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 enter into an interlocal agreement with the Lewis Conservation District for the Voluntary Stewardship Program for biennium 2025-2027. The Lewis Conservation District is the designated Technical Service Provider and will be responsible for administration and billing associated with the program. Community Development retains oversight and reporting to the Washington State Conservation Commission.

Publications:

Cover Letter To:

Additional Copies To:

Resolution

WHEREAS, the Washington State Legislature established the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) as an alternative approach to protecting critical areas and promoting agriculture; and

WHEREAS, the Washington State Conservation Commission (WSCC) has provided grant funding to Lewis County to assist an independent local work group in developing a VSP work plan that contains goals and benchmarks for the protection and enhancement of critical areas that it will submit to the WSCC, as well as the Departments of Fish and Wildlife, Ecology, and Agriculture for approval; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County and Lewis Conservation District (LCD) will partner in providing assistance to the local work group in implementing the VSP work plan; and

WHEREAS, Lewis County has identified LCD as the Technical Service Provider and delegates all responsibility for VSP billing under the WSCC grant to LCD; and

WHEREAS,  it is appropriate that in order to implement such an arrangement an Interlocal Agreement, Exhibit A, be executed between the parties setting forth the conditions and terms of that arrangement.

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 enter into an interlocal agreement, Exhibit A, with the Lewis Conservation District for administration of the Voluntary Stewardship Program for biennium 2025-2027.

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