The Physical Environment Program supports all services related to building and land use permitting, community and regional parks, various recreational programs, solid waste disposal, surface water management, waste water treatment, roads, transit operations and the Kingdome. These services are delivered by the Departments of Development and Environmental Services, Parks and Recreation, Natural Resources, Transportation and Stadium Administration. They are all dedicated to enhancing the quality of life and economic vitality of the Puget Sound region. Below is a summary of each of these departments and its budget highlights.

Following the departmental highlights are other themes and issues that define the 2000 budget. One of the largest issues facing the region and the County departments in the Physical Environment Program is the response to the 1999 listing of the Chinook Salmon and the recent (2000) listing of the Bull Trout as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA).

Long-term financial stability requires that the department raise its fees to keep pace with cost increases. The fee restructuring proposal adopted with the 1999 budget was intended to automatically increase fees by 5% in 2000 and 2001; however, the language implementing these fee increases was inadvertently left out of the final ordinance as transmitted by the Executive and approved by the Council. The department is currently awaiting Council action on an ordinance that would correct this technical omission.

The Department of Parks and Recreation is primarily funded from the Current Expense Fund, and competes with the County’s mandatory and regional programs for these limited resources. In response to this competition for funds, the department seeks out partnerships with other entities to maximize recreational opportunities. King County’s park system continues to grow, and over $300,000 is proposed in this budget to maintain acreage and facilities added to the system. Parks continues to implement its Park, Recreation, and Open Space Plan by focusing on programs that will benefit the region. Parks programs and facilities are also affected by annexations and incorporations. The department actively works with new cities, such as Kenmore and Sammamish, to transition to them the park facilities and programs located within their borders.

The Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is made up of various divisions and sections which provide services related to water quality, solid waste disposal, and environmental protection. These divisions include:

• Commission for Marketing Recyclable Materials which applies market development principles and strategies to create sustainable markets for recycled materials and products;

• Solid Waste Division (SWD) which is in the final year of the four-year rate adopted prior to the 1997 budget, and is currently undergoing a programmatic review which will ultimately determine the future direction of the County’s solid waste disposal;

• Wastewater Treatment Division (WTD) which improves water quality, protects public health, and disposes of biosolids;

• Water and Land Resources Division (WLRD) which provides an integrated approach to water and land resource management by focusing on integration of salmon recovery and habitat conservation plans and implementation of early/interim actions and environmental assessments for the Regional Wastewater Services Plan (RWSP).

The Department of Transportation (DOT) is made up of various divisions which provide services related to transportation planning, community outreach on transportation issues, public transit, road construction and maintenance, and fleet management. Divisions of the DOT include:

• Community and Administrative Services Division which provides leadership, advocacy and support for the Department, its customers and the community through inter-government, community and media relations, transit-oriented development, and public safety partnerships;

• Transit Division which implements bus, vanpool, and paratransit services for elderly and/or disabled riders, and also works with Sound Transit to integrate and prepare for implementation of rail and bus services in 2000 and beyond;
• Transportation Planning Division which works with communities to develop solutions to regional mobility problems that also encourage economic development, protect the environment and enhance the quality of life;
• Roads Services Division which strives to increase mobility through arterial networks, bridge rehabilitation and corridor system improvements;

• Fleet Administrative Division which in 1999 completed the consolidation of King County’s fleet under one agency, a goal of the merger between King County and Metro.

Stadium Administration’s 2000 budget anticipates the closure and demolition of the Kingdome following the final Seahawk game of the 1999-2000 season. Dependant upon the outcome of the Seahawks' season, the closure, final sales auction, disposition of property and the implosion of the Kingdome will occur sometime in early 2000. The 2000 budget provides funding for final closure expenses, the 14-day move out, Kingdome Staff close-out compensation, contingent event expenses in case of Seahawk playoff games, and an estimated amount of residual fund balance to be transferred to the Current Expense Fund. Any Operating Fund balance derived from property sales will be designated and reserved for youth sports facilities, separate from the Current Expense transfer.

On the capital side, any residual Stadium CIP department funds will be transferred to the Operating fund to be included in the transfer to the Current Expense Fund.

The Physical Environment Section has two major themes for 2000. They are Smart Growth and the Endangered Species Act Initiative.

Major projects funded in 2000 include:

• widening and improving 140^th Way in North Soos Creek for $ 9.7 million;
• repairs to take care of failing subgrade on Orillia Road at $2.9 million;
• widening and improving Sahalee Way at SR-202 for $627,000;
• acquisition of right of way for $ 4.1 million for property purchases necessary to meet the scheduled construction in 2001 for several major widening, new construction or major intersection projects, including Sammamish Plateau Access Road – North Link, 208^th Ave NE at Union Hill Road, Woodinville-Duvall Road at Avondale Road, and Avondale Road Phase II;
• $5.38 million in funding for regional projects, including Coal Creek Parkway SE Issaquah By-pass Road;
• $3.1 million to start or continue scoping and design work on several projects, including widening projects on Carr Road and Benson Road at Carr Road, safety projects located at Peasley Canyon Road @ South 321st Street South, South 120th Street, SE 320th Street, 10th Avenue SW, 12th Avenue SW, and bridge projects at Harris Creek Bridge and Preston Bridge;

• A new Petrovitsky Intelligent Transportation System (ITS) project at $ 1.58 million over two years which will become yet another route to use ITS technologies.

Other programs and initiatives which support the Smart Growth initiative include:

• The Concurrency Program in the Transportation Planning Division, which is currently undergoing modifications. Proposed actions include simplifying the Transportation Concurrency system by adoption of a Concurrency map which would reflect Comprehensive Plan revisions and goals for each community action strategy;
• The Regional Arterial Network (RAN) proposal which aims to improve traffic flow. Because traffic jams do not stop at city or county lines, an interjurisdictional team is working to resolve congestion-related issues, such as regional mobility and funding. The system will be a focal point for effective road and public transportation improvements designed to move people and goods safely and efficiently between communities. This process is being led by the County’s transportation planning division in conjunction with other jurisdictions and agencies.

The budget continues to support the implementation of the Commute Trip Reductions (CTR) Act while allocating additional staff assigned to the sales of Public Transportation Fund services to employers in the County. This effort will respond to the needs of employers with less than 100 employees.

In the Adopted 2000 budget, the Community and Administrative Services Division supports the Executive’s Smart Growth Initiative by:

• increasing the amount of Regional Arterial Network information available to the public;
• working cooperatively with Sound Transit to disseminate regional bus service information;
• providing traffic and traffic safety information in a variety of formats.

Rural Legacy - The King County Rural Growth Management Agenda is a comprehensive program focused on maintaining a rural lifestyle and character in parts of King County where these already predominate by:

• promoting farming and forestry;
• delivering services to rural residents;
• ensuring adherence to planned rural densities;
• creating a connected system of open space to protect the environment and wildlife habitat.

The Agenda comprises an array of ongoing projects in several departments, with an emphasis on improving the development pattern and landscape. The Executive’s Office of Regional Policy and Planning plays a central role in this initiative by coordinating the development of a balanced vision for the rural area, ensuring that projects promote this vision, assisting in the coordination among departments, monitoring the allocation of resources and the implementation of project tasks and coordinating rural policy issues through amendments to the King County Comprehensive Plan.

In 1999, the Executive proposed an initiative titled the Transfer of Development Credits Program to deal with urban sprawl and the impacts of increasing population density. This program will preserve rural forest and habitat areas and help focus new growth in urban areas. It will create a $1.5 million bank which will purchase development credits from "sending sites" (areas where development could potentially take place according to local zoning but which there is a compelling public interest to preserve in a more rural state) and sell them to developers with projects at "receiving sites" (urban areas where the Growth Management Act has prescribed the concentration of increased population and which are capable of supporting the proposed development). An additional $500,000 in Transit and Roads funds will be used to purchase or to design and construct amenities, such as pedestrian facilities, bike lanes, and bus shelters, in the urban receiving sites, as a way of compensating for the increased density.

The work program for the last quarter of 1999 includes:

• development of a TDC Bank Ordinance establishing the policies and procedures for the operation of the $1.5 million bank. This ordinance was transmitted to Council as of September 23, 1999;

• completion and implementation of interlocal agreements with both Seattle and Issaquah that will enable proposed development and preservation projects to move forward. These two interlocal agreements were sent to Council the end of October.

Livable Communities - To facilitate growth management planning, King County will undertake a major revision to its Comprehensive Plan for the first time since the Plan’s adoption in 1994. The goals for the revisions include:

• ensuring that the plan removes barriers to making growth management work in King County;
• improving usability of the plan;
• eliminating inconsistencies and improves public understanding on growth management issues.

The plan will also address several critical issues, including King County’s changing role as a regional government with significant responsibilities as a local service provider, the need to effectively integrate land use and transportation planning, and the protection of Chinook salmon in accordance with the Endangered Species Act.

The Transportation Department is proposing to continue the Transit Oriented Development Program. This public transportation program seeks to encourage better use of existing urban lands and mixed-use development, including housing, transit hubs and park & ride facilities.

To enhance the quality of life in our communities, the Department of Parks and Recreation will undertake $6.2 million in new bond-funded projects as part of the Executive’s 101 Ballfields Initiative. Other projects proposed for 2000 include improvements at the West Hill Community Center and Cottage Lake Park, new trail facilities at Cougar Mountain Wildland Park, and grant-funded design work for the East Lake Sammamish Trail. Please see the separate 2000 Capital Improvement Program document for more information on these programs.

Protecting Our Environment/Protecting and Restoring Our Salmon - A major Tri-County planning process is underway in response to the listing of the Chinook Salmon as a threatened species. The following section addresses this issue.

Background - On March 16, 1999, the National Marine Fisheries Service listed the Puget Sound

Chinook Salmon as threatened under the federal Endangered Species Act (ESA). A final determination by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service to list the Bull Trout was made in January, 2000.

King County is providing regional leadership in response to these listings by participating in the Tri-County effort and with cities and special districts within the County. In 2000, King County’s ESA efforts will focus on implementation of a 4(d) rule and other ESA requirements. (A "4(d) rule" refers to Section 4(d) of the federal law pertaining to endangered species and is a set of regulations deemed necessary for the conservation of species listed as threatened.) This will include potential modifications to County regulations and programs, more enforcement of existing regulations, and continuing implementation of Best Management Practices (BMPs) for road maintenance and herbicide and pesticide use. Funding for programmatic and capital needs will be sought from state and federal sources. The Department of Natural Resources will continue to develop the Wastewater Treatment Division’s Habitat Conservation Plan, and the Water and Land Resources Division will lead Water Resource Inventory Area planning efforts. The ESA Policy Coordination Office will provide support to departments and coordinate with federal agencies to comply with ESA Section 7 requirements.

Program Planning Coordination and Project Management - The ESA Policy Coordination Office was established late in 1998 and immediately began work to coordinate King County’s response to the listing of Chinook Salmon. This intensive interdepartmental effort resulted in publication of "Return of the Kings," a report which describes an inventory of existing and proposed conservation actions, a commitment to the WRIA planning process, and a biological review of the regulatory framework and operating practices of King County. "Return of the Kings" and similar proposals from Snohomish and Pierce Counties provided the foundation for negotiations to develop a 4(d) rule for the Tri-County area. [Rule summary: "Under section 4(d) of the Endangered Species Act (ESA), the Secretary of Commerce (Secretary) is required to adopted such regulations as he deems necessary and advisable for the conservation of species listed as threatened. This proposed ESA 4(d) rule represents the regulations NMFS believes necessary and advisable to conserve the seven listed threatened salmonid ESUs.] In 2000, the ESA Office will continue to lead King County’s negotiations with the federal government and represent King County with tribal jurisdictions and the state government on ESA issues. Other key projects in 2000 will include coordination of program and regulatory reviews for ESA compliance, program development, and coordination with WRIA planning and watershed assessments. In addition the ESA Office will work with cities to develop model agreements to implement the 4(d) rule.

Public Outreach - In 1999, the Executive Office and the ESA Office directed development of an interdepartmental communications and public outreach strategic plan. In 2000, implementation of that plan will continue. Efforts will be focused on providing information to the public on the status of salmon recovery and on the 4(d) rule, working with WRIA outreach and involvement programs, and gathering constituent and public input into King County’s ESA efforts.

In addition, the ESA Policy Office continues to share the leadership role for the Tri-County public outreach and involvement effort which has established a Salmon Information Center, a toll-free number and a website that provides vital information and links to other salmon recovery efforts.

The Department of Natural Resources 2000 Public Outreach work program will address the Wastewater Habitat Conservation Plan and WRIA outreach and involvement. Education and outreach will continue with the Speakers Bureau and Ambassador programs first established in 1998 in order to

increase opportunities for community involvement in the sharing of technical information, policy dicussion, or restoration projects.

Technical Program - In 1999, King County established the scientific and technical foundation for its ESA response by scoping the initial phases of watershed assessments in WRIAs 7, 8, and 9, and in local marine waters. The Department of Natural Resources’ Wastewater Treatment Division initiated technical studies in support of the Wastewater Habitat Conservation Plan. The ESA Office established the Biological Review Panel (BRP) and a project review process contributing to expeditious federal approval of King County projects. The Department of Development and Environmental Services and the ESA Office have collaborated to coordinate development of technical and regulatory proposals for the Tri-County negotiations.

In 2000, staff will complete reconnaissance-level assessments of watershed conditions and fish populations in WRIAs 7, 8, and 9, and will assist with similar work in WRIA 10. Staff will also continue studies on marine waters, lakes, and rivers.

Implementation - In 1999, the focus was on implementation of early actions identified in the "Return of the Kings" report and on compliance with ESA Section 7. Accomplishments include establishment of the BRP to review King County regulations, programs, and capital projects for Section 7 compliance. The Road Services Division initiated widespread use of enhanced Best Management Practices on county roads, and King County substantially increased staffing in project review, inspection, and enforcement of land use regulations associated with sensitive areas. The ESA Office coordinated successful applications for and administration of more than $3.5 million in habitat project grant funding.

In 2000, the ESA Office will continue to manage the BRP’s activities and to provide support to departments to coordinate with federal agencies to address regulatory issues and comply with ESA Section 7 requirements. The Panel will continue to review county programs and regulations and federally-linked capital projects as well as coordinate with federal agencies to develop programmatic approaches to Section 7 compliance. To accomplish this work in an effective and efficient manner the ESA Office is proposing to establish a formal administrative system to support the Panel.

For further details on the activities of particular county departments, please see the budget detail of the Departments of Natural Resources, Transportation, Development and Environmental Services, the Department of Parks and Recreation, the Executive Office and the Office of Regional Planning and Policy.

Other Environmental Issues – 1999 funding in the Surface Water Manual Revisions contingency project has also been incorporated into the affected Roads projects for 2000. The remaining new contingency project that was established in the 1999 CIP to meet new sensitive area requirements is awaiting final resolution of the sensitive area ordinance. Resources set aside in a new 1999 Countywide project for SAO maintenance activity costs continues for 2000.

The Surface Water Management Section of the Water and Land Resources Division of the Department of Natural Resources will propose a service area expansion for its Surface Water Management fee, effectively encompassing the balance of unincorporated King County, east of the current Urban Growth Boundary. The added service area will generate an additional $3.1 million in SWM fees; it assumes the same fee structure and rates that are currently in place. This program will provide SWM services to residents, businesses and landowners in unincorporated King County outside the existing SWM service area. SWM will utilize the fees from the expanded service area to:

• Replace $235k of River Improvement Funds (RIF) currently budgeted in the RIF; and use the $235K "saved" to leverage $500K in federal and state grant dollars.
• Replace $112.6K of CX budgeted in Resource Lands and Open Space (RLOS) and a small amount in the existing SWM program.
• The remaining funds will be used to enhance existing programs to allow service provision in the expanded service area.

Long-term financial stability requires that the Department raise its fees to keep pace with cost increases. The fee restructuring proposal adopted with the 1999 budget was intended to automatically increase fees by 5% in 2000 and 2001. However, the language implementing these fee increases was inadvertently left out of the final ordinance as transmitted by the Executive and approved by the Council. The Department is currently awaiting Council action on an ordinance that would correct this technical omission – please see the section titled "Council Adopted Budget" for the outcome of this ordinance.

Reductions in DDES’s general fund contribution for 2000 are partially offset by additional funding for the Department’s mandated programs. Activities which were previously CX-backed will, for the most part, be funded through fee receipts or other revenue sources for 2000. In accordance with Council-adopted policy, DDES’s budget also includes contingent expenditure authority to address unanticipated levels of permit activity.

General Fund Transfer Reduction - ($245,841). DDES was required to reduce its general fund transfer by 5.7 percent for 2000. This cut was achieved by reducing general fund backing for current planning functions that also receive funding from permit fees. This reduction is not visible on the Expense Summary table above because it effects only the revenues used for specific functions as opposed to the services provided.

Arson Overtime - $92,088. This add would fund Arson overtime and stand-by pay for investigations in unincorporated areas. Agreements with independent fire districts "mandate" that fire investigators respond to and secure the scene of a fire within one-half hour. Currently the Department uses permit fees to fund this expense.

ESA Implementation - $1,046,599/13.50 FTE/1.00 TLT. DDES plans to continue its ESA implementation activity in 2000. In response to Science Panel recommendations and the upcoming issuance of the National Marine Fisheries Service’s 4(d) rule, the Department plans to add 13.5 new ESA-related positions. The additional scientists, inspectors, planners and technical support positions will be funded through a combination of permit fees ($740,235/10.00 FTE), Wastewater funding ($243,978/2.50 FTEs/1.00 TLT), and CIP reimbursement of Biological Review Panel costs (62,386/1.00 FTE).

Enhanced Customer Service/Clerical Support - $246,730/6.00 FTE. In recent years, DDES has maintained tight limitations on support staff requirements. This add would increase customer and clerical support in three divisions: Director’s Office, Administrative Services, and Building Services. These support positions will allow the Department to replace its automated phone system with live attendants, provide accurate and timely financial reporting, and improve general file maintenance, routing, and storage.

Arson Investigation for Cities - $184,910/2.00 FTE. DDES is currently in negotiation with contract cities to fund two fire investigators. Letters have been sent to cities notifying them that the investigation service will be discontinued if contracts are not signed by the end of the year. DDES anticipates that agreements can be reached in upcoming months.

Business License Inspections-- $77,455/ 1.00 FTE. This is a function that DDES (Fire Marshal’s Office) is taking over from DAIS. DDES will now conduct business license inspections at the same time that it checks for compliance with the Uniform Fire Code and will charge its regular hourly fee.

State DOT, SWM, and Roads Contracts - $225,206/3.50 FTE. Several inter-governmental funding agreements are included in this add. The positions funded will coordinate the review of State and County permit applications. These resources help ensure that public agencies meet timelines for capital improvement projects.

E-911 Address Corrections and Inspections - $103,994/1.50 FTE. The County’s Emergency 911 program provides resources to DDES to correct addresses in unincorporated areas. Inspections of Private Board Exchange systems will further improve the reliability of the E-911 system.

Private Contracts - $634,002/11.00 FTE. This add restores and expands a program funded in 1999. DDES is obligated by ordinance and a recorded development agreement to provide a team with planning, engineering, and field inspection expertise to review, process and monitor the development of the Bleakly Ridge and North Ridge developments. DDES has proposed adding an engineer and planner to keep up with the current pace of development. The entire effort is funded by private development companies. This add also funds an environmental monitor for a second supply pipeline proposed by Tacoma Public Utilities.

Support to City of Sammamish - $330,458/ 5.00 FTE. Based on recent negotiations with the City of Sammamish, DDES will continue handling permit actions already underway at the time of incorporation. DDES will continue to charge Sammamish applicants based on the Department’s current fee schedule.
Staffing/PSQ Adjustments - $1,276,714/ 3.00 FTE. This add reconciles DDES’s early base budget estimates to actual workload levels. The Department’s entire overtime budget was removed during the Proposed Status Quo phase. This add restores and reallocates much of the funds removed and makes other technical adjustments to the PSQ budget. On net, three FTE are added via this change item, primarily in the Land Use Services Division where forecasts exceed current staffing capacity.

Central Rate Adjustments – ($38,206). This add is the sum of several countywide benefit and central rate adjustments.

DDES 15% Contingency - $3,988,087/40.00 FTE. Consistent with the fiscal policy adopted in late 1997 which allows for annual expenditure and FTE authority in excess of expected fee receipts, this add sets up a contingency calculated at 15% of expected fee receipts for 2000 (this item combines with $16,404 of existing contingency authority to reach a total operating contingency of $4,004,491). If permit activity and receipts are higher than anticipated, this additional expenditure authority (and corresponding FTE authority) can be activated without Executive transmittal of a mid-year supplemental appropriation ordinance.

Updated: June 28, 2000