SEATTLE— The Puget Sound Regional Council is seeking comment on changes and additions to its public participation plan. The plan, adopted in 1994, aims to ensure early and continuous public engagement in major actions and decisions by the Regional Council.
Changes to the public participation plan reflect new Internet technologies that are being used to communicate with the public. The revised plan reflects that the Regional Council publishes meeting notices, news releases, and other information on its Web site, psrc.org, in addition to mailing print versions to news media, elected officials and other interested parties. The plan also states that the Council will make electronic copies of reports and other publications available on the Web when feasible.
The Council is also developing a privacy policy that describes the privacy protections offered to users of the agency's Web site. In general, the Regional Council collects no personal information on Web site users unless the information is offered. An example would be when a person sends an e-mail message to comment on a proposed action or e-mails a request for data or information.
The 45-day public comment period on the public participation plan and privacy policy runs from November 1 through December 18. Copies of both documents are available on the Web at psrc.org, or by calling the Regional Council's Information Center, (206) 464-7532. Written comments on the public participation plan and privacy policy should be sent by December 17 to:
E-mail: aavery@psrc.org
Post: Puget Sound Regional Council
Attn: Anne Avery
1011 Western Avenue, Suite 500
Seattle, WA 98104
Fax: (206) 587-4825
The Puget Sound Regional Council is the designated regional transportation and growth management agency for the central Puget Sound region under state and federal laws. The Council is composed of over 80 county, city, port, transit, tribal and state agencies in the region. The Council develops policies and coordinates decisions about regional growth and transportation planning in King, Pierce, Snohomish and Kitsap counties.