1997 Planning Ballot

Recommendation Descriptions

What follows is a brief description of the four * major project candidates identified by the Ellensburg Planning Team at the workshop on February 6 & 7. Due to resource considerations it is necessary for the Council to narrow its focus on (at most) two of these major initiatives.

*(The initial list of major project candidates had five projects on it, the current list has four as a result of merging "Adopt data models for Transportation, Hydrology and Cadastre" with the "Continue Support of the Framework Data Initiatives" - the adoption of data models is an integral component of the Framework Data Initiative.)

Four Major Project Candidates:

1) Fund the development of a Strategic Business Plan for Washington's Geospatial Information

Fund the development of a statewide strategic plan for the effective collection, maintenance, and dissemination of Geospatial Information. The plan will address:

• Five year planning horizon,
• Identify opportunities to reduce the cost of geospatial data collection, maintenance, and dissemination for state and local governments;
• Identify opportunities to work together;
• Identify appropriate role for council, and
• Lead to improved decision making and better services to the citizenry.

2) Continue to Support Framework Activities

This focus would involve exploring ways to implement FGDC's Framework Data Initiate including new projects and support for existing activities through the Washington Framework Management Group.

• Adopt data models for statewide data coverage's for Cadastre, Transportation, and Hydrology. Leverage the data model work that the various FGDC Framework data groups are doing to create standard data models for Washington State.
• Seek special funding (grants) opportunities - assist projects exploring these opportunities.
• Encourage organizations to participate in Washington Framework Management Group.

3) Work with Census Bureau to Adopt Local data layers for Tiger Line File

Work with Census Bureau to leverage their interest in partnering with Local Jurisdictions to prepare for Census 2000, specifically partner with Census to conduct a demonstration project that explores issues and solutions associated with:

• Census adoption of local street geometry for maintaining Tiger Line File.
• Local Jurisdictions providing periodic maintenance and update of the street geometry.

4) Education Project

This project has six major components and contains elements of existing 'Outreach Strategy'.

• Educate People about the Council - what is the Council, what is it currently doing, what are its aspirations - help them understand why it is important to them.
• Help stakeholders (policy and decision makers) understand what GIS is and how it can help them, (help them understand what the business case is for GIS) perhaps use Case Studies, more Road Shows.
• Develop a document that identifies 'The 25 Most Asked Policy Questions' and provides the appropriate answers. Intent is to create a resource that would be useful in orienting decision makers to the issues of implementing and maintaining GIS.
• How Jurisdictions can cooperate (provide case studies of existing examples of successful cooperative projects, sample data sharing agreements, etc.).
• Promote outreach to the tribes, increase efforts to involve tribes with the Council.

Transitional Funding Recommendations for WAGIC:

Funding Objectives - Implement a voluntary, tiered membership structure that will partially offset council expenses . Do so in a way that minimizes bureaucracy, maintains an effective level of accountability and the informality and flexibility of current council structure.

Uses of Membership Funds - The first $15,000 in annual membership revenue will be used to offset annual Council operating expenses to include: Video tele-conferencing, production and distribution of meeting minutes, web site space rental, mailing list update and copy expenses, and related operational expenses. (Offsetting Council Coordinator's staff time is not a part of the transitional funding approach)

An additional $5,000 will be set aside from the annual membership fees for a Special Project/activity fund. Proposal(s) for use of the funds would be presented to the council for approval by the voting membership.

DIS will provide periodic reports on the receipt and disbursement of the membership funds.

Annual membership revenue in excess of $20,000 will be placed in an interest bearing account.

Proposed annual rates for calendar year:

Voting Memberships

Sponsoring Organization $5,000 and up

Supporting Organization $2,000 to 4,999

Associated Organization $500 to 1,999

Non-voting memberships

Individual $20

Student $10