Public Participation

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Public Participation Coordination

• Shoreline Master Program Updates

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Overview

• Shoreline Management Act
• WAC procedural rules
• WAC - guidelines
• Grant agreement
• Public process

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• RCW 90.58.130 Insure full opportunity for
  interested parties to be involved in SMP
  development implementation
• (1) Make reasonable efforts to inform, actively
  encourage participation
• (2) Invite encourage participation by all
  federal, state and local agencies
• Agencies are directed to participate fully so
  their interests are considered

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Procedural rules (Part II)

• WAC 173-26-090
• Incorporates language of SMA reasonable efforts
• GMA jurisdictions develop public participation
  program related to comp plan/dev regs for
  shorelines
• WAC 173-26-100 (local process for SMP)
• Solicit public and agency comment
• Consult with Ecology
• Conduct early and continuous public participation
  if planning under GMA

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Procedural rules (Part II)

• Minimum requirements
• Conduct one public hearing
• Publish hearing notice
• Solicit comments from any entity with interest in
  shoreline, including adjacent jurisdictions
• Solicit comments from Ecology prior to local
  approval
• Dont forget CTED notice

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The Guidelines

• WAC 173-26-201 (local process)
• Actively encourage participation by persons,
  groups, government agencies (RCW 90.58.130)
• Describe and document methods
• Notify state agencies to identify interests
• Notify affected Indian tribes
• Work with Ecology, submit drafts for review

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Approval and appeal

• Submittal must include copies of all comments
  received (WAC 173-26-110)
• Ecology needs complete submittal to begin formal
  review includes public process (WAC 173-26-120)
• GMHB and SHB appeal decisions based on compliance
  with RCW 90.58 and WAC

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Grant agreement

• Coordination tasks
• Work with Ecology, agencies and tribes
• Work with Ecology, agencies, tribes
• Consult with other appropriate entities,
  including private citizens and stakeholder
  groups
• Share data and resources
• Attend Ecology coordination meetings
• Provide review drafts to Ecolgy

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Grant agreement

• Public participation tasks
• Prepare public participation plan
• Identify objectives
• Identify key parties
• Establish timelines
• Carry out the plan

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Grant agreement

• Deliverables
• Documentation of contacts (keep track)
• Updates in quarterly progress reports
• Public participation plan
• News releases, e-mail notices
• Updated web pages

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Public process

• The public is your partner
• Be inclusive
• Be flexible change course if needed
• Use a variety of methods
• Workshops and open houses
• Advisory committees
• Websites - share information, solicit comment
• Stakeholder meetings or interviews
• Round table discussions

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Public process

• Include tribes
• Inventory data, vested interest
• Contact Dept. of Archeology Historic
  Preservation, include in process
• Cultural and historic sites information
• Engage people early, get issues on table
• Seek out all stakeholders
• Engage decision-makers
• Keep them informed throughout process

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Examples

• Planning commission primary forum (Lynnwood,
  Moses Lake)
• Three work groups, public meetings (Coupeville)
• Public info web site w/ interactive map, public
  comment web input (King Co., Douglas County,
  Yakima County, Okanogan County)
• Facilitated Stakeholder Roundtable meetings
  (Yakima Co.)

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Summary

• Public is a partner in the SMP process
• RCW and WAC call for coordination and public
  participation
• Ecologys review includes checking for compliance
  with requirements, including public participation
• Lack of public participation is basis for appeal
  overturning SMP

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Resources

• RCW http//apps.leg.wa.gov/rcw/default.aspx?cite
  90.58
• WAC
• http//apps.leg.wa.gov/wac/default.aspx?cite173-2
  6
• Department of Ecology http//www.ecy.wa.gov/progr
  ams/sea/sma/st_guide/SMP/index.html
• Dept. of Archaeology and Historic Preservation
  http//www.oahp.wa.gov/pages/EnvironmentalReview/G
  IS.htm

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Invite this stakeholder