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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2025 08 19 Community Conversations slidesJefferson County Your Local Government 2025Key LeadershipTransition Previous County Administrator County Administrator as of July 1, 2025 Mark McCauley (retired) Josh Peters Jefferson County Family in 2025 is made up of 367 folks. Including: 86 in Public Works (Includes 25 on Roads team & 25 in Solid Waste) 64 in Public Health 54 J CSO team 27 in Central Services 24 in the Courts 22 in Community Development Assessor Auditor Clerk District Court Judge Prosecuting Attorney Sheriff Superior Court Judge Treasurer Central Services Community Development Emergency Management WSU Extension Human Resources Public Works Public Health Financial Management 3 County Commissioners and 8 Independent Elected Officials County Administrator and 8 Department Directors Jefferson County is proud to announce that two of its top Public Works leaders have earned prestigious honors from the Washington State Association of County Engineers (WSACE). •Public Works Director Monte Reinders has been named County Engineer of the Year, and •Assistant Public Works Director Eric Kuzma has received the title of Program Manager of the Year …recognizing their exceptional service, technical expertise, and lasting contributions to the field of public works. Public Works More top-notch talent: Stacie Prada, County Treasurer Widely known around the state as the consummate professional. Appointed by State Treasurer Mike Pellicciotti to the Local Government Investment Pool (LGIP) Advisory Committee, Which advises the State Treasurer on LGIP operational issues, budget, and oversight of the Statewide Custody Program. Appointed to the State Auditor’s Office (SAO) Local Government Advisory Committee through 12/31/2027. EXPENSES BY DEPT GENERAL FUND EXPENDITURE approx. $30m annually Total Revenue across all Funds = ~$85m (mostly sewer funding from Federal Indirect Awards) •Uncertainty at federal and state levels •Lingering threat of inflation •Potential recession •Cost of housing, housing shortage •Homelessness •Recruiting and retaining staff •New technology •Climate resilience/ adaptation CHALLENGES & OPPORTUNITIES •Strategic Plan •Roads & Trails •Port Hadlock Sewer •Stewarding Public Assets •Economic Development •Housing, Homelessness •Planning & Permitting •Law & J ustice •Forests & Wildfire Prevention - CWPP •Parks & Recreation •Aquatic Center PRIORITIES & PROGRESS PRIORITY: Housing (for all) OlyCAP’s 7ᵗʰ Haven Project: 43 Units of transitional and supportive housing OlyCAP’s Caswell Brown Village: 50 units of shelter for unhoused neighbors, supportive facilities Habitat’s Mason Street Project in Port Hadlock: 130+ units of permanently affordable housing Habitat for Humanity Landes Street Project (City of PT) $ 3 5 .6 M Hadlock Wastewater Project Key milestones : •Final design – Fall 2023 •Sitework – completed February 2024 •WW Treatment plant – scheduled completion October 2025 •Collection system – completed March 2025 •Connections – approx. 59 scheduled for completion end of 2025 •Connections to continue until funding runs out through end of 2027 Phase 1 Sewer Map Olympic Peninsula officials and Jefferson County staff joined Governor Bob Ferguson [on May 8, 2025] to celebrate the successful reopening of Upper Hoh Road, the primary access route to the Hoh Rain Forest section of Olympic National Park. The road had been closed since December due to significant damage caused by heavy rainfall. Road Repairs PRIORITY: Planning, Community Development DCD Mission Statement: "To preserve and enhance the quality of life in Jefferson County by promoting a vibrant economy, sound communities, and a healthy environment." 2025 Periodic Update of the Comp Plan & development regulations •Housing Element •Climate Resilience Element •Critical Areas Ordinance Planning Commission public hearings Critical Areas Ordinance – September Comp Plan / Development Regs – October PRIORITY: Forest Management; Wildfire Protection jefferson-county-cwpp-jeffcowa.hub.arcgis.com Fire mitigation project tracker Community risk assessments Story boards – actual fire events CWPP Jefferson County Sustainable Forestry Program ⚫Goal: Create a sustainable forestry program that will: ⚫Improve forest health and biodiversity ⚫Increase carbon sequestration ⚫Reduce fire risk ⚫Generate a positive net revenue stream that could fund/partially fund a property manager position PRIORITY: Parks & Recreation JUMP! Funding Summary P HASE 1 2021 Revenue Sources Dollars Percent JUMP! Private Committee Cash Raised $222,733 17% Michael Berry Memorial Foundation $50,000 3.82% Jefferson Healthcare $15,000 1.14 % Jefferson County Capital Funding $475,492 36.29% RCO Gra nt $500,000 38.16% Donation of Labor and Materials $ 4 7,115 3.60% Total $ 1,310 ,34 0 100% JUMP! Funding Summary PHASE 2 2025 Revenue Sources Dollars Percent Washington Department of Social and Health Services, “Dan Thompson Account Grant” $515,565 98% of Phase 2 JUMP! Private Committee Cash Raised $ 11,0 0 0 2% of Phase 2 Phase 1 and 2 Total $1,836,905 100% Grand re-opening June 25, 2025 •Monday mornings, 9:00 AM in the Commissioners Chambers at the County Courthouse or virtually through Zoom •Join a Board! •Conservation Futures Citizen Oversight Committee (3) •Intellectual Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board (2) •LEOFF I Retirement Disability Board (1) •Marine Resources Committee (2 = District #1 Alt & District #3) •Noxious Weed Control Board (2 = District #4; District #5) •North Pacific Coast Marine Resource Committee (1) •Planning Commission (2 = District #2 ; District #3) •Solid Waste Advisory Committee (4) ( 1= Agriculture Alt & 1= District #1, #2 & #3) •Olympic Area Agency on Aging (O3A) Advisory Committee (2) •Public Infrastructure Fund (PIF) Board (1 = District #3) •Housing Fund Board (2) •WEBSITE: www.co.Jefferson.wa.us Departments / Offices •The Department’s Mission: •Provide high quality Facility Maintenance and Information System services to Jefferson County •List of activities / programs: •Facility maintenance, capital project management, custodial services, Information technology, records management, public records, and GIS services. •Who do we serve? •We primarily serve Jefferson County Departments, but also respond to public record requests, and provide GIS and website access to the public. •Department Snapshot • 14 facilities, 27 staff, $6.4M annual budget Central Services DepartmentCentral Services •Mission and/or Core Function •The assessor’s primary duty is to determine the value of all taxable real and personal property within Jefferson County for the purpose of equitable distribution of the tax liabilities of property owners for taxes that support schools, fire, roads, library, utilities, etc. •List of activities / programs •Property Appraisals (30,000+ properties). •Maintain parcels, records, and maps. •Segregations and Exemptions. •Setting levies for property tax collection. •Department Snapshot •11 Employees including field appraisers. Assessor Assessor’s Office We serve as the “bank of the county” for districts and county core •Property Taxes, Real Estate Excise Tax (REET) tax, and Revenue Collection •Banking Services, Cash and Debt Management •Investment, Financial Reporting & Analysis, and more. Who do we serve? •The public, county districts & county core How do we do it? •Team of six, including the elected treasurer •Balance to the penny every day •Audited by the State annually Treasurer’s Office Our Mission to be the locally trusted source for collecting and protecting public funds Treasurer’s Office Property Taxes •Statements mailed in February each year •Payments are due April 30 and October 31 •Pay online, by mail, at drop-box, autopay, at office •Partial payments may be made by check or electronically if using phone number on back of statement Treasurer’s Office Visual Element? Treasurer’s Office •Sales taxes collected in Jefferson County and City of Port Townsend with RCWs •Washington State sales tax data (excel workbook) Treasurer’s Office ResourcesTreasurer’s Office We strive to deliver accurate, timely, kind and efficient services to our customers. Auditor’s Office Visual Element? Vehicle & Vessel Licensing Document Recording Finance Elections Office hours 8:30 to 4:00 Elections 8:30 to 4:30 Auditor’s Office We provide resources, workshops, tools, and consultation and to residents of Jefferson County to help support farming, gardening, natural resource protection and more. We collaborate with city and county departments, non-profits and other organizations to amplify and extend resources. We have a staff of 8 in offices in Port Hadlock, as well as a classroom and conference room that meet diverse needs of our community. Our annual budget is: $ 867,740 (fund 108 &109) WSU Extension, Jefferson County WSU Jefferson County Extension programs connect the communities of Jefferson County with the knowledge base of Washington State University to promote quality of life and advance economic well-being. Our five core programs are: •Master Gardeners •Water Resources •Regional Small Farms •4-H Youth Development •Noxious Weeds Mission Statement “To preserve and enhance the quality of life in Jefferson County by promoting a vibrant economy, sound communities, and a healthy environment.” Divisions •Permit Center – Customer service, application intake, addressing •Land Use – Comprehensive Plan (policy), Development Code (regulation), Development Review (subdivisions, land use permits) •Building – Plan review, inspections, floodplain administration •Code Compliance – Investigations of land use and building code complaints •Office of the Fire Marshal – Fire investigations, commercial fire safety inspections DCD Snapshot •23 positions (including part-time, clerk hire, and vacant) •Annual budget: ~$4M •Permit Center & Building teams intake, review, issue, and inspect 600+ permits each year, ranging from the installation of ductless heat pumps and assigning addresses to the building of single-family homes and large commercial projects. •Land Use Development Review Division (DRD) evaluates and processes 400+ applications annually, including Site Development Reviews, Shoreline Development Permits, Boundary Line Adjustments, and more. Department of Community Development (DCD)Department of Community Development Mission: Always working for a safer and healthier Jefferson County Core Function: Prevent and mitigate the spread of disease Main services: Administration – finance, contracts, policy, safety, operations Human Services – disabilities, behavioral health Cross Cutting Capabilities – emergency preparedness & response, climate & health, assessment, communications Community & Family Health – clinic, nutrition, immunizations, nurse home visiting, harm reduction, communicable disease, foot care, and substance use prevention Environmental Health – solid waste, code compliance, permitting, water quality, natural resources, food safety, pollution prevention, zoonotic diseases Primary customers: Jefferson County residents; all are welcome Department Snapshot: 60 staff, 5 facilities, $8m annual budget Jefferson County Public Health (JCPH) •Mission and/or Core Function •In collaboration with our communities, we are committed to promoting a better quality of life by proactively reducing crime through vigilance, professionalism, and fairness. •List of activities / programs •Criminal investigation, traffic enforcement, peace keeping, service of civil papers, and operating a county jail. •Who are your primary “customers”? •Anyone who lives, visits or travels through our county. •56 employees, •25 commissioned, 16 corrections, 5 civil staff, 1 animal control, and 9 civilian. Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office Visual Element? •Mission and/or Core Function •Plan for, administer, and execute a comprehensive program of disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. •List of activities / programs •Readiness of Emergency Operations Center •Alert and Warning (including Nixle) •Disaster planning (CEMP, HMP) •Outreach and Education •Who are your primary “customers”? •All county residents, “Whole Community” •Department Snapshot •2 full-time staff, 4 part-time grant-funded staff •316k annual budget (approx. 60k from FEMA grants) Dept of Emergency ManagementDepartment of Emergency Management •Prosecuting Criminal Acts in Jefferson County •All felonies in Jefferson County •All misdemeanors in Jefferson County, including the City of Port Townsend •All juvenile offenses in Jefferson County •We also handle our own appeals as well •Corporate Counsel to Jefferson County •Provide Legal Counsel to different county departments •Examples: •Employment law •Land use law •Contract review •Ordinance drafting •And much more! •Child Support Enforcement •Provide assistance to custodial parents who are having difficulty collecting child support from non- custodial parents Prosecuting Attorney’s Office •14 Total Employees •1 Prosecuting Attorney •4 Criminal Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys •3 Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorneys •1 Victim Witness Coordinator •1 Child Support Enforcement Officer •2 Paralegals •2 Legal Assistants Budget ≈$1.5 million Prosecuting Attorney’s Office Why go to the Clerk’s Office? •Access Public Court Records •Open a New Case (lawsuit, protection order, divorce, probate, adoption) or file in an existing case •Make payment for Superior Court fees, fines, copies of decrees and judgments •Return a Jury Qualification Form •Make an appointment with the Family Law Facilitator County Clerk Our commitment is to protect the integrity and accuracy of Superior Court records while serving the public and legal community in a courteous, professional, and efficient manner. In 2024, the Clerk’s Office opened 855 new cases, and took minutes for 2,457 proceedings. What do the Clerks do? •Keep an impartial record of Court proceedings •Provide customer service to people with Superior Court cases and those seeking related information •Docket entry, scanning and certification of court records •Maintain filed case documents and exhibits from state and local agencies, attorneys, and pro se litigants County Clerk Nothing Works Without Clerks! In the Clerk’s Office, we have: •1 Elected County Clerk •1 Chief Deputy Clerk •3 Deputy Clerks •1 Family Law Facilitator Clerk’s Office •Felony Level Criminal Cases: 5-10 Jury Trials Per Year •Civil Cases: Property Disputes/Landlord-Tenant; Trusts and Estates; Family and Juvenile; Lawsuits > $10K; Protection Orders •Appeals of Administrative and District Court Decisions •Therapeutic Courts Including Drug Court and Family Treatment Court •Aspiring to Be Trauma Responsive and Minimize Stress of Coming to Court •1 Elected Judge, Court Administrator, Part-Time Court Commissioner, Bailiffs, and Therapeutic Court Coordinator (shared with District Court’s Behavioral Health Ct) •Budget ≈ $540,000 •Restorative Justice; Color of Justice; Law Library; Law and Justice Council. Superior Court Jefferson County’s Court of General Jurisdiction John Deacon, Courthouses.com Departments/Services Provided to Residents: •Public Works: Water, Wastewater, Compost, Stormwater, Streets/Transportation, Solid Waste •Community Services: Parks, Library, Arts & Culture •Police •Planning & Community Development: inspections, permitting, planning •Finance and Technology Services •Communication & Marketing •Legal/Human Resources/Administration City of Port Townsend: Services & Common Requests Visual Element? Common Requests: •How do I pay utility bill? What about the income-based discount? •How do I report a concern – pothole, dead deer, water leak? •Do I need a permit? How do I get a permit? •How do I check out a library book/resource? •How do I make a public comment or address City Council? •Where are my local parks? City of Port Townsend: Services & Common Requests •City of Port Townsend Website: www.cityofpt.us Report a concern, pay bill, get engaged, request records, apply for permit, attend public meeting… •City of PT YouTube Channel: www.youtube.com/@cityofporttownsend Check out our new permit video series! •City of PT Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/CityofPT •Comprehensive Plan Update: https://www.pt2045planning.org/ •Port Townsend Financial Sustainability Initiative: https://cityofpt.us/engagept/page/financial-sustainability-initiative Report: https://cityofpt.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/engage_pt/page/20561/final_financial_sustainability_report_to_city_council.pdf Videos: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLDawYqbVfnLStQjSnJyGbug-5rExA2N2x •2026 Port Townsend Strategic Workplan Workshop (7/14/25) Video: https://cityofpt.granicus.com/player/clip/3552?view_id=4&redirect=true Materials: https://cityofpt.granicus.com/DocumentViewer.php?file=cityofpt_d0584f7f2c800376cf3a60077c32fbea.pdf&view=1 •2025 Port Townsend Budget: https://cityofpt.us/engagept/page/budget https://cityofpt.us/sites/default/files/fileattachments/finance/page/15261/2025_city_of_port_townsend_budget.pdf •Annual Report to the Community: www.cityofpt.us/annualreport City of Port Townsend: Useful Resources & Links City of Port Townsend: Useful Resources & Links What are some of the ways that the COUNTY and the CITY work together? Board of Health Climate Action Committee Transit Authority Board Behavioral Health Advisory Committee Intellectual/Development Disabilities Board Housing Fund Board Sheriff/Police Mutual Aid Infrastructure collaboration Intergovernmental Collaborative Group …and Chip Sealing! How do I receive COUNTY services when I live in the CITY? How do I receive COUNTY services when I live in the CITY?