Committee moves ordinance to dissolve Duikink District No. 3 to public hearing

The Snohomish County Council Planning and Community Development Committee moved Ordinance 24-1-115 to the General Legislative Session on Jan. 15 to set a time and date for a public hearing on dissolving Duikink District Number 3.

The committee heard from Ryan Countryman, council staff, that the district — originally formed to control flooding of farmland in the Snohomish River estuary — has been inactive for more than a decade, has not levied assessments since 2013 and currently has no commissioners. Countryman said the Kwa Lut Estuary Restoration Project, completed in 2015, restored estuary habitat and eliminated much of the area the district once protected from flooding.

County staff reported that the City of Marysville and the Tulalip Tribes now hold an agreement covering a recreational-trail easement and vegetation maintenance that governs the remaining western levy. Under the proposal, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources would lead disposition of district obligations and assets, with assistance from the Snohomish County property officer, and DCNR does not anticipate budgetary impacts to the county.

Vice Chair Dunne asked about required public outreach. A DCNR staff representative described state requirements that include physical notices posted on site and said DCNR is coordinating with the county clerk on notice phrasing and placement. Committee members moved the ordinance onto the Jan. 15 General Legislative Session agenda to set the public-hearing date.

The next step is the public hearing scheduled for Jan. 15; county staff said disposition of assets would proceed consistent with RCW 36.96 and existing agreements with the City of Marysville and the Tulalip Tribes.