RCW 35.105.110 Evergreen communities partnership task force.

(1) The director of the department shall assemble and convene the evergreen communities partnership task force of no more than twenty-five individuals to aid and advise the department in the administration of this chapter.

(2) At the discretion of the department, the task force may be disbanded once the urban and community forests assessments conducted by the department of natural resources under RCW 76.15.070 and the model evergreen community management plans and ordinances developed under RCW 35.105.050 are completed.

(3) Representatives of the department of natural resources and the department of ecology shall participate in the task force.

(4) The department shall invite individuals representing the following entities to serve on the task force:

(a) A statewide council representing urban and community forestry programs authorized under RCW 76.15.020;

(b) A conservation organization with expertise in Puget Sound stormwater management;

(c) At least two cities, one from a city east and one from a city west of the crest of the Cascade mountains;

(d) At least two counties, one from a county east and one from a county west of the crest of the Cascade mountains;

(e) Two land development professionals or representative associations representing development professionals affected by tree retention ordinances and stormwater management policies;

(f) A national conservation organization with a network of chapter volunteers working to conserve habitat for birds and wildlife;

(g) A land trust conservation organization facilitating urban forest management partnerships;

(h) A national conservation organization with expertise in backyard, schoolyard, and community wildlife habitat development;

(i) A public works professional;

(j) A private utility;

(k) A national forestland trust exclusively dedicated to sustaining America's vast and vital private forests and safeguarding their many public benefits;

(l) Professionals with expertise in local land use planning, housing, or infrastructure; and

(m) The timber industry.

(5) The department is encouraged to recruit task force members who are able to represent two or more of the stakeholder groups listed in subsection (4) of this section.

(6) In assembling the task force, the department shall strive to achieve representation from as many of the state's major ecoregions as possible.

(7) Each member of the task force shall serve without compensation. Task force members that are not state employees may be reimbursed for travel expenses as authorized in RCW 43.03.050 and 43.03.060.

[ 2008 c 299 § 17.]

NOTES:

Short title—2008 c 299: See note following RCW 35.105.010.