Parks Commission to meet in Stanwood, Bellingham

OLYMPIA – The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission will hold a special commission meeting at the Stanwood High School Commons on July 15 and its regularly scheduled commission meeting at the Four Points by Sheraton in Bellingham on July 18.  

The regular Commission meeting agenda items include requests for Commission approval of: 

• The dates and locations for the 2025 regular Commission meeting schedule 
• Revisions to Washington Administrative Code (WAC) 352-32-030 Camping stay limits and WAC 352-32-010 Definitions 
• The sale of excess timber resulting from forest health projects at Nisqually and Riverside state parks 
• A request to evaluate the agency’s mission alignment and rank grant projects proposed for funding in the Parks category of the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program 
• Policy options and delegation of authority to finalize agency request legislation and to submit the proposals 
• Submittal of a 2025 Supplemental Operating Budget request 
• The 2025-27 operating budget request 
• Changes to four Commission policies based on recommendations from staff 

The Commission will also hear a report about a public road crossing and utility crossing on the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail near Ellensburg. 

Full commission meeting agendas and presentations are available online. 

On July 17, the Commission will also host a work session. The work session is a hybrid meeting, and the public is welcome to attend in-person or online. No public comment will be taken, and no decisions will be made by the Commission. 

Full commission meeting and work session agendas and presentations are available online. 

On July 16, the Commission will tour Birch Bay and Peace Arch state parks. The commission will leave from the Bellingham Four Points by Sheraton at 10 a.m. and return by 3:30 p.m. The public is welcome to attend the tours but must provide their own transportation. 

Regular meeting public comment 

In-person, virtual and written public comment will be accepted at the meeting.  

To provide in-person oral comment, please fill out a comment card and provide it to staff at the sign in table. The Chair will call you up to the front at the appropriate time.  

To provide virtual comment, you will need to be able to join the Attendee Web link from your computer (no phone option available). Pre-registration is required. To register, email commission@parks.wa.gov by 5 p.m. on July 12. Please provide the name you will be logging in under, contact phone number as well as the agenda item or general topic you will be speaking on. You will receive an email by noon on July 15 with specific instructions around virtual testimony. 

Written public comment will be accepted until 5 p.m. on July 12 by email or mail. Any comments received after the cutoff will be given to the commission before its next meeting. Please email written comments to commission@parks.wa.gov, or mail them to: 

WSPRC 

Attn: Becki Ellison 

PO Box 42650 

Olympia, WA 98504 

Special meeting 

On July 15, the Commission will host a special meeting to hear a staff report and public comments about the overnight accommodations at Cama Beach State Park. No final action will be taken during the special meeting. The Commission will vote on the item at their regularly scheduled commission meeting on Oct. 10. 

The public is welcome to attend in person or watch the meeting online.   

Parks will accept in-person and virtual public comments at the meeting. Doors open at 5:30 p.m. to begin sign ups. There is no pre-registration for in-person comments. To provide virtual comment, you will need to be able to join the Attendee Web link from a computer (no phone option available). Pre-registration is required for virtual comments. To register, email commission@parks.wa.gov by 5 p.m. on July 9.  Please provide the name you will be logging in under and contact phone number. 

Those unable to attend the public meeting can learn more about the project on the planning page, and submit written comments to Parks through the online comment form. Public comments must be received no later than 5 p.m. on Sept. 27 to be considered by the Commission for the Oct. 10 action.   

Meeting details 

WHAT 

Bi-monthly regular commission meeting and special meeting 

WHO 

Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission 

WHEN 

Special meeting 

6 p.m. to 9 p.m. 

Mon., July 15, 2024 

Stanwood High School Commons 

7400 272 St. NW 

Stanwood, WA 98292 

 

Work session 

9 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. 

Wed., July 17, 2024 

Four Points by Sheraton Conference Center 

714 Lakeway Dr. 

Bellingham, WA 98229 

 

Commission meeting 

9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. 

Thurs., July 18, 2024 

Four Points by Sheraton Conference Center 

714 Lakeway Dr. 

Bellingham, WA 98229 

 

Watch the meetings on TVW: 

• Special meeting: https://tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2024071023 
• Work session: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2024071000 
• Regular meeting: https://www.tvw.org/watch/?eventID=2024071001 

 

BACKGROUND 

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission holds four regular meetings in pre-determined locations around the state, four virtual meetings and one planning meeting a year. Time for public comment is provided at all regular meetings and may be virtual, written or in-person, depending on the meeting. A full agenda, including information about available opportunities for public comment, is available on the Parks website. 

The Washington State Parks and Recreation Commission is made up of seven citizen volunteers appointed by the governor to staggered six-year terms. The commission is charged with providing policy direction for the agency.