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
PugetSoundRegionalShorelineMasterProgram P a g e |2FinalProjectReport
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.
PugetSoundRegionalShorelineMasterProgram P a g e |3FinalProjectReport
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.
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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
Initiative#3(cont’d)
RefreshSMPTrainings
Initiative#5(cont’d)
DevelopandDeliverBetterGuidance
Initiative#6(cont’d)
DevelopNewModulesandStreamline
Initiative#8(cont’d)
IdentifyandDevelopBMPsandTools
1:25–2:25SessionC
Initiative#2DevelopaJobDescriptionforaCircuitRider
Initiative#4ReviseQuarterly
Meetings
Initiative#5(cont’d)
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.
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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.
PugetSoundRegionalShorelineMasterProgram P a g e |6FinalProjectReport
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
PugetSoundRegionalShorelineMasterProgram P a g e |7FinalProjectReport
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.
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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