HomeMy WebLinkAbout072825M �j.
MINUTES
Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners
Regular Meeting — July 28, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
Jefferson County Courthouse—Commissioners' Chambers
1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA (Hybrid)
CALL TO ORDER: Acting Chair Greg Brotherton and Commissioner Heather Dudley-
Nollette participated in the meeting. Chair Eisenhour was absent. Acting Chair Brotherton called the
meeting to order at the appointed time.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Acting Chair Brotherton called for public comments,
and one comment was received. The Commissioners addressed the comment.
Fire Marshal Phil Cecere was present and stated that at a recent meeting of local fire chiefs,they
discussed whether conditions warranted raising the fire danger level to "very high," but ultimately they
decided not to escalate the level at this time, emphasizing instead the need for increased public outreach
due to ongoing dry conditions and minimal recent rainfall. He explained the risks associated with
roadside mowing during drought, and the differences between fire danger levels. Plans are underway for
a Fire Prevention Summit, tentatively scheduled for September 24, 2025.
COMMISSIONERS' BRIEFING SESSION: Commissioner Dudley-Nollette and
County Administrator Josh Peters provided an update on the Department of Community Development
(DCD)Director search, and the need to strategize and re-advertise to gain a larger pool of applicants.
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Prior to the
meeting, Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Philip Hunsucker noted that Consent Agenda Item
No. 7 was not supposed to have the Professional Services Agreement included in the attachment.
Commissioner Dudley-Nollette moved to approve the Consent Agenda, with the modifications to Item
No. 7 as discussed. Acting Chair Brotherton seconded the motion. The motion carried.
1. HEARING NOTICE re: Amendment of Sewer Ordinance; Hearing on Monday,August 18,
2025 at 10:45 a.m. in the Commissioners' Chambers, 1820 Jefferson St, Port Townsend WA
98368 (HYBRID)
2. RESOLUTION NO. 49-0728-25R re: In the matter of creating a County project designated as
Center Road MP 3.23 Culvert Replacement
3. REJECT BID re: Courthouse elevator modernization and pursue alternate solutions
4. AGREEMENT re: Noxious Weed Control; In the amount of$27,500; WSU Jefferson County
Extension; USDA Forest Service Olympic National Forest
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes of July 28, 2025
5. AGREEMENT re: E911 County Basic Service Operations Contract for 2025-2026; In the
amount of$335,023; JeffCOM 911; Washington State Military Department and State Enhanced
911 Fund
6. AGREEMENT re: Solid waste monitoring; In the amount of$113,902.67; Public Health;
Washington State Department of Ecology 7. ACREEMEN a re: SummerInte alth; C '.de Co .'it Co ectio (LT
hee
agreement was not approved, but the motion was approved);and MOTION re: Delegation of
signing authority to Public Health Deputy Director Veronica Shaw to sign the DSHS Work-
based learning agreement as "employer"
8. AGREEMENT,Amendment No. 1 re: Jefferson County Therapeutic Courts; Additional
amount of$5,000 for a total of$15,000; Superior Court; Salish Behavioral Health Organization
9. AGREEMENT, Amendment No. 1 re: Quilcene School-based mental health services; In the
amount of$22,200; Public Health; Jessica Garcia
10. AGREEMENT, Change Order No. 3 re: Phase 4—Stage 1 On-site grinder pump installation
for the PHUGA, Project No. 405-2127-0, Ecology Agreement No. WQC_2024_JCoPWE-00034
11. APPROVAL OF EXPENDITURE re: Electric Vehicle(EV)charger purchase for fleet
vehicles; In the amount of$10,280.21 from the General Fund
12. APPROVAL OF JURY FEE VOUCHER: Dated July 22, 2025 and totaling $1,033
13. APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE WARRANTS: Dated July 21, 2025 and totaling
$1,777,799.36 and dated July 28, 2025 and totaling $539,124.11
WORKSHOP re: Application for grant assistance to the RCO for the Dosewallips
Powerlines final design planning project and authorizing resolution: Natural Resources Program
Coordinator Tami Pokorny, and Natural Systems Design representative John Soden was present to brief
the Board on the applications for the powerlines reach project. Staff will bring forward a resolution for
Consent Agenda at a later date.
WORKSHOP re: Quimper Trust Land Transfer Project Deed of Right,
Stewardship Agreement, and Conservation Futures Project Grant Agreement: Natural Resources
Program Coordinator Tami Pokorny was present to provide information on the Quimper project.
Jefferson Land Trust Executive Director Sarah Spaeth was also present and answered questions posed
by the Board. Staff will submit Consent Agenda items for approval at a later date.
COMMISSIONERS' BRIEFING SESSION - Continued: The Commissioners and
County Administrator discussed recent meetings they attended.
The meeting was recessed at 11:01 a.m. and reconvened at 11:07 a.m. with Acting Chair
Brotherton and Commissioner Dudley-Nollette present.
DISCUSSION re: Memorandum of Agreement(MOA)with the Jamestown
S'Klallam Tribe(JST) and the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG); (MOA):
Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney (DPA) Philip Hunsucker, Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement
Group Habitat Program Director Gus Johnson, and JST Natural Resources Director Hansi Hals, were
present to participate in discussion. Chief DPA Hunsucker provided a power point presentation which
included the primary purposes of the project, roles of the parties, stakeholders and outreach, and next
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes of July 28, 2025
steps. Director Hals thanked the Commissioners and County staff for their work on this project and
Director Johnson thanked everyone for their collaborative relationship.
After discussion, Acting Chair Brotherton called for public comments prior to making a motion, and no
comments were received. Commissioner Dudley-Nollette moved to approve the MOA. Member
Brotherton seconded the motion. The motion carried.
COMMISSIONERS' BRIEFING SESSION -Continued: The Commissioners
reviewed their upcoming meeting schedules.
The meeting was recessed at 11:52 a.m. and reconvened at 12:01 p.m. with Acting Chair
Brotherton and Commissioner Dudley-Nollette present.
QUARTERLY ELECTEDS AND DIRECTORS' COORDINATION MEETING:
The Commissioners met with Elected Officials, Department Directors and staff to discuss the following
items:
• Roundtable
o District Court
• Jury system upgrade; in process and will lower mailing costs
o Public Health
• Conducting community events
• Working on the budget
• Reimbursing individuals for their time
o Department of Community Development
• Thankful for teamwork
• Comprehensive Plan Update
• Planning Commission; two vacancies (District No. 1 and No. 3)
• Working on the budget
• EPL; internal server testing
o Juvenile Services
• Dealing with gaps in services and influx of youth
• Large cut in BECCA funds, affecting budget
o Superior Court
• Juvenile justice training; Judge Mack attended last month
• Jefferson County Advisory Council for Community Restorative Justice; update
o Auditor's Office
• New fees are being implemented today
• Short staffed recently
• Imaging project underway
• Elections; small issue they are working through
o Human Resources
• Vacancies are posted on our website
• Corrections is fully staffed
• Munis training; HR, Auditor's Office and Central Services attended
• NEO Gov; new advertising and engagement platform
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes of July 28, 2025
o Treasurer's Office
• New Chief Deputy Chris Kramer
• Requested a slide for departments in Community Outreach presentation
• New online business banking; working through bugs
• Wahkiakum County is facing large budget cuts
• Sales tax monitoring
• Investments
o Assessor's Office
• Port Townsend is being re-inspected, as part of 6-year cycle
• New construction; not very high
• Timber sales are low
• Assessed values are set to slightly increase
o Central Services
• Microsoft 365; testing starting soon
• Munis training
• EPL
• Boards and committees; agenda and video management
• AI governance
• E-signature policy
• Computer replacement cycle; moving from 4 to 5 years
• GovQA; changing vendor for public records
• PT Community Center roof repair; looking into costs
• Quilcene kitchen; awaiting engineer's cost
• 6-year capital improvement plan; working towards consistency
• Working on budget
• Courthouse annex; space planning
• Administrative assistant; moving forward with search
• EV charging stations
o Communications Specialist
• Receiving good public engagement
• Over 3,000 followers on social media, including many County staff
• Many departments reaching out; creating a heavy workload
• Linked-in presence is growing
• Published first video; Sheriff Deputy Ash Moore ride-along
o County Administrator
• Strategic Plan; working on implementation
• Transportation Benefit District; ballot measurer which will need to be approved by
voters. August 5th deadline to get on ballot. Looking to start a"for" and"against"
committee, as part of the requirement to get on ballot. Resolution will go before the
BOCC on August 4, 2025.
The Elected Officials and Department Directors discussed the Community Outreach meetings, which
included: public participation, slideshows for departments, and printing flyers.
The meeting was recessed at 1:25 p.m. and reconvened at 1:32 p.m. with Acting Chair
Brotherton and Commissioner Dudley-Nollette present.
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes of July 28, 2025
EXECUTIVE SESSION: An Executive Session was scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to
2:00 p.m. Acting Chair Brotherton announced that the Executive Session will be held from 1:33 p.m. to
2:05 p.m. regarding Attorney-Client Privilege, Potential Litigation under exemption RCW
42.30.110(1)(i)as outlined in the Open Public Meetings Act. Staff present: County Administrator, Chief
Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney(DPA), Civil DPA, and Central Services Director. The Board
resumed the regular meeting at 2:06 p.m. Acting Chair Brotherton announced that the Board will be
extending the Executive Session from 2:06 p.m.to 2:11 p.m. The Board concluded the Executive
Session and resumed the regular meeting at 2:12 p.m. There was no proposed action, and therefore no
public comment taken on this topic.
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ITEMS: The Commissioners and County Administrator
reviewed the following:
• Climate Action Committee; goals that could be added to Strategic Plan
• National Night Out Event; community preparedness event on August 2, 2025
SPECIAL SERIES: Jefferson County Historical Society re: Cultural Heritage:
JCHS Director Tara McCauley was present and explained that this is a new series, and JCHS plans to
provide a one 10-minute presentation per month focused on resources for learning about the culture,
heritage, and diversity in Jefferson County. This will take place from July to December, 2025.
Today's presentation is on programs. JCHS has 20+unique programs in art, history and culture. These
programs can be in person, virtual or recorded. Director McCauley reviewed some of the programs that
they have available. Videos can be found at: https://vimeo.com/user112070940
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ITEMS - Continued: The Commissioners and County
Administrator reviewed the following:
• Boards& Committees; potentially changing how data is shared and stored
NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Acting Chair Brotherton adjourned the meeting at
2:49 p.m. until the next regular meeting or special meeting as properly noticed.
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