[No. 57813-8-I. Division One. March 19, 2007.]
[1] Dismissal and Nonsuit — Status at Law. The dismissal of an action under CR 12 should be granted sparingly and with care. [2] Dismissal and Nonsuit — Motion To Dismiss — Interpretation of Facts. For purposes of ruling on a CR 12 motion to dismiss an action, a court presumes that the plaintiff's factual allegations are true. [3] Counties — Powers — Power To Contract — In General. Under RCW 36.01.010, counties may make such contracts as may be necessary to their corporate or administrative powers. [4] Counties — Land Use Controls — Enforcement — By Contract — Validity — Test. A contract made by a county to fulfill or enforce specific statutory land use, resource, or growth management requirements may be valid and enforceable despite the fact that it limits the county's ability to exercise its land use powers in the future if the contract is not arbitrary and unreasonable and it has a substantial relation to the public health, safety, morals, and general welfare. [5] Counties — Land Use Controls — Growth Management Act — Planning Policies — Enforcement — By Contract — Validity. A county may fulfill duties or policies required by the Growth Management Act (chapter 36.70A RCW) by means of contractual agreements. [6] Counties — Powers — Power To Contract — Governmental Services by Public Entities. Under the Interlocal Cooperation Act (chapter 39.34 RCW), a county may contract with any one or more public agencies, including local municipalities, state agencies, and Indian tribes, to perform any governmental service, activity, or undertaking. [7] Waters — Resource Management — Statutory Provisions — Enforcement — By Contract — Validity. The policy of the Water Resources Act of 1971 (chapter 90.54 RCW) of encouraging coordination between multiple parties to ensure the proper stewardship of the state's water resources may be fulfilled by means of contractual agreements. [8] Building Regulations — Building Permit — Water Supply — Necessity — Statutory Provisions — Private Enforcement. RCW 19.27.097, which requires evidence of an adequate water supply before a building permit may issue, is not enforceable by a private party having other avenues of potential relief available. Nature of Action: An Indian tribe that was a party to a memorandum of agreement with a county and several other parties to protect the instream flows of waterways in a river basin sought a declaration that the agreement precluded the county from permitting water wells that would adversely affect the minimum instream flows. The tribe also claimed breach of contract and sought an injunction requiring the county to abide by its statutory and contractual obligations. Superior Court: The Superior Court for Snohomish County, No. 04-2-05842-1, Linda C. Krese, J., on December 22, 2004, ruled that the tribe had standing to seek enforcement of the memorandum of agreement but lacked standing to seek enforcement of a statutory provision requiring evidence of an adequate water supply before a building permit may be issued and, on December 16, 2005, entered a judgment dismissing the tribe's contract claim. Court of Appeals: Holding that the memorandum of agreement is not void as against public policy and that the tribe does not have a right of direct action to enforce the statutory provision requiring evidence of an adequate water supply before a building permit may be issued, the court affirms the decision that the tribe cannot directly enforce the statutory provision, reverses the decision that the memorandum of understanding is void as against public policy, and remands the case for further proceedings. Ann E. Tweedy- (of Kanji & Katzen, P.L.L.C.); Stephen T. LeCuyer- (of Office of the Tribal Attorney); and John B. Arum- (of Ziontz, Chestnut, Varnell, Berley & Slonim), for appellant. Joseph P. Mentor, Jr.-, William W. Clarke-, and Jamie M. Morin- (of Mentor Law Group, P.L.L.C.) and William W. Honea (of Law Offices of William Honea), for respondent. P. Stephen DiJulio-, Jeffrey B. Taraday-, and Ian S. Munce- on behalf of the City of Anacortes, amicus curiae. Ryan Vancil-, Amy E. Trainer-, and Jill M. Olson- on behalf of Washington Environmental Council, amicus curiae. ¶1 BAKER, J. — The Swinomish Indian Tribal Community (Tribe) sought a declaratory judgment that provisions of the Growth Management Act (GMA), chapter 36.70A RCW, and a memorandum of agreement (MOA) between the Tribe, Skagit County (County), and various other parties preclude the County from permitting water wells that adversely affect minimum instream water flows in the rivers and streams of Skagit basin, and an injunction requiring the County to abide by its statutory and contractual obligations. The superior court dismissed on the grounds that the Tribe lacks standing to seek interpretation and enforcement of the GMA in this manner, and that provisions of the MOA are contrary to public policy and thus unenforceable. I ¶2 The Skagit River is the third largest river system in the United States. More than 3,000 rivers and streams flow into the Skagit River system, accounting for one-quarter of the fresh water flowing into Puget Sound. It is the only river in the lower 48 states that is home to all five species of Pacific salmon. The Tribe has treaty rights to take fish from the Skagit River Basin. ¶3 In 1996, the Tribe entered into an agreement with the County regarding the allocation of Skagit River Basin water resources. In addition to the Tribe and County, the agreement also included Skagit County Public Utility District No. 1, the city of Anacortes, the Department of Ecology, the Department of Fish and Wildlife, and the Upper Skagit and Sauk-Suiattle Tribes. ¶4 The MOA was intended in part to ensure the establishment of instream water flows to protect fisheries resources, to develop a coordinated water delivery system, and to reduce the use of exempt water wells in areas of the county experiencing inadequate instream flows as a result of groundwater withdrawal. An instream flow is defined in the MOA as the quantity of flow necessary to maintain sufficient water in a stream to support in harvestable numbers the natural production of food and game fish. ¶5 In a further provision of the MOA, the County agreed to abide by section 63 of the GMA, such that building permits would only be issued if the parcel is served by a public water system or if there is an adequate supply of ground water that can be withdrawn without adversely affecting Skagit River Basin instream flows. ¶6 The GMA was adopted to combat uncoordinated and unplanned growth. ¶7 Section 63 of the GMA (codified at RCW 19.27.097) mandates that each applicant for a building permit requiring potable water provide evidence of an adequate water supply. ¶8 In April 2001, pursuant to the MOA, a WAC (Washington Administrative Code) rule setting minimum stream flows for the Skagit River Basin became effective. Its purpose was to retain instream flows in rivers, streams, and lakes in the Skagit area to provide for the protection and preservation of wildlife, fish, scenic, aesthetic, and other environmental and navigational values, as well as recreation and water quality. ¶9 The Tribe asserts that despite the commitments enshrined in the MOA, the adoption of the Skagit Basin rule, and the requirements of section 63 of the GMA, the County has continued to issue permits for wells that are in hydraulic continuity with the Skagit River Basin, resulting in reductions in water flow below the minimum required under chapter ¶10 The Tribe filed an action for declaratory judgment and injunctive relief against the County barring the County from issuing further building permits that rely on wells in the Skagit Basin in violation of the GMA and the MOA. The Tribe asserted a breach of contract claim against the County for violating the MOA, and a Uniform Declaratory Judgments Act, chapter 7.24 RCW, claim against the County for violating RCW 19.27.097 by issuing permits for wells when minimum flow requirements were not met. ¶11 The County moved for dismissal. The superior court ruled that the Tribe lacked standing to seek direct enforcement of RCW 19.27.097 (section 63 of the GMA) but held that it could seek enforcement pursuant to provisions of the MOA. ¶12 Subsequently, the County filed another motion to dismiss and for judgment on the pleadings, asserting that the MOA was contrary to public policy. The superior court dismissed the Tribe's contract claim without discussion. ¶13 The Tribe appeals both rulings. The County also appeals a conclusion by the superior court that there is no permitting or metering system in place at the state or local level that regulates exempt well use. II ¶15 The County asserts that the MOA is contrary to public policy and therefore void and unenforceable. It argues that the County cannot grant away its legislative authority or limit its ability to protect the health, safety, and welfare of its population. It further argues that it is prohibited from contractually limiting its governmental capacity when so doing could prevent it from enacting legislation that may become necessary to protect the welfare of its citizens. ¶17 Likewise, in Weyerhaeuser v. Pierce County, ¶19 Far from being arbitrary and unreasonable, the MOA in the present case has a substantial relation to public health, safety, morals, and general welfare. It represents not a limitation on the County's legislative and police powers but a commitment to follow and enforce specific statutory requirements. There is abundant statutory authority to support a conclusion that the MOA is not contrary to public policy. The GMA itself specifies coordinated planning. "It is in the public interest that citizens, communities, local governments, and the private sector cooperate and coordinate with one another in comprehensive land use planning." ¶20 In King County v. Central Puget Sound Growth Management Hearings Board, ¶21 The MOA directly supports the statutory goals of the GMA of ensuring harmonious land use planning to maintain and enhance natural resource-based industries such as fisheries, to conserve fish habitat, and to protect and enhance the state's water quality and availability. ¶22 The Interlocal Cooperation Act, chapter 39.34 RCW, allows public agencies to "make the most efficient use of their powers by enabling them to cooperate with other localities on a basis of mutual advantage." ¶23 Similarly, the Water Resources Act of 1971, chapter 90.54 RCW, encourages coordination between multiple parties to ensure the proper stewardship of the state's water resources. Through a comprehensive planning process that includes the state, Indian tribes, local governments, and interested parties, it is possible to make better use of available water supplies and achieve better management of water resources. Through comprehensive planning, conflicts among water users and interests can be reduced or resolved. It is in the best interests of the state that comprehensive water resource planning be given a high priority so that water resources and associated values can be utilized and enjoyed today and protected for tomorrow. ¶24 The MOA entered into by the Tribe and the County comports squarely with the public policy aims of the GMA, the Interlocal Cooperation Act, and the Water Resources Act. Given the manifest legislative intent favoring cooperation and joint planning in the above acts, the MOA is not void as against public policy. We therefore reverse the second order of dismissal entered by the superior court. ¶26 Given our ruling that the Tribe may seek to enforce the MOA provisions, we do not address the County's appeal, as the issue it raises is likely to be reconsidered in further proceedings on remand. ¶27 Affirmed in part, reversed in part, and remanded. AGID and BECKER, JJ., concur.