Information

Type: Deliberation

Department: CD - Community Development

Directors' Update: June 18, 2025

Business Meeting: June 24, 2025

Summary:

Authorize the Director of Community Development to sign an agreement with the Washington State Conservation Commission (WSCC) for the Voluntary Stewardship Program for biennium 2025-2027.  Community Development has delegated administration and billing to the Lewis County Conservation District, see Appendix D of the Exhibit; therefore, there is no budget impact.  Community Development retains reporting responsibilities to WSCC.

Publications:

Cover Letter To:

Additional Copies To:

Resolution

WHEREAS, Lewis County opted into the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) on October 31, 2011; and

WHEREAS, VSP provides a unique, grassroots opportunity to establish regulatory certainty for the agricultural operators in Lewis County critical areas; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County has the opportunity to enter into a sixth grant contract with the Washington State Conservation Commission for the purpose of providing adequate funding to meet the implementation needs of the counties who opted into VSP; and

WHEREAS, the Department of Community Development has designated the Lewis Conservation District as the Technical Service Provider (TSP) responsible for billing to the Washington State Conservation Commission and payments will go directly to the TSP; and

WHEREAS, it appears to be in the best public interest to authorize the Director of Community Development to sign the contract with an amount not to exceed $ 290,000 for the 2025-2027 biennium; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County and the Lewis Conservation District intend enter into an interlocal agreement to designate Conservation District as the TSP.

NOW THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Board of County Commissioners finds it in the public interest to authorize the Director of Community Development to sign the agreement, Exhibit A, with the the Washington State Conservation Commission for the Voluntary Stewardship Program for biennium 2025-2027.

DONE IN OPEN SESSION this 24th day of June, 2025.