How to Effectively Participate in the Critical Areas Ordinances (CAOs) Updates

1. How to Effectively Participate in the Critical Areas Ordinances (CAOs)Updates

3. Better protection for fish and wildlife Better quality of life Better communities What are your goals?

4. How to achieve you goals? Influence: • Staff (if they have a public process) • The Public • The Planning Commission • Elected Officials • If necessary, the Growth Boards. But the boards can only be reach through briefing and argument at a hearing

5. Tips for Citizen Involvement in COA Updates? • Know the rules • What is the process & what are the citizen involvement opportunities? • What is on the table • Find your allies and involve them • Get copies of sign-in sheets • Get e-mails • Talk to friends, neighbors and others and involve them • Are there other local and state groups that share your concerns. If there are, work with them • Make sure a good record is built. Get the studies supporting your position in the record if staff has not done so.

6. How to influence the public • Keep the news media informed and use the media to inform others • Let the media know when something newsworthy is happening • Write letters to the editor and guest editorials • Radio and TV commentaries • E-mail groups through internet websites, influence your group and allies

7. Messages • Pick a message that suits your audience and community: e.g. quality of life, fish and wildlife • Simple is good, but be accurate • Look for a poster child, figuratively. A home flooded out, important habitat damaged, etc. • Try to be consistent • Try to keep your allies on message • When taking to the media: • Lead first with message • Then supporting example • Then supporting data

8. Getting on an Advisory Committee • Ask staff how to apply and apply • Encourage others who would be good to apply • Work with the city or county to encourage a balanced group • If there are identifiable groups that represent areas and interest, perhaps the county or city will let them appoint or at least nominate members

9. What do you do if you get on the Advisory Committee? • Understand the process and ground rules • Attend the meetings • Be prepared. Read the packet • It is a negotiation, not a war • Try to build coalitions with other members. Recognize that you may have common interests with other members groups on some things and not others • Listen to staff • Listen to other members

10. How to testify at a hearing • Arrive early • Prepare • Identify yourself • Clearly state your position • Speak from your own experience, either personal or from your work • Request action and offer solutions • Be respectful and courteous

11. Funding Raising • How much you need and what you need it for will indicate the methods • Charge for membership • Pass the hat • Personally ask the folks who can afford it, start high but realistic • House parties can be fun and raise thousands of dollars. Big events can raise more • Can your members and local businesses donate things the organization can sell or auction, especially on the web • 1000 Friends of Washington has a pro bono cooperating attorney program. Contact John Zilavy, Legal Director: johnz@1000friends.org phone: 206-343-0681