Clean-up bill moves forward

Rep. Christine Rolfes’ bill to empower citizen-based marine restoration efforts passed the state House last week.

The bill would expand the state’s ‘marine conservation committee’ program into Kitsap and other Puget Sound counties.

“The formation of marine resource committees is a great way of getting our citizens involved in Puget Sound clean-up efforts,” said Rolfes, a Bainbridge Democrat. “The governor has made addressing the health of our Puget Sound and Hood Canal one of her top priorities. We need to make sure local communities have a voice in these efforts.”

Washington has seven MRCs in the sound’s northernmost counties, including Clallam, Jefferson, San Juan, Skagit and Whatcom. Each MRC includes representatives from local and tribal governments, scientists, business leaders and conservationists. These MRCs were created by an act of Congress in 1998 and receive some federal financial support.

New MRCs authorized under Rolfes’ bill would be coordinated and partially funded by the state.

Each MRC is responsible for detailing specific preservation and protection actions that are pertinent to their area. Existing projects include surveys of marine habitats, eelgrass mapping, education, fish surveys and industrial clean-up.

Rolfes’ bill received support from the Surfrider Foundation’s Washington chapter, state agencies dealing in natural resources and the Bainbridge-based Puget Sound Restoration Fund.

“The MRC model connects people to their local marine environment and produces valuable advice and information for local governments,” Rolfes said. “It is my hope that, once up to speed, new MRCs can help provide innovative products and projects for years to come.”

– Tristan Baurick

School levy fails in Senate

The state Senate last week defeated a constitutional amendment that would have allowed simple-majority approval of school levies.

The measure came three votes shy of passing, prompting supporters to seek another vote in hopes of swaying the decision.

School officials around the state have long said that requiring a 60 percent supermajority approval for school levies places too great a strain on districts, which rely on levy funds for their day-to-day sustenance.

A constitutional amendment would be required to lower the number to 50 percent. To amend the state Constitution, a bill must be passed by a two-thirds majority of both houses and a simple majority of voters.

School levies on Bainbridge have traditionally been well supported. Last month’s $23.1 million, three-year maintenance and operations levy was supported by nearly 76 percent of voters.

Still, Superintendent Ken Crawford has been vocal in his opposition to the supermajority requirement, saying local schools could one day be hurt by it.

“It’s archaic and absurd,” he said. “I appreciate the work of local legislators who are trying to change it.”

Senator Phil Rockefeller, a Bainbridge Democrat, voted for the amendment.

– Chad Schuster

More buildings under review

The City Council on Wednesday voted to both broaden the scope of the city Design Review Board and decrease the numbers of members serving on it.

The board will now review design plans on multi-family, industrial, cultural, educational, religious and government proposals, in addition to the commercial and mixed-use projects.

At the board’s request, membership was reduced from 10 to seven. The board reasoned that a smaller number of representatives would result in higher board member attendance, consistency in review comments and added predictability in the public review process.