[{"_1":2,"_110":-5,"_111":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,74,86,98],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":44,"_46":47,"_48":49,"_50":51,"_52":53,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":59,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":65,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},"mediaId",6600750,"mediaKeyId","3021939-5a4c67ae55287f0ba88d8d270c4d5f3a","parentId",3021939,"title","Skagit Conservation District marks Arbor Day; commissioners proclaim April observances and highlight tree programs","audioSeconds",0,"startMs",1822000,"endMs","viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=3021939-5a4c67ae55287f0ba88d8d270c4d5f3a&start=1822&end=1822","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3021939-5a4c67ae55287f0ba88d8d270c4d5f3a/thumbnail_1822000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6600750/Skagit-County/Washington/Skagit-Conservation-District-marks-Arbor-Day-commissioners-proclaim-April-observances-and-highlight-tree-programs","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600750-ff44b060067315954a7159a3cfed386d/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136775&Signature=LDg2s9rjdWHcLujEDm4jS2f5X~wcvsFe2eTfk7OBCJQjqz~geddEJnZlO-u4u5zhgzqDanDle3AFJqmadjiJAHa7m0zhYHeZ6U-mvh49a5c87zUkAiw2hKQpewO9AfPYhywm638paXdGQeWUideDfo7n590epOJmd~-reld07-fDNUkASt3Ls0sO3PIM-fnW0CfoyI3p172DbRMwRzeeYz6Zc~k5q0iEyaI5sCxm5vqMLD2mLzG~~-BAjNIEcvGwn9-dpS00rJ0LrsH295O42XwEMkJWkZ9Dz9iAjsD8q7CahRJI2wF-LFHr5o5upMU6~ZkBFJiFpmFHMgi5bcB2hg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Skagit County","date","2025-04-14T00:00:00Z","article","The Skagit Conservation District presented an Arbor Day program to the Board of County Commissioners on April 14; the board adopted a proclamation recognizing Washington State Arbor Day and National Arbor Day.

Emmett Wild, district manager, said forestry remains an important part of Skagit County's natural-resource heritage and economy, noting the county has “more than 100,000 acres in private timberland.” Wild and district forester Nick (last name redacted in the transcript) described the ecological and community benefits of trees, including stormwater moderation, bank stabilization and habitat.

Nick, the district forester, outlined several conservation district initiatives: a native-plant page and nursery map on the district website, an annual plant sale, seed-collection partnerships with the state Department of Natural Resources and a regional native-seed coalition born from a grant to improve seed availability. He encouraged timely planting windows (February through early April, or fall) and said the district offers guidance on hazard-tree assessments and how landowners can find professional tree services.

Commissioners asked about cedar dieback and plantation practices. Nick summarized emerging research and said dry late-spring conditions can harm cedar growth; he noted cedars can sometimes recover but progressive top dieback indicates ongoing decline.

Nick described a summer teacher-training program organized with partners including the DNR and Pacific Education Institute that provides participating K-12 teachers with field training and clock hours/continuing-education documentation; preregistration was open but formal registration had not yet opened at the time of the meeting.

Commissioner Browning read a proclamation citing Arbor Day's origins in 1872 and urging residents to plant and support trees. The board moved, seconded and adopted the proclamation 3-0. District staff reiterated that their advisory services are free and invited residents to contact the conservation district for planting guidance and program participation.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","Skagit County - Record of the Proceedings - Monday Session - Apr 14, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Skagit Conservation District staff and commissioners marked Arbor Day with a presentation on tree benefits, native-plant initiatives, teacher training and a proclamation recognizing Washington State Arbor Day and National Arbor Day. District staff offered free advisory services and information on plant sales and seed programs.","taxTitle","Skagit County, Washington","taxId",5125,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":75,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":76,"_41":77,"_43":78,"_45":79,"_46":80,"_48":81,"_50":82,"_52":83,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":84,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":85,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6600755,"Skagit County holds public hearing on quarterly budget amendment; auditors' rule pushes one-time recording of sheriff body-camera contract",915,1196000,2111000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3021939-5a4c67ae55287f0ba88d8d270c4d5f3a&start=1196&end=2111","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3021939-5a4c67ae55287f0ba88d8d270c4d5f3a/thumbnail_1196000.jpg","/articles/6600755/Skagit-County/Washington/Skagit-County-holds-public-hearing-on-quarterly-budget-amendment-auditors-rule-pushes-one-time-recording-of-sheriff-body-camera-contract","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600755-4eb9821d3d6a2415fa46168b972036e4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136775&Signature=TygatLhGxVHAgcr5Od-wU3WHDc6926OoEErUtgXN5ZZEF9adOpBS0kw1wc~RqnecEAoocKezRGAF207I9C3roF7DzLqUQAH-~GpXrwB2N9kfbZULU0tFC~cczzzT0ujyuuEKVgK5DnZHFumNHt4-jxqBVjoMQ5YhykYPKV0zwpeN271cFqSOAX5-KSWbXYDG6~Z7gRYArkF0T2yEPaxyHaMWhqvzlXk9EDU4np6QLitdORZEilHUc-TBdjE1V2484cooJbP6igHNP2dEwHW8aYbK9tjkx9E9u54Y9CLoVKIThUaI7EXn6t2hfOoH6eioRMIcbY7Iouj-5pQ97VNOwQ__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Skagit County held a public hearing April 14 on a quarterly budget amendment; the board heard highlights from Trisha Lope, the county's budget and finance director, before the public hearing requirement was met.

Lope said the largest single amendment in the general fund was a roughly $1 million addition for a five-year body-worn camera contract for patrol deputies. “The state auditors requires us to record the full expense in the first year of purchase,” she told the board, explaining that the county will pay the expense over five years but must record the full amount in 2025.

Lope said a similar, smaller amendment was included for the jail camera system for the same accounting reason. Public Health funds saw a net increase tied to new grant awards; Lope said that increase was the result of grant funding that arrived or was identified after the budget was adopted.

The County Road Fund amendments corrected accounting errors carried from budget adoption and included requests to roll over some 2024-ordered goods and services to 2025. Lope also said ferry maintenance and haul-out bids returned higher than expected, and the county is budgeting to replace two outdrives and purchase a lost propeller.

Lope told commissioners the county received $1,700,000 in LATCF (local assistance and tribal consistency funds) and allocated $1,000,000 of that to the County Road Fund to pay for an 11-culvert bundle. She said most ARPA funding had been allocated and reported to the federal government.

Lope said the county changed its quarterly amendment process earlier in the year to include a departmental work session so commissioners could ask questions in advance; this public hearing fulfills the legal requirement for a public hearing on the amendment. No formal board action on the amendment was recorded in the public transcript for the afternoon session.","At a public hearing on a quarterly budget amendment, county finance staff highlighted a $1 million increase to record the full cost of a five-year sheriff body-camera contract in the first year per state auditor requirements; the county also received LATCF funds of $1.7 million and allocated $1 million of that to roads for an 11-culvert bundle.",{"_33":87,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":88,"_41":89,"_43":90,"_45":91,"_46":92,"_48":93,"_50":94,"_52":95,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":96,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":97,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6600759,"Skagit County adopts updated countywide planning policies tied to 2025 comprehensive plan",256,977000,1233000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3021939-5a4c67ae55287f0ba88d8d270c4d5f3a&start=977&end=1233","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3021939-5a4c67ae55287f0ba88d8d270c4d5f3a/thumbnail_977000.jpg","/articles/6600759/Skagit-County/Washington/Skagit-County-adopts-updated-countywide-planning-policies-tied-to-2025-comprehensive-plan","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600759-ba9a19227481acb6be3c220ca38c3acd/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136775&Signature=H1QioLSKmeZne2wSIUMYcJ5UrTFOa1KR-hw5AC4ZCv26baP9MVfJkFEQ1IjExPlL2DLd3b9MCWlDEVwlWO8voIzDtAupz4qO6se8GtbTpeN3ofP99tSab6QZ2OC7WogKIYIsycHYaOmyPosDqqh04jhYdCdh4-YYTwGW~4KP0TuSH22pZkjdMyg25Jv6ooJMUaTbRRpeU5N5Ce-zqtgT7KTiX~7Hhv63gxStskLJTqnsluLPNM~nDUONDddq6A-FbETPPnd9UcNBMe2AYz0wdJGeuRlMP4yMvzSjmwbyXIXAC0gXrzhJPtec9ei-IyDg8m982uy5~euvnJVmwK2Alg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Skagit County commissioners voted 3-0 on April 14 to adopt updates to the countywide planning policies as part of the 02/2025 comprehensive plan update.

Commissioner Browning moved to approve the ordinance adopting the countywide planning policy updates “as recommended by the Skagit Council of Governments Growth Management Act Steering Committee.” The motion was seconded and passed with all commissioners voting in favor.

Commissioners and staff discussed how the state law prompted the policy revisions and what the changes mean for local housing planning. A county staff member explained that the state law requires jurisdictions to “acknowledge a responsibility to plan an appropriate zoning for this housing mix,” which in practice has forced municipalities to review where potential density can be achieved, including accessory dwelling units and more intensive rural development in certain areas.

Commissioner comments stressed frustration about affordable housing production. One commissioner said the county has not met its housing goals and noted Skagit County has among the lowest vacancy rates in the state; they questioned whether the policy updates would lower housing costs. Another commissioner expressed concern about clarifying what is allowable in farmland and said the updates made that clearer.

Commissioners asked whether allocation numbers were exchangeable between jurisdictions. Staff responded that numbers can be exchanged, typically between cities, but countywide planning policies still maintain an 80/20 split between urban growth areas (80%) and rural areas (20%). Staff said exchanges typically occur if a city cannot accommodate its allocated growth after a land-capacity analysis, although that reconciliation was not needed in this process and the provided numbers were based on historic growth.

The ordinance adopting the countywide planning policy updates was approved 3-0. No additional direction to staff was recorded in the public transcript.","The Board adopted ordinance updates to countywide planning policies as part of the February 2025 comprehensive plan update. Commissioners discussed housing allocations, exchanges among cities, and the state law prompting the changes before a 3-0 vote.",{"_33":99,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":100,"_41":101,"_43":102,"_45":103,"_46":104,"_48":105,"_50":106,"_52":107,"_54":55,"_56":57,"_58":108,"_60":61,"_62":63,"_64":109,"_66":67,"_68":69,"_70":67,"_71":72,"_73":72},6600763,"Skagit County approves conservation easement to protect 82 acres of Bow farmland",213,289000,502000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=3021939-5a4c67ae55287f0ba88d8d270c4d5f3a&start=289&end=502","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/3021939-5a4c67ae55287f0ba88d8d270c4d5f3a/thumbnail_289000.jpg","/articles/6600763/Skagit-County/Washington/Skagit-County-approves-conservation-easement-to-protect-82-acres-of-Bow-farmland","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6600763-c90d16805137d7b402e2349531cb1b6c/orig.mp4?Expires=1771136775&Signature=Qq3TUV1jiDqlIsiBDRGVc7bS9pnGfAUlEFZC8TfZcVGjean0lsWtTxhexmFLbzMQ4G8t~S2t5H9rBiI4vAFADu5HmOIDE5kWMu64vYYP4zsmMgyqcw2o3YjtSz0NpGGEhm~i3HtO6CAYyM1S9d1KOo-8y80MPghuHXBEiW9uCyO5ygIzPqHaC0-OEm6KDyfpw~zDCnS9FO0UYiQ-YCgbdPMR5gJq0T-B92xJWn739KP9Tyic6cgUVEnHH96RQbrMcU9XtX-SgM2u8bssKxTMWl-aE6~cHFO5uljtBc7VjN8AApSrcYgpIkFxCNrRsw9o41iZxQ2J7XDzn6W47qcWOg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","The Skagit County Board of Commissioners voted 3-0 on April 14 to approve a grant deed of conservation easement protecting an 82-acre property in Bow.

Sarah Stoner, agricultural lands coordinator for Skagit County Public Works, told the board the Path easement “seeks to protect 82 acres and removes 2 development rights for a total compensation to the landowner of a hundred and 80 5 thousand.” She said the property supports grazing for a cattle operation and is classified as prime farmland by the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

The easement will be held by Skagit County and is funded solely by the county’s conservation futures program, Stoner said. “This is funded solely by our county conservation futures,” she told commissioners, noting there was no state or federal funding attached to this easement.

Commissioners emphasized the program’s long-term reach. Commissioner Browning said the easement would help “keep [the land] in farmland” and thanked Stoner and the landowners for participating. Commissioner Wiesen noted the county now has “15,300 acres protected, as of April with the approval of this easement today.”

The motion to approve the Farmland Legacy program grant deed of conservation easement with John Path and Sons for parcels P34523 and P34524 passed 3-0. The recorded compensation to the landowner is $185,000.

The conservation easement document restricts nonagricultural development consistent with the county’s Farmland Legacy program. Stoner said standard easement restrictions apply, although occasional adjustments are made for farm operations; for example, cattle operations may be allowed up to 5% impervious surface for needed infrastructure versus the standard 2% for open farmland.

The board took no additional direction beyond approving the easement. The county will hold the deed and monitor the property under the terms of the Farmland Legacy program.","The Board of County Commissioners approved a county-funded conservation easement for an 82-acre Bow property, removing two development rights and paying the landowner $185,000. The Farmland Legacy program says the easement protects prime agricultural soils in perpetuity.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Skagit Conservation District marks Arbor Day; commissioners proclaim April observances and highlight tree programs

Skagit County holds public hearing on quarterly budget amendment; auditors' rule pushes one-time recording of sheriff body-camera contract

Skagit County adopts updated countywide planning policies tied to 2025 comprehensive plan

Skagit County approves conservation easement to protect 82 acres of Bow farmland