Title: An act relating to administering flood control zone districts.

Brief Description: Revising administration of flood control zone districts.

Sponsors: Senators Doumit and Zarelli.

Brief History:

Committee Activity: Government Operations & Elections: 2/3/05, 2/7/05 [DP].

Passed Senate: 3/9/05, 47-0.

SENATE COMMITTEE ON GOVERNMENT OPERATIONS & ELECTIONS

Majority Report: Do pass.Signed by Senators Kastama, Chair; Berkey, Vice Chair; Roach, Ranking Minority Member; Benton, Fairley, Haugen, Kline, McCaslin, Mulliken and Pridemore.

Staff: Genevieve Pisarski (786-7488)

Background: A flood control zone district (zone) is a special district that may be created by a
county to undertake flood control or storm water projects that benefit specific areas of the county. A zone is a quasi municipal corporation, an independent taxing authority, and a taxing district. The board of county commissioners are the zone's supervisors, and the county engineer is its administrator. In 2003, zones with more than 2,000 residents were authorized to elect their own supervisors and election procedures were established, but the authorizing legislation did not specifically address compensation of elected supervisors or administration of a zone that has elected supervisors.

Summary of Bill: Zone administration remains in the county engineer, unless the elected supervisors provide otherwise, and express authority to do so is granted. Specific provisions for compensation of elected supervisors are adopted. The act takes effect immediately.

Appropriation: None.

Fiscal Note: Not requested.

Committee/Commission/Task Force Created: No.

Effective Date: The bill contains an emergency clause and takes effect immediately.

Testimony For: In the case of the Lexington Floor Control Zone District in Cowlitz County, the residents who voted to elect their own supervisors intended to provide for compensation and for hiring their own engineer, but specific statutory authority is needed. Authority passed the House in 2004, and was on the Senate calendar, when the legislature adjourned.

Testimony Against: None.

Who Testified: PRO: Sen. Doumit, Prime Sponsor; Jeff Rasmussen, Cowlitz County Commissioner; Don MacDonald, Lexington Flood Control Zone District Supervisor.