FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE September 9, 2022
MEDIA CONTACT: Kevin Hyde, 360.819.3045, kevin.hyde@psp.wa.gov
The Puget Sound Partnership Leadership Council will meet on Tuesday, September 13, from 9:30 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., and Wednesday, September 14, from 9:00 a.m. to noon, at Oak Harbor Library, 1000 SE Regatta Drive, Oak Harbor, WA 98277.
All are welcome to attend the meetings, and we’ll have an opportunity for general public comment around midday on September 13. All Partnership staff will be fully masked for the duration of the meetings, and we encourage others who elect to attend in-person to wear well-fitting masks in the meeting room as well. We plan to have gallery seating for partners and other members of the public who join us, and will make every effort to provide (but cannot guarantee) adequate spacing between seats within the constraints of our meeting space.
We’ll be providing an all-virtual livestream of this meeting, through TVW (links below). We highly encourage partners and other members of the public to utilize this virtual option, if possible, to reduce carbon emissions and to minimize COVID risks for everyone. If you do elect to use the livestream option and wish to submit public comment, please send your written comments to anna.petersen@psp.wa.gov by noon on Monday, September 12. We will review public comments submitted by email during the general public comment period on September 13.
TVW web links: Day 1: https://tvw.org/video/puget-sound-partnership-leadership-council-2022091022/?eventID=2022091022 Day 2: https://tvw.org/video/puget-sound-partnership-leadership-council-2022091023/?eventID=2022091023
The agenda and meeting materials are available through our board meetings page: https://psp.wa.gov/board_meetings.php
Meeting highlights include:
- A presentation and discussion about Bipartisan Infrastructure Law funding for Puget Sound. This session will include discussion of new federal and state funding for Puget Sound and the opportunity to accelerate implementation of the Action Agenda, salmon recovery plans, tribal recovery priorities, and local and community plans. Presentation by Larry Epstein, deputy director of the Puget Sound Partnership, and Peter Murchie, program manager, EPA Geographic Programs Section.
- A presentation and discussion about 2023 legislative priorities. This session will include an update from Partnership staff about the build-up to the 2023 Washington state legislative session and a discussion about 2023 legislative priorities. Presentation by Ahren Stroming, executive policy advisor at the Puget Sound Partnership.
- A presentation and discussion about the Puget Sound Future Scenarios project. This session will include an update on the progress, outcomes, and implications of the first phase of the project and a preview of opportunities for phase two of the project. Partnership staff will seek guidance from the Leadership Council on audiences, decision contexts, or policy choices to focus on in phases two and three. Presentation by Katherine Wyatt, assistant science director at the Puget Sound Partnership, and Elizabeth McManus, principal, Ross Strategic.
- A presentation and discussion about the status and progress to date of 1) the Equity and Environmental Justice (EEJ) Program, 2) Healthy Environments for All Act (HEAL Act), and 3) the Partnership's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) and Environmental Justice (EJ) Action Plan. The Partnership's EEJ team will provide the Leadership Council with key EEJ programmatic and agency updates. Presentation by Melissa Schutten, equity and environmental justice manager at the Puget Sound Partnership, and Lea Anne Burke, tribal liaison at the Puget Sound Partnership.
- A forum with the Island Local Integrating Organization (LIO). The forum will include discussion about barriers to ecosystem recovery. Forum participants will include Jennifer Johnson, manager of the Island County Department of Natural Resources and coordinator of the Island LIO; Alexandra Plumb, development coordinator for Island County Public Works; members of the Island LIO; and representatives from Align, a state agency work group that focuses on streamlining processes for grant applications, reporting, and administration.
- A presentation and discussion about the Leadership Council's 2022 work plan. This session will include a discussion about the implementation of work plan priorities and whether further direction is needed to drive work plan implementation before June 2023. Presentation by Tristan Contesse, boards program manager at the Puget Sound Partnership.
The full Leadership Council agenda and meeting materials are available through our board meetings page at: https://psp.wa.gov/board_meetings.php.
If you need special accommodations to participate in this meeting, please notify Special Assistant to the Boards Anna Petersen at 360.338.2384.
About the Leadership Council
The Leadership Council is the governing body of the Puget Sound Partnership. Its seven members are leading citizens chosen from around the Sound and appointed by the Governor to serve four-year terms. Dennis McLerran currently chairs the Leadership Council.
About the Puget Sound Partnership
The Puget Sound Partnership is the state agency formed to lead the region’s collective effort to restore and protect Puget Sound. Working with hundreds of government agencies, tribes, scientists, businesses, and nonprofits, the Partnership mobilizes partner action around a common agenda, advances Sound investments, and tracks progress to optimize recovery.
For more information, go to www.psp.wa.gov.
|