Public Involvement in Land Use Management and Policy

King County Road Services Division Baring Bridge Replacement

SERVICE AREA: Public Involvement

Triangle leads community involvement process informing the design and construction of a replacement Baring Bridge in Baring, WA.

Project Description

The Baring Bridge is a timber suspension bridge that has been deemed structurally deficient and functionally obsolete. The bridge provides sole access to approximately 40 residences in Baring, WA. King County hired Triangle to lead community involvement efforts in the redesign and replacement of the bridge. As the community involvement lead, Triangle meets with King County and the engineering project team regarding issues related to work to be performed and facilitates public engagement efforts to inform 1) final type, size, and location (TS&L) design report for project alternatives, and 2) the final predesign drawings for the preferred alternative. Examples of public engagement support King County received from Triangle include a public open house in January 2019 and development of outreach materials.

Port Hadlock Wastewater System Working Group and Community Meetings

SERVICE AREA: Public Involvement

Triangle facilitates Sewer Advisory Group (SAG) and property owners working group to support Jefferson County and the community of Port Hadlock with development of new wastewater systems between 2009 and 2019.

Project Description

2009 Sewer Advisory Group

Triangle was hired by Jefferson County as part of a consultant team to support public involvement efforts for a proposed wastewater system in the community of Port Hadlock. In 2009, Triangle helped the County and Port Hadlock community form a Sewer Advisory Group (SAG) to review potential wastewater system policies. This included the involvement of the Jefferson County Commissioners and the development of SAG meeting expectations and protocols. Triangle facilitated monthly SAG meetings and technical meetings with County staff in 2009, followed by additional community meetings in the following years.

2019 Property Owners Working Group

In 2019, Triangle helped the County and Port Hadlock property owners form a working group to review an updated engineering proposal for a wastewater system and advise the County on how to move forward on system design. The group also considered the potential to form a Local Improvement District (LID) to provide partial system financing. Triangle has helped the working group define its membership, role in advising the County, and process for meeting and agreeing/disagreeing on recommendations. Triangle has also helped the County and the working group think strategically about the necessary steps to form a LID, including the processes laid out under Washington State law. Triangle continues to facilitate monthly working group meetings, draft agendas, write meeting summaries and develop other materials such as website information and talking points for elected officials.

Bristol Bay Watershed Facilitation Support

SERVICE AREA: Public Involvement

Triangle designs and facilitates public comment meetings and peer review meetings to gather technical and public input regarding the effects of mining on Alaska’s Bristol Bay watershed.

Project Description

Beginning in 2012, Triangle was hired by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to lead public involvement efforts for EPA’s draft Watershed Assessment for Alaska’s Bristol Bay. EPA conducted a comprehensive analysis of the Bristol Bay watershed to better understand how future large-scale mining may affect the watershed and salmon fishery. Triangle’s Betsy Daniels helped design and then facilitate three public comment meetings (in Seattle, WA; Anchorage, AK; and Dillingham, AK) on EPA’s draft Watershed Assessment. Triangle’s Bob Wheeler later facilitated a peer review meeting where members of the public provided input to a panel of 12 experts on the technical and scientific merits of the Assessment. EPA used the information gathered in these public and technical review meetings, along with thousands of hand-written comments, to draft the Watershed Assessment that calls for the protection of the Bay and limitations on mining via the 404c section of the Clean Water Act.