SEATTLE—Kitsap County Commissioner Charlotte Garrido has been named Chair of the Growth Management Policy Board of the Puget Sound Regional Council. Commissioner Garrido was appointed Chair of the Board by Regional Council President Bob Edwards of Renton.
"I'm delighted Charlotte has agreed to take on this regional leadership role," said Edwards, a Port of Seattle Commissioner. "She consistently brings an extremely credible perspective to the regional table and can always be counted on to advocate for Kitsap County's interests, which are an important component of the success of the entire region."
The Growth Management Policy Board includes representatives of the region's counties, cities and towns, as well as regional business, labor, civic and environmental groups. The Board meets monthly to make recommendations on key growth management issues to the Regional Council's Executive Board. One key focus this year is the update of the region's Metropolitan Transportation Plan, which serves as blueprint for transportation through the year 2030 and guides the region's investments in transportation projects.
"Kitsap County has a lot at stake at the regional table," said Garrido. "Our voice is critical to assuring that the region considers our ferries, roads and transit systems in the mix of things that require regional support on both sides of Puget Sound. This is one place where we can gain support for the priorities we set locally."
The Regional Council develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth and transportation planning in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties. The Council is composed of over 80 county, city, port, transit, tribal and state agencies serving the region. It receives about $100 million in federal transportation funds each year and coordinates, sets priorities, and evaluates the most efficient ways to target those funds to support state and local transportation and growth management plans.