UPDATED PRESS RELEASE POSTED MARCH 10th:
Source: http://www.dnr.wa.gov/news/dnr-forest-service-sign-good-neighbor-agreement
PARTNERSHIP INTENDED TO STREAMLINE MANAGEMENT OF WASHINGTON PUBLIC FORESTS
Furthering work to advance healthy, resilient national forests, habitat, and communities, Washington’s Commissioner of Public Lands Hilary Franz and U.S. Forest Service Regional Forester Jim Peña jointly signed a Good Neighbor Authority agreement today.
Stemming from authorities in the 2014 Federal Farm Bill, the Good Neighbor Authority allows the Forest Service to partner with the Department of Natural Resources for watershed restoration and forest management services on National Forest System lands. It allows the agencies to share skills and funding in creative and collaborative ways to manage public forests and watersheds across jurisdictions.
National forests account for 9.3 million acres of forests in Washington, approximately 44% of the state total. Wildfires, habitat connectivity, species recovery, sustainable wood products, and job creation are among the challenges and opportunities facing these public lands.
“The social, economic, and environmental issues tied to public lands go far beyond their boundaries,” said Hilary Franz. “This agreement is an important tool that brings these issues together and makes problem solving through collaboration possible. We can get farther by working together than apart.”
“There is a lot of work that needs to be done, and no agency or organization can do it alone,” said Peña. “This Good Neighbor Authority agreement is a model for how the Forest Service can work together with state partners and communities more effectively—a win-win for the health of our forests and Washingtonians.”
“The agencies, along with help from local collaborative groups, are willing to roll up their sleeves and work on tough forest management issues that cross boundaries,” said State Forester Gerry Day. “We rely heavily on partnerships with public and private land owners to help rural communities, reduce wildfire risk, improve forest health, and address important habitat issues. Formal agreements like this will further strengthen our partnership with the Forest Service and provide a tool to boost land stewardship and rural communities.”
The Washington Good Neighbor Master Agreement allows federal funds to be used by the state to work directly on federal public land and to leverage state and other dollars. This allows the state, U.S. Forest Service, and local partners to restore and enhance forests on a landscape level, rather than within jurisdictional or regulatory limitations.
Meetings for next week, with commentaries
PORT OF PORT ANGELES TO MEET WITH CITY OF SEQUIM IN JOINT MEETING, MONDAY
Highlight agenda topic: City of Sequim Comprehensive Plan
See details: http://www.portofpa.com/AgendaCenter/ViewFile/Agenda/03132017-229
City of Sequim regular meeting on Monday at 6:PM
Agenda item(s) highlights: Proposed Resolution regarding halibut season
See details: http://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1581
City of Seqium work sesson: Update on the new zoning structure
See details: http://www.sequimwa.gov/ArchiveCenter/ViewFile/Item/1583
Clallam County Work session meeting on Monday, agenda item highlights:
Discussion regarding proposed amendments to Policy 320 – Inspection and Copying of Public Records and an ordinance creating a chapter in the Clallam County Code titled Public Records Access Last year Commissioner Ozias, Prosecuting Attorney Nichols, Administrator Jones, and Trish Holden met to determine a path forward for dealing with the management of County records and the processing of public records requests. Subsequent meetings brought other people together and ultimately two priorities were set - training for ALL County employees on records retention and public records requests; and an update to Policy 320, Inspection and Copying of Public Records.
The training module is at Vivid for processing and HR expects that it will go "live" within the next two weeks. This will be mandatory training.
The Policy subgroup met twice and the attached documents are the result of their work. Due to the extensive amendments to Policy 320, it is recommended that it is repealed and replaced with a new Policy 321 titled "Public Records."
for more details: http://clallam.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=32&meta_id=7317
Agreement with Hoh Tribal Nation for furnishing facilities and personnel for the confinement of juvenile offenders for the Hoh Tribal Nation
Clallam County Juvenile & Family Services agrees to furnish its facilities and personnel for the confinement of juvenile offenders from the Hoh Tribal Nation.
For more details: http://clallam.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=32&meta_id=7301
See complete agenda: http://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=32
Clallam County Commission regular business meeting on Tuesday, agenda highlight items:
Resolution calling for a hearing to be held at 10:30 a.m., March 28, for consideration of the following Debatable Emergencies:
Board of Commissioners - Boundary Review Board - In 2016 the Washington State Association of Boundary Review Boards increased dues/$50 Opportunity Fund - William Shore Memorial Pool District funding for a preliminary design options study for aquatic center expansion, pending required addition to the City of Port Angeles Comprehensive Plan/$39,960
Editorial comment: One expense I think is worth taking for the community, so many people use the pool, and with an additional pool space more people can be served.
Agreements with the following for low income housing assistance:
* North Olympic Regional Veteran’s Housing Network - $30,000
* North Olympic Regional Veteran’s Housing Network - $23,000
* Peninsula Behavioral Health - $16,638
* The Answer for Youth - $21,600
* Volunteers in Medicine of the Olympics - $29,400
Details: http://clallam.granicus.com/MetaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=137&meta_id=7333
EXECUTIVE SESSION - 12 p.m. March 14
The Prosecuting Attorney’s Office has requested an Executive Session with the Board of County Commissioners, the County Administrator, the Director of Community Development, and the Director of Human Resources/Risk Department..
The purpose of this session is to discuss with the BoCC three lawsuits (technically called Petitions for Review) filed against the County with the Western WA Growth Management Hearings Board. The cause numbers for the Petitions are 00-2-8, 01-2-20 and 17-2-3. These Petitions allege the County’s Critical Areas Ordinance ("CAO") falls short of what the Growth Management Act (or "GMA") requires for the protection of CAO and therefore is Invalid, because our inadequate CAO "substantially interferes" with the goals and policy of the GMA. Ordinance 915, enacted in November 2016, is the County’s effort to have the Western WA Growth Board find the County’s CAO to be compliant with the GMA. The Prosecutor needs authority to sign a Stipulation and Settlement Agreement and upon such approval the DCD Director will sign and make public a related Administrator’s Interpretation. The goal is to end 17 years of litigation relating to the County’s CAO.
Discussing such matters in executive session is appropriate because public knowledge of the discussion would reveal the County’s legal strategies and likely result in an adverse legal or financial consequence to the agency. RCW 42.30.110 (1)(i) expressly authorizes a governing body to convene an executive session for the above-described purposes, specifically actual litigation against the County.
The Board may recess into Executive Session to consider employment or dismissal of personnel, to review the performance of a public employee, to consult with legal counsel, to consider the position to be taken in collective bargaining, to consider acquisition or sale of real estate, or other matters per RCW 42.30.110
The Board may recess into Executive Session to consider employment or dismissal of personnel, to review the performance of a public employee, to consult with legal counsel, to consider the position to be taken in collective bargaining, to consider acquisition or sale of real estate, or other matters per RCW 42.30.110
See full agenda: http://clallam.granicus.com/GeneratedAgendaViewer.php?view_id=2&event_id=137
Joint meeting with Clallam County PUD will be held at 8:30 a.m., Tuesday, March 14, in the Commissioners’ Meeting Room, 223 East 4th Street, Port Angeles, Room 160.
Main topic: Discussion regarding Agency coordination on the Carlsborg Sewer project.
From the PUD: CLALLAM COUNTY PUBLIC UTILITY DISTRICT NO. 1
COMMISSION SPECIAL MEETING NOTICE FOR MARCH 13, 2017
Notice is hereby given that the Board of Commissioners of PUD No. 1 of Clallam County will
conduct a special meeting at the PUD Main Office, located at 104 Hooker Road in Carlsborg, on
Monday, March 13, 2017, beginning at 1:30 p.m. The purpose of the special meeting is to hold
an executive session to discuss with legal counsel litigation or potential litigation pursuant to
RCW 42.30.110(1)(i). No final action is anticipated and no other business will be transacted.
Source: https://www.clallampud.net/wp-content/uploads/2014/11/Preagenda-March-13-2017.pdf
CITY OF FORKS AGENDA HIGHLIGHT ITEM: Special use lease with DNR
See agenda for details: http://forkswashington.org/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/agenda31317.pdf
JEFFERSON COUNTY COMMISSION AGENDA HIGHTLIGHT ITEMS:
AGREEMENT re: Construction Surveying Services, Olympic Discovery Trail Project,
South Discovery Bay, Segment A, County Road Project No. 18019550; In the Amount of
$29,993; Jefferson County Public Works; Van Aller Surveying
See agenda for more details: http://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/commissioners/Agenda/2017%20Agendas/03-13-17.pdf
NEWS COMMENTARIES FROM NATIONAL AND STATE NEWS SOURCES
PJ MEDIA: Georgia State Representative Files Bill to Automatically Censor Internet Content
https://pjmedia.com/trending/2017/03/10/georgia-state-rep-files-bill-to-automatically-censor-internet-content/
PATRIOT POST: House Republicans Repeat an Obama Error
Like the Democrats in 2009, the majority party’s priorities aren’t responsive to the moment.
https://patriotpost.us/opinion/47928
THE HILL: From Cold War to Gold War: It’s Trump’s nuclear arms race now
http://thehill.com/blogs/pundits-blog/foreign-policy/323440-from-cold-war-to-gold-war-its-trumps-nuclear-arms-race-now
THE WASHINGTON TIMES: A day without a militant feminist
http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2017/mar/8/international-womens-day-draws-militant-feminists/
PACIFIC NORTHWEST VOICES
Bellingham Herald: Terrified of a homeless man, I refused to listen to him. The guilt was strong.
http://www.bellinghamherald.com/opinion/article136458253.html#navlink=SecList
THE OLYMPIAN: Progress, not perfection, at Port of Olympia
http://www.theolympian.com/opinion/editorials/article137563323.html#navlink=Lead
SEATTLE TIMES: Don’t let President Trump trample on Puget Sound’s environmental gains
http://www.seattletimes.com/opinion/editorials/dont-let-president-trump-trample-on-puget-sounds-environmental-gains/
THE COLUMBIAN: Bridges begin to build in Olympia; law would ticket drivers who text
http://www.columbian.com/news/2017/mar/11/in-our-view-cheers-jeers-96/
DAILY DEVOTIONAL
Know therefore that the Lord your God is God; he is the faithful God, keeping his covenant of love to a thousand generations of those who love him and keep his commandments.
Deuteronomy 7:9 NIV
Free bible study offered by the World Bible School
https://www.worldbibleschool.org/
NEWS NOTEBOOK
Public can provide comments on salmon fisheries at a dozen meetings and online
OLYMPIA – State fishery managers have scheduled more than a dozen public meetings through mid-April – including three in eastern Washington –as they continue to develop this year's salmon fishing seasons.
The public meetings are opportunities for anglers, commercial fishers and others interested in salmon to discuss regional and statewide fisheries issues with representatives from the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW).
http://wdfw.wa.gov/news/mar1017a/
