1.What
is Envision Skagit
2060?
Envision
Skagit 2060 is the new name of the Skagit Alternative Futures project. The project is
working with local Skagitonians
to develop and recommend a broadly-supported, 50-year vision
to protect the Skagit and Samish River watersheds' many environmental values,
maintain our highly productive natural resource industries,
and accommodate population growth in livable, walkable, and
economically vibrant communities.
The project
will ultimately recommend changes to Skagit
County's and other jurisdictions' plans and policies addressing
land use planning, community and economic development, environmental
protection and natural resource conservation.
Envision
Skagit 2060 is a partnership among Skagit County and numerous local and regional
organizations, including conservation groups, tribes, local
farmers and foresters, cities and towns, economic development
interests and universities. The effort is funded by two grants
from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency along with substantial
in-kind contributions from Skagit
County and its partners. Learn more about Envision Skagit
2060 at: www.skagitcounty.net/envisionskagit
2.
What is the objective of the Citizen Committee?
The goal
of the Citizen Committee is to bring together diverse community
perspectives to develop a balanced, forward looking, preferred
future for Skagit County
through 2060. The Committee will develop recommendations for
a preferred future, drawing on broad community input and information
gained from the modeling and evaluation of four alternative
future scenarios modeled. The four alternative futures are:
- The Plan
Trend future which illustrates how Skagit
County would evolve in the next 50 years if land use plans
and policies remain unchanged;
- The
Agriculture-Forestry future which emphasizes maintaining
the countys natural resource lands and industries;
- The
Ecosystem Future which prioritizes protection of environmental
values; and
- The
Economic Development Future which emphasizes meeting the
economic needs of the county, its communities and its citizens.
The Citizen
Committee will share their final recommendations with elected
officials from the County, cities, towns, tribes, and other
implementing bodies in Skagit County
who will further shape the recommendations and consider their
implementation.
3.
How will the Citizen Committees work be used?
At the end
of this document is a description of the general process the
Citizen Committee will follow to develop its preferred future
recommendations. The Committee will develop a vision of the
Skagit landscape over the next 50 years
based on community input and committee consensus building. This
vision will inform the development of the committees recommended
preferred future. The County Commissioners
will share the committees recommendations with various implementing
bodies for further consideration, including: the Growth Management
Act Steering Committee, Skagit
Council of Governments, Cities, Towns and Tribes.
Ultimately,
the County intends to use the Citizen Committee recommendations
to shape its comprehensive plan and policies addressing land
use planning, community and economic development, environmental
protection, and natural resource conservation. The County will
encourage other participating jurisdictions to consider and
implement recommendations that advance their long-term goals.
4. What
are the required qualifications for the Citizen Committee?
Skagit Countyis looking for a broad spectrum
of applicants. The composition of the Citizen Committee is intended
to reflect the citizenry of Skagit County,
including its rural communities, cities and towns, and tribes.
Youth are encouraged to apply. To emphasize the citizen focus
of this committee, applicants are not eligible if they are full-time
paid elected officials, staff to the county, cities, towns and
tribes, or are applying as full-time paid employees of organizations
involved in advocacy on behalf of conservation, natural resource,
or economic development interests.
Required
qualifications include:
-
A commitment
to invest the time to see the process through to completion
-
Demonstrated
commitment to consistent attendance at meetings or other
regularly scheduled events
-
Demonstrated
ability to bring a broad-based perspective, be open-minded
and think creatively
-
Demonstrated
ability to be willing to work well with others, voice your
own opinion, listen to other views, and work toward common
agreement
-
Resident
of Skagit
County
5. How
will the Citizen Committee be selected?
Envision
Skagit
2060 is a Skagit
County-led project with many partners. The Board of County Commissioners
will seek input on the applicant pool from the projects Steering
Committee. The County
Commissioners and the Mayors of Anacortes,
Burlington, LaConner, Mount Vernon
and Sedro-Woolley will select the committee. The committee is
expected to be approximately 12-15 people in size and will have
broad and diverse citizen representation (geographically, interests,
vocation, age, and ethnicity) with a balance of perspectives
within the county. All application materials submitted to Skagit
County
and any written materials developed during the selection process
are considered public documents.
6. How
much time will be required?
Ongoing
Commitment: Committee membership requires a 10-month commitment
from September 2010 to June 2011 with greater commitment through
April 2011. Members can expect to attend one to two meetings
per month, with an average of 3-4 hours per meeting. Members
will need to review information between meetings. Given the
citizen membership on the committee, meetings will likely be
held during the evenings and in limited cases on weekends (but
please indicate alternative times you would be available in
your application materials).
Additional
Activities: A field trip and orientation sessions will be
scheduled in early September and October to introduce committee
members to each other and to the Skagit watershed.
This is an opportunity to become knowledgeable about the diverse
issues the Citizen Committee will address as they begin to formulate
a vision and recommendations on a preferred future. There
will also be one to two retreats, and one to two workshops or
visioning sessions in late 2010 and early 2011.
7.
Are there conditions for participation on this committee?
Yes, full
communication agreements will be developed with the Citizen
Committee once members are selected. However, there are some
rules for engagement that have been established prior to the
committees formation, and will be a condition for participating.
These
rules include:
- Attendance
Agreement: members are required to attend meetings (barring
unusual circumstances). If a member misses more than two meetings
without reasonable circumstance, that member will be removed
from the committee, and an alternate may be appointed.
- Opt
Out Agreement: If, after two months, a participant finds
they cannot make the commitment or do not want to participate
any longer, they have the opportunity to respectfully opt
out of the Citizen Committee.
- Committee
members agree to read materials in advance and come to meetings
prepared.
- If a
Committee member voices disagreement, they will be asked to
present an alternative to the item they are disagreeing to.
- Members
are committed to being at the table (e.g., working as a
member of a team) and working to find mutually-agreeable solutions
in a positive manner.
- Agreement
to act in a respectful manner.
- Agreement
to listen.
The Countys
intent in establishing these rules is to encourage a positive
and productive working environment. Full consensus will be sought
on the committees ultimate recommendations, but decision rules
will be established by the Board of County Commissioners
and the Citizen Committee in the case that consensus cannot
be reached. Please note that all meetings will be recorded and
open to the public. The project will invest a great deal of
time and resources in the committee to ensure the highest likelihood
of a successful process.
8.
How do I Apply?
Citizens
interested in serving on the Envision Skagit
2060 Citizen Committee are encouraged to apply by submitting
a letter of interest stating the applicants background and
interests. In 250 words or less, please also explain why you
want to participate on the Committee. Two references are required
from other community members who can speak to your ability to
work productively in a group setting with some opposing viewpoints
while also attesting to your level of commitment and follow-through.
Letters
of interest should be submitted to Emma Whitfield at emmaw@co.skagit.wa.us, or to Skagit County Public Information Officer, 1800 Continental Place, Mount Vernon, Washington
98273.
Letters must be received by 4:30 p.m. on July 9, 2010.
For more information, contact Emma at
(360) 416-1400 ext. 3152.
Process
for Development and Consideration of Citizen Committee Recommendations
for a Preferred Future
1.
The Citizen Committee will work over a 10 month period to develop
its Preferred Future recommendations (Estimated schedule: Sept.
2010 June 2011).
2.
Early Citizen Committee meetings will include project orientation,
field trips, development of ground rules, and visioning. These
activities will likely draw on the expertise of the projects
Steering and Technical Committees.
3.
Early in the process, the Citizen Committee will meet to discuss
its task with the GMA Steering Committee consisting of County
Commissioners
and Mayors.
4.
In late fall 2010, the Citizen Committee will conduct one large
public visioning workshop to gain broad public input on the
communitys vision.
5.
Throughout the process Skagit County
will encourage broad public engagement through website materials,
mailings, small group presentations/discussions, etc.
6.
The Citizen Committee will work from late fall through winter
2011 to develop an initial draft or framework of its Preferred
Future recommendations.
7.
In late winter 2011, the Citizen Committee will hold a second
large public workshop to gain broad public input on the initial
draft of its Preferred Future recommendations.
8.
At this time, the Citizen Committee will again meet with the
GMA Steering Committee, and may draw on expertise from the projects
Steering and Technical Committees.
9.
Based on input from the workshop and meeting, the Citizen Committee
will finalize its Preferred Future recommendations by March
31, 2011.
10.
Project staff will have 45 days to incorporate the Preferred
Future recommendations into a draft report and provide it back
to the Citizen Committee for final review. The Citizens Committee
will review, finalize, and approve its Preferred Future recommendations
and report by June 15, 2011.
11.
The Citizen Committees final recommendations will be provided
to the GMA Steering Committee for review. The GMA Steering Committee
will share and discuss the recommendations with the Skagit Council of Governments, the general public,
and other policy bodies and interest groups.
12.
After consulting with various policy bodies and organizations,
the GMA Steering Committee will adopt the final Preferred Future
recommendations as the final product of the Envision Skagit
project.
13.
Once the GMA Steering Committee adopts the final project recommendations,
Skagit County, the GMA Steering Committee, the
SCOG Board, and other policy bodies will consider implementing
the projects recommendations through their legally established
legislative processes.
