Adopted June 28, 2007          PDF version

The goals of the Puget Sound Regional Council's Public Participation Plan are twofold. First, to ensure early, continuous, and broad public notification about and participation in major actions and decisions by PSRC and second, to get meaningful public input to inform the decision making process. This plan establishes consistent, minimum procedures to accomplish these goals; procedures beyond these minimums may be applied as warranted and are encouraged.

The term "major" is to be applied loosely. If a proposed action or decision is clearly a normal-course-of-business activity that does not significantly affect the public or alter public policy, it may not be necessary to apply these procedures. But, if there is a question as to whether these procedures should be followed, then the agency should follow them to ensure appropriate public notification and participation.

However, failure to exactly comply with these procedures shall not, in and of itself, render any decisions or actions invalid.

As stated in its Bylaws, the Puget Sound Regional Council will utilize "a broad range of public information and participation opportunities, including dissemination of proposals and alternatives, process for written comments, public meetings after effective notice, settings for open discussion, communication programs, information services and consideration of and response to public comments."

PSRC's Desired Outcomes for its Public Participation:
1. To get public input on PSRC's activities and decisions
2. To share information with a broad cross-section of the public
3. To ensure notification and participation of traditionally underserved populations
4. To increase overall awareness of regional planning activities

This public participation plan was developed in consultation with member organizations, federal, state, and local governments and agencies, cities, counties, transit agencies, and interested parties. PSRC presented and sent copies to stakeholder groups, sent out a news release, featured the plan in the Regional VIEW, and sent draft plans to the libraries. PSRC received a number of comments during the more than 45 day long public comment period and incorporated those comments as appropriate. This Public Participation Plan will be reviewed periodically for its effectiveness.

Principles to Help Guide PSRC's Public Participation Activities:
1. No major public policy decision is reached or large project implemented without significantly affecting someone.
2. Professionals do not have a monopoly on good solutions.
3. Even if a project or policy decision is sensible and beneficial, it must be arrived at properly to be acceptable.
4. People are much more willing to live with a decision that affects different interests unequally if the decision-making process is open, objective and considers all viewpoints.
5. If project or policy staff don't provide all relevant information necessary for an informed decision, the public will rely on -- and trust -- others.
6. Interacting with an official representative of an organization or group is no substitute for interacting directly with that organization or group.
7. Effective public notification and participation takes time and effort, and can be expensive, yet is essential to sound decision-making.

Public Notification and Participation Procedures
A variety of public notification and participation procedures will be used to encourage the early and continuous involvement of citizens, jurisdictions, communities and other interests in the planning process and the decisions and actions of the Puget Sound Regional Council. Meetings and publications will occur regularly and provide ample notice on key decision making opportunities.

PSRC will continue to incorporate additional outreach efforts, beyond what is listed here. Procedures for meeting fundamental public participation requirements are established in the following sections: Meetings, Publications, Key Decisions and Activities, and Additional Outreach Efforts.

PSRC's Regularly Scheduled Meetings

Public Notification
Public notification of all meetings of the General Assembly, Executive Board, Transportation Policy Board, Growth Management Policy Board and Operations Committee, will be provided at least 10 days prior to each meeting. Public notification will be made in the Regional VIEW newsletter calendar, on the Puget Sound Regional Council website calendar at www.psrc.org, and agendas for each of these meetings will carry the date and time of the next meeting. These Boards generally meet monthly, with the exception of General Assembly, which usually only meets once each spring. Anyone who wants to receive an agenda of an upcoming board meeting may receive one at no charge. An email with a link to the agenda packet on PSRC's website will be sent to news media in each of the four counties.

Agendas
Changes to the agenda may be made up to the day of the meeting; however, no major action or decision items may be added within three (3) days of the meeting. If action or decision items are added after the agenda packet is sent, all board members and news media outlets previously notified of the meeting, will be notified of the changes at least 48 hours prior to the meeting. Items added within three (3) days of the meeting must be for discussion purposes only. The board must declare an emergency to make exceptions to these provisions.

Public Comment
A public comment period will be provided during each regular meeting of the Executive Board, Transportation Policy Board, Growth Management Policy Board, Operations Committee and General Assembly, as well as PSRC's advisory committees; however, Board chairs may limit comment periods, or provide other options for public comment on specific issues as needed.

Convenient Times and Locations
All PSRC meetings, including those of the Executive Board, Transportation Policy Board, Growth Management Policy Board and General Assembly, as well as committee meetings, open houses and other events, will be held at convenient times and conducted in facilities that are accessible to persons with disabilities and to people who rely on public transit.

Visualization Techniques
PSRC will employ visualization techniques to explain concepts behind actions and decision making.

PSRC's Publications

Regional VIEW Newsletter
PSRC will publish a general newsletter about Council programs and other pertinent information. The newsletter will provide information about upcoming PSRC meetings, activities, and possible decisions and actions, along with the address of the Council and office phone numbers of Council staff who can provide additional information. Anyone who wants to receive a copy of the newsletter may receive one free of charge. The newsletter will be mailed to a lengthy and well managed mailing list that includes traditionally underserved populations. The newsletter will be published on the website, psrc.org.

News Releases
PSRC will send news releases as appropriate on Council programs and other pertinent information to news media in the four-county region. In addition to information about Council programs and activities, news releases will be provided to news media in the region regarding major upcoming actions, when and where the action will be taken, and whom to contact for more information. Anyone requesting a copy of a PSRC news release will receive one free of charge. News releases will be published on the PSRC's website, psrc.org.

PSRC's Website - www.psrc.org
PSRC will maintain a website about its programs and activities. PSRC will post electronic copies of agendas, publications, and other pertinent information online. PSRC will follow its adopted privacy policy which describes the privacy protections offered to users of the agency's website.

Other publications
PSRC will produce other publications as needed, and make them available to news media, agencies, member jurisdictions and other interested parties, a wide variety of other publications, including reports, maps, brochures, etc. These publications will include technical and policy information documents, as needed. Most publications will be made available free of charge. When appropriate, a charge may be levied to cover the cost of producing and (if applicable) mailing the publication. When appropriate, PSRC will make copies of publications available at libraries in the four-county region, and other public locations, for public inspection.

Information Center
PSRC will maintain an Information Center to keep its documents, publications and other pertinent material on file for public inspection and use.

Visualization Techniques and Other Technologies
PSRC will use new technologies or mediums to communicate information and data as needed, including additional visualization techniques.

Mailing Lists
PSRC will periodically update its mailing lists and databases to maintain and initiate contact with interested parties, targeting those traditionally underserved and/or gaps in existing databases.

Alternative Formats and Limited English Proficiency
PSRC's agendas, news releases, and publications will available in alternative formats and in other languages by request and when possible.

Key Decisions and Actions

At key decision points, such as approval of the Metropolitan (Regional) Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program, pursuant to state and federal laws, the PSRC will provide "citizens, affected public agencies, representatives of public transportation employees, freight shippers, providers of freight transportation services, private providers of transportation, representatives of users of public transportation, representatives of users of pedestrian walkways and bicycle transportation facilities, representatives of the disabled, and other interested parties with reasonable opportunities to be involved in the metropolitan transportation planning process." [Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act: A Legacy for Users - CFR Vol. 72, 450.316].

Efforts to fulfill this requirement will include opportunities for interested parties to be involved in the early stages of plan, program and policy development. These efforts may include publications, workshops, open houses, visualization techniques, or participation in other public forums or methods to provide opportunities for the public to learn about and participate in plan, program and policy development.

These efforts will include publication of appropriate documents, public notice of availability of such documents, and/or other methods to make them available for public review. They also will include notice as to where to send written comments, and who at the agency will receive written comments and can provide additional information. Public comment received will be summarized and presented to the appropriate board. Public comment received on the Metropolitan Transportation Plan and Transportation Improvement Program will be included as part of the final documentation of these plans.

As part of these efforts, PSRC will proactively seek out and consider the needs of people traditionally under served by transportation systems (e.g., low-income and minority households).

Consistent with these procedures and the philosophy of this Public Participation Plan, PSRC will establish a public participation process for each of its key decisions. This process will include a specific public review period of at least 20 days for review of key decision documents, between the release of a draft and final action. Copies of written comments received during this time will be made available to members of the body taking final action (the Executive Board or General Assembly.) In cases where the final documents differ significantly from the versions distributed for the public comment and review period, time for additional public comment will be provided.

PSRC will clearly define the roles and responsibilities for consulting with other government agencies at key decision points.

State Environmental Policy Act (SEPA), RCW 43.21C
PSRC will use SEPA to guide its environmental review for key decision making. SEPA rules adopted by the Puget Sound Regional Council require that whenever PSRC issues a Declaration of Non-Significance (DNS) under WAC 197-11-360-(3), the Council will give public notice as follows: Publishing a notice in a newspaper of general circulation in the county, city, or general area where the proposal is located; Furnishing notice to anyone who has specifically requested in writing to be notified about the particular proposal; and Creating and maintaining a mailing list based on responses during the scoping process and sending notice to those on the list. These rules also apply when PSRC issues a Draft Environmental Impact Statement (DEIS) under WAC 197-11-455(5) or Supplemental Environmental Impact Statement (SEIS) under WAC 197-11-620.

These rules also will be followed whenever PSRC proposes to change its adopted SEPA procedures.

When issuing a Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS), the Puget Sound Regional Council will provide notice to news media in all counties that are members of the Council, and in addition will notify anyone who has requested in writing to be notified or who has provided comments on the draft document.

State Growth Management Act (GMA), RCW 36.70A
For the development and adoption of multicounty policies under the GMA, the Puget Sound Regional Council will comply with GMA procedures that apply to countywide planning policies, including "a public hearing or public hearings on the proposed policies," [RCW 36.70A.210 (2)(e)] with appropriate public notification and participation.

The public notification and procedures will include, as required by the GMA, "broad dissemination of proposals and alternatives, opportunity for written comments, public meetings after effective notice, provision for open discussion, communication programs, information services, and consideration of and response to public comments." [RCW 36.70A.140]

Additional Outreach Efforts

Puget Sound Regional Council will also conduct additional outreach efforts as appropriate to provide public opportunities for comment, suggestions, ideas and concerns. This may include workshops, open houses, forums, and other events. PSRC will also encourage public comment and participation through advisory committees, presentations to civic groups, and other efforts as appropriate.

Some elements of PSRC's Budget and Work Program involve compiling projects from many jurisdictions throughout the region; the Council will work with local jurisdictions to ensure that the public in those jurisdictions is notified and involved at the local level, to provide effective opportunities for early and continuous participation.

In addition to these procedures, the Puget Sound Regional Council will comply with all other provisions of the Open Public Meetings Act (RCW 42.30), the State Environmental Policy Act (RCW 43.21C), the federal Safe, Accountable, Flexible, Efficient Transportation Equity Act - A Legacy for Users (SAFETEA-LU), the state Growth Management Act (RCW 36.70A), and any and all other applicable federal and state laws.