May 8, 2007
State turns to Ruckelshaus Center to mediate land-use dispute
A recently named conflict-resolution center from the state’s two largest universities has a new assignment under legislation signed today by Gov. Christine Gregoire — working to develop consensus between environmentalists and property owners over local critical-areas ordinances.
Last year, conflict boiled over into Initiative 933, which would have required governments to compensate property owners for many land-use restrictions. Even though it was defeated by voters, some opponents acknowledged the measure’s backers had legitimate grievances. The governor had pledged before the election to work toward a compromise if voters rejected it.
That set the stage for the governor and lawmakers to approach the William D. Ruckelshaus Center, a public-policy consensus forum co-located at the University of Washington and Washington State University, which has a record of helping groups in conflict find common ground.
“I know that this is a contentious issue and that we need to recognize the concerns of landowners, local governments, tribes, environmental groups and the state as a whole,” Gregoire said of the new law.
“This bill walks us through three simple steps. First, we take a ‘time-out,’ then we engage in evidence-based fact-finding, and then we all make a sincere effort to come together and agree on how we are going to preserve and perpetuate agriculture while still protecting our environment. The Ruckelshaus Center will lead a process to examine potential conflicts between critical-area protection and agricultural activities, and will recommend solutions.”
Under the legislation, by July 1 the center must start a two-phase examination of the conflicts between agricultural activities and critical area ordinances, long a controversial issue between farmers and environmentalists. The center’s UW-based co-director, Jon Brock, said the center’s role is to establish a safe and effective setting that establishes trust and helps stakeholders find practical solutions. Rob McDaniel is Brock’s counterpart at WSU.
The legislation provides for a combination of fact finding and stakeholder discussions that can lead to recommendations to the legislature and the governor. Interim progress reports are due December 2007 and December 2008, with a final report to legislators due in September of 2009.
The Ruckelshaus Center is to receive more than $354,000 to cover costs. The measure (SSB 5248) also imposes a moratorium on cities and counties wanting to amend or adopt critical area ordinances as they apply agricultural activities. That “time out” lasts until July 1, 2010. The law leaves cities and counties free to enforce ordinances that were on the books prior to May 1, 2007.
John Stuhlmiller, chief lobbyist for the Washington State Farm Bureau, which was I-933’s main backer, said of the upcoming talks: “We’re hopeful that we’ll get some progress. We’ve got a shot at it.”
Kaleen Cottingham, a lobbyist for Futurewise, an environmental group that opposed the initiative, said, “We have committed in good faith to go to the Ruckelhaus Center as a means to sort through what can be done.”
According to the legislation, in addition to farmer and environmental representatives, other stakeholders expected to participate include Indian tribes and local governments.
The Ruckelshaus Center was formally established last fall, though the staff had been carrying out a similar mission since 2003 as the Policy Consensus Center.
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For more information, contact Jon Brock (UW) (206) 616-5817 or jbrock@u.washington.edu. Also, see the center’s web at http://www.ruckelshauscenter.wsu.edu.
