2008/01/09 Council Agenda Packet

SGF Grant Agreement No. G0800312 between the Washington State Department of Ecology and the City of Everett Project: Marshlands Sub-Area Plan 3 Scope of Work Background and Purpose: The "Marshlands" is an area within shoreline jurisdiction that has been identified as having significant tidal restoration potential, but also significant technical difficulties. The area is characterized by diverse property ownership, as well as floodplains /floodways that have been altered by diking, agricultural activities, transportation facilities, and utility corridors. A settlement agreement on an appeal of the City of Everett Shoreline Master Program requires that a subarea plan be prepared to address the restoration potential and feasibility. The parties to the settlement agreement include the Everett Shoreline Coalition, Washington Environmental Council, the Department of Ecology, and the City of Everett. The Project will include evaluations and recommendations regarding areas and potential projects for wetland preservation, fish and wildlife habitat protection and restoration, active and passive recreation, agricultural use, and utilities and transportation infrastructure. The Project will be used to provide City of Everett Shoreline Master Program designations for an approximately 846 acre area adjacent to the Snohomish River(see Figure 1). The boundaries of the Project are mostly within the City of Everett city limits, but include a 247- acre sliver of land between the city limits and the Snohomish River that includes land owned by the City, Snohomish County (the County), and private land owners. The Project will not address shoreline designations for areas outside the City's urban growth area. The following paragraph from Part 4.2 (8) of the Everett Shoreline Master Program Settlement Agreement will serve as the "Guiding Principles"for preparation of the Project: The process shall produce a subarea plan that addresses: (1) a summary of the area's restoration potential and feasibility and a listing of restoration goals and opportunities; (2) timeframes and benchmarks for achieving the restoration goals and opportunities; (3) committed and potential funding sources; (4) anticipated improvement in the ecological functions of the areas identified by the plan for restoration; (5) shoreline master program regulations for protecting critical areas within the Marshland; (6) mechanisms and strategies to ensure implementation of the subarea plan; and(7) mechanisms to review the effectiveness of the subarea plan and make changes if review reveals the subarea plan is not effectively promoting the plan's identified restoration opportunities or meeting it's other goals, policies and objectives. The subarea plan shall also make a recommendation to the City Council regarding a designation and permitted use table for the Marshland that is consistent with the Shoreline Management Act, the City's Shoreline Master Program, and the results and conclusions of the final subarea plan submitted to the City Council. The complete text of the Part 4.2, Marshland, portion of the Everett Shoreline Master Program Settlement Agreement is included as Attachment A to this scope of work. The Subarea Plan will be compatible with, and incorporate, the purpose, management policies, and Subarea Plan contents in Section 4.15 of the City of Everett's Shoreline Master Program (Attachment B). An integrated GMA/SEPA document will be prepared consistent with Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 197-11-210 to 235. Expanded SEPA scoping will be used Page 2 of 21 a A ' i !L