COSAC discusses small-parcel funding strategy and approves outreach mailer planning

COSAC used a portion of its Dec. 1 meeting to advance work on a small-parcel conservation funding strategy and an associated outreach mailer. Members agreed staff should prepare a condensed staff report for county council and that the committee would finalize mailing lists and copy at the first January meeting.

Committee members discussed funding thresholds and match percentages. Several members proposed focusing county subsidies on smaller projects — for example, capping county participation for certain projects at $25,000 to $50,000 — while leaving flexibility for higher-percentage matches on priority parcels. "Maybe the approach is for projects under $50,000 or something like that," one member said; others suggested the county could opt to provide a higher match in specific high-priority cases.

Members also recommended using existing spatial data (floodplains, wetlands, sensitive-species habitat) to prioritize parcels that deliver conservation and public-access benefits. Speaker 3 emphasized identifying access points and corridors so protected parcels deliver recreation and habitat value. The committee approved allocating approximately $350 for a mailer and agreed January would be the right month to distribute outreach materials to avoid holiday season clutter.

Next steps: Staff will prepare the round-2 staff report and a mailing-ready outreach packet for COSAC to finalize at its Jan. 5 meeting. The committee asked staff to assemble parcel-priority maps and contact lists in advance.