also in Olympia or via videoconference technology depending on the preference of the Task Force members:

Thursday, April 7th.  This meeting will focus on a review of administrative restructuring of WSU Extension in light of budget reductions and multi-county or modification to the geographic deployment of administration and of program personnel. To date, WSU has responded to budget reductions in a strategic manner and with deliberate attention to protecting current employees and extension personnel in the county offices of WSU Extension. Review of what other state extension services are doing in response to budget cuts will be covered as well.
 

The Thursday, May 5th meeting is set to look at alternative local funding models to sustain an optimum mix of local funds with the university-provided federal and state resources. Based on input received earlier this month there will time on the agenda devoted to private funding raising and WSU Campaign as it relates to county extension programs.

If you would like to have additional information, or have thoughts, please do not hesitate to contact Linda Kirk Fox with WSU Extension at  509-335-2933 or lkfox@wsu.edu.

Concept Presented to U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary

For about a year now, WSAC and the human services affiliate (ACHS) have been tracking and discussing the role of counties in the health reform conversation. We have discussed the importance of ensuring that the vulnerable populations that are served through county programs are part of the planning process to ensure that these individuals do not fall through the cracks, into more expensive crisis and the local criminal justice system; that county leveraged resources must be accounted for in any implementation of reform; and that the counties need to "be at the table" as discussions move forward.

Last month, the counties were represented at a roundtable on health care hosted by Governor Gregoire and U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Sebelius. The Southwest counties of Cowlitz, Clark, Skamania and Wahkiakum have been working in with their healthcare partners in a regional initiative. Using their regional work to highlight the county role here in Olympia with the executive branch and the legislature, policy makers in the state are beginning to realize the importance of the county system in providing behavioral health, public health and housing services that are so vital in any health care planning. There are other initiatives happening throughout the state in King, Snohomish, Spokane, Okanogan and Grant counties, among others.
 

Vanessa Gaston, Director, Clark County Human Services did an excellent job representing counties and the importance of the local behavioral health delivery system in health care. Read Vanessa's report on her presentation to Secretary Sebelius.

Health Reform Implementation
 

Thursday, April 21, 11 am -1:15 pm
Free NACo Webinar
Promoting County Public Health: Prevention and Wellness in Health Reform
Investing in prevention and health promotion has the potential to reduce costs of treating chronic diseases and lessen the burden on county health care safety net services. Join this webinar to learn about funding opportunities for prevention and public health and other aspects of the Affordable Care Act that can help improve your county's public health infrastructure and promote overall community health.  To register, please go to: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/961099691.

More Health Reform Implementation news

WSAC Executive Director Eric Johnson introduces Dan Wood, Farm Bureau.

WSAC Members Receive Overview  

After almost four years of negotiations, HB1886 and SB5713, Implementing Recommendations of the Ruckelshaus Center Process, was introduced this legislative session. 

April 1-30
National County Government Month
NACo will honor three counties that do an exceptional job of celebrating County Government Month in April. Three counties will be recognized - rural counties (population less than 100,000); suburban (population between 100,000 and 500,000) and metropolitan (population above 500,000) during the NACo Annual Conference in Portland. Each winning county will win two, free registrations that could be used at any NACo conference. More information
Communication tools for counties 

 

April  27-29   Chicago, IL
NACo Rail Conference                                                                              More Information

"With the anticipated doubling of freight on tracks that go through our local communities within the next 18 years and the natural relationship between Ports and Class One rail Companies (BNSF-CSX etc.) across our nation, one cannot talk freight rail with out talking about the impact to passenger rail," Leo Bowman - Benton County Commissioner and NACo Transportation Subcommittee Chair

County Nominations Due May 4

Flood Insurance Program/Endangered Species Act Compliance

On March 1 and 2, federal and state agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and NOAA Fisheries (NMFS), held a workshop in Snohomish County. WSAC was a supporting organization of the event as well. The workshop was focused on providing information for those counties and cities that must amend their local floodplain management ordinances to comply with Endangered Species Act (ESA) requirements. This applies to Puget Sound jurisdictions that are affected by the listing of Chinook salmon and orca whales by the federal services (which is nearly all Puget Sound cities and counties).

Nearly 300 people attended the workshop and local governments were well represented.  Sessions were focused on providing background information on the ESA linkage to floodplain management, compliance options for local governments, and other issues associated with implementing the requirements. You can view many of the presentations made at the conference, and see other related information, by following this link:  http://www.fema.gov/about/regions/regionx/nfipesa.shtm

There are three primary methods of compliance for local governments:

1. Adopt the newly revised model ordinance;
2. Demonstrate that existing plans and regulations provide protection for listed species; or
3. Comply project by project (by consulting with the federal services and preparing a habitat assessment).

Local governments seem most interested in using option #2, demonstrating that existing plans and regulations provided necessary protections. Based on information from the workshop, it seems likely that even in this scenario, some adjustments to plans and regulations will be needed.

Local governments are required to make their choice and implement it by September 22, 2011. If the necessary revisions have not been made, project by project review (option #3) must be used until their revisions are complete.

FEMA is holding several workshops on Habitat Assessments throughout the spring and summer. In addition, WSAC is working with the Association of Washington Cities, state and federal agencies, and others on a pilot program to develop information useful for those counties and cities intending to use option #2. The pilot program is utilizing federal, state, and private foundation funds to hire a team of biologists and policy specialists to provide technical resources. The intent is to provide better information for local governments to use in demonstrating compliance with option #2.

WSAC will continue to monitor this program and will provide updates as information is available. If you have any questions, you may contact WSAC Program Consultant Neil Aaland at naaland@comcast.net or by phone (360) 791-8905. 

WSAC Seeks Member Nominations

Nationwide supports Snohomish County Benefits Fair

The WSAC-endorsed NACo/Nationwide Deferred Compensation program is available to provide onsite consultation and support to county employees during county benefits fairs. On March 3, Nationwide was on hand at Snohomish County's busy benefits fair and helped more than 100 county employees with information about retirement planning.

Employees were interested in how to get started in the program and those who were already enrolled stopped by the NACo/Nationwide table to find out how easy it is to increase their monthly deferral. Others were interested in ProAccount, a managed account service while others wanted to know about the Personal Retirement Analysis available to those within 5-7 years of retiring, a service that provides one-on-one consultation with a Nationwide Certified Financial Planner. In addition, Nationwide has developed an on-line On Your Side Interactive Retirement Planner, a simple calculator that helps government employees make informed decisions about their retirement preparedness. Users can look at different contribution and years-to-retirement scenarios to see what changes they need to make to be financially ready for retirement.

Jon Zetlmaier is the Nationwide Deferred Compensation representative for Snohomish and other Puget Sound Counties and can be reached at zetlmaj@nationwide.com or 206-235-6538. For representative contact information for other areas in the state, email Michelle Nelson. 

Input & Information Sought from Counties 

The Washington Department of Commerce is updating is transportation element guidebook. This guidebook helps local governments implement the transportation planning requirements in Washington's Growth Management Act.  As part of the scoping process for updating our transportation element guidebook, we would like your advice on what the new guidebook should cover. Please take a quick survey to help us gather information:
http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/Q9T3VBT

The  survey will ask you some general questions about transportation planning and implementation and some specific questions about our guidance, its content and its format. There are also several comment boxes you can use if you wish to provide any additional input not captured in the survey question.

Thank you for your interest and participation. Your input is essential to this update. This survey is open until April 15, 2011. 

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The Washington Natural Heritage Program (WNHP) is asking for information about wetlands and riparian areas in western Washington that potentially meet the criteria of a "Natural Heritage" Wetland (i.e., wetlands documented in the WNHP's database due to their conservation significance)." We are asking for your assistance in identifying the location of wetlands that are currently not categorized as 'Natural Heritage Wetlands' in the WNHP data base and meet certain criteria.

This study is part of an EPA-funded project to update and identify wetland conservation priorities in western Washington.   WNHP will be revisiting and updating information about known Natural Heritage Wetlands and identifying undocumented Natural Heritage wetlands.  The project will improve wetland data managed by the WNHP as it relates to the Washington Department of Ecology's Wetland Rating System.  Additionally, most of the data associated with Natural Heritage Wetlands already in the WNHP database are >20 years old.  Thus, we would appreciate any current data you might have about these sites as well.

Please contact Joe Rocchio or Rex Crawford at the Washington Natural Heritage Program, for the criteria.  Please provide the following for each recommended site:  Location, Owner (if known), Justification (e.g., rare community/rare species present, intact, etc.), and any other information you feel is pertinent.