Pierce County Council approves six-property Conservation Futures acquisition list after debate

The Pierce County Council on Aug. 26 adopted Resolution R2025-1176 acknowledging recommendations from the Conservation Futures Citizens Advisory Board and authorizing the county executive to pursue acquisition of six properties using Conservation Futures funding. The council hearing included a briefing from staff that estimated approximately $6.4 million anticipated for acquisitions in the next biennium. Conservation Futures funding is collected via property taxes under state law; appropriations for acquisitions require a council resolution identifying properties and conditions for purchase and use. Counsel and staff described the program’s purpose: to buy land or development rights for open space, timberlands, environmentally sensitive areas, wildlife habitat and agricultural lands threatened with development. Nonprofit groups, cities, a Pierce County agency or an individual sponsor the nominated parcels. Applicants are screened by a technical advisory committee, then rated and prioritized by the citizens advisory board, whose recommendations were before council. Three council amendments were offered. Amendment 1, adopted by the council, clarified and cleaned up language on “conditions for purchase and use,” removed inappropriate references to “active recreation” for most properties (leaving only Waller Road and Pipeline Trail as suitable for that use) and added a requirement that any new trails be designed consistent with county code. Amendment 2 — which would have removed the “Muck Creek Wetlands and Prairie Protection” project from the recommended list — failed after several members argued the project was highly ranked and supports salmon and prairie habitat. Amendment 3, which would have required that properties acquired by third parties include a reversion clause returning the property to the county if the third party divested or merged, was withdrawn by its sponsor after discussion. Public testimony included several sponsors and partners: Jeanette Dorner, executive director of the Nisqually Land Trust (sponsor for the Muck Creek project), and David Trout, natural resources director for the Nisqually Tribe, who described Muck Creek as a salmon-producing tributary and urged support. Testimony also came from conservation organizations and park district representatives supporting other nominated projects, including a McCormick Forest Trail acquisition petitioned by PenMet Parks. Great Peninsula Conservancy and the Tahoma (Tacoma) Bird Alliance also spoke in favor of funding the slate. Council debate reflected differing priorities. Some members raised concerns about using county Conservation Futures funds on land that is hard to access or that duplicates protections offered by other funding sources, and one councilmember objected to buying land inside urban growth areas (UGAs), citing housing needs and upzoning work. Other members emphasized the technical vetting by staff and the citizens advisory board, the presence of willing sellers, and the role Conservation Futures funding plays in leveraging state and federal dollars for projects that otherwise would not be funded. A final roll-call vote adopted the resolution, 4-3. The council adopted Amendment 1, rejected Amendment 2, and accepted the full list as amended. The resolution authorizes the executive to negotiate purchases and pursue acquisition of the six properties in the next biennium subject to the conditions described in the resolution’s exhibit. Action items and the exhibit referenced in the resolution include purchase prices and noted conditions for public access where applicable; staff said the exhibit discloses any limitations on public access as required by county code.