HomeMy WebLinkAboutclosed_caption09:00:57 We're having a little bit of technical⦠We're gonna reboot the computer, andâ¦
09:00:55 We're having a little bit of technical issues. We're gonna reboot a computer, and be right back. Be right back.
09:01:13 I'm saying I use that message, uh⦠Everybody's computer.
09:01:15 All right, that didn't take long. Um, welcome. I will call this January 20th meeting of the Board of County Commissioners to order. Thank you for being with us.
09:01:29 Um, oh yeah, you guys here for tech issues?
09:01:32 Yes. Okay. I think that we're really⦠Zoom gave me a notification that I was out of storage.
09:01:37 on the cloud, so I just recorded the computer.
09:01:43 Okay. Thank you. Thank you. Um, so we will continue our meeting. We had some tech issues over the weekend, too, as Laserfiche was updating, and it was inaccessible to the public
and to us.
09:01:53 For most of the weekend as well. Luckily, it wasn't that long of, uh⦠an agenda, so, um, it came back up yesterday. We're okay to go forward. The agenda was published on Thursday,
laserfiche update started on Friday, so it was down Friday and Saturday.
09:02:10 Most of Sunday. Oh, all of Sunday, I think, actually. I got in there at, like, 7. Okay. In the evening. Yeah, that's fine. Um, and then worked on Monday as well.
09:02:18 Um, so, with that, we will get started, um, and as promised, I'm going to begin each meeting with, uh.
09:02:24 Some music, um, this one I've⦠I've⦠jumped the shark according to my own family, as I'm actually going to be singing as well today.
09:02:34 So, I apologize in advance on my phone. The verbicus disappeared. Your what? Oh, perfect.
09:02:41 That's right here. Oh, they missed. So, just, uh⦠Yeah, good job. Um, so I'm bringing a different instrument every week. This is, um, one of the less esoteric instruments.
This is a guitar.
09:02:57 Really? A parlor guitar, a little smaller for those of us with small hands.
09:03:02 American-made in Missouri, and Alvarez, I really like it a lot, mahogany top.
09:03:07 Um, and this is a song I sang, actually, first during COVID. This, uh, this one today is.
09:03:13 Um, dedicated to the Reverend Crystal Cox. He's made a bunch of public records requests about, uh, the work we did at the fairgrounds when we had an encampment there in 2020.
09:03:23 And this, uh, actually, I played pretty much just to Caroline. I don't know if you remember. This is when we were doing Zoom meetings. Zoom meetings from our offices.
09:03:32 Uh, Heidi and Kate and I, during COVID, when we couldn't be in the same room, so we'd all come in, and then we had a problem with.
09:03:39 AV capture that day, so⦠people could see us, but we were waiting and couldn't, uh, um, see ourselves in our meeting, so I came in here, played to the public, but not to you
guys, so I'm not sure if you've ever heard the song.
09:03:52 This is, uh⦠really written version of Bob Dylan's, uh, A Hard Rain's Gonna Fall. Oh, I did hear this. Okay. I'm excited to hear it again. You're gonna hear it one more time.
09:04:05 And then we'll get started with public comment right after that. So, thank you to those⦠If we have time, right? Yeah, yeah. You know, priorities.
09:04:20 Oh, what do you see out at the fairgrounds?
09:04:29 I saw people with nothing. And no one to count on.
09:04:33 trained by the system in their own. There's not garbage and tarts.
09:04:39 I saw folks try to help. To ride horses with neither. I saw weather this morning.
09:04:50 I saw great news.
09:04:58 It is hard. It is a heart.
09:05:04 So, what did you hear out at the bare ground?
09:05:19 I heard the sound of the thunder that roared out a warning. I heard the scream.
09:05:25 And also harassment. I heard the roar of a wave.
09:05:28 It could drown the whole world. I heard heaven and piano.
09:05:32 Brian, I heard one person die, andâ¦
09:05:41 Liberty for those who have less, I heard the voice of the.
09:05:46 from above and in the heart.
09:05:53 It is a hard ring.
09:06:00 And what will you do now out at the fairgrounds?
09:06:10 work for the people of Fairmore, the neighbors, normative life.
09:06:20 No room for the shaman. I'm sure it can be hard living next door to a shaman.
09:06:20 staircase of housing used to reach to the basement.
09:06:23 But our public places have a mission as well.
09:06:26 Let's not cut off our noses, despite all our faces.
09:06:33 spaces, housing for youth. A capitalized shelter.
09:06:40 Lower the barriers less. Permit rivies. I didn't breathe in, then I'll reflect from the mountains.
09:06:48 So all souls can see it, then I'll stand on the ocean.
09:06:52 Until I start singing, but I'll know my song well.
09:06:55 Before I start singing into the heart.
09:07:03 It's a heart ring.
09:07:11 Thank you very much.
09:07:17 Oh yeah, that does count as an instrument. Right, right, yeah, no drums on that. I think it was just 10 minutes, right? Him and the guitar. So, um⦠With that, we will openâ¦
thank you. We will open up for public comment on any, uh, topic you'd like. We have some people in the room.
09:07:36 Anyone online, you can hit the raised hand button or star 9 if you're on the phone, and we'll start with people in the room who would like to make public comment today.
09:07:46 This treatment, come on up.
09:07:54 Literally get to say that's a hard act. Um⦠morning.
09:08:03 Uh, so Jim Friedman, we'll see. Uh, so I want to start today, positive note.
09:08:07 Uh, but I wanted to congratulate and acknowledge Commissioner Dudley's completion of her first year. Thank you. A year ago, I was here talking about the importance of the public
being heard and being respected.
09:08:22 Uh, through all of our interactions throughout this last year, I have felt both heard and respected. So, very publicly, thank you.
09:08:31 Uh, for the effort that you put into that regard.
09:08:34 Um⦠uh⦠for, uh⦠things on the agenda today, the reason I'm here is also for, uh, regarding, uh, solid waste.
09:08:46 I sent an email earlier. Or last night, pretty, pretty last minute. I'm not sure if everyone got a chance to see it, so⦠Uh, just briefly covering it, um, in regards to Jefferson
County recycling Center Agreement.
09:08:58 Uh, there's a couple items on there. One is that it's a 10-year contract, which seemed kind of long. Uh, there's $744,000 that the county has de-obligated itself for, which
I believe means that whoever's signing that contract is obligated for those repairs in the next year or so, because.
09:09:14 Those costs were a big part of the decisions that were made.
09:09:17 Uh, for the recycling program, so making sure that those repairs are getting done.
09:09:22 And, um, but the most important part is, uh.
09:09:26 Uh, there's a chunk of land ahead of the scales that I really believe should be reserved for the purpose of.
09:09:32 Waste management, which is the prior⦠the main priority of that facility. Uh, it's ahead of the scales, which allows a lot of problems to be solved, um, without having to
deal with the bottleneck of cars driving across the scale.
09:09:54 A lot of the challenges that we have with residential cell wall collection could be.
09:09:54 That area could be used to take those people out of the line, the area could queue up, uh, individuals in that area. It would make it more efficient for commercial customers
to drive through onto the scales that require the scales.
09:10:02 Um, I believe at this point that staff isn't looking for solutions anymore, so I think that it would take.
09:10:09 some sort of motivation to get them to try to look at anything like that. I don't know if it's too laid out, because it's all in the contract. I was hoping to bring this stuff
up during SWAC meetings, but there hasn't been a SWAC meeting.
09:10:20 Uh, to bring this information up. Um, uh, the last interaction I had with you, Heidi, was that applications for Slack aren't being reviewed until April of this year. Uh, at
this point, the District 3 seat is vacant. The District 2 seat has expired at the beginning of January. Most of the seats will be expiring in February.
09:10:43 I'm asking, please hold those seats. There are existing bylaws that could be used to fill the seats, get people on the board. I don't think there's a lot of representation for
rural South Hall residential customers.
09:10:57 Um, but I do believe that they⦠And with that representation.
09:11:03 Anyway, that's all for me. Thank you. Thank you, Jim. And it was for the public, we listen to all the public comment, then we'll respond to all the public comments after we
process that.
09:11:10 Um, anyone else in the room like to make public comment today?
09:11:15 Nice. Thank you, Greg, for kicking this off with some creativity and spirit. I appreciate⦠deeply appreciate.
09:11:25 that in this space, and I feel that we are in a time where that is really.
09:11:29 needed in our public spaces, and I love seeing that here in the Commissioner's office.
09:11:36 I'm here today on behalf of the⦠of⦠stronger towns. I am here as the newly appointed executive Director of Stronger Town. Congratulations. And⦠I am, you know, for those
of you who are not aware, commissioners or the general public, uh, Stronger Towns is a non-profit incubator and sustainer of.
09:11:58 very vital community initiatives, including the Production Alliance, Skillmation.
09:12:04 community build⦠Uh, Salish Snow Sports and Yay Music, and our⦠one newer program.
09:12:14 is return to Earth. Our friend Keith Dixon, who's a local creative entrepreneur, and.
09:12:21 uh, visionary has brought forward this project to bring a curbside pickup composting initiative to the people of Jefferson County.
09:12:31 And this is a multi-phase project. The first phase is upon us.
09:12:37 he has secured a 2-year grant. Uh, to fund this project, and a⦠I believe it is my knowledge that today there's a signing of a lease agreement, if it's not already been signed.
09:12:51 With the⦠with the commissioners, and Jefferson County, to lease a two-ish acre piece of land inside the Jefferson Transfer Station.
09:13:01 to facilitate community composting. his project kicks off with a compost collection at the Chimkum School District, as well as an educational component with the students of
Chima Fund.
09:13:15 And we'll phase in with neighborhood pickup locations in Fort Townsend, and hopefully in the long run, a comprehensive.
09:13:23 composting initiative for curbside pickup composting here in Jackson County.
09:13:27 I believe this is a crucial step in the direction of.
09:13:34 cultivating a regenerative and sustainable community in here that is mindful of our⦠the ins and outs of⦠of, you know, beautiful produce and.
09:13:44 The waste, not waste. The byproduct of delicious compost to keep our community strong. So, I thank you for your partnership across all our programs.
09:13:56 And especially celebrate Keith Dixon and this emergent partnership with the Jefferson County, so thank you for supporting this. Appreciate you guys.
09:14:07 Congratulations on the new role. Yeah, thank you. What more can One Danny do? Congratulations to us. Yeah, yeah.
09:14:17 Alright, let's see Mr. Bowen in the virtual room, but we'll start. Anyone else in this room like to make public comment? Please come on up, sir.
09:14:26 Good morning, and again, thank you for the music, and⦠Oh, my name is Francesco Torica, I live here at Port Townsend, and I was the co-founder.
09:14:34 of Olympic biochart, for those who are familiar with Biocharge.
09:14:40 Oh, I'm here to speak. Danny really laid out what Keith is doing at RTV.
09:14:46 And I'm grateful that Keith has⦠is nestled under Stronger Towns.
09:14:52 I've been talking with Keith about this for⦠just over 2 years.
09:14:56 Uh, and the⦠The whole⦠the whole concept.
09:15:02 It's models that I've seen work in other communities.
09:15:06 And food waste and trash is just trash. A food waste and compuls is a gift to the community.
09:15:15 It's a gift to the soil, it's a gift to the environment, it just keeps on giving.
09:15:19 Um, and I really⦠appreciate⦠I mean, I affectionately called Keith my serial entrepreneur friend. Um, he's just really amazing.
09:15:30 And to put this together, to see where it was going when we were first talking about it, to where it is today.
09:15:36 And especially with the nestled on the. stronger towns, and the educational aspect, it's⦠It's just crucial for what we have today. And so I want to thank the Commission for
having it on.
09:15:49 The consent agenda and for facilitating this for our community. Thank you.
09:15:54 Thank you, Francesca. Lana?
09:16:00 Hi, John Paul Port Thompson. And also partner in Olympic Bioch.
09:16:06 Um, I'm not going to take your time, I just want to thank you. I'm here now.
09:16:12 support of return to Earth, and I just want to thank you for.
09:16:15 Moving it along and making this thing happen, and you will not be.
09:16:21 disappointed with working with Keith. Thank you. Thank you, John.
09:16:27 Anyone else in the room? All goods said. All right. We'll turn to the virtual room and bring Mr. Bowen over, and anyone else that's with us online can hit the raise hand button,
and we'll bring you over for 3 minutes, or the star 9 button if you're on the phone.
09:16:41 Scrum, when you get yourself unmuted, you have 3 minutes.
09:16:45 Good morning, Commissioners, Ed Bowena. Coming back to you mostly today because.
09:16:49 your website has gone south for the winter. I can't keep updated on what's going on, so first off.
09:16:57 Uh, South Shore Road, I would like an update from you, because I can't find out anything on the website.
09:17:03 I monitor that constantly, hopefully for news releases, but uh⦠There's nothing there. At least I can't find it.
09:17:09 So, uh, and I don't want to bother Public Works. They got a lot to do, so I would like an update on the West End roads today.
09:17:17 I will say, in meeting with the, uh⦠Park Superintendent, uh, over the past several weeks, it seems that she's very focused on.
09:17:29 other things, and I will say my question to her about priorities did not get answered.
09:17:34 And I was left with, well, check back with us since several months, but first off, we're mostly.
09:17:41 not gonna be able to answer your questions because of government shutdown, so I hope they don't depend on that, because it looks like.
09:17:47 Dependent on the White House will get an appropriations bill for the Department of Interior.
09:17:53 With that, I want to move over. I'm very concerned about the Advisory Committee for Trustland Transfers.
09:17:59 I would hope Heidi could do a better job keeping us informed, because the DNR website has nothing.
09:18:05 You don't get to see anything anymore, you don't get to participate in the advisory, you don't even get to listen or go back and listen after the fact anymore to the advisory
committee meeting.
09:18:14 So, I'm very concerned with that. And last but not least, I'll leave you with the fact, you know, I'm getting very concerned now in 2026. I think both Jefferson and all the
Olympic Peninsula counties.
09:18:27 having a rarage issue with their, uh, state forest transfer lands.
09:18:30 Because there's just not any sales going on, and there's not even regional sales going on anymore.
09:18:35 So I'd hope we're on top of that, making sure the revenues are coming into the county. But mostly.
09:18:40 I really do want an update on the West End roads from your point of view, because I just can't find out on my own anymore. Thank you.
09:18:48 Thanks, Mr. Bowen, and Ms. Yarnallover? Shelly, let me get yourself unmuted, you have 3 minutes.
09:18:55 Good morning, Shelly Yarnell Brennan. Um, I, too, want to echo the problem that we're having accessing information on the website.
09:19:06 Um, it's gone from bad to worse. And I'd like to see, really, that focused on so that people are not having to work so hard to get the information that we're trying to get out
there.
09:19:18 And second, um, I just want to remind you that we, um, agreed that we would talk about fireworks, and, um, time's slipping by, and I just want to make sure that that has a.
09:19:32 prominent place in a discussion. Coming up, um, hopefully soon. Thank you.
09:19:47 Thank you, Ms. Yarnell. Anyone else for this online that would like to make public comment? We'd love to hear from you. You can hit star 9 if you're on the phone, or the raise
hand button.
09:19:57 All right, well, we will keep, uh, public comment open for another 10 minutes or so, and begin on responses. Anyone like to kick it off today?
09:20:08 I can start with, um⦠So, to Jim, there is a SWAC meeting on the 22nd.
09:20:15 And I actually had a conflict, because I'll be in Olympia, and might not be able⦠I'm gonna rush back, but⦠Um, I don't know, um, it's⦠Um, 2 to 4.
09:20:28 at solid waste, and I think I should be able to be back if I skip lunch at Blossack, so⦠and I can do that, I usually do.
09:20:37 Um, so that's the next WAC meeting. Um⦠I'm excited to hear about this.
09:20:45 composting option in our community, really excited. I have been thinking, as we've been moving through all these machinations with SWAC and.
09:20:55 all the conversations about recycling and the idea of building a new transfer station, and can we⦠what can we imagine in the new transfer station? Pompost has been.
09:21:03 talked about a thrift store, a reuse store has been talked about, um.
09:21:10 And, um, I'm excited to see what happens with Return to Earth.
09:21:15 And supportive of this effort. Um⦠And Aunt Danny taking on more work. I'm here for you if you need to check in. Thank you. About having too many plates spinning at one time,
because I know you have young children as well.
09:21:32 Um⦠to Ed Bowen on the Trustline Transfer Advisory Committee. We haven't met for a long time.
09:21:41 So, there is a trust land transfer proposal moving through.
09:21:51 The supplemental capital budget in the state this session, and there is.
09:21:51 efforts to get another list of projects together. For the full 2027 to 2029 biennial budget, but those are the trust land transfer things that are currently.
09:22:02 in the works, and the DNR Advisory group. Um⦠has not met recently, so that's an update on that one.
09:22:14 Um, in terms of the website, I⦠we were all having trouble getting on the website. It wasn't⦠it was a⦠You know, universal problem, and⦠Um, we knew that update was
happening, though, in advance of when it happened, and talked about that last week, soâ¦
09:22:31 I'm sorry that people got jammed up with that.
09:22:35 Software updates happen to the⦠to the best in all people.
09:22:39 Um⦠the one thing that frustrates me are these.
09:22:43 listening, at least hearing assistance devices that have sat here gathering dust.
09:22:48 For the entire time I've been a commissioner. And I know that George Young does not come to these meetings anymore, because they're⦠they don't work.
09:22:56 And I just wish we could have some. Uh, listening assistance devices for people in our community who need them. We know we live in an aging community.
09:23:06 And, um, it's mentioned to me on the street often that people don't come.
09:23:10 Or, um⦠Yeah, so I would like that. Actually, Sean was going to wear them today to try them out, because we⦠I believe IT got them working again. They might be working.
Okay, great.
09:23:23 Come back in the meeting and throw them on. Well, we should let folks who depend on those know that they're working again if they're working, and that⦠largely be George,
yeah.
09:23:34 Can I just ask about⦠The updates, this has happened a couple of times, and is there any reason that the updates have to happen? Does anybody know here? Maybe Sean can answer.
09:23:43 on the weekend? Why can't they happen, like, on a Tuesday or Wednesday when people aren't as likely to be trying to get into the OCC packets?
09:23:52 and other meetings, I guess⦠I think the impact would be higher during the week than it would be on the weekend, that's the idea.
09:23:58 You'd be higher internally on staff to try and do business.
09:24:02 Okay. There's always easier for your system, right? All our public documents. That's true, and other public meetings happen throughout the week as well.
09:24:10 If we had a hearing scheduled for today, and this issue happened over the weekend, I would almost err on the side of caution and reschedule a public hearing.
09:24:17 That we didn't have to do that in this event, but I get what you're saying. It would be nice.
09:24:22 Not having those content issues that are unforeseeable, I mean.
09:24:27 And to Shelly's second comment about fireworks, we should get that pulled up for a workshop in the⦠in the first quarter, so⦠And I was wondering if you were already maybe
including it in your Farm Marshall.
09:24:40 I just took a look at the 2026 schools that we're going to talk about. I think we could⦠We should add a separate topic, because it's a whole thing. We tried to make it part
of that large public, uh, fireworks, you know, fire marshal meeting, and it never really, uh, metastasized as a particular topic to.
09:24:56 Think about it. We didn't talk about⦠The idea of changing the policy, which is really what Joe wants. Yeah, right. I mean, we talked about it enough to know that there's
going to be a lot of.
09:25:08 public comment on both sides of the issue, so we need to get the word out in time for people to be able to participate. Yeah, absolutely.
09:25:16 It's an explosive issue. Knew there was this fun expert.
09:25:22 I just⦠and I also wanted to just say to Jim, I really appreciate how you showed up, and I love your⦠your written public comments, yes, there's them out and take notes
on them.
09:25:33 You do a really thorough, clear job. uniquely. Yeah. So, if anyone wants to emulate public comments⦠Um, take a primer from Jim Friedman, but I really appreciate your input
and, um.
09:25:48 Thinking outside the box. I don't think I have a whole lot to add, because you've all⦠you've addressed.
09:25:57 And most of it, except⦠I wonder if, um⦠Because⦠Public comment today, um⦠touched on a few things that are on our goal lists, which we're going to be talking about
for the third time.
09:26:12 later, uh, today, including⦠improving our tech systems and, um, and public access.
09:26:21 And I wonder if⦠I mean, I always find myself wondering, and Shelly, I think I'll give you a call specifically on this one.
09:26:30 Um, to follow up, but I wonder if there could be, like, a⦠portal for people to send in. I'm looking for X information, and I didn't find it.
09:26:40 Um, I'd love to know some specifics about what people are looking for and where they're looking for it.
09:26:47 Because, um, that could help us when we look at a redesign of accessing information. So let's think about that.
09:26:55 I mean, people can always send us an email, and so in the meantime, I would encourage folks to just shoot us a quick email. Hey, I'm looking for X. I looked at this⦠I tried
these things.
09:27:07 Um, and that would, um, helpful⦠be helpful to us as we try to get more specific about solving that problem.
09:27:15 Um⦠For example, when Ed talks about trying to find.
09:27:20 an update on the South Shore Road, um. that's gonna be a complex.
09:27:26 combination of things, the website being down this weekend specifically, but also the fact that.
09:27:32 We've said repeatedly here, we're not really providing regular updates on this ashore road, because there aren't⦠there isn't a lot changing.
09:27:40 Um, so, um⦠Mr. Bowen, if you're expecting.
09:27:47 daily or weekly updates, that's not how often that information is coming. Um, but I'd love to have more of a conversation about who you're talking to. Thank you for letting
us know that you talked to Sula.
09:27:59 Um, and⦠and what response you got there, because that helps us to know where you're looking for information. So, um⦠The only other thing that I wanted to add in addition
to just adding my support to the Return to Earth.
09:28:13 Um, program, and so excited to see you all here, and congratulations to Dani, and congratulations to us for getting Dani in this role.
09:28:22 Thank you, Ben Bauermeister, for⦠creating the effort of Stronger Towns, um, and, uh, Skilmation, and⦠Economic Development Council and all of your years and years and years
of contributions here in the community. Congratulations to you for passing this baton so successfully, that isâ¦
09:28:43 Really, really exciting. And thank you for thinking ahead, um, to how we sustain these great efforts that we start in the community to pass it on to another generation of leadership.
So that's just a great model, and I'm so thrilled to see it.
09:28:56 for you and for us, Dani. Um, so thank you for being here.
09:29:03 And, um, and Jim, thank you for these comments. I'm.
09:29:09 Uh, really⦠it's so complex.
09:29:12 I will say, again, I think I've said multiple times, I find solid waste to be one of the more complex systems that we work with here.
09:29:21 Um, and, um, you have a great handle on it, you're always pointing to important elements of the system that we may or may not be paying attention to.
09:29:31 Um, I found myself wanting a little bit more time to dig into this level of detail, so when we get to consent, I'd like to know.
09:29:38 How pressing is this contract, and whether we can take a little time with it.
09:29:43 Um, and whether we need to, so we'll have more of a conversation about that when we get to consent.
09:29:49 Um, and⦠to Francesco and Joan, um, I have used your biochar program when it was about at, um, the old alcohol plant. I picked up my buckett's there and used them in my garden
and found.
09:30:03 Fantastic results, so thank you so much for the work that you've done there, C. Shepard. Thanks for being here.
09:30:11 Shake that. All right, let's take a pause. I see we have one other hand, so let's bring Linda Fitzgerald over. Public comment.
09:30:21 Richard, when you get yourself over? I'll have 3 minutes after you're unmuted. Go ahead.
09:30:30 Good morning, Richard.
09:30:27 All right, good morning, how's everybody doing today? So, um, I think, uh, one of the things that might need to be just kind of put out there is that, um.
09:30:40 Unfortunately, there's a lot of things that are up in the air that some people don't know about when things are being planned or being thought, you know, thought through or
put into play.
09:30:50 And it's not as simple as, okay, we need to add a new bus route.
09:30:56 So, okay, well, we'll do it from 7 o'clock until, you know, 7 o'clock to here.
09:31:01 it's not as simple as just saying, there, we can do it. There's planning and all that other sort of stuff, conversations that need to be had, and.
09:31:09 And so, it does make it difficult, um⦠To be able to, uh, to be able to⦠express that information to people, I guess is what I'm trying to say.
09:31:19 is just that there is a level of communication that there has been some slippage on.
09:31:27 But, obviously, you guys have stated that your website needs to be worked on, and during that time that is being worked on, it is going to make things difficult. It's the same
thing as if I renovate my kitchen at home.
09:31:38 My kitchen's gonna be down for the amount of time.
09:31:41 It would be nice if I could snap my fingers and have it done in 5 minutes, and be like, now I can go back to cooking, but sometimes it takes a little bit longer, and so⦠Um,
I think we need to be able to see that there is some patients that needs to be taken into play for some of the things that are happening.
09:31:56 During the time of that patient's, if there's no.
09:32:00 information being given out. that kind of draws things, so I do, uh, Heather, the portal that you were speaking of would be a fantastic.
09:32:10 idea, at least to give somebody some information about what's going on instead of, well, we're still working on it.
09:32:16 some more information than we're just working on it would be⦠would be helpful. But I do think on our side of it, on the public side of it, we do.
09:32:24 Need to understand some patients with what's happening as well, because it's not as simple as just.
09:32:31 sending out an email and making it happen in one day, and so⦠We appreciate all the work that you're doing, and um.
09:32:37 you know, I just wanted to basically kind of put that out there. Again, yeah, I think that portal or something along that line would be fantastic to give somebody.
09:32:45 a sounding board to be able to work with.
09:32:48 Um, during the times that, you know. There is no information being able to be given out at the time, some sort of sounding board to help out.
09:32:59 Thank you, Mr. Fitzgerald. Anyone else? Last call for public comment. Anyone else, uh, everyone in the room? Uh, only one, I'm sorry, Francesco. I just want to say, what'sâ¦
I could not find the agenda this morning on the website.
09:33:13 Thank you. Um⦠alright, anyone else with us that would like to make the public comments?
09:33:24 Okay, I will close public comment now. I don't know, Heather, have you finished, or did you want to⦠Yeah, I had finished, but, um, can I just add a quick note about our website?
09:33:35 Um, one thing, just in the meantime, while we're reworking things, but if you go to the Jefferson County website at co.jefferson.wa.us, one of the places you can look for Board
of County.
09:33:45 Commissioner's information is to scroll all the way down to the bottom.
09:33:49 and into the lower right-hand corner, there's an area called Helpful Links, and that links directly to the top two links are BOCC agenda.
09:34:00 And BOCC meeting packets, and then you can, um⦠we did have, uh, recordings, um.
09:34:07 place there, too. I don't see, but⦠so the other thing to know about that helpful links is if you click on the word helpful links, there are more helpful links than the ones
that just show up on the list.
09:34:18 Um, and, like, 3 times as many. So you can scroll down, and those are kind of, like, typical, often, um, sought-out information. Outside of laser leash, though?
09:34:30 The links they do outside of date. take you to where you need to go. They take you to the section. Um, so this one in, for example, the POCC agenda goes right to the, um.
09:34:42 the agenda⦠it looks like the agendas and agenda Center calendar, and then you can click right on the Board of County Commissioners meeting, um, seen right there.
09:34:51 So, try that out. Um, main page⦠all the way down lower right-hand corner, helpful links, um, to just get you started. Okay, there are strategic plans. The GIS parcel search
is listed there, flood protection information, Jefferson County Code.
09:35:10 Um, it's just a⦠it's a good little list that, um, connects you to.
09:35:15 some of the most frequently asked for bits of information.
09:35:20 Also recognizing that we need to prevent, but that's a good, um⦠At least interim tool.
09:35:28 Great. Thank you for that, and I will, uh, add a little bit. I think you guys covered it really well. I appreciate people coming in to make public comment today, though, and
congratulations, and, you know.
09:35:37 for all of us that Torch has been passed, leading stronger towns, really important, uh, group of agencies. Love the return to Earth idea, and⦠No, I'm⦠after this, I'm going
down to Cooker Village to pick up their food waste for our own little, uh, birds, so, you know, everyone can use the fuel that is our food waste, so love that, and Francesco, it's great
to see you again. I don't know if you remember, but you gave me a tour of your facilities. I bought a super sack from you, and.
09:36:04 Make my own. You taught me to fish, so I make my own biochar now, and it's, uh, and love it. So, really appreciate you guys being here, advocating for what looks like a great
program. I hope to meet Keith and.
09:36:17 And help develop this curbside composting. It's, uh, it is fuel, as far as I'm concerned, so⦠Love it. Um, to Jim, good, good comments. I think we're going to talk more about
your, um.
09:36:29 About the issue, the contract is long, we're, you know, but it's, it's kind of nestled into a larger kind of capital planning facility. Yeah, we were coming in hot on that one.
Yep. So, just to remind people, too, that as well as the SWAC meeting that I guess is happening this Thursday at 2 o'clock online, and at the Public Works Office, we have next Monday
the 26th.
09:36:52 In the evening, we have a, uh, our first, uh, in a long time, meeting on the, uh, the solid waste, uh, transfer station capital project, so we're going to have that meeting
at 6 o'clock online and in the chambers.
09:37:04 Trier Community Center. Um, so, uh, I hope to see you there.
09:37:08 Um, and I⦠I don't know specifically about the SWAC membership, but it does seem like.
09:37:16 It was⦠We were updating the bylaws, and then we're gonna appoint new members after the bylaws were updated. Okay. And there's a number of committees right now that are going
through bylaws updates as kind of like this.
09:37:29 big cleanup project that's been going on, so⦠Okay. Well, it's⦠we've been aware that people have been making comments, and, um, it looks like April will be.
09:37:40 And we're making a point those SWAC members. Great. Um, and I see Mr. Cairns, or what's his new role called? What is it?
09:37:49 Let's looking every⦠Al, you might be asked to come over and participate in the conversation afterwards, if you're available.
09:37:57 Um, I think we've talked about the website a lot, you know, a little under construction or updates happening, a banner across the top would be a good thing to do when we're
doing updates, too, to let people know that it's not.
09:38:09 Um, it's not unexpected that you're running into an error, because we encounter the same, and confusion when it happens, even though I knew that the laserfish updates were happening,
I would say, like, what the So, uh, you know, we share the frustration and.
09:38:26 Um, you know, are some⦠among the few that use the system on the weekends when it is the natural time to do the updates, so apologies for that, and we'll try to get better.
I'm not sure if we need another portal into.
09:38:37 Um, ask questions, but⦠So⦠Uh, Carolyn just⦠Or no, maybe it's Josh. Josh posted in the chat the citizen feedback.
09:38:49 Mm-hmm. You want to just share about that, so folks know that that is already there? Yeah, just a couple pieces of information. So, we have⦠email possibilities, whether it's
any particular staff member or Jeff.
09:39:04 B O C Act than the regular county address, co.treverson.
09:39:09 w.us, but there's also a. a form that starts off by saying, what kind of comment would you like to send? Complaint, praise, problem, suggestion, and a couple other drop-down
things, and you can put your own email address in there. We do receive that kind of feedback. You can access that throughâ¦
09:39:23 Actually, through it, through how do I, or through services at the top of the page, there's a series of drop-down menus.
09:39:29 All that said, I just want to point out that that is a form to⦠and again, it's received by the Commissioner's Office and IT, and⦠dove out appropriately to⦠to whatever
department is, uh⦠affected most? So those emails go to our staff and IT? Yeah. Okay, cool. That's great, thank you.
09:39:50 Yeah, go ahead. If people have, I mean⦠I⦠I get phone calls all the time and texts, and I have been my⦠signature, my county cell phone number, which is with me.
09:40:01 Almost 24-7. Actually, I do not sleep with cell phones.
09:40:04 I'm gonna say this out loud, there's a rule in our house cell phones downstairs.
09:40:10 when we go to bed, so⦠That's good. But for about⦠16, 18 hours a day, you can text me, and I will respond, and⦠You know, that's part of our job, and so⦠Uh, if you've
ever received an email from me, my cell phone, county cell phone, is in that signature line, andâ¦
09:40:30 Use it. I tell people all the time, why didn't you call me?
09:40:36 I do, too. You should call Heidi. So, all that said, though, and it is true that we are transitioning. We had a different, um.
09:40:46 service that we're not using anymore called A-Bapture, as we all know, so we're transitioning.
09:40:51 We'll have a conversation with Central Services Director of Communication Specialist, IT, just to.
09:40:57 Take in what we've heard today, and see if we can also just rearrange things, or make sure there's prominent instructions available to people to access information. So, hearing
that.
09:41:06 Couple other things I just want, if you indulge a couple other things I heard, I just want to make sure the public knows.
09:41:12 There's some discussion around solid waste. and meetings, but I wanted to make sure, like, the main meeting that's coming up is just mentioned again. There's actually a press
release that went out today, and we'll probably have a Facebook.
09:41:23 post and an Instagram post on this, but⦠on Monday, January 26th, at 6pm at the Tri-Area Community Center is the special meeting of the Board of County Commissioners and.
09:41:34 Solid Waste Advisory Task Force. So that's an opportunity for people to participate, hear about what's happening in planning, for example.
09:41:42 A new transfer station site in the works under consideration and other things.
09:41:48 So I wanted to mention that. And also, with respect to the contracts, there's a couple contracts.
09:41:52 A couple agreements on consent agenda that have to do with solid waste today.
09:41:56 One is, uh, really about the planning to support that meeting, so it's imperative, according to staff, that we.
09:42:04 And we consider that contract today, because we need the support from the consultant support in order to.
09:42:08 do that planning process, including that particular meeting. Nope.
09:42:12 And then the other one, um⦠That was mentioned today, the recycling contract, the feedback is that.
09:42:18 With connections and Skukum need to be able to make.
09:42:20 purchase agreements for the continued operations after April 1st, and we're already a month behind, so that's the feedback from staff.
09:42:26 Thank you. Thank you for asking that. Um⦠let's see⦠wrapping up my own response, South Shore Road, you know, I think Heather covered that well. There's not a lot of action.
The one thing that's happened recently is that we've heard from the.
09:42:40 Um, Quinolt Nation, that it's really critical for their restoration, uh, access is critical for their restoration efforts, too, but.
09:42:48 You know, there's, uh⦠I looked at the email that Heather had sent after our last conversation about this from our.
09:42:55 Monty Rinders that really talks about the complexities in getting this work done, and⦠it's really pretty great that on the Upper Hull Road, those rocks actually had the purpose
of shoring up the bank as they were intended to, but it's really difficult to get in there and do the.
09:43:11 proactive things, you know, responding to an emergency is better, and we still, even with the Quinell Nation's support, that's another kind of sliver as we look for the funds
to.
09:43:24 to do that project, but that still comes with, you know, a mitigation fee of $450,000, which is, you know, a good chunk of our road⦠our road fund right there. So we areâ¦
We continue to look and struggle with the, uhâ¦
09:43:39 The machinations, you know, at the federal and state level has.
09:43:44 People change, and then the systems are changing, and the money is not there right now. So we'll continue to give you updates as things happen, but I know that Public Works
especially is working really hard.
09:43:55 Richard Fitzgerald, thank you for the comment on nuance. It is, uh, there's always, uh, you know.
09:44:02 I've dealt with a lot of, uh⦠DCD complaints last week, and there's always⦠More than two sides to all of these issues, and it's really⦠it's challenging to try to.
09:44:13 to get at a complex understanding of the truth, so thank you for pointing that out.
09:44:18 Um, and I guess⦠oh, and so, Shelly? Message received about fireworks. We'll get a workshop on it soon and talk about changes we want to make. We didn't get that on our goals
list, so we'll bring that back, and uhâ¦
09:44:32 Just a reminder to the public, any changes you make to make.
09:44:36 fireworks codes more restrictive, uh, take a year before they take effect, so it is not for⦠Um, this coming year, though I will say that I think the last couple years our
fireworks policy has actually worked pretty well. The first year that we had it in place, it was kind ofâ¦
09:44:51 Um, a rocky implementation start, but working with partner agencies has revealed that, like so many things.
09:44:59 you know, the secret sauce is the implementation, as much as it is the policy.
09:45:06 Um, okay. Uh, with that, unless you guys have anything else, we will, uh, thank everyone for public comment and move on to consideration of the consent agenda, and I think.
09:45:16 Sounds like, are there any other questions? It sounds like there is some.
09:45:21 Um, desire to talk a little bit more about the number 6 recycling center operations?
09:45:26 Well, I'll just remind people that when we, um⦠Last discussed this.
09:45:34 we were already behind⦠They, uh, on this transition.
09:45:40 because of the work that needs to be done to enable the transition.
09:45:46 So, I don't know if Al wants to⦠Pipe back in and remind us again.
09:45:50 But I feel like that's something we've talked about, and we can't.
09:45:56 really delay. I mean, that's what we've been told the last two times we've had workshops on this. He is standing by in case you wanted to ask.
09:46:03 Question directly. I mean, I guess the, you know.
09:46:09 the 10-year contract is a long contract. Of course, we're hoping to be.
09:46:12 in a different location, I guess I am curious the question about, are they taking on the liability, the deferred maintenance in that location? I guess⦠I think these are questions
I'd love if.
09:46:23 Fal's prepared to talk about them, or if we can.
09:46:26 delay and pull this from Consent Agenda and bring it back later in the day.
09:46:30 Whichever would⦠I'm fine with either. I hate that, like.
09:46:34 What? Alan's jumping on. Alan's coming over. Thank you, guys. Thanks for being here. Thanks.
09:46:42 Hey, Al.
09:46:42 Yeah, yeah, good morning, Commissioners. I can⦠I can answer all the questions posed. So, um⦠As Commissioner Eisenhower mentioned, yeah, we are kind of with our backs against
the law in terms of.
09:46:55 The schedule for this transition, SCUKEM. Uh, now Tessera and Waste Connections.
09:47:01 are eager to start, um, formulating purchasing agreements for the equipment that's.
09:47:07 Most of which is going to stay on site.
09:47:12 Um, there's a⦠there's a long punch list, um, that staff, SCU.
09:47:17 or Tessra and Wiz Connections needs to. complete to make this⦠a seamless transition. Um, so we are eager to get that, uh, operating agreement inked.
09:47:31 Um, uh, Philip Hunsucker did yeoman's job just last week, negotiating some of the finer points about that.
09:47:38 operating agreement. The 10-year term is necessary, um, for two reasons.
09:47:45 Because any company that's going to be assuming that type of work needs, um.
09:47:51 a longer term to guarantee their capital investments. Um, shall return.
09:47:57 Um, and also because, um⦠That's likely going to be the permanent home for the recycling center. It probably won't be.
09:48:07 Moving with us to a new site, should we.
09:48:10 Um, should we all come to agreement that the transfer station needs to move to a new site, and we'll have that conversation on the 26th?
09:48:18 Um, so it's, it's likely going to be the long-term home for that recycling center, and thus the 10-year term.
09:48:26 Um, to Mr. Friedman's public comments that, uh, he submitted in terms of the use of that.
09:48:33 area within, um, the operating agreement. Um, we⦠we can't possibly use that for the, uh, uh, stated or suggested purpose from Mr. Friedman. Um.
09:48:46 Because it's needed for. the recycling operations, they need to be able to move large equipment around in their semi-trucks and.
09:48:55 and other pieces of equipment. And it's⦠it's still going to, until we build a new transfer station, it's going to.
09:49:03 uh, provide services for. Um, uh, recycling of regulated waste in the environmental center. So we're still going to have a.
09:49:13 a customer type. using that, um, area as well, so we'd have.
09:49:20 Um, it's essentially encumbered by the continued operation of the site, so⦠I always appreciate Mr. Friedman's.
09:49:28 Um, perspective and, uh⦠desire to see operational efficiencies gained at the site. Unfortunately.
09:49:35 Uh, we have other intended uses for that area.
09:49:41 And one of the questions that piqued my interest, Al, was the, uh⦠liability⦠I mean, like, the deferred maintenance, who's⦠who's gonna be on the hook for those⦠those
capital improvements that we know are needed?
09:49:53 Waste connections, that's, um⦠very clear in the operating agreement that any capital improvements or repairs.
09:50:00 are the obligation of waste connections.
09:50:06 Great, thank you. Other questions? It was pretty clear. Yeah, no, that satisfies me.
09:50:14 Thank you, Al, and I guess that's⦠That's what we have for you today. I appreciate your responsiveness.
09:50:20 Certainly.
09:50:20 I⦠I'll, um, just do you know⦠why SWAC hasn't⦠the fact that SWAC hasn't meant often⦠recently.
09:50:31 knowing that all of this is really coming up, and people are particularly interested in engaging in this conversation.
09:50:38 What's⦠what's happened there? Why haven't⦠Why haven't done there been regular meetings?
09:50:43 Or was it justâ¦
09:50:43 Uh, we have⦠no, we have kept a regular meetings. Um⦠So last⦠last year.
09:50:51 in advance of, um, the solid waste management plan update process, which is going to be.
09:50:57 Um, it's going to take up a lot of staff bandwidth.
09:51:01 Um, and because there's going to be a lot of materials.
09:51:04 Uh, being developed by staff and then reviewed by SWAC in advance of the meetings.
09:51:09 Um, we opted to go to a quarterly schedule for this year.
09:51:16 Okay.
09:51:13 to accommodate that plan review and update process. Um, there are⦠as everyone well knows, the machinations of county government are designed to be thorough and transparent.
09:51:28 Not necessarily efficient. And so, there was a⦠there was a request from SWAC.
09:51:34 to have a larger role in vetting, um. Applicants for SWAC.
09:51:39 In order to do that, that necessitates⦠necessitates a bylaws revision.
09:51:45 Um, there were other bylaws revisions that were suggested by BOCC staff.
09:51:50 to align better with the other committees and boards.
09:51:54 Um, so we kind of bundled that effort. Um, there are, uh, bylaws revisions that will be reviewed by SWAC.
09:52:03 Um, this week that have been, uh, kind of pre-approved or pre-vetted by the prosecuting Attorney's office.
09:52:10 So, that requires SWAC to review, um⦠suggest revisions.
09:52:18 Those revisions then need to go back to the PAO for review.
09:52:21 If approved, then they go to the BOCC. For approval. Um, so BOCC would review the minutes of the⦠of this week's SWAC meeting.
09:52:33 And the bylaws revisions. Um, then we'll approve them through, um, a regular consent agenda item.
09:52:41 All of that work has to happen between. this week's meeting and the April meeting.
09:52:47 Then, once we get the bylaws in place, and should SWAC be, um⦠Given a larger role in vetting the applicants.
09:52:56 Then we can interview those applicants, and then⦠and then staff will forward the, um⦠feedback from SWAC, the recommendation for or against those appointments to the BOCC.
09:53:08 So, the two applicants that we have. really wouldn't be⦠Um⦠well, no, they would be⦠somewhere in April, early May.
09:53:21 the board would appoint or not appoint those members.
09:53:24 Soâ¦
09:53:25 Just considering how much is going on with solid waste right now, and all of this planning, have you⦠have⦠do you know if the committee has considered?
09:53:34 meeting more often, just in the⦠at least in the short term, and so⦠Until this trans part of why we obtained the special meeting for next week.
09:53:44 To add an extra meeting. Okay, yeah, it just seems quarterly. I mean, it is⦠it does bring up a question for me. Quarterly right now would be.
09:53:51 is pretty infrequent, considering all that you're. That you're trying to accomplish, so⦠just toâ¦
09:53:58 Yeah, the plan update, and the last time we did it, it was a two-year process.
09:54:04 Um, so⦠and there are⦠major revisions being made by the Department of Ecology in terms of the guidelines and what needs to be included in that.
09:54:12 Um, we're supposed to get a first draft of those new guidelines today.
09:54:17 Um, hopefully I'll have a chance to review them before the SWAC meeting can speak to them.
09:54:23 Um, we also have a Department of Ecology staff person that will be.
09:54:27 speaking about those guidelines at this SWAC meeting this week.
09:54:32 Um, so⦠there's⦠there's an awful lot going on.
09:54:36 Sure.
09:54:36 Um, having additional SWAC meetings at this point, I'm⦠I'm not sure, um⦠Well, it'd be a question of what doesn't happen.
09:54:45 Instead of the SWAC meetings for staff right now.
09:54:48 Mm-hmm, yeah. Okay, well, I look forward to the opportunity to discuss it more this upcoming meetings. I cannot be there on the 22nd, by the way, I have an NODC meeting right
at that exact same time, soâ¦
09:55:02 I think I'll be eligible. Um, lays back from Londia. Okay. If you change your mind, I have something scheduled that I could move. Okay.
09:55:11 I'll look at that in the last sec, but I think they⦠the last hour of it is lunch, and Iâ¦
09:55:20 I didn't know that part. Alright, well, thank you, Al.
09:55:25 Alright, um, back to the consent agenda. Thank you, Al, for taking time to come and address the questions.
09:55:32 Um, other thoughts, questions, concerns about any, uh, consent agenda items? Are we okay moving forward with number 6 as presented?
09:55:41 I think we have to⦠My answer⦠I think those are⦠Thank you. Yep, I'm okay with it.
09:55:49 Um⦠oh, just thank you to Kathy Morgan for her time on the⦠intellectual and developmental disabilities advisory Board, and, um, she was⦠a long-time member of that advisory
board, and stayed on for an extra year, at least, after she moved out of her role with OLICAP, and moved into a role that really didn't have much nexus with intellectual and developmental
disabilities, but still had a passion for that work and continued.
09:56:19 But, um, it's now⦠coming to the end of her capacity to be with the board, but that board is, um, even with her departure, is, for the first time, um, going to be fully.
09:56:31 fully staffed and has 3, uh, self-advocates that are, um.
09:56:39 interested, and we've already muted one of them, and bringing on two more, so that's a really exciting and.
09:56:45 in intellectual and developmental disabilities, self-advocates are like, um, you know, people with lived experience in other boards. It's just a different term, but⦠Um, it's
been a huge added value to that board. So anyway, thank you to Kathy Morgan forâ¦
09:57:00 Long service there, and⦠extended service.
09:57:08 I'm happy to make a motion that we approve the consent agenda.
09:57:13 January 20th? Seconded by Heather. Um, lots of good work here.
09:57:20 All in favor? Indicate by saying aye. Hi. Hi. It was unanimous?
09:57:27 Alright, um⦠Onwards, let's take a look at our agenda. It's still pretty light. We have a letter coming up, and we have one other letter that we want to walk on, uh, concerning
our, uh.
09:57:39 Our, um⦠our WSU Extension Director, who is stuck in a pretty sticky wicket right now that we want to do what we can to, um, alleviate, I don't know, do you guys, we have
time now, should we hit those two letters before we get into the workshop?
09:57:55 Sounds like, yeah, good time, yeah. Um, let's start with the letter of support for DNR, the 2025 day Bob Day Trust Land Transfer, and Heidi, you can talk a little bit to that,
and then Josh will ask you to share that other letters, and we'll have public comment on that, since we didn't have⦠we're just walking it on.
09:58:13 So this letter largely mirrors the letter that we, as a board, sent to DNR in the fall about⦠it's very identical, and I was a little bit confused when I saw it at the MRC,
and then I realized.
09:58:27 This is from a previous biennium. So, this⦠this list, because I was like, wait a second.
09:58:34 You know, um⦠Dave Bombay is not numbers 1 and 2 on the⦠and then I'm like, whoa, wait, and this is from the 2023-25 biennium.
09:58:45 So, this is⦠so this is still⦠we're still trying to get this transfer to happen.
09:58:51 Um, and some of these things just take a very long time. Okay, so it's not that we're pulling our support from.
09:58:59 No, the work we're doing now. Okay. No, okay, got it. And, um, the MRC, you know, and⦠Then the creation of the Northwest Greats Initiative and the seven MRCs around the Northwest
Straits.
09:59:15 Um, one of the main roles that was imagined for the Marine Resources Committee was to serve as policy advisors to boards of county commissioners.
09:59:23 And our MRC is⦠Um, prioritize⦠reprioritizing that.
09:59:29 So, creating more of a work group around that, and this is⦠We'll be seeing more letters.
09:59:35 Um, similar to this. Okay. So, I appreciate it. It's kind of a weird thing that we're signing a letter for the MRC, but it's important to remember that they.
09:59:45 They can't send this letter, you know, so it has to⦠they give us policy advice to forward on if we concur with it, this obviously.
09:59:52 Um, ratifies, um, you know. This supports what we already are supporting, so it's not like we, uh, um⦠notes about it, but it's just⦠it is a sort of a strange kind⦠a
strange beast having a letter of support from an advisory board that really only advises us, so we'reâ¦
10:00:10 you know, ratifying and pushing on the professional subject matter expertise recommendation. So, I'm happy to support this. I do too. Great.
10:00:23 Well, I'll make a motion that we approve the letter.
10:00:27 As drafted by the Marine Resources Committee to send to.
10:00:30 DNR in support of the day-Bob Trustline transfers. I will second that. Okay.
10:00:37 All in favor of sending the letter as drafted? Indicate by saying aye. Aye. Aye. All right.
10:00:44 That passes, and we'll⦠Turn it over to Josh to introduce the Sticky Wicked.
10:00:51 Sticky Wicket, oh. That's⦠no, I'm trying to address it is.
10:00:57 Feels like, uh, yeah. national politics getting in the way of the down doing our work. Yeah, and that was a good conversation this morning, um⦠about engaging Representative
Randall and her team, and helping us, you know, if we need to.
10:01:18 But this is already in the works by Josh and Jeremy, so appreciate.
10:01:23 Appreciate people. And I did communicate with Ahmet last week, just to check in on him, and.
10:01:29 How he's doing, and⦠No, he's concerned, and⦠Still staying engaged with the team here, and wants to get back as soon as he can, but, you know, this is⦠A sticky wicket,
for sure.
10:01:44 Yeah, so⦠when we first heard the news that Amit was.
10:01:50 stuck, essentially. Abroad.
10:01:54 There wasn't any mechanism at that moment to do anything about it, and we were talking about months of delay. Yes.
10:02:03 So, obviously, with a small shop there at UN2 Extension, Jefferson County.
10:02:09 leadership vacuum like that is⦠felt severely, although we've been in touch, I know it's difficult to.
10:02:16 do anything from abroad in that regard, of course, leaving that office.
10:02:22 And so, um, Ahmed did tell us that there is a process or expedited appointment request, to be able to deal with the visa issues, and so we're essentially.
10:02:31 Proposing to participate in that process, but with a letter of support, WSU, Washington State University, would be doing the same, presumably.
10:02:39 And again, we⦠check in with, uh⦠Jerry will⦠Jeremy, Williami, our new DCD director, because he had served at the Forest Service, so I asked him, hey, any insights about
this process?
10:02:50 Graciously helped with a lot of the language here, because he knows the criteria about what they're looking for. So, you can see there's a lot of specifics in this letter here.
10:03:00 That have to do with, uh⦠importance from an economic development perspective, rural services, those kinds of things.
10:03:09 Um, so in the first paragraph, we're simply just saying that we've.
10:03:13 support the expedited appointment request. added that bit about the distress area, because that's a⦠it's a federal designation that we should.
10:03:22 Call upon, since we're talking about. Jefferson County's characteristic⦠Let me stop one second, just for the public that's not been privy to the communication on that, to
just say⦠so is⦠Is he went back for an annual trip to India, and he's, uh, asâ¦
10:03:38 A routine renewal of his visa to come back and continue his work as the Extension Director for Jefferson County.
10:03:45 He was sort of at the last minute, I believe, or, you know, kind of abruptly told that that appointment's canceled, and you don't get another appointment to renew the visa until
at least May. Is that correct? That, um, basically the situation that we're dealing. Yes. Okay, thank you. Sorry, thanks.
10:04:03 Please continue. Uh, second paragraph just talks about Jefferson County a bit, um, and how.
10:04:10 the services of WSU Extension serve to address. issues that are important for us, and⦠for the United States as well.
10:04:20 From that perspective, and talks about Dr. Sharma's ties with the community.
10:04:25 Um, and now it's time-sensitive. This is the part where⦠Talking about how it's important beginning of the year, work planning, trying to emphasize that resolving the situation.
10:04:36 Now would be in everyone's best interest, talks about the urgency in the next paragraph.
10:04:43 Um⦠the disruptions caused two important elements to.
10:04:49 Our county's economy which ties in with their state and their region and the country.
10:04:54 And then the last paragraph just reiterates our request.
10:04:59 So, spot anything here you want to⦠Jess, just let me know I've got the Word doc up here. Otherwise, if we can⦠have a motion and public comment, then we could get this
letter out.
10:05:09 And we're also⦠I think Commissioner Eisenhower and I have been talking with our lobbyists about.
10:05:14 not just providing the letter. to Amit and to WSU, but also working with our federal delegation and using any other lever we can pull to try to.
10:05:25 Get the letter to the right people, or get support from other parties.
10:05:30 Right. I think it looks pitch perfect, I don't know. Any notes before we⦠No, I'm happy to make a motion that we send this letter in support of Dr. Sharman and his role at
WSU.
10:05:40 and getting home. Yes, I will second that, but can we confirm who⦠did you say specifically who we are sending it to in addition to⦠our federal deleg⦠delegates.
10:05:51 Okay, so the letter itself will go to the consulate.
10:05:54 And that's the process, so that⦠Um, it can, um⦠make the request for an expedited appointment, and there is a process, at least that there's a certain number of days that
transpire to get an expected response, soâ¦
10:06:07 So really just providing it to them, and to use it as part of his package to make this request. Okay.
10:06:14 And, um, we were talking about. Uh, making sure that staff that are support⦠that support our U.S.
10:06:24 senators and our representative in Congress. Could also be aware of the situation and do whatever they can do to help, and that's all I meant by that. Absolutely. I just wonder
if there's value. I mean, there's not a lot of space on this letter to keep it in one page, butâ¦
10:06:39 Um, in actually. explicitly copying our⦠our delegates so that the consular office knows that we're sending it to our.
10:06:49 congresspeople, and⦠Yes. Senators. True. Sounds great.
10:06:53 I would add those directly if I were writing.
10:07:00 So, that's probably not⦠we don't have to make an amendment for just adding CCs at the bottom.
10:07:05 Okay. Great. Any other comments or discussion before we open for public comment?
10:07:12 Okay, because we did walk this letter on, we'll open for public comment on this topic only, so if anyone is with us, we've⦠We've emptied the room, but anyone online can hit
the raise hand button or star 9 if you're on the phone if you would like to comment on this letter.
10:07:29 We've approved. Make one more call for public comments.
10:07:33 See, Jeremy online. Thank you, Jeremy, for, uh, providing the subject matter expertise to making this.
10:07:41 Uh, dot the right I's and cross the right T's. Other duties as assigned. Thanks, Jeremy. Yeah, there you go. Thanks.
10:07:48 Hey, one last call. Anyone that would like to make public comment on this, please hit the raise hand button.
10:07:55 Seeing none, I will close public comment and call the question. All in favor, indicate by saying aye.
10:08:00 Hi. Hi. All right. Thank you. Josh and Jeremy for doing the heavy lifting for this, and⦠Um, Heidi for, you know, connecting with our lobbyists, and I think it's great to
include the federal delegation and, you know, to everyone here, and Ahmed as well, anything else we can do?
10:08:17 I think we're, you know, we're here to help with this. It's, uh⦠an untenable and pretty unacceptable situation.
10:08:25 Yeah, and just thanks to the WSU Extension staff for holding down the fort. I know they have, um⦠Several have expressed.
10:08:34 huge impact, and, um, including. Just feeling like they didn't get to go through their regular work plan process at the beginning of the year, and that has already shown up
in our.
10:08:46 Climate Action Committee meetings, um, some commitments that staff had made to support processes that they are now unaware, you know, they're just unable to continue that commitment,
and.
10:08:58 Until they know what their team needs. And, um, and we completely understand that, but it is absolutely delaying work.
10:09:05 So, um, thank you for moving this forward.
10:09:12 All right. Um, well, let's take a look at our agenda. We've got the workshop, uh, continuing workshop on the 2026 goals and workshop topics, and we've got the⦠discussion
on the Thriving Communities Grants.
10:09:31 In fact, tentatively scheduled for 11, but whenever we get to it, so let's, uh, start with the goals and.
10:09:38 We're⦠Josh and I were kind of⦠scrambling to, uh⦠get the notes, uh, updated, so apologies if it didn't quite capture anything, but maybe I will just.
10:09:49 keep working, and I'll share my screen and just take notes in real time, so we don't have to⦠recreate everything here.
10:09:59 Um⦠Okay. So⦠Um, we've thrown some names on this, and of course this is not to imply that other people can't work on it, but kind of, you know, leading a little bit.
10:10:12 Who's⦠who's leading the process for the goals and the workshops, and the workshops really kind of putting them together and doing the, uh, the agenda requests when, when
required.
10:10:24 Quick note on that, I think you started to talk about this, Commissioner Robert, right? Just to be clear, if you see.
10:10:30 your name, and it shouldn't be where it is, or the other way around. It's only because.
10:10:33 a couple weeks ago, we started this conversation, I took some notes.
10:10:37 And others did as well, and that turned into this list, which we reviewed last week, and then there was.
10:10:42 I was taking notes as well, but there was a part where I tuned out a little bit on who was being assigned, because I thought someone else was taking that note, so it's partly
an educated guess based on committee assignments and things like that, but.
10:10:54 Um, again, if you thought your name should be somewhere where it should, just please, this is a good moment to speak that up, so we can⦠We can finalize this list for now.
And who's that Jan? Jan's got everything! But no, that's just Jan.
10:11:07 I see there are some things that⦠Maybe missed the list. Alright, that's⦠well, let's start with, uh, emissions. What do you got?
10:11:17 Um, well, there was this conversation about doing a.
10:11:20 Maybe it's here somewhere and just called something else a⦠workshop with Jeff Chapman about the RCCA grant. I put that down under quarter 3, Olympic Peninsula Outdoor Recreation
Collaborative this summer, Assessor Chapman.
10:11:34 Q3, because that's when you talked about doing it, so I hadn't⦠I just had different words written on my list, so great, it's there. Okay.
10:11:43 Um⦠Because inseptic system that I'm here.
10:11:47 Um⦠No, we're not⦠That was part of the pros.
10:11:53 Oh, trying to get that in there. Right, uh⦠let's throw that in there, I appreciate that.
10:12:00 That would be under⦠Parks, recreationâ¦
10:12:06 Oh, it's from, uh⦠We'll see⦠Closing⦠Community Center, Subject.
10:12:16 Installation⦠Um⦠Regular shines.
10:12:28 And I'm going to add, uh, fireworks. When do we want to talk about that? Maybe⦠I was thinking here, so we have⦠Um, under a quarter one workshops, number 8 is where we
have DCD specific things, including Office of the Fire Marshal. Yeah. I do think it'sâ¦
10:12:48 It's in our best interest to have that workshop first, so maybe a new number 9 right below that one, where we specify.
10:12:55 Fireworks. Fireworks⦠Policy reviewâ¦
10:13:04 So, um, maybe we'll just say March, just to, uh⦠Sign something to March doesn't have anything yet.
10:13:13 And, uh⦠The financial controls⦠Yeah, that was under⦠we don't have a workshop scheduled yet.
10:13:22 But, um, I think I put my name on that, working with, uh⦠Financial controls, I see it. Yep, number 3 under goals.
10:13:31 But maybe we should⦠I mean, we want a workshop in quarter one, so⦠Can throw that in there, too.
10:13:40 Where did prose get moved to? I should have printed. It's number 16 on holes. Okay.
10:13:45 Yep, and I just added, we'll say, convenience intercept installationâ¦
10:13:54 Uh, who wants to take the lead on the⦠fireworks, we had staff working with DCD⦠For staff on the Department of Community Development stuff.
10:14:05 I mean, I feel like it should be kind of part of that, um⦠Fire Marshal⦠coordination with fire.
10:14:15 conversation, at least, can be brought up. verified. That's why I put it afterwards, so we want that first, that's a little bit more general, so we're talking March.
10:14:25 Uh, to plan that. That gives us still time to.
10:14:28 you know, make any changes by the 4th of July. That's kind of the⦠Uh, due dates, if we are going to make any changes, we want to make it before the 4th of July, so at the
subsequent 4th of July, if it's in effect. Okay.
10:14:46 Do we get critical areas confident in here? It's hard to read? It is, uh⦠we don't have⦠Uh, we have DCD issues, let's see where that. It's number 4.
10:14:56 Number 4, planning updates. And I put board on that, I wasn't sure, because that really impacts all of it.
10:15:05 Okay. For me. Uh, we got⦠How about it.
10:15:12 Yeah. Number 7. Kind of like a 17.
10:15:17 Doesn't really have a specific interactions with development community, yeah. And then there was Glenn Cove.
10:15:28 Would we get that somewhere? We have it under⦠The City-County ILA review, that was kind of⦠a Glenco ILA was⦠It's the quarter one workshop number 4.
10:15:42 One co-free answer structure on that. Okay, okay. Yeah.
10:15:46 That was one of the things I had scribble down.
10:15:52 And I'm sharing and making changes on our⦠on the draft document that we have.
10:16:00 Okay. I was wondering on the ham radio training, since we still haven't been able to get it set up, do we want to try to set a virtual class that we can participate in, or you
want to do it.
10:16:10 person. I was looking for one that we could do⦠when I got in person was inflicted with.
10:16:18 Mark, it's something that we have, but Heather and I both had. The, uh, Mark, um, no, it was the, uh, community, uh.
10:16:27 Uh⦠fair. Uh, the activity. Oh yeah, yeah. And I'll be out of the country as well.
10:16:32 Yeah, it's the same dates as that. Same task that IMT.
10:16:39 was finding us another one. Alright, the IMT is⦠Incident management. Okay, that's it.
10:16:43 I said, we need help finding another inverse in the M radio class.
10:16:49 Let's see⦠I think we've got final. with that⦠Tourism under 12 goals, and then a workshop, we're talking, I think, at the end of⦠Order 1 is number 2. Oh, number 2. So,
Daniel, right?
10:17:10 Yeah, I just feel like we⦠oh no, it's there, designated merchant designation, yes, okay, that's⦠that's there.
10:17:19 Oh, DMO's capitalist. It's them. Should be lower case.
10:17:29 took meâ¦
10:17:33 Sterling press on.
10:17:41 Yeah, I think this is⦠It's been a fair conversation, kind of⦠Heather and I are thrown on it, but right now, your setup is setting up the workshop.
10:17:54 I haven't set it up, and let me just put Heather out there under 19, too. Do you wanna⦠do you want to leave the conversation? I mean, you're the one that's⦠I've done a
lot more work onâ¦
10:18:03 Well, um, yeah, I'm certainly happy to participate, and yeah, I kind of feel like it's a you and me together as much as you can in Housing Fund Board and the OCC meeting kind
of discussions.
10:18:16 Yeah. But putting me there kind of puts it more directly on my⦠Um, ironically, I just traded, uh, finance and Executive Committee last, I don't think it's a secret, that,
uh, um.
10:18:30 the State Department of Commerce has invited Viola Ware to mentor other rural agencies on continuum⦠developing a continuum. She mentioned it. Okay, yeah, I've.
10:18:41 I thought she mentioned it here in a public comment.
10:18:46 Which could be great. Maybe things are⦠As they should be. We'll need to do that home research. I mean, I'm⦠I feel like what we need is more financial transparency, andâ¦
In order to make that decision, and to better understand it, soâ¦
10:19:07 Going back to parallelic vessels for a moment, so number 13, parallelic vessels.
10:19:12 Acknowledging that the other commissioners, I thought maybe I had board there at first, but I know that each one of you, for different reasons, is⦠interested in this topic,
so again, just to emphasize that just because someone's name is there, it's more about organizing and⦠Yeah, just coordination.
10:19:25 did believe that, Heather, you've been doing through your interactions with the Orlando community, but I⦠I don't see a⦠so we're not⦠not that every single goal has to
have a corresponding workshop, but perhaps if you wanted to think about scheduling, are we looking at quarter two there? I think we're looking at quarter two, maybe early quarter two,
and it would be an off-site probably in Fort Woodland.
10:19:48 But a BOCC jointly.
10:19:53 It would be noticed, so that we could all be there.
10:19:56 Okay, and the numbering in the Q1, Q2 is not that one happened before 2 automatically, I'm just⦠Yeah. Yeah, just all in there somewhere. There we go.
10:20:11 So⦠Um⦠Yeah, and the Tourism Marketing TCC review, that's definitely going to be in February, because the TCC meeting is February 3rd.
10:20:23 Okay.
10:20:28 And then we want her to quote together. LTAX.
10:20:36 Um, um⦠We had talked about a cell counting task force update, is that⦠Yeah, it is Q2, Sean, great.
10:20:48 I think this is⦠It's also, we're doing a lot of the agenda planning to kind of populate the workshops. I think this is a good work product. Yeah, I like it. Are we opening
this forâ¦
10:21:03 If we take final action, we could. And I do think it's a living document in the sense that this helps plan out the first couple quarters, and maybe into the third, but we're
going to have to revisit and see where we're at, and start planning workshops.
10:21:16 I mean, the action would be to⦠I don't know, start working on it, but as Josh says, you know, we're not gonna finish this and sign it and say it's done. It would be ongoing.
But having the board approve this list, though, is helpful for me as well, just in the conversations with department heads and others, what the board has chosen to focus on for half
of the year. Yeah, I mean, I certainly⦠and since this is the third time we've brought this back, Iâ¦
10:21:38 I wouldn't mind hearing any public comment about things we're⦠that are glaringly missing, or⦠Okay, that's look through one more time here.
10:21:50 Giving people, uh⦠Yeah, sorry. The final wood plan⦠Oh yeah, we should put a workshop, and I put actually⦠I think I did put one on there⦠no, that's good.
10:22:01 The financial plan should be specifically. So it's number 2 on the goals. Yeah. Right. And then we talked about adding a workshop for work controls⦠got a lot trying to squeeze
in quarter one already, but⦠Yeah. I can discuss with the finance department.
10:22:20 Yeah, I won't⦠I'll just put it in quarter one, but maybe March is really⦠Yeah, or early quarter, just that it should be⦠I feel like we should kind of slot it in asâ¦
as a workshop topic, I feel like early quarter two is really the best place to do it, because it gives us this first quarter for Judy to kind of⦠Let's say April, I agree with that.
Yeah. And you can take steps towards it, but in terms of a workshop from the board, or preliminary work to do at the staff and office level.
10:22:48 give the first quarter to do that, and then we're gonnaâ¦
10:22:54 Digging in⦠practically starting the budgeting process by then, anyway.
10:23:11 Mm-hmm. maybe we should put Josh on that? I mean, that's⦠Sure. I think that's going to be yours to leave.
10:23:20 I'm gonna ear under number 2 goals from the⦠Oh, yeah. Because you're the chair, but⦠I can⦠but obviously I'm⦠I mean, I'll be signing each one of these, so⦠Yeah.
But I'd be happy to⦠I'll put my name just to be consistent with our convention, but yeah.
10:23:34 Certainly be leaning on you. Okay⦠There's thoughts you're missing. I mean, of course, anything we're missing, we'll keep.
10:23:45 I'm back to⦠Um, legislative⦠We didn't want anything legislative in here, we don't really⦠I mean, we could do a debrief after the session.
10:23:58 And we also have⦠I mean, I feel like we have a separate.
10:24:01 legislative agenda topic, you know, that we kind of⦠Q3, a legislative debrief?
10:24:09 Yeah. Put it in there. I like Q2, I would say.
10:24:16 Session will be over. It's fast and furious right now.
10:24:22 How many bills are we down to now? Nothing's⦠everything's still in play. Yeah, I think everything⦠Everything's still in play for this week, cut-offs after this week.
10:24:30 So, it's been a lot of testifying, andâ¦
10:24:44 Just a note while we're thinking about the scheduling, so it's⦠I don't⦠I don't see this me, perhaps.
10:24:51 Being⦠parenting being on the list of goals and workshops and what have you, but⦠I did want to remind us that we have a⦠a contract coming up that should be finalized
before the end of February, and that's for Jefferson Associated Council for our Public Defense, our primary public defense.
10:25:10 And I had to⦠I have a meeting this week.
10:25:13 with Richard. to talk about that contract, and I do intend to bring it to the board before the end of February, so just kind of an FYI heads up about that. Okay.
10:25:22 piece of the puzzle. Yeah. Yeah, I don't know if it matters. I appreciate it, I don't⦠do you want to put it on? Yes, I don't see it as this⦠I personally don't see it asâ¦
10:25:33 But now that we're talking about what to squeeze in between now and the end of February, it just occurred to me.
10:25:38 And just thinking ahead to this week, and⦠Also been thinking about not just the main.
10:25:44 Public defense, but the conflict public defense, and Adam.
10:25:48 how to build some efficiency into that process as well, because I've noticed that it's⦠Ever since it's moved out of the commissioner's office, that's just another obligation.
10:25:57 For folks who aren't really trained about court proceedings. Right.
10:26:01 Something I've been noticing and trying to address, and talking to other.
10:26:04 County administrators and seeing how other counties do it, and how some ideas about that, but⦠So, one step at a time, gotta get that other primary contract in place, andâ¦
Yep.
10:26:17 Alright, I'm gonna stop my share. Um⦠And I guess⦠Yeah, anything else? Should we take action on this to⦠Who's our role and goals and workshop list?
10:26:31 We'll open up for public comment before we take action.
10:26:35 I'm happy to move that we approve the⦠Um, BOCC 2026 goals and workshop topics as.
10:26:43 updated and discussed today. I'll second that. Okay, it's been moved and seconded. Uh, we will open it for public comment. So we have one hand up. Anyone that would like to
make comment can hit the raise hand button.
10:26:55 Star 9 if you're on the phone, we'll⦠And Mr. Ventura over.
10:27:01 I'll do 3-minute public comment.
10:27:11 Hey, Dylan? Yep.
10:27:10 Uh, thank you very much. Thank you very much, sorry about that. Um, I apologize if I hadn't had a chance to review the goals document, or was able to read here, because I'm
currently mobile.
10:27:21 But one of the things that I wanted to just kind of mention and reiterate from previous public comments, we went through a very difficult budget cycle in 2025. I'm sure all
of you.
10:27:30 know that, and probably have some PTSD, some really hard decisions are being made. Um, but if there isn't something on your list already, or if this can be added and added to
the existing things.
10:27:42 I think, um, revenue generation for the county, so how to attract new businesses, how to provide the economic development.
10:27:50 to create new businesses, to grow and expand new businesses, because I know we're gonna⦠likely have revenue issues in the coming years, and really, rather than increasing
taxes on the existing base, expanding the tax base, so bringing in new businesses and capturing more tax money from.
10:28:08 Uh, passers-bys, travelers, and people they want to attract to the county, um, that might be something that could be looked at through all of these workshops that you do, or
it can be added.
10:28:21 on there, and if it was on there. I apologize for not saying it, so thank you.
10:28:26 Thank you, Dan. Anyone else? with us that would like to make public comment on our goals and workshops list.
10:28:36 Okay. Well, it was public comments. share analyst in⦠does have economic development reports.
10:28:45 Yeah, so there's, um, there's multiple places where that⦠where what Mr. Ventura is⦠talking about our addressed and including the tourism goals, um⦠defining Tourism
Coordinating Council objectives, um.
10:29:02 Defining the local. Designated marketing organization.
10:29:07 establishing a clearer Committee process, and those are some direct and indirectly related to what he's talking about. And then, of course, we have.
10:29:19 Um, the⦠Economic framework⦠workshop topic, which is⦠Defining the county's objectives, um, working with the economic development.
10:29:33 Council, um⦠And the North Olympic Development Council.
10:29:39 Find terribles. I wonder⦠there's anything more, sort of⦠Well, there's public infrastructure fund, confirmation of funding priorities, how do we want to do this, and of
course the ICG economic framework and the county objectives, and⦠Yeah.
10:29:58 Glenco infrastructure planning as well. Are you reading from somewhere you just ran? I'm reading off the workshop⦠the workshop list. We have an ICG economic framework workshop
planned in quarter one, Glen Cove Infrastructure Planning. Right. Yeah, so what Dan was talking about, of course.
10:30:14 is really specific to⦠Revenue generation, defining our revenue generation opportunities.
10:30:23 Um, so⦠I don't know if there's something⦠I mean, I feel like that's gonna be⦠that is certainly gonna get addressed in the economic framework.
10:30:32 discussion. We had a lot of conversation. Yeah, absolutely. It's going to get folded into a lot of opportunities. I just wonder if.
10:30:42 We want to specifically⦠have revenue generation.
10:30:47 Um, goals, you know, defined here, so that, um, keep that at the top of our list.
10:30:53 I think we're wrestling with how we want to approach economic development, you know, revenue generation, it's, uh⦠to throw any topic, too, you know, it's not like, uh, I
mean, we get more revenue generation from new construction than we do from a business taking over an existing building by aâ¦
10:31:12 factor of 10, I would say, probably, so it's like⦠Um⦠so, yeah, I think⦠I think it's⦠Yeah, I mean, it could go anywhere, or be its own thing, could be part of our
financial plan, it could be number two.
10:31:27 Specifically, it could be 15 community services, governance, and funding.
10:31:31 It could be there, too, in terms of⦠Specifically, I think that's at least one area that Ventura is addressing there.
10:31:39 Back on how we use our community centers and so forth, but⦠So it's up to you if you want to sneak it in here and there, or have its own thing.
10:31:46 I did start talking with Jeremy a little bit about Port Hadlock and the UGA, and⦠some of the planning that Brent had done around the kind of housing that we would want to
develop there, but also.
10:31:57 the need to do some more focused. Outreaching conversations about⦠what I'm hearing in the community. What's⦠what is⦠What is our town gonna look like? Our little town
in Fort About gonna look like? Yeah. You know, and some people are on one side of it, and other people are on the other side of it, so it's, I think, a conversation that.
10:32:17 needs to bring together all parts of the community. Yeah. How about just to⦠just to address that particular comment, under number 2.
10:32:25 It says strategic options for board consideration, common incorporation, accounting prioritization could be comma, um⦠And revenue. Revenue options and exp⦠Revenue and
expenditure options. Yeah, sure, absolutely. Revenue.
10:32:43 Opportunities? Opportunities. That sounds good. So, it's part of that.
10:32:49 our overall financial in addition to the economic development discussion that we're planning.
10:32:54 Alright, I have added that. If, uh, that's a friendly amendment. Friendly amendment at the⦠yeah. Would you accept that? Yeah, absolutely, I would.
10:33:04 That's a good call out. I couldn't do it.
10:33:07 All right, with that, uh, all in favor of⦠and knowing that this is a living list, as we say, that will continue to evolve, but as a starting point, um, approving the county
goals and workshop topics as amended today, all in favor, indicate by saying aye.
10:33:23 I can't any abuse. That is unanimous. I will say that one more time and send it to.
10:33:34 Yeah, if you could send it to me, I might just do one more look through, just for consistency of how things are formatted, and then send you out the information. All right.
10:33:46 Let the staff know if it changes, too. Yep.
10:33:54 And the room is⦠Okay, we have a tentative 11 for that. You want to keep it at 11? And I don't know if people are⦠we might have some of those, uh.
10:34:04 Uh, potential awardees join us at 11, so maybe we can do a little briefing and calendaring? Okay, that sounds good. Do you have a sense of⦠I'm just trying to coordinate a
lunch time.
10:34:17 meeting around a fairgrounds issue. Um, do you think we'll be⦠5 o'clock, 1230? Yeah, no, I am already 100. Okay, 12 o'clock, okay, so⦠Is that your banjo, or is it my stuff
right here?
10:34:35 I haven't ridden any drums yet, alright. Uh, who would like to start sharing last week's activities?
10:34:42 Second start. I'm gonna kick it off. Um⦠Every time I looked out, did we do the week before, but I guess we did, so⦠did we do briefing last week? We did, we did. And, you
know, we're starting slow, getting our feet wet moving. Okay, so last Monday.
10:35:00 Um, we were able to adjourn early so that I could move on over to Public Works for.
10:35:07 Parks and Rec. special meeting⦠And, um⦠There, it was kind of a⦠onboarding workshop of the, um⦠The pros plan, and⦠And, you know, kind of the process we're gonna
go through, andâ¦
10:35:36 It was a short meeting. We reviewed a capital⦠you know, it was a lot of discussion about how we've done it before.
10:35:45 Just having to put myself back in that moment, and um⦠And, um⦠a focus on the Capitol. Um, the capital component was a capital improvement plan with.
10:35:58 nested within the pros plan, which is a big.
10:36:00 I'm a big lift within the plan, but a committee takes on, so we talked about who had done that in the past, and I had been on that committee, and⦠Um, we're gonna do aâ¦
first do a review ofâ¦
10:36:12 Where we got to, what that completed, and a lot of things have gotten completed. And then, um⦠Yeah, but the staff largely takes on, kind of, the initial update of the.
10:36:27 The PROS plan itself. Um, and so there wasn't⦠wasn't a need for there to be another subcommittee for the pros plan. That will happen within the Parks and Rec Board.
10:36:39 But the Capital Improvement Plan will be a subcommittee.
10:36:42 And I volunteered to be on it again. Um, so⦠We⦠yeah, and are there any specific questions about that?
10:36:54 No? I mean, other than, I guess, our⦠Do you already have any kind of early heads-ups about.
10:37:01 big changes from the previous plan. No, it's seeming like it's gonna⦠Yeah, there are not capacity for big changes, yeah. Yeah, that's what I'm just⦠Yeah.
10:37:13 Um, let's see, so there's that, and then⦠Tuesday⦠Tuesday in the morning, I had my forest practices board new member training.
10:37:28 With⦠on Zoom for 4 hours, with all the forest practice staff.
10:37:33 It was largely⦠they did⦠they did kind of a hurry-up training before we had that⦠the one meeting that I've attended, so I felt like it was a lot of repeat from that,
but it was, like, legal and⦠You know, all the things, public records, and so⦠Open Public Meetings Act, and, you know, all the things, soâ¦
10:37:51 Um, it's just interesting to see it from a totally different.
10:37:54 from a state agency perspective. Um⦠Then I worked with the conservation District on, uh⦠a drainage district interim board recruitment email.
10:38:11 and list of folks to send that to do to, and we have about 60 people who are sending it out to.
10:38:17 We need 3 board members, and they'll have staggered board terms in 2, 4, and 6 years.
10:38:23 And, um⦠But these board members will just be in place until⦠February of 2028.
10:38:31 And then the next⦠the next round will have the staggered.
10:38:39 So if they run to maintain their seats, that starts the staggered term at that point? Yeah, yeah.
10:38:42 And so we started crafting a job description for the interim board members, and it's a lot about.
10:38:49 The election, the initial election, the⦠Deciding on an assessment mechanism⦠And then, uh, management activities. How have you thought you're going to do the original,
uh, the elections? You know, working with the Portal drainage District, there's two different ways you can do it. Right, we're hoping that there are over 500.
10:39:11 Um, residents. Okay. That's the requirement. That a drainage district can then do their own elections. It's ironic to me.
10:39:20 That, for a larger election, the district can do it themselves, but for the smaller elections, they have to pay 50K. Oh.
10:39:28 Yeah, it makes a big difference. Yeah, you can do it for free, or you can, you know.
10:39:34 pay for, you know, 50K or whatever their costs are. Yeah, so we're feeling, um⦠Opal that will have 500 voters, there's 400.
10:39:43 In which case, they'll do it in person and do it themselves. Right, like the Portland does. Okay.
10:39:49 So, um⦠So there's that, and then, let's see, and later in the afternoon on Tuesday, I worked on⦠Um, a plan for trust land transfer support letters for the four projects,
and⦠have a lot of people already lined up, and Mallory's helping a ton with that, for the four projects that are.
10:40:09 In the current⦠A supplemental budget, and then it'll be⦠in the next years, as well.
10:40:16 I went to Max Grover's birthday party, which was fun, at the Rose theater, and we saw Vertigo. This was fun. I hadn't seen that on big screen ever. Yeah. So⦠Wednesday morning
had a meeting around the Peninsula Trails Coalition, met the new Executive director, Ann.
10:40:34 And with Marilee. And it's interesting to hear the tension between.
10:40:40 Colin Jefferson, Olympic Discovery Trail stuff. Um, Marilee's been doing such a great job at outreach and community engagement. Right, yeah. And Colom's like, well, why don't
we have that? And I'm like, well, you don't⦠and Mary's like, Marilee's like, I'm not doing it for both counties, so it was just interesting to see the dynamics starting to play out,
butâ¦
10:41:01 But Ann seems strong, and she's the first ever executive director, it's⦠It's a heavy lift for the Peninsula Trails Coalition. Yeah, it's good.
10:41:11 Um, had lunch with Jeremy, which was great, enjoyed getting to know him a bit, and.
10:41:17 talking about all the things, all the DCD things, and my time here, and.
10:41:24 My time on the Planning Commission, and⦠Yeah.
10:41:29 Um, then I attended a⦠Manity Wild on Thursday at Community Wildfire planning, um.
10:41:38 Session with Washington State counties who've gone through. the planning exercise and are now.
10:41:46 at different phases of implementation, so it was really germane to us. Oh, that's great.
10:41:52 Grand talked a lot about the CWDG, we're going to go for ground four. Yeah.
10:41:58 And there were a couple of counties that have gotten CWD grants on them, and they both offered to review our grant. That was great. Yeah, so those were good. That was a good
session.
10:42:09 Um, then came⦠had a⦠Then I came back for the Board of Health meeting with you guys.
10:42:19 And then, early Friday morning, uh, we met with Kelsey Hills.
10:42:24 Our weekly half-hour check-in with Kelsey, just to. See how things are going, and like I said earlier, it's the fast and furious time when all the bills have been introduced,
and the⦠the Wasatch hot sheet isâ¦
10:42:37 15 pages, but by next week, it'll be 7 pages, and then⦠and Kelsey's providing a similar weekly report to us that has our.
10:42:47 4 or 5 pages. Actually, hers was longer this time.
10:42:51 It was more like 10 pages, so she's tracking a lot on our behalf. Can you send that along? I'd love to see that. Yeah, yeah, and then we did send it along last time as well.
Did you?
10:42:59 Yeah. How did I miss that. Um, that's great. That kind of, um, regular connection is a big difference from⦠There it is.
10:43:09 Because circumstance, so thank you. Great. That's great. Yeah, there was⦠there should have been an attachment with it from last week. I saw it go out.
10:43:21 Or 2 weeks ago. Yeah, it was⦠very beginning of the year, right? Yeah, when she first did⦠the first report, right? It would have been last week, because there's only been.
10:43:33 One week. I don't see it, but I might have missed it. Okay, well, I'll make sure⦠You have it. Are you saying there was a second update that I should forward it now?
10:43:44 Yeah, if you⦠you got it as well. You and I get those from Kelsey, and we should just forward them to these guys when we get them.
10:43:50 Okay, so the 8⦠I see something 18th⦠We'll find that.
10:43:57 Um, let's see, where was I? Okay. Oh, that's next week.
10:44:03 Uh⦠okay, and then, umâ¦
10:44:11 I testified⦠And it's all blur now. 2351â¦
10:44:21 2359 was the⦠I can't even remember right now.
10:44:27 As I testified this morning. On House Bill 2442.
10:44:32 Which is the finance package for local governments and includes.
10:44:37 1805 from last session, which was Therringer's. children and family bill.
10:44:43 And so this⦠this bill includes, um⦠a utility tax, a county utility tax, which⦠WASAC is adopted as a priority for the legislative session.
10:44:55 And that's where all the opposition came this morning, and it was kind of⦠I was kind of like, oh, we're putting kids and families against.
10:45:04 Uh, big utility, so it was, like, the big utilities with their fancy suits on, and I don't know, I don't think any of them are watching us right now, but I'm like⦠I'm like,
oh, this is gross. I just felt like it was gross. That's probably good for the bill.
10:45:16 Yeah. Well, they were against⦠they were⦠they were there against. Yeah, yeah, that's what I'm saying. Because they were gonna happen. Right, right, totally.
10:45:27 So, um⦠Um⦠I wonder how our public utilities district feels about it.
10:45:37 2351, of course, so that's the emergency responder bill, and so I went, and I've been working on that bill for⦠since the last legislative session.
10:45:44 And that's where I partially spell from Thurston County, and it had.
10:45:50 great support. I would be surprised if it doesn't make it through, and that came out of the Bear Gulch fire, and the, um, enforcement activities⦠That doesn't happen again.
Yeah.
10:46:02 So⦠anyway. Um, okay. So, notice that, and then⦠Then I went to the WASAC Virtual Legislative Update.
10:46:20 I have to say, over the weekend, I met with his, um⦠New gallery in Seattle, which is awesome. Oh, nice! So, yeah. Yep, the Harris Harvey Gallery. Great. The show was April
2nd. Wow! The show opens April 2nd, first Thursday.
10:46:34 Our walk in Seattle. Oh, it'll be fun. You're all invited.
10:46:37 Um, and then, so then⦠I'll just end with this morning. I⦠I just⦠Went and testified at the Finance Committee, House Finance Committee on the.
10:46:46 the bill I just talked about, so⦠Alright.
10:46:51 Busy week. Thank you. Heather, you want to go into your last week? Sure, let's see⦠So we've got the 12th.
10:47:02 Um, we'll skip to Tuesday, since I was whipping off.
10:47:06 We'll say on Monday. Um⦠we had the, um, youth engagement meeting with the Connectivity Summit planning group, which Public Health has been invited to as well, that's where
we bought.
10:47:20 brought in the, um, Empower Teens Coalition leaders, um, and Laura from.
10:47:27 Um, or chips and cha, the Community Health Improvement Plan, has been involved in.
10:47:34 that youth engagement, um, planning process, basically planning the Friday for the Connectivity Summit.
10:47:41 Um, then Josh and I had a great meeting with John Morrow, basically folding Josh whenever we can into the monthly meetings that I had started with John Mora.
10:47:52 Um, last year, and so, um, Josh will now join us for those meetings whenever it began, and so we really started off with.
10:48:03 a very broad kind of update. Um, John gave us.
10:48:06 kind of the overview of their work plan for the year, and we did start to kind of lay the foundation for some of these conversations that we want to have.
10:48:16 And kind of planning out how to. how to move some of those forward, so that was⦠a good meeting, um⦠Wednesday, uh, the⦠Um, I stepped into the connectivity summit, um,
planning meeting here that was with.
10:48:35 Uh, Josh and Liz, just for the beginnings of that, where they were kind of filling in our team, and then I went to the Ferry Advisory Committee meeting.
10:48:44 Um, where I got to⦠We get updates from, um⦠tally, Washington State fairies.
10:48:52 Um⦠This, um, significant things there, um.
10:49:00 They are moving forward with their, um. new ticketing and, um, public input.
10:49:08 software update, and although seems to be going slower than they expected, so⦠Um, they were just updating us on the progress of that, and I got to share with that very advisory
committee the.
10:49:21 first meeting of the very caucus, and⦠They had some really good questions about how, you know, if a ferry caucus were to be created, what?
10:49:32 Does that overlap, or duplicate the work that a ferry advisory committee would be doing? So we⦠had a discussion about that, clarified that we need to kind of continue that
discussion and bring folks from the Ferry Advisory Committee in to make sure that they're.
10:49:47 Um, they're⦠You know, that we kind of get some clear delineation.
10:49:52 Um, but for your purposes, I think the concept is Ferry Advisory committees are very specifically meant to be members of the public advising.
10:50:04 Washington state ferries, about WSF. ferry operations. It is very specific to that.
10:50:12 Whereas the County Ferry Caucus is meant to be.
10:50:17 county leaders talking about all county⦠all⦠vary issues that affect counties, so that could include conversations about county-operated ferries, it could include conversations
that we discussed, I think, last week about, um, you know, the longer-term.
10:50:34 conversations about passenger vessel operations of all kinds within counties.
10:50:39 And the interaction with Washington State varies. So, we think they're, you know, in kind of just talking that through, it does feel like there's.
10:50:46 definite separate lanes for those different⦠entities, but I'd like to kind of continue making sure that they're⦠they're aligned and talking to one another, and so⦠And
that way, it's good that I sit on the AC as an advisor.
10:51:01 Um, we had a meeting of the group that is pulling together the emergency food.
10:51:08 Plan, which is, again, kind of aligned, but set⦠but⦠kind of tangential to the food resilience plan, the broader food resilience plan.
10:51:18 The emergency food planning process is meant to really address specifically.
10:51:24 what systems we have in place that would. allow us to support the community in the incident of a regional.
10:51:32 Uh, emergency. So, um, it made a lot of sense for that group to be really moving forward.
10:51:39 First, even before we have. a structure and funding in place to develop the broader food resilience plan.
10:51:48 Um, so again, wanting them to be talking to each other, dovetailing into one another so that the work isn't duplicated or, um, lost.
10:51:55 But I love that there's a lot of energy behind the emergency food plan right now.
10:52:02 books from Local 2020 are willing to take that on and kind of lead that conversation, and then, um, our new, uh, Jefferson County Food Bank.
10:52:12 Um, so Roland Barrager? Yeah, he's great. Um, was really involved in that conversation, and so I'm setting up time to go down and tour, um, their operations and their plans,
but he's been, um.
10:52:25 If he was part of that conversation as well, so I was excited to see that.
10:52:28 Then I met with Alexis Arabito from the Clipper Events Collective, and just kind of⦠getting her feedback into how we're planning this DMO conversation.
10:52:39 Um, any, you know, thoughts about the LTAP process, I'm trying to kind of meet with tourism professionals separately to get their input before we have the larger groups. How's
she get up to speed?
10:52:50 Stomach in palate, is it palatable to her? I mean.
10:52:53 One conversation I had with her a couple years ago was the difference between Fort Towns and LTEC and.
10:52:59 County LTAC, and⦠Now, it just felt like there was a lot of consternation.
10:53:05 coming from her. Yeah, I think there is, and that's why she wants to get involved.
10:53:12 You know, Quinberg, as far as I can tell, Quimber Events Collective put their hat in the ring with some requests for funds through this most recent LTEC cycle.
10:53:21 And through, uh⦠quite, you know, kind of discussion with LTAC, we were able to really clarify, yes, they were.
10:53:29 really asking to be funded as the DMO, to function as the DMO before that DMO was defined. And we decided to pull back that funding because we⦠that portion of the funding
funded them for other things, but not for.
10:53:43 creating a separate website, and all of the things that we felt like would be ahead of the DMO conversation. And if we were to have funded those things, it would have been kind
of.
10:53:56 basically making a pre-designation in many ways, which we were not comfortable with, that LTAC was not the place to be making that determination.
10:54:05 Um, and so that's why we kind of asked them to separate out those asks and clarify what was for what.
10:54:11 And to clarify, yes, you are actually. anticipating buying for the DMO. I think she's, um⦠I was able to share with her that, um, you know, pretty clearly that TCC would be
having that conversation about whether TCC would be the DMO.
10:54:29 Um, and she wasn't opposed to that, and was clear that, um, that really QEC, or the Quimpur Events Collective, put their hat in the ring for that.
10:54:39 in the vacuum, basically, because there was a lack, um⦠Of what they felt like was clear.
10:54:48 leadership there, um, not leadership from us, but from the DMO.
10:54:52 you know, an organization taking that role actively, which is what we've been saying, right? So, I felt like we were pretty aligned in, um, in that effort, and I was just really
asking her to participate really fully in the dialogue so that we could come up with the right solution, and I think she was really important. So, as have been.
10:55:10 pretty much everybody that I've talked to so far is really⦠excited that we're gonna have a whole conversation about it, and so I think that'll be⦠Positive, yeah, that's
great, yeah.
10:55:21 That's why I feel like just having the one-on-one conversations with folks before we have the big group has been helpful for me, so I can ask some of those, like, where are
you coming from? What do you⦠What⦠why are you interested in this? What matters to you about this conversation kind of, you know.
10:55:38 dialogue with individuals before we get into it. That's my hope, at least, that that will help smooth those conversations, or make them more clear.
10:55:46 Um, so I'll keep doing that. Lots want to go there.
10:55:50 Um, we⦠I had a long overdue, um, but, um.
10:55:55 timely conversation with Apple Martine about the RFP development for the opioid settlement funds, and we are hope.
10:56:01 Our goal is to get this published by the 26th, which is next week, and we've still got.
10:56:08 um, work to do brought in Jolene Crone to make sure she gets her eyes on it. Um, Philip.
10:56:14 gave us a couple of things that we need to just make sure are included in the process, and then we're, um, we've got a foot draft of the RFP, so the goal is to get that up on
the 26th, but Apple's leading that process and just needed someone to kind of bounce ideas and brainstorm, so⦠and she's been on break, so she was just kind of coming back and getting
her head wrapped around it, I guess.
10:56:35 Doing that. Um, I attended the Olympic Peninsula Tourism Commission's partners meeting.
10:56:42 On, uh, Thursday, I attended it remotely, because then I was jumping into the lunch with Jeremy Williami, which was great.
10:56:50 Um, and so it was great to just kind of get to understand what optic is doing and.
10:56:56 What, you know, they did a big debrief on their winter campaign.
10:57:01 Um, what I'm loving about. what I'm seeing with OpTIC right now is the⦠Um, the statistics, the data that they're able to really⦠I mean, they get some significant funding
from both.
10:57:15 um, counties, so I would expect to see, um, some clear guidance and data that, um, each of the separate counties can.
10:57:23 But to work, and that the separate, you know, businesses and accountants can really use. So that was great to see a full report out of their winter, um.
10:57:34 Kathy. Um, then I came back⦠came back and talked.
10:57:37 with Jeremy Williami, had a good lunch with him, that was my first kind of sit-down with him since he took his role, and so just got to hear about.
10:57:45 What he's working on, and um. ways that we can support. We talked a little bit about, you know, what we have on our goals list for pulling together reviews of the programs in
DCD, so that was good to hear from.
10:57:59 For a tough meeting, as you mentioned, on Thursday, and then I went into, um, a meeting with the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association, um.
10:58:09 request from, um, Devin Gonzalez, who had been involved, um, kind of.
10:58:16 added some ideas to help. the kitchen project that, um⦠Erin, Erin Stark has been leading⦠yeah, and was⦠Devin was involved. So, Devin Gonzalez.
10:58:30 You may recognize his name, Greg knows him, um, has been, um.
10:58:35 And is now formally⦠not the executive director of the center. He was a local, local, uh, advisor. Local advisor for the Center for Inclusive Entrepreneurship that is working.
10:58:46 You know, out of the IC office, and⦠Um, unfortunately, they lost their funding for the silo program, and so he is no longer doing that job.
10:58:55 Um, so he was taking some of his time to help kind of spearhead, um.
10:59:00 the kitchen project. And, um, ran into some⦠It's just kind of conflict.
10:59:07 Um, with Aaron's vision, and so just needed a little debrief around, kind of, what happened with that dialogue, because he asked to meet with the executive committee.
10:59:17 We actually invited the entire board of the JCFA to just sit down and hear Devin's concerns and.
10:59:23 Um, and so we⦠did do that, and it was a productive meeting.
10:59:30 Work that process out, decided some ways that we could have done it differently, and⦠Um, potentially move forward in a positive way. Friday, uh, Josh and I had a great.
10:59:42 first meeting with the Jefferson community foundation about setting up.
10:59:48 The, um⦠Community Services and Parks Fund.
10:59:52 Um, we've got some work to do to really define.
10:59:55 what we want that fund to do, but then we have a clear path to establishing that fund, which we're excited about. And we brought Judy into that conversation.
11:00:04 Which was great, um, for the public. Judy is our, um.
11:00:08 Jay Shepard is our County Finance Director, and so, um, she had some.
11:00:14 good questions about, um⦠About how that fund would be established, how it would interact with our⦠with our budget.
11:00:21 Um, all of that, so it was great to have her there, and interestingly, Judy wasn't brought into the process of establishing the public health fund, wasn't even aware that it
had been created, so that was⦠good to kind of fold her into that, and just also a good reminder to us.
11:00:39 and to department leads. To remember to bring Judy into these conversations, anything that has to do with, um, you know, finance funding.
11:00:49 Um, she's really interested in being part of the conversation, and it's a little challenging when we have to bring her up to speed after the fact of them, so that was good.
Interesting thing there is I was part of the first conversation when we didn't know if that fund would be established, and then.
11:01:03 Then it just goes. Yeah, yeah, exactly. Yeah, so this was good, um, to bring her in, and then we also just had good⦠just exciting⦠Um, kind of future conversation with
Jefferson Community Foundation, um, confirming their interest in really.
11:01:21 engaging in this community dialogue conversation that we want to have about how to engage the public and.
11:01:28 civic process. Uh, last couple, um, since we know we're at 11 o'clock, um, I was on KPTZ.
11:01:36 on Friday with Violaware from Ole Cat talking about the point-in-time count, so that was a good show.
11:01:43 And then, um, had⦠a good meeting with Habitat for Humanity.
11:01:50 Um, clarified that you are kind of their contact around, um, the Mason Street project, and⦠You know, their work and development in.
11:02:01 District 2, and that I wanted to still kind of stay close to them around barriers to affordable housing, ideas around.
11:02:09 How to, um, work efficiently with DCD, all those things. So that was a⦠it was a good, um⦠a good dialogue just kept getting⦠getting⦠in sync on those topics.
11:02:24 Alright, busy week. Um, well, let's take a pause, since it did say around 11 o'clock, and just in case, um, folks are here to listen to the conversation about the grants.
11:02:39 Um, let me find that⦠I don't know if⦠is Amanda planning to join us for this? I know she's here, yeah. Maybe, uh⦠Let's see if a man will come over and⦠I'll go back
in 90, but go ahead, start with that. Okay. Heidi, you want to tee this up?
11:02:58 Sure, so⦠Um⦠This is a little bit of the Wayback Machine. This was⦠this was a Mark McCauley.
11:03:08 Um, brainstorm session. Of how to get ahead of⦠the random requests for county support for, um⦠Tony has a little fields, or the roadie parade, or⦠Um, anyway, various
events and activities that go on in our community, and.
11:03:29 So, the thought was to set aside a small.
11:03:33 bucket of money. And we landed on $10,000.
11:03:38 To put out an RFP and⦠and⦠solicit requests from the entities that we've heard from in the past, but solicit requests from the community.
11:03:47 Sure. And so, umâ¦
11:03:52 Man, I don't know if you want to interject anything here about how we got here, but⦠Is that⦠do you want to add anything to what I just said?
11:04:02 For the back grounder. No.
11:04:03 No, I think that's⦠We got 15 applications from different organizations throughout the community.
11:04:10 And⦠I think⦠you know, there was some overlap, like.
11:04:15 some of the applications had also applied for LTAC funds and received LTAC funds as well, and.
11:04:22 Um⦠There were some new⦠new⦠folks who came to the table, and yeah, it was all very exciting, and⦠They're such⦠all of them were such great projects.
11:04:35 Yeah, so I can⦠if you guys, I can give you a copy. So, total requests over $26,000 for⦠$10,000. Yeah, so⦠So, we did a scoring based on the criteria that we asked people
to address in their applications.
11:04:52 And totaled the scores, and then⦠did a first crack at allocating the funds based on the scores they received. So if some⦠if an entity received.
11:05:02 Over 25 points, they got a little higher consideration, um⦠So there's a column saying that this is basically my recommendations for what we fund with the $10,000.
11:05:15 This was a unique column, and I⦠Um, had Amanda review this, and Josh, and⦠You know, my only concern is that we did not get.
11:05:28 Applications from, like. East Jefferson Little League. Yeah. The entities, and⦠but you did send them to them. I sent them the RF.
11:05:36 the RFP. So⦠Um⦠yeah.
11:05:42 Any questions about this? Or, um⦠champion⦠or champion team at the East Jefferson Little League. Yeah. Yeah.
11:05:56 One of the big⦠one big this year, last year.
11:06:03 Um⦠yeah.
11:06:09 Or, I mean, all of these grants are supplementary, none of them not getting⦠All of the requests are not going to be able to do the program, is that⦠Right.
11:06:18 I mean, they were all relatively small grants, so⦠I don't think that there was anything that felt like.
11:06:27 a lower funding amount would⦠make it so that that programmer activity couldn't happen.
11:06:39 I mean, without seeing⦠the applications, it's⦠well, I have them all here if we have any specific.
11:06:43 questions. So, what the Northwind art, what was the⦠lack of clarity around what they actually request. They didn't put an amount.
11:06:52 Interesting. Margaret.
11:06:56 And what was Rhodey Festival asking for, since they did get.
11:07:00 funded with Ultra. They were asking support for you, or I think, the version was legitimate.
11:07:07 Funds for awards, funds for⦠Distribution of awards.
11:07:09 Okay, the awards, yeah. Yeah. It was a while ago that we reviewed these summit. Yeah. It's gotten a little, uh⦠And what's the community opportunity there?
11:07:24 If that's separate fromâ¦
11:07:25 It happens in Port Ludlow, and it's organized by their⦠Um⦠Yeah.
11:07:31 Oh! I've attended that several times, actually, at the Bayside⦠when I was at Bayside, I was an exhibitor. Yeah, the village councils. That's a great⦠That's a great event.
11:07:38 Village Council. Mm-hmm.
11:07:43 Okay, cool.
11:07:45 meets all of the⦠qualifications for this program, that's for sure.
11:07:52 Right. And so all of the applicants met all the qualifications?
11:07:58 Nobody didn't⦠Yeah, because they all got scored except for, you know.
11:08:03 Or if we're not asking for a requested amount, but we didn't say you had to put a requested amount in there, you know, but we did, um⦠And who is the⦠what's the organization
behind the BIPOC Family Program expansion?
11:08:19 Umâ¦
11:08:18 They're supported by the YMCA, um⦠And there, uhâ¦
11:08:28 Sorry, Greg, what did you say? Oh, oh, sorry.
11:08:30 Oh, I said bless you to Josh. Sorry.
11:08:33 Um, but that's their name, BIPOC Family Program, and they are currently sort of within the.
11:08:39 YMCA, and the YMCA is looking for additional funding for them to continue to.
11:08:41 Oh, okay.
11:08:45 run programming, umâ¦
11:08:47 Okay, so the contract would be⦠would be with the Jefferson County YMCA.
11:08:51 Yeah, I believe so. Mm-hmm.
11:08:53 Yeah, Olympic Peninsula, YMCA, yeah, okay. part of the Olympics.
11:09:01 pre-educational experience for BIPOC youths ages 0 to 20 and their families.
11:09:09 create safe spaces for the background, to build community.
11:09:13 Cool. I mean, these all look like great programs. I'm curious about the⦠the overall Thriving Communities grant, and whether it's, like, did it achieve the goal? You think
it's going⦠I mean.
11:09:26 I'm not sure if we're still not going to get those, you know.
11:09:30 out of nowhere requests, and⦠I guess⦠the one frustration I have is that I'm not sure why.
11:09:37 You're the only one that scored them? That doesn't seem⦠Well, I just did a first run through them to⦠against the criteria. I know, I'm just saying, structure-wise. I know
that doesn't make any sense to me.
11:09:49 Yeah, you know⦠Well, we should, I mean, if we're gonna do this.
11:09:52 One question is, are we going to do this again in the future? And then we should talk about, um⦠Appointing a committee.
11:10:00 I mean, Amanda and I both did review the applications, so I just⦠wrote my recommendations down. And your rec⦠I mean, I don't need to⦠this was a while ago, I mean, I
think we'll be moving forward with this. Um, is, you know.
11:10:15 I don't⦠I don't see any reason to re-review it, I guess it just doesn't⦠But that was a question I had, is do we want to, you know, a committee of 3 to.
11:10:25 re⦠at least read all the grant applications, and maybe do a similar.
11:10:30 scoring exercise, and then. Balance those 3 scores. I mean, you must have spent⦠Nice 10 hours and 20 hours doing this? Yeah.
11:10:40 I spent quite a bit of time. Um, you know, I⦠Yeah, my work-life balance, right? Yeah, yeah. I'm just⦠Curious⦠I mean, I think we should⦠I'm glad this is in the budget,
so we can complete this. I'm⦠Yeah. What was it trying to achieve preventing those kind of ad hoc requests? I don't think it'llâ¦
11:10:58 So we could plan for those in the near future. Right.
11:11:02 I don't know, it feels like these are⦠I mean, often, some of these are very timely, and some of these are opportunistic applications, which, no fault to the organizations
for doing it. I mean, why, you gotta take advantage of the grant opportunities. I guess I justâ¦
11:11:16 I probably, right now, would not want to⦠Do this again, um, but⦠I don't have a strong feeling, I just, you know, as we're going into more budget crunch and everything,
we're⦠I can't see how this ameliorated those ad hoc requests. Well, you could just decide to not do it, or propose to not do it here, either. You know, Iâ¦
11:11:37 We talked about doing it, I mean, I talked about, you know⦠But we also talked about the fact that we needed to get through the budget process and decide whether we.
11:11:46 Potentially have the funds or not to do this.
11:11:49 And that's kind of why I brought it back, to say, here's the work that's been done to date.
11:11:54 Makes sense. This, um, actually aligns with something that I think I was sharing with you when I had sat down with Jeremy, Williami.
11:12:04 And I'm⦠and we talked about it in the Jefferson Community Foundation meeting as well, but the whole.
11:12:12 process by which. the county distributes.
11:12:16 uh, out, you know, allocates these kinds of RFP funds, I think could⦠could use a review. Yes, exactly, we're going to be looking at some of them individually, but⦠How's
jump on board. Yeah, standardizing some of these processes, and also kind of looking at the paradigm.
11:12:33 That we⦠we use to⦠score and all of those things, and Jeremy, having been, uh, you know, this background in U.S, um, the ID.
11:12:43 For what he calls USAID, I've noticed. he offered⦠actually, I asked⦠Josh had, you know, had this good idea of, in our limited budget time, where we will have less money
to train, you know, send staff out to train, you'd suggested, um, the idea of using internal expertise to train one another this year, maybe next year, and however long our budget is
in this kind ofâ¦
11:13:12 Um, need to⦠to be more frugal. Um⦠And Jeremy was sharing with me some really great ideas around.
11:13:22 Um, community processes that he⦠had, um, facilitated through his international work that were really helpful paradigms for, um, for distributing funds, and so I asked him
if he might be willing to workshop that a little bit, and as a⦠not necessarily as a BOCC workshop, but more as a, you know, departments andâ¦
11:13:43 You know, directors⦠training, and he was very interested in that, and so that could be⦠something that we kind of fold into, like, how do we do these processes and.
11:13:55 How do we better engage, um⦠You know, in the⦠Everything from solicitation.
11:14:04 To, you know. are defining an RFP to scoring and distributing.
11:14:10 funds. I think this just brings up another place where.
11:14:13 We really don't have a process, and when we do have processes, they're all kind of different from one another, which⦠And the Community Foundation has offered multiple times
to.
11:14:23 Help us with processes. Yeah. Because that's very much what they do, right? Yeah, that's a good point. It would be a great one. And when I told Siobhan at that time when we
had that conversation was.
11:14:34 Let us get through this one round and see if this is something we're gonna do in the future, if⦠how it goes, you know, how many applicants we get.
11:14:44 Yeah, I guess with the⦠I mean, to me, I would just want to be really clear. These are going to have contracts, is that right? Is each one of them going to have a contract?
Yeah. Um, and I would just want to be really clear that this is not necessarily an ongoing.
11:14:59 source, we haven't really figured that out, so don't rely on it, and we hope⦠I hope that was in the⦠The RFP, too.
11:15:08 Counting on that $500. Right. Exactly. Just, you know, it's a good point, like⦠you know, this tiny bit. It would be interesting to hear from the applicants, like, how helpful
is this?
11:15:21 When you, you know⦠Right, I mean, they're gonna tell us every little bit counts, is probably⦠well, I've already heard from some asking, we're gonna⦠Mm-hmm. Amandaâ¦
Oh, you mean?
11:15:36 Um, I guess I would say two things. One, I would agree that the.
11:15:41 manner by which the⦠BOCC office coordinates the distribution of internal.
11:15:48 funding awards going out to entities in. or being awarded to our own.
11:15:53 purposes within the county is⦠Um, it's a lot of work that the BOCC office does to accomplish that, and my, you know, I'm just sort of, like.
11:16:02 teeny tiny help, um, for this one. project. And there are, you know, other local jurisdictions who have entire offices dedicated to that body of work, and we obviously don't
have that capacity, but.
11:16:19 Probably tightening up those processes and⦠being more consistent would be good for everybody. Um⦠And the second thing that I wanted to contribute was that.
11:16:29 I think that fundamentally, you would only see this being of use to the county and its distribution of funds for this purpose of.
11:16:38 Building thriving communities. in a year after⦠on year. So, only if you say you are going to run this program next year.
11:16:47 Would you be able to refuse. individual requests for funds.
11:16:51 Because you say, point them to this opportunity as it comes up in the next year. So, you know.
11:16:59 you are probably still going to have requ⦠I think our county still will have requests from small.
11:16:58 That's okay.
11:17:06 uh, non-profit organizations or other entities who do⦠are looking for⦠support, but⦠You would only be able to say, I'm sorry, we can't⦠Support your⦠or fulfill
your request, but please doâ¦
11:17:20 multiply when we advertise this RFP solicitation in. October.
11:17:25 I mean, we can still say that excuse, we can point to a reason with, uh, with having a thriving communities, but you can always say no when someone asks out of the blue, hey.
11:17:28 Yeah.
11:17:33 Yes. Yeah.
11:17:34 Um, and feel like in this budget. Yeah.
11:17:37 And fiscally responsible community, you know, local government should say at this point.
11:17:40 I would, soâ¦
11:17:43 Do unfortunately need to be more. careful, and in that.
11:17:47 You know, being careful, it would be nice to say, but we still are sporting our.
11:17:59 Um, small community organizations who are doing great work to support our thriving communities because it's a strategic goal our county has.
11:18:00 And so, go.
11:18:02 I've participated in JCF's, uh, you know, Good Neighbors campaign and others where, you know, and that's⦠They do do these, uh, evaluations better, I think.
11:18:12 If we are going to do this again. putting $10,000 into a Jefferson Community Foundation account, and.
11:18:21 Um, letting them, uh, do the assessment would be probably a better idea, because, I mean, we're going to be doing.
11:18:27 How many different contracts for this? I mean, it's like, we're gonna spend more than $10,000.
11:18:34 executing this Thriving Communities grant, so⦠it would be cheaper to give 10,000 away to two⦠non-profit organizations that come up, we have a desperate need.
11:18:45 Um, I just think the labor that probably went into this, that's why I'm not suggesting I want to spend 20 hours reevaluating these. I think we should.
11:18:54 follow through, and probably put a pause on this, and if we do do it, do it with the partner for this kind of increment. I mean, we almost killed the EDC with our ARPA $500
grants, you know, where you're like, oh, you need to do⦠you know, 30 different, uh, grants for $500. It's just, it's, uh, the administrative, uh.
11:19:15 need that comes with our processes is too much, I think, to make these awards a regular thing right now. Yes, and with that, I will say thank you for taking this on, because
I know this was something that Mark.
11:19:27 You know, really wanted to have happen and for you to say yes to this and really facilitate it, and kind of go through this exercise to allow us to see how it works is, um,
is a big.
11:19:38 Well, I think the motivation was to be able to budget for it. Yeah, absolutely. In 2024.
11:19:45 when we talked⦠when we first talked about this.
11:19:47 And there was these random items in the budget.
11:19:52 Like, how do we⦠you know, and so this was the idea for how to get our hands around⦠Yeah, you bet.
11:19:58 Unbudgetable things, but as I said at the beginning, I'm not⦠I⦠we didn't see proposals from some of the entities that we regularly hear from, so I was surprised Key City
Public Theater was on here, because they had asked me multiple times when this process was going on.
11:20:18 But it must not have applied. Um⦠I think that idea of coordinating with Jefferson Community Foundation is a really interesting one. It won't be without.
11:20:31 If it's straight of cost. Yes, yeah. Administrative cost, absolutely, because we know that the fund.
11:20:37 That there's gonna⦠they're setting up for us. has a, I think, a 1.7%, very, very low, 1.7%.
11:20:46 And that's without them. There's no, like, review process that they have to go through. That's really just for them to hold the dollars.
11:20:54 Pass them through to us. Um, and so, something that would include any kind of RFP review would, I'm sure.
11:21:03 Come with their⦠administrative cost.
11:21:07 But still worth exploring, because they have processes in place that I think are really effective.
11:21:13 And it's worth asking ourselves, do we want to⦠Do we want to fund this program at this time?
11:21:18 I mean, it's a valid question. Yeah, I do. I do. I mean, you know, I mean, like, the chemical bamboosters, they're going on the national trip, I mean, all these group programs,
I'm not⦠I know, but I⦠Most of the work's been done, so I feel like at this point⦠But it's a real question. I mean, we haven't spent the money yet, and weâ¦
11:21:35 And it's come off elsewhere, so, you know, let's have the conversation here.
11:21:42 Yeah, I mean, and what kind of precedent are you always setting expectations?
11:21:48 Yeah. Um⦠this is exactly the dialogue that I'd like to have in the community services and parks conversation, and I think, um⦠For public who are listening, if you're interested
in this dialogue, um, I'll just share that, um, on the Saturday of the Connectivity Summit, which is March 28th.
11:22:13 Um, the county will be one of the workshops on that day, and having a dialogue about.
11:22:15 community services, um, and the funding of community services and parks, and kind of really looking at the realities of that, the potential models, and having a.
11:22:26 a brainstorm and dialogue with the community about, um.
11:22:29 Where they want us to focus, and ideas for doing this better and more sustainably, and so⦠These kinds of programs really are community services, and they're not what we think
of in our community services contracts.
11:22:42 And, um⦠department, but⦠It's really kind of falls into the same bucket in my mind. I mean, this does get at one of the objectives in our strategic plan, which is why I
think Mark was.
11:22:54 That's where the wheels were turning. Yeah. late 2024. Yeah.
11:22:59 Yeah, if I could jump in, so⦠It totally makes sense to me why we are where we're at right now with this program as an innovation for trying to.
11:23:11 Manage, request throughout the year from individual organizations for whatever reason.
11:23:17 I think it's⦠it's⦠it was a good idea.
11:23:20 And we're a little bit delayed in the original concept, which I think we would have ideally awarded.
11:23:25 These applications⦠late last year, but because of the unusual budget.
11:23:31 constraints that we had to deal with last year, we decided to defer until that.
11:23:36 budget process finished, because there was a moment in which perhaps we would have cut this item as well.
11:23:41 Um, and we didn't, so there is⦠this money in the budget, just to be clear. I mean, we could, of course, reconsider that decision now.
11:23:50 Um, I think the idea of using a third party, like.
11:23:54 Jefferson Community Foundation to actually. process, um, such a program in the future deserves looking into, absolutely.
11:24:02 And that question came up when we were doing the ARPA grants, and, like, way back when before I was commissioner. Even if there are administrative costs, it definitely should
be evaluated, because as you pointed out, Mr. Brotherton, they're.
11:24:13 There's a hidden cost here for us as staff.
11:24:16 Especially with constrained capacity on head commissioner's office. To do anything, and so⦠There will be some⦠some things here, but we've already⦠I feel like, in a
sense, we've committed to this process to this point. Again, it could be reconsidered, butâ¦
11:24:30 I'm trying it out. It's something that we sort of committed to, but of course, when that idea originated, it was at a different moment in time where.
11:24:39 the county had been contributing. in the past few years anyway, since COVID.
11:24:44 to community programs and projects at a higher level that haven't done.
11:24:50 in the past, for different reasons, for each of those things, whether it's Humane Society or Fair Association, or whatever it is.
11:24:57 They all have their own reasons why the county was contributing more, but then all of a sudden, we found ourselves in a position last year having to.
11:25:03 to reevaluate those things that aren't statutory obligated for counties, as.
11:25:09 creatures of the state to perform. And that's just a reality check, and, like, I was quoted in the paper at one point of saying nobody wants to.
11:25:17 Um, you know, close the rec center, or we'd love to do all the things that are wonderful things, and they⦠our part of our strategic plan as well, but when the rubber hits
the road, budget-wise, there are some tough decisions to be made.
11:25:29 And at first, we have to look at those things that are essentially optional.
11:25:32 Like this one. Um, we might get some requests during the year, that's one we'll have to see how that goes.
11:25:39 And then we can evaluate whether, you know, this worked or didn't work in terms of, uh.
11:25:43 Having people apply at the right time, people who manage it, even if we don't have an RFP process, or some kind of process like this that we farm out to another party.
11:25:52 I do think it's worth talking about what we would budget for those kinds of requests. So, again, whether we have, like, a formal program to try to manage those requests, or
we just simply have.
11:26:02 a budget line that has a maximum to it, so⦠and maybe even a policy around a maximum ask.
11:26:08 So that during next year, assuming that there's some quantity that's budgeted.
11:26:14 There still is a vehicle by which you could⦠say to a party that we could support you, but only this much.
11:26:21 Because we have those⦠those caps in policy. So that's something else to consider, no matter whether we do this RFP process again or not.
11:26:27 And then finally⦠Yeah, I get the⦠I get the formality of wanting to do RFPs.
11:26:33 And there's a lot to be said for that.
11:26:35 Especially from a legal or risk management perspective. And not all RFPs are created equal, like I think has been hinted before, I mean, giving away.
11:26:44 $250 or $500 is a lot different than $250,000.
11:26:49 And maybe with⦠still considering those legal and risk management features, like, if there's a way to.
11:26:59 simplify things for the smaller amounts, that makes sense, and I do think this process, I've tried to do that, it was fairly simple RFP.
11:27:01 And correspondingly, even though there was a lot of time, I'm sure Commissioner Eisenhower put a lot of time into this, as did Amanda.
11:27:08 Um, it was still simpler than, say, something more complex, where you have.
11:27:12 Just⦠bigger⦠bigger stakes, if you will. So, somehow balancing that as well, like, just going through, you know, signing an agreement that's.
11:27:20 This, this big for, for a couple hundred bucks doesn't seem to make as much sense in that process, which is why, another reason why considering a third party.
11:27:29 Even if they're administrative costs associated would be⦠would be wise. So, those are my thoughts.
11:27:35 Well, what do you think? You said, you throw it out here, but what are your thoughts on today, and, uh, keeping it going?
11:27:43 I⦠I think⦠I mean, I would like to see us.
11:27:47 Follow through with what we did, and⦠Um, maybe⦠Maybe have⦠kind ofâ¦
11:27:58 get through 2026 and see what requests⦠I mean, it just feels⦠I get the inspiration for this is, like, not knowing what's coming.
11:28:09 I don't know how. I mean, I'm fine with funding this, obviously. Moving beyond that, I'm thinking.
11:28:15 How do we⦠how do we build some level of certainty for us and for the community and.
11:28:21 any kind of⦠support or underwriting that we do for⦠I don't think we can really afford that right now. Right.
11:28:29 I mean, I think that's the simple way to do it, is the cupboards are bare, we're reducing staff this year, we probably aren't the well to go for for⦠External community needs
right now. I mean, we can⦠weâ¦
11:28:42 Reconsider it as budget, the budget shifts, but, um⦠That's what I would be. It also goes back to what Commissioner Dominaland was suggesting with respect to.
11:28:52 the county's planned activity for the Saturday of the Connectivity Summit and other conversations with the City of Clark Townsend, with Jefferson Community Foundation, and other
partners around community services as a whole.
11:29:03 Because there are, in a sense, two worlds I'm seeing that could unfold this year, one world in which we identify.
11:29:11 a different revenue source for specific activities. for example, the management of our community centers.
11:29:18 Or our contribution and support of the Fair Association, or just management of the fairgrounds in general.
11:29:24 Humane Society, this program. support for the EDC. Larry, even another complication on it, I think at least two of us felt uncomfortable in the Board of Health meeting last
week.
11:29:38 Was the kind of the debrief of the budget process. I don't know what you did. And, you know, and they kept saying there were 3 of us in the room who were writing that budget,
you know, and I was like.
11:29:48 Wow, like, where is this coming from? So it was⦠it was about the lakes monitoring and the foot care, and⦠Um, budget reductions, and the fact that we only contributed,
what, 20% of what they'd asked for from the general fund?
11:30:05 And, um⦠I just feel⦠I felt like⦠We were definitely being⦠Targeted as the culprits of that action.
11:30:16 in that room. And, um, didn't really know how to⦠Like, stop the conversation and say, hey, wait, let's unpack this, what's going on here?
11:30:27 And I just didn't know if you guys felt a similar⦠I mean⦠After the whole budget process. We were hearing them out, and there were some things there that we.
11:30:39 You know, we⦠that was new information for us, so trying to just kind of gather.
11:30:45 Like, the details about that, so⦠I guess complete what I was saying before about the two paths. So, one path in which we identify.
11:30:57 A different revenue source for these kinds of things. Parks and recreation included.
11:31:01 Things that heretofore have had general fund support, and if the general fund is challenged.
11:31:07 then there's gonna be tough conversations regardless. Yeah, that's it.
11:31:11 And then⦠and then a world in which, you know, unfortunately, we are not able to find this other revenue source, or we ask the public, and⦠Um, the answer is no, then there'sâ¦
there's that reality. Budget moving forward, did I⦠did I⦠did Iâ¦
11:31:25 certainly acknowledged before that there are a lot of lessons learned last year during the budget process.
11:31:30 And we're hoping to apply those lessons this year, in terms of.
11:31:33 different conversations, dialogue, choices, choice creating, to put the choices in front of the policymakers.
11:31:39 There's levels of detail down to one specific program and one specific department versus the larger pathway choices.
11:31:47 And⦠and part of me thinks that regardless of.
11:31:51 the things that we could have done better last year. The fact is, we still had smaller pie to divide, and that's just the way it was, not only for our county, but as you know,
the county leaders conference, every single county in Washington state.
11:32:04 And that said, this year, it's not going to be any easier, most likely. In fact, it might be harder, because we've already done the things that are the low-hanging fruit, the
easier things to do, even though they're hard, and now this year.
11:32:17 We may be faced with choices where we cannot continue to deficit spend because the.
11:32:22 Reserve's not there anymore. Yeah. So, and that's⦠we're not alone in that, but it⦠So regardless of the process, or maybe some of the things that we could have done better,
and even if we do those things better this year.
11:32:35 Still going to be faced with those tough choices.
11:32:37 And some people will point to us, or the decision makers, and say.
11:32:41 That wasn't fair to me, or I expected more, or what have you, but there's always going to be the case, and it might be even more so this year.
11:32:47 Hence the focus on revenue generation. Um, well, I would like him to make a motion. I'm ready. You're ready here.
11:32:55 Um, to, uh, fund the Thriving Communities. grant, uh, applications as recommended by Commissioner Eisenhower on the Thriving Communities.
11:33:07 grants worksheets. presented here.
11:33:12 All seconds. Okay. Um, it's been moved and seconded to⦠to fund the Thriving Communities Grants as recommended.
11:33:21 on the attachments was, uh, provided for the public.
11:33:25 Um⦠any⦠any further conversation? I think we've had a lot of conversations. Yeah, okay. And we'll have more. Yeah, this was⦠Well, a little bit more about this after
we have this action. So, all in favor of funding the proposed awardees as presented. Indicate by saying aye.
11:33:46 Hi. All right, that is unanimous. Um, then the other big question, and thank you, Amanda, for your work as well, and for our office that will have 15 contracts to do now.
11:33:58 Um, and, uh, I mean, uh, will it be reporting requirements on the contract? I mean, the partners haven't been made yet, but⦠Is it assumed that there'll be a reporting requirement?
I think there was in the RFP, but we'll have to look at that. I think what we're going to try to do is, working with the PAO, try to simplify these things as much as we're not even
completely, because considering the context.
11:34:23 Um, so⦠Are we, um, putting a pause on this program? How do you want to proceed? I mean, are we⦠what do we⦠It wouldn't come up again. It was meant to be annual, correct?
11:34:37 Or it was really just meant to be a one-time thing, and⦠No, it was not the thought that this was⦠solve the budget problem of not being able to budget for the unforeseen.
11:34:46 Immunity request for support. Yeah, so then it would come up again.
11:34:50 in October next year, is that right? For this year? It could, or we could change the timing. We could, for example, wait until the budget process is over, and then we know what
the quantity is, and then do an RFP at the end of the year, beginning of the year. That makes sense. We could do that. We could also do a combination, so there's⦠I see the choices
as do what we did last time, set the quantity, do the RFP for the full amount.
11:35:11 precluding other⦠Miscellaneous requests during the year. Or, forget about the RFP, just set a budget amount and just see what happens during the year. If someone's going
to think of something in August, and then you have at least a quantity. Or a hybrid, where you set the amount, set a certain amount for RFP, and then set a sort of an auxiliary amount
that would be for ad hoc.
11:35:30 To accommodate that during the year. Or set them out at zero, because we, in the budget process, find out that we don't have those alternative ways to fund community services.
We don't have any choice. I think that's kind of why I'm asking about the timing of it right now, is that it feels like.
11:35:47 Um, this⦠the answer. to whether and when we do this again.
11:35:55 Should it⦠that this should be kind of bolded into that community services conversation.
11:36:00 Then we should be⦠That's a good point, yeah. We should be asking the question about a program like this, too.
11:36:07 Um, when we're having the community services dialogue. sort of series about a series of dialogues.
11:36:13 I'm okay with that, but opinion until we have the larger community services conversation, and⦠Yeah, okay. Yeah. I don't think any action's required for that.
11:36:24 Okay. Uh, well, thank you, Haid, for doing the legwork, and Amanda.
11:36:32 Um, and let's⦠The⦠we were⦠we⦠that concludes our morning agenda items. We haven't, uh, completed briefing or calendaring, so let's see if we can get that.
11:36:47 out of the way, um, I⦠I don't know, Heather, did you finish? Okay. Yep, I did thank you.
11:36:53 pass it over to Josh, and do a briefing, and we'll have to be brief, because our calendaring, so I promised.
11:37:02 How does it be done by 12. All right, uh, so, for me, looking back⦠Let's see⦠With you, of course, on Monday, and had the, um⦠shelter operations, meeting on Tuesday,
and I don't think there was anythingâ¦
11:37:24 Moving forward, I did reach out to the American Legion about extending our.
11:37:30 Contract⦠Oh, did you? Uh, haven't heard back from, uh, Mr. Sarian yet. Okay. Um⦠Uh, so Coast has donated another $30,000 as they were, uh, kind of finishing up, so that'sâ¦
that, uh, gives us capacity. And there was also something we'll talk about at the Housing Fund Board.
11:37:48 But Judy reported there was a little bit more kind of recording fee compensation that we received into fund 149, so⦠She talked about that being used for another 6 months
of operations, which we don't have budgeted.
11:38:03 Um, and I said, well, we should talk about it at the Housing Fund Board first, consider the advisory board, but good news on the funding source there for shelter operations.
11:38:12 And the Shelter Coalition meeting, um⦠Good stuff, talking about just, you know, different.
11:38:20 options, it's kind of a lightly attended group, the, uh, um, human⦠human, uh.
11:38:26 the Human Services Collaborative was going on at the same time, so most folks were there.
11:38:31 I had lunch with the porch director, challenging on a Tuesday, everywhere was closed, but we did manage to find some place to eat, and one thing that he pointed out about the.
11:38:41 He kind of disagreed with the idea that I had, I think, socialized last time.
11:38:45 And⦠about⦠all the municipalities, um⦠bringing⦠what does economic development to us to the table, he said. I think that's kind of, you know.
11:38:55 You putting words in his mouth or paraphrasing, but build walls, you know, we're gonna have our conceptions and not get to a place of commonality.
11:39:03 Uh, he was also really in favor of NODC facilitating that conversation, and said he'd been talking to Karen as well, so I think that, you know.
11:39:12 As I know that the agenda for ICG is kind of being circled around. I haven't responded to that yet, but I think there's still kind of an.
11:39:19 an active idea, and it's in February, so it might take a little bit of time just to sort out⦠Are we the leads on that? Yeah, we're the leads for the February event.
11:39:26 How do we want to, um, kind of scope that? Because it's an interesting conversation. I think the approach.
11:39:33 the right approach might shorten this. endless conversation.
11:39:37 Um, but good lunch, and then, uh, met with Sean, uh, Frederick, talked about the community center RFP, and then we had worked on that kind of intermittently and iteratively
throughout the rest of the week. Oh, great, thanks for doing that. Yeah, it's published and posted and out to the leader, and just to let you guys know, the⦠where we ended up.
11:39:57 Didn't change⦠added one, you know, he had kind of broken it up into 100 points, and that still remains as kind of a staff evaluation of the proposals.
11:40:08 Um, you can go look posted, but we added a budget section into that, which was 10 points and reduced 10 points from.
11:40:15 I forget what else, so it still totals 100. Okay. That evaluation will come to us.
11:40:20 And then we'll have on March 2nd, an open session, interviews with the qualified applicants for, you know, any community center that has more than one qualified applicant to
operate. Okay. Um, and then dividing our.
11:40:35 Um, criteria into one, sort of, the qualifications as developed by staff, so what that, that⦠Out of 100.4 being one leg of it.
11:40:45 A second leg was, uh⦠kind of the governance, and the third leg was⦠oh geez, now we forgot.
11:40:54 Um, real quick.
11:40:59 Right.
11:41:05 And while he's looking for that, just to clarify, it will be published in later tomorrow.
11:41:11 Tomorrow, okay. But it's posted on our website already.
11:41:18 approach, so the things that would qualified applicants, I'm just reading in front of it now.
11:41:23 Should we be available for an interview? in an open session, by phone, online, or in person. Staff score from B will establish the qualifications, the approach, how does the
applicant.
11:41:36 interpret the community need and propose to deliver services at each community center in question. Number two, and the third set of criteria, and I didn't have scoring for this,
so it's going to be a conversation, is governance. How does the applicant.
11:41:47 supposed to govern the management and operations of each community center, including management and authority of the advisory board.
11:41:52 So that's kind of our rubric for evaluating. Uh, if there are more than one applicant. Okay.
11:42:00 Um, and then, um, with Jeremy and⦠Deputy Fire Marshal Tracer talks about an issue going on.
11:42:10 Um, it was very, very productive, I think. Um, then on Wednesday, we had Orca, a new finance committee meeting.
11:42:19 Our new⦠our new vice chair, um, Millie Krauss from Thurston County, ran the Finance Committee meeting, still doing great.
11:42:26 They did have a cyber crime incursion, where they actually got credit cards, a really sophisticated phishing attempt, but they⦠Uh, we're immediately responsive, something
looked fishy right away, they jumped on it, hired another firm.
11:42:44 to, uh, kind of do the background investigation. very successful, and successful enough, and the response was quick enough that it was completely covered by their insurance
program, so it's, like, you know.
11:42:58 O3A had something like that last year, where they, like, the same kind of deal, where they had.
11:43:07 quick enough response, and it⦠They were able to get right on top of it. But it is⦠it is happening a lot. I mean, I see fishing, uh, how many⦠How many phishing attempts
a day? A bunch.
11:43:15 Um, but work is going well. I chaired my first meeting there, um, went great.
11:43:20 the good meeting with gender planning then, with, uh.
11:43:24 With Josh in the afternoon, and the Wook Water Utility Coordinating Committee was meeting.
11:43:30 was canceled on the recommendation of our contractor, HDR, because they really just.
11:43:35 Kind of small group work that needs to do, go into the, kind of, the draft of the consolidated water.
11:43:41 plan, and so they're just meeting out with those, uh, you know, the city and PUB and housing and those.
11:43:49 Um, on Thursday, help coordinate the, uh, first retreat planning, brainstorming session for the PRTPOs, uh, annual.
11:43:59 in-person meeting up at, uh, Red Cedar Hall in Blinn.
11:44:04 I've, uh, proposed and taken responsibility for an icebreaking activity where we all form.
11:44:09 traffic and traffic jams and everything, because we get to our different tables so we can sit in different places. Nice.
11:44:15 And then, uh, there's a little walk on the Olympic Discovery Trail, doing our, of course, our business, so⦠5-hour meeting, it was lunch, and then, uh⦠Um, kind of ourâ¦
we're looking at talking tourism, uh, for the, uh, kind of the breakout sessions, and having⦠inviting, uh.
11:44:34 Um, different speakers, because, I mean, in Kit Tap County, it's massive planning operation already.
11:44:40 you know, I mean, like, Nicole was there from Jefferson Transit, a little frustrated with some of the, like, people keep asking what we're doing for, uh, FIFA, and we don't
know, we're just not really doing anything. We don't have any additional money, we don't know what to do.
11:44:53 And Kitsap Transit was like, well, we've got all these different service vehicles that you call us if you can't get to, and they're doing all these, uh, kind of interrelated
communications, because Bremerton is a fan zone, right? But they anticipate.
11:45:05 750,000 additional tourists, uh, for the 6 weeks at FIFA. Bridge opening schedules. Yeah, yeah, that's where, I mean, that's our ask, is to try to⦠are they talking about
a legislative committee, too? No, no, no, I mean, here, yeah. Yeah, no, it, uh, so⦠So did Nicole feel like she got into that loop, or⦠and knew⦠Yeah, a little bit. You're getting
a little bit more into the loop now, just kind of talking to Kitsap Transit as part of the planning as well, soâ¦
11:45:33 Yeah, well, we have a little bit of experience building both of us. Right, right, yeah.
11:45:39 I mean, if you look at⦠transits for, you know, reports. Oh, yeah. When you see September, just spikes. Totally spikes.
11:45:49 Um⦠but it was a good planning meeting. I'm looking⦠it's going to be a fun event, I think. Uh, Board of Health meeting, of course, was with you folks.
11:45:58 Um⦠and then, uh, on Friday, had a meeting with Jed Bothel of Atlas Technologies.
11:46:05 You know, they're just eager for infrastructure, they've got a septic system that's failing, and they'd love to expand, and they're like, buy another piece of property, or what
have you, so⦠He's, uh, eager to come and test fire public comment whenever the.
11:46:20 Uh, the opportunity presents itself, meeting with Hans Fredrickson this week, too, who have.
11:46:25 Um, I believe abandoned some plans because of the lack of infrastructure and are pivoting in a different direction.
11:46:30 We had the Olympic Consortium Board meeting, we're in force developments, um⦠annual reports out of the⦠You know, workforce in different agencies, good.
11:46:42 Uh, in-person meeting in March, going to the labor training facility near Polsbough, do you know this? I guess it's why, like, a nationally renowned, uh, like, union.
11:46:53 training facility. Yeah, I'll tell you more after I go there. Cool.
11:46:57 And then, uh, my last fiscal committee and executive committee with, uh, um.
11:47:04 Holy cow. Mayor, uh, um⦠Howard is also stepping off, holy cap, we both went on Holy Cap at the same time, so, uh, see who is replacing. There's a couple different options,
but maybe⦠For the city, okay. Yeah.
11:47:21 until they have announced that I won't announce it, but, um, so there'll be a little bit of change going on, but, um⦠Yeah, we'll see, maybe⦠possible I can go to theâ¦
the annual meeting on February 6th, but we'd have to notice. It would be problematic. Yeah.
11:47:36 Um, but good stuff, some frustrations with CLA, the, uh⦠accounting organization that has been kind of filling in, for the lack of a finance director.
11:47:47 still trough as we're going over the annual budget and everything, still tough to believe.
11:47:52 The reporting. They look like reports now. They've got the logo on it, but it's still, um, executive directors.
11:47:59 Uh⦠doesn't trust them still, which makes it really hard to, uh, budget in a lean year, and they've got a⦠you know, a pretty tight, tightline budget that is, if you.
11:48:13 Don't know how much you're spending every month, uh, becomes a problem. Really problematic. Yep.
11:48:22 And, uh, then I watched a lot of football this weekend, kind of football playoffs. I don't usually watch football, but it was⦠Hi, yeah. I listen on the radio. I'm a bigâ¦
sport radio person. Okay, I'm watching some of the other fantastic games at weekend. Deathfish.
11:48:40 Yeah. Um, and it was, uh, yeah, it was good, so⦠when I was⦠Scott and I went to, um, the Neil Diamond Musical of Paramount on, um, so we're not sports people, we're theater
people, which often conflict. Right. Um, but on the way, we saw, um, Adrian from the city, and Sarah from L360, who I said on the community on the fairgrounds. They were going to the
game? They were going to the hockey game. Oh, and so there was a big hockey game over there, too, on Saturday night.
11:49:10 With a big contingency. Wow, must have been tough to get on the ferry anyway. There was a lie. Yeah.
11:49:16 For the walk-ons that went all the way out past the coffee.
11:49:22 Place outside, out to where the bus stop. I had never seen it before, I'd never seen a line like that, just to stand and wait in line to walk onto it. To go to a show during
FIFA.
11:49:33 Apparently, yes, it's gonna be⦠Quite a thing. Um, and that was⦠that was my week.
11:49:42 How about yours, Josh? You know, there is a Neil Diamond Sports connection. Seventh inning stretch.
11:49:50 Sweet Caroline. Oh, yeah, okay, right, yeah. Great song. Uh, last week⦠one-on-one with Carolyn, and of course with Commissioner Brotherton⦠I'm sorry, Commissioner Dudley-Nolet,
actually first with Commissioner Brotherton for the shelter Ops meeting, and then⦠Oh, yeah.
11:50:09 Commissioner Dudley-Nolet with City Manager, um⦠Our A-Team meeting with the other administrators, we actually spent most of it.
11:50:17 Um, supporting East Jefferson Fire Rescue by just being present at their presentation. Oh, good. Let me do that this week. Their ballot measure, essentially their budget situation.
11:50:26 Coming up on⦠on the next election cycle. That's very interesting.
11:50:31 Of course, I'm gonna have Sean on Tuesday, which I usually do in the afternoon.
11:50:35 Um, Judy, on Wednesday. Before⦠no, not too sorry. Yes, um, for the⦠Connectivity Summit meeting that Shere Dunlanett mentioned.
11:50:47 Our monthly North Olympic Peninsula City Manager County Administrator meeting was very interesting, and then⦠Agenda for anyone to chair.
11:50:55 Thursday⦠I believe our HR Director, and then with Amanda.
11:51:00 Then we've got emergency management. Director, and then⦠with Curtis in our Washington County's Administration Association weekly legislative update, just to hear about from
that perspective.
11:51:10 What's going on with the legislature. And of course, as Commissioner Eisenhower mentioned, our weekly on Friday with.
11:51:16 Our lobbyists. I did meet with Jeremy over at DCD.
11:51:21 And then our JCF meaning that, uh, Commissioner and Palino mentioned.
11:51:27 And then I had a nice chat, a generous amount of time given to me by our.
11:51:33 My counterpart at Columb County, Todd Mill, being the county administrator, about a variety of issues that.
11:51:39 County has addressed their budget issues and expects to do so this year.
11:51:43 And some other topics, but⦠And then I did have a chat with, um⦠Our public health director, and I don't know if she's back from PTO, it's late Friday afternoon.
11:51:53 You know, just picking up the reins where she left off, yeah.
11:51:56 to debrief a little bit about the Board of Health meeting.
11:51:59 Apple's perspective, so⦠Right. I'd be happy to talk to you. I know you were interested in that, so happy to talk about that. Yeah, I'd love to have an update on that. Yeah,
um, yeah. And that wasâ¦
11:52:09 Last week? All right. Well, I think we probably don't have time to get into, uh, calendaring, knowing that if you have someone showing up at 12.
11:52:23 I'll just remind people that we're coming back at 1.30, we're going to go straight into, uh, executive session planned for 30 minutes, and then our first.
11:52:33 kind of semi-planned item after that is the, uh⦠talk on the AI Policy 2.30ish.
11:52:42 Um, I hope that we'll have the policy, I guess I thought it would be as in, uh⦠maybe I'll send a note out to Sean over the lunch break, but hopefully we can actually.
11:52:52 talk about it, and um⦠Uh, you know, kind of the high points of it, and that'll be⦠we're looking at 2.30 for that.
11:53:02 One thing I wanted to say in my. everything was, um, we got an email from Tom Tears this week about strategy⦠Oh, yeah, yeah.
11:53:13 And over the weekend, I read an article that was written about how they were.
11:53:18 Hugely fraudulent. The lobby firms? Yes, and of course we got that comment from. So, um⦠You know, it was affirming that we changed courses. Yep.
11:53:31 And I've been really, um⦠pleased with Kelsey's⦠the way she's interacting with us, and⦠and also coordinating how WASAC, you know, like.
11:53:42 Where our priorities overlap with WASAC, and where I maybe may be testifying on the bill, but⦠We're interested in one piece of it, but also, you know, just being very completely
thorough on the legislative front, and it just feels like a really⦠feels like.
11:53:57 Night and day. Ugh, that's so great. Out loud. That's great. You feel that purported, and you know, even for someone like you who has become.
11:54:07 deeply connected to the legislative process through your role on the LSC to not feel like we.
11:54:12 can really fully parse what that means specifically for our county, and to have someone really just, like.
11:54:19 partnering with us to think that through and strategize that, or Jefferson County. I think it's great that she also works in contract with WASAC, because their process as well.
11:54:30 Anyway, I just want to reflect on that, because I had a moment over the weekend of, like, oh my god, when I read that article, I did read that article in the Seattle Times this
weekend, and I was like, ugh.
11:54:40 Yeah, I guess I didn't read the article, so⦠but I need to catch up on that, and⦠That is too bad, and so I don't know the details. I guess I would just add that.
11:54:50 From my perspective, just even without knowing the details of.
11:54:53 Who's involved, and what the allegations are, or what the consequences are, what happened.
11:54:58 sometimes a company is more than just. the president or the leader, or something that went wrong, because personnel has changed over time in that company. Yeah. And I do recall
back.
11:55:11 In the days where we first contracted with strategies, somewhere around.
11:55:16 2007-8, and⦠Essentially, as a result, not⦠I don't know about a direct result, but at least an indirect result, we⦠We're able to have over $20 million dedicated towards.
11:55:27 Mm-hmm. Proactive road repairs on the Upper Hull Road, so⦠And then that doesn't even talk about the sewer influence in terms of⦠Well, and I mean⦠I guess I'm just trying
to say there's some positives there about our relationship. Oh, and I was thinking, well, yeah, and Kelsey and Crystal both worked for strategy, so, I mean, but it just was like aâ¦
11:55:46 I saw the⦠here's⦠I'm sending you an article about that.
11:55:49 It was just like a⦠You know, a little bit of a wake-up call.
11:55:54 Yeah, because last session's experience with them was not⦠was, like⦠Not good, no bueno.
11:56:02 For sure. Alright, well⦠Um, a positive note in the morning on, and we'll see you guys at 1.30, and be back in the public.
11:56:11 Principally, at 2PM. All right, we're recessed.
13:31:17 Um, I need to go get my computer still, sorry.
13:31:20 I'm gonna say it's gonna say. All right, all right, uh, call us back into session, and we're going to immediately go into executive session, or⦠I think it's my⦠It's, it's
me.
13:31:37 Thank you, it's here, yeah. I'm muted, muted. Uh, with the County Administrator, Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, and Civil DPA regarding potential litigation, exemptions
outlined in the Oakland Public Meetings Act, RCW42.30.110, parentheses 1, parentheses I.
13:31:56 We'll be there in 30 minutes, coming out at⦠2⦠oh⦠3.
14:05:13 Yes. I'm not in audio. Now it's down in town. Okay, now you have a new audio.
14:05:07 Testing, testing, testing, testing, testing, testing, testing.
14:05:23 I mean⦠Need a little reverb to kick off the owl. Um, coming out of executive session with no action taken, we'll turn to our regular agenda.
14:05:34 Um, we had 2.30 as the, as the suggested time for our AI conversation, so we'll, uh, maybe⦠do a little bit of calendaring. Oh, Josh, we haven't heard about your last week?
Yeah. Oh, we did. Yeah, sorry, sorry. Okay, sorry, the lunch break is still in my head.
14:05:49 All right, on to, uh, calendaring. You were ready to look at your calendar this week? I am ready.
14:05:58 Um⦠I just had, over the break, a little meeting with, um.
14:06:06 the fairgrounds, um⦠facilities manager who is moving on to another job, so, um, just a little exit interview with him to try to.
14:06:17 Um, glean a little bit of, um, good information about his experience and what he was moving on to, and.
14:06:23 Um, those two jobs are posted by, by the way, for the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association, both for maintenance.
14:06:31 Uh, sorry, the groundskeeper, which is one position, and the facilities and Maintenance Manager.
14:06:39 Um, that might not be the exact job title, but those two job, uh, jobs are now posted, and I believe they're already starting to do interviews, but I think they'll keep it open
until⦠It's filled, so folks know good.
14:06:52 Did, um, qualified people that want to work out at our fantastic Jefferson County Fairgrounds.
14:06:58 on out and apply. Um, I'll be in the budget meeting tomorrow morning.
14:07:06 Um⦠I'm holding some time tomorrow for Food Resilience planning meeting that I haven't heard whether it's going to come to pass or not.
14:07:15 Um, the next Therapeutic health center meeting. is on Wednesday, and I am going to jump into that one. That might be one of the last ones that I attended for a little while
as they then go in, kind of, planning, just because I'm not on the project team. I've just been.
14:07:30 being kept informed about their thinking process, and so I'm going to do that.
14:07:36 Um, as they prepare to apply for some funds outside of Jefferson County.
14:07:42 Um⦠I have a North Olympic Development Council executive board meetings, mostly agenda planning.
14:07:49 On Wednesday, and then I'm going to try to make it to the Know Your Fire District, Ms. Jefferson Fire and Rescue, um.
14:07:56 presentation about their budget and, uh. Uh, levy that they have out⦠on Wednesday evening, and could do that.
14:08:05 Uh, then I will have, um⦠because of the holiday, the executive board meeting is just a day before the actual.
14:08:16 So, the NODC monthly meeting is on Thursday the 22nd, so I'll get to attend that.
14:08:23 And, um⦠What is this?
14:08:29 we have a meeting on Friday morning. with our internal staff.
14:08:34 to just do some kind of debrief about city-county potential relationship and, um, prepping for the collaboration that we might.
14:08:44 be proposing there. Um⦠Although, Josh, I think I'm confused about which one is which. I've got a city-county DPROP brief and collaboration, and then a Parks and Rec Community
Services Strategy Meeting. Both of those Friday morning? Both of those Friday morning. Okay, great. The first oneâ¦
14:09:02 is with Sheriff's Office, police departments. Okay. Not associated with Parks and Rec or Community Center. More potential collaboration.
14:09:12 Yeah, different subject, debrief, really, on⦠in the context of the 5-year almost⦠Got it, yes. Okay. The second meeting is an internal Parks and Rec meeting to prep for
another meeting with.
14:09:24 City staff and others next week. And potentially City Council. Okay, great.
14:09:29 And then I am meeting with the Fairgrounds Association Treasurer.
14:09:34 Um⦠on the⦠on Friday the 23rd.
14:09:38 And have a climate action committee agenda planning as well.
14:09:43 Um, in the⦠all of that, I'm also⦠Um, I'll just confess to all of you that I have not replied on my Bob questionnaire, so I have not⦠I have not either, yeah. I have
that kind of blocked out for Thursday.
14:09:59 And a bunch of behavioral health⦠behavioral health consortium, LTAC and TCC, so I'm gonna be, like.
14:10:06 Behavioral health and tourism planning and sort of agenda planning and meeting planning and all of that is⦠and then the Bob questionnaire, which is our.
14:10:16 Board? Official business, which was the old newsletter, we don't have to go with that, but if you like that, great, you know, we can talk about something else. Yeah, so anyway,
I'm kind of slating out Thursday before the NODC meeting Thursday morning to do just kind of.
14:10:31 kick out a bunch of work products that I haven't been able to.
14:10:36 All right. Hi everybody, how's your week? Um, let's see, moving, moving target, it seems like.
14:10:44 Yeah. Um⦠Tomorrow, I'll be in the budget meeting. Judy asked me to be⦠if I would⦠stay on the secretary, so I've agreed to do that. Nice.
14:10:54 And then I'm going to drive to Olympia for one of my two in-person LSC meetings of the year.
14:11:01 Um, when I get to LMBI, I'm gonna do the⦠ecosystem coordination Board, Shoreline Subcommittee meeting virtually.
14:11:09 Then I'm gonna go to the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition.
14:11:13 Legislative reception at the Governor's mansion. At 5:30, and then join the end of the LSC roundtable.
14:11:23 And then⦠the next morning, get up and do the LSC meeting.
14:11:30 And then rush home. Or a SWAC meeting.
14:11:34 So that's tomorrow and Thursday. And then on Friday, I am going to⦠Um, check in with Kelsey and Josh.
14:11:45 At 8 AM. I'm going to record a Nature Now show at 9am Evans.
14:11:52 Talking about the trust land transfer parcels. Cool. And then Mallory and I are doing a, um⦠tour with a group.
14:12:04 That may facilitate. Uh, carbon sales from our forests.
14:12:10 So we can get some revenue for our forest practices that are.
14:12:14 You know, or we're doing forest health thinnings, and we're leaving trees standing, we can get revenue for the trees.
14:12:20 really standing. Well, that addresses some of Ed Bowen's comments this morning about focusing on temper zooms.
14:12:27 And then I just have to say on Saturday, I'm gonna go on to make croissants with my goddaughter for a second cooking class.
14:12:33 Who weren't teaching that. Who's teaching that? It's in Bellevue.
14:12:42 Wonderful. I love cooking process, and I particularly love doing cooking process with my kids. It's really fun. I have one, one of my.
14:12:53 My kids, my goddaughters, is really talented. And this is the one thing she hasn't been able to find someone to teach her, so I said, oh my god. Nice, yeah. Very cool.
14:13:05 All right, um, I'm with you guys, of course, today, be at the budget meeting tomorrow, probably be remote for the agenda planning with Josh tomorrow as well. Appreciate that
option. And then the, uh.
14:13:17 Hood Canal Coordinating Council canceled the meeting, um, as there's just, uh, not a lot going on right now, so we're still working on the, uh, strategic plan.
14:13:29 Um⦠Uh⦠The strategic action plan.
14:13:35 I keep trying to get him to call it back.
14:13:38 Got a good joke there, but I forgot. Uh, on Thursday, I'll be in person for the JEFCOM meeting, and then come⦠and then, uh, meeting with, uh, Renata Munfrada from the city,
as well as one of the Housing Fund Board members and the Lowell Institute of Housing Institute.
14:13:53 We've got a tiny shelter proposal, they're interested in working on. I think I mentioned last week.
14:13:59 And then on Friday, meeting with Peggy Webmaster of Holy Cap to have updates.
14:14:04 And then meeting with Liz Coker, who was the facilitator for her first five-year homeless and affordable housing plan, and she wants to get kind of caught up on where we are
on that. And then I, uh⦠need to guess for KPTZ. I was thinking maybe Sean talking about AI. We'll see how that⦠how this⦠this upcoming workshop goes, and thenâ¦
14:14:24 Hans Fredrickson Fredericks from Fredericks Electric is coming out to talk about their own infrastructure project. Nice, I think it is Frederickson. Yeah, Fredrickson, yes.
14:14:37 And, uh, that's my week. How's your suggestion?
14:14:41 Uh, ready? Budget meeting tomorrow morning, gender planning with you, Ray.
14:14:48 We do have a meeting with, um, some court staff about the process for choosing conflict attorneys when.
14:14:55 Our regular public defender is unable to defend. Um, both tell me a misdemeanor of defendants.
14:15:03 And I have a meeting with Sean, my weekly move from Tuesdays to Wednesdays this week.
14:15:07 And on Thursday, we do have a meeting with the general manager of the PUD about an emergent water system.
14:15:14 Issues, so I'll get back to, especially District 3 Commissioner on him.
14:15:19 deadline weekly with⦠Jeremy, and then a weekly with Eric, our new Public Works Director.
14:15:26 Yeah, so I will miss the Jeff Chrome board meeting, because I feel like I need to be there, but generally, if I know that you're going to be there, I don't⦠as your alternate.
14:15:38 And then I have my periodic with the E&O civil team in the afternoon.
14:15:43 the WCAA weekly legislative Update Thursday afternoon. And we'll probably miss our Friday morning, Mr. Eisenhower with you, which I said to you already.
14:15:54 because of the meetings that Heather described. Both up in Castle Hill that morning.
14:16:00 And, um, and they're probably catching up and trying to get ready for the next week on Friday afternoons.
14:16:07 Great. Okay, um, well, let's see, we have a few minutes left before the, uh, tentative schedule.
14:16:18 So, anything else that we need to address? Actually, ahead of schedule?
14:16:27 That's at the end of the meeting, but I think maybe we'll kind of reboot.
14:16:31 Um, yeah, should we talk legislative updates? Is there anything that I could share? I appreciate you sending out Kelsey's update. Let's look at Kelsey's update together.
14:16:46 Um⦠I haven't been to Olympia in person yet, so⦠That'll be the first.
14:16:53 Opportunity tomorrow. Um, let's see, what was there?
14:17:00 There's a lot of swirling around. what's gonna happen on the right of⦠Steve Therringer's⦠Emerging medical situation, and so⦠A lot of rumors and innuendo, but nothing
concrete yet.
14:17:15 Wouldn't even want to. Whisper any of the rumors I've heard. They're all so ridiculous, so⦠Um⦠Thank you.
14:17:28 I guess the best thing to do would be to look at our legislative agenda.
14:17:31 I mean, we're tracking with our priorities and staying on top of.
14:17:38 testifying. when we came on.
14:17:45 Let's see⦠wasn't quite ready for this moment, so I will⦠it's okay, we can just open our priorities and⦠Um, so, um, our top capital budget request is.
14:18:00 sewer, an additional⦠Appropriation for the sewer.
14:18:03 And I just, um⦠Got a meeting with the chair of the Senate Ways and Means Committee. Excellent. Um, June Robinson.
14:18:14 For, uh, next week, so⦠Great.
14:18:19 Um⦠That'll be a big step in that process, and I'm sure that was Kelsea's work.
14:18:26 Because we prioritized getting those meetings with budget chairs.
14:18:31 We talked to her. Um⦠Let's see, I haven't heard anything about⦠I mean, really, I've just been full court press on that one priority, and not really talking about.
14:18:43 any of the rest of these, although I am going to the Trust Lane Transfer Lobby Day next Wednesday.
14:18:48 Or the day. Um, where we'll be meeting with the legislators, all the legislators, and talking about.
14:18:55 our four projects, and then⦠hearing all the other project proponents talk about their projects.
14:19:03 Um⦠So on the policy priorities, House Bill 1805, that has been folded into the bill that I.
14:19:11 Uh⦠testified on this morning. 24, 40.
14:19:17 6 household 2446, which has a bunch. It has 8 different.
14:19:22 local jurisdiction finance measures in it, including the utility tax.
14:19:28 And a REIT, and a number of other, um⦠measures that we're moving along as their own bills in the last couple of sessions, but they've all been bundled into this one.
14:19:38 Bill? Which one is that? Let me⦠let's do it.
14:19:49 24 42.
14:19:55 Um⦠and so⦠Kind of⦠that's⦠that was the hearing this morning.
14:20:00 Yeah, so 1805 has been folded into that. Um, this Lamard flexibility, there were some issues with that, that.
14:20:06 Kelsey is working through with Rep Birnbaum. So, there were some concerns. It was listed as a bill with concerns for WASAC, and so I said to Kelsey, can you find out what the
concerns are, and how we can ameliorate them?
14:20:20 Um, she's done that, basically, I think. Um⦠And then there's a number of affordable housing and short-term rental, um⦠pieces of legislation⦠One of them, this local
option sales tax for short-term rentals.
14:20:38 has also been folded into 2442. Because I heard people there testifying on that portion of this bill.
14:20:49 And I⦠I think maybe this 1867 as well. I think a lot of the things that we were proponing have ended up in this bill.
14:20:56 Omnibus. Yeah. I mean, sometimes that's good, because a lot of things you're taken care of, but if there's too many things sentences, Christmas tree, and people don't like that.
Well, so, from the testimony this morning, the only concerns I heard, everyone that was there was supporting.
14:21:11 different sections of the bill, but the only concerns I was hearing were around the utility tax, and those were from utility providers.
14:21:18 as many of the commenters as I could listen to, because that was right before we called ourselves into session this morning.
14:21:26 Um, I haven't been paying attention to many of the additional priorities, so⦠I will lean in on those that I'm in Olympia.
14:21:34 Don't know what's going on with the bottle bill⦠I do not know what's going on with Derek Besselville.
14:21:42 Um, but I will know shortly. And I have been tracking emergency responder bill, because.
14:21:46 I'm in that coalition. I have one subject to add. Yeah.
14:21:51 First, I should clarify for those listening that when I said nobody likes Chris, some people don't like Christmas trees, it wasn't actually Christmas trees. It was⦠a term
of art where people add stuff like ornaments to something that's already there, so sometimes bills get extra stuff tacked onto them.
14:22:08 other bills that are failing end up getting on, and then it could weigh something down, if you will, and that's what I meant by that. Okay, so the subject is, um, how to fund
public defense.
14:22:19 counties are obligated to fund public defense. The state gets some.
14:22:24 Some, um, assistance for right now, even though the state doubled their assistance to counties, it's still.
14:22:29 5% or so, because of the caseload standards and the additional costs coming from the Supreme Court, so⦠just for context, counties⦠Uh, according to a survey from WASAC.
14:22:41 Provide something on the order of $240 million a year for public defense and state.
14:22:46 Overall. And so⦠Counties are asking the state to pay more of that obligation. There's actually a lawsuit around that, and so I think maybe the specter of the lawsuit.
14:22:59 there was a⦠there was a fight over⦠over whether the counties could have standing.
14:23:05 to sue, and actually that turned out in the county's favor, so the lawsuit's proceeding, is my understanding.
14:23:12 So, even though there isn't a lot of appetite in Olympia right now for additional expenditure, as you know.
14:23:18 This is still the idea that there'd be a lawsuit, which could even a worse outcome for the state, possibly.
14:23:24 I think there's some appetite to actually negotiate with counties on this topic, so my understanding is that there's some movement on that, whether it would actually result
in something is a whole other question, but.
14:23:33 The state's counter-proposal? is ramping up to a 50-50 share.
14:23:39 I think by the year 2033, don't quote me on the dates, because basically it's the concept.
14:23:45 That it would start small, and then⦠each year, ramp up an additional percentage, or perhaps each biennium, to get to a full 50-50 split come 2033.
14:23:56 And at that point, additional expenditures caused by whatever circumstance, including.
14:24:00 Supreme Court decision would be borne by the state, not the county, so sort of cap⦠the county's obligation, although right now it's $240 million, it'd be anticipated to be
more.
14:24:10 by 2033, so that 50% allocation of the counties would indeed grow as expenses grow between now and 2020 and 33. And if that is the.
14:24:19 What currently is being discussed is our understanding from listening to WASAC.
14:24:23 And my understanding is the vehicles for those are House Bill 1592 and Senate Bill 5404.
14:24:29 And we did send a letter to the chairs of the two.
14:24:34 relative committees asking for them to hold hearings on those bills at Wasatch's request. Excellent. And there is a⦠I'm not sure, Heidi, if those bills are the ones.
14:24:44 that we didn't like at first, but, you know, naturally, in this kind of negotiation, there's another bill that doesn't go as far as counties would like, so just to be aware,
if you look at those bills, you might not see the 50%, you might see something else, but that's what we're⦠the counties are⦠are shooting for a compromise that would be 50% of
those costs.
14:25:01 And those were the bills the WAS Act was asking us to comment on, so they must be.
14:25:06 Well, the vehicles they're focused on.
14:25:13 Um, what else? On the legislative front, but⦠I haven't heard anything on the capital budget around trust land transfer, so it would be very interesting to be.
14:25:22 I don't want to be closer to the⦠the game, and hear if there's any.
14:25:28 Scuttlebutt about capital budget, because all I've been hearing is that.
14:25:32 Because all of the other budgets are so operating.
14:25:34 Uh, and transportation are so constrained. That they're looking at.
14:25:40 taking from capital. Yeah. fund operating in transportation. Yeah.
14:25:46 I've heard that, Stan. You know, again and again. Yeah.
14:25:49 If and when we're completed with this topic, I do have a, I think, a nifty 4-minute topic before we get to 2.30.
14:25:56 Okay, if there's room for that. I think it sounds like we're done with this, so⦠I think so, except, um, at the very end of the list, there's a couple interesting ones. The
OPMA Natural Disasters Bill and the Aquatics.
14:26:08 the sports PFD deadline bill. And you might want to just⦠What was that one, that last one? Um, the⦠the⦠Senate Bill 6189, changing the deadline for forming a public
facilities district for regional aquatics and sports facilities from 2026. Yeah, just something to note, since that's the thing that weâ¦
14:26:32 In the middle of, and the other is just⦠A couple of, kind of, addressing OPMA rules around, um.
14:26:41 whether, um⦠public officials can meet and all be in attendance during, um.
14:26:48 you know, inspections and public meetings that are kind of last minute around emergencies, which makes a whole lot of sense to me, and I'm glad they're informed.
14:26:59 Didn't they mention cam radios? They have not mentioned ham radios, no.
14:27:02 Whether it constitutes a public meeting. Mm-hmm. The derelict vessel built 2199, this stuff.
14:27:13 I support these great, yeah. Cool.
14:27:20 That's Wasatch 4. Gotcha.
14:27:27 That's a good list. To start.
14:27:33 Okay. Um⦠Got 2 more minutes to fill it out. She said it was 4 minutes. Well, really, it's a question for the board whether you want.
14:27:43 me to work with the chair to arrange for a topic for next meeting.
14:27:46 Or whether you already have an opinion or direction on this issue now, which is around.
14:27:53 the Apex Accelerator program. Have you received a briefing on November 10th of last year. I wasn't there for that particular meeting, it was the only board meeting this last
year since Sneak in this chair here.
14:28:05 And⦠so I⦠I don't have any recollection, of course, of what happened precisely, but I do know that you got a presentation from Clallam, ADC's⦠Apex Accelerator Contact.
14:28:16 program manager, and the idea is that we had been supporting to the tune of.
14:28:22 $10,000 per annum. our part of that program, which, in theory, is to.
14:28:28 promote federal funds getting to Jefferson County to support Jefferson County businesses.
14:28:34 What I'm unclear about is which businesses those are. I'm not sure if that was discussed that day, and it wasn't part of a later report.
14:28:40 But to what I think that Judy and I missed in budget preparation was board direction on.
14:28:45 Whether we wanted to continue that program or not, but the context was.
14:28:49 was overall agreements with other parties, including a different agreement with Colin EDC.
14:28:54 But on the North Olympic Legislative line, so⦠Right.
14:28:57 So I'm interested to know if you want to bring this up at the next round, or whether you want to, um⦠provide me direction now on how to address the issue.
14:29:06 It's not in the budget, though, right? That's correct.
14:29:09 And in the meantime, I've reached out and asked, um, them to provide us with Tylum County's contract to see if they're paying the same amount or a different amount, and I did
receive something back, but it was basically our contract with our amount, so⦠I'll ask again. Okay.
14:29:23 I feel like they were paying a lot more. It was how it was⦠The one that was⦠the title of the document was Clellan, uh, contract, uh, with Apex.
14:29:32 But it had our amounts listed in with our signature lines, so⦠I'll reach out again. And weren't they losing, like, federal funds that made it a lot cheaper? They're likeâ¦
Uh, just can you hear that?
14:29:45 Uh, I have heard that. I don't know the details around it. It would be worth going back and looking at their presentation, because I do.
14:29:57 Remember her noting. specific businesses in Jefferson County, although I don't think she listed all of them, but there were references to businesses in Jefferson County. It
would be good to⦠I mean, I feel like it would be good to get a little more.
14:30:07 feedback on the direct impact here in terms of⦠Okay, so how about, based on that, in understanding that they have reached out to us to ask about our payment for this year.
14:30:17 About the clerk of the Board and I will do some homework, try to get in touch with folks there, and then arrange for an agenda item, hopefully for this coming Monday, and if
not, then the following, depending on the response that we get. Give a little more information.
14:30:28 Um, and then we'll have it⦠we'll have a discussion at the board meeting. Perfect.
14:30:34 Okay. I don't have any agenda planner. Great. It would be really interesting to know, Josh.
14:30:40 Who's benefited from it here. Let's talk about a couple. Yeah, I just don't remember if it was the whole list of if she defined the whole list of businesses that they've worked
with here in Jefferson County. I do remember.
14:30:52 that I was impressed with the amount of information that she provided about Jefferson County specifically. Yeah, there was an impressive dollar figure. Yeah.
14:31:00 Yeah. But in the report itself, if it lists any businesses, maybe there's some privacy issues, I'm not sure, but it seems like.
14:31:06 We should at least know, at least anecdotally. Our local businesses and how they've been positively. If we listed the number⦠Jefferson County play? I don't know. I'llâ¦
I'll review that presentation, too, with that, uh.
14:31:21 Yeah, sounds like a good plan. All right, so, um, this does take us up to our AI policy and products, and we're joined by.
14:31:34 Sean Frederick, Central Services Director, and uh⦠Um, I didn't have chat my lunch hour went by, but I was, you know, wanted to talk to you a little bit about how we're going
to do this, but you wanna, you want to have this conversation?
14:31:47 I'll gladly take up the conversation. I'm gonna start⦠by saying⦠I might have just accidentally erased my presentation. Oh, no! Getting ready to email it to Josh. Oh, no!
14:32:01 Oh, dear. It's so painful. Do we have backup? Carly, are you feeling better? I have your presentation right here.
14:32:11 Um⦠If we have the ability to go to the share drive, okay, we can go to the Jeffco AI folder and pull up the draft policy, which is the policy, um.
14:32:26 V4 as the most recent draft that I have access to.
14:32:32 Can I just compliment you on how calm you are, Sean?
14:32:36 It just seems like, you know, just life happens.
14:32:40 Well, good. So, 1, 4, sometimes you just have to roll with it, yeah. You just have to roll with that. Alright.
14:32:49 But I am⦠I'm fortunate, I'm pretty familiar with the topic, so I think we can still have a pretty robust conversation.
14:32:58 Yes, please. Uh, because⦠I was going to walk through certain sections. There were sections where you and I had lots of conversation in the policy, and that was really the
center point.
14:33:14 I think we were hoping to get. sort of some consensus, some directions on how we could create an interim policy, while the formal policy is being evaluated by the prosecuting
attorney's office.
14:33:21 And the rest of the conversation was really about.
14:33:25 sort of where are we in the quagmire of getting AI, uh.
14:33:31 implemented and utilized. Uh, here at the county, and that we can certainly talk about in detail, and we'll probably start there.
14:33:41 So⦠The conversation around AI predates me as a member of Jefferson County.
14:33:49 Uh, records of meeting minutes and shared documents go back as far as February of 2024.
14:33:55 And so we're⦠we're essentially two years into this conversation.
14:34:00 Um, and there's been⦠Of course, in two years, a lot of⦠conversation about artificial intelligence and its implications.
14:34:09 outside of the county as well. So, early on.
14:34:14 Uh, Commissioner Brotherton created, or was part of the creation of the AI work group.
14:34:20 It's essentially a volunteer, uh, group. Made up of staff members across the county who have an interest in AI.
14:34:28 Either out of curiosity or because of their use, or, um⦠really concerns around implications, because there are obviously concerns around.
14:34:39 Uh, the use of AI. of that work continues to go on.
14:34:44 Um, and one of those⦠I think one of the key products that has been produced to date.
14:34:51 is the draft policy. The Commissioner Brotherton has currently brought up.
14:34:57 Um⦠for our visibility there.
14:35:01 Along with that work, there's a recognition that. Um⦠AI, while still essentially a technology product, and I would loosely define it as software.
14:35:15 Um⦠is different than other software.
14:35:19 Uh, and it requires different tools to manage it effectively. We have many systems that exist.
14:35:27 For the monitoring and maintenance and security. of our existing computer systems.
14:35:34 Those systems don't work. Um, for AI tools.
14:35:40 They're invisible to our general systems. Uh, we needed a new tool, it's been recognized.
14:35:47 Um, and along the way, uh, reaching out to other municipalities, municipal entities that.
14:35:55 have gone further down this road. Uh, we became introduced to an organization called Darwin AI.
14:36:05 And they have a host of tools. One of them is focused on governance.
14:36:12 And the other is focused on⦠Mapping out scenarios, and essentially⦠providing guidance towards developing agentic AI, which would be.
14:36:25 Um, AI products that we were⦠ultimately develop internally.
14:36:29 To automate specific processes. Um, we're a ways off from that.
14:36:35 We truly are at the point of⦠we're trying to develop our policy, which I think is a significant part of the workshop today.
14:36:45 Darwin, oh, we did contract⦠ultimately contract with Darwin.
14:36:48 Uh, through, uh, some of our state contracts, we had a piggyback, uh, we piggybacked onto the state contract.
14:36:56 to contract with Darwin AI. Uh, in December of last year.
14:37:00 Uh, we very quickly had a kickoff meeting. And we have already implemented some of those tools. One of the slides I was really.
14:37:10 excited to share with you. And if I'm able to recover that presentation, I will.
14:37:16 Um⦠is data that has already been collected that lists.
14:37:25 about 15 or so different AI products. that are already in use by staff members across the county.
14:37:31 And many of them I had never heard of.
14:37:36 Um⦠Obviously, the normal, uh, the normal culprits, the ChatGVTs, the co-pilots, those things were readily available.
14:37:45 But there were many other products that are far less frequently used.
14:37:51 Uh, Canva would be another commonly used product. Um⦠You consider Canva to be an AI product? Yeah, it generates images and does all sorts of generative stuff.
14:38:03 But don't you have to turn on the AI function in order to do that?
14:38:07 Is this on Zoom? I used to⦠Canva, readily, like⦠last year. Is it all kind of new? It's evolved. Certainly, Canva's had more, but, like, image generation is something that's
always been there, you'd have to pay for⦠You'd have to pay for that function, yeah, okay.
14:38:26 And that's actually a⦠a good point to talk about some of the other elements.
14:38:31 Um, in conversation around AI and how do we move forward, because we are sort of at a standstill.
14:38:38 Uh, with policy. Um, is really looking at how do we educate our staff. We've been having conversations about putting together presentations.
14:38:47 and eventually training for all staff members. Uh, so that they can be aware of what AI is.
14:38:54 And⦠Perhaps bring awareness that they may already be using AI and not aware of it.
14:39:02 Um, a great example, I think everyone is familiar with Google.
14:39:06 I think anyone that's used Google in the past year is sort of seeing this nice.
14:39:10 Automatic summary that comes up. And says, would you like to do a deeper dive?
14:39:15 That is AI. Um⦠or Adobe Acrobat. Or Adobe Acrobat. Yeah, do you want us to summarize this document you're looking at, or⦠That would not be your email string.
14:39:27 And just automatically summarizing your whole email string. I haven't seen that in Outlook. Makes the policy really challenging, right? Because, uh, those are not Outlookâ¦
We have those tools right now, because we have Office 365, or 9% of 365, if you want to use the correct branding.
14:39:47 Um, those AI tools are already embedded. In fact, if we were to turn them on.
14:39:55 You could simply open up. PowerPoint, for example, and say, create a slide.
14:40:03 It says this, and it would do the imagery, it would research the words and the verbiage in the background, it would put it all together.
14:40:10 And you could, step by step, build out an entire PowerPoint presentation.
14:40:16 Without cracking a book. Is Autosave AI?
14:40:23 I'm sorry, little cruelty. That's AM. But⦠Um⦠AI is prevalent throughout our system.
14:40:34 Uh, throughout the information systems, and⦠We need Darwin. I know that there was some concern.
14:40:41 Um, in previous conversations about moving forward with Darwin, but it's a necessary tool.
14:40:48 Or a tool similar to Darwin to provide visibility and governance.
14:40:53 over that particular⦠over AI products and use in accounting.
14:40:58 It's worth noting that to fully. implement and configure Darwin.
14:41:04 It's necessary for. the county to have its own policy.
14:41:11 Which is why we're having the workshop, to sort of talk through some of the elements.
14:41:15 Um⦠around, uh, some of the more contentious elements of the draft AI policy, so we could get some direction and continue to move forward.
14:41:26 Um, let's see, I'll cover the training, workshops⦠Darwin⦠Uh, policy development.
14:41:34 Ah, the last thing that I'll mention is that⦠Uh, really moving forward in this direction, where we're trying to bring voices together from across the county.
14:41:45 is one element in a broader conversation of the technical advisory Committee.
14:41:50 which is intended to⦠Um, elevate the conversation around technological innovation throughout the county.
14:41:58 And really look for⦠Um⦠opportunities to eliminate duplicative systems.
14:42:06 Or align things like contracting periods, uh, so that we can have more efficient, uh, business operations.
14:42:14 from a technological perspective.
14:42:19 And with that⦠Five points? Where do you want to go in that?
14:42:24 Well, I think we should review the policy statement and purpose.
14:42:30 Uh, which are purpose and policy statement, which is Section 1.
14:42:35 And that is incredibly small. You want me to read it? Yes, please. Uh, the purpose of this policy is to establish guidelines for the ethical and responsible development, deployment,
and use of AI technologies in Jefferson County, ensuring.
14:42:51 They are in alignment with the principles of transparency, fairness, accountability, and public trust. That's Section 1 purpose, Section 2, policy statement.
14:42:59 Jefferson County establishes this policy for use of generative AI systems, which shall be created, managed, and maintained in a manner consistent with current industry best
practices.
14:43:07 and regulatory compliance. A dot dot dot, how to⦠Quadruple⦠oh, yeah, I turned off comments because a lot of them are my smartphones.
14:43:19 Yes. I appreciate it. But that ellipsis, does that⦠or that ongoing ellipses, does it indicate that you're⦠there's a missing piece of information there, or just⦠More
to it that you want to add? No, there actually wasn't anything else there. I looked at that, it's really just a running⦠I don't know ifâ¦
14:43:41 I don't know how that happened. Uh, this is⦠this is sort of a working document that everyone in the AI workgroup has access to. Okay, so it's meant to end with the word compliance.
Yes.
14:43:54 It's worth noting, I mentioned earlier with AI, with, uh, Darwin AI, they have two elements.
14:44:01 Uh, both the governance element and the Gentic. element where they would map out your processes.
14:44:07 And give you some direction on how you would create a Gentic AI would be⦠which would be, essentially.
14:44:16 Our proprietary sort of tool. that would automate designated processes.
14:44:22 Uh, we're not there yet. That's really resource⦠intensive. Mm-hmm.
14:44:30 Um, and, and⦠Better left for version 2.0 of this body of work.
14:44:36 Uh, so it's not included there in the current policy statement.
14:44:41 I think Section 5 is probably where we⦠Uh, so these are the guiding principles, and I might be able to read these. I can read these for you, I can see it first. You can make
it a little bigger, too, then, right?
14:44:56 If you're the one sharing it, right? Yeah.
14:45:03 Is that better? Yep. Okay. Um, so retain appropriate human agency and oversight.
14:45:10 And this is important because at no point do we want to introduce or.
14:45:17 create a scenario where AI is in a decision-making capacity, or there isn't a human in the loop.
14:45:23 Um, and that's⦠that's really important. In fact, when you have seen.
14:45:27 If you have been following the news when there has been controversy around AI systems.
14:45:33 There have been agencies that. attempted to move forward with processes where it appeared that AI wasn't in a decision-making capacity, or that there wasn't adequate human intervention
in the loop.
14:45:46 And those tend to lead to trouble, because AI is a technology that is growing.
14:45:52 Uh, it's growing rapidly, but it is certainly not as mature.
14:45:56 is other elements of technology that we use on a regular basis.
14:46:00 Just gotta ask whether you had AI draft this policy, but clearly, with A, then the answer must be no, right? No.
14:46:09 No. That is one of the AI tools that comes with Darwin, though, is something that helps you⦠Yes.
14:46:16 Create, revise, and edit your AI policies. I did send you that link, didn't it? It's very meta.
14:46:26 I'm not sure, Kerry. Um, be subject to internal and external security testing of systems before public release.
14:46:35 For high-risk artificial intelligence systems. And this is important. Uh, there is active legislation specifically around.
14:46:45 high-risk artificial intelligence systems. in front of the legislature today that sort of heightens the requirements.
14:46:51 Uh, so we'll be following that closely to see where that, uh, where that goes.
14:46:56 protect data privacy and security. This is⦠Um, probably the most straightforward part of this, because this is what we do with any information system.
14:47:06 Uh, our default is to take every step possible to.
14:47:10 Protect privacy and security. Of all of our data in our data systems.
14:47:16 Uh, promote appropriate transparency for consumers when they interact with artificial intelligence systems or products created by artificial intelligence.
14:47:24 Uh, later in the policy, because I don't know that we necessarily need to.
14:47:30 I'll cover that bullet point specifically, but anytime AI is used to generate an image.
14:47:35 or generate text, we do have in the policy that it's a requirement that AI is annotated as the creator of that, so that the public is aware.
14:47:44 Also, conversations like this, having a public workshop. Allows the public to see.
14:47:51 Uh, what our thoughts are, and the work that we've been doing on AI, and it probably affords them an opportunity to provide feedback.
14:47:58 to each of the commissioners, if they have any specific questions or concerns.
14:48:03 Um⦠Ensure accountability, consider, uh, considering oversight, impact assessment.
14:48:10 auditability and due diligence mechanisms. Uh, several of these are accomplished through Darwin AI, if not by the policy itself.
14:48:19 Uh, but also in terms of auditability, we also go through the IT system, obviously goes through.
14:48:26 routine, um⦠audits of the system security measures that are already in place to make sure that our system.
14:48:33 is secure. And one, like, uh, real-life example that came up in our AI, uh.
14:48:39 Workgroup about this is there's a county⦠I forget which county it was, that, uh, was using.
14:48:46 Um, manipulated their, kind of, their, uh, the value of AI systems to exclude a particular vendor from qualifying for a bid. So, this accountability and auditability can beâ¦
is⦠It's really hard to get your arms around, that's why this kind of tool to understand when it's being used, you know, toâ¦
14:49:06 water market, essentially, for ourselves is really important. I think that's what I don't see in these principles, and maybe it's⦠since I haven't gotten to see the whole.
14:49:16 policy, that's the first time I'm looking at it. Um, I wonder if it's maybe somewhere down there in more detail, but⦠And it could be considered under D or E promoting appropriate
transparency or ensuring accountability, but when we've talked about this before, we've talked about.
14:49:33 Um, requiring that we have some access or capture in some way the inputs.
14:49:41 into what did⦠what information did we use to input into the system that then.
14:49:46 got spit out as a product. What was the input into that product? And.
14:49:51 That, um, things like, you know, how are we programming AI? What are we asking it to output.
14:49:58 That can, as you⦠your example is perfect, is that.
14:50:02 you know, can definitely affect the product, right? So we were talking about.
14:50:07 somehow capturing or asking staff. that use this to capture their inputs into the system. How would we do that? Our public records. I mean, as you⦠yeah.
14:50:18 It is⦠the prompts that we⦠enter into AI. Yes. Yeah. It is an automatic function of the system.
14:50:25 How does that⦠Um, get captured. How does it get held? The system works, um⦠I guess the easiest way would be to use another system that I think we're all more familiar
with, which is Barracuda.
14:50:39 Um⦠for all of us doing emails, you know, when our emails are transmitted, they have to pass through Barracuda, and they're automatically captured. Um, this system⦠operates
inside our own system, very much like Barracuda does.
14:50:55 Uh, so it's⦠it's not a, I'm turning on⦠Darwin, or not turning on Darwin, or making some sort of selection.
14:51:04 to use Darwin. Darwin automatically looks for everything, and captures any AI.
14:51:13 Uh, prompting, along with what that activity is. Uh, the slide⦠well, I'm not⦠I don't have the slide to show, so it doesn't matter, but⦠The part of the slide that I
didn't share, it actually shows at the surface level, the department, the number of times.
14:51:30 Uh, where these AI tools are being used. And, um, drilling down into that, then we can actually see what that⦠what those prompts were, and all of that information.
14:51:46 Okay. Um, authorized use⦠And that was⦠And the bullet points, thank you, are really the important part. So, the AI Review Committee, and this is really⦠Well, this is
where⦠this is where the rubber meets the road. Um, so the AI review committee, uh, the goal here was to establish a committee.
14:52:12 with department representatives that would be responsible for the oversight and guidance on AI initiatives within the county.
14:52:19 Now, there's⦠there's several ways that can be accomplished, uh, that can be a focused AI review committee.
14:52:26 Um, that could be the AI work group, which already exists.
14:52:30 Uh, or it could be the broader technical advisory Committee.
14:52:34 I think all of those work. Um, it's⦠it's really a matter of choice.
14:52:39 Uh, knowing that there's a group of people that have already.
14:52:44 Um, invested 2 years in this conversation. It seems reasonable that that work group.
14:52:51 would be⦠The group to continue to provide that service.
14:52:56 Uh, within the larger technical advisory committee. Training and awareness. Again, we've talked about this, uh, Greg and I are, along with HR, are working on.
14:53:08 putting together training for county employees. Um⦠not just those involved in AI projects, but again, because many people may not be aware.
14:53:19 that they are involved with AI projects or using AI tools in their projects.
14:53:25 Uh, really to increase the overall level of knowledge of artificial intelligence.
14:53:29 Uh, within county spent. Uh, public engagement, engage with the public, uh, through forums, surveys, and other channels to gather input and feedback on AI projects.
14:53:44 Um⦠Commissioner Dudley-Millette of this language, although it. was part of another policy that we adopted.
14:53:54 Um, that we manipulated to be this policy that we use as a basis.
14:53:59 Uh, this really speaks to⦠Uh, the project that was done in Bowling Green, Kentucky.
14:54:06 Uh, that you called out. Yes. Um, I'm still trying to get in touch with the principals from that project. Oh, great.
14:54:14 Where they leveraged AI tools to increase public engagement, so that would be something to consider in the future.
14:54:23 Um, along the way, if we were to introduce things.
14:54:27 Uh, for example, a much lower bar. Civic Plus also has its AI tool.
14:54:33 Uh, they have the ability to introduce a bot.
14:54:37 That bot would simply crawl around our website and provide answers to common questions.
14:54:42 Uh, it would be internally focused, it wouldn't go out into the internet to try to retrieve things that weren't there.
14:54:49 Um, if we were to leverage a tool like that, we would certainly want to make sure.
14:54:55 that we were communicating with the public, probably through.
14:54:59 Um, public comment, uh, public testimony that this is what we're⦠What we're doing, this is what this new thing is that you'll see when you go on to the county website and
utilize all of our normal.
14:55:10 communication tools. And then, of course, regular policy review.
14:55:16 Um, AI review committee review and update the policy periodically to reflect.
14:55:23 technological advancement or evolving community needs. Or, uh, shipping, uh.
14:55:29 legislative direction, um, in terms of the legislation that's currently.
14:55:36 Uh, under review. So when⦠this says the use of generative AI software requires approval by Jefferson County IT.
14:55:45 How does that⦠how would you have the capacity.
14:55:50 to manage that. That seems like a lot. Especially since we don't sometimes even know, right? I mean, that's the idea. Darwin. Darwin would give us visibility.
14:56:03 Uh, for IT, we would⦠for IT. And this actually isn't as difficult as you would think.
14:56:10 If you have Darwin, or something. Even without. It has the ability.
14:56:16 Um, to simply turn off access to different sites.
14:56:21 Um⦠That's⦠that's not our goal, that's typically not what we do. I will say that.
14:56:27 Uh, the Chinese generative AI tool. It's been blocked for so long, I can't remember its name.
14:56:35 keep mine. Oh, right, deep? Deep seek. Deep seek, yeah. Uh, that is blocked. You cannot⦠You could try right now, you're not getting to them.
14:56:47 on the system because it is blocked. And you can go further than blacklisting sites, you can also move to a policy if we need to get there, where you just whitelist sites, and
it's not approved.
14:56:57 Right. Absolutely. So, it's the management of it, and I think the wording is crude.
14:57:05 Um, I think what we want to do, I think would be ideal is that we are⦠Looking at use cases.
14:57:14 That would ultimately involve. Financial investment.
14:57:19 Um, for AI tools. For basic tools.
14:57:28 I'm on lead soup right now. You shouldn't be able to get there. Oh. We just looked up DeepSeq, I don't want⦠I don't want to put anybody on the spot here, but⦠And it just
allowed me to go right to it.
14:57:40 I think, I don't know what I'm looking at here, but how can I help you type a message, deep seek, use.ai.
14:57:49 Your aliases around, yeah, that's good. But, I mean, this is why we need to work on this, because it is flipping.
14:57:58 It's maybe constantly changing on us in the way we get⦠it's constantly changing. Okay.
14:58:05 So, I mean, I just⦠I'm gonna get out of it now, but all I did was type in.
14:58:11 That's good to know. I pulled up⦠explorer typed in deep seek AI, and it allows me to go right to DeepSeq without any limits, get DeepSeq today.
14:58:22 use.ai. forward slash each week. I don't know if this is the right thing, but⦠Yeah, that's good news.
14:58:30 Um⦠Where was I? Sorry, throw you off there. No worries.
14:58:39 I'd already finished talking about policy review. The language⦠being crude and focusing on use cases.
14:58:46 Um, when we talk about AI, we talk about things like Canvas, Copilot, and⦠Um, Gemini.
14:58:54 Those really aren't the concerns. Um, those⦠those programs we have a fair amount of control over our rate, particularly co-pilot.
14:59:06 Copilot is very limited within the county. Uh, compared to what it could do, uh, if we turn all the features on them.
14:59:15 Um, the real risk comes when we start using.
14:59:18 Uh, programs like⦠like ChatGPT, for example, where you can take documents.
14:59:25 Uh, internal to the agency, and load them into, um⦠ChatGPT and start to really⦠leverages analysis capabilities, its tool-building abilities, those⦠those more advanced
functions.
14:59:40 And those⦠that's where the real risk starts, with AI.
14:59:46 Um, so I think the goal here. was really more about approving.
14:59:54 use cases and making sure that we weren't violating the rules, because when this policy was written.
14:59:58 There wasn't a Darwin AI on the table. Um⦠you know, I would also say it sounds intrusive.
15:00:11 So, IT already approves every software system that we use, or at least we should. Yeah, that's what it looks like. Like all⦠a company's IT department would be doing that.
I mean.
15:00:23 I get what you're saying, that it sounds intrusive, but I also feel like it sounds like what an IT department is supposed to be doing to protect the organization.
15:00:32 Also, just emphasize letter B here about training, so⦠Clearly, there's some early adopters that are using different tools and gaining from them.
15:00:42 With the adoption of the policy, once we get there, which we're almost there.
15:00:46 Then there'll be more general knowledge about what. What you should be doing and what you shouldn't be doing in terms of using county resources and tools, but also then comes
the training. So, for those who are a little newer to it, or weren't even really that aware how much they've actually been using AI.
15:01:01 When we start the⦠when we start the training policy, then those tools that are actually safer to use, that are just more ubiquitous and are⦠or inherent within our system,
like the Microsoft tool or the Hoop tool.
15:01:11 Then, um, we think that a lot of people just end up adopting those tools once they kind of learn a little preview about how to use them.
15:01:18 Appropriately. But the basic tool is Copilot, is the approved.
15:01:25 like, generative AI, and you all have it, you type Copilot into the search bar, and it'll open it up, and uh⦠You should start playing with it, and that's what we want, soâ¦
And obviously, ask questions, generate images, and handle tasks.
15:01:37 It's⦠you're saying that's⦠there are some of⦠some⦠functions of Copilot that are not turned on for us. Correct. Okay.
15:01:47 I just feel, like, worse. We're spending a lot of time on AI, and we don't even have EPL fully integrated yet, or implemented yet, so I just⦠this feels a little⦠Fantasyland,
to me, to be doubling down on AI.
15:02:03 I mean, we're acknowledging that it's already here. That's different than dumpling down.
15:02:07 I know, but we have a⦠we have a big committee working on it, we have a lot of capacity going towards it, we have a lot of people thinking about it.
15:02:14 I don't know, it just feels, um, short-sighted to me to⦠be struggling with tools that we've said we want to serve the community, and I don't know, it just⦠It's an interesting
perspective. I can't, umâ¦
15:02:28 I can't get there with AI this much energy going into AI, but maybe that's just because I'm more analog than all the rest of you.
15:02:35 Well, I'm⦠I want to try to put you at ease.
15:02:41 There is also an EPL, uh. steering committee that meets regularly, and we have continued to work on EPL integrations.
15:02:50 Uh, we met most recently, I think about 2 weeks ago.
15:02:54 And we discussed where we are. There is a scheduled migration of EPL.
15:03:00 immunis to new servers on the Critter platform scheduled.
15:03:04 for mid-February. Uh, they have continued⦠we specifically talked about what is it going to take to get to⦠online permitting. Uh, there was a decision that needed to be
made.
15:03:17 Um, related to⦠Uh, essentially the markup software that's used within the EPL system.
15:03:26 Um, there are two schools of thought, generally. There are three options.
15:03:31 Um, one option was an Adobe tool, another option was a Bluebeam tool.
15:03:35 And the third option was a tool called DigiPlan.
15:03:39 Uh, there is a third-party. Um, Tyler-compliant product.
15:03:45 Um, as with most of what we do with Tyler, everything is an additional module, and this would be another thing that would be required to move forward with that.
15:03:56 I believe that there is an EPL workshop. Yeah, I just do all this for us? Not quite yet. Not⦠not at our level.
15:04:03 Not at our level. Um⦠So, and that's⦠that's just a mini preview of what's coming, because as you know, the board just adopted a set of goals.
15:04:14 And workshop topics, EPL is one of them. I have my senior management team meeting coming up on the 27th.
15:04:20 And I plan to roll out those goals and talk about, especially in the workshop calendar, and then with those department heads, all of whom are involved.
15:04:28 With⦠with the EPL question, we'll have a conversation about how to approach that in terms of coming to the board with a larger.
15:04:36 presentation that really talks about how far it would come, first of all, and then go into what's left.
15:04:41 I mean, I'd say I'm⦠I'm really inclined⦠I mean, or I agree with.
15:04:47 Um, taking the time to think this through is what you're talking about. We're already using all of this, and yet we don't have any policies, and it's unwrapping our.
15:04:58 minds, and⦠you know, sort of⦠operations around how it should and shouldn't be used within county government, I think is really important for us to.
15:05:09 It's not the thing I hear about from constituents on a weekly basis, right?
15:05:14 Right. But, um, I guess my question right now is, what's keeping us from putting this policy into effect? And then we can adjust the policy as we learn more, but I'd rather
have a policy in place.
15:05:27 Now that we know we can start building on and we can start, you know, creating trainings and.
15:05:34 That raising that awareness office, I believe is the bottleneck?
15:05:38 Okay. And so, next steps are wait till our⦠our deputy is back.
15:05:49 from Weave and⦠We can increase capacity there.
15:05:53 And then moving forward? Is that the plan? I have a⦠I have a regular⦠regularly scheduled meeting with our PAO to work on.
15:06:02 this and other projects that require legal review. I can certainly follow up with him then and see where he is on the policy.
15:06:11 Um⦠But we are⦠we are at a point where we're at least collecting data.
15:06:18 So, once we have the policy. It's not a difficult process to configure the system.
15:06:24 And we know that the system is already integrated enough.
15:06:28 Uh, because we⦠we right now have visibility. on AI usage within the county.
15:06:36 Is this policy draft now going to go into record so that we could look at the whole thing?
15:06:42 Uh, yeah, I'll send it to Caroline, the only Wendy on the team. I mean, it's still draft, and⦠going through⦠You might want to remove your⦠Your internal comments.
15:06:56 Or we get better. Sorry, I didn't mean⦠I just⦠you know, I just feel like we've been talking about AI a lot, and I guess I just⦠I'm sensitive to what I hear people in
the community saying.
15:07:07 And concerned about our permit timelines increasing and, you know, all the things, and so⦠I feel like this is the first time we've actually had a workshop on AI at home.
15:07:16 And actually, I have heard comment in the community about concern that we don't have a policy in place, and that we should, so⦠Yeah, and I'm not⦠I'm not saying we shouldn't
have a policy in place, so I'm just⦠I just⦠I think I'm just sensitive about other things right now. Yeah, and I'm apologizing for that. No worries.
15:07:33 But I would love to see the⦠be able to just take some time to look at the whole thing, and then⦠And let the public look at it, and⦠have any insights into it. We have
a lot of experts in the community who are, you know, working in the AI field, who might.
15:07:48 have insights that could help us to craft this, but I'd be in favor of getting something in place as soon as we can, recognizing that it's already in use.
15:07:58 And so we should have some guidance around it.
15:08:03 I would say that. I probably talk about AI more.
15:08:10 recently than⦠than other⦠initiatives. Certainly last year, my primary initiative was getting, um.
15:08:18 printer online, because⦠It provides power back, pack up, uh, power backup to⦠All of our critical systems. I do⦠near the CPL is still⦠Uh, seemingly my highest priority.
Great. Um, as a system, because it⦠it is simply one of those systems that.
15:08:42 New promises were made, and it's, uh, and it's⦠acquisition long before I arrived.
15:08:47 And we have a big housing project. in District 2, that is really going to be dependent on Ecal working well and a good.
15:08:57 Efficient, um, repetitive, um, permitting project, or process in place at the county, so I thank you for prioritizing that. Definitely, it is also important, uh, specifically
for units.
15:09:09 Uh, Josh⦠Josh and I and others had a conversation several months ago.
15:09:14 Munis is our official financial system, however, we still maintain.
15:09:19 Uh, other systems in different departments, uh, to meet specific financial needs.
15:09:25 And really giving Munis an EPL as a poor system set up.
15:09:29 is paramount so that we can go back to.
15:09:32 Eliminating some of those duplicative systems, one of which costs us $80,000 in 2026. There you go. Just to be able to pull information out of. It is not⦠A functional system.
It's only a data repository.
15:09:45 Okay, thank you.
15:09:54 Okay. printing this to PDF right now, send it off.
15:10:02 Were there other points that you wanted to cover on this?
15:10:03 John, we're a little over time now. We have covered all of the points, but I would ask.
15:10:07 Other than needing to follow up on aliases. Um, around desync, um⦠Thank you.
15:10:17 Are there other concerns? Designers, uh, interests.
15:10:23 Um, they really jump out and say, I need to make sure these things are addressed in a policy.
15:10:32 Um, unless there is some specific⦠you know, more specificity that we need in the policy around how we capture the inputs into the system. I think we just need to.
15:10:43 get as clear as we can about what that means for staff.
15:10:48 What⦠is there anything they need to do to⦠capture, retain.
15:10:53 Or does Darwin AI do everything we need it to do? Not⦠Just making sure that's included in the training and protocol analysis for staff.
15:11:02 Okay. Sure. Because those are the two big guidance, like, for people⦠from people in the community who have expertise in this field.
15:11:09 Human in the loop, and⦠keeping and tracking inputs into the system so that those can be referenced as part of the.
15:11:17 Public record is⦠are the two main concerns that I hear from experts in the field right now.
15:11:29 new conversations I have about this.
15:11:30 Okay.
15:11:45 All right? Great. But this is a starting point, just, uh, we just⦠We've been talking about this a long time and wanted to just start sharing it, but it's, uh⦠Um, and this
is now part of the record, so the draft policy, and I'll send a PDF to Carolyn and everyone for packet, and you can all look at it there.
15:12:03 And I guess, uh, thank you, Sean, very much, and if you find your slide deck, we'd love to see it.
15:12:10 Absolutely. It was very nice. I bet, it was great.
15:12:14 Is it gonna be, like, a new AI ate my homework kind of⦠I could share the AI video. The AI did my⦠And they eat it. And then ate it, yeah.
15:12:27 Okay, great. Well, thank you, Sean and Carly, thank you for your patience, and we'll move on to an update about the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association. Please join Josh
up at the table. Yeah, you want to tee this up, Heather? Come up here to the table, Carly.
15:12:43 And, um⦠Has everybody gotten to meet Carly Michaud, who is the Executive director of the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association? I'm Heidi, Dr. Peters, our County Administrator,
Greg Brotherton, Heidi Eisenhower, and their supporters, and they're ground supporters. And then Carolyn Galloway is the clerk of the board. Thank you.
15:13:06 I'm not⦠I can't connect to Wi-Fi, and I tried the public, and I can share the⦠That would work. Yeah, you want me to just share it? I just would like to also introduce
Ava in the background here. Hi, Ava! Frequenter of Fairgrounds meetings.
15:13:22 We're teaching her all the things. We're very happy to have you here. You can apply for one of those jobs. Yes, absolutely.
15:13:31 Um, okay, so I can share your slides, too. We already have teed up just as a PDF, as a PDF, so hopefully that'll work. If that works.
15:13:40 Just fine⦠how's that look? That's pretty good. Let's see if I can⦠I'll take our⦠Good. Okay.
15:13:50 you can just let me know when to progress. Okay, thank you.
15:13:54 At first, I just wanted to start off by saying thank you, nice to meet you, but I haven't. Um, I'm actually⦠I'm really honored to be here on behalf of the Fairgrounds to
talk about all the things that are changing and the ways we're growing out there, and so⦠and to give.
15:14:05 You input and take yours for what we need to do differently, and what's kind of happened, especially in the last year.
15:14:12 Um, so kind of just at the start, um, the, I guess, next slide is a review of everything that I was just going to touch on. I'll try to keep it fairly brief and entertaining,
if possible. And then the next slide.
15:14:24 I did a little historic overview of the fairgrounds, because I found that it was such a learning curve to walk into this position and realize all the things I didn't know I
didn't know, and so⦠So, Carly's just been here for just over a year at this point, yeah. Um, so 1852 was the earliest, um, recorded fair activities in our area, and then it wasn't
until 1938 of Jackson County Fairgrounds were.
15:14:48 Actually, not the square grounds, but the fair was established.
15:14:51 And then in 1950, the Fair Association was established. It's the County Fair Association.
15:14:58 Thankfully, working on adjusting some of that, but, um⦠That was⦠We're filing a DBA to change it from County Fair Association to Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association,
which is what most people call it. Yes.
15:15:17 So we would have both. To more holistically reflect what's happening out there and what's going on. And that is a non-profit organization, which still remains through to today.
And then in 2000 was when the formal operating agreement with Jefferson County.
15:15:25 took place, and that was when⦠when it was created, there was a mutual obligation for both the association and the county that was regarding public access, fair operations,
and facility maintenance.
15:15:35 And so, it's pretty pertinent with how we use it today, because it's so much bigger than just how it originally started.
15:15:42 So, our approach, really, um, I wanted to talk about this because I think.
15:15:46 After getting started as the Executive director there, it became clear to me that sometimes the fairground was just not thought of, sometimes it was thought of only for the
fair. There's so much in between the two things, and so⦠Ultimately, um, I just want to say, we really are a remarkably underutilized 32-acre asset in the community and in the county,
and we're based in a community that just celebrates diverse culture, creativity, connection, and we're just kind of sitting out there, still underutilized in a lot of ways, butâ¦
15:16:15 We have event buildings, outdoor arenas, open grounds, abundant parking.
15:16:19 And a campground that does make that property really uniquely positioned to become a hub of community engagement.
15:16:26 And so that is a big thing that we're working towards.
15:16:29 Um, again, part of the learning curve. Unlocking that potential has really meant shifting public perspective on what the fairgrounds is, what it's about.
15:16:37 And increasing awareness of this space and what it can offer.
15:16:41 And our vision for that has truly become to partner with local nonprofits that are already doing really meaningful work in our community.
15:16:48 to create a more collaborative, welcoming environment where people come together and can share those resources and build on the community.
15:16:55 Then is our local partners. Um⦠So, to put this vision into action, over the last year, primarily, we have reached out to create and build upon partnerships, and these areâ¦
most of them that are really, um.
15:17:07 have a presence out at the fairgrounds now, so the production alliance was a really big one for us. They are now housed in our.
15:17:13 Um, new commercial building, along with the Marine Science Center's tool library. They're in the same building.
15:17:19 Um, Fort Townsend Glassworks, Patrick is out in our Max garage, and that's not a building that we've ever rented out before, so it's been kind of a fun addition.
15:17:27 And there's also had Salt Fire theater, and the Fort Townsend theater doing many productions out there. Gathering Place existed, and they're housed out of our building. They
were there before me, but have continued on with us. And then roadie Festival Association.
15:17:40 For work on the float, and then so many RH youth development programs out of the 4-H building.
15:17:46 a newly built project was there for a bit. They were, yeah, they came in right after⦠they came back in right after I started and had a kind of a season there, and then I
think they have their own property now, so we're doing pretty well. It was a good interim for them. Yeah.
15:17:59 I also obviously want to touch on the fair. This is a huge event for us. Um, it's something that, um⦠sorry, I jumped ahead a little bit. I did⦠you don't have to go back,
but speaking with our partners.
15:18:11 Um, the fairgrounds is really now actively welcoming in community throughout the year in a different way than we've done before, and so it's become more of a daily place of
engagement with local organizations, different events, local artists.
15:18:23 And we very intentionally created agreements that not only, um, involve financial compensation for the fairgrounds, which is necessary, but also focused on in-kind and volunteerism.
15:18:34 And through that, we've received support now in the.
15:18:38 in the ways of event setup, event teardown, um, building and grounds projects.
15:18:43 promotion and marketing, and it really helps support our very minimal staff, excuse me, Carolyn, it looks like we need to defer, though, maybe even real quick, but otherwise
we'll shut down. I hope we'll get back here.
15:18:55 The screens, go ahead. Um⦠doing this, creating these partnerships, and building on them has also really helped us explore the reach of the fairgrounds, and then promote our
partners as well.
15:19:04 Which is kind of been a fun experience so far. Um, it also spreads connection and awareness of service and events happening out of the fairgrounds in a broader way, and to different
parts of the community that the fairgrounds has not traditionally reached, so⦠A lot of progress for us.
15:19:20 Oh, on the bear. Um, so I just put up a couple photos from this last year's fair. It was my first fair. Um, it was quite the experience to see it from not just a fair-goer side.
15:19:33 Um, so we continue to focus on, really, the historic value and the tradition that's related to the county fair. We really wanted to.
15:19:41 diving a little bit deeper on celebrating and recognizing our county is obviously the agriculture, horticulture, and livestock, but also highlighting local educational organizations
and businesses.
15:19:51 And it's⦠I think we did a great job for the first run at it in a more focused way, but it also, um.
15:19:58 It became aware to me, like, we struggled for food vendors. I thought we would just go fully local, and we found, for a number of reasons, that was tricky in the sense of the
farmer's market is still running, a lot of local food businesses can't do both things, you know, 3 days at the county fair and maintain their brick and mortar, so⦠We're still working
on that. I had a great meeting with the farmer's Market Board, and.
15:20:19 petition them to see the idea of maybe they came to us for the weekend. They were not, they graciously declined. They're hoping to partner with us in other ways, so I'm hoping
that that's kind of a building block that we can keep going from. Cool.
15:20:31 Um, as far as with the fare, this includes continuing to build our relationship with the Washington State Department of Agriculture. They are a huge piece of what we do, um.
15:20:41 They're networking, their convention that we went to, just really helps to picture growing and growing in a really sustainable way that still keeps this.
15:20:50 you know, smaller town county fair piece of it alive, not jumping outside of that.
15:20:54 Um, the partial reimbursement that we annually submit to them, as well for the fare, for the significant expense of putting on the fare.
15:21:02 is a big deal. That is a process in and of itself, which I've learned a lot about now. Um, but it's also something to note is that this year, for the reimbursement for last
year, is about⦠Um, anticipated to be about 50% less than what we've historically received. So, we budgeted for that, it's earmarked in the fares budget, and the whole fairgrounds
budget, but it's definitely going to be something that we have to work on diligently, and also.
15:21:26 Um, think of ways to circumvent it, more volunteerism, changing rates around, so⦠just something that we're keeping on our minds.
15:21:34 Then we move on to Solstice, and I wanted to touch on this particular event for a number of reasons. Um, it's especially special to the fairgrounds, including board members
and staff, because.
15:21:45 It really is just intended for the purpose of giving back to the community and engaging that way. It's completely free, and it focuses on coming together, um, if you haven't
been.
15:21:56 There are soups, ciders, Coco awkward, um, neighbors gather around a bonfire, there's great activities. I mean, we went away from vendors this year and just did activities to
kind of keep everybody talking and engaged, and it seemed like it went well. So we had Facebook and team, wand making.
15:22:11 Uh, people can do their intentions for the year, and either we made a great paper chain that's now hanging up in the office.
15:22:17 Um, if people's intentions for the town, for the community, and then also you could take things you wanted to let go of from the year and put it in the bonfire. So, whatever
fit your fancy.
15:22:29 Um, this year, when I was talking about partnerships, I wanted to mention that we were able to utilize in-kind volunteer hours from some of our partners, so Salt Fire.
15:22:37 Um, the production alliance, the Equities Pony Club, and Port Townsend Glassworks all were a part of supporting this event.
15:22:44 And it was really successful in that way, just because it allowed, again, minimal staff to kind of do what we needed to do and count on volunteers to come in in very purposeful
ways and take on other parts of it, so⦠That was great to see, and also, our engagement and attendance for this year is the third year we've had the bonfire, um, was exponentially
more than even last year. Last year, it happened right after I came in, and I got to be a little bit a part of planning it.
15:23:09 And this year is amazing to see. We ran out of soup, so Aaron Stark was horrified, but it was a good sign. It turned out.
15:23:17 Um, and the donations⦠sorry, I'm driven, or not, the donations, um, received for this event, just go to covering the Cost. We don't try to do any fundraising out of it, it's
really just to support it so we can do it again the next year.
15:23:28 Um, and I just have a note here that says, really, um, it allows us to connect with our community in a way that just doesn't prohibit anyone from attending due to cost, which
is⦠Kind of a pillar of where we're⦠what we're working off of.
15:23:40 I've also really appreciated about Solstice that it's⦠it's a very intentionally.
15:23:46 youth and family focus event, a place where, um, youth and families can.
15:23:51 can come and engage, which is really beautiful, yeah.
15:23:55 Okay, on to grim. So, I touched on this because I think both for us at the Fairgrounds looks a variety of ways.
15:24:03 Ultimately, we view it as important, but it's in what ways we're growing, and so⦠Um, overall, we see the fairgrounds as much more than a place only to host the county fair.
Well, that has its own importance, too. And we truly believe that.
15:24:16 staff and board members are stewards of the property, and that we have the opportunity, but also the responsibility of strengthening our community by being a part of it.
15:24:25 Um, we endeavor to do this by offering residents and visitors meaningful ways to experience a wide variety of events, so meeting.
15:24:31 passions and needs from all across the county, not just being Port Townsend piece of it, but.
15:24:37 Um, we're also entrusted with maintaining a place of great historical significance to Jefferson County, and in a way that ensures it remains safe and accessible to everybody,
which is no small task.
15:24:48 So, that is something that we've been working hard on and really developing ways to do better and more efficiently.
15:24:55 Um, I also have on here the board and the staff at the fairgrounds are poignantly aware that this requires intentional growth in order to be sustainable and effective.
15:25:03 And so, it's a balancing act. I think we walk it a lot, Heather knows from our board meetings, that.
15:25:08 Um, looking at all the priorities and trying to see how they fit together and how⦠what to tackle when, and the best ways.
15:25:19 Then we're on to funding. So, funding and revenue kind of comes in to the fairgrounds in 3D, I guess, four, actually, different ways grants and donations are not being the same.
15:25:30 Um, county funding, this is vital to sustaining our mission, and it assists in the ability to employ a very.
15:25:37 for small staff that is necessary to run, maintain, market the fairgrounds and the campground while facilitating events all at the same time.
15:25:46 Um, that is⦠that has historically now for a few years, been $100,000.
15:25:51 But, uh, um⦠Venue revenue is another avenue for it, and in 2025, we increased both long- and short-term rentals happening within the fairgrounds and the campground, actually.
15:26:04 Um, it⦠again, part of this⦠part of the way we directed our efforts were towards partnerships with local.
15:26:10 non-profit organizations, and so Production Alliance, the Tool Library, and Glassworks are.
15:26:16 foundational out there. They are there month by month, and they're also bringing in awareness and familiarity with the fairgrounds, which has its own benefit.
15:26:24 Uh, outside of that, we've hosted many new events this year. It was kind of exciting. We had some Microsoft Intern Games, which we were surprised to be contacted and very happy
to host. They were wonderful and odd and fun and perfect fit, actually, from the fairgrounds.
15:26:38 Um, we have the collage meetup happening out there each Monday. We had 3 really big Salt Fire productions, and that was really incredible, along with the Port Townsend Youth
Theater. It was really fun to have a different, eclectic group out there that has not historically been so present, and to see people come enjoy the audience.
15:26:55 Also, in the 4-H building, Salt Fire just totally transformed it twice for two different productions, walking in even just to, you know, grab the garbage or check lights, it
was like, whoa, it's a whole different place, so⦠Kind of fun that way. Um, we also⦠oh, and then more recently, we just had the Jefferson Community Foundation dinner, and that
was really⦠we were honored to have it. It was great to see the transformation of the art building for that.
15:27:17 And it allowed, um, our kitchen project to have its first catering event, and we partnered with Owl360 for that, so it was just all around that very cohesive, collaborative
effort, and so⦠really fun to be on the other side of it, actually working in the kitchen, watching that happen.
15:27:33 Um, we have two big events coming up, uh, this year that have not been a part of the fairgrounds previously, and one is being a nighttime event for the Connectivity Summit,
which is exciting.
15:27:42 And then also a sound chat will be happening a portion of it will be happening out there in some of our buildings, so we're feeling good about that, and excited we're busy.
Also, wrapping in the kitchen with some of that.
15:27:52 Uh, we welcome back previous events and organizations with revised agreements. Um, when I came on, it was clear that there wasn't a whole lot of rhyme or reason to how we were
issuing contracts, and so.
15:28:03 We've worked really hard this last year to have some consistency there, really take a look at market value, and we.
15:28:10 believe that we created agreements that have upheld fairness for the partners and people renting, but also strengthen the fairgrounds from a financial sustainability increase.
15:28:18 Uh, some of those were as above, so low came back this year. Canoe Journey, that was incredible.
15:28:24 Um, the Master Gardeners Lecture Series is back, Gathering Place is still with us, and Kiwanis and Rhodey.
15:28:31 And then for the third topic, grants and donations.
15:28:34 Um, in 2025, we finalized two ongoing grants that were already in place when I came on.
15:28:40 One was through the Department of Ag, and that was the Equestrian warm-up arena that we put in, as well as revitalizing.
15:28:46 One, um, half of One Barn Staples. We're still working on the next app.
15:28:50 That was a very big project, and kind of down to the timeline, so it was a good learning curve to⦠Um, through recreation and conservation, we finalized the pump track design
and permitting.
15:29:00 grant that we had through them, um, so we were fully official permitting-wise, the design is done, we're just looking forward to construction there. A lot of planning.
15:29:09 Um, this year, as we move forward, we have been awarded through the Department of Ag, a campground infrastructure grant for $250,000.
15:29:17 That we hope to be able to complete and address water, sewer, and electrical issues at the campground.
15:29:22 And also some upgrades. We also received a grant from Rotary for the kitchen, which will provide us with small wares and supplies to help develop the culinary program that we're
hoping for there.
15:29:33 And then in progress, through the Department of Agriculture, we have.
15:29:38 I got a repair and replacement grant that has been submitted, as well as a LOX and emergency exit endorsement. So we're taking it very seriously that we have some old buildings
and infrastructure that we really need to take care of in order to.
15:29:49 Uh, then help us carry through. Um, we will also be working with RCO for a pump track construction grant that is not really happening at this moment, but in the planning stages.
15:29:59 And we applied for LTAC for pump track marketing and construction support grant.
15:30:03 And then we're also working with the co-op a lot more recently, which has been great. They have a Grow Fund grant coming up that we're hoping to apply for, and then they've
made some offers, and we're in a lot of communication about them sponsoring some of the kitchen program, um, having.
15:30:17 a guest host come in and do cooking classes and possibly sponsoring the space.
15:30:22 Um, all that to say, there's a lot happening. We're feeling excited about it, but also very aware of the need for the intentional.
15:30:29 And again, just wanted to say thank you, and see if you have any questions that I can answer.
15:30:34 Great presentation. Um⦠I guess, what do you⦠my first question, I mean, you really kind of laid it all out there, um⦠What do you⦠what are your personal goals as the
ED for 2026? That's a great question. I just had to do my self-evaluation for, umâ¦
15:30:53 Honestly, I think my heart with this is really with the community. I think, um⦠I'm a mom of two girls, and so I think⦠I lived here about 13 years ago, coming back, it
was really⦠I was hoping to get back into the community. I did not realize how much this role would just amplify that.
15:31:10 I would love to see the fairgrounds just become kind of the community hub that I described, and have it be more engaging with the community. I think.
15:31:17 You know, when you're looking online, there's so many people saying, why isn't there this year, and why isn't there that here? And we know all the reasons, but.
15:31:24 I would love to be able to have the fairgrounds just open up more for more things like that, and just to see it do good.
15:31:31 Kelly. That's correct. Any questions for Carly? How's the kitchen project going?
15:31:37 Good, but bumpy. Um, I think as we have very minimal staff, and we have a wonderful board, but people that have so many things going on.
15:31:46 And so, it's one of those things that got off slow, then got going really quickly, and then we had to rein them back in a little bit and find the path for that. Again, you know,
intentional growth.
15:31:55 Um, I think it's been received very, very well, and I think Aaron's personality and drive to see it become something that also gives back to the community is huge and impactful.
15:32:05 Um, we did a whole series of cooking classes, five classes, and that was⦠I jumped in on class number 3, because we had some transitions, and Erin wanted some support, and
so, actually, APOB was his.
15:32:17 apprentice chef there, but, um, we had a lot of fun. It was great to see him in action. It was great to see the engaging community. It was so many people, different ages, just
really enjoying a different experience, and I think we can find right now elsewhere in the community.
15:32:29 And so that was great. And then, like I said, we did our first catering event for Jefferson Community Foundation, and that was, again, a little.
15:32:36 wild in the moment, but, um, amazing. It was great to just see you. There's so much camaraderie, and I think sometimes we get buried in the paperwork and that how-to in the
meetings, it was⦠It was a, um, it was just a great experience outside of that. It was nice to kind of be hands-on and running between the kitchen and the art building and hoping
that it was all going off as well as we wanted it to. How did that work? You said L360, were they doing the staffing, or⦠They did. I think we had 3 staff.
15:33:01 volunteers or paid volunteers from them, and it was great. They were all wonderful. Um, some of the L360 staff came over to check and see how they were doing. I think we ended
up using them a little more heavily in the kitchen than they anticipated, but it was great, yeah, and it was, again, it was kind of like seeing.
15:33:17 all of our dreams come to life in the sense of partnering with different organizations and having what could have been just a⦠not a disaster, but very messy, and just come
off very well, so⦠Yeah, the potential for that is good, and of course.
15:33:30 part of the motivation there is Jefferson Healthcare is no longer renting that kitchen, which they, um, then, you know, of course they.
15:33:37 are no longer providing the rent, but they did generously leave the build out, which now has become.
15:33:44 Um, you know, belongs to. the county and the Fairgrounds Association for use, and, um, that's, you know, it was a generous gift, and it's also a responsibility, because there's
high-end, um, equipment in there, and so we really, as a board, are needing to think about, like, okay.
15:34:03 How does this get used? How does it get protected? How does it get maintained?
15:34:09 And how can it continue to potentially generate that $3,500 a month in revenue that we were getting from Jefferson Healthcare that is no longer coming in? So, and with the cut
from the state.
15:34:21 Um, and that, um⦠very significant $3,500 a month not coming in. We've gotten some revenue generation.
15:34:30 hill to climb, so this was the beginning of, kind of, workshopping some of that and seeing what's possible there.
15:34:35 But Jeff Stark is still working, I mean, he's still⦠he's invested in the kittens. He's on the board. He's on the board, and I'm still working for the hospital, so this has
been a labor of love for him. And the reality is, too, we don't really have staff in place to manage this level of.
15:34:50 kitchen, and, you know, we can⦠we are talking a bit from the standpoint of we⦠we have the venue space rentals that we do, but it's a whole different thing to try to keep
an eye on and do well.
15:35:03 Yeah, lots of opportunity. Yeah, lots of opportunity. The strategic planning coming up, and⦠volunteer engagement, I think, is going to be a big focus as well. There was,
um⦠You know, a time not that long ago when volunteers were really engaged and doing a lot of the maintenance work, and so I think we can kind of bring that back as aâ¦
15:35:26 as a model, but that's, as we all know, that takes a lot of management, too, to manage volunteers and make sure that they are resourced and thanked and all of those things,
so that's a big lift, I think.
15:35:38 Um, Fairgrounds Association is going to be a big⦠big one of my committees this year, because it's⦠meeting, you know, just support for this.
15:35:49 rapid growth. So how many possessions are there at the fairgrounds other than you?
15:35:54 Uh, well, there's a⦠we've historically had a total of 4 since I've been there, so it's been myself, and then we've had an operations coordinator, Alyssa. She handles a lot
of our contracts and the event scheduling aspect of it.
15:36:05 Um, and then we've had a maintenance person, as well as a groundskeeper. And I would say, because we're doing interviews now, and I find myself talking about this a lot, it'sâ¦
We all wear many, many hats, and that can be challenging, you know, it's just, as far as personalities or just workload, um, and so these, as we rolled out the new groundskeeping and
maintenance position.
15:36:25 We're considered both kind of a hybrid role to make sure that events set up and teardown is really in there, because it just⦠the need that we have for it now is so much more
day-to-day than what was happening before.
15:36:36 We're all moving tables and chairs and plunging toilets. Yeah, I used to be Chief Operating Officer at the Maritime Center. I know all about tables, chairs, and toilets. Yes.
15:36:46 Yep. What's the theme for the fair? Do you know that? Yes, it's Future in Full Bloom, celebrating our county's youth.
15:36:52 Yeah. That's the one I voted for. Me too.
15:37:00 There was a⦠there was a campaign out for the last few months, where people could get online and vote. I had posted up on the board, and, like, again, community engagement.
We want there to be some ownership, and people feel⦠more invested in it, yeah. I'm glad that one came about. It's a good thing. We'll see you when the dahlias show up this year,
maybe I'll finally introduce them.
15:37:24 We need a horticulture supervisor, too. There you go. Superintendent, so⦠I'm just saying. If you know of anybody who wants to be the foster superintendent, right.
15:37:34 What does the superintendent role entail? Well, there's a whole thing now in our documents. Um, it really is kind of the head volunteer for each department, and we moved this
year. Yes, for the fair departments, and so this year we moved, um, for most departments into co-superintendents, because.
15:37:51 It is a crazy amount of work. It is a huge time and effort investment, and um⦠It's a lot, so⦠so who really wants to craft that part of the pair? Exactly, that person really
is saying what the building and the department looks like, you know, and then again, from a more practical standpoint, the safety and the schedule and, um, bringing other volunteers
in, soâ¦
15:38:12 Are most of the volunteers associated with the fair? I mean, traditionally, that's kind of been a lion's fair. Yeah, I would say that as⦠I mean, I think it's changed over
time. Yeah, specific to the fair, there's a fair committee, and so they're pretty tightly involved in that, and most of them have been for a long time.
15:38:27 Outside of that, this last year, it's definitely still a work in progress, but we've grown in some volunteerism, and so that's been helpful, too. And I think we're finding that
we need to ask for specific tasks, and.
15:38:38 Um, if you go on our website, it asks specifically, like, what is your passion? Do you want to come work in the office? Do you like to be outside? And so, um, there's a long
list of things, so we're kind of fine-tuning the best way to really.
15:38:50 get volunteers who have a passion for something out there, too.
15:38:54 We're also talking about how to engage the partners a little bit more, and kind of direct, because they⦠Um, in their contract, commit to a certain number of volunteer hours
as part of.
15:39:05 You know, in lieu of more rent, and so really crafting how they.
15:39:11 engaged there, and it can have a lot to do with their space and what they're doing there, and whether they want to⦠contribute to some maintenance there, or come to support
events, or whatever.
15:39:22 Depends on their expertise. Being kind voluntarily ahead of time, and everyone behind this block of hours, so⦠Right, that's great.
15:39:30 Owen, are you here on this item? I⦠I don't⦠community interest, yeah. Yeah.
15:39:36 Potentially, I would be the new City Council. Oh, I see. Okay, great.
15:39:44 Okay, I was just wondering, so it's⦠yeah, because they're not making their appointments until February, is that right? Early February or February.
15:39:51 But, um, when showed up to our first board meeting of this year and expressed interest, so we're really happy about that.
15:39:57 How many people are on the board? Nine currently. Yeah, 9. Yeah, that sounds right.
15:40:02 Yes. There's a word for us. Yeah, there you go. Very well engaged, a very working board, yes.
15:40:11 Yes. Josh, do you have any questions? Are there more cooking classes on the calendar? Well, depends on who you have. They're in the works.
15:40:21 Erin and I sat down recently, he's working on a schedule that he feels like he can commit to, um, and we have a budget prepared to bring back to our board, because we're trying
to do this a little more streamlined, and.
15:40:31 Everybody being looped in, so⦠for all the reasons for transparency, but also to have more involvement from the rest of the board, too.
15:40:38 I have a little chef in the family, so I'd love to get her in on some of those cooking classes. We are hoping that I⦠I personally was pushing for kids' cooking classes, because
I have a want to be a chef over here, and um⦠And one idea that Erin has put it out is, umâ¦
15:40:53 Aldi had a really clever name, but it's⦠Playing the knives. Nice. Yeah.
15:40:58 And we did talk, too, about the, you know, Wednesday's early dismissal, so getting a kid's class in right after that helps all around with child care and activity before rushing
to dinner and all the other stuff. Yeah, that's great.
15:41:11 Ava as well, thanks for making time. Thanks for being here, Ava.
15:41:22 And carbon out time in your day. Yeah, busy to me schedule, yeah.
15:41:26 All right. Well, that takes us to the end of our agenda. Is there anything else folks would like to chat about today?
15:41:35 We, uh⦠no, I mean, I'm sorry I started off about ETL, I just feel like I hear about the permitting process so frequently that I⦠it's important. It was good to get that
update, and yeah, just to know that we'll be hearing more about it. Yeah, but I just hadn't heard anything in a long time, and I'm like.
15:41:51 No, I am driving⦠I'm frustrated by a cheering, but⦠like I talked to Sean and Josh about it, and that blue beam, you know, what are these options is going to be necessary
before we get that customer portal open?
15:42:04 It's just⦠there's⦠Yeah. So I have a question about that, though, and Josh, you might know, just in your former role, um.
15:42:14 when Habitat for Humanity is talking about their desire for the repetitive.
15:42:19 Um, permitting process to be efficient and, um, and also we're looking at the fee schedule.
15:42:27 Um, which is⦠separate from EPL, but will be folded in. One of the things that they talk about as a barrier is the need to bring, you know.
15:42:38 their application to DCD, and then walk across the parking lot to Public Works, and walk back to, uh, not that these are far walks, you know, to environmental public health
and.
15:42:48 So, yeah, each step slows down the process, is⦠Is it the goal of the EPL.
15:42:57 implement or, um⦠starting up the new EPL modules would.
15:43:03 That⦠streamline that process, so that that would all be online. Is that the goal?
15:43:08 what we're shooting for. I guess I'm just gonna say it sounds like a goal. Okay, I just wanted to make sure that.
15:43:17 You didn't say, oh no, that's not⦠What we're working on wouldn't affect that at all.
15:43:22 Well, I think the ultimate goal is full⦠the option for full digital.
15:43:29 Permit submission. From start to finish. And so, in that context.
15:43:33 Yes. A party familiar enough with the process could submit an application without actually.
15:43:40 Physically going to those locations, so⦠that part. Right. I mean⦠EPL has improved.
15:43:47 the coordination of⦠Permitting among departments, at least to a certain extent. You mentioned public work, so what I'm thinking there is that that would.
15:43:56 If you're thinking about, um⦠Road access permit.
15:44:01 Sidewalks, public infrastructure improvements. That are required in a larger project, like⦠You're also talking about a larger⦠I guess I would say, you're also talking
about a larger project, though, so I don't think we should.
15:44:12 necessarily jump to, um, that for a project of that magnitude and that level of complexity, plus you're dealing with public rights of way, where you're talking about things
like sidewalks, and I think there's still going to be a level of.
15:44:25 certain depth that you're gonna have to dive in if you have any, so I wouldn't, I guess I wouldn't equate those things that you're going to save.
15:44:32 A lot, just⦠vis-a-vis EPL's improvements in that regard for a complex project like that, you're still going to work out those details.
15:44:40 About our county rights of public works, and how that relates to stormwater, and all that, but⦠I mean, ultimately, I think, broadly, yes.
15:44:49 Definitely, it would be intended to improve. The ability to⦠Especially for simpler permits, to get them in the queue faster and be able to find out where they are.
15:44:58 Quicker without having to rely on. Continual interaction. Again, we deal with different, um.
15:45:05 applicant communities, I guess you would say, some that are used to submitting multiple permits, or managing other people's permits, and they're very familiar. Others, it's
the first time they've ever built something, it's a mom-and-pop, and, you know, so⦠I have talked withâ¦
15:45:19 set up about just making sure that we're accommodating both of those types, whatever program that we're working on. Okay. And with respect to your repetitive build question,
or bringing that up.
15:45:28 You know, that is related, but separate, and that would just⦠for anyone listening, that's about⦠A project of that nature, where you have multiple structures that are essentially
identical, they're just in different locations, and maybe they're reversed, or what have you, but uhâ¦
15:45:45 components are essentially identical, so would there be. A possibility for expediency and reviewing those plans.
15:45:52 Yeah, they're different for saving some⦠Permit cost, because it shouldn't take as long to review the same set of plans. Yes, exactly.
15:46:00 And I know that we were working on that when we had our building official.
15:46:04 And, you know, we're continuing to work on that. That's part of, I think, the update that will.
15:46:08 that we'll have from DCD's perspective on permitting. Great.
15:46:12 That sounds good. Okay, anything else? I've learned so much right now.
15:46:23 Let me make sure. Well, does we have to stop working if we adjourn the meeting. We can still go back to the office, but anything else that you want to hash out here? No, I don't
think so.
15:46:34 I guess only that I have got NODC this week, so, um⦠to just⦠Find ways to talk to each other about this economic framework conversation, and if we want to.
15:46:48 you know, how we want to be pulling in with you and EDC into the conversation is kind of⦠Just in the background. I think I would say understanding a little bit more aboutâ¦
sounds like Karen, in a conversation with Aaron, offered to kind of act as a facilitator, just.
15:47:03 or the NODC, not necessarily Kara necessarily. Yeah, you can beat Angela, probably. Right, but figuring out what that would look like, and then maybe⦠Kind of talking about,
would it be helpful to do homework before, and kind of just, I would say.
15:47:20 It was interesting talking to Aaron. I think he made a⦠presented a pretty compelling argument that, um.
15:47:28 It's maybe a conversation best had, and I think that was something we would have failed to get at the ICG meeting, that was a core concept to him that.
15:47:36 facilitating the conversation together might give something that we can agree on.
15:47:41 more efficiently, or get a way that us bringing our own agendas to the table and saying, now let's make this one.
15:47:49 will not accomplish them. Interesting. I'll try to find some time with him, too, just to get his perspective, and then⦠Um, I guess sometime before the ICG meeting.
15:48:00 Yeah, talk about that. Oh my god, February 19th, Thursday, February 19th is the ICG meeting. The month from today, yeah. And you need to have the agenda done at least the week
before, so⦠I tried to warn that in advance. Yeah, and the agenda, I mean, I only bring that up because at least should set the framework, if you will, for having this conversation
and getting as far as we want to get, but there is some homework that we could do between now and then.
15:48:25 Including your individual interactions with other leaders in those organizations, but if you wanted to.
15:48:32 We wanted me to pick up some of that weight and talk to my fellow administrator? Yeah, that's kind of⦠I mean, that's the same group.
15:48:39 I know one thing I brought up at the last ICD, and I was hoping someone would just grab onto this, but it didn't happen, was.
15:48:45 This idea that we have 4 entities, and we all have our own ways of contracting services, right?
15:48:50 But if some entity wanted to take the lead on this, like the port, for example.
15:48:55 Why don't you just find somebody and bring them to the next meeting, and then we'll start the process.
15:48:59 I was trying to jumpstart that by saying, why don't you just find a facility and bring them, and it'll be yours, and if you want to ask the group later to chip in, great, or
whatever. Because it seemed like such a small stakes thing. Exactly. That didn't really⦠I don't remember Eric grabbing onto that in the meeting, but there was a lot of stuff going
on in that meeting.
15:49:14 And of course, it was the middle of our budget process, which was another issue. Right. I mean, I think finding out⦠If the NRDC, if that's the time frame that's realistic
to kind of do the due diligence and.
15:49:25 to have that conversation, it could be essentially most of the ISEG meeting. Yeah, what I'm kind of hoping is that we get so far in that conversation leading up to the meeting
that we have somebody from.
15:49:36 And it'll be seen there, ready to start a conversation and facilitate with us on the 19th. Yeah.
15:49:40 And after that, we're going to be another round of talking about to plan for the next one. Yeah, that's a good point.
15:49:45 Well, you know, maybe the, um⦠the report out from the, uh, the four municipality, maybe that?
15:49:52 You know, we're all still thinking about what is the economic development goals. We've talked about our goals, we've talked about Port Hadlock, we've talked about Glen Cove,
we've talked about South County, and⦠you know, I mean, infrastructure, you know, and finding out where.
15:50:09 How do we⦠accommodate that, I guess, getting our perspective, like, when we're talking about Port Hadlock, it's more of a⦠Our economic development conversations are so
couched in supporting community in a way that supports is, you know.
15:50:24 That's more of an ancillary benefit of them driving jobs, right? You know, so⦠What's⦠what's our⦠our⦠our take on it? And I guess I still think using use cases to
talk about in front of Glen Cove, the Port Hadlock, or, you know, the boatyard, I don't care where, I mean, I just think that.
15:50:44 Um, feel like, you know, this. Jefferson County seal that we put on the boatyard stormwater project, you know, um, today is, uh⦠An example of that.
15:50:54 Yes, that's a good project. We want to support it.
15:50:58 I mean, it feels like, um⦠Economic Development Council, Team Jefferson, used to do this process called the Five Things, um, which was pulling together these four entities
every quarter, and it wasn't just Fort Beauty.
15:51:13 Um, county and city, it was also the ancillary organizations like Chambers, Main Street Program also participated in this.
15:51:23 And so that was when we were all using that one-page strategic plan format. I don't know if anybody remembers that.
15:51:29 But, um, the city was on that one pager, the county was on that one-page plan, the EDC, the port, the PUD, all of us were on this one-page strategic plan that we would use and
share as a common language. And then we came together every quarter and shared.
15:51:44 Uh, and brought our top 5 projects that we could move⦠that we felt like we could move the needle on within 6 months.
15:51:51 And then shared those projects with one another, and then picked the top 5 out of those of the things that we could collaborate on. And the purpose was to kind of overlay those,
um.
15:52:04 those priorities and inform each other what we were working on as our top priorities in the next 6 months.
15:52:10 to find places that maybe we could let go of something, because we realize another organization or entity was actually taking the lead on it, have some agreements about, like,
oh, actually, we can step back on this one, because.
15:52:23 this other entity is taking it, or we're going to more directly collaborate or partner on this because we realize we have it as a common goal. So we had that dialogue about
4 hours every quarter, and then would come back, um.
15:52:38 And actually, we⦠so we did it every quarter, but then every sixth⦠they were in six months⦠six-month chunks, so each quarter was an update on what the goals that we
had set.
15:52:48 And I wonder if there is, I mean, not to, um, counter⦠what Erin's saying, because I understand that.
15:52:56 I think where he's coming from, and like, if we all come up with our own goals, and there's nothing in common. But my experience with this is that we⦠when we do this work,
it actually groups that we do cover lots of things that are aligned in many, many cases, and you find where those alignments.
15:53:12 are in those rides to the top, and those.
15:53:22 become part of the framework or part of the, sort of.
15:53:22 set of goals. So, um, we could think about.
15:53:22 kind of having a facilitated dialogue, even as. Soon as this February meeting, if we were⦠if we were preparing everyone in advance to say, let's come and be willing, just
come with your.
15:53:36 So, I mean, for us, it's⦠like, we could look at our strategic plan, there is an economic development section there, and that, you know, look at that and say, is this pretty
current, or is there anything else we want to add to this as our economic development, um, sort of priorities right now?
15:53:51 Um, and then if everyone were to do that. It's a lot to pull together in a month, but, um⦠You know, to have that dialogue and that facilitated conversation, which is, where
do these things overlay, and can that become the foundation of the framework that we're talking about? The other thing is that the EDC did put together an economic framework that they
approved just last year.
15:54:12 So can we⦠Can we socialize that and consider whether that's a foundation, or throw it out the window, or what do we want to do with that? No, I mean, we⦠I will⦠I will
look for that.
15:54:28 That was a lot there, but⦠How about, at the very least, um.
15:54:34 the chair and I can talk about⦠Putting something on the BOC agenda, whether, again, it's this coming Monday or the one after that, where we would.
15:54:44 share frameworks from the past that have been adopted. I think there was another reference in the ICG to an earlier framework that⦠Yes.
15:54:50 Might have been⦠I don't know if it was EDC, or whether it was⦠Even an ICG semblage, or pre-ICG framework, if you will. Either way, we can pull.
15:54:59 Where are we at with other things? Of course, we have our economic development element of the company in.
15:55:05 process. I don't think that section's been really looked at the same way other sections have in this go-around. This would be an opportunity. But at least there's the document
from last spring that's up on the web, and we're getting closer to.
15:55:17 to finishing that process, but⦠Anyway, so just starting with those frameworks, or maybe, Heather, if you had more information about the five things, or maybe you couldâ¦
Find that one-pager from the past? That's what we are⦠that's what I'm using as the basis of the strategic plan for the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association.
15:55:34 Yeah, um, I mean, a lot of organizations started with that. At one point, we were all, all the entities were on that one-page strategic plan, using it and sharing it as a common
language.
15:55:47 And then, necessarily, the organizations evolved away from it, because it is a very simplistic strategic plan. It's a great place to start.
15:55:54 Um, and so that's why I'm starting with that, with the Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association, but I'll share the model and the kind of guidance around it, which was created,
um, much in part by Casey Reeder.
15:56:07 Um, of, um, Wilderbee Farm. So, um, who came with a lot of strategic learning background from her previous work with, um, Wizards of the Coast in Seattle.
15:56:17 And she was on the EDC at that time.
15:56:20 So, we can kind of⦠I'm very happy to share that. If we had our, you know, our.
15:56:25 meeting or two, and we were able to come up with something that we thought made sense in terms of a proposal for.
15:56:32 the ICT consideration, we might have 3 other ideas, or more, right? Absolutely. But at least I think we have a better chance if we're, like.
15:56:38 coherent when we get there with, hey, what about this idea? This is where⦠this is how we got there.
15:56:45 We can also do some talk before with. the other directors and⦠And it'll be safe.
15:56:52 And Peter Quinn was the one who really, um⦠facilitated a lot of the five⦠the five things, um, work that Economic Development Council was doing at that time, and I would
say, if anything of that era, that is the⦠that is the thing that started⦠this was pre-ICG, was when we were really starting to pull the entities together and.
15:57:13 And every once in a while, they'd come to the table. A lot of times they didn't show up, but when they did, this⦠when this was where we were really getting traction with
one another, is creating common language, sharing.
15:57:26 Um, a common tool, and then really having dialogue about where we could leverage each other's work. Well, the ICG really came out of the COVID response.
15:57:34 You know, I mean, it⦠it wasn't her⦠proponing to replace a⦠approach to economic development. It was about how do we get through this together.
15:57:47 Um, and I think there are, um⦠other models that have been used, but it's⦠Sometimes I've not heard of, like, I've never heard of the 5 things. Oh, we go.
15:57:58 old school Jefferson County, right there. It's not even that old school, it's some⦠15 years now, 10 years.
15:58:07 It was⦠it was a reference to a 2012-something. Does anybody remember.
15:58:12 With that, what am I saying? not maybe Commissioner mentioned it, or⦠I don't know about that, but I'm seeing EDC's economic.
15:58:22 I don't know if they called it a framework, they⦠called it something else, but I think that was just last year, wasn't it, right? So that maybe could be something that weâ¦
Look atâ¦
15:58:37 Yeah.
15:59:00 Thank you.
15:59:06 Okay, um, proof of that. Anything else?
15:59:12 I'm realizing that I will be gone in the next 2 days, so⦠Phone in for the budget meeting, but then⦠Olympia, so⦠Alright, Chris, anything, you know how to get ahold of
me. Thank you for representing.
15:59:26 That's good. Okay, great. Uh, well, we are adjourned.