Public hearing on West Plains Aquifer Protection Area scheduled for April 14, 2026.

NO. 2026-0168
BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF SPOKANE COUNTY, WASHINGTON
NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

IN THE MATTER OF AUTHORIZING THE WEST PLAINS AQUIFER PROTECTION AREA NOTICE OF PUBLIC HEARING

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN by the Board of County Commissioners of Spokane County, Washington pursuant to the provisions of RCW 36.36.020, that a public hearing will be held on:

TUESDAY, April 14, 2026 AT 2:00 P.M.
or as soon as possible thereafter in the
Commissioners' Hearing Room
Spokane County Public Works Building
1026 West Broadway Avenue
Spokane, Washington 99260

At the public hearing, any person may attend and present testimony, to include objections and comments, on the proposed Aquifer Protection Area, imposition of monthly fees on the withdrawal of water and/or onsite sewage disposal as well as the placement of a ballot proposition on the August 4, 2026 primary election to be submitted to the registered voters residing within the proposed Aquifer Protection Area concerning the creation of the Aquifer Protection Area and the imposition of monthly fees on the withdrawal of water and/or onsite sewage disposal.

BACKGROUND
1. The name of the proposed Aquifer Protection Area shall be the West Plains Aquifer Protection Area;

2. The boundaries of the proposed Aquifer Protection Area shall be described as outlined on the map attached hereto as Attachment “A” and incorporated by reference;

3. The maximum level of fees for the withdrawal of water within the proposed Aquifer Protection Area shall be $1.25 per month per equivalent residential unity for up to a maximum of twenty (20) years and $1.25 per month per equivalent residential unit for onsite sewage disposal for up to twenty (20) years.

4. All fees generated shall be used for the following purposes:

a. the preparation of a comprehensive plan to protect, preserve, and rehabilitate subterranean water, including groundwater management programs adopted under chapter 90.44 RCW. This plan may be prepared as a portion of a county sewerage and/or water general plan pursuant to RCW 36.94.030;

b. the construction of facilities for: (1) The removal of waterborne pollution; (2) water quality improvement; (3) sanitary sewage collection, disposal, and treatment; (4) stormwater or surface water drainage collection, disposal, and treatment; and (5) the construction of public water systems;

c. the proportionate reduction of special assessments imposed by a county, city, town, or special district in the aquifer protection area for any of the facilities described in subsection (b);

d. the costs of monitoring and inspecting on-site sewage disposal systems or community sewage disposal systems for compliance with applicable standards and rules, and for enforcing compliance with these applicable standards and rules in aquifer protection areas created after June 9, 1988; and

e. the costs of: (1) Monitoring the quality and quantity of subterranean water and analyzing data that is collected; (2) ongoing implementation of the comprehensive plan developed under subsection (a); (3) enforcing compliance with standards and rules relating to the quality and quantity of subterranean waters; and (4) public education relating to protecting, preserving, and enhancing subterranean waters.

NOTICE IS FURTHER GIVEN by the Board of County Commissioners of Spokane County that the Board has concluded the establishment of an Aquifer Protection Area is a procedural matter as that terminology is defined and described in WAC 197-11-800(19) and as such is categorically exempt from the State Environmental Policy Act.

PURPOSE OF HEARING

The purpose of the above scheduled public hearing is to consider the proposed Aquifer Protection Area and to adopt a resolution causing a ballot proposition to be submitted to the registered voters residing within the proposed Aquifer Protection Area authorizing the creation thereof and imposing monthly fees on the withdrawal of water and/or onsite sewage disposal.

In accordance with state law, municipalities are in the process of considering resolutions to participate in the Aquifer Protection Area. Final proposed boundaries are subject to alteration if a municipality does not consent for its precincts to be included should the proposed ballot measure be enacted by the voters.

Additional information with regard to this Notice, including the boundaries of the proposed Aquifer Protection Area, may be obtained by contacting Spokane County Public Works, during normal business hours at phone number: (509) 477-3600.

Any person may appear at the date, time and place set forth above and present testimony in favor of or in opposition to said Aquifer Protection Area To create the opportunity for everyone attending the public hearing to speak, testimony may be limited to three (3) minutes per speaker. The Board reserves the right to adjust the time frame allotted to speakers as well as hearing procedures during the public hearing. Any written comments on the purpose of the public hearing must be received by April 9, 2026, no later than 12:00 NOON by gvasquez@spokanecounty.org.

AMERICANS WITH DISABILITIES ACT (ADA) INFORMATION: Spokane County is committed to providing equal access to its facilities, programs and services for persons with disabilities. The Commissioner's Hearing Room at 1026 West Broadway is wheelchair accessible and is equipped with an infrared assistive listening system for persons with hearing loss. Individuals requesting reasonable accommodations or further information may call, write, or email Ashley Cloud at (509) 477-5750 (TDD), 824 North Adams Street, Spokane, WA, 99260; or acloud@spokanecounty.org. Please contact us forty-eight (48) hours before the meeting/hearing date.

PASSED AND ADOPTED this 31st day of March, 2026.
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF SPOKANE COUNTY, WASHINGTON
MARY BROOKS, CHAIR
JOSH KERNS, VICE-CHAIR
AL FRENCH, COMMISSIONER
AMBER WALDREF, COMMISSIONER
CHRIS JORDAN, COMMISSIONER
ATTEST:
Ginna Vasquez, Clerk of the Board
SR238485