WRIA 14 PLANNING UNIT MEETING

Wednesday, February 8, 2006

10:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.

Shelton Civic Center

Shelton, WA

Meeting Summary

Attendance:

Government Members Present:
Dick Wilson, Mason County PUD # 1	Pam Bennett-Cumming, Mason County
Theresa Parsons, City of Shelton	John Konovsky, Squaxin Island Tribe
Jeanne Kinney, Thurston County	Phil Wiatrak, Dept. of Ecology
Government Members Absent:
Port of Shelton

Other Planning Unit Members Present:
Diane Cooper, Taylor Shellfish	Terri Jeffreys, Realtors/Homebuilders
Constance Ibsen, LHCWIC	Warren Dawes, SWPSWC
Chad Stussy, WDFW

Others Present:

Susan Gulick, Technical Project Mgr/Facilitator

1. Watershed Plan

q The Planning Unit finalized the draft plan.

q There are 4 supplemental recommendations on which the Planning Unit has not reached consensus (3 by the Tribe and 1 by the Realtors/Homebuilders). These are attached as a separate document.

q The Tribe has stated that it cannot approve the plan without their proposed recommendations added. Other Planning Unit members stated they cannot support the Tribal recommendations, particularly the moratorium on new water withdrawals. The realtors also feel it is essential that the plan include their proposed recommendation; however, because the realtors are not an initiating government, they cannot block consensus on the plan.

q The Planning Unit agreed that there is a fundamental difference in philosophy represented by the supplemental recommendations. The realtors believe that it should be a priority for the Counties and City to provide water for the growth that is planned for in local comprehensive plans. The Tribe believes that the Counties and the City should evaluate water availability first and then determine where growth (if any) is appropriate.

q The Planning Unit members will review the draft plan and the supplemental recommendations with their organizations. It is hoped that direct contact between County and City elected officials and members of the Tribal Council may assist in finding a compromise to the impasse.

q The Planning Unit would like the final documents from the planning process, including all the technical documents, given to the Timberland Library as reference documents.

2. Next Steps

q The Planning Unit will not meet again until Wednesday, April 12^th. During this 2 month break, Planning Unit members should work together to try to find a compromise.

q Final amendments to the Plan will be presented on April 12^th.

q If necessary, the Planning Unit will also meet on Wednesday, April 26^th.

q The final vote on the plan is scheduled for Wednesday, May 10^th.

q Susan and Phil are available to assist in briefings or negotiations on the Final Draft Plan.