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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM092810S District No.1 Commissioner: Phil Johnson District No.2 Commissioner: David W. Sullivan District No.3 Commissioner: John Austin County Administrator: Philip Morley Clerk of the Board: Lorna Delaney MIN'UTES Special Meeting September 28, 2010 Chairman David Sullivan called the meeting to order at 7:06 p.m. Commissioner Phil Johnson and Commissioner John Austin were present HEARING re: Proposed Resolution to Support Jefferson County Proposition No.1 that is on the November Election Ballot: (Callingfor an election on the levy of a County Special Purpose Sales and Use Taxfor Public Sofety, Youth and Senior Services, Community Services, and Basic Government Public Services. Proposition No. 1 Woald, if approved by the County's voters, result in an increase in the sales tax rate for Jefferson County from 8.4% to 8.7%) County Administrator Philip Morley gave an informational overview of Proposition No. 1 and explained that this public hearing is to hear whether or not the Commissioners should endorse passage of Proposition No. 1. Chairman Sullivan then explained the purpose of the hearing and the procedures for the evening and opened the public hearing. Davis Stee1quist Ouilcene said that looking at past budgets it is hard to determine what is General Fund and what is grant funded and he asked that the County consider providing that information. About the time the revenue started dropping off is about the time home building slowed. Several of his neighbors have noticed that their property tax has dropped and that could make things worse. He supports anything the County can do to help the Sheriff. The vehicles that the Sheriff uses are on a 5 year replacement program and maybe that should be lengthened to 7 years. Community Centers are vital to the community and there needs to be a way to keep them open. Volunteers have spent many hours improving the Quilcene Community Center and those people will feel it's a slap in the face if that Center is closed. Campgrounds that make some income have been closed and there is a well in Quilcene where residents can get all of the water they need at no cost and maybe there is a way to meter that water and charge people for it With regard to the items being cut he said: Jefferson County Fair - go ahead and cut it; WSU Extension - provides a good service; Public Health - he has concerns about their spending, duplication of services such as vaccinations and questioned whether some of these departments were being reined in; Parks and Recreation - He was on the Park Board for awhile and he is concerned that not included in some of the cuts are things such as $45,000 for the land to expand Gibbs Lake. He asked if that could be deferred? Bonnie White. Port Townsend, Co-Director ofCormnunity Support Services at OlyCap, reviewed the uses, services and programs provided by the Community Centers. The Centers are a vital part of the communities Page 1 Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes: September 28,2010 ~o ~\'.: ' ,..,-, ''" they serve. In 2010 year to date there have been over 62,000 visitors to the Community Centers that OlyCap mAnAges. She then reviewed the usage numbers for the OlyCap services provided at the three Community Centers. She stated that she is here tonight as a citizen and an OlyCap representative to let the Board know that this is serious and the Centers help OlyCap deliver wrap around services to the communities. They are a great place for people to come together to socialize and taking the Centers out of the equation will really impact the community in a big way. Dennis Schultz. Port Townsend, stated that the items listed in this Proposition are the ones that will hit people in the gut and he feels it would be much better for the County to provide a list of all the programs the County is funding and give an argument of why funding to them is not being cut. He would like to know what programs the County is keeping because there are a lot of programs that people do not know about that are taking money that might be better spent elsewhere as far as the people are concerned. An example is the Watershed Resource Center at DCD with a matching fund grant that will cost $220,000 in two years and is almost enough to keep the Community Centers open. We don't need this Resource Center. This is a very poor analysis. The public should know which programs are mandated and which ones are nice to have. The Resource Center is nice to have, not a must have. The Commissioners have taken a lot of flax about giving themselves a raise and they could have shown leadership by giving a portion of their money back to the County. AI LathAm Chimacum, explained that he works for the Conservation District but is here commenting as a private citizen. He supports the passage of Proposition No.1. He explained that the funding from the County provides 20% of the operating budget of the Conservation District and if that funding goes away it would be devastating to the Conservation District and he heartily endorses the approval of Proposition No.1. As for the other things listed to be cut he supports all of them. He then reviewed some of the services provided at the Port Townsend Recreation Center and said he is pleased to see that some of this funding, if approved, would keep the Rec Center as well as the Community Centers open. He supports all of the areas where this funding would be used. Judi Morris. Port Hadlock, Jefferson County Treasurer and Chairman of the OlyCap Board of Directors, said that she has been the County Treasurer for 14 years and this is the first time in those years that she has supported an increase in the sales tax. She is doing that at this time because she has been a part of the Elected and Department Head committees that have looked at the cuts that have been made in the past and know now that we're at the brink of cutting to the quick. She is concerned that further cuts will be devastating in the future. For example, cuts to Juvenile Services that would prevent crime will simply add to the law and justice system later on because these children will not be channeled correctly. She is also the Chair of the OlyCap Board and in that role she is very concerned about the community centers which are a pivotal part of the community network. She reported that the OlyCap Board voted today to support Proposition No. 1 and they will be making that public. She mAnAges the revenue that comes into the County and knows that things are critical. She is stepping out of her comfort zone in support of a tax increase but is doing it wholeheartedly now. Connie Gallant. Quilcene, explained the evolution of the Quilcene Community Center and how the volunteers led by Bob Rosen have made it a place to be very proud of. She stated that she is in favor of Page 2 Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes: September 28, 2010 e"". ~" , w Proposition No. 1 primarily because she does not want to see any cut to the services listed. The sales tax increase is so small on each of us that she doesn't see any problem with us being able to pass it. To the credit of the County we have not had a sales tax increase in many years and this sales tax will not impact food or medicine purchases. Ifwe do not want to take respousibility within our communities for centers and parks then let us take a sales tax increase because we need it and it is not the fault of the County Commissioners or any of our County Elected Officials that we are in the state in which we find ourselves. Bob Rosen. Quilcene, explained and reviewed what has happened at the Quilcene Community Center with the volunteers improving the Center and the activities provided through it. He feels the people in Quilcene are angry because of this and they feel if the Center is shut down they have a right to be angry. He asked why the Centers are being targeted for closure compared to the small amount the County has paid to the Centers? George Sickel. Brinnon, said that he talked to the OlyCap Board this evening about moving forward with turning the Community Centers over to the community to run. He suggested that the Board look at Quilcene, Gardiner and Brinnon to see if the community is willing to step up and take over their Community Center. The train wreck that former Commissioner Pat Rogers talked about is here and we weren't smart enough to take action to avoid it. He would like to know what are we going to do to avoid the next train wreck. He suggested several things for the County to do that he feels would help things turn around. George Yount said that he appreciates the Board bringing this to the voters because it is their decision, not the Board's decision. Bob Rosen added that if the 3 community centers are closed it will put 10 people out of work. An unidentified person asked if the Stare mandates that counties have community centers? Chair Sullivan answered the State does not mandate that a County have community centers. Ten Nomura. Port Hadlock, said that a lot of people are really struggling and they turn to government for services and she thanked the Board for having the courage to put this increase in sales tax before the voters. It is definitely risky. If the voters don't support their own community she doesn't know what they would support. 37 out of39 counties are struggling with their budgets and the legislature gave the counties this avenue to raise revenue which Counties normally don't have. She thanked the Board for working with the City on the interlocal agreement to fund both Memorial Field and the Recreation Center. She then commented on the impact of the suggested action of the Board to freeze pay of County workers. She stated that she would like to see Proposition No.1 succeed. Tonv Hernandez. Jefferson County Sheriff, urged the Board to support Proposition No.1 and then reviewed the impact of budget cuts on the Sheriff's Office in the past and if this Proposition does not pass. He continually reviews the budget and reaches out to other agencies for partnerships, possible efficiencies and economies. He urged the Board to support Proposition No.1. Ruth Gordon. County Clerk, reviewed the impact of the growing need on the law and justice offices which are mandated services. The items on the list for funding from Proposition No. 1 are not required or Page 3 Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes: September 28,2010 ~ mandated. This is an opportunity to save programs that solve problems. We recognize the value to individuals and we know that families are hurting. This variety of services that would be funded should Proposition No. 1 succeed is in part a gesture of support from those department heads that are charged with mandated services whether they have staff or not They know there are going to be further cuts and she doesn't know how the department will mAnAge. The non-mandated services are in the basket for Proposition No.1 becanse we believe they are so important We are trying to find a footfall to save our precious programs that are not mandated. She urged the Board and everyone present to support Proposition No.1. Laurie Macklin Port Townsend, stated that this is not a partisan issue. This Proposition is to fund public safety, public services and public health and is for services that benefit citizens no matter what their political leanings. As the wife of the person who runs the Rec Center and recreation programs for the County it has been really difficult with these budget cuts. Its been a difficult for her husband to be the person who has to tell the children that the Rec Center is closed and they can't come in. It's also been difficult to have to cut programs in Brinnon and Quilcene because he's really trying to provide these services throughout the County. She encouraged the Board to support Proposition No. 1 because it is important to continue all of these program as they are essential to our community. Teri Nomura stated that she is really glad that the County didn't go after property tax increase. Davis Steelauist made a suggestion that a list be developed of all of the cuts that will be made. It could help sell the voters on this proposition. Hearing no further comments the Chair closed the public hearing. NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Johnson moved and Commissioner Austin seconded the motion to adjourn the meeting at 8:40 p.m. until the next special meeting at 7 p.m. Thursday, September ~O,~~e Port Townsend Community Center as properly noticed pursuant to RCW 42.30.080~fv cil~; >1c,.... . I r ~ ,ct.".. .. -....r/~~ ,{7 . 4: ~ ___\\\ 'M' "d.~ ~\ "'1";'." , r"!(', ~ 4'_ \~ ' "''! 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