NO. 2014-001 BEFORE THE SPOKANE COUNTY NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL BOARD NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING IN THE MATTER OF MODIFYING SPOKANE COUNTY CODE SECTION 1.14.030 ADOPTED UNDER RESOLUTION NO. 2013-1197 REGARDING THE CLASSIFICATION OF LAND AND LEVEL OF ASSESSMENT FOR EACH CLASSIFICATION FOR THE PURPOSE OF NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL ASSESSMENTS AND OTHER MATTERS RELATED THERETO NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Spokane County Noxious Weed Control Board ("SCNWCB"), pursuant to the provisions of RCW 17.10.240, that a public hearing will be held on: Wednesday, May 21, 2014, at 6:00 P.M. (or as soon as possible thereafter) at 222 North Havana Street, Room C City of Spokane Valley, Washington 99202 BACKGROUND Pursuant to the provisions of RCW 17.10.040, Spokane County has created the SCNWCB. The SCNWCB is governed by five (5) voting members appointed by the Board of County Commissioners of Spokane County, Washington. The purpose of the SCNWCB is to limit economic loss and adverse effects to Spokane County's agricultural, natural and human resources due to the presence and spread of noxious weeds. Each activated noxious weed control board shall annually submit a budget to the county legislative authority for the operation of their weed program for the ensuing fiscal year. The funds necessary for the operation of the county's weed program come from an annual assessment based on the classification of land and a level of assessment for each classification. Based upon a recommendation of the SCNWCB, the Board of County Commissioners of Spokane County, Washington, on December 17, 2013, passed Resolution No. 13-1197 ("Resolution"). That Resolution amended Spokane County Code Section 1.14.030 and adopted a revised classification of land and level of assessment for each classification commencing in calendar year 2014. Subsequent to the adoption of Resolution No. 13-1197, the Board of County Commissioners requested the SCNWCB revisit the classification of land methodology and level of assessment for each classification set forth in the Resolution to ensure that it is equitable, fair and just. PURPOSE OF PUBLIC HEARING The purpose of the above scheduled public hearing will be for SCNWCB to consider public testimony and take action on: (1) gathering information to serve as a basis for a revised classification, (2) classifying the land into suitable classifications, and (3) developing and forwarding to the Board of County Commissioners of Spokane County, Washington a proposed level of assessment for each class which seems just. The proposed classification and proposed assessment being considered would modify Spokane County Code Section 1.14.030 as adopted under Resolution No. 13-1197 and provide as follows: ******************************** 1.14.030 - Classification -Assessment. (a) In accordance with RCW 17.10.240, all land in Spokane County shall be classified as follows: (1) Class 1: All assessor parcel accounts within Spokane County (i) with land that is classified as soil Class I, soil Class II, soil Class III, or soil Class IV in the most current designation made by USDA Soil Conservation Service and State of Washington Department of Natural Resources data, or (ii) that derive special benefit from Spokane County Noxious Weed Board services. (2) Class 2: All assessor parcel accounts within Spokane County with land that is classified as soil Class V, soil Class VI, soil Class VII, or soil Class VIII in the most current designation made by USDA Soil Conservation Service and State of Washington Department of Natural Resources data. (3) Class 3: All assessor parcel accounts within Spokane County (i) held by Federal, State or Local Governments; (ii) utilized as Public Rights-of-Way; (iii) used as cemeteries or by Water and/or Sewer Districts; (iv) which are listed in the assessor tax roll as subservient for taxation to another account; or (v) which derive no special benefit from Spokane County Noxious Weed Board services. (b) Weed control is of special benefit primarily to Class 1 and Class 2 land within the Spokane County. As such, the above classes of land shall be assessed as follows: Land ClassificationAssessment Level (1) Class I $.12 per acre. A minimum billing $2.00 will be assessed for each parcel account maintained by the Spokane County Assessor's Office. * (2) Class II $.06 per acre. A minimum billing of $2.00 will be assessed for each parcel account maintained by the Spokane County Assessor's Office.* (3) Class III Zero assessed. * Provided, if a parcel account maintained by the Spokane County Assessor's Office contains multiple classes of soil as designated by the USDA Soil Conservation Service and Department of Natural Resources data, each soil class shall be separately assessed. The assessment for each soil class shall be added and if the total assessment is less than $2.00, the parcel account shall be assessed a $2.00 assessment. If the total assessment for the parcel account is greater than $2.00 the parcel account shall be assessed in the total amount for each soil classification. For example, if a parcel account contains 10.2 acres of which 10 acres is in soil Class II and .2 acres are in soil Class V, soil Class II would be assessed at $.12 per acre for a total of $1.20 and soil Class V would be assessed at $.06 per acre for a total of $.012. If each soil class were assessed the minimum assessment, the total assessment of the parcel account would be $4.00. However, since the individual soil class assessments added together equal $1.21, which is less than $2.00, the total assessment of the parcel account would be $2.00, not $4.00. *********************** Any person may appear at the date, time and place set forth hereinabove and present testimony in favor of or in opposition to the proposed modification to Spokane County Code Section 1.14.030 to read as set forth above. The SCNWCB has concluded that the proposed modification is exempt from the State Environmental Policy Act and the Spokane County Environmental Ordinance pursuant to WAC 197-11-800(15)(b) and (20). To ensure that everyone attending the public hearing has an opportunity to speak, testimony may be limited to three (3) minutes per speaker. The SCNWCB reserves the right to adjust the time frame allotted to speakers as well as hearing procedures during the public hearing. Any person desiring additional information on the proposed modification may contact Dave Mundt, SCNWCB Coordinator, at 222 North Havana Street, City of Spokane Valley, Washington 99202 / (509) 477-5777. All meetings and hearings will be conducted in facilities which are accessible to disabled individuals. For more particular information with respect to the accessibility of the hearing location contact SCNWCB Coordinator at the above address and phone number. DATED this 8th day of May, 2014. SPOKANE COUNTY NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL BOARD /s/: Paul Puhek, Chairperson SR27771
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