Commission proposed to streamline DOE

OLYMPIA - Proposed legislation would move the duties of the state Department of Ecology's Water Resources Program to a newly created state Water Commission.

The bill's backers, the Columbia-Snake River Irrigators Association, stated Monday it would take less than 100 full time employees (FTEs) to do the job as the water commission, as compared to the 150 FTEs currently working in the Water Resources Program.

Office locations would also be reduced from the current five to two. If the bill is approved, there would be one office in Olympia and one in the Tri-Cities.

If the legislation passes the House and Senate, the water commission would be governed by a seven-member elected board of commissioners.

Three members would represent Western Washington, three members would reside in Eastern Washington and one member would be appointed by the governor.

The commission's director would be appointed by the board of commissioners, explained Darryll Olsen, of the irrigators association.

The reason for the proposal is because they've hit a juncture "where we've got to deal with the economics of the state with the budget and in terms of the real economy," he said.

"We have to make some different changes in how we're dealing with the water resources program," Olsen said. "Given that, if you're going to make reform to the Water Resources Program, you have to deal with the governance program."

Also, making decisions and priorities, and implementing policies must be addressed.

Pat Boss, representing the association, said they also wanted local water conservancy boards to handle more work on the local level with water transfers and rights.

"We're trying to get a lot of this work done in the field and under an elected commission, as opposed to this huge bureaucracy," Boss said.

They've been looking at ways to reform the water resources in the state for quite some time. The state's budget climate is also a factor.

After talking to a number of legislators about the issue, it was "very clear" that it was a good time to propose some changes to streamline and reform the agency, he said.

The bill was sponsored by 29 legislators in the House and Senate.

"They agreed it was a good idea to bring this forward," Boss said.

He pointed to the example of state Department of Natural Resources Director Peter Goldmark, a director elected by the people.

"With a $5 billion budget shortfall, it's obvious all of these agencies will have to look at ways to streamline operations," Boss said. "I think everything is on the table."

He also mentioned Gov. Chris Gregoire's statement about reforming government.

"We must not only cut, we must restructure, modernize, prioritize and position our state as a 21st century government," she stated. "It's not just about this crisis - it's about setting our state on a trajectory that ensures a strong financial foundation for our kids and grandkids ... I know change is hard, but this crisis is our force for change."

The state asked the public earlier this year for ideas to help streamline state government.

Rep. Bill Hinkle, R-Cle Elum, a House bill sponsor, said the legislation would decentralize authority from the executive branch, resulting in the state spending less money and becoming more efficient.

"It puts water in the hands of the people," Hinkle said. "I think we can get more from our dollar. We'll be more efficient, spend millions of dollars less and get results."

The bill would also take water away "from being a political football," he said.

Rep. Judy Warnick, R-Moses Lake and Sen. Janéa Holmquist Newbry, R-Moses Lake, are also bill sponsors.