Staff outlines shoreline enforcement process and proposed Title 19 changes to strengthen land-use enforcement

Staff described the county’s shoreline enforcement process and a proposed update to Title 19 that staff said would provide more enforcement tools for land-use and shoreline violations.

When Department of Ecology generates an ERC/ERCS (an environmental response notification), multiple agencies are notified and the agency with the strongest enforcement authority typically takes the lead. Staff said mitigation frequently requires base flood elevation checks, wetland determinations and replanting or other mitigation that Department of Ecology must approve before county acceptance. Staff also described an evolving process to make enforcement more effective: the proposed Title 19 changes would allow the county to create written agreements with property owners that include timelines and graduated fines, rather than relying solely on letters and prosecutorial action.

Staff framed the proposed change as giving the county “more teeth” to secure compliance through agreements and escalating penalties, with the goal of moving property owners to corrective action rather than immediate criminal or prosecutorial routes.

Discussion versus action: the transcript records staff explanation and discussion; the proposed Title 19 enforcement provisions were described as in-development policy changes for which staff will continue drafting language and obtaining approvals.

The meeting included a brief clarification exchange about ERCS: staff said ERCS is generated through Department of Ecology response and triggers interagency coordination.