puget sound regional shoreline master program obstacles ... · refine potential solutions; begin to...

PugetSoundRegionalShorelineMasterProgramObstacles/SolutionsForumsFinalProjectReport

Preparedby:Norton‐Arnold&Company

July20,2012

Table of Contents Introduction...............................................................................................................................................................................1

PlanningfortheForums.......................................................................................................................................................1

ConductingtheForums.........................................................................................................................................................2

Forum#1:Edmonds...........................................................................................................................................................2

Forum#2:Tukwila............................................................................................................................................................2

Forum#3:Lacey.................................................................................................................................................................3

Forum#4:Sequim..............................................................................................................................................................4

ImprovingGuidanceforSMPUpdates..................................................................................................................5

NewToolsforMitigation............................................................................................................................................5

PossibleIncentivePrograms.....................................................................................................................................5

CircuitRiders...................................................................................................................................................................6

RefreshingSMPQuarterlyMeetingsandTrainings........................................................................................6

ImprovingthePublicandPoliticalProcess........................................................................................................6

NextSteps...................................................................................................................................................................................7

PugetSoundRegionalShorelineMasterProgram P a g e |1FinalProjectReport

Introduction In2010,ClallamCountyreceivedagrantfromtheU.S.EnvironmentalProtectionAgencytoconductfourregionalforumsdesignedtoidentifyanddevelopsolutionsfor“procedural,technical,andinstitutionalobstacles”beingfacedbythoseresponsibleforupdatingandimplementingShorelineMasterPrograms(SMPs)inthePugetSoundregion.ASteeringCommitteewasformedtoplanandconducttheseforums.Committeemembersincluded:

CathyLear,ClallamCounty,Chair PeterSkowlund,DepartmentofEcology MichelleMcConnell,JeffersonCounty MargaretGlowacki,CityofSeattle JohnCambalik,PugetSoundPartnership1 MichelleWilcox,USEPA2

TheCommitteeusedaRequest‐for‐ProposalsprocesstoselectNorton‐Arnold&Company,aSeattle‐basedfirm,todesign,facilitate,andreporttheresultsoftheForumprocess.ChrisHoffmanandMargaretNorton‐ArnoldworkedextensivelywiththeSteeringCommitteethroughout2011andinto2012tocarryouttheforums.

Thisreportprovidesanoverviewoftheforums.

Planning for the Forums ToensurethatparticipantsfromthroughoutthePugetSoundregionhadequalaccess,theforums,theforumswereheldindifferentlocations:Edmonds,Tukwila,Lacey,andSequim.Over250peoplewereinvitedtoattend,includingplanners,tribes,non‐governmentalorganizations,consultants,andstateagencyrepresentatives.Inviteeswereencouragedtoinvitestakeholdersfromtheirjurisdictionstoattendtheforumswiththem.Thefollowingtablepresentstheforumdatesandlocations,purpose,anddesiredoutcomes.Whileitwasoriginallyplannedto“testmarket”thetoolsandmechanismsbetweenthethirdandfourthforums,theinitiativesdevelopedatthethirdforumdidnotlendthemselvestotesting.

Dateandlocation Purpose Resultandfollow‐upSeptember12,2011EdmondsCenterfortheArts

Identifytechnical,proceduralandinstitutionalobstaclestoSMPapprovalandimplementation;identifypotentialsolutionstoobstacles.

Listofcategorizedobstaclesandpotentialsolutions;web‐basedconversationtoprioritizeobstacles/solutions.

November3,2011TukwilaCommunityCenter

Reportonandconfirmprioritization;refinepotentialsolutions;begintodeveloptoolsandmechanismstoimplementsolutions.

Listofobstaclesandpriorities;preliminarylistofsolutions.Developactionableinitiatives.

1ScottWilliamsonreplacedJohnCambalikasthePugetSoundPartnershiprepresentativemidwaythroughtheforums2CarrieByronreplacedMichelleWilcoxastheUSEPArepresentativemidwaythroughtheforums


Dateandlocation Purpose Resultandfollow‐upNovember30,2011LaceyCommunityCenter

Presentandfurtherrefineinitiatives. Assignresponsibilityforimplementinginitiativesandbeginimplementation.

March15,2012Sequim,JamestownS’KlallamTribeCommunityCenter

Reportonprogressmadeoninitiativesandseekfeedbackoninitiatives.

Finaldescriptionofinitiativesandoutlineofresponsibilities,schedule,andneededresourcesforcontinuedimplementation.

Inadditiontoin‐personattendance,eachforumalsoincludedtheopportunityforpeopletoparticipateremotelyviawebinar,andanumberofpeopletookadvantageofthisoption.Apasswordprotectedwebsitewasalsoestablishedtomaintaincommunicationwithparticipants–sharingagendas,discussiontopics,andresults–throughouttheseven‐monthforumprocess.

Conducting the Forums

Forum#1: Edmonds

ThefirstforuminEdmondswasattendedby57peoplefromdiversebackgrounds.Afteranopeningsessiondesignedtodescribetheforumprocessandgoals,attendeesdividedintobreakoutgroups.Overthecourseoftwosmall‐groupdiscussionsessions,participantsdescribedtheobstaclesfacedbythoseconductingandimplementingSMPupdates,andalsobegantobrainstormpotentialsolutionstotheseobstacles.Across‐sectionoftheobstaclesidentifiedincluded:

AlackofguidancefromEcologyonthetoughissues–armoring,buffers,NoNetLoss(NNL),non‐conforminguses,etc.

AlackofflexibilityintheSMPprocess;theprocessdoesn’ttakeintoconsiderationtheneedsofdifferentjurisdictions.

ExtensivepublicprocesseshavenotresultedinsuccessfulSMPupdates;itisdifficulttoengagethesilentmajorityandthereisalackofunderstandingofwhattheSMPmeansandwhyitisimportant.

Mitigationandmonitoringarepoorlyunderstoodandill‐defined;whattypesofmitigationshouldwedo,howmuchmitigationisenough,andhowdowemonitorittoknowifitissuccessful?

AlackofincentivesbuiltintotheSMPprocess;weneedtohelppeople“dotherightthing”ratherthanjusttellthemwhattheycan’tdo.

Localelectedofficialsoftendon’tunderstandtheSMPprocess,don’tmakeitapriority,anddon’tgetengageduntiltheveryendoftheprocess.

Forum #2: Tukwila

Fifty‐threepeopleattendedthesecondforuminTukwila.Theobstaclesidentifiedatthefirstforumhadbeenorganizedintofourtopicareasandalongcommonthemes.Thegoalofthesecondforumwastodevelopsolutionstotheseobstacles.


Category Obstacles

A. GuidanceandClarity Lackofguidanceonkeyissues,Incomplete/inconsistentunderstandingofwhatSMAandSMPguidelinesdictate,

B. ProcessEfficiency Inventoryandcharacterizationtaketoomuchtimeandresources,Lackofflexibilityintheupdateprocess,SMPisinasilo–notintegratedintootherplanning,Lackoffunding

C. PublicandPoliticalProcess LocalauthoritiesdisconnectedfromtheSMPprocess,Publicmisinformation,DelaysinSMPapprovalandimplementation,Maintainingongoingpublicinvolvement

D. Mitigation/Monitoring/Permitting Lackofsuccessfulmitigation,Don’tknowhowmonitoringwillbedone,Don’tknowhowtomeasuremitigation,LackofunderstandingaboutNNL

Someofthesolutionsidentifiedatthissecondforumincluded:

UpdatetheSMPHandbooktomakeiteasiertouse.Includecasestudies,andmoreguidanceonissuessuchasbuffers,docks,setbacks,publicaccess,standardsfordifferentenvironmentaldesignations,andNoNetLoss.

UpdateSMPtrainingstoincludemoretopics,addresskeyissues,andtotakeintoaccountthatdifferentjurisdictionsareatdifferentphasesoftheupdateprocess.

ConductascopingsessionatthebeginningoftheSMPupdatetodeterminepreciselywhatinformationisnecessaryfortheInventoryandCharacterization,andtodeterminethekeyissuestobeaddressedintheupdate.

Developtoolstohelpjurisdictionswithpublicinvolvement:focusonbenefitsoftheSMA,providemessagingguidance,factsheetsthataddresskeyissuesandthathelppreventmisinformationcampaigns.

Providemultipleoptionsformitigation:banking,offsite,in‐lieuoffeeprograms,etc. Provideassistance,incentivesandrewardstopropertyownerstomakeiteasiertodothe

rightthing;showcasegoodexamplesofmitigationandhowitcanbenefitpropertyowners. ProvideanEcologystaffpositionthatactsasacircuitridertohelpjurisdictionswithupdate

implementation:permitting,monitoring,etc.

Thesesolutionsbecamethebasisfordiscussionatthenexttwoforums.

Forum #3: Lacey

Thethirdforumhad60attendees.Usingtheresultsofthesecondforum,Norton‐Arnold&CompanyhadworkedcloselywiththeSteeringCommitteetodevelopnine“initiatives,”whichwereintendedtoaddressthepriorityobstaclesandincorporatethesuggestedsolutions.TheNovember30agendaallowedforin‐depthdiscussionforhowtheseinitiativesmightbestbeimplemented,withthediscussionsessionsfacilitatedbyEcologystaffwithexpertiserelevanttoeachinitiative.Thefollowinggraphicexplainsthescheduleforthethreesessions.


TrackOneMitigation&Permitting

TrackTwoTraining&

Communication

TrackThreeGuidance

TrackFourModules,

Procedures,Incentives

TrackFiveOutreachtothe

Public

10:15–11:15SessionA

Initiative#1DevelopNewToolsforMitigation

Initiative#3RefreshSMPTrainings

Initiative#5DevelopandDeliverBetterGuidance

Initiative#6DevelopNewModulesandStreamline

Initiative#8IdentifyandDevelopBMPsandTools

11:25–12:25SessionB

Initiative#1(cont’d)

DevelopNewToolsforMitigation


RefreshSMPTrainings


DevelopandDeliverBetterGuidance


DevelopNewModulesandStreamline


IdentifyandDevelopBMPsandTools

1:25–2:25SessionC

Initiative#2DevelopaJobDescriptionforaCircuitRider

Initiative#4ReviseQuarterly

Meetings


DevelopandDeliverBetterGuidance

Initiative#7CreateIncentive

Program

Initiative#9Improve

EducationandTrainingfor

ElectedOfficials

Discussionresultsvariedconsiderablyduetothedifferingnatureoftheinitiatives.Forexample,Initiative#3,RefreshQuarterlyForums,resultedinseveralspecificrecommendations,suchas:

Improveinteractivityofroundtable/structurenetworkingatlunch ImproveconnectionbetweenEcologySMARTandQuarterlyforums Buildinteractivityintomoresessions Use‘SurveyMonkey”togetfeedbackaftereachforum

OnInitiative#5,DevelopandDeliverBetterGuidance,suggestionsincluded:

Focusonsamplelanguage(template)eitheranonymouslyorreferencingagoodexample(SMP‐standards)fromanexistingSMP.TheDepartmentofEcologyshouldprepareamatrixhighlightingdifferencesorgoodexamplesfromapprovedSMP’s.

Seekreview/feedbackofHandbookchaptersfromjurisdictionsthatareinthemiddleoftheirSMP‐updateprocess,astheseplannersaremostfamiliarwiththeissuessurroundingaspecifictaskandcouldlikelyprovideEcologywithrelevantfeedbackastheyaremostfamiliarwiththeprocess.

DiscussiononInitiative#7,CreateIncentivePrograms,resultedinmoregeneralsuggestions,suchascreatingamenuofexistingandneededincentives.

Forum #4: Sequim

ThefourthandfinalforumwasheldonMarch15,2012inSequim,andwasattendedby31individuals.


BetweenNovember2011andMarch2012,Norton‐Arnold&Company,theSteeringCommittee,andEcologystaffhadidentifiedsolutionsthatcouldeitherbeimplementedimmediatelyorfurtherdevelopedovertime.Agreatdealwasaccomplishedinthesefivemonths,andtheagendaforthisfinalforumconsistedofaseriesofpresentationsandfeedbackonprogressmadeoninitiatives.

Improving Guidance for SMP Updates

BettyRenkor,DepartmentofEcology,reportedthatseveraloftheforumparticipants’recommendationsandsuggestionsforimprovingguidancearecurrentlybeingimplemented.MostnotablytheSMPHandbookhasbeenimprovedby:

ThePublicParticipationchapterhasbeenupdatedwithmorespecificguidance Moreheadingsandatableofcontentstoimprovenavigation Overviewchaptersprovidebriefandeasytoreadinformationonkeytopics Dataandinformationpagehasbeenimprovedtoprovidebetteraccesstoscientific

resources–reports,papers,datasets,maps,etc.

Participantsappreciatedtheimprovementsandhadsomesuggestionsforadditionalguidance.Insummary,participantssaidtheyneedguidanceonhowtoaddresscriticismofbestavailablescience,totranslatesciencetourbanenvironments,andtoraiseawarenessaboutcumulativeimpacts.

New Tools for Mitigation

MaggieGlowacki,CityofSeattle,presentedonanewapproachcurrentlybeingusedbytheCityofSeattletomeettheupdatedSMPmitigationrequirements.The“HabitatEvaluationProcedures”provideawaytomeasureimpactsofdevelopmentandmitigationrequirementsandwillhelptoensuregreaterconsistencyandmoreeffectivemitigation.Themethodprovidespredictabilityandtransparencyinthepermittingprocess,achoiceforon‐siteoroff‐sitemitigation,andenhancesthequalityofprojectmitigation.Forumparticipantsprovidedpositivereviewsofthisapproachtomitigationandhadanumberofquestionsabouthowmitigationmeasurementisachieved,aswellashowthemitigationratiowasdetermined.Somewereconcernedthatallmitigationwouldbepushedoffsitetopubliclandsandwonderedifthiswasfair.Otherswantedtoknowmoreaboutthemethodandwereeagertotryitintheirownjurisdictions.

Possible Incentive Programs

TomClingman,DepartmentofEcology,ScottWilliamson,PugetSoundPartnership,andZelmaZieman,Governor’sOfficeofRegulatoryAssistanceleadforumparticipantsinaninformaldiscussiononpossibleincentiveprograms.Thesessionconsistedofdiscussiononwhatlocaljurisdictionsaredoingwithregardstoincentives,andwhatisandwhatisn’tworking.Amongothers,examplesofincentiveprogramswereprovidedbyJeffersonCountyandKitsapCounty.OfparticularnotewasJeffersonCounty’sWatershedStewardshipResourceCenter,whichprovidesa“onestopshopping”centerforallkindsofinformationandassistancewithpermitting,LowImpactDevelopment,andsoftshorestabilization,tonameafew.


Circuit Riders

TomClingman’spresentationoncircuitridersbeganwiththeacknowledgmentthattheSMPUpdatessetthestageforthepossibilityofeffectiveshorelinemanagementbutdonotaccomplishanychangeontheground.TheideaofmakinganEcologycircuitrideravailabletoassistjurisdictionswithSMPimplementationmayhelptomaketheSMPsmoresuccessful.HesaidthatthereareexpectationsthatSMPimplementationwillhelpprotectPugetSoundbutthatjurisdictionsfaceanumberofchallengesduetobudgetcrisesandtechnicalcomplexities,amongothers.Theconceptofthecircuitrideristosharestaffresourcestomeetimplementationneeds;circuitriderswouldbeassignedonageographicbasistoassistcitiesandcounties.Thepositionscouldbefundedbysomecombinationoflocalgovernments,thestate,andNGO’s.Participantshadquestionsabouthowthisconceptwouldwork,whethertherewouldbeanenforcementcomponent,andaboutwhetheraskinglocaljurisdictionstofundsomepartofthesepositionsisfeasible.Tomendedthesessionbyaskingforvolunteerstohelpfurtherdeveloptheconceptandtwoparticipants,DaveGreethamfromKitsapCountyandGabeSnedeckerfromAHBL,saidtheywouldbewillingtohelp.

Refreshing SMP Quarterly Meetings and Trainings

PeterSkowlundandCedarBouta,DepartmentofEcologyledthissession.PetergaveanoverviewofthechangestheyhavemadetothequarterlymeetingsandCedartalkedaboutthetrainingsandthesurveythatwasconductedtogetfeedbackonthequarterlymeetings.Someofthechangesincludemoreopportunitiesfornetworking,roundtablediscussions,andmoreopportunitiesforinteractionamongparticipants.Cedarpresentedtheresultsofthesurveythatwassentto295individuals,andresultedina28%responserate:

Continuetomeetquarterly;usecurrentmethodofinvites/notices MaketheRoundtablemoresuccinct;askeveryonetospeakuporprovideamicrophone Presentationsshouldbedirectlyrelevanttoplanningrequirementsandlocalexperience Incorporatemoresmallgroupdiscussion Ecologyshouldlistenmoreandtalkless;considerusingSharePointandholdingseparate

grantmeetings Beorganizedbyagendaandroom(roundtables,smallerspace)toencouragenetworking MovedtheCoastalTrainingProgram’s“PublicIssuesandManagingConflict”coursetoMay Updatedcurriculumforthe“ShorelinePermittingandAdministration”course

Improving the Public and Political Process

CedarBoutaandHeatherTrim,PeopleforPugetSound,gavepresentationsonimprovingthepublicandpoliticalprocess.CedartalkedaboutwhatEcologyhasbeendoingasaresultoffeedbackfromforumparticipantsandHeatherdiscussedPeopleforPugetSound’soutreacheffortsandtheirpublicinvolvementpetpeeves.Cedarreviewedprogressmadetodateonimprovingthepublicprocess.Insummary,Ecologyhas:

Conductedconversationswithkeystakeholdersatthemanagementlevel UpdatedPublicParticipationandVisioninghandbookchapters ConductedaSurveyofWesternWAShorelinePlanners


PostedEcology’spublichearingmaterialsonline

Cedaralsopresentedanumberoftipsforpublicparticipationandelectedofficials,including(forelectedofficials):

AskEcologymanagementtointroducetheupdateprocessandwhentheSMPcomesforapproval

Invitetoevents,sendregularupdates Peercommunications–AssociationofWashingtonCities(AWC)andWashingtonState

AssociationofCounties(WSAC),regionalplanningdirectors’meetings

Andforthepublic:

Anticipatedifficultquestions.Developanswersandpractice.(“ToughIssues”,“FrequentlyAskedQuestions”)

Betransparent–provideallinformation,openmeetings,frequentandregularupdates

HeathertalkedaboutthegoalofworkingwithcitizenstoeducatethemonthevalueofSMPupdatesandtheimportanceofprotectingPugetSoundshorelines.ShealsoreviewedthemethodstheyuseforpublicinvolvementandtalkedaboutthechallengesfacedonengagingthepubliconSMP’s,whichinclude:

Makingshorelinehealthasexytopic Addressingthefrustrationsandconcernsofshorelinepropertyowners Increasingpublicaccessinawaythat:protectsprivacyissuesanddoesn’ttramplethe

environment Keepingpublicengagedfor2‐3yearsplus

Next Steps TheDepartmentofEcologywillcontinuetoworkontheimprovementsidentified,maintainingstrongcontactwithforumparticipantsbothnowandwellintothefuture.EcologystaffstressedtheneedforeveryonetocontinuetoparticipateinongoingSMPimprovements–itwilltakeallofus,workingtogether,tosucceed.Ecologyneedstohavestrongpartnershipswithalljurisdictionsandtheirstakeholders.

The“NextSteps”tableonthefollowingpageidentifiestheinitiativesunderwayandthepartiesresponsibleforimplementingthem.


Initiative Lead Support Nextsteps ConsiderationsDifficultyTimeCost

ImprovingguidanceforSMPupdates

Ecology,WashingtonStateDepartmentofFishandWildlife

Localjurisdictions

Continuetoworkwithjurisdictionstofindoutwhattheyneed

Reviseguidancebasedonthoseneeds ImplementresultsoftheEPAfundedClallamCoNo

NetLossIndicatorsproject Utilizeavailableresourcesandexistingworkgroups

toeffectivelytranslatesciencetourbanizedshorelineenvironments

DevelopandcirculateaguidanceneedschecklistatQuarterlymeetings

Medium Medium Low

Newtoolsformitigation

CityofSeattle Federalandstateagencies

Workingonanewtoolwithagencies ContinueworkingontheHabitatEvaluation

Procedures,tomakeittransferabletootherjurisdictions

Provideupdatesonprogress

High High High

Possibleincentiveprograms

PugetSoundPartnership(PSP),Ecology,OfficeofRegulatoryAssistance(ORA)

Localjurisdictions

AlignwithPugetSoundActionAgendapriorities Conductextensiveoutreachtojurisdictions Achievebuy‐infromjurisdictions Securefundingforstaffing

Medium Medium Medium

Circuitriders Ecology,localjurisdictions

ORA,PSP Developpackageforlegislativeapprovalandfunding

Conductoutreachtolocaljurisdictionstodetermineneedsandsecurebuy‐in

Implementprogram

Medium Low Low

RefreshingSMPquarterlymeetingsandtrainings

Ecology Localjurisdictionsandconsultants

Continuetorevisequarterlymeetingsbasedonfeedbackfromtheforums

Revisetrainingcourses

Low Low Low

Improvingthepublicandpoliticalprocess

Ecology LocaljurisdictionsandNGO’s

Assesseffectivenessofupdatedpublicparticipationandvisioninghandbookchapters

Continuetodevelopandtestmethodstoengageabroadrangeofinterests

Conductoutreachtoelectedofficials

High High Medium

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