Michelle Cooke

The meeting commenced with the unanimous approval of the agenda. Key discussion items included upcoming Household Hazardous Waste (HHW) Collection Events scheduled for April, the status update on the Materials Recovery Facility (MRF) including the HDR contract awaiting signature, and Interlocal Agreements for the Local Solid Waste Financial Assurance (LSWFA) requiring biennial review and city approval. Membership review focused on the Public at Large and Agricultural Representative positions. The committee also discussed the Solid Waste Plan Review, focusing on achievable goals versus State mandates and questions regarding Chapter 1: Goals and Objectives. The next meeting date was set for April 24.

This document outlines the policies and procedures for the Benton and Franklin Counties Adult Drug Court, an intensive treatment and accountability-based program designed for adults with substance abuse issues charged with eligible crimes. Its mission is to promote community safety and well-being, conserve justice system resources, and rehabilitate non-violent addicted offenders. The program achieves these goals through comprehensive treatment and education, offender accountability, and intensive court supervision, aiming to help participants gain control of their lives and stop the cycle of recidivism.

The Benton County Comprehensive Plan serves as a foundational framework for managing growth and development, ensuring the long-term vitality and sustainability of the county. It integrates strategic directions across capital facilities, economic development, natural resources, parks and recreation, and utilities. Key focuses include diversifying the regional economy, protecting critical natural resources, expanding and maintaining public infrastructure, and enhancing community quality of life through managed recreational opportunities and efficient public services.

The Benton Stewardship Checklist serves as an individual stewardship plan for the Benton County Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP). It outlines an incentive-based approach focused on protecting critical areas while promoting agricultural viability. The checklist categorizes conservation practices into water efficiencies and management, land management and habitat, and soil health and erosion control, aiming to help producers meet the VSP's goals and benchmarks.

The Workgroup Meeting covered several critical topics related to the Voluntary Stewardship Program (VSP) Work Plan, focusing on critical areas protection and agricultural viability. Key discussions included updated aquifer mapping, specifically the overlap percentages between agriculture types (dryland, irrigated, rangeland) and critical areas, and concerns regarding the overlay of alluvial soils and aquifer recharge. The group discussed agricultural viability, emphasizing the need to characterize undeveloped land and balance agricultural expansion against critical area conflicts. A framework was used to begin dialogue on potential goals for critical areas and agricultural viability. Specific goals drafted for rivers and streams addressed water quantity/flow (consistency with the Yakima Integrated Plan, irrigation efficiencies, and increasing instream flow) and water quality (reducing nutrient/sediment runoff and investigating groundwater recharge through field flooding).