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Home My WebLink AboutPacket Special Council Dec 28 2022Whatcom County Council (Special) COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360) 778-5010 Meeting Agenda Wednesday, December 28, 2022 1PM Virtual Meeting VIRTUAL ONLY MEETING (SEE REMOTE JOIN INSTRUCTIONS AT www.whatcomcounty.us/joinvirtualcouncil, OR CALL 360.778.5010) COUNCILMEMBERS Barry Buchanan Tyler Byrd Todd Donovan Ben Elenbaas Carol Frazey Kaylee Galloway Kathy Kershner CLERK OF THE COUNCIL Dana Brown -Davis, C.M.C. Council (Special) Meeting Agenda December 28, 2022 Call To Order Roll Call Announcements Individuals who require special assistance to participate in the Council's meetings are asked to contact the Council Office at 360.778.5010 at least 96 hours in advance. Council Discussion and Action 1. AB2023-011 Discussion of candidates and ballot vote for electing the "county representative" to the Board of Natural Resources Items Added by Revision Other Business Adiournment Whatcom County Page 2 Printed on 211212024 Whatcom County Agenda Bill Report File Number: AB2023-011 COUNTY COURTHOUSE 311 Grand Avenue, Ste #105 Bellingham, WA 98225-4038 (360)778-5010 File ID: AB2023-011 Version: 1 Status: Discussed and Motion(s) Approved File Created: 12/20/2022 Entered by: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us Department: Council Office File Type: Request for Motion Assigned to: Council (Special) Final Action: 12/28/2022 Agenda Date: 12/28/2022 Enactment #: Primary Contact Email: DBrown@co.whatcom.wa.us TITLE FOR AGENDA ITEM: Discussion of candidates and ballot vote for electing the "county representative" to the Board of Natural Resources SUMMARY STATEMENT OR LEGAL NOTICE LANGUAGE: See attached background information. HISTORY OF LEGISLATIVE FILE Date: Acting Body: Action: Sent To: 12/28/2022 Council (Special) DISCUSSED AND MOTION(S) APPROVED Attachments: Background Information, Ballot Whatcom County Page 1 Printed on 2/12/2024 BACKGROUND: Clallam County Commissioner Bill Peach will vacate his position on the Washington State Board of Natural Resources (BNR) at the end of 2022. With his retirement, members of the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) will elect a new representative. This task must be completed by the end of December so a new member is available to attend the first BNR meeting of the new year on January 3, 2023. The BNR sets policies to guide how the Washington State Department of Natural Resources manages our state's lands and resources. The BNR has several responsibilities, including approving trust land timber sales, approving sales, exchanges, or purchases of trust lands, and establishing the sustainable harvest level for forest trust lands. For more information on the Board of Natural Resources, click on this link: https://www.dnr.wa.gov/about/boards-and-councils/board-natural-resources Please note: Only counties that contain State Forestlands are allowed to vote to elect the representative. The counties that are allowed to vote are: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Okanogan, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, and Whatcom. Below is a memorandum describing the election requirements and process WSAC intends to utilize. WSAC MEMO: December 1, 2022 TO: County Commissioners, Councilmembers, and Executives FROM: Eric Johnson, WSAC Executive Director RE: Elections Process Announced, Nominations Sought for Board of Natural Resources' County Representative With the notice that Clallam County Commissioner Bill Peach will retire at the end of December, his county representation on the Board of Natural Resources (BNR) will terminate at that time as well. In anticipation of his departure, the Washington State Association of Counties has established an election timeline to have a new representative in place for the January 2023 BNR meeting. RCW 43.30.205 is the statutory authority for this position and provides the basic process for appointing a county representative. WSAC is soliciting nominations and letters of interest from eligible members to fill a four- year term beginning January 2023. The BNR has policy authority over the State Forestlands held in trust for counties and taxing districts. Income flowing from these lands is distributed annually to counties based on various formulas and results collectively in millions of dollars to county budgets. For more information about the BNR, visit https://www.dnr.wa.gov/about/boards-and-councils/board- natural-resources. Election and Eligibility Requirements RCW 43.30.205(2)(a) states that "The county representative on the board shall be selected by the legislative authorities of those counties that contain state forestlands acquired or transferred under RCW 79.22.010, 79.22.040, and 79.22.020. In the selection of the county representative, each participating county shall have one vote. The Washington state association of counties shall convene a meeting for the purpose of making the selection and shall notify the board of the selection." RCW 43.30.205(2)(b) states that "The county representative must be a duly elected member of a county legislative authority who shall serve a term of four years unless the representative should leave office for any reason." Counties Eligible to Vote The following twenty-one counties are eligible to vote for the county representative to the BNR: Clallam, Clark, Cowlitz, Grays Harbor, Jefferson, King, Kitsap, Kittitas, Klickitat, Lewis, Okanogan, Mason, Pacific, Pierce, Skagit, Skamania, Snohomish, Stevens, Thurston, Wahkiakum, and Whatcom. Candidates Eligible members who wish to become a candidate for the county representative seat must complete and submit an application form to WSAC by 5 p.m. Friday, December 91". While only specific county legislative authorities are allowed to vote, all duly elected members of a county legislative authority are eligible to apply. The BNR meets on the first Tuesday of every month. The first meeting for the new county representative will be on January 3, 2023. It is important that the county representative does not miss a meeting. Please make sure you are available on 1/3/2023 for the first meeting of the year if you decide to apply. To apply, click here: https://form.jotform.com/223324725825052 Elections Process and Timeline WSAC will convene a meeting on Wednesday, December 14, 2022, at 11:00 AM via zoom to allow candidates to present their interests to voting members. Members can also ask questions of the candidates. An electronic calendar invitation will be sent to all voting - eligible County Commissioners and Councilmembers, including the meeting link. Ballots will also be distributed by email to each Board or Council Chair of each county eligible to vote on 12/14/22. Each county will receive one ballot. While counties are allowed only one vote each, they may fractionalize their vote if desired or needed. Each county is responsible for its process of completing the ballot. Completed ballots must be emailed to Paul Jewell (pjewell@wsac.org) by 5 p.m. on Wednesday, December 28, 2022. Timeline Recap 12/9/22 Nominations are due to WSAC no later than 5:00 PM. 12/14/22 WSAC meeting for nominee interest statements and ballots sent via email to each eligible county Board or Council Chair. 12/28/22 Ballots are due to WSAC no later than 5:00 PM. 12/30/22 WSAC will certify the election results and announce the new county BNR representative. If you have questions about eligibility, the election process, or responsibilities as the county representative to the BNR, please contact Eric Johnson at eiohnson@wsac.orq or (360) 489- 3013. County: WASHINGTON STATE ASSOCIATION of COUNTIES Board of Natural Resources Election Ballot Election Deadline: December 28, 2022, 5:00 PM Whatcom County Is this ballot fractionalized? * YES If so, please indicate the number of votes next to each nominee in the boxes below: 0.67 Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour 0.33 Commissioner Lisa Janicki Commissioner Lindsey Pollock Chair Signature: ��rL Name (Please Print): Todd Donovan, Chair * Each county with State Forestlands has one vote in this election and shall submit only one ballot. A Board of Commissioners or County Council may choose to fractionalize that one vote among candidates to reflect the vote of each Commissioner or Councilmember. The total of all fractionalized votes must be equal to I vote. Ballots must be received by WSAC via email no later than December 28, 2022, 5:00 PM. Completed ballots must be emailed to Paul Jewell (pjewell@wsac.org).