HomeMy WebLinkAboutM092710
District No.1 Commissioner: Phil Johnson
District No.2 Commissioner: David W. SnUivan
District No.3 Commissioner: John Anstin
County Administrator: PWIip Morley
Clerk of the Board: Lorna Delaney
MINUTES
Week of September 27, 2010
Chairman David Sullivan called the meeting to order at the appointed time in the presence of
Commissioner Phil Jolmson and Commissioner Jolm Austin.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following comments were made by citizens in
attendance at the meeting and reflect their personal opinions: A she11:fish farmer submitted comments on the
DOE proposed rule updating the WAC guidance on aquaculture in the Shoreline Master Program and asked
the Board to submit a comment to DOE asking that they forgo any changes in the rules; the power is out in
part of town because a truck hit power poles and an electric contractor who has been operating in Port
Townsend is moving to Sequim.
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Johnson
moved and Commissioner Austin seconded the motion to approve all of the items on the consent agenda as
presented. The motion carried by a nnanimous vote.
1. HEARING NOTICE re: Proposed Ordinance: Increasing the E-911 Excise Tax (Additional $.20
per line); Hearing scheduled for October 11,2010 at 10:15 a.m in the Jefferson County
Commissioners Chambers, Courthouse
2. HEARING NOTICE re: Proposed 2011 through 2016 Six (6) Year Transportation Improvement
Program; Hearing scheduled for October 18, 2010 at 10:00 am. in the Jefferson County
Commissioners Chambers, Courthouse
3. AGREEMENT re: Cash Security for Transportation of Cash and Checks from the Waste
Management Facility to Bank of America; In the Amount of$4,800.00; Jefferson County Public
Works; Loomis
4. AGREEMENT No. LA-6359, Supplement No.2 re: Upper Hoh Road Emergency Repair Mile Post
3.93 to 4.01, Federal Aid Project No. ER-0701(051); In the Amount of$65,000.00; Jefferson County
Public Works; Washington State Department of Transportation
5. AGREEMENT No. LA-6891, Supplement No.1 re: Upper Hoh Road Emergency Repair Mile Post
9.70 to 9.80, Federal Aid Project No. ER-0902(340); In the Amount of$84,346.00; Jefferson County
Public Works; Washington State Department of Transportation
6. AGREEMENT, Amendment No.2 re: Community Information and Education Services; An
Additional Amount of $14,620.00 for a Total of $26,440.00; Jefferson County Public Health; ARC
of Jefferson and Kitsap Counties
7. AGREEMENT, Amendment No.1 re: Water Resource Investigations, Chimacum Creek Basin;
Time Extension Only; Jefferson County Public Health; US Department of the Interior Geological
Survey
8. AGREEMENT re: CASAlGAL Website; In the Amount of $1,690.00; Jefferson County Juvenile
Services; Interactive Educational Services (lES)
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Commissioners MeetinR Minutes: Week of September 27, 20 I 0
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9. Advisory Board Resignation; Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; Judith
Lucia, District No.3 Representative
10. Payment of Jefferson County VoucherslWarrants Dated September 20,2010 Totaling
$419,702.64 totaling $6,301.50
II. Payment of Jefferson County Payroll Warrants Dated September 20,2010 Totaling $93,066.07
and AlP Warrants Done by Payroll Dated September 4,2010 Totaling $108,826.99 and Dated
September 20,2010 Totaling $17,059.77
COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING SESSION: The Commissioners and County Administrator
were updated on the following items:
Commissioner Sullivan said a representative ofNOAAnet reported on the broadband project at the
Peninsula DeVelopment District meeting; the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe has also received a grant for
broadband; He attended a volunteer appreciation lunch at H.J. Carroll Park for Parks and Recreation staff
and volunteers.
Commissioner Austin reported that Friday there was a meeting of the Emergency Operations Center and
Puget Sound Energy ststed that they are ready to repair their lines when emergencies happen; KPTZ radio
station for Jefferson County is currently in the process of getting their tower permitted and instslled; He
feels the Board needs to look into the proposed DOE rule changes for aquaculture and make a comment;
There is a hearing Tuesday afternoon by Washington State Parks on the Brlnnon sewer project which he will
be attending.
Commissioner Johnson reported that he will be going to the Broadband Workshop on Tuesday at I :00 p.m.;
he reminded everyone of the 2liearings on Proposition No.1. The first is scheduled for Tuesday at 7 p.m. at
Chimacum High School Auditorium; and the second will be Thursday at 7 p.m. at the Port Townsend
Community Center. There is a possibility of action to be taken by the Board at the conclusion of the
Thursday hearing.
County Admini..u-ator Phillip Morley reported that because sales tax is so low right now there are no funds
going into the Construction Renovation Fund and a meeting is being held to talk about what projects can be
done and how they can be financed with a recommendation to come before the Board in the future; the Port
Townsend Film Festival was very successful this past weekend; He will be giving presentations over the
next few weeks at many of the service club meetings on the County's budget and factual information on
Proposition No. 1.
DISCUSSION and Possible Approval: Resolution Establishing a Policy on the Use of
Sales Tox Revenues Exceeding Budget in the County General Fund: Aune Sears handed out a chart and
draft resolution and reported that this policy has been discussed the last few weeks with the intent that in
years when the sales tax revenues are good a portion of it would be put in a reserve fund to use in years
when there is a downturn. In really good years a portion could be used to lower the property tax. She
reviewed the chart which detailed sales tax collection for a number of years. This policy would limit the
amount of sales tax that would be budgeted for use in a year to be at or below a level consistent with the 10
year average annual sales tax receipts. Anything received over the budgeted amount would be reserved as
follows:
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of September 27,2010
60% in the Revenue Stabilization Reserve Fund
20% to Capital Improvement Fund
20% to existing programs or services.
It would take time to build the reserves but once they are established then the excess would be used to lower
property taxes.
Commissioner Sullivan stated that this is memorializing of what the Board has been doing for the past
several years. County Administrator Philip Morley added that an important element of this policy is that the
budget cannot be set at an amount more than the average of the actual sales taxes received in the prior 10
years. Commissioner Sullivan noted that this Board cannot obligate future Commissioners to any specific
action, but future Boards of Commissioners would have to take a vote during a public meeting to change this
policy.
Commissioner Austin asked if this is the first time the Board has looked at using excess sales tax to reduce
property taxes? Philip Morley reported that as far as he knows that is correct. He explained that during
times when this policy would be used to bank the excess sales tax in a reserve account the County could
potentially be looking at a 15% fund balance reserve and that would create pressure and difficulties in Union
negotiations and with the public. Anne Sears pointed out that it takes a resolution of the Board to authorize
use of this excess revenue reserve.
Commissioner Johnson moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 38-10 as presented. Commissioner Austin
seconded the motion which carried by a unanimons vote.
HEARING: Resolution Amending Ordinance No. 11-1214-98 Exhibit A; Jefferson County
Road Speed Limits: County Engineer Monte Reinders introduced Jon Watson, Engineering Services
Manager and Rick Montgomery, Engineering Technician III. He then noted that the County adopted the
Washington Model Traffic Ordinance which says that the legislative authority sets speed limits as
appropriate and on the recommendation of the County Engineer. The ordinance allows the speed limits to be
set by resolution after a public hearing. Exhibit A from October 2003 will be replaced if this resolution is
approved. Signs will be replaced as necessary and the Sheriff's Office will provide enforcement of the new
speeds. Advisory signs are used on curves to notify the public of a safe speed.
Rick Montgomery reviewed his report and noted that the speed log is being updated to match the signs that
are actually on site. He stated that the speed that 85% of the people on that road drive is the speed that is
nsed as a measure for suggesting a speed limit on a road. The suggested changes to speed limits are as
follows:
. Speeds are being set for 5 new roads in Port LudloW;
. South Jacob Miller Road has changed in the past few years with more traffic to the Solid Waste
Transfer Station and is being changed from 40 mph to 35 mph;
. Prospect Avenue past the 4 way stop into the new residential development is being changed from 40
mph to 25 mph. A petition was received asking for this change from the property owners in this area
. Cook Avenue Extension is only 18 feet wide and the trees are right next to the roadway and should
match the existing roadways in the area at 25 mph.
. Upper Hoh Road is currently 45 mph at the first of the road and that is being shortened to where the
road starts to descend and goes into curves where it will now be 35 mph.
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of September 27,2010
. Several roadway segments will be reduced from 25 mph to 20 mph. Many of these are gravel roads
and the lowest legal speed limit is 20 mph on County Roads except in parks. An advisory warning
sign can be put up for 20 mph. Some of these roads are: Coyle Road; Hazel Point Road; Whitney
Road; Beach Drive (only 12 feet wide); Lower Adelma Beach Road; and Critter Lane.
. The Upper Hoh Road has been posted at 40 mph and is now changed to match what is already out
there at 25 mph.
The discussion continued about school zones which are 20 mph when posted (flashing signs controlled by
the school personnel) and construction zones (25 mph when posted and a doubling of traffic fines.)
Chairman Sullivan opened the public hearing. Hearing no co=ents for or against the proposed resolution
the Chair closed the public hearing. Commissioner Austin moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 39-10
revising Exhibit A >as presented. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous
vote. Monte Reinders reported that it will take approximately a month to change all of the traffic signs on
these roads.
The meeting was recessed at the conclusion of the business listed for the morning and
reconvened at 1 :30 p.m. with all three Board members present.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BRIEFING SESSION: County Administrator Philip Morley
discussed the following items with the Board:
. Calendar Coordination - The Board members reviewed their calendars for the upcoming weeks.
. Miscellaneous Items -
Discussion regarding access to the Hoh Rain Forest
Update on the 2011-2016 Six Year Transportation Improvement Program
Discussion on a Regional Parks and Recreation Committee
NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Austin moved to adjourn the meeting at
4:30 p.m. until the next regularly scheduled meeting or properly noticed special meeting. Commissioner
Johnson seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
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