Get Involved!
Be a part of an innovative team to create better buildings for Snohomish County. Welcome to the Sustainable Snohomish County Development Task Force!

Our work is accomplished through committed individuals and companies like you. The goal of the task force is to shepherd as many sustainable projects through the permitting process as possible while lessening the review time, increasing the number of “green” features, and decreasing overall project cost by using integrated design principles.

How Does the Task Force Function?

Executive Committee

The Executive Committee is responsible for carrying out specific administrative tasks that require more time or have more urgency than can be covered in the monthly steering committee meetings. The primary responsibility of this group is to keep track of grant applications, reporting, and spending. Other issues that the executive committee  works on are planning large events, developing administrative procedures, and tracking schedules and goals.

Steering Committee
The Steering Committee is responsible for leading and managing the activities of the Taskforce. The Steering Committee is the executive entity and is ultimately responsible for the accountability and effectiveness of the Taskforce.

Primary responsibilities include:

• Recruiting and retaining members of the Technical Advisory Group
• Determining the priorities and project activities to be
  undertaken by the Taskforce
• Overseeing those project activities
• Managing the message of the Taskforce, and ensuring
  consistency of that message
• Managing inquiries from the public – screening, processing, and directing all requests for services, speakers, information etc. The Steering Committee decides whether and how to follow up on such inquiries and assign responsibilities to the appropriate Working Group or TAG member.
• Overseeing the activities of the Working Groups
• Fundraising Activities

The Steering Committee consists of from 9-15 individuals representing a diversity of stakeholders interested in sustainable development. It is our goal to include: citizens, developers, builders, County Executive Office, County Council, environmental interests, utility representatives, planners, economic development entities, local governments, and development specialists. The Steering Committee includes representatives from each Working Group and the TAG.

The Steering Committee meets monthly. Steering Committee members are expected to attend at least 50% of these meetings in any calendar year and should not miss more than three (3) consecutive meetings.

The full Taskforce is charged with selecting charter members of the Steering Committee. Membership on the Steering Committee will be reviewed annually, in June or as otherwise designated by the Chair. Members are responsible for selecting additions and/or replacements to the Steering Committee.

Technical Advisory Group
The Technical Advisory Group (TAG) consists of individuals with expertise in different aspects of sustainable development. For example green building architects, low impact development specialists, and storm water experts are members of this group. TAG members are engaged as needed by the Steering Committee and based on their interest in specific projects and activities associated with the Action Plan and with sustainable development projects in Snohomish County. There is no limit to the number of persons who can serve on the TAG. The TAG is not expected to have any formal meetings, but members are likely to attend meetings of the Steering Committee and the full Taskforce as time and interest allow.

Activities of the TAG are led by a coordinator, appointed by the Steering Committee Chair. The TAG coordinator will be responsible for keeping TAG members informed of Taskforce activities, and assist in recruiting, and coordinating efforts to make sure the project moves along in an expeditious manner. The TAG coordinator serves on the Steering Committee.

Working Groups
Two standing Working Groups are responsible for communications and policy initiatives as follows:

1. Communications Working Group – responsible for external communications including organizing a speaker’s bureau, producing the newsletter, organizing presentations, and running the website. This group also is charged with developing the Taskforce messages and ensuring consistency in the delivery of those messages.

2. Policy Working Group – responsible for engaging planners, elected officials, executives, and other policy makers in how to revise codes, the planning process, and other regulations to be more responsive to sustainable development principles and practices. This working group will review plans, prepare white papers, and make recommendations for changes to the comprehensive plan, building and land use codes, and other related ordinances.

This group is in charge of identifying obstacles and barriers to achieving sustainable development in the County.

The Chair and Steering Committee are charged with recruiting members for these working groups. These groups are to self-organize and select a lead to serve on the Steering Committee and coordinate group activities.
In addition to these standing working groups, ad hoc working groups are formed as needed. These ad hoc groups, created by the Chair and/or Steering Committee will be responsible for carrying out specific projects associated with achieving the mission of the Taskforce.

Time Commitment:

While we want to assist project proponents and assist Cities and the County in creating a favorable regulatory environment for Sustainable Projects, we do not expect our private sector members to work for free. We anticipate overview and oversight involvement, if a project requires more in-depth assistance, the TAG member is free to contract with the Project Proponent to deliver a sustainable project.