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Conservation Futures Program Advisory Board
Notifications
At the March 24th 2021 regular meeting, the Conservation Futures Program Advisory Board decided to open a second 2021 grant round this summer. Check back for details soon.
The Board also recommended funding for two projects:
- CF21-01, Heybrook Ridge County Park – South Addition
- CF21-03, Stillaguamish Valley Protection - Albert Farm
The Snohomish County Council will review the Board's recommendation for funding soon.
Application Policies
- A Preliminary Title Report is required with all applications, for each property proposed to be acquired.
- Applicants may be determined ineligible for application for SCCFP funding if they are determined to be out of compliance with prior SCCFP projects (see Allocation Policies).
- Funding for awarded projects will be provided on a reimbursable basis only, following project completion, and will be limited to the amount allocated by the County Council, or that percentage of the total project cost, as indicated in the original grant application for Conservation Futures funding, whichever is less. Documentation of match and total project costs will be required. Exceptions to the requirement that funding is provided as a reimbursement may be allowed on a case-by-case basis. If this is an anticipated need, applicants should check with staff prior to applying.
Allocation Policies
- Snohomish County will allocate Conservation Futures Program funds on a competitive basis through an application and evaluative project selection process.
- Matching funds are encouraged but not required.
- Funding to successful awardees is provided only on a reimbursable basis once the project is complete. Extensions to this policy may be considered on a case-by-case basis and applicants should check with staff prior to applying.
- Projects may be funded at a level below the amount requested by the project sponsor, as recommended by the Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program Advisory Board (the "CFPAB) and forwarded through the Snohomish County Executive to the Snohomish County Council for review and final consideration for funding approval.
- Prior grant recipients that have been determined to be out of compliance with project Agreements shall not be eligible to apply for additional funding until the compliance issue(s) have been corrected to the satisfaction of Snohomish County.
About the Board
The Snohomish County Conservation Futures Program was started in 1988 as a way to distribute Conservation Futures Property Tax Funds as authorized by RCW 84.34.230. The purpose of this funding is to acquire interests, or rights, in real property for the preservation of open space, farm and agricultural land, and timber land per SCC 4.14.010. These resources are available through the County’s authority to levy up to six and one-quarter cents per thousand dollars on all taxable property within the County for the purpose of acquiring open space.
The Conservation Futures Program Advisory Board (CFPAB) makes recommendations to the Snohomish County Council for projects to be funded as part of the Conservation Futures Program, and develop strategic, long-range plans for the program. Recommendations from the CFPAB are forwarded to the Snohomish County Executive for transmittal to the County Council for final action. The CFPAB consists of the County Executive (or designee); two members of County Council; one elected official selected by all cities and towns whose population base, independently, is 10,000 or greater, one elected official selected by all cities and towns whose population base, independently, is less than 10,000, and two members representing citizens of Snohomish County. Board members serve four-year terms.
Since 1988 over $80 million dollars has been expended to acquire land or easements throughout the county by Snohomish County, cities and towns and eligible non-profit organizations, as allowed by state law.
Members
2020 Conservation Futures Board Matrix (PDF) - Updated 02//252021.
Retiring Board Member Carla Nichols
Carla grew up in the middle of an orchard of trees bearing red delicious apples, and that might have been why she acquired an awareness for natural elements, especially trees. Healthy land and trees provided a living for her family in a small town in eastern Oregon. Carla attended Whitman College and later earned a Masters Degree in Clinical Psychology. She will be celebrating her fiftieth wedding anniversary this spring with her husband, Dean. Together they have raised three sons and now have four, soon to be, five grandchildren.
Washington State is the fifth state Carla has lived in. She was employed at King County government as a program administrator for one decade and served as volunteer mayor for the Town of Woodway for two decades. She seems to do things in increments of decades!
Carla’s participation on the Conservation Futures Board was an opportunity to create a legacy of preserving land for future Snohomish County residents. The County’s approach to land use has been smart in that development is matched by public funds for the purchase of valuable land that can be shared and enjoyed by the public. A highlight of her Conservation Board tenure was in 2013 the County issued a bond measure so that the Conservation Futures program could be infused with approximately $25 million in funding for purchases of 18 new and exciting projects scattered throughout the County. She feels honored to have been a part of that collective effort.
Meeting Schedule
Regular meetings are held in early spring and summer of each year and special meetings are scheduled as needed. The meeting location will be advertised in advance of each meeting. Special meetings are scheduled as needed.
The next regular meeting of the Conservation Futures Program Advisory Board is scheduled on Wednesday March 24th, 2021 from 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. as a Zoom meeting. Please plan to log in at least 10 minutes early in case there are technical issues with your log-in. A link to the meeting will be sent to each participant separately.
In addition, voluntary a practice log-in date will be scheduled for presenters to test their log-in and practice their presentations. It is recommended that presenters practice once using Zoom to make sure their presentations will load and display correctly. A link to the practice meeting will be sent separately and the date and time for the practice are to be determined.
Date: Wednesday March 24th, 2021.
Log-In Time: 5:00 p.m. . to 5:30 p.m.
Meeting Time: 5:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. approximately.
Place: Zoom virtual meeting, to be determined.
Topics: Regular business meeting. Agenda items may include:
1. Election of Chair and Vice-Chair
2. Review Status of Current Projects
3. Application review & presentations for 2021 Grant Round.
If you would like to be notified of upcoming meetings, please contact David McConnell at 425-388-6627 or by email at david.mcconnell@snoco.org.