County planning: Let cooler heads prevail

Published 9:00 pm Monday, May 17, 2004

Considerable concern has recently been expressed regarding an ordinance that clarifies the roles and responsibilities of Snohomish County Tomorrow (SCT). During the discussion of this issue, some unfounded allegations were made. I think it appropriate to now place these issues in their proper perspective and allow for cooler heads to prevail.

This issue came to a head on May 5, when the County Council adopted the Interjurisdictional Coordination Ordinance 03-069, which Snohomish County Executive Aaron Reardon threatened to veto the month before. Since adoption of the ordinance, I wrote the executive and asked him to reconsider his position and to refrain from exercising the veto, since significant modifications to the original ordinance have been made, and the ordinance adopted is not the ordinance he threatened to veto.

The ordinance arose from the dueling buildable lands reports debacle in August of 2002. The County Council was faced with a situation in which SCT presumed it had the authority to file the county’s buildable lands report with the Washington State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED). During that time, there was tangible evidence that some people harbored the illusion that SCT is a regional government, and that city/county planners wielded excessive influence over the SCT process.

That SCT conceived itself as a regional government that could act on its own independently of the county was a bit of a surprise, especially since state statutes specifically provide that “The Legislature recognizes that counties are regional governments within their boundaries.” The overreaching hand of various city planners was less of a surprise, as the council had been for some time becoming aware that city and county planners were orchestrating the SCT process with too little effective oversight from city elected officials.

A conversation I had one day with one of the city planners is illustrative. We were discussing a specific planning problem, and I asked him how he could assure he was selecting the approach that best fit the needs and policy of his city. His response was candid and enlightening. He answered that city planners don’t actually consider themselves as acting for their city or concern themselves with implementation, but instead seek to achieve the ideals of good planning!

The Snohomish County prosecutor’s staff issued an opinion that confirmed that under the Growth Management Act and the Postema decision, SCT is a city/county discussion forum whose proper role is to review and recommend countywide growth management policy to the County Council.

This opinion led directly to the ordinance. The theme of the ordinance is truth in government. The ordinance does not purport to change the law at all. The ordinance merely states in plain English what the law is. Whether the ordinance is enacted or vetoed, the law on the SCT’s role in the scheme of things will remain the same. The effect of the ordinance is to make two changes: (1) Removal of any illusion that SCT is a regional government, and (2) Increasing the influence and control of the elected officials over the SCT process.

Despite the legal opinion from the Snohomish County Prosecutor’s Office, some local city governments have expressed their concerns. The ordinance adopted by the County Council was revised to address all issues raised by the cities.

It is my hope that the executive will refrain from vetoing the ordinance. This ordinance in no way impairs the influence of cities. To the contrary, it strengthens the hand of the city elected officials in the process and enables all of us to better fulfill the county/city consultation requirements of the Growth Management Act. This ordinance does not deprive any city of any role, input or influence it now possesses. The only thing eliminated by this ordinance is the illusion that SCT is a regional government.

It is our job as elected officials to take a higher road, seek common ground and allow for cooler heads to prevail. Through such an experienced attitude can we all meet the needs of those who elected us and truly create a better tomorrow for Snohomish County.

Republican John Koster is chairman of the Snohomish County Council.