Conservation district chair urges city partnership on $9.7M 2040 plan

T. J. Johnson, chair of the 13 Conservation District, told the council the district has finalized a new strategic plan and annual report and is seeking closer collaboration with the city on land-use and watershed projects. He said the district’s budget for the coming period is about $9,700,000 and that most of the money comes from outside the county.

"That rates and charges system brings in about $565,000 a year," Johnson said, describing the district’s base funding and how it leverages state and federal dollars. He described four priorities at the core of the plan: protecting and restoring natural resources, preparing for disasters and building climate resilience, expanding access to land and local food, and strengthening organizational capacity to deliver measurable results.

Johnson offered to leave printed materials and the district’s annual report for council members and invited questions about specific collaboration opportunities, including aligning municipal land-use policies with conservation goals and co-developing watershed solutions. He said the district conducts regular audits and tracks outcomes such as acres protected and dollars leveraged to demonstrate accountability.