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News & Tools for Washington's Counties |
April Issue 2012 |
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QUICK LINKS | Register now for the
NACo WIR Conference
Santa Fe, New Mexico May 16-18 2012 |
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ADVERTISEMENT |  The Port of Astoria is seeking an experienced professional to fill their position. All interested applicants should submit a letter of interest, resume and Port employment application along with five professional references and answers to supplemental questions by April 30th.
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Legislative Results and Looking Forward | |
The 2012 Legislative Session - both regular and two special sessions - finally ended a bit after 7:30 a.m. on Wednesday, April 11th. Throughout this legislative session your WSAC staff worked to advocate on your behalf as well as analyze the impacts of proposed legislation and supplemental operating budget on counties. I want to express my thanks to our WSAC staff; the single county lobbyists; our Legislative Steering Committee (LSC) Co-Chairs, King County Council Member Kathy Lambert and Klickitat County Commissioner David Sauter; our LSC members; the county staff who worked through their affiliates to advise staff on the implications of policy and budget proposals; and most importantly, each WSAC member who, when called upon to act, communicated effectively to their legislators.
But I must say, our work continues. As I write this, we are well into the initial stages of developing the Association's 2013-15 Legislative Agenda. Despite the 2012 session only one week in our rear view mirror, it is imperative that we push forward to contemplate how the legislative landscape might unfold during the next biennium, re- think our agenda, tactics, and strategy and prepare for our desired outcomes. On May 3 and 4 WSAC's LSC will meet to begin formulating the agenda that will eventually be submitted to the membership for approval in November.
As part of preparing for the upcoming WSAC LSC meeting we have asked you to take a six-question anonymous survey to help provide input into the development our legislative agenda. We would like responses by this Monday, April 23.
Improving Communication
We are constantly seeking ways to improve the way we communicate and transmit information to you. In fact we have a "Communications" strategic goal with a number of specific actions related to increasing and optimizing our communication with WSAC members. For example, you will notice a subtle but more concise formatting in this edition of The Insider, with links to details and resources. This change is designed to help you easily scan for the items you are most interested in and move quickly to the article/resource. As always, we welcome your suggestions on how we can improve this electronic publication.
As we evolve our communications with you, we cannot escape that social media is becoming a valuable communications tool for many counties, members, staff, agencies, organizations, businesses and associations. With that in mind, we are curious how you would answer our April poll.
Finally - thanks for your support of WSAC. It is an honor for us to serve you in your capacity as an elected leader in your county. If we can be of any assistance, please do not hesitate to call upon us.
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| County Ballot Measure Results | |
The following items of note were decided in the April 17, 2012 Special Election; the election results are not yet certified.
Multi-county measure
Proposition 1 Greater Wenatchee Regional Events Center Public Facilities District
Chelan County Douglas County Combined Results
Yes 65.51% 62.95% 64.65%
No 34.49% 37.05% 35.35%
Snohomish County
Proposition No. 1 Proposed North, East and West of Bothell Annexation
Yes 45.08%
No 54.92%
Spokane County
Measure No. 1 Spokane Public Facilities District Extension of the District Sales/Use and Hotel/Motel Tax
Yes 56.08%
No 43.92%
King County Juvenile Justice Center
On Monday, King County Council members unanimously decided to put a $200 million property tax levy to construct a juvenile detention facility on the August ballot.
The proposal will fund the replacement of the aging Youth Services Center, the current juvenile detention facility in Seattle. Officials deemed the electrical, plumbing, and heating and cooling systems as beyond repair. County officials spent millions addressing ongoing mold and moisture lingering from a 2006 flood. In 2010, officials suspended court operations at the facility after a water main broke outside the building.
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| WSAC Webinar | |
Energy and Facility Grant Webinar
For the first time, the grant program that funds energy and operational cost saving facility improvements in K-12 and higher education organizations is open to local governments.
Join us for a Legislative Implementation webinar that explains how counties and cities can develop a project that will be competitive for grant funding and provide tips for a successful grant application. More InformationFriday, May 11 10-11 am REGISTER |
| Governor's 2012 Smart Communities Awards | |
Nominations are now being accepted
Since 2006, Governor Gregoire has invited nominations for outstanding work by local governments and their partners on community planning and development. Nominations are being sought in the following categories: Smart Vision Award for Comprehensive Planning, Smart Choices Award for Implementation of a Comprehensive Plan and Smart Partnerships Award for Development Project to Implement a Comprehensive Plan.
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| Health and Human Services | |
Health and Human Services Workgroup Update
The Legislative Steering Committee Health and Human Services Workshop continued working through the legislative session to streamline Washington's health care system as well as improve service for individuals eligible for both Medicare and Medicaid. Workgroup members participated in stakeholder meetings beginning in the fall of 2011 and continue their involvement with the state as the plan progresses. Washington is one of 15 states to receive a $1 million federal planning grant from The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) to improve health care access for eligible people.
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| Candidate Filing Information | |
Candidate Filing dates for 2012
With many members up for election this year, some changes have been made to the elections calendar. Candidate Filing week will be May 14-18, 2012 instead of occurring in mid-June as it did last year. The Date of the primary will be Tuesday, August 7th instead of mid-August. These changes were necessary to comply with federal law which requires ballots to be mailed to military and overseas voters two weeks earlier for each Primary and General election.
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| Intern Announcement | |
Intern joins the WSAC team
WSAC will have assistance with its communications and public relations efforts over the next three months with the addition of Ally Chess as the Association's communications intern. Ally will report to Michelle Nelson.
Ally is a senior at the University of Washington Tacoma in their communications program. She began her studies at Washington State University.
She will assist us with production of the Insider, website content, and media relations (specifically around National County Government Month). Ally will also bring her skills to help us develop a social media policy and explore how social media tools and video may improve our communications with you, amongst you and with our partners.
Please welcome Ally to WSAC. |
| Climate Change | |
Washington's climate change response strategy
In recognition of Washington's vulnerability to climate change risks, the Washington Legislature and Gov. Chris Gregoire directed state agencies to develop an integrated climate change response strategy to enable state, tribal and local governments, and public and private organizations to prepare for and adapt to the impacts of changing climate conditions.
If action isn't taken, long-term costs of climate-related impacts are projected to reach nearly $10 billion a year by 2020 from increased health costs, storm damage, coastal destruction, rising energy costs, increased wildfires, drought and other impacts.
For more information visit the Department of Ecology's website. |
| Items to Note | | WSAC received a legislative appropriation last year to help develop consistent transportation performance measures for all 39 counties. More project information
The Washington State Department of Natural Resources and the US Fish and Wildlife Service are holding four informational meetings to help the public better understand the proposed development of a long-term Marbled Murrelet Conservation Strategy. For more information, meeting dates and locations.
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County Feature & Member News | |
Sauter Selected for County Leadership Institute
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Klickitat County Commissioner
Dave Sauter |
Congratulations to Commissioner David Sauter who has been selected as Washington's representative to the 2012 NACo County Leadership Institute. The annual event, which will be held this year the first week of June in Washington DC, brings together a select group of leaders from around the country for an intensive leadership curriculum.
This year's focus is personal leadership in the new era of government, dubbed "permanent crises" by Cambridge Leadership co-founder Marty Linsky. Commissioner Sauter will share the leadership lessons learned with WSAC members in a future issue of the Insider. More Information
Member News
Two commissioners, Lisa Ayers, Pacific County Commissioner and Steven Bloomfield, Mason County Commissioner, have been appointed to Governor Gregoire's new panel that focuses on the emerging problem of ocean acidification that threatens shellfish in the Pacific Northwest. Related Article
To celebrate County Commissioner Gregg Loney's retirement, an open house will be held on April 30, 2012 in Walla Walla, Washington. More Details
Clark County Public Health's new Healthy Neighborhood Store program is going "bananas."
Yakima County Commissioner Mike Leita is in Washington D.C. to advocate for the Yakima River Basin water plan and a related national recreation area designation.
Statewide boards & commission activity
Tomorrow, April 20, at 5 p.m. is the deadline to nominate yourself for one of the upcoming open seats: Commute Trip Reduction Board, CRAB, Freight Mobility Strategic Investment Board, Public Works Board, State Board of Health, Transportation Improvement Board. Details and online nomination form |
| Grant Opportunities for Counties | |
The Department of Ecology ambient water monitoring grant
The Department of Ecology is offering a grant up to $250,000 through a competitive program for ambient water quality and the monitoring of key toxic or nutrient issues in the marine waters of the Puget Sound or fresh water in the Puget Sound watershed. Funding is designed for ambient monitoring projects that show immediate need and is not designed to provide funding for long-term programs. Applications are due to the Department of Ecology by April 26, 2010. More information
WSDOT call for projects
The Washington State Department of Transportation is funding projects to make local roads, streets and highways safer and more accessible in Washington. The WSDOT is calling for projects that increase safety, encourage a healthier lifestyle and create more desirable, livable communities. The deadline for submitting applications is June 30, 2012. Applications must be submitted online at the WSDOT website. |
| Upcoming Events | |
Stakeholder Workshop
The 2011 Legislature amended the underground utilities law that will take effect on January 1, 2013. The law assigns the Washington Utilities and Transportation Commission authority to enforce violations of the underground utilities law related to pipelines. The Commission initiates rulemaking to determine whether pipeline companies need to report additional information about facilities damage.
A stakeholder workshop will be held on Thursday May 10, 2012 at 1:30 p.m. for anyone interested. The workshop will be held at the Richard Hemstad Building (1300 S. Evergreen Park Drive S.W., Olympia, WA) in Room 206. At the workshop, Commission staff will review and discuss comments with stakeholders giving stakeholders further opportunity to comment.
Building Community by Helping Kids
A workshop for department leaders, community leaders and city elected officials and staff are invited to attend the workshop to help develop quality afterschool programs. There will be two workshops held; May 10, 2012 in King County and May 15, 2012 in Spokane County.
Meeting to be held on Proposed Barred Owl Removal Experiment
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will host two open meetings in Seattle to seek public input on a draft Environmental Impact Statement on experimental removal of encroaching barred owls from northern spotted owl habitat. The proposed owl removal is a major part of a recovery strategy for the endangered spotted owl. Save the Date!
Department of Revenue Spring Local Government Partnership meeting
Friday, June 1, 2012 from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm
Location: Labor & Industries Headquarters in Tumwater
Register
If you have a topic to recommend for discussion, please send an email to Diane Mielke or submit your ideas online. Your involvement in developing the agenda is vital to the success of this event.
**NEW** We plan to offer CPE credits for the sessions.
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| NACo News | |
NACo and CBS EcoMedia Inc. sign new strategic partnership
NACo announced on March 28 that it has formalized a strategic partnership agreement with EcoMedia, a division of CBS. Together, the two entities will identify urgent, yet underfunded, environmental projects nationwide. Funds necessary to implement the critical projects will be provided by corporate advertisers affiliated with CBS EcoMedia Inc.'s EcoAd program.
Waste Management Forum
Registration recently opened for NACo's Waste Management Forum that will take place May 24-25 in Broward County, Florida.
Participants will learn about innovative strategies to divert waste from landfills and generate revenue from waste. Registration |
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