Phase I :

Establish Public Participation Program

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03/13/2008 Revised

Phase 1 is represented by the development and adoption of this Public Participation Program. The Public Participation Program was adopted by Resolution 2006-01 on January 9, 2006 at a public hearing conducted by the Board of County Commissioners. Prior to the public hearing, notice of intent to establish this program was published in the official newspaper of general circulation. The Public Participation Program was amended by Resolution 2007-01 on January 30, 2007 at a public hearing conducted by the Board of County Commissioners.

As provided in RCW 36.70A.140, errors in the exact compliance with the established program and procedures shall not render the comprehensive land use plan or development regulations invalid if the spirit of the program and procedures is observed.

PUBLIC PARTICIPATION:
Opportunities for public participation will be provided throughout the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process to encourage early and continuous public participation. County residents are encouraged to actively participate in the process by attending advertised public meetings, workshops, and public hearings of the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners, visiting the Skamania County website, or contacting Planning staff.
One of the greatest challenges of governance is finding a balance between the interests of the community as a whole and those who have a special stake in a particular issue. Public participation helps to strike that balance by looking for solutions that work for the entire community, not just for a small group of individuals.
Although participating does not always mean prevailing, it does make government a partnership effort. That is something positive, because when citizens are actively involved in their government, the decisions can better reflect the will of the people. However, the final decision is made by the Board of County Commissioners who are elected by the will of the people.
Written Comments
Written Comments are welcome throughout the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process. All written comments on suggested changes to the 1996 Critical Areas Amendment to Comprehensive Plan “A” and the Critical Areas development regulations in Skamania County Code Title 21A that were submitted to the Department of Planning and Community Development prior to March 31, 2006, were included in the Department’s GMA Compliance Review report to the Board of County Commissioners (June 2006). Opportunities for formal public comment on the draft changes will be provided at public hearings before the Skamania County Planning Commission and the Skamania County Board of County Commissioners. To ensure consideration, written comments must be received by Skamania County by 5:00pm on the day of the public hearing or in person by the close of the public hearing.
All written comments submitted by mail should be sent to:
Skamania County Department of Planning & Community Development
2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process
PO Box 790
Stevenson, WA 98648
All written comments submitted by fax should be sent to:
Skamania County Department of Planning & Community Development
2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process
Fax Number 509-427-3907

Email

Feedback on 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process

Email us your comments, concerns, or questions. Be sure to include 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process in your subject line.

planningdept@co.skamania.wa.us

Mailing Lists

Skamania County Planning staff will maintain and utilize a list of interested persons and organizations having requested to receive notices of scheduled public meetings and hearing for the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update process. Individuals and organizations interested in being on the mailing list should contact the Skamania County Department of Planning & Community Development, P.O. Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648 of their written request.

Planning Commission Meetings

The Planning Commission is the citizen panel that provides recommendations about Comprehensive Plan and development regulation changes to the Board of County Commissioners. The Planning Commission meetings will be the primary source of public involvement during the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process. Planning staff will perform research and analysis, report preparation, and will attend the workshop meetings and public hearings (which are open to the public for comment).

Public Hearings

All public hearings scheduled before the Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners will be held after official notice and will include opportunities for both oral and written comment. The two Planning Commission public hearings on the Comprehensive Plan changes will likely be held in June 2007 and the two Board of County Commissioner public hearings will likely be held in July and August of 2007. The two Planning Commission public hearings on the development regulation changes will likely be held in July and August of 2008 and the two Board of County Commissioner public hearings will likely be held in September and October of 2008.

All persons desiring to speak will be allowed to do so, consistent with time constraints. All comments and recommendation by the public will be considered. Adequate time should be provided between the time of any public hearing and the date of adoption to evaluate and respond to public comment. A summary of public comments will be included in the record of adoption of the changes to the Comprehensive Plan and the development regulations.

Notification and Dissemination of Information

Skamania County may use a variety of methods to inform the public about upcoming public meetings, public hearings, availability of relevant planning documents and reports that are related to the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process, including but not limited to:

Web Page: is an effective means for the public to follow the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process. The “Feedback on 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update” provides interested parties the opportunity to leave their comments or leave their email address for email notification of future meetings and public hearings on the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Updates	Mailing Lists: Skamania County Planning staff will maintain and utilize a list of interested persons and organizations who have requested to receive notices of scheduled public meetings and hearing for the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update process. Individuals and organizations interested in being on the mailing list should contact the Skamania County Department of Planning & Community Development, P.O. Box 790, Stevenson, WA 98648 of their written request.
News Releases: Skamania County will issue new releases announcing the beginning of the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process, public meetings, public hearings, and comment periods to local media including but not limited to: Skamania County Pioneer, Camas-Washougal Post Record, White Salmon Enterprise, Columbian, Hood-River News, Oregonian, and those that request to be notified.	Public Hearings: Legal Public Notice of all public hearings regarding the review and update of the Comprehensive Plan and development regulations related to the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process will be published under “Legals” in the Skamania County Pioneer. The public notification will be provided at least ten (10) days before the date of the public hearing. The public notice shall include the date, time, location and purpose of the public hearing.
PROJECT FILES: An official project file containing adopted project materials will be available for public inspection during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., except for holidays) at the Skamania County Department of Planning & Community Development. The physical address is 170 NW Avenue in Stevenson, Washington.	RECORDING OF MEETINGS: All public meetings and public hearings before the Skamania County Planning Commission and the Board of County Commissioners will be audio recorded. Copies of the audio recordings are available upon request using the County’s Request for Public Information procedures including the fees established by resolution of the Board of County Commissioner. Minutes of the meetings and hearings will be available on the County internet site.
UPDATES: Skamania County views this Public Participation Program as the basic public involvement processes that will be followed during the 2006-2008 Critical Areas Update Process. Additional public participation activities or the extension of project dates may be put into practice without changing this adopted program. However, the public participation specified herein will not be reduced without formal amendment to this adopted program. Such an amendment will only be made after an opportunity for public comment.

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