Public meeting: State parks leaders review past, ponder future

GOLD BAR — Leaders of the state parks system plan to gather at Wallace Falls Lodge next week to consider projects and initiatives to pursue in 2016.

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission also will review its performance agreement with agency director Donald Hoch and discuss any changes they want to make in it for 2016.

Commissioners are scheduled to meet from noon to 5 p.m. Wednesday and 8 a.m. to noon Thursday.

The annual two-day planning meeting is open to the public. No formal action is planned and no public comment is expected to be taken.

Wednesday will be devoted to reviewing agency operations in 2015, evaluating Hoch’s performance and discussing the content of a performance agreement for the director in 2016.

Hoch’s current performance agreement expires Dec. 31. The eight-page document is not a contract but lays out the commissioners’ expectations of him in the calendar year.

These range from administrative chores, management of financial resources, overseeing of various initiatives and ensuring concerns of state parks are clearly understood by state lawmakers.

Next week’s conversation will shape the content of the 2016 agreement that could be approved in a special meeting in December or the panel’s next scheduled meeting in Edmonds Jan. 27 and 28.

On Thursday, commissioners will get status reports on ongoing projects including development and maintenance of state parks.

Additional information on state parks can be found online at parks.state.wa.us.

Jerry Cornfield: 360-352-8623; jcornfield@heraldnet.com.

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