After considering the results of a study that examined cost-saving measures, Washington's Growth Management Hearings Boards are recommending consolidating into a single seven-member board. Their formal recommendation will be sent in a letter to Governor Christine Gregoire later this month.
The consolidation proposal preferred by the boards would maintain the regional diversity of the current three-board structure. Currently, there are three separate boards—Central, Western and Eastern—with three positions each. The new proposal would require that two board members live in each of the three current regions.
The boards’ recommendation of a consolidated seven-member board conflicts with the recommendation of the study on cost-saving consolidation measures commissioned by the boards in response to a 16 percent budget cut imposed by the legislature for the 2009-2011 biennium. The study, titled the "GMHB Efficiency Study and Restructuring Analysis" and prepared by the consulting firm Triangle Associates, recommends a six-member board.
According to Eastern Board member Joyce Mulliken, the board members believe it would be unwise to shrink down to six members given that there are still unknowns about the boards' future caseload. "We're not saying no in the future," Mulliken said. "It'd just be premature now."
At their annual meeting in Edmonds on Oct. 1, board members heard from several stakeholder groups that pointed out that future shoreline master program appeals, new administrative guidelines and agricultural critical areas issues may impact the number of cases coming before the boards. (Check out Northwest Hub's coverage of the issue here.)
With the exception of the number of members on the consolidated board, the boards agreed with most of the study's recommendations. They include:
- If politically feasible, eliminate or modify the political affiliation requirement. Currently, each of the three boards must include at least one member from each political party.
- Concentrate political functions in one chair and two vice chairs to be selected by other members.
- Consider expanding the number of board members with professional backgrounds as land use attorneys.
Under the proposal by the boards, cases would continue to be heard in the region they originate in by the board members from that region. A third board member would be chosen to fill out the panel based on availability and workload.
The letter and study will be sent to the governor's office later this month. The boards will begin the process of lobbying the legislature to adopt their proposals later this year. The final version of the study will appear on the boards’ website later this month.
