The Washington State Boundary Review Board For King County

REGULAR MEETING

April 14, 2022

Zoom

1. CALL TO ORDER

   Chair Chandler Felt convened the meeting at 7:07 P.M.

2. ROLL CALL

   The following members were present:

   • Evangeline Anderson
   • Sylvia Bushnell
   • Robert Cook
   • Mary Lynne Evans
   • Marlin Gabbert
   • Jay Hamlin
   • Claudia Hirschey
   • Paul MacCready
   • Hank Margeson
   • Stephen Toy

3. MINUTES:

   Chair Felt presented the minutes of the Regular Meeting of February 10, 2022 for review and action by the Board members.

   Action: Jay Hamlin moved and Hank Margeson seconded the motion to adopt the minutes for the Regular Meeting of February 10, 2022.

   Board members voted five in favor of approving this record of the Regular Meeting. Robert Cook and Hank Margeson abstained as they did not attend the meeting.

4. ADMINISTRATION:

   1. Chair’s Report

      General Business

      Chair Felt and Lenora Blauman reported that the Board staff is currently working on several projects including: (1) coordination with King County Executive/Council Work Program; (2) coordinating activities with the State Association; (3) pre-development review for future Notices of Intention; (4) selection of a new Executive Secretary; (5) planning of orientation programs for 2022; (6) implementation of the 2022 Budget; and (7) launching of the 2023-2024 Biennial Budget.

   2. Committee Reports

      • Personnel Committee

        Sylvia Bushnell, Committee Chair, speaking on behalf of the Personnel Committee, reported that the team Is well into the process of locating a new Executive Secretary for the Boundary Review Board effective July 1, 2022.

        Notification was posted at several locations -- the County Employment site; the American Planning Association-Washington Chapter; and at the University of Washington School of Urban Planning; and various other sites. The timeframe for applications closed on April 12. Applications are being screened by the County’s Human Resources staff and a Subject Matter Evaluation Team comprising Board members and members of the professional community.

        Final candidates will be selected by April 18 and interviews will be conducted immediately thereafter by a team including Board members, a King County representative, and a representative from Snohomish County.

        It is planned that the finalist(s) will be introduced to the Board and that the Board members will participate in the selection of the new Executive Secretary. The intent is to have the incoming Executive Secretary begin work in late May or early June for an orientation period with Ms. Blauman. Ms. Blauman will officially retire on July 1, 2022.

      • Budget Committee

        Claudia Hirschey and Lenora Blauman reported that the Boundary Review Board staff is working with the King County Budget Office to administer the 2022 Biennial Budget. Standard operations costs are well-supported within the 2022 Budget through the first quarter of this year.

        Claudia Hirschey and the Budget Committee are working with Board staff and Jim Record (Budget Analyst) to ensure that there is satisfactory funding provided in the 2022 Budget to support a new Executive Secretary and to provide “pay out” funding for Ms. Blauman to address vacation time and medical leave allocations remaining in her account. Mr. Record reports that the proposed budget management plans – which are slated for presentation to the County -- are standard in form and function.

        ***

        Ms. Hirschey and Ms. Blauman reported that the application process for the Biennial Budget for 2023-2024 is underway. Ms. Blauman is working with Mr. Record and Angelica Velasquez to ensure compliance with requirements for Budget Proposal content and format. The Board is expected to receive satisfactory funding for 2023-2024.

        The Board’s Budget Committee will be active in the development and review process for this Biennial Budget. The Preliminary Budget Proposal will be completed by May, 2022.

      • Legislative Committees: King County Board/Washington State Association of Boundary Review Boards; American Planning Association—Washington Chapter (APA-WA)

        Mary Lynne Evans, Co-Chair of the King County Board’s Legislative Committee and Co- Chair of the WSABRB Legislative Committee provided a report to the Board. Chandler Felt – as a member of the APA-WA Legislative Committee – contributed to the report.

        Legislature 2022 has closed after adopting some bills of interest and failing to adopt other bills of interest to boundary review boards throughout Washington.

        Specifically, SSB 5593 -- that has been adopted unanimously by the Legislature -- is of potential significance. This bill allows for expansion of Urban Growth Areas (UGAs) under particular circumstances.

        SB 5593 started out as a troublesome bill for boundary review boards and, more significantly limiting for community planning. Specifically, the bill was intended to relax the rules to extend out the UGA boundary in high-growth areas, as long as the UGA is reduced an equivalent amount elsewhere.

        The Senate Housing and Local Government Committee (Patty Kuderer, Chair) amended it to add some controls and put the land swap in the context of periodic UGA and comprehensive plan review (SSB 5593). The bill passed the Senate unanimously. In the House, Local Government Committee Chair Gerry Pollet tried to amend SSB 5593 further to tie any land swaps to the Countywide Planning Policies and WAC guidance, but his amendment was rebuffed. As such, the full House passed the Senate version unanimously.

        Ms. Evans and Mr. Felt reported that SSB 5593 is not a great bill, but it's more appropriate and effective than the original bill sponsored by Senator Shelley Short. Specifically, SSB 5593 (as revised) provides some flexibility in adjusting the UGA, which is needed in many smaller and rural counties. Some senior urban planners support this bill in the view that it is positive on balance, and that potential negative effects will be mitigated by other GMA processes and bills.

        The bill was passed forward to Governor Inslee’s desk for his signature allowing SSB 5593 to become law at this time.

        ***

        Another bill of interest was HB 1627 which proposed to eliminate the Boundary Review Board authorities under RCW 36.93 in order to facilitate annexation/incorporation of various lands for the purposes of economic development. The State Association and APA-WA communicated to the Legislature suggesting amendments to the language of the bill to restore Boundary Review Board duties and responsibilities. Gerry Pollet, Chair of the Local Government Committee accepted our suggestions. The bill revised bill passed out of this Committee. However, it did not get out of House Rules Committee. Therefore, it died before a floor vote.

        ***

        Additional information provided by the Legislature describes the State’s 2022 Budget, by virtue of the budget proviso language. This proviso lists three land use planning related budget items that appeared in the final adopted 2022 Supplemental Operating Budget:

        • The first budget item listed in the proviso document is related to convening stakeholders for GMA planning regarding improving riparian habitat to ensure salmon recovery.

        • The second item relates to planning funding going to cities and counties (under Department of Commerce budget).

        • The third item relates to the Department of Commerce conducting an evaluation of land use planning costs to cities and counties.

        Indicators are that the planning funding will go to cities and counties based on population under a plan developed by the Department of Commerce. It is not determined whether funding will be sent directly or if jurisdictions must apply for funding (e.g., a grant).

        Additional information will be provided to the Board as available from the State of Washington and King County.

        ***

        Ms. Evans stated that the Association’s work with the Legislature – independently and in conjunction with APA-WA – was significant in terms of commitment and activities in review of potential bills with respect to land use planning and development related to the Washington Administrative Code, Growth Management Act, et seq. As such, it is suggested that the State Association provide a panel discussion on the work with the Legislature 2022 at the organization’s Fall Conference 2022. Ms. Evans will work with the Association’s Conference Committee to coordinate this event.

        In addition, we may want to collaborate with the Association to honor a Legislator – as a Legislator of the Year. This award is appreciated by the recipient and can garner better communication relating to proposed legislation of interest to our organizations.

        ***

        Ms. Evans stated that reports on future APA-WA activities will be provided to the Boundary Review Board by Mary Lynne Evans, Legislative Committee Chair and/or Chandler Felt (King County Board Chair). Chandler Felt reported that APA-WA will be directing full attention to the matter of middle housing for the near future.

   3. Executive Secretary’s Report

      • ORIENTATION PROGRAMS:

        Ms. Blauman is continuing planning for a new cycle of orientation programs in 2022. Suggestions include the following topics/agencies:

        • King County Local Services Division

        • Municipal Research Services Center

        • APA-WA Legislative Team

   4. Correspondence:

      General Correspondence

      Chair Felt reported that no general correspondence was submitted this month.

5. NEW BUSINESS:

   1. New Files

      The Board has also received five preliminary files for initial consideration in advance of the proponents submitting completed Notices of Intention. Complete files are anticipated in the second quarter of 2022.

   2. Future New Files

      The Board has been advised by King County of several potential proposed future Notices of Intention:

      • Auburn (2 files)
      • Black Diamond (2 files)
      • Carnation (1 file)
      • Enumclaw (8 files)
      • Issaquah (2 files)
      • Maple Valley (3 files)
      • North Bend (4 files)
      • Renton (6 files)
      • Seattle (4 files)
      • Tukwila (2 files)
      • Water District No. 90 (1 file)
      • Covington Water District (2 files)
      • Bellevue (4 files)
      • Bothell (1 file)
      • Duvall (5 files)
      • Federal Way (3 files)
      • Kent (5 files)
      • Milton (1 file)
      • Redmond (4 files)
      • Sammamish (5 files)
      • Snoqualmie (4 files)
      • Vashon Sewer District (1 file)
      • Woodinville (1 file)

      
      Note: There are 13 unincorporated urban areas in King County that are not assigned to a Potential Annexation Area.

6. ADJOURNMENT

   Chair Felt adjourned the Regular Meeting at 7:44 P.M.