HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRAFT Minutes 022025 ICG
MINUTES
Special Meeting of the Intergovernmental Collaborative Group (ICG)
Thursday, February 20, 2025
Hybrid Meeting: 355 Hudson St. Port Townsend, WA 98368
CALL TO ORDER: Jefferson County Commissioner/Rotating ICG Chair Heidi Eisenhour called the
meeting to order after establishing a quorum of the ICG.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The ICG members listened to a member of the public addressing
food security and farmland designation.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The minutes of November 21, 2024 were approved, but not included in
the packet. They will be included on a future agenda for approval.
PRESENTATION re: EDC Team Jefferson update and plans for the future: EDC Director Cindy
Brooks was present to discuss EDC’s scope, mandates, and role as the Jefferson County’s Associate
Development Organization (ADO). Other items addressed were:
• Current services
• Business advising, startups, workforce development connections, export education, and data
sourcing.
• Collaboration with partners (SBDC, Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship, Apex Accelerator,
local chambers, farmer’s market, extension office).
• Metrics: July-Dec 2024:
• 50 business retention/expansion consults (goal: 70 annually).
• 14 startups supported.
EDC guest speakers shared the following: Success story - growth from startup to $1.2M revenue and 10
employees with EDC support, highlighted need for light industrial space, working with
microenterprises (75% of county businesses), emphasizing challenges around housing affordability for
entrepreneurs and importance of technical assistance for small food businesses.
• Future initiatives include:
• Implementation of $1.2M workforce development funding via the Recompete Grant (hiring a
workforce coordinator, supporting training programs).
• Focus on retaining staff, strengthening microenterprise support, and expanding services to South
County.
• Succession: Executive Director Cindy Brooks stepping down in June 2025; search underway for
replacement.
• 18 businesses engaged in federal contracting assistance.
DISCUSSION re: Legislative update: Discussed during updates.
The meeting recessed at 6:23 p.m. and reconvened at 6:26 p.m.
Intergovernmental Collaborative Group Meeting Minutes of February 20, 2025
Page 2 of 2
AGENCY ROUNDTABLE: The ICG members listened to jurisdiction updates:
• City of Port Townsend
• Comprehensive Plan update underway; joint council–planning commission meeting scheduled.
• Infrastructure concerns: Aging 1928-era water main; ongoing repairs.
• Legislative activity: Deputy Mayor lobbying in Olympia.
• Port of Port Townsend
• Report on major infrastructure projects (“Magnificent Seven”) including boatyard stormwater
improvements, breakwater rehabilitation, housing at Point Hudson, Gardner boat launch
replacement, airport fueling system upgrades.
• Jefferson Timber Cooperative lease in progress; strong partnership with PUD.
• PUD
• Workforce expansion underway (target ~100 employees).
• New $5M federal loan fund secured to provide low-interest loans for efficiency upgrades (heat
pumps, windows, insulation).
• Jefferson County
• County Administrator recruitment launched.
• Sewer construction in Port Hadlock ongoing; road failures on West End require funding.
• Legislative priorities:
o Housing flexibility bills.
o Funding requests for Hadlock sewer, Mill Road roundabout, and Aquatic Center
planning.
o Public defense funding (HB 1529).
o Behavioral health & children’s services sales tax proposal (HB 1805).
o Aquatic Center survey: 1,600+ responses so far; target 3,000 by March.
o Climate Action Committee working on food systems resilience.
o Engagement expected on marine carbon dioxide removal projects (public forums
scheduled later in 2025).
o Future workshop planned on use of opioid settlement funds.
o Emergency Management to update elected officials on commissioner roles during
disasters.
NEXT STEPS and FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Marine carbon dioxide removal project, and
emergency planning with elected officials.
NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Rotating Chair Eisenhour allowed one more comment from the
public and then adjourned the meeting at 7:15 p.m. until the next regular meeting or special meeting as
properly noticed.
_________________________________ _________________
Carolyn Gallaway Date
Jefferson County Clerk of the Board