Trails advisory committee approves drafting letter to support Discovery Trail scenic-byway nomination
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Summary
The Clallam County Trails Advisory Committee agreed at its March meeting to draft and authorize the chair to sign a letter supporting the Discovery Trail’s nomination to the state scenic-byways program, after the nomination advanced to phase two and members discussed jurisdictional and tribal consultation requirements.
The Clallam County Trails Advisory Committee voted at its March meeting to draft a letter of support for the Discovery Trail’s nomination to the state scenic-byways program and to authorize the committee chair to sign it.
Andy Stevenson Joyce, the principal nominator for the Discovery Trail, told the committee the submission "has passed through step 1, and is now into step 2 of that process," and said jurisdictions must now acknowledge willingness to participate before the nomination advances.
The committee’s action followed a discussion about what the state process requires. Wendy Clark Gatson, representing tribal interests, said tribal consultation is underway: "all the tribes in in Clowam County and Jefferson County, territorial wise, are being contacted for acknowledgment," and noted tribes and jurisdictions are on separate tracks in the review.
Committee members debated whether the Trails Advisory Committee’s mandate — to advise the county commissioners — includes issuing an independent letter of support. The principal nominator argued letters of support are a scoring element for the citizen-side portion of the competition and requested a committee letter strictly from the advisory committee. After discussion, the chair moved to draft a letter and authorize the chair to sign it; the motion was seconded and approved by voice vote.
Committee members noted timing constraints: the nominator said March 31 is a milestone for the process and that additional documentation (easements, memoranda of understanding) may be required from jurisdictions. The nominator also said the presentation to the State Parks committee may be delayed depending on when jurisdictions and landowners can provide requested materials.
Next steps: staff and proponents will circulate a draft letter to committee members for review, and the nominator will continue coordinating jurisdictional acknowledgments and tribal consultation ahead of the presentation to State Parks.
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