Drafter
Clerk 09/11/2002
Title
A MOTION authorizing the King County executive to enter into an interlocal agreement with the cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila for the administration of the Green river flood control zone district to address and coordinate flood hazard reduction planning, project construction, maintenance and operation of significant flood protection facilities within the lower Green river watershed.
Body
WHEREAS, the Green river flood control zone district was created by Resolution 31192 of the King County board of commissioners in January 1960 in accordance with chapter 86.15 RCW for the purpose of undertaking, operating and maintaining flood and stormwater control projects and services, and
WHEREAS, the district's jurisdiction approximating the drainage basin of the lower Green river watershed and encompassing sixty-eight square miles was established by Resolution 31058 of the King County board of commissioners (boundary map enclosed as Attachment A to this motion), and
WHEREAS, the district is a quasi-municipal corporation and an independent taxing authority established under the laws of the state of Washington, and
WHEREAS, the King County council is the board of supervisors for the district in accordance with RCW 86.15.050 and companion interlocal agreements adopted between King County and the cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila, and
WHEREAS, King County serves as the administrator of the district in accordance with RCW 86.15.060, and
WHEREAS, significant parts of the cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila lie within the boundary of the district, and
WHEREAS, in 1990, with support pledged by the lower Green river valley cities, the district's taxing authority was activated by Resolution GR1 of the district's board of supervisors, and
WHEREAS, the district is responsible for the annual maintenance, repair and operation of some ninety-eight flood protection facilities, three drainage pump systems and numerous other flood control appurtenances throughout the district, and
WHEREAS, King County and the cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila have collectively shared interest in coordinated flood hazard reduction planning and programs for over two decades that was initiated by the signing of the Green River Management Agreement in 1978, which formed the Green river basin program to support a more comprehensive and programmatic interjurisdictional flood control and drainage program in the lower Green river watershed, and
WHEREAS, the Green River Management Agreement was amended in 1985 to establish and set forth the roles and responsibilities of the basin executive committee and basin technical committee to achieve the goals and objectives of the Green river basin program by providing valuable direction and guidance in coordinating policy and technical recommendations, and
WHEREAS, in 1992, King County and the cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila renewed the principles of the 1985 Green River Management Agreement and extended these principles together with the roles and responsibilities of the basin executive committee and basin technical committee under the Green river basin program Interlocal Agreement for a period of ten years, and
WHEREAS, in 1993 King County adopted the countywide Flood Hazard Reduction Plan that identified flood hazard problems and recommended solutions within the district and which by reference is the comprehensive plan for the district, and
WHEREAS, since 1991, the district has funded and completed thirty-nine major maintenance, repair and habitat enhancement projects at a total cost of $8.76 million by leveraging $5.96 million in federal, state and local grants and public assistance funds, and
WHEREAS, the district's 1999 Annual Report preliminarily identified forty-seven major maintenance and repair projects still in need of completion at an estimated cost exceeding $11.4 million, and
WHEREAS, in 2001 an independent preliminary risk-based analysis was completed under the direction of King County which determined that the expected annual flood-related damage in the district is $65.7 million as a result of existing and potential levee and revetment instability conditions, and
WHEREAS, the primary purposes of coordinating the administration of the district between the parties are to: A. continue to provide a vehicle for interjurisdictional and interagency coordination and cooperation for flood hazard reduction planning, programs and projects within the district; B. continue to provide coordinated policy and technical advisory input to the district's work program and budget through the executive and technical committees; and C. develop and implement contemporary standards and procedures for operating, maintaining and repairing river flood hazard protection facilities and pump stations within the district to maximize public health and safety consistent with the requirements of the Endangered Species Act and related resource management policies and regulations, and
WHEREAS, the lower Green river valley cities agree that flood hazard reduction planning, river facility maintenance and repair, flood warning and emergency response, and integrated resource management is best achieved in the district through interdependent, multi-jurisdictional coordination that will result in significant long-term public health and safety benefits;
NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT MOVED by the Council of King County:
The King County executive is authorized to enter into an interlocal agreement with the cities of Auburn, Kent, Renton and Tukwila for the cooperative administration
of the Green river flood control zone district in substantially the same form as the attached to this motion.
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