4.14.100 Prioritization of projects.
(1) The conservation futures program advisory board shall use the fund allocation criteria set forth in subsection (2) below as a preliminary threshold in making its recommendations for funding for proposed acquisition projects. Such criteria may be used by the board in conjunction with other considerations developed to help prioritize proposed projects for submittal to the council for approval; provided, however, that recommendations concerning proposals to purchase conservation easements under the Purchase of Development Rights (PDR) program shall be made solely by the director of the Department of Planning and Development Services, or his or her designee, consistent with separate review criteria adopted by the director of the Department of Planning and Development Services by administrative rule pursuant to the requirements of SCC 30.82. Rules adopted pursuant to this section shall contain ranking criteria intended to focus expenditures on productive agricultural properties that are at risk of conversion to nonagricultural uses.
(2) Fund Allocation Criteria. To identify and select projects for acquisition by the county, each proposal shall be evaluated to determine whether it:
(a) Has regional or community-wide significance;
(b) Provides multi-jurisdictional benefit;
(c) Enhances or complements an ongoing conservation or preservation program;
(d) Conserves opportunities which are otherwise threatened by development;
(e) Comprises a portion of a continuum of projects which collectively implement a complete project or objective;
(f) Complies with one or more open space program policies and criteria;
(g) Comprises an entire project;
(h) Establishes a trail corridor and/or natural area linkage.
(3) Recommendations for funding made pursuant to this section shall comply with the requirements of RCW 84.34.230 and 84.34.240, if applicable, and include an analysis of whether the projects promote or inhibit the goal of distributing the tax levied under this chapter, over time, throughout the county. (Added by Amended Ord. 89-107 § 3, Sept. 20, 1989; Amended by Ord. 05-041, July 6, 2005, Eff date July 24, 2005; Amended by Ord. 06-028, May 31, 2006, Eff date June 15, 2006; Amended by Ord. 10-105, Nov. 22, 2010, Eff date Dec. 20, 2010; Amended by Amended Ord. 18-070, Dec. 5, 2018, Eff date Dec. 17, 2018).