Introduction to Washington State Association of Counties
The Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) is a nonprofit organization with voluntary county membership, established in 1906 and governed by bylaws authorized in statute (RCW 36.32). It includes various affiliates and serves as a platform for county officials to collaborate and address local government issues.
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Presentation Transcript
An Introduction to the Washington State Association of Counties Derek Anderson Director of Communications & Member Services
Organic Structure Created in 1906 Voluntary Participation by Counties All 39 Counties are Active Members Nonprofit 501(c)(4) Governing Bylaws WSAC Authorized in Statute (RCW 36.32) Quasi Public Agency
WSAC Bylaws Outlines Governance Structure Membership Board of Directors Officers Legislative Steering Committee Personnel Administration
County Commissioners County Councilmembers County Councilors County Executives 139 elected members Our Primary Customers
Association of County Human Services (ACHS) Association of County/City Information Systems (ACCIS) Secondary Customers and Affiliate Support Washington State Association of County Engineers (WSACE) Washington State Association of Local Public Health Officials (WSALPHO) Washington State Association of County & Regional Planning Directors (WSACRPD) Washington County Administrative Association (WCAA)
Washington Association of County Commission/Council Clerks (WACCC) Washington State Emergency Management Association (WSEMA) Secondary Customers and Affiliate Support Continued Washington State University Extension Directors (WSU) Washington Association of County Solid Waste Managers (WACSWM) Washington State Association of County Auditors (WSACA)
Board of Directors 2020-21 Executive Committee Elected by the Members 1stVice President Jamie Stephens San Juan County Councilmember President Michael Largent Whitman County Commissioner 2ndVice President Mary Kuney Spokane County Commissioner Immediate Past President Rob Gelder Kitsap County Commissioner
4 Officers 4 Eastern Washington Regional Representatives (2 Alternates) Board of Directors Continued 4 Western Washington Regional Representatives (2 Alternates) (10) Counties 180,000+ in Population (1) County Executive over 1,000,000 Past Presidents (4 currently)
General Supervision of Association Business; Nominations and Appointments to Statewide Boards and Commissions; Board of Directors Purpose Adopt and Maintain Association Personnel Policies; Adopt and Maintain Travel Policy; Appoint Executive Director and provide for said duties and authorities; Fiduciary Oversight.
Chair: WSAC 2ndVice President Purpose: Independent monitor of financial, compliance reporting process, and internal control Board Liaison with Management, Board and Independent Auditor Who: At least five members presented by President and appointed by Board of Directors Audit Finance and Investment Committee
2021 Annual Budget Adopted by Membership November 19, 2020 Projected Revenues: Projected Expenditures: $3,229,658 $3,307,000 Approved Dues Schedules General Transportation Natural Resources Human Services Litigation
Co- Chairs: Dan Sutton, Douglas County Commissioner Derek Young, Pierce County Councilmember Purpose: Prepares a Legislative Agenda for Consideration by the Membership; Monitors Legislative Activities During Session; Advocate WSAC Legislative Agenda, Policies and Positions; Discusses, Develops Positions, Advocates on State Agency Rules and Policies. Legislative Steering Committee (LSC)
Each County has a Representative Each County Executive Self Nominations WSAC President Appoints LSC Members with confirmation of the WSAC Board of Directors WSAC President Appoints Co-Chairs Alternates that are elected officials are allowed Meets Every Other Week In Olympia During Legislative Session Sub-Committee/Working Group Structure (Water, Growth Management Act) Legislative Steering Committee Structure
Chair: Vacant Columbia River Basin Policy Advisory Committee Purpose: Forum to discuss with Dept of Ecology implementation of the Columbia River Water Management Program. Who: Counties above the Bonneville Dam
Chair: Jamie Stephens, San Juan County Councilmember Coastal Counties Caucus Purpose: Forum to discuss issues relating to Puget Sound, Hood Canal, and the Pacific Ocean. Who: 14 Coastal Counties
Chair: Tom Lannen, Skamania County Commissioner Purpose: Forum to discuss timber management issues. Liaison with DNR/USFS. Elect County Representative to Board of Natural Resources. Who: 29 Timber Counties with DNR/USFS Lands Timber Counties
Member Services Newly Elected Officials Training Trainings & Webinars Annual Conference November County Development Institute of Washington
Business Partner Programs Nationwide Live Healthy Liberty Mutual
Communications Legislative Bulletin Legislative Action Alerts Media Relations Digital Marketing Facebook, Twitter, Instagram Website
Strategic Litigation & Communications (SLAC) WSAC Board of Directors and Legislative Steering Committee met in May 2017 and directed WSAC staff to begin exploring legal and communications strategies. November 2017 the WSAC Membership authorized a dues assessment of $400k to provide funding to implement recommended strategies. January 2018 two committees were formed to develop internal Association processes and policies that would be used to guide decision- making for WSAC members. Process and Strategy Committees developed a 2018-19 SLAC Workplan that was adopted by the WSAC Board of Directors in May of 2018
SLAC - Communications Aggressively communicate to: Support WSAC legislative advocacy priorities; Explain why WSAC legal action is the direct result of the county fiscal plight and how the legislature continues to fail to provide resources and tools for counties to deliver high quality public services; Explain how the Legislature and other state agencies continue to regularly imposed mandates without the necessary funds to implement; Explain how the Legislature shirks its responsibility to provide funding and support for state services that are statutorily and constitutionally required - and instead requires counties to provide them without funding from the state; Explain how the state forces counties to shift the county taxpayers money to fund new state required services and programs while the state keeps its money for its own lower priority projects and programs. Prepare strategy and materials to communicate to internally and externally to stakeholders on the progress of the Strategic Litigation and Communications Program.
Executive Director and/or Officer Occur Every Other Year in Each County Brief on WSAC Issues Brief on Legislative Agenda and Session Recap Listen to County Issues With WSAC members, other elected and appointed officials Courthouse Briefings
WSAC Appoints and or Nominates Statewide Boards and Commissions Many Boards need multiple WSAC Members Online Application Tool Regular Openings on Boards/Commissions Statewide Boards & Commissions
Be Watching For Announcement on Openings: Affordable Housing Advisory Board Community Economic Revitalization Board County Road Administration Board E-911 Advisory Committee State Interoperability Committee Voluntary Stewardship Program Statewide Boards & Commissions
Board of Directors Western Interstate Region Legislative February/March (DC) Conferences National Association of Counties (NACo) Annual July (Rotates) Trainings Communication Steering Committees, Caucuses, Boards Fly-Ins
Chair: Vacant Federal Issues Purpose: Develop proposed annual federal issues agenda for membership consideration; Liaison with NACo; Advocate/Communicate with Congressional Delegation and Staff. & Relations Committee
WSACs NACo and WIR Board of Directors WSACs NACo Steering Committee Members Other Interested WSAC Members Self Nominations Desire Member from Each Congressional District WSAC President appoints with confirmation of the WSAC Board of Directors Meets as Needed Ex-Officio Affiliate Representation Permitted Federal Issues & Relations Committee Cont.
Washington Association of County Officials (WACO) Washington Association of Prosecuting Attorneys (WAPA) Association of Washington Cities (AWC) County Road Administration Board (CRAB) Washington Counties Insurance Fund (WCIF) Washington Counties Risk Pool (WCRP) Municipal Research and Services Center (MRSC) Key Partners
Become a Certified Public Official (CPO) All newly elected officials are automatically enrolled Courses will be available online starting January 11 County specific learning on 11 core topics, including: Leadership Ethics Risk Management Effective Public Meetings and more! Complete all online training and assessments to earn your CPO certificate by the end of 2021 A great way to stay engaged and build long-lasting relationships with your peers
Stay in touch! CALL US: DIRECT LINES/CELL #S EMAIL US: PROMPT RESPONSE VISIT US: WSAC OFFICE IN OLYMPIA VIEW US: WWW.WSAC.ORG FOLLOW US: WELCOME TO WSAC! FACEBOOK, TWITTER, INSTAGRAM
