NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING
Conservation Futures Program Project Applications in 2022
NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN that a public hearing is scheduled by the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners for MONDAY, August 1, 2022 at 10:30 a.m. in the Commissioners’ Chambers, County Courthouse, 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Notice of said hearing is to be published in the official newspaper of Jefferson County.
The public hearing is to take comments on the two projects submitted for consideration during the 2022 conservation futures funding cycle. Conservation futures funds available to projects in 2022 total $360,000. The total amount requested for the Quimper Trust Land Transfer and the Ruck Salmon Creek projects is $340,000. Written public comment will be accepted any time up through the close of the public hearing, addressed to the BoCC at P.O. Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA, 98368 or by email at jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us. The projects are summarized as follows:
1. Quimper Trust Land Transfer, $199,500 towards the fee simple acquisition of a total of 107 acres to protect four State-owned parcels located in the Quimper Wildlife Corridor just outside of the Port Townsend city limits for fish and wildlife habitat, open space, and recreation use. The properties are currently leased to Jefferson County. The application also requests $5,500 towards reimbursement of operations and maintenance costs. The proposed match is $215,200 in community funds raised by Jefferson Land Trust. The project sponsor is Jefferson Land Trust and the project applicant is Jefferson County; Project locations: S32 and 33 T31N R1W.
2. Ruck Salmon Creek, $126,375 towards the fee simple acquisition of 155.3 acres in one parcel to protect about one mile of Salmon Creek mainstem as well as forested slopes, uplands and portions of six tributaries. The application also requests $8,625 towards reimbursement of operations and maintenance costs. Proposed match is $561,750 in grants from the Salmon Recovery Funding Board and WWRP Riparian Habitat programs. The project applicant and sponsor is Jefferson Land Trust. Project location: S27 T29N R2W.
The project applications and draft resolutions are available for viewing on the County website at https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/560/Conservation-Futures-Program.
You are welcome to participate in this hearing. You will need to join the meeting by 10:30 a.m. using the following methods: VIRTUALLY: Via the following Zoom, link: https://zoom.us/j/93777841705, PHONE: Dial 1-253-215-8782 and enter access code: 937-7784-1705# and press *9 to “raise your hand” to be called upon. Access for the hearing impaired can be accommodated using Washington Relay Service at 1-800-833-6384, IN-PERSON: This option is only available provided a hybrid meeting can be held with reasonable safety, namely that the COVID-19 risk is Very Low, Low or Moderate per the dashboard located at https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/1429/COVID-19 per BOCC Resolution No. 24-22. If in-person is available, seating capacity may also be limited to 50%.
To view documents or watch this meeting live with no participation, go to www.co.jefferson.wa.us Follow the links under “Quick Links: Videos of Meetings: Today.” If you experience difficulties joining the meeting or viewing documents please call 360-385-9100 to report any issues.
In addition, written testimony is also invited beginning on July 13, 2022 and ending on August 1, 2022 at the end of the Public Hearing, unless extended by the Board of County Commissioners. Written public testimony may be submitted by Email to: jeffbocc@co.jefferson.wa.us; or by Mail to: Jefferson County Commissioners’ Office; PO Box 1220, Port Townsend, WA 98368. Testimony must be received by the Board of County Commissioners by the end of the hearing testimony period.
Signed this 11th day of July, 2022.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
/S/Heidi Eisenhour, Chair