HomeMy WebLinkAboutM093010S
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
MINUTES
Special Meeting
September 30, 2010
Approximately 17 interested citizens were present when 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 NtJVember Election Ballot: (Callingfor an election on the levy of a County Special Purpose Sales and
Use Taxfor Public Safety, Youth and Senior Services, Community Services, and Basic Government Public Services. Proposition
No. I Would, 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.
The Chairman opened the public hearing for testimony.
Debm Pedersen. Port Townsend, encouraged the Commissioners to support this proposition because she
feels the services that will be saved are too important to lose.
Geor~e Yount. Port Townsend, reviewed his property tax bill for this year and explained how much went to
each local and State taxing district. He looks at the County as a community from Brinnon to Port Townsend
to the Pacific Ocean. He is sorry that County Officials have to be the messenger of a very hard task of
steering us out of an economic catastrophe not of their creation. In hard times good people step forward to
help which is what he sees all of the County staff doing at a time when our services are despemtely needed
by our citizens. Many volunteers have stepped forward to help with Memorial Field, the Recreation Center
and the parks and they feel good about what they have done, but it's like trying to put a finger in the dike.
Yes, it can help, but it can only help in the short term. These are services and benefits for all our citizens.
He urged the Board to support Proposition No. 1 and said that he can't imagine that anyone would vote for
closing their community centers. Let the citizens make their decision - it is their responsibility. Lets hope
they make the right decision to preserve and protect our community.
Ten Nomura. Port Hadlock, thanked the Board for having this public hearing. As she has talked to people
about this proposition everyone has their own reason for wanting to support it. For some it's the Animal
Control Officer, or the need for public safety such as Juvenile Services work in keeping kids safe from
predators and from their own mistakes. The services, the programs and the staffhighlighted in the
Resolution putting this issue on the ballot gives every reason for the community to support this Proposition.
She urged the Board to support Proposition No. 1.
Page 1
Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes: September 30, 2010
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Larrv Bonar. Port Townsend, urged the Commissioners to approve and endorse this Proposition to the
citizens of the County.
Tom Thiersch. Unincorporated Jefferson County, advised that he is not saying he is opposed to this sales
tax, but what he is concerned about and objects to is the allocation of funds. All of the funds identified in the
resolution are essentially bypassing the entire public process for setting the budget for next year. There may
be other elements of County spending that he doesn't want to support. He objects to this list. Only 48% of
the revenue (if the sales tax passes) will be allocated to the Sheriff's Office when it actually makes up 58%
of the General Fund budget. That means the Sheriff is once again being short changed. This doesn't seem
fair and is not equitable. One thing that has been mis-represented by the County Administrator in the
information he has put out is that 1/3 of the sales tax has to be spent by the County and 1/3 by the City on
public safety. That is not what the law says. It says that 1/3 of the total amount collected has to be spent on
criminal justice or fire protection services. The City is free to do whatever it wishes with its' 400/0 of these
revenues. It's nice that you've been able to come to the negotiated agreement with the City for their share.
The Chair explained that there will be hearings advertised for citizens to provide input on the 2011 budget
Bill Miller. Port Townsend, stated that he appreciates the Board's courage. All counties are almost
drowning to provide their services. This tax is like throwing an iuner tube to a drowning person that has a
slow leak. What we are doing is keeping these functions going until someone can throw us an iuner tube full
of air to keep us going. He said that he appreciates this temporary life saving measure for the services we've
obligated ourselves to and we expect. He appreciates the Board having the community as their focus and
asked that they endorse Proposition No.1 as an official position of the Board of County Commissioners.
Frank Hoffman Port Townsend, said that he feels like Jefferson County (government) is over policed and he
hopes that would be discussed during the budget process. He said he appreciates the County Administrator's
hardheaded thoughtfulness about this issue. It would be easy for the Board to get ideological about this and
throw blame around. He also appreciates the people that work for the County are trying to think their way
through this problem that has rained down upon us and he hopes that this Proposition will pass.
Katherine Baril. Port Townsend, employee of Washington State University, explained how the cuts that
would be restored by the passage of Proposition No.1 impact the programs and services that WSU
Cooperative Extension provides to the community.
Matt Sircelv. Port Townsend, said that our community members need the support of the County most when
times are tough. He thanked the County Administrator for his presentation and is glad that the resolution
specifies exactly what services and programs the revenues are needed to restore. He is concerned that not
enough people know how critical the passage of Proposition No.1 is to the people of our County. He stated
that once these programs are lost there's no going back. He commended the Board and County
Administrator for their leadership in putting this forward and the County departments for working together
in tough times. He said we have to get through this together and he is extremely happy that the County and
City have been working togethet to come up with real solutions and agreements for the future. By his
Page 2
Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes: September 30, 2010
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calculations this tax increase works out to tens of dollars per individual in the County and he doesn't feel we
can place a value on what would be lost if this Proposal doesn't pass. He encouraged the Board to endorse
Proposition No. 1.
Jack Western"," Port Townsend, stated that he does a cost benefit analysis on ballot issues that would
increase taxes and he recalled that at the County's community input meeting in this facility earlier in the year
was full of people whose main concerns were for keeping the PT Recreation Center and Memorial Field
operating. Even though it is well known that he doesn't always agree with the Board of County
Commissioners or the City Council, but in this particular instance they came through by offering the voters
an option for opening up the Rec Center and funding Memorial Field. The Rec Center and Memorial Field
are a benefit for him as a City resident. He then explained the options the Board had to choose from for
providing more funding which he noted is less than 1/8 of what the City has put to the voters for funding for
the Library and fire services since 2008. The County is not asking for much of an increase and the people are
getting what they want. This doesn't cure the problem, but it helps.
Ruth Gordon. Port Townsend, County Clerk, thanked the City for reaching an agreement with the County on
the services and maintenance at the Rec Center and the maintenance and operations of Memorial Field. She
hopes that the funding for Parks and Recreation can be addressed in the time frame that passage of this
Proposition provides. She urged the Board to endorse this Proposition to the voters.
Michelle Sandoval. Mayor of the City of Port Townsend, said that they know that the City and County need
and want to work together on possible solutions becanse solutions for the City are solutions for the County
and vise versa. She wants to be sure that not too much time passes before looking at the big picture and a
long term, sustainable funding source. What is being asked of the voters with this Proposition is very small.
Hearing no further comments, the Chair closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Austin moved to approve and sign RESOLUTION NO. 40-10 in support of Jefferson
County Proposition No.1. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion.
Commissioner Austin stated that we are in hard times and we're going to have to make cuts so lets ask the
voters to save the programs that solve problems. Commissioner Johnson added that this is an easy
Proposition to endorse and he appreciates the amount of work that has been done by volunteers for varions
parks, community centers and recreation programs in the County. He hopes that this Proposition will pass.
Commissioner Sullivan said that he is well aware of the value of these programs and is proud that the
County has been able to provide them for years even though the funding has been hard. There is a plan now
on what can be done to continue to keep these programs going.
The Chair called for a vote on the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Page 3
Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes: September 30, 2010
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NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: The Board concurred to adjourn the meeting at 8:27
p.m. until the next regular Monday meeting at 9:00 a.m. or special meeting as properly noticed pursuant
to RCW 42.3 ;
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Page 4
JEFFERSON COillffEAR
GUEST LIST ING RECORD
TITLE: Hearino re: Support for Proposition NO.1
DATE: Thursday. September 30, 2010 at 7:00 p.m.
PLACE: Port Townsend Community Center
NAME (Please Print) STREET ADDRESS CITY Testimony?
(Not Required) (Not Required) YES NO MAYBE
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Page 1 of 1
Leslie Locke
HEARING RECORD
From:
Sent:
To:
David Sullivan
Wednesday, September 29,20109:42 AM
Leslie Locke
Subject: FW: Prop #1
From: Bob Rosen[SMTP:BROSEN@OLYCAP.ORG]
Sent: Wednesday, September 29, 2010 9:41:41 AM
To: Philip Morley; David Sullivan; John Austin; David Sullivan
Cc: 'Tim Hockett'; 'Bonnie White'
Subject: Prop #1
Auto forwarded by a Rule
Gentlemen:
I have to confess that I have very little hope that Prop #1 will pass. One of the primary reasons is that the largest
portion of the Jefferson County population resides in Port Townsend and they have nothing at stake other than
losing a Dog Catcher! Not a very strong argument to increase your taxes. It would have been in the best interest
of all concerned to have something on the measure that had at least some effect on our neighbors across the
tracks (in this case, across the airport runway) that separates Port Townsend from the hinterlands. There is a
large contingent of folks in my part of the woods that feel south Jefferson County always gets the short end of the
stick. In many ways Prop #1 will certainly stoke that fire.
Having said that, I would like to request a breakdown and/or a detailed County Budget that makes up the
$126,000 at stake. My purpose is to attempt to assist and/or fill in areas where local private donors and/or
Service Clubs could possibly share the load. Also, it would be an opportunity for me to understand why $126,000
and/or $42,000 per Center are required to keep our doors open. $42,000 represents approximately twice the
amount presently paid to all of the employees of the Quilcene Community Center.
Robert L. Rosen
Manager of the Quilcene Community Center
9/29/2010
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Page 1 of2
Leslie Locke
HEARING RECORD
From:
David Sullivan
Sent: Wednesday, September 29,201010:26 PM
To: Leslie Locke
Subject: FW: Brinnon's Offer To Take Over The Brinnon Community Center
Importance: High
From: George Sickel[SMTP:GKPROFSVC@GMAIL.COM]
Sent: Wednesday, September 29,201010:25:23 PM
To: Phil Johnson
Cc: David Sullivan; Philip Morley; Bob Rosen; Ian and Glenys McFall;
Joy and Joe Baisch; John Austin; Joe D'Amico; Bud and Val Schindler
Subject: Brinnon's Offer To Take Over The Brinnon Community Center
Importance: High
Auto forwarded by a Rule
Phil-
I understand that you spoke to Bob Rosen after the Prop 1 meeting last night
and said that I might have been out of line, saying that we (Brinnon) had asked
Jefferson County to consider allowing the community to take over the Brinnon
Motel and Community Center over 6 months ago and have heard nothing.
Well, I guess I was a little off in my statement of time. After doing a bit of research
today, I found that it was actually over 2 years ago that we made that request. I believe
that you stated to Bob that you (Jefferson County), were waiting on us to do something.
I think you have things backwards, we were waiting on you.
As it relates to the business plan you said you were waiting for, it would be inadvisable for
any interested party to submit an unsolicited business plan to the County for two reasons:
1. A professional business plan or proposal should reflect the County's total requirements
and not just a best guess of those requirements.
2. If a best guess business plan or proposal were submitted prior to a formal request,
the business plan or proposal would become public record and available to any other party
interested in responding to a formal request.
Not something we wanted to do, given that this activity would need to go out to bid.
Therefore, unless you can produce written or other documentation to demonstrate that
we were formally asked to provide additional information, I stand by my statements made
at the meeting last night.
If you listen again to the public testimony provide by Joy Baisch back in 2008, you will
recall that we were waiting for the County to take the next step. These two videos, during
which you were present, document that on multiple occasions we asked the County to move
forward on our request to take on the operation of the motel and community center.
Please review the attached videos.
November 10, 2008
b.ttp)!WINW.yo!l.llJbeS:Om/walcb?v=PGHrpOnOk8l\
9/30/2010
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December 15, 2008
bttpJLwww.yo~L~be.c9mlwatch?v=HyDEtEl7FrY c
It is inaction by the Commissioners and others in the County to suggestions made by your
constituents that has in part contributed to our current revenue shortfall. If you and the other
Commissioners had acted on our offer back in 2008/2009, you would not be the current
position of defunding OlyCAP for the support of the Brinnon Community Center and Motel.
For the benefit of all of us in Jefferson County, please get back to the job of helping us
create more jobs, via relaxed regulations, and stop putting in additional roadblocks like the
SMP 150 foot setback in our way, which only limit, constrain or prevent future growth.
We are never going to get out of this hole we've dug without action. Remember the definition
of Insanity - "Doing the Same Think Over And Over Again and Expecting a Different
Result." If you do not think you are up to the task of trying something different, why not
step aside and let someone else lead us out of this hole.
PS. Joe D'Amico - Bless you for posting these videos. They provided the undisputable
evidence that we were waiting on the County.
George Sickel
Brinnon
796-4550
9/30/2010
Page 2 of2
Page 1 of I
From: David Sullivan
Sent: Thursday, September 30,20101:10 PM
To: Leslie Locke
Subject: FW: prop 1
HEARING-REG0RI}-
Leslie Locke
From: theresa chedoen[SMTP:THERESACHEDOEN@GMAIL.COM]
Sent: Thursday, September 30, 2010 1 :09:31 PM
To: David Sullivan
Subject: prop 1
Auto forwarded by a Rule
Dear Mr. Sullivan,
I am asking you to endorse Prop. 1, because I believe the services it will fund are vital to our
community.
Theresa Chedoen
Port Townsend
9/30/2010