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WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2015
Vol. CXXIV, No. 32
OFFICIAL NEWSPAPER OF THE CITY OF TACOMA Devoted to the Courts, Real Estate, Finance, Industrial Activities, and Publication of Legal Notices
Published Published Since Since 1890 1890
Farmland Conservation
Pierce County, Forterra agreement preserves historic Matlock Farm Photos Courtesy Pierce County One of the largest farms in Pierce County will be preserved and farmed for generations to come thanks to an agreement reached this week between the county and a local land conservation organization. Through a deal crafted by Pierce County and Forterra, Pierce County made two purchases totaling $1.73 million involving the 153-acre Matlock Farm, which has been owned and stewarded by the Matlock family for more than 60 years — and has been operated as a working farm for more than 100 years. Pierce County purchased a conservation easement and development rights on 116 acres of the property, protecting it from development. To complete the deal, two local family farmers then bought the farmland, which they will own and manage for agricultural purposes. In addition, Pierce County used a grant from the Washington Department of Ecology's Floodplains by Design Program to purchase the remaining 37 acres along the Puyallup River and Ball Creek to protect the waterways. Pierce County plans to restore the floodplain and riparian buffers along the river and Ball Creek, including the removal of several fish passage barriers. "Protecting this property fairly compensates the existing landowners for their long-term investment, makes the land affordable for new farmers, and keeps the land for farming and open space forever," said Pierce County Executive Pat McCarthy. "Whether we live in cities, suburbs or out in the country, we all benefit from local farms." According to Pierce County officials, thousands of acres of farmland in Pierce County have been convert-
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Gov. Inslee visits Tacoma to discuss health care, minimum wage Posted online Tues., Feb. 17 Photos Courtesy Office of Governor Jay Inslee Washington State Governor Jay Inslee was in Tacoma Tuesday to discuss efforts to improve the health of local children and provide low-wage workers guaranteed sick leave and an increased minimum wage. Gov. Inslee visited Mary Bridge Children's Hospital Tuesday morning (right) to meet with hospital leaders, tour the facility, and talk with children and their families during their visits with health care providers. The governor discussed how the hospital's work supports his Healthiest Next Generation initiative, as well as his proposal to crack down on the increasing use of e-cigarettes among adolescents. Mary Bridge
ed to non-farm uses over the last several decades. To reverse this trend, Pierce County, through its Agriculture Program, is partnering with Forterra and more than a dozen other stakeholders to conserve farmlands using market-based mechanisms. "By guaranteeing that the property will forever be a working farm, we can ensure that it will continue to provide community, economic, and environmental benefits for generations to come," said Forterra Conservation Director Jordan Rash. "Forterra is committed to working with Pierce County, farmers, and other partners to ensure that both farmers and farmlands continue to be an integral part of our future as our region grows." "As stewards of the property for more than 60 years, we are very happy to see it go to the next generation of
Children's Hospital is home to the Ready, Set, Go 5-2-1-0 program, a community effort to encourage kids to eat well and be active, as well as the Mary Bridge Weight and Wellness Program, which helps kids achieve and maintain a healthy weight, and the Mary Bridge Childhood Immunization Clinic, which offers free vaccines to kids. Later in the day, Gov. Inslee was at Smoke + Cedar (left) to meet with workers from the retail, health care, grocery, and food service industries to hear their comments on paid sick leave and minimum wage levels. According to Gov. Inslee's administration, two bills are slated to be voted out of committee in the state House of Representatives this week – one bill sponsored by Rep. Jessyn Farrell (D-Seattle) that would phase in a higher minimum wage to $12 per hour, as well as a bill sponsored by Rep. Laurie Jinkins (D-Tacoma) to implement paid sick and safe leave. Puyallup Valley farmers," said Ivan Matlock, co-owner of the farm. "Forterra has been an exceptional partner for our family."