HomeMy WebLinkAbout10.01.2025 SWAC Special Mtg DRAFT Minutes
Jefferson County, Washington State
Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC)
Special Meeting Minutes
Special Meeting, Wednesday, October 1, 2025, 3:00 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Public Works Office, 623 Sheridan St., Port Townsend, WA
Hybrid Meeting
Audio and video recordings posted under Meeting Recordings on this website
https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/483/Solid-Waste-Advisory-Committee
Opening Business
Meeting agenda posted on website on September 26, 2025.
1. Call to Order and Roll Call – Tracy Grisman, Chair
Committee Members Present for Roll Call:
Heidi Eisenhour, County Commissioner
Tracy Grisman, Chair & District #1 Don Rhoden, District #2
Phil Sonne, Citizen-at-Large Rebecca Jewell, Citizen-at-Large
Joey Deese, Waste Connections Alysa Thomas, Tessera (Recycling)
Bliss Morris, City of Port Townsend Kimberlie Webber, Port of Port Townsend
Committee Members Absent
Steve Chappuis, District #2 Sierra Young, Conservation District
Public Works Staff Present
Al Cairns, Solid Waste Manager Laura Tucker, Solid Waste Education and Outreach
Chris Spall, Admin Support Staff Justin Miskell, Solid Waste Operations Coordinator
Guests/Visitors included
Lacy Kooiman and Blake Nelson of WA State Department of Ecology
There is a quorum.
2. Public Comment included:
• Member of the public asked for clarification on items on the presentation materials for the upcoming
Public Hearing. It is important to offer recycling drop-off sites.
• Regarding the proposed privatization, why not increase the tipping fee by amount necessary to offset the
recycling subsidy and keep recycling program as is? By not offering that as alternative is a disservice to
residents of the County. Very disappointed committee has accepted word of the solid waste manager.
Reconsider path you are going on.
• Have seen an increase in illegal dump sites in South County.
3. Approval/correction of minutes from 01/23/2025, 03/26/2025, and 04/29/2025 SWAC meetings.
• Motion to approve 01/23/2025 minutes made by Heidi and seconded by Phil. The motion carried to
approve the minutes as written. Rebecca abstained because she was not at the meeting.
• Motion to approve 03/26/2025 minutes made by Rebecca and seconded by Heidi. The motion carried to
approve the minutes as written.
• Motion to approve 04/29/2025 minutes made by Bliss and seconded by Joey. The motion carried to
approve the minutes as written. Rebecca abstained because she was not at the meeting
4. Staff report -Discussions and comments included:
• It makes sense to pay for recycling. We need to keep an eye on the cost to the public and be as sensitive as
possible to the financial realities every part of the community faces. Also, there is a low-income discount
rate which may be the first low-income discount Utilities and Transportation Commission (UTC) rate in
Washington State.
• Kudos to Justin for hands-on training being done at Transfer Station.
• Tracy is hearing the public would like curbside glass recycling.
• Laura said glass is going to Portland and California for recycling. Citizens should push for a bottle bill to
solve this problem. The Extended Producer Responsibility (EPR) bill passed in May 2025 does not
include bottles.
• Heidi received glowing reviews on the last HHW Collection event, including that the service was fast,
organized, and seamless. Bremerton facility is also a good option between collection events.
• Knuckle boom won’t last till we open a new Transfer Station. Looking at changing layout at current site
to allow for the use of an excavator, which can be used at a new transfer station.
• Regarding the Transfer Station Replacement Planning process, planning for a Reuse, Drop, and Pick
facility is good news as many members of the public are looking for that.
5. Old Business: Recycling Privatization
Al asked if SWAC has any questions or additional feedback. There shouldn’t be any controversy about
adopting a level of service Ordinance, it’s good housekeeping. Not running an RFP for continuation of the
current system signals that we are going to move this into the private sector. (Audio/Microphone cutting in
and out during this discussion. The device was rebooted to fix the problem.)
6. New Business
a. Potential bylaws revisions including Solid Waste Meeting Standards of Conduct. Discussion
included:
• County staff have noticed a lot of variation in committee processes, for example, standards
of conduct in some bylaws but not in others.
• The Parks & Rec Advisory Board interviews applicants for their board and makes a
recommendation to the BoCC. Al talked about the SWAC adopting the same process. Heidi
feels this is important because BoCC members may have no subject matter knowledge for
the committee they serve on. Having someone involved in the topic area screening
applicants feels appropriate.
• Rebecca Jewell has served on a similar board that had specific requirements, be it
knowledge or professional experience, for someone to be appointed to the board. She is in
favor the SWAC having the same type of requirement. Elected officials rely on the SWAC
for the knowledge to make informed decisions.
• Al said many committees have 4-year terms and he asked how the SWAC would feel about
switching from 2-year terms to 4-year terms.
• Staff would draft the revised bylaws for discussion with SWAC. After updating the draft
with SWAC’s input the bylaws could be voted on by the SWAC to send to the BoCC for
approval. SWAC members offered their help if Al needs it.
• Al will poll the SWAC on their interest in having 2-hour meetings now that we only have
four meetings a year.
b. Planning for Solid Waste Management Plan Update. Discussion included:
• Our Solid Waste Management Plant (SWMP) lacks guidance on maintaining the financial
health of an enterprise fund. A lot of competing pressure and no guidance on how to
balance a defined level with access to core service of waste disposal. Looked at different
templates (Bcorps?) for what goals we should set. Al will put some examples together to
start the discussion. Ecology is looking at streamlining the requirements for what is in the
SWMP. At the January meeting Lacy will give a presentation on what the new standards
are for the SWMP. The challenge will be to look at those requirements and how they fit
into a triple-bottom-line (financial, environmental, and social responsibility) description of
our program.
c. Solid Waste Education update. The Education Outreach Working Group: Heidi, Tracy, Phil,
Rebecca, Kimberlie, Kami Bruner, Joey Dees, Mandy Johnson, and Laura. Set a date to meet.
Tracy will send out a doodle poll to the group to determine the date.
7. Partner Updates:
a. Artist in Residency (AIRE) program - Tracy said there will be a show at Grover gallery starting
tomorrow.
b. Tessera (Skookum) – Alysa Thomas said they had record production for September. Have best
staff ever.
c. Waste Connections/Olympic Disposal – Joey no updates. Laura asked about use of AI cameras.
Joey said AI cameras are being used in Clallam County to educate curbside recycling customers.
d. City of Port Townsend solid waste/recycling/composting – No report.
9. Future Agenda Items – Suggestions for guest speakers.
Meeting adjourned at 4:33 pm.
Next meeting: Thursday, January 22, 2026