Executive/Council Action Form (ECAF)
ITEM TITLE:
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Amended Ordinance 22-042, amending Chapter 25.20 to add a Surface Water Service Charge for Invasive Aquatic Plant Management on Lake Roesiger, clarifying the Title of SCC 25.20.050 and repealing SCC 25.20.060
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DEPARTMENT: Council
ORIGINATOR: Nicole Gorle
EXECUTIVE RECOMMENDATION: n/a
PURPOSE: Add a surface water service charge to manage invasive plants on Lake Roesiger.
BACKGROUND: Lake Roesiger is a small lake in unincorporated Snohomish County. The lake has invasive plants spreading throughout it that are negatively impacting the lake's health and ecosystem, these include Eurasian watermilfoil, fragrant waterlily, and narrow-leaved arrowhead. In 2021 Snohomish County Surface Water Management (SWM) staff began working with the Lake Roesiger community, at their request, to develop a plan to prevent and reduce invasive plants on the lake. Later that year the Integrated Aquatic Vegetation Management Plan (IAVMP) was approved by the community and in 2022 was approved by the Washington Department of Ecology. On August 25, 2022 SWM held a community meeting via Zoom, noticed to impacted parties through a mailer, to review the steps taken to date and get community input on whether or not to move forward with the ordinance process to implement a service charge for invasive plant management on the lake. A poll was taken from those in attendance (excluding County staff), to determine the level of support for a service charge. With over a majority of attendees supporting the implementation of a service charge, this ordinance was developed as the next step. In an effort to reach every resident impacted by this legislation, further outreach will be conducted after a time and date is set for a public hearing. The intent is to set the public hearing for a month out and put-up signs and QR codes at the north and south end of the lake noticing the meeting. If approved, the service charge would generate rou...
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