HomeMy WebLinkAboutclosed_caption09:00:19 There you go. You're ready. Alright.
09:00:23 Good morning, everyone. 9 AM in the⦠So the bill toll, so I will call this January 26th meeting of the Board of County Commissioners. Um, we're gonna, just to let people know,
we've got a fairly light day during the day today, but we do have a joint meeting with the Solid Waste Task Force.
09:00:44 Uh, on the capital facilities and the solid waste facilities, so we'll be having another meeting at 6 o'clock tonight at the Tri-Amunity Center, also online, so we hope to see
folks there talking about the, uh, the future of.
09:00:58 our transfer station. Um, and now we will get on with our meeting, and of course.
09:01:05 Because I am what to do. We will begin with a little bit of music.
09:01:10 Um⦠Today, I'm bringing back the whistle. You might see quite a few whistles. So, uh⦠This might seem an interminable song today. I'm going to play it twice through.
09:01:20 Uh, it's a song called Kitty Mulligan, which is an Irish song that Dubliners do a great version of this song.
09:01:26 And this is sort of my, uh, mascot for the economic development conversation we're having today, so I actually made my.
09:01:33 small slide deck I worked on. Over the weekend, to the tune of Biddy Mulligan. Who is⦠Biddy Mulligan is a, uh⦠a street seller in Dublin who's kind of a thing of the past,
the last, the last of the street sellers in, uh, Dublin. I don't think she was a real person, but⦠Uh, so this will just be a whistle to do today. It's on a diatonic, uh, uh, D-whistle.
09:01:55 Played in the key of G, so, here we go.
09:03:27 Thank you, thank you. No applause there, but uh, yeah, that was lovely. Benny Mulligan.
09:03:34 Uh⦠yeah, hopefully the mascot, as we consider economic development, um, frameworks a little bit later in the day, or start the conversation.
09:03:43 So with that, we will, uh, return to our agenda and open for public comment, so anyone that's with us in the room can raise their hand, John?
09:03:51 or anyone online can hit the raise hand button or star 9 if you're on the phone, and we would love to hear from you.
09:04:02 Okay. Not a lot to say this morning.
09:04:08 Make another call right now, and we'll leave public comment open until 9.30, as is I want. Anyone like to make public comment today?
09:04:17 I can play this 10 more times, you know, it seemed like, I'm sure, forever to you, but uh⦠really, I watch two full football games, and my family had to listen to me practice
that, you know, every 20 minutes for 5 minutes, it probably seemed a lot longer than that.
09:04:32 All right, well, I guess we can, uh, as we wait to see if anyone, uh, changes and.
09:04:39 Decides they have something to comment, we can look for the consent agenda, pretty robust today.
09:04:44 Any comments or questions or issues? Just that that's a first for me, with no public comment.
09:04:52 Not experienced that. I know, it always kind of pisses us off guard, right? Yeah.
09:04:56 Okay. You can address written comments you've received. True.
09:05:04 Okay. You have a hearing notice when⦠So, yeah, it is time critical.
09:05:14 Number⦠Those out of the Community Development Block Grant.
09:05:20 Oh, yeah, that's a big one. All at $4,000 expended, really exciting.
09:05:29 Um⦠I would say there was one comment in the written correspondence that caught my attention because it said something about rural residential zoning. Mm-hmm.
09:05:38 So I looked it up, I was, like, confused just about some of the elements of the comment, like, creating that designation, and what⦠What meetings are we talking about? Because
Critical Areas has been at the Planet Commission yet.
09:05:51 But not yet the confidence stuff. And I just kind of googled that, the name of the development, and it's in West Virginia⦠Oh, thank you. So I sent the person a note. That's
happened before. There's a Jefferson County in every state, I believe, right?
09:06:10 Yeah, I think that⦠we think we've learned that before, haven't we?
09:06:13 Um, I just had one, I think. I think very, um⦠inconsequential⦠note about⦠the⦠I'm trying to look and see which⦠agenda item, it is, but it's the Public Works.
09:06:30 assignment of signature. Oh, yeah. Um⦠I'm sorry, not the assignment of signature, the earthwork solutions, um.
09:06:38 extension of the time contract. I think this does not matter, but just for public⦠information, the⦠there's just a⦠a little, um, discrepancy between the agenda requests
and the actual contract, which is just the end of⦠end date, is actually February 27th for theâ¦
09:06:59 amendment, um, and so I think as long as that is.
09:07:03 Accurate on the⦠contract amendment itself, it's just fine, I just note it for the public.
09:07:11 When you're approving the contracts and items on the agenda, not necessarily the agenda, but the agenda, Steven.
09:07:17 It's the only discrepancy that I found. I think everything else looked⦠Good. I was, um⦠I just was muted.
09:07:26 I'll ask a question, and then we'll⦠I was curious about the, um⦠contract with sharing the lawn for EPLES.
09:07:39 Permit, online permit applications. Do we⦠I'm trying to see if it's in this⦠Do we feel like this is going to get us to having⦠That function actually working. That's
a great question.
09:07:54 Because I've been part of earlier meetings with Sherry, and⦠Mark McCauley, when he was our administrator, and, you know, she's obviously knowledgeable and moving us forward
in the very beginning of.
09:08:09 EPL, and when it was called Intergov. Yeah. And the scope and the contract looks like it's⦠I'm just wondering what the end goal of this⦠this relatively small contract
is, or is this⦠Just continuing her work from before. Do we have any sense?
09:08:28 Um, I mean, I've talked to Sean about this contract, you know, there's many owners of this contract, kind of, um⦠I don't know, I've often said this is capacity we need to
build internally, but umâ¦
09:08:41 You know, this is⦠Budgeted out of FPS dollars.
09:08:46 I don't know, I guess. We want to ask Sean what⦠I mean, not even from Sean, this is from Public Health, right? It's their budget. I guess this is in⦠the scope of work
is in Exhibit A, which starts on page 14.
09:09:01 Looks like a⦠it does look like there are more than $25,000 worth of work, so my question was, is this⦠Just kind of continuing her work.
09:09:12 The lawn, or is there an end goal with this contract?
09:09:15 Let's just get public health where they need to be for.
09:09:19 That was the initial question. Yeah, that's a good⦠I mean, I think only they can answer that.
09:09:23 I think it is a public health question, if you have a specific question on this particular contract with Ms.
09:09:29 I would say that the larger. question around EPL, we are scheduling.
09:09:35 the workshop with the board to address. I'm going to have spoken with, or have⦠Given a heads up to department heads about the workshop schedules that we've approved, selected,
and so⦠We're looking to fill in the right dates at the right time, and so there will be an, you know, update soon.
09:09:52 Okay. That's more comprehensive, and it does involve online permit application processes. This particular.
09:09:59 Contract, I think, if you were interested in a specific answer, I can either help get it to you later, or we could ask help. I'm not seeing any help.
09:10:06 If you can get any kind of⦠daylight on the line of questioning I have. I just wonder how far into the CSS portal does this contact get us? Yeah.
09:10:18 And this is, if I understand the contract correctly, if we.
09:10:21 Prove this today, and then decide to go in a different direction. This is a reimbursement for work.
09:10:26 you know, we're completed, so if it was⦠No more work was required before the end⦠before the full $25,000 was paid out.
09:10:35 just overt, right? So I don't think there's a lot of⦠downside, and also, of course, this is a contract going back to the beginning of the.
09:10:42 the year, one of those retroactives, potentially, for work that's already been done.
09:10:48 No, it's a good question. Um, I'd love to just call out number 5 and 6, um, the stock energy efficient health plans and, uh, the CPACE program, both around energy efficiency
and.
09:11:01 Um⦠But, uh, the thing I like about both of these.
09:11:07 programs is that they don't just get an energy efficiency, but they get.
09:11:12 to affordability, and they, um, you know, C-PACER. It is a funding program, um, that.
09:11:19 That incentivizes, and the stock plans seek to create a more affordable path for people to blend both of those goals, and because.
09:11:29 Because the affordability and energy efficiency, or climate, or, um⦠Um⦠environmental goals.
09:11:39 often seem to be at odds. I think these are to be celebrated in some way to.
09:11:45 Um, to potentially meet both of those ends, so I'm excited about those.
09:11:52 Let's take a little pause now in our deliberations. Thanks for filling those out, and we'll go back to public comment, and we'll bring over Julia and then Shelly for.
09:11:59 3-minute public comment, where you guys get yourselves unmuted.
09:12:13 Good morning. Bye. I used to feel like you were alone in the world.
09:12:15 I want to do it? Thank you.
09:12:20 Um⦠And I appreciate your music, Greg. I, I⦠Whoever runs to take your place needs to come with a talent.
09:12:29 I liked⦠Okay, I don't care.
09:12:29 All right. What a challenge.
09:12:33 talent. I mean, you guys are both brilliant. But I like the talent. Anyway⦠Um, I think the reason for the silence is everybody's sort of in shock, like, nationally.
09:12:46 And, uh, I know, I know I am, um, I didn't expect them to just start.
09:12:52 We'll be shooting U.S. Citizens, which is what they are doing.
09:12:56 Um, and⦠so I've been telling people an intersectional story that I heard on NPR.
09:13:02 about this Indian tribe, and I'm sorry I don't know a tribe, it's one of those things. My brain doesn't hold those types of details, but a tribe.
09:13:10 is fighting to get two of its members back, who got arrested in a homeless encampment.
09:13:17 Um, and is in a detention center somewhere, and so the intersectionality of that is, is that, to me, is that they're rousing homeless encampments.
09:13:26 And they're grabbing brown people, regardless of what exactly those brown people might be.
09:13:32 And we know that it's coming towards us. Our Attorney General, and I believe our Governor, are both doing a public statement this morning.
09:13:42 about how Washington plans to defend itself against tyranny.
09:13:49 And, you know, I know you're county commissioners, and I know, you know, the other people I talked to are city councillors. I'm really grateful that you're all there, because
you're all our first line of defense.
09:14:00 And I also wanted to say that there had been a rumor floating around about our sheriff engaging in the stone garden.
09:14:07 contract. Our staff and. Jasira members, board members, and others have met with him, and it's not true.
09:14:18 Yeah. Um⦠So that's sort of my 10 pieces of today, and the other 10 piece⦠the other piece might be that.
09:14:26 The welcoming Center is continuing to see an increased number of people. I mean, I got a list last night, like.
09:14:31 for some reason, like, 9 o'clock at night, I get texted.
09:14:35 the 10 things that the Welcoming Center needs. Because I am the ordering and delivering and the everything.
09:14:42 And, um⦠we are going to supplies way quick.
09:14:48 Because not only do we have more people than we normally have, we also have people staying there longer, because there's frost on the ground out there, and I'm sure it's worse
down at Folk Marine Building.
09:14:58 And, um⦠So people are hanging out all day, and there isn't a whole lot to do, so they eat.
09:15:05 And, um, drink and⦠Use supplies, which is fine, they're there for them.
09:15:09 And, um, but I do notice that. I also know that the shelter's over capacity, that the⦠at least the men, they've⦠before, have reported they had one or two beds for women.
09:15:22 They have women in that back hallway, if you know the shelter. Um, but they have, like, boosted up how many bed spaces they can have, and stuff like that. They're not turning
people away, and they're feeding anybody who shows up.
09:15:33 So, yay, thank you, Bayside, thank you, the shelter.
09:15:34 Right. Thank you. Thank you very much.
09:15:39 Um, and in the⦠oh, the Shelly, let's hear from you before we look back to the room, and then⦠start giving our responses to public comment.
09:15:48 Good morning, Sheldy, Arnell Brennan. Um, I just would like to know if, um, somebody from Jefferson County, one of you guys, or, um, Josh or somebody, can give us the.
09:16:02 Um⦠the rule of how and why a commissioner is required or requested to be on a board.
09:16:12 How does that happen? And, um, what⦠what are the⦠what are the rules and regulations there?
09:16:20 Thank you.
09:16:22 Oh my gosh, that's a great question, yeah. All right, um, anyone else like to make public comments in the room, online?
09:16:31 Come on up, Denny. Good morning. Good morning.
09:16:36 Hi, um, thank you for giving me a couple minutes. Patty Smoker, uh⦠Pacific Northwest Business Resource Collective. Um, I'm here because I wanted to, um, have some, um, opportunity
to pose some questions. I know later in the end of the year you're going to be talking about the economic development framework.
09:16:55 And I think that, um, it would be important as, um, you get into that conversation, I'm, um, wanting to just.
09:17:04 pose a couple of questions that hopefully might be entertained during that conversation. Um, one would be to understand, uh, in December of last year, uh, the acting EDC at
that point, um.
09:17:17 Um, we worked very hard to prepare an economic development framework that was presented in December of last year, so I'd like to understand what was it about that that didn't
land or did.
09:17:30 as you're looking at moving forward, wanting to understand what are some of the drivers around.
09:17:36 Why now? Why is there an interest once again to discuss that important work, uh, to be done?
09:17:42 Um, and what is this body's understanding about an economic development framework?
09:17:47 Uh, and, um, who might be missing from the conversation if it's only the, um, IGC that's involved in that. So, just here to, um, to understand a little bit more about that work
that I think is really important for our county to be doing.
09:18:06 Thank you. Anyone else with us that would like to make public comment today in the various hand button, star 9 if you're on the phone.
09:18:19 Okay, well, we'll keep it open for another 12 minutes, and maybe, um, pause on our consent agenda deliberations to talk a little bit about, uh, respond to telecommits.
09:18:28 I'm gonna kick it off, or⦠Um, I'll⦠Uh, so, to Julia, um, yeah, thanks for putting things into context. I think for us today, um, there is a⦠A somber sense right now
of, umâ¦
09:18:43 Of how people are feeling, and that⦠Um, immediate response that⦠a community.
09:18:50 can have, which, you know, varies within the community, from.
09:18:56 Um, reticence and, uh, feeling hopeless. To being angry and reactive. There's a whole sort of spectrum.
09:19:06 Um, that happens, um, when we see things that.
09:19:10 Um⦠I think maybe last year, many of us would have said.
09:19:16 Um, nothing would surprise us, because we felt like we'd seen it all.
09:19:20 And, um, I, for one, am. And beyond that. I'm surprised every day.
09:19:27 Um, at how things are devolving, and it's very scary, and so the first thing, um, that.
09:19:34 that I'm⦠that, you know, happens in my mind is what is our responsibility as, um, as leaders in the community?
09:19:41 Um, and then⦠and then what are my responsibilities as an individual and a parent, and⦠Um, so, um, I know that each of us is having individual conversations with our sheriff's
Department.
09:19:54 Um, I'm having lunch tomorrow, and⦠Or Wednesday, I think. Um⦠with the sheriff to kind of get that, um⦠a bead on⦠What that response from our community is, that law
enforcement approach.
09:20:12 Um, and then, um, we'll be having. continued conversations, you know, Katherine Burrell posed a really.
09:20:20 poignant question, um, by email that's been kind of going around and starting some conversations, talking with folks at the court, and⦠So⦠Thank you for highlighting that,
Julia, and I think that is a conversation that we need to have more actively when we feel like we've gathered enough information about what our.
09:20:42 Obligations are, what our responsibilities are, what our opportunities are for leadership in the community, and how we can, um.
09:20:51 Do what we can do. Which is all that any of us can do.
09:20:55 So, um, looking forward to continuing those conversations. Shelly, what an excellent question. I love this. It's⦠I think it's, um, something that we've all asked a lot over
time. I know I asked it.
09:21:10 When I was not a commissioner. Um, and I think because all of us have been really involved in non-profit organizations.
09:21:19 Not as commissioners and as commissioners. Um, that question has circulated a lot in the community. Um, I will say what I have learned, and then.
09:21:29 the two of you, I could add in. Um, that we know there are certain.
09:21:35 Um, organizations, particularly ones like. the Community Action Partnerships.
09:21:42 the Area Agencies on Aging that have. Um, they have certain mandates.
09:21:49 that come with line item funding that they get from either the federal government or the state, um, or both.
09:21:57 That require them. to have elected officials on their boards. Now, that doesn't always mean it has to be a commissioner, but some organizations, because of the funding requirements
often.
09:22:10 Um, and there may be other reasons why, too.
09:22:13 Um, they have requirements, um. that come through⦠um, regulation, either at the federal level or the state level, and end up in their bylaws.
09:22:24 That determines. Um, then things like our own fairgrounds, uh, association.
09:22:30 Where our local decision. has⦠has resulted in, um, a⦠a⦠a definition within that organization's bylaws that defines that, um, that an elected official.
09:22:45 Sometimes from multiple jurisdictions, sits on their boards. That can be circumstantial.
09:22:51 Um, you know, in the case of the fairgrounds, where there had been a bit of a devolution of operations there, and then.
09:22:59 and effort locally to try to support that and organize it a bit.
09:23:04 Those are the reasons that I know of, and I'm really interested to hear, um⦠I feel like there's all kinds of issues with that, and that come from.
09:23:15 Um, you know, us being in a small community that is⦠that has fewer leaders and.
09:23:22 Um, and⦠and fewer people that can sit on boards and things like that. So I'm very interested in why you've asked the question, Shelly, and I'd love to hear from you about
that afterwards, so⦠Um, that's what I know, and I look forward to hearing your additional answers. And Patty, thank you for these questions. I think this is the perfect way.
09:23:40 to enter into this. process, and to⦠that's why we're having our⦠our internal workshop here, is to ask ourselves.
09:23:49 very similar questions. Um⦠the economic framework that the EDC did. Um, if you go back and listen to our meeting, I think, from last week.
09:23:58 Um, I know I brought that up, and we discussed.
09:24:01 And I'm sure it will come up in our workshop today to say, you know, how can we use what's already been created.
09:24:09 To⦠and not, you know, necessarily reinvent the wheel, and look at it and tweak it. My understanding of why that isn't just that's our economic framework.
09:24:19 Is that, um, is probably pretty complex. Um, and I think it has to do with the fact that this ICG is asking for an economic framework that they have all bought into.
09:24:34 It may be that they don't feel like they've fully bought into that economic framework, and I don't know the reasons behind that, but I am a big advocate for using that economic
framework that was already created.
09:24:46 Um, as the foundation for what we're gonna, um⦠and it may just be a matter of daylighting that more, really going through it and getting broader input into it, and then,
um, and then using that as a⦠as a⦠As a framework for our framework.
09:25:03 So I'm interested in that. Who's not at the table? Um, and what is our idea of economic framework and economic development? That's exactly what we'll be discussing today, so
I'm really excited to jump those questions up.
09:25:17 They're very helpful. Can I just jump in with a point about that?
09:25:23 Which is that, I believe, when Patty says last year, the EDC presented.
09:25:28 She meant 2024, because the ICG did discuss an economic development framework last December, meaning 2025, but that was the quote you were there, Commissioner, and that was
about.
09:25:40 Whether the ICG wanted to develop its own economic framework and some kind of process. Right. But the EDC, together with the North Olympic Development Council, presented.
09:25:50 a framework for their work back in December of 2024. Yeah.
09:25:54 to the ICG. I just want to clarify for everyone that we're talking, in a sense, about two different meanings. Yeah.
09:26:00 Yeah, so it'll be interesting, you know, maybe just honing our understanding of what that EDC framework was meant to be. Was it meant to be just for their work, or was it meant
to be a regional economic framework? I think we'll get more information about that. I know, uh, I think we're all on the same page about.
09:26:19 really advocating for the NODC and the EDC to be very involved in this economic framework discussion that we're having with the ICG. So my hope and.
09:26:29 Expectation is that. they would be bringing all of what they learned through that EDC economic framework conversation.
09:26:39 to this dialogue, and so I think our hope is that the NODC would facilitate, and that the EDC would directly participate as a.
09:26:48 as a, um, you know, contributor to the discussion. So I assume that that.
09:26:53 work will get absolutely integrated into what we're creating here.
09:26:59 One of my responses. I'm not gonna belabor repeating things other than to say that I also have had a.
09:27:07 already had conversations with the sheriff and have a meeting set with him in the next week.
09:27:11 Um, with a constituent who has really good questions, I feel like, so⦠Um, to round out that conversation.
09:27:19 to Shelly's questions about the boards and committees, and how we get assigned all these boards and committees, I would just add to what Heather said, that a number of them.
09:27:27 are stipulated in our Jefferson County Code. And also, some are, um⦠built into the state RCWs and WAFs.
09:27:36 So, it's from a variety of sources that we get this list of committees, and so⦠The first day we come in.
09:27:45 to the dais, to this room instead of the dais.
09:27:48 We are assigned, or we discuss committee assignments. And I remember⦠my first day, and coming out of that meeting going, oh my god, it's a lot of committees.
09:28:00 And then going⦠and then I⦠advocating for myself to stay on some boards that I was already on.
09:28:08 The one that we go on is the Jefferson Community Foundation, but.
09:28:12 that was my own choice. So that one is not a requirement, that is my own choice.
09:28:19 tidy as a human showing up. So, it's also some of that. You know, we come in.
09:28:24 to these roles with a satchel of experience and community engagement that we're already.
09:28:30 Um, involved in, and⦠Um, we don't become different people.
09:28:36 So, we just have the opportunity to become. more involved in more places as commissioners.
09:28:43 And then, my understanding about the economic framework is the thing.
09:28:48 what Heather said, and I think the work we're about to do with our.
09:28:52 Intergovernmental collaborative partners.
09:28:58 Okay? Yeah. Great. Um⦠Uh, add just a little bit, you know, thank you, Julia, for bringing it up and, you know, the Stone Garden Grant, for those that don't know, is, uh.
09:29:09 you know, Palm County, Island County, many of our local partners. We used to be⦠subscribe to this grant with Homeland Security, which touches Border Patrol, and it does include.
09:29:21 Uh, sharing information and, um, you know. I also thought we were signed up again for Stone Garden based on budget presentations that we had last year, where we talked, uh,
the.
09:29:31 It was talked about, uh, I think the financial director talked about Stone Garden as a revenue option for the Sheriff's Department, so⦠I also talked to the sheriff, andâ¦
They're not, uh⦠they chose not to participate in that, found other ways to fill the holes, and there's no coordination going on with Border Patrol.
09:29:47 Uh, that doesn't make the federal situation any less chilling or frightening. It's, uh, it's.
09:29:56 It's⦠it's staggering, and I⦠I'm⦠I would love to have some idea of what we could do to⦠You know, Marshall, our federal forces to.
09:30:09 push back against this, uh, you know. militarization of American cities. It's pretty⦠it's pretty scary. So, I don't⦠I don't have any more solutions than that right now,
but we⦠I think we stay⦠Vigilant, as Julia said, you know, we are the local.
09:30:23 Part of the local legislative, uh, contingent, and our.
09:30:28 Our duty is to stand up when we need to stand up, and I think we'll stay vigilant.
09:30:33 Very. Um⦠I just add a little bit to that. Sure.
09:30:37 I think it is absolutely horrific. What happened in Minneapolis?
09:30:44 A few days ago, and⦠How do you⦠That⦠a good Samaritan acting out of the kindness of his own heart was murdered on the streets of Minneapolis.
09:30:56 Hmm. By the policies and people that are present⦠the president of our country is put in place.
09:31:02 And I'm absolutely horrified by that. And when they did the, um⦠American Anthem is part of the.
09:31:12 football game last night. Yes, I watched a football game. I did too. We all did, yeah. Super exciting.
09:31:19 Um⦠I was watching the fit, the expressions of the players and the.
09:31:26 faces of the people that the camera was panning over, and I was like.
09:31:32 Feeling like I was witnessing it meaning something very important.
09:31:37 the folks in the audience and on the field.
09:31:41 And to me. And I feel like⦠Anyway, sorry, Greg, I just⦠I am⦠I am⦠I'm completely horrified.
09:31:48 I need to take back what it means to be an American. Yeah. And, you know⦠It's hard to get up today.
09:31:55 Yeah. That was tough. And so I'm⦠I'm ready. And then there was⦠what was it?
09:32:02 Where was I reading? And I was like⦠Something about⦠I'm not gonna go online.
09:32:09 Go ahead. Carry on. Yeah, no, it's, it's⦠it leaves me speechless as well.
09:32:14 Um, and I think you guys covered, you know.
09:32:17 why we're on boards, and it⦠it depends. Depends on the board. You know, many of those state RCWs that require us to be on boards or elected officials to be on boards as well.
09:32:26 And, uh, that's just a big part of this job, is to represent Jefferson County in the multi-county organizations like OVA that you mentioned, or Hood Canal Coordinating Council,
or any of the myriad others.
09:32:38 So, uh, often we pay. dollars into, you know, we pay for the ADO, the Associate Development Organization, you know, more than other municipalities, and we want to have a.
09:32:49 have representation on that board, too. I mean, there's, you know, it's⦠part of it is we need to do it, part of it is⦠Stewardship up front. Stewardship of funds.
09:32:59 Yeah, but again, I just want to reiterate. To Ms. Yarno, I'm really interested in why you're asking that question, and if anyone⦠why you're asking it right now.
09:33:08 Um, and if, you know. If people see concerns about us or places where you think we should be, we want to hear about that, so⦠I appreciate you bringing the question. I'm desperate.
I'll let her speak for a second.
09:33:24 Um, and to, uh, Patty, thank you for the comments, and we will talk about the WealthWorks framework with writing communities. It was, uh.
09:33:33 presented, and I was⦠I was on the EDC then, and I kind of, um⦠to your specific question, like, we'll get into these deep questions, you know.
09:33:42 Uh, what is our understanding of economic development? And that's a, you know.
09:33:47 It's a challenging concept to get your arms around, but⦠Um, I did include the slide deck of the WealthRex framework, um, with the materials today, so we are going to talk
about that, and we can even kind of go through the 8, 9 capitals that are.
09:34:01 are listed in there and go through that exercise as well, but it just didn't, um, it didn't resonate when it was presented with the.
09:34:08 CDC board, the public sector cabinet in early 25.
09:34:12 And it wasn't adopted even as the EDC framework, though our current strategic plan does build on it, you know, in many of the same ways, but.
09:34:20 Um, uh⦠trying to transition from high-level focus.
09:34:26 This is⦠I'm quoting the ED now. On generally held values to a granular focus on deliverables within our specific economic development mandate.
09:34:34 in order to meet the expectations of our public funders. So that was the transition that.
09:34:39 Um, EDC kind of trying to get to. Specifically, what are we⦠what are we looking for?
09:34:46 us being the ICG and the four funders of the EDC for⦠Um, output from the EDC. And, um⦠That was not a decision I made, it was just sort of a general⦠shifting to more
specific, we want, you know, our funding partners wanted something different, and what was presented then, so it didn't resonate with the public sector cabinet.
09:35:08 Nor the ICD when it was presented. I mean, it just⦠You know, some things don't stick, but I still think there's a lot of value there, and so I did bring the slide deck back.
09:35:17 We don't have to go through the slide deck, but I hope you guys had a chance to review it. Also put in another report that Ray Sparrow, another EDC member, did in the packet
that is, uh, kind of.
09:35:28 dives into some of the numbers and, um, so we can⦠kind of use that data lens to look at our questions about economic development, so⦠Yeah, that was fascinating. Stick
around for the later conversation, probably at 11 o'clock online as well, and we'llâ¦
09:35:42 We'll get into that more. Um, now I⦠Didn't close public comment. I'll make one last call to see if anyone else has a final public comment.
09:35:54 And seeing none, I will close public comment and thank everyone that made comments, and we can.
09:36:00 move back to the consent agenda, umâ¦
09:36:07 The EPL contract, are we looking at. delaying that, or⦠No, I was just curious. Curious, maybe giving some answers. Maybe this is, like, a relatively small amount for such
a huge property and issue in our community, but we'll talk about it in our workshop.
09:36:22 Yeah, and that EPL workshop, we kind of talked about in the context of⦠DCD, but it's obviously central services, it's public health, it's DCD, it's more than just⦠one
department. Public Works, really. I mean, ultimately should be working out of that, too.
09:36:38 And it's not a question about sharing Mulan's work. I'm glad she's⦠on the team, so it was just⦠more reflecting on the issue. Mm-hmm.
09:36:47 Um, I'm happy to make a motion to approve the consent agenda for.
09:36:51 January 26th. I will second it. All right, it's been moved and seconded to approve the consent agenda as presented.
09:37:00 Uh, all in favor, indicate by saying aye. Aye, aye. Aye. All right, that is unanimous.
09:37:06 Okay, well, we're well ahead of schedule here today, so, um, I guess we can jump into briefing. We have 10 o'clock, we have, uh, Justine's.
09:37:17 Joining us online, maybe, or in person? Not positive about that, but I think it's gonna be online. Okay. As well as the EDCLP Jackson Director.
09:37:29 I'm sorry, who? Justine Wagner, do you know if she's gonna be in person or not? Yeah, I did just see an email from her, I did not read yet.
09:37:36 But she was going to be virtual, I'm sorry. Okay.
09:37:38 Well, let's, uh, do a little bit of briefing. If you want to comment on that before it even starts.
09:37:45 The⦠the idea is that we⦠We started talking about the APEX accelerator program, and you got a presentation from Justine late last year, or⦠Sometime in the fall. Andâ¦
We have supported that program in the past.
09:38:02 Uh, because there's a Jefferson County connection that's based out of town, and there are Jefferson County businesses that.
09:38:09 AFX accelerator. has worked with, but we didn't have information around those specifics, and there's some privacy concerns.
09:38:16 But, um, I think we can ask Justine, so really, this is an opportunity for the commissioners to ask any questions you have about the program, they're asking us whether we're
going to continue supporting at the same level.
09:38:30 At the same level, and so we just have a decision to make, and I guess I would suggest that you could make that decision today, or we could just.
09:38:35 listen to what she has to say, and ask her questions, we can come back then. You can direct my office to either prepare an amendment and to work on a budget issue to try to
get the money to do such a thing, or not.
09:38:47 But you might want to hold off on that conversation until we've had this session with Justine. And how much have we⦠it doesn't say in the agenda, 10,000?
09:38:56 Supported that program last year. But I thought the federal funding was disappearing on that program.
09:39:02 That's a question for her. Um, can⦠um⦠My question⦠oh, can you tell me⦠Who is on the public sector cabinet, and how does that get⦠For EDs.
09:39:18 General Manager of PUD, John Mara. That's what we call them. Yeah. The AT, the 18. Okay, got it. Well, it's⦠different, I mean, the A-Team meets, and they are also form the
public sector cabinet that meets with the EDC director.
09:39:33 quarterly or something? I'm not sure exactly. I see, so it's the four administrators. But it's the four administrators.
09:39:37 Okay, great. They have two names. Yeah, okay, I think that's what was confusing. Thank you.
09:39:47 Uh⦠Okay, does anyone want to take a look back?
09:39:53 In 2 minutes? Sorry, Heather, uh, if I can get there, yeah, let's see⦠I can start to⦠Yeah, uh, Martin Luther King Day last week, so⦠Um⦠Moved on to Tuesday. I was
with you all, and during our break.
09:40:14 Um, did an exit interview with the maintenance. manager for the Junction County Fairgrounds Association, so that was.
09:40:22 Good to hear what he was moving on to, to expand his career and.
09:40:28 Um, just many, many thanks to Danny McInerney for long, long work there at the Jefferson County Fairgrounds, and just left on really great terms, and.
09:40:39 Um, and with a huge offer to come back and work on volunteer projects and help come back and train folks, and⦠So, just wanna, um, give a big shout out for all of that great
work.
09:40:51 at the fairgrounds and, um, and his continued support of.
09:40:55 Of what's happening there. Um⦠budget meeting⦠course, on Wednesday the 21st, where I was having⦠I got to listen in, but not participate a whole lot. This last time,
I was having big.
09:41:09 computer problems, but then I brought my computer in and they fixed it.
09:41:12 So, um⦠I then went to the therapeutic health center meeting. That project is moving along. This is a collaboration between Discovery Behavioral Healthcare and Bayside Housing
Health Services.
09:41:26 with an interest in developing a. Um⦠A recovery housing.
09:41:34 program. Um, where people with substance use disorder with the housing component, and connecting them specifically with behavioral health services provided by Discovery Behavioral
Health Care.
09:41:46 And it's a model that they are⦠Um, they are kind of taking from Okanagan County, based on a program called Shove House, S-H-O-V-E, so that's something to look into and see.
09:42:02 what they're doing there, if anyone's interested in that, and um⦠Right me back to Discovery Behavioral Health Care in Bayside about whether you think that's needed here.
I certainly do. I'm excited that they're looking down that path.
09:42:16 I'm going to now kind of step away from their regular meetings, because they're just now going to go off and running, and I was kind of⦠hearing about it, and ask them to.
09:42:26 keep us posted on how they're doing, and maybe what funding sources they're looking for.
09:42:31 Um, consider writing letters of support, um, and, um, the other thing that I would like to stay close to is where they would⦠where they might want to put.
09:42:42 a program like this, and build something like this, so I think that is something that they may ask us to.
09:42:48 To look at, um, do we have any property that we might.
09:42:52 Be willing to throw in the mix? I don't know, and I haven't certainly made any commitments, but I did say that we would.
09:42:59 kind of think about that in terms of, you know, where we see services are needed most.
09:43:05 They are very much looking in this, you know, kind of port towns and core, close to services, close to public health.
09:43:12 But not necessarily close to any day center that we may be creating, so that those.
09:43:19 Um, populations can stay. Um⦠not necessarily in each other's faces. So, um, so that's that, and if there are good ideas about where something like this.
09:43:31 could be, um⦠could be built, they've already got some ideas, but, um, they're really open to the where and ideas about that, so⦠stay in touch. Um, have an NOTC executive
board meeting, um, we'reâ¦
09:43:48 gonna be kind of reseeding that board at the February.
09:43:53 Meeting. And, um⦠NODC⦠did I say EDC?
09:44:00 Okay, great. North Olympic Development Council, um, they're in good shape financially, which was a really touch-and-go, because so much of their budget was, um, from the federal
government.
09:44:15 Um, but they got a good contract to, um.
09:44:20 Um, work with⦠The EINs, so, um.
09:44:26 I think that's going to sustain them and provide a sound partnership. Yeah, environmental restoration networks. Exactly. So it's a⦠that is coming just in time, and is going
to be enough to keep their staff.
09:44:41 Working and providing good value and. Here for us to do regional economic development work, so that's very ironic that that's going to be the⦠It is. Yeah, I find that ironic
as well.
09:44:53 Um, I got to go to the Know Your Fire District presentation by East Jefferson Fire and Rescue and hear about, um, what their plans are, and their⦠Um⦠Leviolent, um, lift
that they're putting on their ballot, and is on the ballot right now, soâ¦
09:45:11 Turn in your ballots, um, because those should be in your mailboxes right now, not on your kitchen counters.
09:45:17 Um, and then I had an NRDC monthly meeting the very following day, but those are usually a week apart, but⦠Because of the year.
09:45:27 Um, then on Friday, Josh and I started the day bright and early with a city-county debrief and collaboration.
09:45:36 meeting where we got to just get together with our city partners and county partners.
09:45:42 to debrief about the encampment, um, circumstance, and just kind of do a whole.
09:45:50 lessons learned process, and how do we partner better together, and how do we move forward into addressing all of the things we have ahead about how to serve this population,
including the continuum of care discussion, which.
09:46:04 city's really interested in engaging with us in. So, that was productive, I think.
09:46:10 Um, built relationships and was really very positive, although intense meeting. It's a really intense.
09:46:17 topic, um, and we did make some mistakes all around, so⦠It's good to kind of discuss those and talk about how we can do better.
09:46:29 Um, Parks and Rec, uh, community services discussion directly after that with Public Works, where we were just kind of⦠Um, talking about our⦠our needs and, um, preparing
for a meeting.
09:46:44 Um, with the City of Bort Townsend next week.
09:46:46 So, we'll, um⦠You know, we're also discussing and strategizing about the public, um.
09:46:55 funding campaign. Um, which will not be a really broad ask everyone to contribute funding campaign for community services.
09:47:03 Um, through Jefferson Community Foundation, but will be more of a⦠if you're interested and have capacity right now in helping us to get through 2026 so that we can prepare
for a broader, longer-range sustainability conversation.
09:47:17 Then, um, we will be. Asking folks to contribute to that, so we were just preparing to put that.
09:47:25 that campaign out. And then I had a Climate Action Committee agenda planning meeting, um.
09:47:31 I'll be going to the City Council meeting with.
09:47:35 Um⦠with⦠Cindy Jean, who's the chair, and I'm the vice chair this year of the Climate Action Committee, will do the same presentation to the City of Port Townsend.
09:47:44 Next Monday. Um, so we were caring for that, and preparing for our agenda. And then I met with the Fairgrounds Association treasurer.
09:47:53 I had a great walk, and met with the Fairgrounds Association Secretary on Saturday. So, um, we're preparing for the strategic planning process that is⦠Happening on, uh, we'll
be wrapping that up on March 1st.
09:48:07 So, never a dull moment, huh? Yeah. Yeah, Fairgrounds is taking a lot of time right now, I have to say, um, but hopefully all to kind of lay the new foundation for this.
09:48:20 Epic amount of growth that they're having, and⦠really try to give them some structure.
09:48:26 And back to the conversation or the question we had at public comment, too, you know, why are we on these boards and committees? And for a long time, we were really⦠we had
an ex officio member on the fair board, and the FAIR board was basically an independent organization, and it was suffering, you know, at the point that we started both to.
09:48:44 Um, invest considerable financial resources in it, so they could actually afford to hire an.
09:48:50 Executive director. Also, there was a governance component that.
09:48:56 We moved in to start to help provide that, along with the city and the city council became a, you know, not just ex-officio, but an on, you know, on the board, uh, governor
as well, and I think that's been, um.
09:49:08 you know, to the benefit of the fairground, but that's just⦠it kind of⦠that's one of those ones that has shifted just in the last couple years, and we've taken on more
responsibility as we've invested.
09:49:17 Yeah, absolutely, and I would say that is definitely a place where you're⦠where I⦠and I⦠I feel like I'm there to steward the resources of the county, and to make sure
that that.
09:49:29 Um, huge asset. Um, it's 39 acres there, that, um⦠It gets used⦠better utilized, right? It's better utilized for the best.
09:49:40 Um, for the most people in Japan, so⦠try to do that. Um, at the same time, we're going to be having a board structure conversation this week, Tuesday.
09:49:51 night, um, and considering whether this⦠this really still needs to be a very active working board, and, um, and we're questioning whether the.
09:50:03 Commissioner and city council member really should be chair and vice chair.
09:50:08 Versus, which is what it is now, versus a chair and vice chair that are full, you know, volunteers that are really able to engage in that day-to-day operations, and.
09:50:18 Having the, um, City Council member and commissioner. step back into more of an advisory.
09:50:25 stewardship role. So, um, we're⦠Not⦠but full⦠full on the board, not as a direct non-voting advisor. So it's a conversation we're gonna have⦠bylaws that it's, uhâ¦
It's not. No, it's just the⦠it's just been convention. Yes, it's been convention, exactly. Exactly. So we think⦠we think they're ready to really kind of start.
09:50:47 Um, you know⦠not⦠not feeling so, kind of.
09:50:52 coordinated by the city and county, but⦠Um, but really, it's a matter of.
09:50:58 capacity. Commissioner and a city council member are not necessarily going to have the capacity that that board really needs in order to grow. So, that's what⦠that's a conversation.
09:51:09 Which I'm very open to, by the way. Okay, alright.
09:51:16 Thank you, Alan. Heidi, take a look back? Yeah, so I started last week, which was Tuesday, with, um⦠Before⦠before our Tuesday BOCC meeting with testifying on House Bill
2442.
09:51:32 Which is titled, Providing Local Governments Tax Resources and Fund Flexibility. It's a WASAC priority, this session.
09:51:40 For logical reasons, um, and it has. Embedded within 8 measures that provide different.
09:51:50 finance flex to counties. The one that I was most.
09:51:55 kind of the one that called me to testifying on that bill was⦠It also includes⦠it's now, um⦠house⦠what was House Bill 1805 last session, which was, um, Behringer's
Kids and Families Bill is now embedded within 2442.
09:52:11 And I helped⦠I worked alongside Representative Therringer last session in crafting 1805 and advocating for it through the entire session, so⦠I went and talked about jumping
mouse and the services they provide to the community, so that there was an example that legislators heard of one thing that this bill would do.
09:52:29 But the bill, um⦠uh⦠expands revenue options, creates new revenue options like this 1805, um, for behavioral health, children's services, housing.
09:52:43 And, um⦠real estate excise taxes.
09:52:48 For cities and counties. So, it's a complex bill. Like I said, it has⦠8 different measures in it. I encourage people to look at it, but⦠still on the train is still on
the track with, um, 2442. Is that considered an omnibus?
09:53:04 No, it's not called anonymous. No, it's not called on. So I'm wondering what the difference is when they have combined⦠It sounds like an omnibus, though, when they takeâ¦
because these were all⦠separate measures, some of them that WASAC has worked on in previous sessions that bundled into one.
09:53:22 Um, so that was⦠last Tuesday morning, and then I was, of course, with you guys.
09:53:30 All day on Tuesday. Um⦠Nothing Tuesday evening, that was a miracle.
09:53:39 Um, next two weeks are gonna be something every night, but Wednesday⦠morning, I was with you guys for the budget meeting.
09:53:48 And then jumped in the car and drove to Olympia, and then did my.
09:53:53 ecosystem Coordination Board, Shoreline Subcommittee meeting remotely. The issue that the ECB Shoreline Subcommittee is, um, taking on to tackle is hard armoring.
09:54:05 And I think I reported back when I came back from the Northwest Straits Conference in the Conner in the fall, or a few months ago.
09:54:14 That they had done an inventory in Island County of.
09:54:18 hard armoring projects that were permitted and unpermitted, and there was something like.
09:54:22 85 or 90% were unpermitted hard-armoring projects on the shoreline, so⦠This is⦠that study has raised this issue up in the whole Disown Partnership.
09:54:34 ecosystem. We can always coordinated accounts is looking at it, too. Yeah, yeah, and so Hood Canal Coordinating Council has the same kind of pot of money.
09:54:43 to explore this as⦠entity, correct? Or is that the⦠is that the house is⦠Uh, local immigrating organization, the Strait Environmental Canal. And that's where the funding
you're talking about NODC getting is coming from. Yeah. The Canal Coordinating Council is also a local integrating organization.
09:55:03 Yeah, our geography sits at the border of two local integrating organizations. And are we mostly in⦠geography that Hood Canal Courtney Council for Jefferson, I mean, Hood
Canal, you know, versus the street, basically. Right. Right, so I think I maybe⦠there's also some stormwater.
09:55:21 exploration dollars that⦠and is⦠is⦠who can all coordinating Council getting some of those dollars as well, no?
09:55:28 That does not ring a bell, and they're working on their slap, they wouldn't⦠they refuse to accept the acronym, because that acronym really slapped, but uh⦠strategic, uhâ¦
And I forget what the but they action plan, and it includesâ¦
09:55:43 Both, you know. working to quantify that themselves, and also starting to work, because when we talked at the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, it was also, you know, great,
show us that 85% of the, uh, armored, uh.
09:55:57 Um, coastlines are unpermitted. What are we gonna do about it? We don't have⦠enforcement capacity, so they're looking also at enforcement capacity as part of that, and kind
of a⦠a more geographic approach to it, but, you know, we all have different shoreline master programs, too, so there's, you know, inconsistencies and different political will and
different counties as well, so it's, uh, it's challenging, but⦠Which feeds into this little ACD update that.
09:56:25 ECB is kind of the policy. The policy arm of that stuff, these integrating organizations are the locals.
09:56:31 But the ecosystem Coordination Board is⦠Directly a⦠Department of the Puget Sound Partnership and works at the policy level, so, like, Don Dorley, the Puget Sound Partnerships.
09:56:44 legislative lead knows about hard armoring and is working that issue.
09:56:50 At the state level. And Sea Grant andâ¦
09:56:56 or Department of Ecology. Department of Ecology and Sea Grant did a presentation on this.
09:57:03 had the NODC Resilience Conference in November. So, that was really⦠it was a really interesting juxtaposition.
09:57:11 Of, um⦠Yeah, dip.
09:57:15 Department of Ecology planner did DOE's portion of that.
09:57:21 presentation, and it was very clear that she was very much like.
09:57:26 The rules are the rules, and, you know⦠Sea Grant folks were trying to kind of find a middle ground around, you know, and trying to understand why people are doing it, andâ¦
And how we can kind of meet.
09:57:39 meet people in the middle around⦠and also help people to understand the impacts of hard-armoring here just means.
09:57:48 deferring the problem down the bank, and so trying to understand.
09:57:53 Apology also sits on the ACB, and we're talking about how can we change the rules as well.
09:57:59 Right, so⦠Um, just finishing out, I think I can finish out in 2 minutes. Um, then I went to the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Coalition's legislative reception.
09:58:11 at the governor's mansion, which is always fun. Yeah, how was that? I always love looking at the art. There's really amazing art in the Governor's Mansion, and in the governorâ¦
I've never⦠I haven't been in Governor Ferguson's living room.
09:58:23 Until now. And, um⦠there's a bunch of art by a Ferguson hung on the walls in there, and so I need to find out. I'm sure somebody can just Google it and find out, but somebody
in his family in the 50s was quite a prolific artist. Maybe a father or mother, I'm not sure, soâ¦
09:58:39 He wasn't there, so I couldn't ask him, but anyway, it was exciting. Then I⦠Hightailed it over to the LSC Roundtable, um⦠And the director of the Department of Commerce
was there, meeting with Commissioners.
09:58:54 But I was only there for the tail end of that, and then the next morning⦠Um, joined, uh, the Legislative Steering Committee for the most of the day meeting.
09:59:05 And hightailed it back for the Solid Waste Advisory Council meeting.
09:59:09 In the afternoon, and then had a meeting with folks about, um, a development proposal.
09:59:16 in District 2, in the evening, so⦠Cool. Um, it was⦠it had been very full days, so then next day.
09:59:25 How to legislative check-in with Kelsey, and⦠things are going great with Kelsey. I'm just, like, so relieved.
09:59:32 that we made the switch, and she's awesome, and is⦠and we've made some refinements to how we.
09:59:39 what bills we're tracking and how she's reporting back, and how she's supporting us.
09:59:43 After going through a couple of weeks, so⦠going really well, and I forwarded you her week 3, and then her amended week 3 after we talk, so you'll see how⦠The thinking
is changing a little bit.
09:59:56 Um, then I went to KPTZ and did a Nature Now reporting about the Quimber Lost Wilderness, then Trust Land Transfer Program with Mallory.
10:00:07 Um, and then in the afternoon, Mallory and I went out, and that was⦠that was not our KBTZ show, that was Nan Evans and the Nature Now show.
10:00:16 Then I went out in the afternoon with Mallory and a chestnut.
10:00:21 Carbon, which is an entity that is facilitating carbon sales for private landowners, but it's interested in working with.
10:00:31 a small public jurisdiction and is looking at our sustainable forestry program.
10:00:36 To develop a way of selling some carbon off those trees we leave standing in Mallory's cuts.
10:00:42 So it would be⦠it wouldn't be a ton of revenue, but it would be a little additive revenue from those timber sales, and⦠also would, um, support.
10:00:52 Of selling into the Jefferson Timber Cooperative. Because they are only purchasing FSC-certified.
10:01:00 Wood and chestnut carbon. Um, has FSC certification as part of their model. Okay.
10:01:09 I mean, that was that. That was it. I went to demonstine out yesterday, which was fun. I looked on.
10:01:19 And, um⦠And then, on my personal note for the week, I did a croissant making school with my goddaughter on Saturday.
10:01:29 And I was⦠How much butter is in one croissant.
10:01:33 Well, I don't know the exact amount, but it's not as much as you think it is. Because I think it's all modernized. No. No, I mean, it's a lot, and you make this, like, island
of butter, and then you⦠wrap the dough around that and roll it in, but I always imagined it was going to take hours of lamination. Right, right, later. It was about 20 minutes of
laminating, but it's mostly letting the dough rest between⦠anyway.
10:01:56 I was⦠it was really worth it for me to learn.
10:02:00 to take the mystery out of croissants, alright? Yeah, that's cool. So, that's the end of my report, and I will⦠Sometime bring croissant. That's what I was hoping.
10:02:10 Today would have been the perfect time. Although, since Saturday, a lot of people have said.
10:02:17 Don't give up tamales. I'm like, don't worry! Great. You could do both.
10:02:24 Okay, um, great. Well, uh, thank you for that, and hello, Justine, and let's bring David Balaf over as well.
10:02:31 And I appreciate you making time today. I feel like you were just here, and maybe we didn't.
10:02:39 I think they're right.
10:02:36 Get all the questions asked that we needed to. So, um⦠Uh, I don't know, Josh, do you want to tee this up?
10:02:48 Um, sure, just really simply, Justine Wagner is our special guest today from the Apex Accelerator Program.
10:02:54 based out of the Collin County Economic Council, or EDC. We also have our EDC Team Jefferson Executive Director, David Ballard here, and the purpose is just for the commissioners
to hear from Justine and David about the Apex Accelerator Program, how it benefits.
10:03:09 Jefferson County businesses. And then also an opportunity to ask questions. We⦠Jefferson County, to support the program last year.
10:03:16 To the tune of $10,000, and⦠The, uh, Cloud County EDC was asking for a similar level of support this year.
10:03:25 And I don't know if you have a presentation, Justine, but we have a couple questions that maybe we could.
10:03:30 lay on you, and then⦠and then give you the cons? Would that work?
10:03:34 Yeah, that works great. Uh, I did not⦠I do not have a presentation, I just, um, presented in November, so I figured that would probably suffice. It sounds to me like this
was more follow-up. I do have information pulled up to share if needed, but let's start with your questions.
10:03:44 Yep. All right, well, I'll line up a few of the questions that we talked about, and then before you pass it over to you, see if either of my seatmates have⦠I missed anything.
One is.
10:03:57 kind of trying to understand the impact of Jefferson County as we move forward, and what are some of the businesses, if you can talk about them, or I think you might have talked
about them in your presentation, but we just forgot.
10:04:07 And then, um, I thought that the federal funding had kind of, uh.
10:04:13 been impacted and wondering what's⦠how's the whole program looking and the health of it is the $10,000⦠Um, still sufficient, and what's the overall funding look like?
What's Clown County's portion of this as well?
10:04:25 And then, um, and yeah, some local stories, and I think that was really it, and then, you know⦠Yeah, I don't know, and David, after Justine goes, you can talk about local
context, too. I know that you're a supporter of this program, so I'd love to hear your thoughts as well.
10:04:41 So, yeah, not too much.
10:04:43 Great. Yeah, thank you, I'd be happy to share that information. Actually, the timing is really good as well, because just last week.
10:04:50 Um, the APEX program was completely approved through the federal government for the next coming year, which, uh, we've been waiting on, and there was a lot of back and forth.
10:05:01 Um, the House had proposed $90 million for the program. The Senate had proposed $30 million for the program. The President's budget had $0 for the program.
10:05:11 Um, and the previous last 2 years of funding were at $55 million. So it was kind of all over the board, um, and I was, uh, quite nervous about it, uh, but the program as an
overall has been approved at $60 million, moving, um.
10:05:27 from 2026 to 2027, the years, the fiscal years for the APEX program are a little bit different than everybody else's, so, um, my 26.
10:05:39 27 year actually starts on June 1st. So, the current contract goes until May 31st, and the next one starts on June 1st. So.
10:05:46 That one will take me all the way through May 31st of 2027.
10:05:51 Um, currently. the local match for the program is 15%. It will remain at 15%. That dollar amount right now.
10:06:01 is, uh, $54,023.38. And in my proposed budget for the upcoming year is $55,000.
10:06:12 or 55,580.59. So, um, a slight increase. Uh, that had to do with, you know, bringing on new staff.
10:06:22 increased cost in travel. Um, and increased cost on programs, you know, small things like the Zoom membership went up from $17.41 to $18.39, you know, just⦠just⦠Small
increases, but um⦠that percentage remains at 15%.
10:06:39 And currently. Uh, we get $10,000 from Jefferson County from you guys. Thank you for that. And, uh, the remainder of the funds.
10:06:48 all come from Clown County. Between Clown County itself, the City of Port Angeles, the City of Squim, the City of Forks.
10:06:56 Um, they all put some into it, and I was asked her kind of a comparison of what.
10:07:02 The amounts for those entities are. I did not provide that, only because it's a little bit different. It's not quite comparing apples to apples.
10:07:11 So, all of those contracts are with. the column EDC, they're not specific to the APEX program, but the APEX is one of the deliverables there.
10:07:22 So it's not like that money is all going directly towards the APEX program, but the remaining, you know, $44,023.38.
10:07:31 a local match is all covered from those entities.
10:07:35 Um, so that⦠and, you know, of course, as my costs increase, I would love to ask for more money. However, I know that everybody is kind of in a similar budget crisis, so,
um, I'm just hoping to receive the same amount as I have in the past year.
10:07:49 of that $10,000. Um, which will leave a remainder of $45,580.59 that would be covered by Clown County.
10:08:00 Um, I did create kind of a list of some of the clients I serve in Jefferson.
10:08:05 I do have to ask permission. So, kind of between Wednesday of last week and this morning, I reached out to them, and then the ones that got back are the ones that, um, I'm happy
to share.
10:08:17 Um, so, Armstrong Consolidated, or ACI Boats, Goodman Sanitation, SoundHub Holdings, Pacific Environmental.
10:08:25 Canyon consultants, Fenray Ice Blasting, Jefferson Timber Collective, Brands That Shine.
10:08:31 for Townsend Shipwright's Epic Operations. Coyote Campfire Chow, Outbound Marine.
10:08:37 And MSA, or Marine Surveys and Assessments, um, are all businesses that we're willing to let me share, kind of, their stories.
10:08:44 Um, I was also asked to kind of separate.
10:08:46 Port Townsend, like, with businesses within the city of Port Townsend, and then businesses in the county.
10:08:52 And, uh, 1, 2, 3⦠8 of those businesses.
10:08:58 uh, mentioned our in Port Townsend. And, um, 5 are in the county.
10:09:04 So, a few more in the City of Port Townsend, uh, just from that, that pool of businesses.
10:09:10 Um, all of those businesses listed have received. federal awards or local awards. Actually, there's only one that's only received a local award there, so⦠Um, and that's been,
right, ice blasting. Who recently did the⦠the building there, I believe, some of the⦠the doors and such.
10:09:26 Yeah, they need more. That was your big example, and it was perfectly timed when you came, so appreciate them.
10:09:32 Yeah, and, um, you know, Aaron, he's a great example.
10:09:36 Um, of a client who comes to the APEX program, who⦠severely wants to diversify where their money's coming from.
10:09:44 Um, maybe is a little bit slow on the private sector. They still love their business, they want to keep working, um, but they've got a⦠they've got to seek some other avenues
of revenue.
10:09:53 Uh, he was nowhere near set up for government contracting.
10:09:59 I⦠we had to kind of help him even through some of the basic business setup he had.
10:10:03 He had a sole prop, then he decided that he was going to switch.
10:10:07 Um, the structure of his business, we helped him through that process.
10:10:11 We helped him get set up in SAM.gov on MRSC rosters and through webs. Uh, we introduced him to.
10:10:19 Um, Jim Niles, Dave Walls, some of the Navy representatives, because there were some upcoming bids that he thought he might have a good shot at.
10:10:27 So we did, you know, face-to-face connections for him there. We helped him with his capability statement and his quad chart for marketing materials towards government agencies.
10:10:37 Uh, we reviewed his proposal for. Um, a job out at the Corrections Center in Collin County, and for the courthouse.
10:10:46 Um, we kind of help make sure that he's got all the pieces so that his bid is, um, considered complete and responsible.
10:10:54 And, um, just help him through the whole flow of things, and then sometimes we have to help businesses to.
10:11:01 This is an example from Collum County, but. Just recently, we had a small business in Colomb County do work for the Coast Guard.
10:11:09 They were missing a piece of paperwork, there was a little bit of a language barrier.
10:11:12 Um, and they weren't paid, so it had been, like.
10:11:17 6 months, almost 180 days since they've been paid, so we help walk through that process. We've not had that issue with any Jefferson County businesses yet.
10:11:25 Um, but that doesn't mean it won't rise, you know?
10:11:28 And then there's a wide variety, you know, looking at the⦠just those clients that I listed, there's a wide variety of industries that are.
10:11:36 are touched upon as well, and, um, we help them all with the, with the full scope of services and government contracting.
10:11:45 Great. Thank you for that, Justine, and yeah, I think the ice blasting was maybe the principal one you shared before, but⦠It's great to get the additional context.
10:11:55 And how many total companies are you guys working with? Is that information easy to get?
10:12:02 Roughly?
10:12:01 Yeah, we, um, serve 135 businesses overall, and those are broken up into a few different categories, um, but 42 of those businesses are in Jefferson County.
10:12:12 And I come to Jefferson County two days a week.
10:12:16 Um, in person, and I either utilize, thanks to David, the conference room at the EDC there, to meet with people.
10:12:24 Or I go out to the site, the business's location, which I really enjoy, um, because they get a⦠I get to understand more about what they're doing, which I do feel helps me.
10:12:34 Um, better assist them in preparing bids. Um, and then I recently went through the Jefferson EDC Business Advisory Program as well, partnering with them, and, um, and continuing
to partner with them to expand.
10:12:49 the reach of that program for Jefferson County businesses as well.
10:12:55 Right. Justine, you said the remainder of⦠so you⦠it sounds to me you have, for your local.
10:13:01 funding. There are four contributors, is that right? Jefferson County, Clallam County, City of Forks, and City of Swim, is that? It's just the Clown, you can see. They allâ¦
And see these credentials.
10:13:13 And⦠yeah, and City of Port Angeles. All of those entities have a contract with the Klalam EDC, and one of the deliverables is.
10:13:22 the APEX program. So those are all entities that I report my metrics to.
10:13:26 Okay, and have you ever presented to the City of Port Townsend or asked them to contribute?
10:13:32 I have not, but I do have a meeting, uh, I believe it's on this coming Tuesday.
10:13:39 Uh, with⦠Oh, forgive me, uh, his name. Is it John?
10:13:44 From⦠John Morrow, the City Manager.
10:13:46 Yeah, thank you, yes, and the PUD and the port⦠I'll be meeting with them all. This is my first full year as the program manager.
10:13:58 Great.
10:13:57 And so I am trying to kind of expand both the program and expand my ask so that, you know, it can be lessened, the burden can be lessened upon different stakeholders within
the community.
10:14:09 Great, thank you. Any other questions before we give David the floor?
10:14:19 All right. Thank you so much, Justine. It was, uh⦠Good refresher and context, David, do you⦠what do you have to contribute to this conversation?
10:14:28 Commissioner Brotherton, um, Kyle, nice to chat with you. Just a quick, uh, point of clarification.
10:14:34 the funding that we're talking about here. My understanding is the.
10:14:38 most recent $10,000 funding, as well as the proposed $10,000 funding for the next year.
10:14:43 Um, would not come from the county's general budget, but from PIF. So we're talking about a $10,000 set-aside from PIF.
10:14:51 Um, just to clarify that, and it's an action that the commissioners would directly take.
10:14:58 I did not.
10:14:58 So I think that might have gotten a little confused in the back and forth. Uh, yeah, just to⦠a couple things, just to put a⦠underline under what, um, somewhat Justine
mentioned. Bottom line, yeah, Jefferson and column EDCs, we work closely together. Um, we're real happy to work with Justine. Um, like she mentioned, she was a student in our Recompete
business advisor.
10:15:18 training course she's currently leading a new community of practice for those graduated peer business advisors to keep everybody engaged in the curriculum and leveling up our
impact and reporting to our re-compete program manager, Phoebe Reed.
10:15:34 Um, as a⦠also as a graduated business advisor, Justine will also be advising under that umbrella of Recompete and reporting her own metrics to Phoebe and our team, in addition
to the APEX metrics.
10:15:46 Um, I would just emphasize sort of broadly in this, um, this is all kind of what we see as working together, um, as a coalition in the North Olympic Peninsula, another outgrowth
of the re-compete application and implementation.
10:16:01 Uh, and just another manifestation of that collaboration. Speaking personally, um, and organizationally, I suppose, Clown County, um, EDC, it's a real powerhouse EDC.
10:16:16 Maclear, in addition to serving as a commissioner for the Port of Port Angeles, it's on the Executive Committee of the Washington Economic Development Association, so we really
benefit from coordinating and collaborating closely.
10:16:29 Um, we see this particular program as a real value add for us to tap into their expertise and benefit.
10:16:36 Uh, from economies of scale. Final thing I'd mention, it's especially important that we be collaborating, you know, always, but right now we're going through transition. Washington
State Department of Commerce.
10:16:50 Uh, director, uh, seat just became vacant. They've got an acting, and that position is on, um.
10:16:56 on the street right now, so, um, it's especially important that we're, um, kind of speaking with one voice and working together, both at, sort of, the leadership levels as well
as at the working level.
10:17:05 Uh, we're real happy to work with Justine, and look forward to moving forward with that. Thanks.
10:17:12 Great. Thank you, David. I think it did get lost, the revenue source for that. Were you aware of that, or is that the⦠I think I need to look into it more, because frankly,
I'm looking at the PIFT list, and there is funds for the EDC from PIF, but not the APEX Accelerator Program specifically. That's something we can just work out or fix. That would be
a recommendation from the fifth board to the UCC, and then the budget appropriation hearing, maybe another reason for that fifth meeting. I think it would be a lot more palatable from
our generalâ¦
10:17:41 perspective to have funds⦠additional funds to the EDC, or to⦠the EDC-affiliated program go through PIF, but it does require a PIF action if it's not already.
10:17:53 part of the monies that have already been dedicated towards the EDC through 2026. I assume that's not the case, David.
10:18:02 Yeah, I would recommend we bundle those two recommendations together. I'm planning on presenting to the PIF board for renewal of the EDC's.
10:18:11 Um, core operational funding, and I would package this additional $10,000 as another extension of our impact.
10:18:19 Just for the public's, uh⦠benefit we haven't described that acronym, which is the Public Infrastructure Fund. That's what we mean by the FIF board leaks.
10:18:30 those recommendations. Um⦠Can I⦠can you just clarify, Justine, the funding for⦠that comes through⦠you mentioned that really comes.
10:18:41 that comes from. Clallam County as a whole is representative of the three cities of Squim, Forks, and.
10:18:50 pork⦠sorry. Forks, and Port Angelus. Um, is that because the funding you're actually receiving is directly through the Clallam EDC, which is representative of those three
cities?
10:19:05 Yes, the funding is directly through the Colom EDC, so our contracts with them, um, are laid out with the deliverables that the EDC.
10:19:13 will, um, complete for them and then report upon, and then the deliverables that APEX will complete and report on.
10:19:20 Mm-hmm. Yeah, so, I mean, that's a model, too, is contributing.
10:19:24 additional funds through the EDC and letting it come through BARS.
10:19:30 Interesting to just see what's the⦠What's the best way to be able to represent it? Yes, that's⦠Sounds like Jackie's having the right conversation. Yes, thank you for,
for, um⦠going and presenting that value.
10:19:45 to the City of Port Townsend as well. Because my understanding, and David, you could jump in if this is incorrect, is that.
10:19:52 the partners, Jefferson County, Port of Fort Townsend. and City of Port Townsend, I'm not clear about PUD's role in this particular arrangement, but the parties have a multi-party
agreement to help fund.
10:20:05 EDC Team Jefferson. Separately, there's the contribution through the public infrastructure fund to support EDC Team Jefferson.
10:20:14 And then there's this Apex accelerator addition. We paid out of general fund dollars, which I believe, I really do believe, was paid out of the general fund this year.
10:20:22 Despite what⦠I mean, I'm not positive, but I'm fairly certain about that. Because the task is being shifted, I would think. Right, and I think that's great, because I do
think it's actually a multi-party discussion, and I'm glad that Justine's meeting with the rest of the A-Team. I think I might be in on that tomorrow, too, but we'll see.
10:20:38 Um, to have this discussion, because I do think it's just part and parcel of the overall partnership, and that that entire partnership.
10:20:45 just timing-wise needs to be reconsidered moving forward because of the expiration date for some of those agreements. So, I think having this conversation, but I realize, of
course, Justine's waiting.
10:20:55 to hear an answer about this year's funding, so I do think we need to accelerate the conversation, if you will.
10:21:01 And have, uh, have that PIF board meeting sooner in 2026 than normal. Yeah, and we talked about other needs for that, too, so⦠Um, just you said this year's funding, so even
though⦠is your federal funding is on the fiscal year, but your local funding is on the calendar year, is that right?
10:21:21 Yes, um, because our local funding just goes based off of everyone's⦠everyone else's calendar year, yeah.
10:21:25 Or budgets. Okay, thank you.
10:21:29 Which is good. And I think it's part of⦠I mean, the PIP board and⦠As we talk about the ICG, you kind of⦠it's⦠part and parcel the same thing, and I think we should
be talking about, uh, that too, and, you know, one of the things that.
10:21:42 It would miss that will come back to our economic conversation, um, and Josh and I, you and I talked about this a little bit, but is, you know, we have a bunch of public agencies
working for economic development. This is one of the few examples of public-private partnership, really. You know, as we're enabling private companies to bid for public projects, that's
a way to kind of.
10:22:05 raise the⦠raise all the⦠raise the tide, I guess, and uh⦠of the applicants as well. Yeah, and I⦠I guess I'm just⦠I'm, uh, eager to maybe broaden the conversation
about PF and our approach to PFN, and I believe, like, as we work with the ICG on a framework.
10:22:23 This might be that the leading edge of that⦠of that⦠of that, um⦠spirit, so to speak, you know, that's what we can use for these.
10:22:33 shared goals, you know, shared plan⦠goals, plans, frameworks.
10:22:38 all working in together. Yeah, for sure. Framework to develop the goals, to⦠To identify the plans that work to the goals? Yeah. Well, I'll just explicitly say that I'm a
big supporter of this program. I think.
10:22:49 Um, I think this is exactly the kind of.
10:22:53 Um, programs that⦠That is, you know, such a win-win for, um⦠For both our government and for our private sector, as you basically just described. So, um, I'm excited to
see how we can continue and enhance our involvement and.
10:23:10 And I think the enhancement is really through better partnership with our⦠with our other.
10:23:16 jurisdictional partners, um, to make sure we're⦠We're maximizing our contribution and, um⦠the benefit. So, thanks for taking the time to do this extra bit, Justine. It's
really helpful to kind of.
10:23:32 As we think this through to answer these additional questions.
10:23:36 get a little more granular.
10:23:38 I'm happy to, and um, you know, if you have more, please feel free to call me, or I can hop on another meeting here, whatever works best for you.
10:23:46 Thank you. What's the picture in your background there, Justine?
10:23:49 Um, that was from a construction project that actually happened in 2022.
10:23:55 Um, and it was just pulled⦠I just pulled it from the Washington State, um, project.
10:24:01 Nice, okay. It looks like the Olympic Discovery Trail. Yeah, 30 lakes of basketball.
10:24:18 Right.
10:24:02 Yeah. Yeah, I think it's fun because I like to change up my background with different government projects that have happened, so that at least if I'm talking about APEX, it
can be a conversation starter of, oh yeah, this is a project that ran through the Washington State Electronic Business Solutions, or, you know, kind of, kind of lead into it.
10:24:26 Yeah.
10:24:25 Okay, great. Well, thanks for making time, glad to see you invested in the business classes, and part of the system that we're working on building with the ReCompete grant,
too, so⦠Appreciate your work.
10:24:36 Alright, well, thank you so much, and you guys have a wonderful day.
10:24:40 Alright. You too, thanks, Justine. Thanks. I'm just gonna note a technical difficulty, just in case it⦠my Zoom has shut down and restarted now 8 times in the last⦠so I
don't⦠I'm continuing to look up their.
10:24:54 And hopefully, I can still see everything working up there, but if⦠I think this might just be my computer. So far, I think it is. David, you haven't seen any problems yet,
have you?
10:25:06 Okay, thanks. And David, you're welcome to stick around. I, you know, we didn't invite you for the next part of the conversation, but we can dive into that conversation, and
it certainly, uh.
10:25:15 Um, relevant. A little break? I'll breathe there, yeah. Yeah, well, let's take a quick 5 minutes and come back, and we'll recess for 5 minutes, come back at 10.30, and we'll
jump into the framework on Frameworks.
10:25:28 Thank you. But you're welcome to stick around, David, if you're able to.
10:33:16 All right. Yeah.
10:33:20 Sorry, took us a few more minutes to get everyone back, but I will, uh, call us back into session.
10:33:26 And, um, you know, this is⦠I did the agenda request. This is really just⦠we had time today, so this doesn't have a lot of background in front of it. I did, uh, create
a little⦠slide deck, just to kind ofâ¦
10:33:40 quarter my thoughts is we can move through this.
10:33:43 Um, we also, as I said before, included both the, uh, slide deck of the WealthWorks framework that was presented to the ICG and the public sector caminant, as well as, um, Ray
Sparrow's data-driven.
10:33:58 You know, data points for economic, uh, um, development that talks a lot about, uh.
10:34:05 kind of the, uh, NAICS numbers, and looks at some real, uh, troubling statistics, like, we're the most.
10:34:11 You know, there's more inequality, less housing affordability, um, and pretty much every metric that is tracked, we are assessing, as we well know, right? So⦠Long end of
the spectrum. Wrong end of the spectrum on lots of places. So, I'll share my just thoughts on how to frame this conversation, and it's pretty flexible as we move through it. There's
been a request for public comment at the end of this.
10:34:36 Um, so happy to do that. Oops. Right? So here's just, uh⦠and this slide deck is to Biddy Mulligan, hopefully you're all familiar with that tune. Right, because I just heard
it. Yeah, um, but if you need it, again, of course, let me know, and you might be able to⦠Absolutely. Anytime. Um, that's getting old again right there. Uh, they say she was a, uh.
10:34:58 you know, I just⦠I was thinking about this folk character who's kind of.
10:35:04 represented a change in the economic development. of Dublin, and what do we need to hold on to? What do we want to let go of? How do we⦠plan for change that brings everyone
along with us. We still want to make sure that Biddy Mulligan can.
10:35:19 live in Jefferson County, and I think that's, um⦠not always the outcomes that we get, so⦠We also want Biddy Mulligan's grandchildren to be able to live in Jefferson County.
Indeed.
10:35:35 Yeah, she's got the best fruit. She's down here in the Olympic Peninsula, of course, she's⦠immigrated. Uh, so, uh, just a couple slides to kind of start the conversation,
and then we can⦠we can look through the WealthWorks one. I also set up the spreadsheet so we could go through and kind of.
10:35:52 grade the different capitals that WealthWorks talks about, and I thought that would be a good exercise, too. We have a little bit of leisure to kind of move through this. So,
but feel free to take us elsewhere as we journey through this.
10:36:05 Well, we'll start with driving documents, and this is really⦠and partners.
10:36:10 Um, we'll see some Billy Mulligan quotes through here, but⦠You know, how do we⦠just kind of thinking, how do we decide.
10:36:19 What are our values? And I guess the biggest plans are the strategic plan, the comprehensive plan that we're going through right now, as well as.
10:36:26 You know, the community wildfire Protection Plan, our forestry program, we have a bunch of documents that should serve as the bulwark for what we want to happen, right? We have
these plans.
10:36:38 And then our partners, you know, we have EDC Team Jefferson and NODC, both of our local.
10:36:44 conveners of the economic development conversation, so I guess I⦠Um, I don't⦠I don't want to forget them. As we move through this.
10:36:53 And then⦠and these are all things that can be changed, and that we rely on. And one of the things that, as we.
10:37:00 take this conversation back to. Um⦠the ICG in February, so we're hosting the next ICG meeting still support, but we're putting the agenda together, and⦠You know, there'sâ¦
there was a presentation, of course, made by kind of the public sector cabinet about⦠about.
10:37:18 having a consultant to help. facilitate a framework that one presumes would allow us to create.
10:37:27 goals, shared goals, to identify specific plans to. reach those goals. It's kind of how I see it, but⦠Open conversation here. Um, we obviously didn't⦠quite see the plan
fleshed out, um, and there's been a variety of different suggestions to both members of the EDC and the different municipalities, and internal conversations about.
10:37:52 Whether it's even helpful for us to think about what is.
10:37:55 the Jefferson County. governments, um, desire to⦠or a concept of economic development, what do we want to do, and what are the.
10:38:06 levers that we can pull. And so, it seems like one of the things with ICG that is, uh.
10:38:15 fungible is the joint resolution. So, like, right now, it exists kind of as.
10:38:23 Our⦠our organizing structure. Um, and we can, you know, whether we look at.
10:38:28 Port Hadlock, or, um, I know something that Dave has been talking about is the new Opportunity Zones. You know, the Opportunity Zones have been⦠Um, two bills happen on the
federal level, right? The one big, beautiful bill made it permanent, and then there was also a clarifying bill about the Opportunity Zones.
10:38:45 We might lose them, and they're gonna rejigger which⦠where are the opportunity zones, but Fort Hadlock, Quilstein, Brennan, Brennan over to the West End.
10:38:54 Those are pretty much our opportunities zones, and they were really⦠a lot of people thought, kind of.
10:39:02 basically just, I think they were used for a lot of timber investments, and some of those, there have been guardrails put around some of those.
10:39:07 Um⦠uh⦠Around the project that I don't understand too fully, but it's basically, you know, 5-year tax.
10:39:15 deferral, and now it's a rolling program, 5-year tax deferral to incentivize investment in the Opportunity Zones.
10:39:22 So, I know that's a focus of David, that's an area that we can look at, and the ICG joint resolution is something that we could.
10:39:33 Um, manipulate. as, as, uh, organizing document to.
10:39:39 manifest a shared idea of what we want to focus on in economic development, so⦠I'm just going to fly through this, and then we can talk⦠feel free to interrupt.
10:39:48 Okay. And these are just kind of the big questions.
10:39:52 Biddy Mulligan again, we're 4,000. Um, what are the barriers, what are the opportunities? I mean, I think we've talked a lot about some of the barriers.
10:40:01 Housing, you know, we know that our workforce housing is in dire distress. We have.
10:40:06 I see a lot of infrastructure problems. Opportunities, we, you know, there's, uh⦠There's a strong⦠you know, maritime industry, there's a lot of good partnerships that
are happening, but what are the barriers and opportunities?
10:40:21 I don't even really have anything to add to this, but⦠The big question we want to answer is, what is economic development in.
10:40:29 Jefferson County, right? And that's something that, you know, Patty asked earlier today. The WealthWorks slide deck, it might be beneficial.
10:40:36 to go through it quickly, um, I'm moving through this pretty fast.
10:40:41 And there were⦠so, past EDC products have done a little bit, as we talked about, to.
10:40:47 kind of, uh, help us frame this problem. So, if it's alright with you, I'll just share that one real quick, and we can walk through that.
10:40:54 WealthWorksâ¦
10:41:02 Hi dear.
10:41:09 Yeah. Um, so, this is really the work of Nick Walker, principally, who is at the EDC.
10:41:18 Um, but it⦠It also touches⦠on the plans of the different agencies, right? So, talking about thriving communities as the basis that we're looking for.
10:41:32 Um, but here's an answer to the question, what's the, uh⦠Goal of an economic framework?
10:41:39 And it's really⦠pretty clearly laid out there.
10:41:48 I refuse to read slides, so I'm just going to read that. You know, one thing that's always⦠a question for me, and I find beneficial, is⦠When you set, like, a roadmap.
10:42:00 A framework meeting. going back to that.
10:42:04 Periodically, like, every 6 months, just⦠How are we doing against these goals we set? Because.
10:42:12 I think it's just my inability to juggle. 400 things every week, but⦠It's helpful to reground in, like, the intention that was set initially.
10:42:23 And I find that lacking in our processes. Um, as a community.
10:42:29 Like the ICG, um, joint resolution. It would be great to revisit that, because that was written during COVID times, I imagine. Yeah.
10:42:39 And it probably needs a refresh. I mean, it's been adjusted just a little bit when we have a problem with, like, getting a quorum or something like that, but, like, as something
that's organizing the work output, I agree, and I think that.
10:42:50 I mean, that's probably a good, regular agenda item for the ICG. If we're going to agree on this.
10:42:57 framework, this roadmap that we're using, then we should take a⦠yeah, take a moment to look at it at every meeting.
10:43:05 I think that I've been maybe thrown off. a little bit in terms of intention.
10:43:13 By the use of the word framework. We're not using⦠the same, like, strategic plan, or, um, you know.
10:43:25 set of goals, or anything, you know, that kind of set of those.
10:43:30 that terminology. We've specifically been using the word. framework, like, it's something one step broader than⦠an active plan. And I wonder⦠what the intention is around
that at the ICG level. Maybe it's that this is an intergovernmental.
10:43:52 framework, so it's⦠because it's in our jurisdictional.
10:43:57 Um, that⦠that have⦠like, the how each jurisdiction.
10:44:03 lets that hit the ground, and really, like, what the task lists are for each.
10:44:07 You know, that we have, for example, in a⦠in, you know, certain strategic plans. Maybe that looks different in each organization. So, the framework, maybe, is that.
10:44:18 It's something that all four entities and beyond that, you know, even.
10:44:24 Junior taxing districts, and⦠And those who, um, you know, that's a question for me, how broad is this? I struggle with it, too. It feels⦠you know, because I often want
to drill down to.
10:44:36 Actually, I think infrastructure is something that we need, right? And I've said that many times. Well, here's the project, let's see if we do the project. I think a framework.
10:44:45 My understanding is that⦠allowing us to.
10:44:49 to find how⦠Uh, our⦠our specific project goals align with another group's project goals.
10:44:58 And⦠and make it, oh, we're going to do this thing. Otherwise, we'll all end up doing our own stuff, but⦠Maybe it's really just as simple as what does economic development
mean to each of these.
10:45:10 jurisdictions each of these governments, because, um. I mean, I think that's what I've been referring to as the.
10:45:19 series of hard conversations that we need to have as a county.
10:45:24 Because we are really still very much at odds in terms of what we think.
10:45:30 this community needs. Um, to thrive.
10:45:35 And, um, and what economic, you know, how much economic development in its traditional sense really even plays a part in.
10:45:45 how this community wants to see itself thriving is.
10:45:48 I think we're not all on the same page about that, so maybe this sort of.
10:45:53 sense of framework is really about getting us those.
10:45:57 broader, like, where do we agree on these things, and therefore, where can we move forward together? Um, you know, our long-standing.
10:46:06 aversion to. Um, you know, big box stores, and⦠And, you know, that kind of economic development that we associate directly with urban sprawl. Right. Um, I think that'sâ¦
That's very ingrained in our culture, andâ¦
10:46:23 And therefore, kind of puts us in a bit of a, like.
10:46:29 Well, then, yeah, yeah, and also in a⦠Um, stymied.
10:46:34 You know, stalemate a little bit to figure out, like, well, then what⦠does the community want, and⦠I mean, I'll go on⦠To be clear, I'm not saying we need to go in the
direction of big box stores, that's not what I'm saying at all.
10:46:48 Um, I think we⦠our community has benefited significantly in many ways from.
10:46:53 Um, from kind of identifying that that's not what we want. But we have not⦠we have then failed to go to define what we do want, and how we get there.
10:47:05 now we're seeing these local jurisdictions, particularly. counties that are really suffering for.
10:47:15 in our ability to provide the services that our community has come to expect. And to me, that's what, like, for the county.
10:47:21 that's what economic development looks like to me. It looks like.
10:47:26 roads. Yeah, yeah, infrastructure being able, you know, us being able to find the funding to create the infrastructure that our community needs in order to grow in the way it
wants to grow, it means.
10:47:38 that revenues from property taxes and sales tax is sufficient to provide the level of service that this community wants.
10:47:46 So, you know, it's no, you know. the stake that our conversation about community services and parks also needs to kind of.
10:47:56 happen alongside this conversation, as those are. services that are not mandated are suffering, you know, are struggling to be.
10:48:05 sustainable and to be paid for. Um, so, like, how do we use this conversation.
10:48:13 to have those broad⦠conversations yet, get somewhere with it, and not just have a philosophical conversation that doesn't go anywhere.
10:48:25 Just⦠I mean, part of it is⦠What are the⦠looking at the different levels of the questions, right? Like, what are the things that need to be changed?
10:48:33 As a state legislative level, the 1% property tax cap.
10:48:37 That's something that Wasatch focused on. You know, how do we⦠how do we⦠how do we meet inflation? Right. Because we're not. We're not. And then, looking at the existing
sectors that we have, like the hospitals, our biggest employer.
10:48:51 The milk, uh, marine trades, you know, the⦠and how are this⦠it'd be interesting to know how this⦠if the sectors themselves are imagining.
10:49:01 how they're engaging with economic growth. And then what are their biggest hurdles? I know, I know workforce housing is a huge one.
10:49:09 Um, but what are, you know, so engaging the sectors that we have.
10:49:15 And the conversation feels important to me. And what's our job there, right? I mean, it's not just about, you know, you talked a lot about county revenues and everything, but
how can we support.
10:49:24 Workforce housing, because that's what's missing, how can we support.
10:49:28 the good-paying jobs. I mean, we're, you know, been thinking a lot about this with Recompete and other programs. I mean, we made a⦠25 years ago, made a very conscious shift
from natural resources to tourism, away from industry, away from⦠to tourism, and that's⦠Those aren't good paying jobs, and we still don't have the infrastructure to grow that
industry. So, I mean, if you look at.
10:49:50 that that industry, it grows⦠it's grown because of its.
10:49:53 point of me. That's just my analysis, a systemic change in the.
10:49:58 onboarding of short-term rentals, creating new capacity for people to actually stay in Jefferson County. Otherwise, we'd have the.
10:50:05 Same, you know, 3 hotels in town and 2 hotels outside of town that we always had, and⦠or 3.
10:50:12 Um, one of those is not even a hotel anymore, so it's like, there's a⦠Where's the capacity? Where do we want to put our emphasis? But we know that workforce housing is.
10:50:21 like, a big piece of it. But let's keep walking through this, though. That's right.
10:50:26 Um, thriving versus resilience versus surviving? Is thriving just, uh, um⦠a keywordâ¦
10:50:37 Uh, pretty good image, credit Nick Walker. Um⦠yeah.
10:50:45 For this⦠Hard to find⦠Um, but it's no longer a buzzword. I like this slide a lot, because, um, City of Port Townsend mentions it in their mission, Port of Fort Townsend,
PUD.
10:50:57 And Jefferson County, we all talk about. creating a thriving community is what we're trying to get to, so⦠How do we⦠how do we get there?
10:51:08 Uh⦠said, we've got a new SEDS coming out.
10:51:14 Um, it's a community economic development strategy. Different column, Jeff is gonna have⦠county have different differences in priorities, you know, and sometimes the systems
change, like we were talking about no big box stores in Jefferson County, that's definitely a value, and we had aâ¦
10:51:32 big revenue shortfall for that, as everyone went to Walmart or Costco in adjacent counties.
10:51:39 COVID and destination-based sales tax change that, that⦠Uh, proportion back. I don't significantly, um, but⦠Um, you know, it's not⦠as you say, it's the state and federal
landscape, as well as what do we do locally that we consider. I mean, isâ¦
10:51:57 As we try to build. a thriving⦠a thriving community.
10:52:03 Um, WealthWorks was this idea from the, um, Aspen Institute.
10:52:09 Um, these are the 8⦠capitals, and I thought maybe I would stop sharing this at that point.
10:52:19 Back here⦠and⦠I just translated that, uh, rebuilt this for Excel.
10:52:31 I think this is where⦠looking at these eight capitals and, um⦠is, to me, where the conversation starts to get really interesting, because.
10:52:44 Um, you know, we could⦠there may be people who say, you know.
10:52:49 because we've had this culture of. Um, you know, unique individual businesses, a high level of entrepreneurship, um, an aversion to the, you know.
10:53:00 quote-unquote, big box stores, all of that, um, that some might say that that's causing our inability to meet our needs with revenue.
10:53:11 Um, others would say that that culture is. is kind of been the thing that has.
10:53:20 Helped us from falling into, um⦠a lot of the⦠the⦠problems and pitfalls of communities that fall victim to things like sprawl and.
10:53:31 And it keeps us from creating a community that we no longer want to live in.
10:53:37 Um, and these⦠capitals and the way those are described, um.
10:53:43 And I⦠this is great, Greg, I love⦠I love this exercise because.
10:53:47 That's what starts to get at⦠Um, how do we⦠how do we⦠vision this differently. Does it⦠is it⦠is this a really binary choice? We either.
10:53:59 go with the sprawl model, or we don't. No, I don't think it is a binary anymore, and, um, or never was, and we were just looking at it that way, but⦠Um, this starts to get
at how do we envision something that's.
10:54:18 In the middle. Or just on a completely different paradigm. Mm-hmm.
10:54:23 At least allow us to⦠Think about it. So if you guys mind filling this out real quick? Sure. Um, so, deficient, adequate, abundant, pretty clear, which⦠What those mean.
Does that make sense? So, what do you guys think? In Jefferson County, so we're talking Jefferson County, what's, uhâ¦
10:54:40 How's the capital of healthcare? Yeah, I see they're not adequate.
10:54:47 Oh, you want more⦠Yeah, more variation would be good. Um, I mean, we can⦠adequate to almost deficient. We can just go deficiency 1 to 1 to 3.
10:54:59 adequate 4 to 7 abundance, 7 to 10, so just give me, uh⦠What number out of 10 would you say?
10:55:08 That's low adequate. is where I would be. I would say 6.
10:55:13 I'll split the difference and go to 5. What about yours? Um, you know, I think it's right in there. I think our⦠for a⦠rural, uh, healthcare. I think we're actually pretty
strong. I'd probably go.
10:55:29 I mean, I always think that we are, you know, we are.
10:55:37 smaller than Queen Anne, and over an area that is, you know, larger than Vermont. And that's, that's, uh, so⦠I guess I looked⦠I would grade all these things based on that
standard of a really massive geographical area. There's some areas that we don't.
10:55:53 Sort of sufficiently at all, I would say, on the west end, all of these are⦠Yeah, I think that's where I'm coming from on the load for adequate, is that it's⦠it's not
really equitably distributed across the county, and.
10:56:05 And I think I was thinking, too, in terms of, you know, on the whole spectrum of what's available, like, in an urban area, obviously, but when you compare us to a rural.
10:56:16 community that we are, and I agree. All right, let's go 6.
10:56:19 All right, secure and affordable housing. Deficient.
10:56:23 One, two, two, two⦠Robust educational opportunities.
10:56:31 I'd say we're in the adequate realm, um⦠to low adequate, I'm⦠yeah, I'm⦠I think we've done some work around it. Yeah, you know, Chimicone is doing great.
10:56:47 job, kind of, adding, yeah, adding to our capacity of⦠Um, you know, we have⦠I'd say adult education is actually.
10:56:56 On the higher end here. Um, lifelong⦠we're in a lifelong learning community.
10:57:02 But in terms of overall⦠I'd say 4 is good.
10:57:07 Especially with the loss of our hybrid insulin, yeah. They're still here, they were saying, but it's.
10:57:15 And they're looking perfect similar, yes. Um, specialized sectors and pathways to employment.
10:57:25 in there. Yeah, add a port, I would say.
10:57:29 And we're talking, we have a maritime industry, of course, we hear a lot about, and then, you know, if you looked at⦠if we take a moment later to look at the, uh, Ray Sparrows
analysis of census data.
10:57:39 uh, you know, one of the best employment sectors is public administration. We have a really strong public administration and healthcare, so, I mean.
10:57:48 But it's hard to⦠Um, the pathway here, right? And then you run into the workforce housing, and then there's also, you know, we've⦠We're catching up on wages at Jefferson
County, but it's often.
10:58:03 Um, you know, even I've heard from our fire districts, they're often a pathway.
10:58:08 out of Jefferson County. It's a professional pathway to lead. And or you have to leave in order to get.
10:58:15 that's on the pathway. Yeah. Yeah, I'd say 4.
10:58:21 3 or 4 is where I⦠What do you think? Heidi?
10:58:25 I'd say where we have specialized sectors and pathways, they're strong, but we don't have very many of them. Yeah, that's a good point. Maybe a 3.
10:58:33 I'm good with 4. 4. I like 4 too, because there are some pathways that⦠Uh, strong social fabric, community engagement.
10:58:41 I'd say we're in the abundant realm there. Low abundance, more opportunity, but⦠I mean, certain age brackets.
10:58:51 Yeah, I hear a lot of⦠reflection on not a lot of opportunity for.
10:58:58 Yes, absolutely. Up to the 30-year-olds. But there's⦠I mean, I've⦠I'm out in the ag community, they're a strong community, uh, sectors.
10:59:10 in those⦠I feel like the social fabric, I think.
10:59:15 I'd probably say 7, but what do you think, Heidi?
10:59:20 Awesome. I mean, we're generalizing, of course. It's hard to take⦠to put a number to our social fabric. There are many social fabrics.
10:59:29 But I think the strongest carrier we've looked at so far.
10:59:32 Small business and creative sector support. What's⦠what's support?
10:59:38 Oh, well, like Apex, like, um, the EDC's⦠Business Advisor program.
10:59:46 Um⦠Lion⦠I mean, that's⦠What Patty's creating around the Pacific Northwest.
10:59:54 The chamber is not a good thing in most of Jefferson County. They have a regional chamber down in South County.
11:00:02 No chamber in the rest of the county, which is a ding, I think, to what I said, I put⦠Yeah, I'd go with 5, maybe.
11:00:13 I'm fine with 5. Alright. Recognizing the things that are there. We're in the abundant area here.
11:00:23 And even in the built spaces, there's a lot. And I guess, you know, as we think about planning in Port Hadlock and other areas, you want to identify that, and we've been focusing
on ODT and a lot of things, but⦠For us, economic development is probably.
11:00:39 Making sure that we don't lose that, right? I mean, it's kind of a, um⦠Absolutely. That's it. That's what we have to protect, and I think that is one of the big drivers of.
11:00:50 People wanting⦠not wanting things to change. And it's a real, a real concern.
11:00:56 Reserves to be protected. critical infrastructure. This is a tricky one.
11:01:04 It's hard to just reduce to one number, right? It is. My instinct is that we're in the⦠high adequate of this, mid-adequate.
11:01:15 Um, so much⦠So much to be developed around to solve the other problems. Exactly, but, well, you know, depending on which issue or which day you're⦠Absolutely. â¦tracking
about. I mean, we made progress. Yeah, but yeah.
11:01:30 Building Santaven doesn't mean that we've solved workforce housing. No, I'm thinking more of the sewer. Yeah, I mean, but building the sewer doesn't mean that we've⦠Uh, created
economic development, we've created⦠Well, we've created an opportunity. Yeah, and that's what infrastructure does, is, you knowâ¦
11:01:48 Um, yeah, I'd say⦠We still have a long way to go here, but yeah, I'm at a 5 or 6 here. I'd say 5.
11:01:57 I mean, we made progress. We were at a 1, I would say. I mean, you know, we had one urban growth area. I think this is the area, again, wearing my heart on my sleeve, but I
think the area that we.
11:02:07 I need to think about, um⦠Quite a bit. Yeah, okay. Um, accessible flat, government, I'm not sure which of these isn't in the original capitals, but there were age, and there's
9 here. We're in the middle here, too.
11:02:20 I say hello, Nigel. Low middle? I think we could do more to encourage participation.
11:02:27 I mean⦠I mean, our doors are open. We're not as flat as government gets.
11:02:31 Uh, give me an example of a more interactive.
11:02:36 engaged government. I mean, we don't always succeed at.
11:02:41 receiving⦠Yeah, we opened the door about, did people walk through it?
11:02:45 Hi. Some people, you know, some people every week.
11:02:51 often. I mean, I think we're⦠it feels like we're getting a more diverse response to the meeting tonight, and to the transfer station. When people started.
11:03:01 care about an issue or understand the impact on their lives, you know, most people that I talk to about the county are like, what, so what do you do again? I mean, you know,
it's⦠A lot of invisible services that are provided. I feel this about this like you do about the critical infrastructure. We've.
11:03:17 We've made huge progress. We were maybe at a much lower number, and now⦠Because we've done what I think is a lot, and truly comparing to other.
11:03:30 Um, jurisdictions, particularly outside of. Um, the west side of Washington state.
11:03:37 I think we've made huge progress, but I'd still say we're in the adequate.
11:03:43 to mint⦠maybe high. I would even go a 6 on this.
11:03:48 6? I could agree with that. All right.
11:03:54 So, um⦠Yeah, I mean, that's such as it is, where we are.
11:04:02 Um⦠This then tells you this⦠the lowest and the highest one that we have here around secure and affordable housing versus.
11:04:11 access to nature, clean water, and green space. There have been so many things that have opened my eyes. We just talked about it earlier this morning on the consent agenda.
11:04:21 Where we have these two⦠seemingly opposing⦠needs, uh, and assets.
11:04:32 Um, that seem to be at odds with one another. There was nowhere that I saw that more than.
11:04:38 you know, starting to sit in on the Climate Action Committee meetings.
11:04:43 Um, you know. this push-pull of how do we protect our natural environment?
11:04:50 And⦠support the, kind of. growth that humans need. It's kind of an age-old.
11:04:56 An age-old's a concern, but it. There just seems no other place, but it's⦠That those two values are more highly.
11:05:06 tells, but we are⦠Well, I mean, don't you think that they're also⦠the fact that they're so far apart is connected, right? Like, we're preserving⦠I got into politics
because, you know, it felt sort of like there was a bit of a gatekeeper mentality, and it wasâ¦
11:05:22 Hard to build in Jefferson County, and we're trying to, you know, offset that some, but it's, it's still slow work.
11:05:29 David, I see you, uh, turned your camera on. I'm sorry, this is kind of a rambling conversation, but if you want anything to add anything as our EDC director.
11:05:37 Just, you're welcome to interject.
11:05:43 Sort of a general⦠not a general comment, a more specific one.
11:05:46 As you're working through this discussion, Greg, I really appreciate it.
11:05:51 Um, one of the specific things we're working on at the EDC, this is separate from the framework, which I see as a.
11:05:57 fundamentally a political exercise, which is why I'm glad to see the ICG and our elected representatives taking it on, I think Commissioner Dudley will let.
11:06:06 put it best. Um, coming to a consensus on what this community needs to thrive.
11:06:12 Um, avoiding paralysis, we all agreed on this, so let's, generally speaking, move forward, sort of have an objective.
11:06:19 A generally held consensus on the criteria for if someone comes to town with an investment, this is something that we all agreed to, and when I say we, I mean the general public,
as well as the elected representatives.
11:06:30 Um, I'm also happy to see the port of Port Townsend, um, taking a leadership role here. Of course, the ports are the only public entity.
11:06:38 Uh, in Washington state with an economic development mandate, so I think it makes perfect sense, um, for them to sort of be leading.
11:06:44 the way on this, um, of course, the EDC is a private organization, but also a public-private partnership, so we're, you know, committed to supporting and assisting with implementation
of those political decisions. So, really happy to see that. Um, but the specific comment, uh.
11:07:00 Commissioner Brotherton, Greg, I was happy to, uh. Uh, to sort of mention in the context of our new strategic plan that we'll be rolling out to the public in the next several
days.
11:07:10 Uh, one of the things we're looking at is start taking a more strategic approach for the EDC, and one of those things is showcasing Jefferson County, um, as opposed to talking
about the EDC, talking about the county.
11:07:23 And our, you know, sort of what is our competitiveness across the state? You know, if you're.
11:07:28 A large employer in Jefferson County, and you want to attract employees here, and it's hard to get people out here, what's special about here? And as you went through that list
just now of those.
11:07:38 Those strengths and those challenges, it struck me again, you know, since I've been here, of sort of the unique package that Jefferson County has.
11:07:48 Um, not just in Washington State, but nationally. This is a pretty unique place when we look at.
11:07:53 those cultural amenities, the thickness of both civic engagement and cultural amenities.
11:07:59 There is a critical mass here that I would argue is perhaps.
11:08:03 stronger than anywhere else in Washington state. And then, in addition, you combine that with.
11:08:09 Uh, untouched rural splendor and rural beauty, that is a very unique combination, I think, nationally. And so that's an interesting thing. So we have plenty of challenges, it's
very expensive to live here.
11:08:20 It's hard to pay professionals a living wage, so it makes it that much more difficult for our employers to attract folks. That's one of the things I've been hearing as I've
been talking to employers is.
11:08:32 is getting employees out here can be quite challenging, but we want to sort of, you know, put our best foot forward, and so I see that as something at more of an operational
level that the EDC can support on, is.
11:08:44 is bringing together that messaging and putting it front and center. That's one of the things we'll be working on, um, over the next year with our strategic plan is sort of
an implementing a private entity that's sort of implementing the vision of our political representatives.
11:08:59 Uh, but yeah, happy to see all these things and jump in as we move forward. Thanks.
11:09:06 Great, thank you, David. Um, I thought as we were looking through EDC documents, maybe we just fly really quick through the demographics for any of the public that didn't have
a chance to look at them, and we can⦠we can⦠I think they're pretty telling as well.
11:09:19 This was created by Ray Sparrow. I'm using the SEDs mostly, I think, but⦠As you pull that up, it's really occurring to me, um.
11:09:30 It's like we've been so⦠we are⦠It's almost like our approach to economic development has been about protecting against exploitation.
11:09:40 Of these amazing⦠natural resources and human resources that we have, I mean.
11:09:47 The other, you know, connectivity and, um⦠and community is another one of our high areas that we feel like we want to.
11:09:57 Um, protect and grow at the same time, but this⦠like, you can't.
11:10:04 really solve the problem if you are paralyzed by your desire to.
11:10:08 To protect something. And so, how do we⦠How do we do that work of protecting what we love so much without exploiting it? And that's⦠that's what⦠I think that's⦠What
makes us feel paralyzed, right? Like, it's better to do nothing and tell the power better.
11:10:28 sense of urban margins. Yeah, yeah. Um, alright, obviously, oldest county in the state, you know, one of the oldest in the country, as we know. Yep.
11:10:40 Um, one of the least affordable housing markets. I think if you put Seattle on here, we'd be about as, uh⦠as, uh, affordable as Seattle is the last that I saw.
11:10:52 Um, income inequality ratio, uh, something is already spiking. Yep.
11:10:58 Yep, we're still in King County. Um, or end equal. And the assembly.
11:11:04 And the stroke⦠steep uptick. Oh, right, right.
11:11:12 Yeah. Since 2018? 2018. It's also really striking.
11:11:21 Um⦠I don't know the calculation that went into this, so pretty⦠Yeah, I was gonna say, I wonder what the⦠Top 20% to top bottom 20% of earners, so I guess it's showingâ¦
it's showing the gap between the⦠how many people are at the top 20 and how many are at the bottom. And I wonder if it also factors in the income toâ¦
11:11:43 Uh⦠expense ratio around housing? A lot of times a metric that is used to⦠Um⦠To assess income equality.
11:11:56 Not sure, Ray, give us a bunch more. We don't have to belabor that, this is all available in the packet as well, but you can see⦠uh, construction, and you can see the growth
of construction, and, you know, often when we.
11:12:10 Talk about the, uh⦠our sales tax, uh, revenue issues. We talk about these big construction projects that are going to go away, but⦠I mean, looking at this⦠the increase
from, you know, before the construction of the sewer, and the construction of the fish passage barriers is not really that steep, so it's, you know, it's going to go down as some of
these big capital projects go away, but⦠But we also have some other.
11:12:38 other projects. Yeah, and these are jobs, I think, is that number?
11:12:42 Interesting, the healthcare and social service spiked in 2020, COVID-related. Oh, maybe, maybe. Yeah, you see other dips.
11:12:52 Um, that scene. So this is⦠oh yeah, this is how many agencies are providing those services, so this doesn't⦠it wouldn't reflect the construction there.
11:13:00 Um, public administration, not that many agencies, but lots of accommodations, food services, yeah.
11:13:06 Interesting. And this is the number of jobs⦠construction jobs having increased in Jefferson County, because a lot of those.
11:13:17 you know, for the big projects we're talking about are⦠Um, aren't local businesses, right? Yeah, you have others, like, um⦠accommodation and food services, where you went
from 2019 to a big draw in 2020, and then a slow rebuild around.
11:13:34 manufacturing, construction, retail trade, all see that same kind of.
11:13:39 Look at public administration, though, it spiked in 2020.
11:13:42 And then went down and isn't really regaining. Yep, and it's continuing to go down.
11:13:48 Mm-hmm.
11:13:52 good-paying jobs, so public administration. And this is the one that stood out to me as, um⦠You know, administration of the, uh, the public takes.
11:14:03 some of the best paying jobs. Construction's gone up. We've seen⦠Uh, you know⦠Certainly, every project has gone up significantly, whether it's, uh⦠Building a house
or building a building.
11:14:22 Sales tax⦠oh, there's a big construction one, so that is actually⦠that is⦠Those show some of these projects that have happened that are going to stop, are going to,
uh⦠I'm gonna lose that sales tax for sure.
11:14:35 Yep, it'll go back. Back to the mean, probably. Mm-hmm.
11:14:41 Um, but Sales Track is one of our, you know.
11:14:44 It's the most volatile revenue source we have. What did we get, $8 million? $9 million a year in sales tax, I think?
11:14:52 Um, you can see that⦠I mean, accommodation, food service, none of this compares to the retail trade or construction. They're the big drivers.
11:15:06 But retail trade is, you know, that's a really⦠important elements of our tourism.
11:15:14 economy, as well. They aren't⦠they often aren't. I mean, there's⦠small businesses and everything that are part of that, and there's a lot of.
11:15:25 Jobs that really don't pay a living wage in almost any place, especially in Jefferson County. I mean, with the inequality ratio that we have.
11:15:34 Um, this is just kind of a number of different jobs.
11:15:38 Farming, fishing, and forestry is tiny, yeah. Mm-hmm. But not as Chinese legal.
11:15:45 Which is interesting. Yeah.
11:15:55 And wages, this isâ¦
11:16:02 And this is really interesting.
11:16:11 Here's up there, you'll jump there.
11:16:17 I mean, what's startling is how many jobs there are around a $40,000 median wage, and I couldn't imagine⦠I have survived in Jefferson County on a $35,000 wage, and it'sâ¦
it's a challenge for sure.
11:16:41 This is, uh⦠Yeah, I didn't quite understand this one when I was at it last night. You see recessions, this is⦠Consumer sentiment.
11:16:52 Whatever, yeah. I don't know what it's. Based on, but⦠surveys and COVID, um.
11:17:03 Sure. Big drop there. Unemployment claims, you know, always been pretty low, and I think that reflects the kind of the general median age as well. Yeah, that's interesting.
11:17:19 Yeah. Okay, takes us through that, just⦠Data points to consider.
11:17:26 Right. Anything else? I mean, so⦠I've got one more picture of Biddy Mulligan, but, um, really.
11:17:36 Uh, not too much. This one, uh, first one is, uh⦠Van Gogh-inspired oil masters, and second one was foldinated Comics, and this is.
11:17:51 pop surrealism down at Wilson Bay, selling oysters. I thought you had a good oyster opener. Then I said, give her a manga face, because it's a pretty depressing face at first.
11:18:00 But, uh, so these are just kind of things that.
11:18:03 what are the levers that we can, uh, look at? And I think about⦠You know, as I kind of prefaced, our joint resolution with the ICG is a thing that we can.
11:18:14 It should probably incorporate that framework, I think, if we can, you know, figure out what that should be collectively.
11:18:20 It feels like workforce housing to me, and these are just my ideas, so⦠is one of the levers that we can pull, and we've got, you know, both Port Hadlock to really think about
that, and also about our regulations and, um, you know.
11:18:35 One of the things I've heard from some of the other partners is, you know, challenges at the airport, like, oh, in a PIP project, my⦠I haven't gotten into my week, but umâ¦
I had a meeting with, uhâ¦
11:18:46 Hi, Jeremy Willemy and Brian Francer, and Jefferson Transit, you know.
11:18:51 frustrated at a water pressure issue that's still keeping them out of their third maintenance bay, you know, that third maintenance bay has been done since October, but it's
not.
11:19:00 And as⦠at no time in the near future, we'll be certified for occupancy due to an infrastructure failure in 2014. Oh, no! Um, so there's not fire flow there, so⦠You know,
the issue that they've known about thisâ¦
11:19:16 Um, but it's a pretty big infrastructure problem. It also impacts, of course, the airport. A lot of the development opportunities at the airport are going to suffer because
it is that same water system that serves the Delma Beach and around there. All of these places have.
11:19:32 Um, less⦠uh, Fireflow than they need to really be able to develop. So, is this, like, a PIF project? Do we⦠and maybe⦠I can see what David thinks about this, butâ¦
Our approach to PIF is one of those levers that we pull. Right now, we have a competitive RFP process where mostly public agencies come together and.
11:19:56 Um, proposed projects that they think would, uh, fulfill.
11:20:01 the needs and, you know, the port is very focused. I mean, PIF, these world infrastructure dollars are really supposed to be.
11:20:07 driving economic development. Absolutely. Um⦠if we had a different evaluation criteria, and that's⦠and maybe also included⦠this is just me⦠brainstorming right now,
but, um, public and private partnerships. In this case, I'm thinking about Jefferson Transit as an infrastructure project that would benefit the bottom line of the PUD. It would benefit
the bottom line of the port, as it would support the airport. It would benefit Jefferson Transit if they could occupy. It would also benefit.
11:20:35 Um, developing housing around there, that there's limited fire flow. So that's, like, a project that.
11:20:40 is, you know, got many, many, uh, agencies would.
11:20:44 would come into it, but if we⦠Right now, we're just kind of⦠we all independently propose projects, but if we had a different clearinghouse, I mean, potentially, you know,
administered by EDC that evaluates the projects, theâ¦
11:20:59 the contractor that I was talking about with Jefferson Transit.
11:21:03 That's actually a job that they have, is they evaluate the economic impact and feasibility of their whatever Kitsap County's PIF analog is. So, if we evaluate these projects
and come up with something that.
11:21:16 Um⦠meets a pre-ordained set of criteria, maybe we can actually.
11:21:22 implement a framework that we can agree upon. And I talked about private-public partnerships, too. I met with Hollins Fredrickson last week from Fredrickson Electric, and.
11:21:31 You know, they have been trying to develop, uh, you know, they've moved.
11:21:36 They bumped from 15 employees to 32 employees. These are good-paying jobs. Semi Atlas. Yep. Uh, they can live⦠they can afford to, you know, live in Jefferson County with
the⦠with the salaries that they pay.
11:21:47 They needed to expand their building, um, they had to stretch a 6-inch water main. They put in.
11:21:55 I think we put in tens of thousands of dollars in design and pre-engineering.
11:21:59 And then just⦠the amount that it would cost was more than the property was worth, basically. But that's one of those private-public partnerships. That investment in infrastructure.
11:22:09 Uh, in the water main would benefit PUD, you know, I would assume that their economic.
11:22:14 development priorities are around more rate payers and sustainable building the services, but I can speak for themselves, but⦠That, um, you know, Pete Langley's talked about
this before, too, you know, support the local, the private businesses with the public infrastructure, and I think.
11:22:32 If we add⦠I mean, we have public on our infrastructure board, but I'm not sure if the projects that are brought are.
11:22:39 public-private partnerships, that if we really want to talk about.
11:22:43 kind of where⦠what are we missing? That might be the piece that we're missing, and so⦠recalibrating how we⦠decide on PIF projects might be a place in the ICG that we
can talk about economic.
11:22:58 That's a circuitous pathway there, but, um, Commissioner, can I just jump in for a moment, so⦠Not a comment on the big picture idea that you just proposed about TIF and ICG
and the clearinghouse and the framework and all that, specifically on the project that you did bring up, though, about Fireflow around the airport, I did have a conversation with the
general manager of PUD late last week, and introduced that concept.
11:23:23 Of a potential larger scale project that would benefit multiple parties. He said he was going to look into it more. It was a capital project, I believe, on PV's plan, but just
one of those projects that's out a number of years that doesn't have a secure funding source, so⦠I just asked them to look into it with his staff to see if there's a feasible project
that could actually fit within the parameters of our pit, for example, which is limited. It's not aâ¦
11:23:46 An unlimited source, and so I expected to speak with him and the port director tomorrow, just about the concept and whether we can move that specific project forward.
11:23:56 That would benefit the industrial park at the airport. And I shouldn't be talking about a specific project now. Just to illustrate the idea. I guess my question for you in terms
of, I mean, this is a fantastic conversation, and in terms of, um.
11:24:08 Where it fits in on a shorter-term framework. We've got the ICG meeting coming up on February 19th, and I'm just curious whether the board has direction for me in my discussions
with my administrator counterparts at the other agencies.
11:24:21 To prep for that meeting, or whether this conversation is going to lead towards perhaps a pitch from Jefferson County about how to answer the question that was raised at the
last ICG about how to do an ICG.
11:24:32 economic framework, because I'm thinking just more practically, like, what are the next steps there for us?
11:24:36 That's the output I'm hoping for from this conversation, is the direction that you and I can work on to refine that agenda so we can, I mean, you know.
11:24:45 at least talk about the request that was made, or bring a potential approach, or bring the data so that we can participate in the conversation following a different approach.
Well, I would love to use the exercise that we just did, and maybe ask if we could get that out ahead of that meeting and ask everyone to bring their.
11:25:06 you know, give them the 1 to 10 scale that we kind of refined it to, and⦠To me, seeing where each organization falls and their.
11:25:17 Um, and their evaluation of those capitals would be an interesting comparison to see where⦠what different things we each value, and if there are anything.
11:25:27 You know, if there are other⦠areas by which we could assess our priorities.
11:25:34 differing priorities across organizations. That would be a helpful outcome of that meeting, so part of the agenda to really assess, like, where do we⦠you know, it's like
that 5 things conversation that I was telling you about.
11:25:48 last week that we used to do with the Economic Development Council through, you know, with these four jurisdictions, and actually.
11:25:55 beyond that, because the chambers and. Main Street was also involved in that.
11:26:00 Um, it would be great if we could come to this table with some sort of common language, even if it's something as simple as this one little exercise.
11:26:10 And then put them down and overlay them to see where we are⦠where we have things in common and where we don't.
11:26:18 It seems like it would be a good place to start, because that allows us to kind of focus in on what are the.
11:26:23 What are the areas that we all feel like need more energy, and that we could work together to, you know.
11:26:31 And did you⦠I think you were going to talk to Karen last week about.
11:26:36 the NODC's willingness to facilitate that conversation. We're very willing. They're very willing to facilitate that conversation. I think.
11:26:44 Now they just need a deeper conversation about⦠Yeah, just, you know, expectations and scope, and then, um, they need to assess whether they can do that within their ownâ¦
with the current resources.
11:26:58 Is that a layer I would learn. That's a layer. I would layer on top of all of this, is⦠Our earlier conversations about wanting to think about how all of the funding that
we grant as a county.
11:27:09 all the different buckets. And how⦠all of them can be made more transparent and reflective.
11:27:18 Um, that's something we talked about a week ago, or two weeks ago.
11:27:21 And so, and vis-a-vis this conversation, I would say, let's not forget that there's.
11:27:26 Behavioral health funds and housing funds, and⦠All the other funds that we grant out, and how can we make.
11:27:33 Um, all the processes more⦠engaging for the community.
11:27:38 That's a separate conversation. But related, absolutely, and at the very least.
11:27:44 when we have this economic development. framework overlaid with comp plans and all of that.
11:27:50 That can then inform. Um, where we spend our dollars as well. And then how do we engage.
11:27:58 What else is missing? This is just the list that I wrote down, like, the three places I see, and we've been kind of focusing⦠those were from the goals list that kind of.
11:28:10 specifically factor into economic, uh, development, I think, but um⦠Is the ICG agenda, I wonder if we⦠If it would make sense to also pose one of the questions that Patty
posed in public comment, which is, who's not at the table?
11:28:26 Not saying who's not at the table at the ICG, but who do we need to engage in this conversation as we create the framework? Because I think.
11:28:35 each of us might answer that question differently. I know a lot of people are concerned about having too big of a table.
11:28:41 But that doesn't mean that in the process of establishing an economic development framework, we can't shop it out to, you know, and each of us can be tasked with, kind of.
11:28:52 you know, getting input from different organizations, and we choose not to have them all at the table. That doesn't⦠it doesn't always have to look like that. But, you know,
I would really love for the tourism.
11:29:04 Um, experts to weigh into this, so we'd love for our Main Street program and our Chamber of Commerce and, you know, people who have.
11:29:13 Um, you know, direct or at least adjacent, um.
11:29:20 missions to have some input into what starts to get created, if not sitting at the table with us at least, you know.
11:29:29 Consulting, so it would be interesting to pose that question to the ICG of who needs to be involved in this process. Is it just.
11:29:36 the people who typically sit at the ICG table, or is there a way to get more inputs?
11:29:42 Which I think people will have different opinions about.
11:29:46 Remember before I would add the airport. Oh yeah, for sure.
11:29:52 Yeah.
11:29:55 Oh, that's⦠I do⦠sorry. I will add it, yeah, for sure.
11:30:02 I mean, that⦠You can say landmers.
11:30:06 I put that under long-term planning and regulatory reform, number 3. I feel like that's one of the things that we can learn from our other partners, you know, we've talked about
the port going through the rezone at the airport and other issues. What is⦠You know, continuing Brent's⦠Brent Butler's conversations and Port Hadlock, what are the changes we
should make to, toâ¦
11:30:27 Um, bring in, uh, investment and, you know, another place that we can combine our efforts is around things like Opportunity Zones and trying to.
11:30:38 Uh⦠incentivize investment in the area, which is something that we've never done before, and that's something that a lot of people might not.
11:30:49 Well, that's⦠I feel like number 5 really. Could be a broader topic, like incentives, you know, incentives to.
11:30:59 Um, development, economic development, as opposed to just, you know, construction and development, because there are things like the seed pacer program, there are things that,
like the tax increment financing districts that we.
11:31:12 Um, have sort of started a⦠An inquiry into, you know, so⦠you know, that number 5. I hear it so, I mean, when Alphabet was looking at building a facility, you know, what
are the incentives for bringing this company in? Well, we still won't charge your business tax. I mean, that was pretty much all we had. Right, exactly.
11:31:33 I think, going back to those spectrums of what, you know, abundant and what's, uh, you know, inadequate, um.
11:31:42 We've got abundant green spaces, maybe because we have not incentivized attracting investment, so that's a question that I think needs to happen at the, you know, broad⦠broader
tables.
11:31:54 Right. Incentives and where? Where do we incentivize? Well, to me⦠I mean, not next door to me, not next door to me, right? Yeah.
11:32:02 I mean, on the example I'm talking about, most in the legislature is typically lamards. Go in. There are 150 jobs in the gym of the landmark, or adjacent to it.
11:32:12 And nowhere for people to live. Yeah. Like, 5 houses. You're talking about landmark flexibility and building workforce housing, and that's, I mean, that is maybe, you know.
11:32:24 Is that the big⦠the lowest hanging fruit that we need to work on legislatively?
11:32:29 And how do you get the, uh, builders to come and build them? I mean, because that's a separate.
11:32:35 question, right? I mean, I know that, uh, you know, right now, the biggest developer.
11:32:41 in Jefferson County's probably Anderson Homes, right? I mean, who's building the ones up at⦠Oh, and I think Portland, that's Anderson, too, right? They bought all the property
from the Portaloo Associates, so⦠Of course, that's a good question. I should note who's the biggest developer in Jefferson.
11:33:03 Yeah, and they also⦠I've heard they are also the ones that are⦠Um, to the sanitation building at Cosmo Brown. Yeah, I'm sure Liz Anne Coker wouldn't know the answer.
11:33:15 He would go blend with her on Sunday and ask her advice.
11:33:21 Um, great. Okay, well⦠Higher than her.
11:33:26 Amanda's listening. Lennar is the⦠Lennar, gotcha. Okay. Oh yeah, she just said the same thing about Shannon that I did. Does my great ones think like Amanda and Chimicum,
yeah. All right, for sure.
11:33:38 Um, well, that concludes the presentation, such as the conversation, uh, start, and I mean, our takeaways, as Josh.
11:33:46 You know, uh⦠Um, suggested should be, kind of, what's the direction that we want to go for setting the agenda and working with our three other partners.
11:33:56 Um, for other partners, including the PBC. And private NRDC as well, on⦠the⦠framing of that⦠that⦠February.
11:34:09 I mean, I can⦠I can certainly⦠work with Karen and David, and try to facilitate a conversation, much like the one we had here, um, but, you know, I think⦠I would say,
talking a little bit about the joint resolution, too, and what are the things that we can change, andâ¦
11:34:25 Yeah, I encouraged Karen to listen in on the ICG meeting, and I think David is now kind of more⦠going to be more regularly attending, is that right, David?
11:34:38 Great, thank you. Um⦠Do you think that Karen would be willing to facilitate.
11:34:46 as short, as soon as the February meeting? if she's available, and I've already encouraged her to come. If we gave her some more⦠you know, sort of, again, a scope of what
we want to accomplish, and I could certainly ask, so I'll be here for the weekend.
11:35:04 coming weekend for the⦠oh yeah, the gathering. Cool.
11:35:07 Well, I can work with Josh a little bit, just to kind of⦠slash add an idea that we can bring back next week, I guess? Sure. Does that make sense? And do you want me to ask
her just to hold on her calendar for the February 19th? Yeah, and I'll reach out⦠I'll reach out to her, too. I'm sure you'll get to work faster, and then, umâ¦
11:35:25 If there's any questions? Probably long, I can, and then the two of you can⦠Talk more about spoken. I'll just pass that up.
11:35:32 Cool. Um, David, any last thoughts before we⦠kind of put it⦠pin in the conversation for today?
11:35:39 Not just to say, uh, to underline that point on Opportunity Zones just being yet another incentive for economic development in general and investment.
11:35:47 Uh, completely agree, and uh, yeah, I hope that Karen Affield can come to the February 19th ICG, um, and then following up on that, the real.
11:35:56 what I would anticipate to be sort of the⦠The heavier lift, um, would be if she's available to sort of facilitate, um, with the public sector cabinet and sort of the executive
leadership, um, actually putting pen to paper and pulling together this framework. And it sounds like she is, and I really welcome her leadership on that.
11:36:15 Great. Thank you, David. All right, um, got people in the audience that expressed interest. I'll open up for public comment. Anyone in the room since 3 minutes. Patty, thanks
for being here.
11:36:28 So, um, you know, my motivation for, um, you know, thank you, and my motivation for being here is I continue to watch.
11:36:37 the amazing people in this community who are doing the hard work like you guys are doing, um, and we basically have a community where we've assembled a lot of resources, money,
and talented people.
11:36:48 Um, at the table, and I think one of the things that I'm observing from being in this community and working in economic development and being able to work as a professional
across the state with Washington EDC.
11:37:01 is that, um, we need to expand our thinking and break down some of the silos. We need to build trust. Heidi, you mentioned the fact that the doors are open, but you don't have
a lot of people coming through the doors.
11:37:12 Uh, and being able to give people who want⦠who don't necessarily feel like they have agency the opportunity to participate in these conversations, and in order to do that,
we're going to have to build trust.
11:37:24 Uh, and I feel like, you know, a couple of points I want to make is, the work that was done by the EDC was not just by Nick Walker, it was by Cindy Brooks and the entire team,
and there is a huge body of work that's there at the EDC that really should be taken a look at, and to look at the other counties across the state, Thornton, Whatcom, Kidsown.
11:37:44 who have effective economic development frameworks that really have done really well, um, and collaborate. Justine is fabulous, and I'm really thrilled that Justine has gotten
involved, has finished the re-compete program.
11:38:00 And is taking a lead in the advising, because that program really did not address the needs of the small businesses in Jefferson County, and Justine has that expertise, and
encourage you guys to really consider that APEX money, because that really did make a difference. I'm continuing to meet with business owners who are benefiting by the work that Justine
is doing, and it's serving a really big.
11:38:23 And a hole that's not being filled in Jefferson County right now for technical business services. Um, again, everybody's at the table. Our good people, and I think they all
want to do the right thing, but I think that it's important to understand that the definition of an economic development framework is a structured strategic roadmap.
11:38:44 roadmap that's used by communities or regions to stimulate investment, foster sustained growth, and improve quality of life, and it's about everybody coming together in the
same mission.
11:38:55 Um, and to be able to do that, um, one of the things that I think is a precursor to the economic development framework conversation is a conversation around.
11:39:07 trust, and being able to, um, build, uh, community. And I think before we⦠I've talked to Karen, um, from NODC, I thank Josh and many of the other electives who've given me
time to talk with them, invited me to participate in these kinds of workshops. I'm going to work with the PUD next week.
11:39:25 But there are some very important work that needs to be done before the economic development framework, and that's about building trust in this community and about building
the trust among the members of the IGC, so that that work is equally as important, and there are people here in this community who have the capability and the facilitation skills.
11:39:48 that should be engaged because they are place-based, they know about this community.
11:39:54 Thank you, Patty. Thank you. I see Shelly's raised her hand, we'll bring her over, and anyone else online with us, if you hit the raise hand button or star 9 if you're on the
phone, we'll bring you over, and we'd love to hear your thoughts on the conversation we just had.
11:40:10 Go ahead, Shelly, when you get yourself unmuted, you have 3 minutes.
11:40:14 Um, Shelly or Neil Brennan. Um, what I would like to see, I thought this was very informative, and there was lots of information here, and it's important information for everybody.
11:40:25 And I think it's not getting out there to people where they understand how important this is.
11:40:32 And, you know, until I listened here, and I almost didn't, um, I wouldn't have had information on what you're looking to do.
11:40:40 and how you're moving into the future. I think the, uh, information that you gave earlier, Greg, on your deck, where you, um, had.
11:40:50 Uh, the three of you fill in the numbers of where you felt you were. I'd like to see that go out to the public. Let the public tell you where they think you are and what they
think we need. I think it would be really helpful.
11:41:02 Um, another point we heard is about developers. I can't tell you how many times over the course of the meetings that I go to, I hear.
11:41:13 Well, developers don't even want to come in and work here. If somebody says, Jefferson County, and they say, uh-uh, I'm not going there to work, we need to change that.
11:41:22 And then the final point that I'd like to make is, um, public members' input on your team.
11:41:29 I think that there should be at least a person or two with no interest in an individual project like the port, or the airport, or, uh, you know, whatever, whatever it may be,
the hospital.
11:41:43 There needs to be people on there that are just normal people that can give you their opinion that doesn't have.
11:41:52 a stake in where the money goes, or where the decisions are made on what.
11:41:58 uh, zoning's gonna be, just⦠just normal human input on your⦠on your team. Thank you.
11:42:06 Thank you, Shelly. Anyone else with public comments today? I'd love to hear from you. Hit the raise hand button or star 9 if you're on the phone.
11:42:17 Okay. With that, I will close public comment. Any responses to public comment or last thoughts?
11:42:25 No, I just appreciate the input. Yeah, that was⦠those are⦠I love that, I mean, as we think through this⦠As we've started to talk about using the tool of public surveys,
um, I love the idea of, sort of, lots of small surveys, often.
11:42:40 And, um, this would be a great one. We saw that work with our strategic planning process. Yeah, yeah. We had hundreds of.
11:42:48 individual pieces of input. Yeah, and just kind of⦠also just getting people in the habit of.
11:42:53 Of giving, you know, being asked and giving their input, and that not taking a long time, right? There's, like, a quick question.
11:42:59 Um, you know, every few weeks would be, um, maybe.
11:43:05 a great donut for us. It'd be great to have.
11:43:07 I will say that we are, as elected officials.
11:43:10 You know, we are unburdened by. conflicts with these things. The whole idea, is that we do reflect the constituents when we talk to constituents all the time, so that is also
a role that we play, though it doesn't seem like it to some people, but that is our job. That is our job, yep.
11:43:27 But appreciate Patty, thank you for your work throughout the community, and, and Shelly, appreciate your, your thoughts, and⦠No. Keep children on. All right. Thanks for preparing
all this. It was really helpful, and⦠Great. Great dialogue. Will do.
11:43:44 Yep, um, okay. Um, I guess we got, uh, our quarterly electeds meeting today at noon, right back here.
11:43:56 No one ever brings their lunch, so it'd be great to give us a few minutes so we can scarf some food down.
11:44:00 Um, I thought about making it mandatory. I might still have some of mine, too. Um, but let's take a recess until 12 o'clock when we will return here for the⦠electors and
directors meeting focusing on the legislation, or the legislative calendar this. Greg, you're too good to us, giving us 15 minutes. I know. I love it.
12:00:50 I don't like it. Yeah.
12:00:55 So I stopped to grab any size. There's using Azure Google and Operations, and it must be necessary.
12:01:07 You know, universal. They enter the page. Two more weeks, and you can still⦠Right, right. Oh, yeah, do well on the field.
12:01:23 So I was up in the dosing, there was 15 car parts here.
12:01:27 Wow, there's no parking area. Oh, yeah, yeah, they love going out to the old campground there, too. I mean, I've seen people, like, bringing the wheelbarrow out there before.
Oh, really? A couple guys have said they've⦠Bike does all the way up into the park, and where it's built for it. Wow.
12:01:59 It is 12 o'clock, so I will bring us back into session. We've got lots of selected leaders and directors in the room with us, and we'll.
12:02:07 Um, get going with our quarterly electeds and department directors meetings, so we do have a legislative focus this time.
12:02:15 Um, that we had a few people to folks coming over online, too, if you're⦠if you're⦠Well, I'll go ahead and turn on your screen, and we'll kind of move through. We usually
do this as a pretty flexible meeting.
12:02:31 We ask people about legislative issues, and a couple folks did bring some.
12:02:35 Um, issues up maybe the⦠I guess the idea I had was we were just kind of go around and talk about the legislative, um.
12:02:43 Uh, issues, and as well as the standard roundtable updates from the departments on what's going on with our various departments.
12:02:51 the chance to make sure we're all on the same page and understand what we're doing.
12:02:56 So⦠And can we welcome Jeremy Williami to his post? Oh, yeah, your first meeting?
12:03:01 Whoa. Welcome, thanks for being here. That's right. Yeah, yeah.
12:03:07 We can put John in Oxy. You want to start us off, Jeremy?
12:03:11 I get to go, I really do get to go in person. Yeah, absolutely, yeah.
12:03:15 Um, okay, so to try to find the head of the circle, so⦠Okay, excellent. And so, so generally here.
12:03:21 We're just going around, kind of⦠or is this just the introductory part, or⦠No, this is the actual part. What you would like to⦠Oh, yeah, no, this is fair enough.
12:03:28 No one's ever asked me that before. Uh, you know, really, what's⦠any highlights or issues that you want to focus on in DCD, Department of Community Development, or⦠Uh,
we're also looking for what are pieces of legislation that you're tracking that are, you know.
12:03:45 Um, kind of DCV focused, and uh⦠Yeah, that's pretty much it. You can, if you want, we can go around the table first. I will take the opportunity to pass around. All right,
all right. Well, we'll give you a grace on your first time. Okay, great presentation.
12:04:01 My turn, your turn, Andy. Okay. I want to bring up Senate Bill 5974.
12:04:08 Talked about a lot is called modernizing sheriffs across the state of Washington.
12:04:14 Um, it's been brought up in a lot of forums, especially on Facebook. Almost every other county sheriff's actually put this on their sheriff's office page.
12:04:22 I have not done that specifically, because I don't think politics should be part of my Facebook page for the Sheriff's office.
12:04:29 But I strongly disagree with this Senate bill. Um, and it basically will impose⦠basically.
12:04:38 different educational requirements for. candidates, and basically anybody that wants to run for sheriff has to be screened.
12:04:47 They check your social media, you have to do a polygraph, a psychological examination, which you would have to do anyways to go to the academy. So you're required to do those
things now anyways, but it's in addition to that, it requires all these different things.
12:05:00 then you basically have to be⦠screened by the Criminal Justice Training Commission, who mostly the people on that board are not law enforcement officers, and they have to
screen you, just so you can run for sheriff.
12:05:15 And then once you get elected. they're gonna change it, so right now, you have to be a⦠certified peace officer within a year of getting elected as sheriff. Obviously, I was
a certified peace officer.
12:05:28 before I was elected. Um⦠But you have to be certified now. They're saying you have to have at least.
12:05:35 5 years experience as a⦠as a peace officer, and you have to be certified within, I think it's 9⦠9 months.
12:05:43 But right now, if I was to get decertified.
12:05:46 I just couldn't act as a peace officer, but I could still be the sheriff at Jefferson County, because I was elected by the people of Jefferson County.
12:05:56 What this bill will do is if you get decertified, it will remove you from your elected office. Okay. It is literally a violation of the state constitution with what they're
trying to do, and all the sheriffs in our entire state, or almost all the sheriffs I know, are definitely.
12:06:13 100% against this, and that's just one part of the bill. It's very long.
12:06:19 It includes, um, basically the use of different. non-commissioned, uh, the peace officers. Um, so⦠For instance, Gordon and Daryl, if this passed, I would either have to get
rid of them, or⦠Send them back to a full peace officer academy to get them fully certified, which is going to cost us a whole bunch of money, plus, you know, training.
12:06:41 There's just a lot of problems with this bill.
12:06:44 Do you know what's⦠what that's driven? It's driven by, basically, from back in, uh, 2020, when there was all the law changes with.
12:06:53 Modernizing. This is the final piece. I really think what it is, is there's some⦠what they want to call rogue sheriffs.
12:07:02 You know, in our⦠in our state. That are very vocal, and I think a legislators are basically trying to remove them from office, and this is how they're trying to do it.
12:07:13 the way⦠the way I look at it is I work for the people of Jefferson County.
12:07:18 And I was elected by the people of Jefferson County.
12:07:21 I don't think that a board that's in Lacy or.
12:07:25 beer in⦠should have the right to remove me from an office that I was placed into by the people they elected me into office.
12:07:32 So I'm 100% against this, and uh⦠the Washington Sheriff's Association is against it. The OSPIC is against it.
12:07:40 So, definitely put this on your radar for, uh, for the other. All right.
12:07:46 Um, can you⦠you want to talk a little bit about⦠you wrote down, too.
12:07:49 Talking about how the budget has impacted county operations? I was kind of more concerned about, um, so when⦠when that all started, we basically sat in the room, and we talked
about different ideas, like, if I had to lose this, that's how it would affect my department, and then, you know, other departments talked, and I just thought it would be kind of good
if that happened again, if we could do more, like, cohesive work.
12:08:11 with other departments, because it seemed like after that initial meeting that we had.
12:08:15 Everybody just kind of, like, had to work on their own thing, and without knowing what else was going on across the county.
12:08:21 And I think being leaders, I think it would really help us, like, to work through problems, you know, knowing that James is going to have to cut somebody, but hey, maybe I have
some cost savings here, we could work together to work on, like, a hybrid position. And without having that, you know, the camaraderie of⦠Of all the, uh, the leaders in the same
room to be able to work together, I think it's, uh, it makes it a little more difficult.
12:08:44 So if it happens in the future, I think just having that⦠and I was going around doing most of all the electives after that, trying to figure out what we could do together
to work together to move forward.
12:08:53 So that was good for me in a way, because I was able to talk to everybody and kind of build a little bit more.
12:08:58 teamwork, but I think as a whole, it would be better for us to sit in a room, work up those ideas better.
12:09:05 Sounds great. I do think Judy plans on having another, uh, collaborative general fund, uh.
12:09:12 Meaning, maybe she might talk about that. Yeah, 5-minute runner, no, we can hop back and forth. Judy, do you want to speak to that and respond to Andy's idea for future conversations,
just to talk?
12:09:24 strategy between the general fund departments as well, as we go through these.
12:09:26 challenging conversations.
12:09:28 Yeah, I think it's definitely a good idea to⦠I mean, I was planning on doing more.
12:09:34 Um, collaboration and, um⦠There's, you know, the question right now, in my mind, is do we keep the general fund on its own and keep everybody else as a separate collaboration?
12:09:47 Or do we bring everybody together as collaboration? And I'm just not sure what that looks like.
12:09:53 I'll be just really honest, I mean, I'm open for feedback.
12:09:56 Because this is something new, okay? We did collaboration last year, and it had never been done before.
12:10:02 And so, you know. What do we want this⦠I mean, this is good feedback from you, Andy, to say, okay, what do we want this to look like?
12:10:12 going forward, and it's not just⦠you know, I can put it together.
12:10:17 But, um, if people want to work together, I think, um.
12:10:22 Outside of that meeting, just what you were doing, Andy, is a good thing to do.
12:10:27 So, I don't⦠I'm open to however we want to proceed with collaboration.
12:10:33 Anyone who has money that they can donate to my office⦠I mean, that's just, I mean, I want to say that, uh.
12:10:42 Judy did a great job, and I know that she was busy, I wasn't expecting that she would put that together. And I think it's because we'd never done that before last year, having
that collaboration beginning. I think we were all just so focused on our own budgets.
12:10:55 I'm not blaming anyone, I'm just saying for the future, moving forward. More. It would be nice to have more collaboration going that in. I mean, I'll assist with that and plan
that, and, you know, it's one of those things where.
12:11:05 Like, I'm not really sure, like, like, how many people generally lost in his department, or Veronica lost in her department. And I'm just kind of knowing those things, you know,
because, you know, citizens will ask us, hey, you know, what happened over at, you know, the health department? I have no idea if they lost positions or not, or they might not know
how many I lost, and I think, you know, as leaders in our community, we should have that. We should know that. And I know that it goes free.
12:11:30 For you commissioners, too, that a lot of that is in Judy's, um, budget memo, is, um, worth going back and really exploring.
12:11:41 the detail of that is really, really helpful to me, but I love the idea of.
12:11:46 getting⦠really just reviewing that. those details together as we're going along, and the opportunity to collaborate across departments would be even stronger.
12:11:58 I love this idea. Yeah, but if I could jump in for a second on this, um⦠So, absolutely, there are a lot of lessons learned from last year's process.
12:12:07 And we're still⦠dealing with the aftermath of that budget process by just waiting for the 13th month to conclude, and then the last budget committee meeting, we had some
information shared there.
12:12:18 And it turned out to be a little bit better than we thought it might be, so that's good news, but we still have significant challenges, including just.
12:12:25 To be frank, like, just even paying the bills in the first couple months of the year until we wait for those property tax payments to come in. Right now, we have our insurance
payment that's due right now, and that's⦠more than it's ever been before, and it's a pretty healthy chunk of actual general funds, so Judy and I are just, like, focusing on trying
to solve that problem right now, together with Stacy and others.
12:12:46 Um, and as soon as that, sort of, the fully⦠we can put aside what happened last year and then move on to this year, then we have a process that, you know, Judy and I are
going to sit down with the chair of the board, Greg.
12:12:57 To go over just sort of a plan for the financial planning component that Judy talked about a lot last year.
12:13:03 And which will get us ready for the 27 budget process. So we do anticipate doing that, and when we have something.
12:13:09 That⦠for you to react to, then will come out and share it with everybody and say, hey, this is what we're thinking for this year's process, what do you think? And so we can
get some input, just even on the process itself, and then launch into the process, and it might include a variety of.
12:13:21 of ways of interaction. There might be meetings specifically for the general fund departments, again, but it also might be other checkpoints that involve the other funds, like
public health and TCD, which is a special fund for public works, which is the road fund, principally, all the landmarks and rec. And so.
12:13:36 So we're gonna lay it out and get some feedback, and then go through that process, and it's safe to say.
12:13:40 Unfortunately, that there will be more challenges to face this year, almost undoubtedly, even if the picture gets a little rosier and certain.
12:13:46 Um, aspects. I mean, the fact is, we're still operating at essentially a deficit, and so we're going to be getting together and figuring out, you know.
12:13:53 How can we plan on a 4-5 year projection, and what are we going to do to ride the ship? And it's not just our county, as we talked about, it's every county, but we have our
own particular challenges, and we should work together to solve them, like you said.
12:14:06 I think this is a good table to have some of those conversations, you know, to maybe Judy's point, but the complexities of having the general fund collaborative group that she's
put together.
12:14:16 maybe this is kind of at the larger, you know, county perception on that whole collaboration as we move forward, so⦠Um, yeah, Veronica, you have something to add?
12:14:27 One thing that, um, public health is needing some, um, guidance on is our reserve, our, um, fund balance.
12:14:34 Um, what is an acceptable fund balance for public health?
12:14:38 Um, and we've been asking for some guidance on that for a couple years now.
12:14:43 And one thing I don't want to happen is when we reduce our expenses to help with our fund balance.
12:14:51 Because that's what we're doing now. Um, is once we do that, and we do get, um, an, uh⦠an acceptable fund balance.
12:15:02 then I don't want⦠I don't want⦠And I'm just gonna be frank, I don't want the county coming in and saying, okay, now we're gonna take that fund balance because we think
it's an excessive.
12:15:13 fund balance. So, I want some guidance there before we.
12:15:18 We go⦠we get too deep into⦠cutting our expenses.
12:15:23 I think that's a very valid question, Veronica. I see Judy taking notes, and I think that kind of is.
12:15:30 part and parcel with the kind of financial controls and the⦠so, yes, I think we can get you an answer to that question and some more guidance.
12:15:38 Yes, Judy, not talking out of school, am I?
12:15:37 Thank you.
12:15:42 Okay, alright. Great. Um, okay, well, we'll, you know, we'll have a future quarterly meeting that we kind of focus on that, probably not the next one, but the, you know, summer,
as we start getting the budget message out, it does seem like it's appropriate to.
12:15:55 have a conversation at this table, too. All right, uh, let's keep going around the table, James. We heard about some legislative, uh⦠Yeah, perceptions. Is there anything
you're for yet?
12:16:07 Well, actually, yes. Alright. So, well, there it is short. Um, I'm not going to bring up the ones that I already addressed.
12:16:16 Uh, because I've already addressed those. Um, a couple years ago, the, uh⦠state legislature struck the crime victims Penalty Assessment, uh, from people who are convicted
of crimes. This was something that was mandatory. Anyone with a criminal conviction had to pay.
12:16:33 went into the State Crime Victims Compensation Fund, which is a fund that people who are crime victims can apply to.
12:16:40 Uh, essentially for restitution, because even though we order restitution in cases, it almost never gets paid because people who commit these crimes typically don't have the
money to turn around and pay it, and simply just won't.
12:16:53 Um⦠so this was a way to at least provide some way to make up for the financial damage that occurs when you're a crime victim.
12:17:01 So, the legislature decided that they weren't going to make this mandatory anymore, which meant that it basically just evaporated overnight. The fact that it's discretionary,
along with the other laws on the book and court decisions, means it never gets ordered anymore. And the legislator said, don't worry, we will actually increase.
12:17:21 funding to the Crime Victims Fund, so that way you don't have to worry about this fund drying up. Well, that⦠they kept that promise for one year, so⦠You know, this year,
when we ran into budgetary problems, guess what they didn't do? They didn't fund it. So, uh, there are two House bills, uh, 2430 and House Bill.
12:17:40 2475. These are sponsored by, uh, different members of the House. Uh, each bill kind of gets there through a slightly different way, but they both.
12:17:51 are intending to bring back the, uh, crime victims Fund.
12:17:55 I tend to prefer 2457, because that actually requires documentation that an individual is indigent. As of right now, the common practice in court is saying.
12:18:05 I made a gin. Okay, you're into gin, there you go, you don't have to pay anything. That's literally the screening right there.
12:18:11 So, this would actually require some documentation. Uh, House Bill 2217, Deferred Prosecutions for felonies. Right now, we have those for misdemeanors.
12:18:20 Um, I'm not entirely against doing deferred prosecution for felonies, but this includes assault 2 and robbery 2.
12:18:27 Uh, that⦠Those are not crimes that should be, uh, deferred. Those are pretty serious offenses. They were both, until recently, strike offenses before the legislature felt
bad and got rid of ROB 2. Assault 2 is a very serious offense that should not be deferred, so if they struck.
12:18:46 Uh, the inclusion of Assault 2 and ROB2, I would be inclined to support it, but as of right now, no.
12:18:52 Um, House Bill 2510 adds stocking to the cases or crimes eligible for community custody. That's a good thing, community custody is parole, or not parole, excuse me, it's, like,
probation.
12:19:04 Um, and in a misdemeanor case that's adjudicated in district court.
12:19:09 Um, Josh Walker can add probation to literally any case, uh, in her discretion.
12:19:16 Uh, saying you need to work on this going forward.
12:19:18 However, in felony land, Superior Court, there are only a handful of cases where you actually get that kind of post-worthy supervision. It doesn't make any sense, it's ridiculous.
Most property crimes, for example.
12:19:31 have no supervision, even though almost all property crimes are drug crimes.
12:19:34 Um, so this at least adds stocking, which up until currently, there is no post-release supervision.
12:19:40 Yes, people who convicted of felony stalking absolutely need some sort of post-release supervision, because that is a very hard find, actually, to find one of.
12:19:51 And so, if we're able to check all those boxes, then you really do need that supervision. So I am in favor of that.
12:20:00 Um, and then finally, House Bill 2595. Uh, this is as the period in which you can collaterally attack your conviction from one year after the case becomes final to three years.
I'm absolutely against this.
12:20:14 So, let me explain what this means. After you're convicted of a crime.
12:20:19 Uh, typically this would come after trial, but you can still, in limited circumstances, collateral attack after a plea of guilty.
12:20:26 What is the word you're saying? You can⦠Collaterally attack. Collaterally, thank you. Yes.
12:20:31 Okay. It's kind of like, uh, a habeas corpus, saying, let me out of jail.
12:20:38 So, after trial. Let's say you're convicted at trial, you have a right to a direct appeal. You appeal your case.
12:20:45 And let's say the Court of Appeals says, rejects your appeal, Supreme Court doesn't take it up.
12:20:52 You have⦠and then⦠about, oh, I don't know, about 90 days or so after your appeal is rejected, although the time varies, sometimes it's longer, you get something called
the mandate.
12:21:04 The mandate is when the case becomes final. A year from the mandate is when you have time to file your collateral attack with, like, the one major exception being newly discovered
evidence. There's newly discovered you can file at any time. Soâ¦
12:21:22 So, the one year isn't one year from your conviction, it's one year from the Court of Appeals says we're done reviewing your case, which functionally comes a year and a half,
two years.
12:21:31 Maybe longer after your conviction. So, at a 3 years to that review is.
12:21:37 racism. It is so unneeded. And the legislature is now publicly funding defense attorneys. It used to be you get an attorney, as per your constitutional right for your direct
appeal, you want to collaterally attack it, you're on your own.
12:21:51 Well, now they fund attorneys to do that. guess what we need? Defense attorneys, right? So they're constantly creating new avenues for attorneys to jump in and take cases when
we're already going to be short attorneys per the new rules that our Supreme Court has bequeathed onto us.
12:22:11 So, this creates just more opportunities for them to challenge these cases.
12:22:17 And for attorneys to jump on board and then not be available locally. And I cannot stress enough how much finality is important.
12:22:25 to a prosecutor's office. We are limited here in our capacity. When we get a case and we finish it, we need to put that in the done pile, right?
12:22:35 Having a case creep up 4 or 5 years later, oh, this just dropped.
12:22:40 Now, I have to turn around and tell the victim, hey, uh, your son's murderer just dropped this, they might get out of jail.
12:22:47 And I have to turn around and write the appeal.
12:22:51 is very time-consuming process. Last year, um, I responded to a personal restraint petition that was filed.
12:22:58 timely under the current rule by Mr. Beckmire, who was the last murder trial that we had in this jurisdiction.
12:23:04 What followed was the longest appeal I have literally ever written. It was⦠and if.
12:23:09 took me about 3 months, uh, writing it. It was exceptionally time-consuming. So, expanding that to 3 years.
12:23:17 Bad idea. Hey, can we put a pin in that for one second, James? Sure. I want to hear everything, but we have⦠our new Public Works Director has to leave by 1230, so I want
to give him an opportunity. And I'm going with that. Okay.
12:23:27 And in terms of county operations budget, I just learned today that, um.
12:23:33 One of my DPAs, who's currently on maternity leave, is not coming back, and so that is pretty devastating to my office, and um.
12:23:43 I'm⦠we're gonna basically be down to Phil and Jeremiah, who's very new.
12:23:49 And, um⦠Whereas before, I kind of let.
12:23:54 Go my, uh, vacancy to meet with the county's budgetary needs.
12:24:00 The county, I think, is really going to need to think about whether they're going to fund this position as an exception to the hiring freeze, and otherwise our capacity is going
to be exceptionally limited.
12:24:11 Wow, that's dismal⦠dismal news. Sorry to hear that, James. Yes, I think you heard that about an hour ago. Jeez, well, I thought it was an update. Really sorry to hear it.
A good thing for her at that point. It absolutely is. I totally understand.
12:24:25 I mean, no ill will, I hope to bring her back someday, but as of right now, this is⦠This is the situation. Yeah, that's tough. All right, as we're reeling, we'll turn overâ¦
I don't know, Eric Kuzma, are you available? I know that you have to leave, but, uh, you want to give us some good news, at least aboutâ¦
12:24:43 organizational structure in Public Works?
12:24:46 Um, the Structured Public Works changed. As we're all aware, and uh, you know, it's a⦠Um⦠I'm sorry, I didn't catch that.
12:24:50 Yay! Not that it was a bad structure before, butâ¦
12:24:58 Oh, I just said, congratulations. Not that it was a bad structure before, but we're excited about the future.
12:25:04 Welcome, Eric. Welcome.
12:25:04 Uh, yeah. Thank you. Um, you know, it'll be a transition, but, um, Monty and I have a great working relationship, and look forward to.
12:25:13 Continuing that with all of you guys as well, so⦠Um, as far as bills, there's 10 transportation bills that Public Works is tracking.
12:25:21 Uh, 7 of them were, you know, generally supportive of 3 of them are not bad things, but maybe have some kinks that need to be ironed out. Um, as you mentioned, Greg, unfortunately,
I've got a.
12:25:31 another meeting I'm gonna have to drop into, and I don't think anybody's that interested in those 10 transportation bills, but if anyone is, I'm happy to.
12:25:38 share any of that?
12:25:40 We are. I did. Send it to JeffBOCC, we'd love to see your thoughts on all 10 of those bills that you're focused on.
12:25:46 Okay. Yeah, one I'll just highlight one of them is, uh, with regards to ER projects. As you all know, we have.
12:25:53 at least one of those a year, and one of them will look at.
12:25:57 for Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife when we have an emergency event.
12:26:01 Uh, we need to get an HPA permit, and then they're looking at, instead of having to get an HPA for that specific project, we'll be able to.
12:26:09 basically take a pass and apply the mitigation to some other alternative project.
12:26:16 Right?
12:26:15 It'll just help streamline that process a little bit, because we're actually struggling with that, or just recently struggled with the Quinault South Shore project.
12:26:22 because of how the permits overlap and some of the requirements.
12:26:27 that WDFW was putting on, and how they negatively impact the federal.
12:26:32 permanent requirements, so, uh, without getting too far in the weeds.
12:26:37 Okay, great, thank you. I have one other question before you go. I'm just⦠Have we ever, uh, contemplated, or is there a capacity at all to do our own mitigations? I mean,
to work with our forestry project or somewhere else to do ourâ¦
12:26:52 own, maybe even⦠Off-site mitigations, is that something that's practical for us to consider?
12:26:58 It's very practical. I don't know how realistic it is. I mean, it just⦠we don't really hold.
12:27:04 many of the cards when it comes to mitigation. With the governor's funding, the best case scenario was what just happened last year with the Upper Hoad. The governor stepped
in with funding.
12:27:13 We could bypass the federal process. We're actually able to incorporate the mitigation into the construction.
12:27:20 And at the end of the project, we were done.
12:27:23 For Oil City Road, we're still dealing with mitigation 12 years later.
12:27:22 Mm-hmm.
12:27:28 Right. As the river is in a totally different place, yeah, the creek.
12:27:28 Um, because of the⦠the process involved. So, anything is possible. I mean, the mitigation is mitigation. It's just a question of how you incorporate it and⦠how that plays
out in the long run.
12:27:43 Ben. Um, great. Well, uh, welcome to the⦠your new role as Public Works Director is well-earned, and I think everyone is⦠yeah.
12:27:52 Really happy to have, you know, Monty still here in capacities that work for him, and the succession planning is just top notch. So, glad for all of the changes in public works.
It seems really positive.
12:28:04 Yep, and Sam⦠Sam will be a great addition to our team as well, as you guys all⦠all know, so⦠Yep.
12:28:09 For sure. Okay, great. Well, we'll let you go for your 1230 meeting, and thanks.
12:28:14 Yep. Thanks, everybody.
12:28:15 Thanks for making time. Alright. We'll jump back in the room, Jeff, you wanted to talk about some different legislation that you talked about, too, about protecting elected
officials? That's true.
12:28:30 on budget, check it. It's real close for⦠I mean, we have to close out and certify property tax, or property assessments and levies to the treasurer.
12:28:42 by the 15th of January. We got done on the 15th of January, and in order to do that, we have joint districts with Cloud County, so they have to finish at the same time, soâ¦
We can't close until they close, they can't close until we do, we have to do it at exactly the same time. We cut it very closely.
12:29:01 And if⦠and I know we're an administrative office, so we're not, you know, we don't get all the attention to how money's going to be spent.
12:29:08 But if we don't get done, there's no money to spend. You know, nobody gets property taxes, so⦠That's sexy. It was pretty close this year, so, um, that is a problem with.
12:29:18 And that's why we're⦠they're statutory mandated. And, you know, do you have enough staff to get the job done? And it's getting pretty close to where we don't.
12:29:29 Um, and that brings me into legislate. is some of the legislation that is no surprise to anybody, but state legislators love to play with property taxes and other mechanics
that get passed.
12:29:43 down to local government to fund and implement. And, you know, it's the same with us, whether it be property taxes. So, one thing I brought up was the⦠was, um⦠6095 and
22333.
12:29:58 which are protecting elected officials. And it's executive state officers, election officials, and current justice folks.
12:30:05 Um, from⦠being publicly recognized, in other words, from⦠were there information, who they are.
12:30:14 is not in the public record. And for us, it's like, well, how are we supposed to do that? Now, there's already a address confidential.
12:30:22 program, and all those people are protected. In fact, the clerks are adding in, um.
12:30:29 6133 and 2419, which would add in administrative judges to that, to the existing program that's already protecting all the people.
12:30:38 That they want to add protection to. So it's like.
12:30:41 Well, I have no problem with the adding an administrative judges, like, under the clerk's bills. It was a good bill. But, uh, ones, what are we supposed to do when you're trying
to protect.
12:30:53 addresses, not just people, but addresses. I mean, are we supposed to go out there and redact 911 numbers?
12:31:02 Take fire tags off the house. Yeah, it's like they're saying that those addresses are not confidential.
12:31:07 And it's like, we have no⦠I mean, we don't have our capacity to do that?
12:31:12 And all the recordings. You know, that under the current address confidentiality program, it takes that into account. It tells people, elected officials, or whoever wants to
be protected, or even victims.
12:31:24 Right? That you can⦠I'll go into a trust.
12:31:29 create an address for you, but that it works for new locations, but it really doesn't work that well if you own your home, and you have all these recorded deeds, if you have,
you know, and they're, you know, they're basically images of the deeds, they're not actually digital data, they're images.
12:31:48 is that, you know, are we supposed to redact all those two and go in and see all the history that's attached to an address?
12:31:57 And redact it. And it's just⦠it would be like⦠impossible to do. So, what I saw that my problem with 6095 and 233, the added protection for elected officials.
12:32:09 is that it's fundamentally putting the burden to prove by the protection on local government.
12:32:15 And how are we supposed to do that? I just don't see it. And there are others that⦠Relate to the Public Records Act?
12:32:23 Uh, that I⦠uh, concerning information access by the state auditor that says that you will protect confidential⦠you will give confidential information to the state auditor
that they have a right to it. Well, the one time we've been.
12:32:38 I had some of our taxpayers' confidential information be hacked, it was by after the state auditor got hacked, and it was released. And then we had to do the apologizing.
12:32:49 to our residents who were hacked by⦠from the state auditor got hacked.
12:32:53 Um, I'll try to be quick. But there⦠there are a number of other things. Now, property tax bills.
12:33:00 There are, of course, there are many out there, and the one thing that assessors typically ask is.
12:33:06 How are we supposed to do this? So, like, there's one that protects grocery stores, right? It says community grocery stores, we'll give them a tax exemption, so they won't pay
property tax. Oh, but they won't pay the state school tax.
12:33:18 They go, okay, so we'd have to figure out how to do that in our system, reorganize the system. I mean, some of these are⦠are bad ideas, it's just.
12:33:28 how are you going to do it, and how are we going to administer it?
12:33:31 Um, the homestead exemption is out there. The homestead exemption bill out there now.
12:33:38 Uh⦠it's, um⦠just dropped $62.95.
12:33:44 I actually like the idea of a homestead exemption. What the homestead exemption would do is it'd give.
12:33:49 A property tax exemption, a residential owners on their principal place of residence.
12:33:54 Um, this one, though, goes a little further. I mean, when we were talking about before, we're talking about maybe $300,000 off.
12:34:02 All of your resident⦠primary residence of property owners in the state of Washington.
12:34:07 And then, yeah, the levy rate for state school, and just apply it to state school levy. State school levy would go up a little bit.
12:34:14 But again, it would be mainly spread out across commercial and the I-5 corridor, because the state school levy State.
12:34:21 Well, this one is $500,000 off, so they brought drop it at $500,000 off.
12:34:28 It said, you will not raise the levy rate for state schools, which means that is a hit against state schools. There, let me rate them up, we assess values go way down, they're
going to get a lot less money, so that really doesn't work.
12:34:41 And the other problem is, how do you determine in the state of Washington without a state income tax, what is everybody's primary residence? Sounds good, but it's not that easy
to tell. A lot of people have 2 or 3 residences. A lot of people have residences in other states.
12:34:56 And as well as here, so the idea is that it'd be hard for 39 counties to figure that out, so we tried it⦠our thought was that the Department of Revenue to create a statewide
database, register, kind of like you do in Florida, and then track it, and then we would work off that. So they, in Florida, they registered their primary residence? Yes.
12:35:15 But we have that problem now where we have⦠when the senior citizen exemption, which is also residence-driven, we have folks who are snowbirds, and they have property down
in Arizona in here.
12:35:27 And, you know, they want the exemption. But in order to have the exemption, you have to.
12:35:34 We occupy your house in Port Townsend for more than 100 years. Right.
12:35:38 Okay, so that one, um, I like the home check exemption, but I think this bill needs a lot of work to clean it up.
12:35:46 So, is that the only homestead exemption out there right now? It is the only mill out there. What was the number on that one?
12:35:55 Now, I⦠Laura Lee gave a presentation last week to the city.
12:36:00 On the 1%, and how the 1% works, and we did some studying in there, and⦠I looked at 2015, and I looked at 2025.
12:36:12 In 2015, in the city of the pie for property tax, the county.
12:36:18 was 16%. Today, we're 11%, and the reason we're dropping is because that 1%, we can't get lid lifts. Which always gets lidless, and they're on the ballot, went from 10% to 20.
12:36:33 And so, you know, you're going⦠when you look at it, all the 1%ers that can't get lidless passed.
12:36:40 They're dropping, and they're just⦠Schools⦠school⦠because of the McCleary decision, they went from 20 to 27%.
12:36:48 Fire went from 10% to 20%. So, what we see is that.
12:36:53 Um, that the one percenters that can't get lid lifts passed.
12:36:59 are dropping in the⦠significantly in their distribution of how much they actually get through property taxes from what they used to get. It's no surprise to anybody. It's
not always great to be in the 1%, I guess.
12:37:13 Um, alright, well, thank you, Jeff. Brenda, how are things with the auditor's office?
12:37:18 We're good. They're busy, so we're conducting the election. They're processing right now, so⦠Um, and the auditors, we have a lot of bills they're tracking. There was two
that we sent to Waco that were our priorities.
12:37:31 And, um, the first one, which was a fun one, which was, um⦠Senate Bill 6130, and I just went in and.
12:37:42 Said pro on it, because too. What it does is it, um⦠Washington State has a temperance and Good Citizenship day, which we celebrate that on January 16th, so we just celebrate
that. We're trying to getâ¦
12:37:56 The Washington State to align with the National Voter Registration Day, which is, um⦠in September, which, uh⦠then we would be celebrating one day, and that's, uh⦠Which
we⦠we did this this year, we went to the third graders at Salish schools, and we've been asked to go out to Chimicum to talk to them about registering to vote. Sandy did a great
little ballot, she did a little voters pamphlet for them about voting on brownies or Rice Krispies, and it was⦠we had great, um, great conversation with third graders, asking, well,
what if we choose not to vote? We said, well, then you get what everybody else.
12:38:31 voted for. So, um, we are⦠Here's why one.
12:38:35 What's that? Which round is, or⦠Brownies. Yeah. And chocolate milk over apple juice or water. Okay, yeah, of course, yeah. Yeah, so, um⦠Yeah.
12:38:46 But, uh, we had them register to vote, um, we got their signature, we told them how important signatures are, we gave them loaded registration cards, they voted their ballot.
So, anyways, we think this is a good bill, and it doesn't cost any money.
12:39:00 So, we think it'll probably pass. What's the number on that one again? 6130.
12:39:08 Um, then the other one that was our priority is, um, Senate Bill 5069.
12:39:14 Which is, um, having the Secretary of State Shell provide a local voter's pamphlet for the primary on even years. Oh, nice!
12:39:22 Yeah. Pass it back up the chain a little bit. Yes, because currently how, um, each county is kind of doing it different. We choose to include all the state.
12:39:31 Um, and, you know, legislators. It makes our pamphlet very big.
12:39:36 And we have two people in elections right now, and to try to manage that is⦠is quite a bit, where, um, you know, if the state was handling their part, we'd assume the locals,
so, um⦠The Potter Association is for this, also.
12:39:52 Um, you know, Jeff's, uh, the, um, House Bill 2333 auditors are opposing that.
12:39:59 Um, because of all the⦠issues. Um, all our recorded documents, and I think title companies then wouldn't have a full title report if we were redacting stuff. Um, even our
digital archives and state archives are against it also. There's so much information out there to be able to track. How do you deal with people right now that are, you know, victim
of a crime or something, and so requested confidentiality with the reported⦠And the ACP program, um, right now for marriage licenses, that is protected.
12:40:25 You can come in and get a marriage license, it's⦠it's not anywhere, but if you come back to us and ask us for a certified copy, we say we don't have it. So it's always through
the program. And voter registration is also protected.
12:40:39 Um, and we⦠those are not on the⦠yeah, the full books are not in Boatwild, we handle them all, um, manually. Mm-hmm.
12:40:43 Um, right now, if you have existing records, and you bought deeds.
12:40:48 We can't redact them, how Jefferson County chooses to do it is.
12:40:53 we can't redact it, but we don't provide it on our website. It's still, if you came in and asked for it, we have to provide it, but we do try to protect it electronically.
12:41:02 Gotcha, okay. And that's feasible with the amount of requests that you have right now.
12:41:10 Cool. Alright. Thank you very much, Brenda. Um, I guess we'll go over to Sean, Central Services. Okay.
12:41:18 Um⦠There is one house fill that I've been keeping an eye on. That's House Bill 2157, which is the High Risk AI Regulation Bill.
12:41:29 really seeks to implement regulation that would impact how systems were developed, deployed.
12:41:37 Uh, and used, uh, the goal is really there to make sure that systems are in place to prevent discrimination.
12:41:45 Uh, those systems⦠through those systems, establish safety and transparency and accountability requirements.
12:41:50 So we'll be following that. We don't really have any short-term plans to implement any systems. It would be considered high-risk AI systems. Everything that we've talked about
is part of our.
12:42:05 body of work, whether it be Darwin AI, or using Microsoft Copilot, or any of the other.
12:42:11 sort of organic tools that exist within other tools we're already using wouldn't necessarily mean this. This really falls to systems that.
12:42:20 Um, are closer to decision-making. Facial recognition, things that are designed to.
12:42:26 take specific actions. Those aren't the sort of tools that we're looking at using at this point.
12:42:31 Uh, but following it to be aware for future planning.
12:42:35 Um, from a budget perspective. Um, there are a couple of things. One of the directions from the board was to move forward with.
12:42:46 Um⦠essentially terminating the lease for what we call the auditor's annex.
12:42:53 That has been done. We've been speaking with staff from the port.
12:42:57 Uh, they actually have some individuals that are potentially interested in that space already, so we've been kind of⦠Judy's been kind enough.
12:43:08 Uh, to be, um⦠meeting with me, having conversations, and also taking lead on coordinating that to make sure that that isn't disruptive to the staff that are working there
at the building.
12:43:20 Uh, Judy has also been kind enough to set up a meeting tomorrow afternoon.
12:43:26 Uh, based on her knowledge of the, um. Auditor's schedule in relation to the upcoming election to make sure that we have a clean kickoff.
12:43:36 to really start talking about the planning process. Uh, to bring all of those staff members back to his building.
12:43:46 And to upgrade the, um⦠Amex building behind the courthouse.
12:43:51 Uh, the last budget-focused thing is really, uh, more aspirational than not, but that's implementing the.
12:43:59 Uh, technical advisory committee that'll be starting in February.
12:44:04 Uh, really the goal there is rethinking how we use technology, recognizing it's one of our largest expenditures.
12:44:10 in the county, redoing our licensing model for server updates is an example of how we can save a lot of money.
12:44:18 Especially in the long term, by changing our licensing model and going away from individual server licenses.
12:44:26 to a data center license model will save us over a half million dollars in the next 7 years. So⦠Looking for other opportunities like that to be able to save money for the
county.
12:44:39 Uh, lastly. Uh, worth sharing. One of the biggest projects going⦠Uh, it's the Munis EPL of⦠server migration of moving all of those systems into Critter, updating all of
those servers to modern platforms that are actually supported.
12:44:59 Um, that is⦠It's essential for us to be able to move towards.
12:45:03 ultimately getting to the goal of having successful online permit applications.
12:45:09 And that, that is the last significant hurdle. Um, it's really to get there.
12:45:14 There are some⦠there is some work that has been done.
12:45:18 Uh, preemptively for certain workflows that will allow us to move quickly towards bringing those online.
12:45:25 But we're still⦠About 3 weeks out before we complete the server migration, so that work is continued.
12:45:34 Right? Alright, thank you very much, Sean.
12:45:38 interest of time, we'll move on. Liz, I think you were going to talk as well about communication is about, uh, accessibility.
12:45:45 Gonna do that now? Yeah, let's just keep going. We'll just do the⦠keep the roundtable format going.
12:45:51 Josh is gonna pull up⦠Um, presentation slide.
12:45:57 Um, but I wanted it on all of elected and directors' radars that a WCAG 2.1 level 2AA.
12:46:06 Um, is coming. This is compliance, uh, for⦠Um, ADA compliance for web and mobile app accessibility.
12:46:14 Um, it doesn't just cover the website, it covers any materials that you use.
12:46:21 To inform the public to access or participate in a state or local government service, program, or activity.
12:46:29 Um, this translates basically to our website. Uh, we do need to be compliant. Audioeye does cover compliancy for there.
12:46:38 Except when staff upload PDF documents. Um, so staff will need to be trained on how to.
12:46:46 Um, correctly make the documents EDA compliant. Um, our compliance date is April 26th, 2027. Um, everything that we have up there is kind of grandfathered in, except if there's
existing forms that you're using.
12:47:03 Um, those will need to be updated. Um, if you run a social media account, you will have to learn how.
12:47:11 to, um, be compliant on social media, and that's including using alt text, um⦠And there's other little nuanced things, um⦠So⦠It's kind of a heavy⦠uses a social media
account, or anyone with an individual account.
12:47:30 Uh, if their county social media accounts, so the sheriff's Office, Parks and Rec, or⦠public health, um, they'll all have to learn the compliancy for those. You never know
these days.
12:47:44 Um, and then⦠Uh, this also includes third-party websites, so if any departments have.
12:47:50 third-party websites, um, they do have to be compliant by that compliance date as well.
12:47:57 Um, and I'm gonna bring it up again at the quarterly communications meeting on Wednesday.
12:48:06 And so, if you don't have a representative there from your department, I can email you.
12:48:13 a meeting invitation. If I could jump in on that really quick, I think it's really important, um⦠that everyone understands for all the electors and the directors, it'll really
be up to us, individually, especially when we talk about those third-party elements or those individual documents that are being uploaded.
12:48:34 You know, we're really all going to be⦠Um, all hands in on making sure that those documents going.
12:48:42 into the system are compliant. Great. Thank you.
12:48:49 Any other communications updates that you want to share, communicate?
12:48:54 Um, our social media platforms are all, um⦠Increasing engagement, everything's going well. Um, one reminder, um.
12:49:04 If I can. Um, we do have a social media policy, and it does, um, guide staff.
12:49:11 into when they can use their personal accounts, and um.
12:49:15 And, uh, just reminding them not to release proprietary information on there, um, and so it's⦠Just a good reminder to revisit that policy, um, if staff aren't aware of it.
12:49:27 Great. Thank you, Liz. All right, Jeremy. Background, but budget impacts, legislative thoughts?
12:49:35 I'll focus on budget impacts, and it's⦠It's good to hear. I know Judy and Josh already have a plan for, kind of, how we can go in with forward planning into this next year's
budget cycle. But piggybacking on something that Sean mentioned, I think part of this interdepartmental collaboration that would be incredibly helpful is also.
12:49:52 By having those conversations early, we can also start to identify where there's.
12:49:57 cost centers and services that we're kind of currently paying for in different places across departments, um.
12:50:03 And where there might be economies of scale that could be built from that with the assistance of central services. So I think that's one.
12:50:09 very concrete example of where, um⦠in a more fiscally constrained environment, how we can think about really identifying those themes across departments that we might be
able to benefit from, from shared services. Because I know a lot of.
12:50:24 When we're talking about, kind of, customer-facing improvements, of course, the staff are first and foremost critical to that, but also there's constraints on the system, just
in terms of what we can and can't do based off of the budget realities, because everything has a cost associated with that, so⦠I think that's one thing I would flag. The number for
DCD is 3.5 staff that weâ¦
12:50:48 reduced through that process, um⦠We may also be coming with some very targeted, um⦠requests, uh, to⦠for some short-term staffing, uh, under⦠underneath that hiring
freeze.
12:51:01 really with the idea of being able to make sure that we maintain services in the short term while feeding into a longer-term budget process that will really look about not just
where our staffing footprint is now, but where do we want to be a year from now, three years from now, and really mapping that to.
12:51:15 the service level that we want to provide, and what's realistic within the budget parameters that we have. So⦠Um, so this is all, like, this is a great forum for that, and
then I just wanted to kind of foot stomp on that. Um, from my perspective, uh, also being the newest department head, like, having that cross-department collaboration would be incredibly
helpful. I don't know if the Al can catch a footstone, but⦠Jeremy, that 3.5, does that include theâ¦
12:51:41 actual current FTE impact of a resignation since January 1st? So, actually, I will add that, like, so 3.5 is⦠so that's the number that was directly connected to staffing
reductions to meet our budget target and come out with a balanced budget. We have also since had an additional.
12:51:57 loss of one full-time input. Well, it'll take effect at the end of January. So we're looking at that further constraint beyond that. That's not associated with the budget, butâ¦
That, um, from last year, but that will also give us an opportunity to think about what is the optimal.
12:52:13 way to utilize that additional FTE that we have.
12:52:17 budgeted for, um, and that position. That's a departure up⦠within a position that's still in your budget. A position that's still in the budget, an unexpected departure that
we weren't accounting for in that 3.5.
12:52:32 on the long-range planning team, so⦠Staff, which reduces the planning capacity. Yeah. So now in long-range planning, essentially down to.
12:52:41 1.0 plus the planning commission. Clerk higher, that is correct, yeah.
12:52:47 Okay. And that is, of course, the general fund, like, part⦠directly⦠not part of our enterprise funder revenue, but really directly connected to the general fund transfer
for that one.
12:53:01 Oh, yeah. Um, and some other people that, um, are⦠can't see them yet. But, uh, let's go, I guess, Veronica, or⦠thank you, Jeremy. Are you here from Public Works? I mean,
Public Health today?
12:53:13 any legislative, uh, notes or budget impacts that you want to discuss today?
12:53:18 Um, just real quick, I just want to say thank you, um, to everyone who is thinking about, um, how we can improve the budget.
12:53:28 process, um, from this year to next year. I just want to say thank you. Um, and then, real quick on, um, House bills and Senate bills.
12:53:38 Um, I already sent some information to Commissioner, um, Eisenhower, but real quick, I'll just mention House Bill 2532, which is concerning the sale and distribution of nitrous
oxide. We're paying close attention to that one.
12:53:54 I'll also mention Senate Bill 6291, which is concerning the on-site wastewater treatment system inspections.
12:54:02 That's a priority one for Wasulfo, and then also House Bill 2382, which is concerning excise tax on cigarettes, vapor products, and tobacco products.
12:54:15 Um, that one can bring some additional funding for public health, so just want to mention those.
12:54:22 Thank you.
12:54:23 No laughing matter. Nitrous oxide is laughing at us, right? Yeah, okay. You got that.
12:54:33 Um, okay, well, thank you very much, Veronica. And we have, uh, a couple other people here. I don't know, Thomas, if you want to, um, speak for the treasurer's Office in Stacey's
absence today?
12:54:48 Updates, budget impacts, um, legislation updates?
12:54:53 Uh, the only Senate bill I know that she's been looking at, and she's in Olympia today, so⦠Uh, was, uh, 57, 54.
12:55:00 Mm-hmm.
12:55:04 Which, uh, they're trying to create a public bank, um, for the state.
12:55:09 state funds⦠Uh, I don't know what kind of impact yet, uh, it would be optional, I believe, for local.
12:55:18 organizations, so⦠But, uh⦠I⦠unfortunately, I don't know, uh⦠What else that, uh, she's had her eyes on?
12:55:30 Okay, no problem. Any update from the office in general?
12:55:35 For your 15 minutes here.
12:55:37 Oh, um⦠No, just, uh, a bit busy doing the tax certification at the beginning of the year, and getting statements out as soon as we can.
12:55:46 Just a busy time of year.
12:55:49 Alright, thanks for being here. Ben Walker. What kind of updates do you have?
12:55:55 Budget impact, uh, legislative⦠you know, focuses.
12:56:01 Good afternoon, everybody! Um, just really briefly, I wanted to just mention that I'd ask the Commissioners to pay attention to House Bill 2102. I believe, uh, James Kennedy
may have also mentioned that bill. It has to do with legal financial obligations that can be requested to be paid.
12:56:19 Uh, through the court system, but can have some pretty big impacts to the ability to continue with, uh, services such as.
12:56:27 The probation department and some of the jail alternatives that we've been able to offer to, um.
12:56:34 participants in our court and defendants who come through district court.
12:56:38 Uh, because it⦠it restricts the ability for courts to impose any fines or fees that are associated with any monitoring, um.
12:56:47 For instance, we have a device called Silverlink, which costs $10 a day, and then⦠Uh, we were able to find a similar device at the cost of about $2.50 a day.
12:56:59 Which is a significant savings, uh, to our participants and to people who are coming through the court.
12:57:05 Um, but we would not be able to impose any of those costs to⦠over to the defendant at all.
12:57:12 Uh, which would mean that. Uh, we would not be able to continue to provide that service for a large majority of.
12:57:19 Uh, the people who are currently taking advantage of that-of-jail alternative, which would also likely increase the costs associated with housing.
12:57:29 I would, you know, likely increase the number of people who are housed at the county jail.
12:57:34 It also raises the poverty guidelines to⦠from $125, or⦠125% to 200%, which is a pretty significant increase.
12:57:46 As to what, uh, that level is. Uh, and removes the ability to impose any.
12:57:52 Um, defense costs to a defendant, even if they are able to contribute. If they're found to be indigent, but able to contribute.
12:57:59 To some degree, we would not be able to impose any of those fees.
12:58:04 onto defendants? Which⦠yes, yes.
12:58:06 That's one clarifying question. The 200% of the poverty level, is that to define.
12:58:14 Uh, and someone who's indigent? For the⦠oh, wow.
12:58:15 Correct. Yeah, so right now, it's 125%.
12:58:19 Yeah.
12:58:22 Uh, there⦠the bill would increase it to 200%.
12:58:28 Which is a significant jump.
12:58:30 Yeah. Okay. Sorry, I didn't mean to interrupt you there.
12:58:33 Oh, that's okay, I just wanted to point that bill out, uh, to everyone, just to keep it on your radar. Um, my organization, so the District Municipal Court Judges Association,
has some pretty big concerns.
12:58:46 About what that would do to, uh, our organization, specifically the probation departments.
12:58:52 Um, throughout the state of Washington. Um, in other news, we are headed towards implementing Odyssey coming this.
12:59:03 Um, the summer, so we're ramping up training for our staff in regards to that.
12:59:09 We'll be working closely with our tech department, the IT department.
12:59:14 And implementing, um, all of those changes, but it will require a pretty significant changes for.
12:59:20 how things get filed in our court and maintained in our court, so there's going to be a lot of.
12:59:26 Um, just⦠you know, new things coming our direction this year.
12:59:31 Uh, which, uh, I actually am excited about, but it's gonna be a big⦠Um, big mountain to climb.
12:59:42 But everything's going well. We're currently fully staffed, um, so I'm hoping that it remains that way.
12:59:50 Great. Thank you very much for the update, George Walker.
12:59:51 Thank you. Thank you.
12:59:53 So, I'm sorry, on 2102. you guys have concerns, but you're just kind of watching it right now, it's not a hard opposition, exactly?
13:00:02 Uh, the 2102, yes. Um, we do have⦠there are a lot of concerns about what that would⦠bill would do, and what kind of services District Court would be able to continue to
provide to our community.
13:00:16 So you're opposing. Okay, I just want to try andâ¦
13:00:18 Yes. I mean, I don't oppose taking a look at⦠a closer look at people's indigency.
13:00:25 Um, but really, hamstrings, our ability to collect any fines and fees, it also.
13:00:33 Um, can have some impacts on restitution that can be ordered.
13:00:39 And the ability for the court to order restitution in certain types of cases, um, and I am opposed to that.
13:00:47 Great, thanks. These bills make it more difficult for the court to fund itself while the state is also not providing funding for the defense, right? And in addition to that,
it's going to make even more eligible people.
13:00:59 More people eligible for public defense, while decreased wealth.
13:01:02 Increasing the number of public defenders we need. It's a double whammy. Right. Wouldn't it⦠Decrease the number of people? Not their 200% is where the screening line is,
and 50,000 is the quality level, they're increasing it to 100,000. You qualify for public transit, sorry. Yeah, I know, I was thinking about that, too, and I did.
13:01:23 Yeah, gotcha. Okay, wow. Yeah. Taking it downhill.
13:01:29 Um, alright, see you. Oh, Matea, you want⦠do you have an update from Superior Court?
13:01:38 on budget impacts, or⦠or legislative, uh, focuses?
13:01:43 Hi there! Uh, nothing legislative, I'll let the big boss cover that when he's back.
13:01:50 Yep.
13:01:49 But, uh, on budget restraints, I'll tell you that we are already, unfortunately, over on our interpreter line for the year.
13:02:01 Um, we had budgeted for⦠Um, one trial.
13:02:07 That would need an interpreter, um, that we knew would⦠we would have for the⦠at the beginning of this year, and that⦠what longer than anticipated, um, and⦠So that's
something we're dealing with, and I'mâ¦
13:02:24 gonna be hopefully talking to Judy sometime this week to figure out how we're gonna.
13:02:29 work with that for the rest of the year.
13:02:32 Um, and that's the only big. budget constraint we've got. Other than that, everything's looking great.
13:02:40 All right, thank you for the updates, and I guess, I don't know, Judy from the Finance Director within the Auditor's office, I don't know if you wanted to give an update or
anything.
13:02:50 How we doing onâ¦
13:02:52 Everybody knows what I'm working on, so⦠I feel like I've had all the opportunities to talk, so, um, just got my nose down and just, um⦠doing what I do. Um, like I said,
look forward to more collaboration once we can get that figured out.
13:03:14 We've got a pretty big hurdle to get over in the next couple of days.
13:03:14 Uh, with our cash flow, so once we get over that, we'll⦠be able to tackle some of these other things.
13:03:21 That's all.
13:03:22 Great. Thank you very much. All right, Josh, anything from the County Administrator's Office that you'd like to share, or any legislation you're looking at?
13:03:30 Yeah, I'll just add a quick legislative note. I mean, Commissioner Eisenhower is our representative to the Washington State Association of Counties Legislative Steering Committee,
so I'm supporting.
13:03:40 her as best I can, and we do have a weekly meeting with our lobbyists now on Friday mornings, which is⦠Very, um, welcome.
13:03:48 And⦠but I did want to mention something specific that I mentioned, I think, to the board maybe 2 weeks ago, maybe last week, and it was about.
13:03:56 The possibility of there being some momentum for the legislature to enter into a long-term arrangement with counties to share costs for public defense?
13:04:05 the idea was that the cost share would ramp up.
13:04:09 to the year 2033, and there would be a 50% cost share at that point, and then it would cap the county's contribution at whatever level.
13:04:17 public defense costs across the state are at that⦠at that junction, which we estimate to be $280 million statewide.
13:04:23 I-2033, it's currently at 240 or so, according to a survey from WASA.
13:04:30 Um, however, what Heidi and I learned, um, from, um.
13:04:35 recent⦠or actually, I think⦠sorry, I learned from our Washington County Administration Association.
13:04:40 weekly legislative check-in, is that. That those talks broke down.
13:04:44 really, the counties are in a lawsuit against the state on this issue.
13:04:48 Now, because it's a constitutional right, there's been a public defense, and yet the counties, as subdivisions of the state, are provided very little support. Right now, it's
about 5% of our budget for public defense, and I would argue that's actually less than that, because.
13:05:02 As we've inherited in the Commissioner's Office, which, of course, Maite and Brian know, because we just talked about this recently.
13:05:07 The obligations to deal with conflict counsel appointments during public defense proceedings.
13:05:13 Then there's additional costs to the staff in my office that I've observed, and that, you know, the amount of time that we have to get involved in that process, and we're not
court people, although we're vastly becoming court people, I suppose, with no other option.
13:05:26 counties that are bigger have public defense administrators. who handle all of this kind of work. So, working on that issue, and as you know, working on the contract with Jefferson
Associated Counseling for Public Defense in general. I expect to have that contract before the end of February.
13:05:40 And I just met with, um, with⦠the chief of public defender last week to talk about that.
13:05:48 But I guess I'm just reporting that I think the counties at this point have walked away from that table, um, and are focusing on the lawsuit to see if they can solve this problem
to the courts.
13:05:57 No, so we'll see how that goes, but unfortunately, there's an easy solution to the cost for public defense.
13:06:05 Do we qualify for indigency? as accounting?
13:06:12 I would just add to that that there were over 600 bills pre-filed, so⦠There's a lot of issues being⦠discussed in a short session. In a short session, and things are changing
almost daily, and more bills have been introduced since then.
13:06:27 I think the first cutoff is 4th of February, which is⦠Soon, but um⦠There are about 10 bills that I have actions this week on, and so⦠it's really, like, I spend my time
up here listening mostly, but also.
13:06:43 scheduling things, so⦠but they⦠they range from⦠There's a bill on the arbitration of tort claims. That could have an impact to our budget based on insurance premiums.
13:06:54 sewage grinder pumps, another issue I'm tracking. Derelict vessels, ecosystem services⦠and the on-site sewer inspection bill, I mean, those are all things that require action
this week, so⦠It's super helpful to have a really engaged, um, legislative support in Olympia. There's something about coroners again, too.
13:07:16 Oh yeah, go ahead. I'm not tracking it. I'm not a corner.
13:07:22 Well, yeah, I do know that, um, some counties, I think San Juan, really, in particular, maybe others are trying to.
13:07:29 They've been active. They somewhat, uh, to get rid of elected coroners, that's part of it, and then there's, I think, a separate bill that seeks to house it back on the prosecutor's
office.
13:07:39 Um, which I think might be⦠problematic from an employment standpoint, because you could take someone's duty away by turning around and adding a duty.
13:07:49 Without adding compensation, it's a little more difficult.
13:07:56 Okay. Well, yeah, go ahead. Um, so I've actually been working with the.
13:08:03 city of Port Angeles, Squim, and Bremerton to rent out jail space. So, we're actually in the contracting phase, and once I get everything hashed up with the legal, obviously,
it'll be in front of you for review.
13:08:15 But if we were to rent out just 20 beds, um⦠Per day, for a year, that's gonna bring in about a million dollars.
13:08:24 And so, uh, that's⦠we're definitely working towards that, so⦠We're not in as much of a⦠burden, I guess, at the end of this year, looking at 2027, because you're looking
at what the state's kind of talking about for their deficit group.
13:08:38 for this year is going to be kind of interesting to see how that trickles down to our level. So, how the transportation handled with that? Is that⦠Do you have that responsibility,
too? Totally up to them. Okay. They have to, you know, bring in peers. Basically, just theirâ¦
13:08:51 You know, food and stay. Food and stay, when they get released, they get released back to their location, they have to come get a brand back.
13:08:59 So, I was just gonna ask about, in the contracts that you're negotiating.
13:09:05 Is it, you know, is it like signing a year lease, or could they back out at any minute? And I asked that question because what if they just end up reaching an agreement with
Collin County about expenses on the jail side there? Well, and this is the thing, if it isn't going to be all of their people, because we don't have the bed space to take everybody
from PA.
13:09:21 It was swim. It's just, you know, once in a while, the⦠jail there gets so full that they won't take certain inmates, and it's also going to be cheaper for them to bring them
here, so if they have someone that's been, uh, like, sentenced to, like, 6 or 8 months, or it's significantly cheaper to pay.
13:09:38 A lesser rate in our facility than it is to keep me in Coral County Jail. And so it's saving them. And for us, I mean, it's just empty beds. I mean, it doesn't require any more
50 staff capacity, yeah. Existing staff capacity, a little bit more food, but⦠General medical? What's the impact? Does it make any difference at all? Because that's based upon the
actual.
13:09:57 place, you know, we can house up to 56 people. Okay, great. So we don't actually pay based upon the number of.
13:10:02 Great. But there's exceptional medical costs, like other words⦠And that nail would be on him to take care of that.
13:10:10 Right, we're working, like I said, we're working through the contract right now, you know, so I'm sure there's gonna be some give and take, and, you know, it isn't all finalized
yet, but⦠Yeah. But I'm thinking cap. Yep, yep.
13:10:21 think outside the box. Yeah, holding pattern. All right, um, future agenda topics for the next quarterly meeting. We probably won't be at the point that we're talking, um, budget,
but are there other issues that people would like to discuss at this table?
13:10:38 I'm still trying to figure out Ariel, since we didn't get funded for updating our aerials.
13:10:44 But Google did. You know, Google has now got 2025 aerials out there, and we're still kind of stuck on 2023 until we find a solution.
13:10:52 Um, so even I'm going to Google now to look at what's going on in the county, and⦠Can you just screenshot it and then drag it over onto⦠Yeah, or⦠Google, so I can look
at our maps against Google background, you know, aerials, but that, at some point, we have to⦠I mean, we can't get too far out of line, because too much of what we do is dependent
upon having current aerials.
13:11:16 For 3-4 years. Jeff, could you remind us of what happened that changed the situation? Didn't some funding dry up? Was it federal? Federal, yeah. Well, the federal was providing
the funding for the NAID flights for⦠because of ag⦠through agriculture.
13:11:30 And they've changed their scheduling in Washington's not getting updated.
13:11:36 Now, in theory, we're all waiting for the washing to get updated, but⦠But that's⦠I haven't already mentioned that, I think, to you, but right, the, uh, Department of Ecology
got money, part of this that we were talking about earlier, about figuring out the armoring⦠shoreline armoring to do good mapping on all of the shorelines, right? Can we use.
13:11:55 Can we use different data sets to patchwork? We can, but they're obliques, and they'd be hard to do as orthos against our parcel lines. It would be hard, but they're very useful.
We're using them quite a bit, but again, they're not⦠they don't have overlay or parcel lines. Gotcha.
13:12:11 Okay. Great. I'll revisit that. And just for⦠in case anyone didn't know, and Jeremy, you too, that.
13:12:19 These oblique photographs that ecology has managed for decades now. Go back quite a ways, and they're publicly accessible on their webpage, and they.
13:12:27 They're pretty useful for looking at shoreline anything, including armory, so I know AP uses those as well. It sounds like they were updated recently, or there's money for a
colony. It happens once every 5, 6, 7 years. You're supposed to do it every 2 years now. Yeah. But we got⦠they were mid-2025, yeah, it's⦠what we're using for reval this year,
but again, it only goes so far back from the shoreline. Somebody shared those at the Ecosystem Coordination Board Shoreline Committee the other day, and it was pretty impressive.
13:12:58 On another topic, um, briefly, although. I don't think we're prepared to have a conversation about this right now, but I just wanted to note we're getting more and more public
comment about, um, communities' concern about the county's response to ICE presence and protection.
13:13:18 of our residents. And I think what I⦠what folks are asking for right now is for.
13:13:27 us to coordinate our response, and really. Um, think about how we're going to, um, sort of position ourselves to protect our residents.
13:13:39 into the future, and so I know we're gonna have conversation about this, and.
13:13:45 Um, with the sheriff, and⦠and so I just wanted to kind of put it on their radar as a⦠as a topic that I think.
13:13:52 electives and department directors, um. Well, at some point, we might benefit from a coordinated conversation about it as we kind of.
13:14:04 hear from you, Sheriff, and your⦠as you kind of pull your thoughts together in your coordination with the community, but just kind of putting it out there that we're getting
more and more public comment about it, including this morning.
13:14:17 And, um, that⦠the community seems to be asking for.
13:14:22 how is this community? going to position itself to protect its residents and, um, and how do we anticipate what may be coming down the bikes?
13:14:32 Right, I think it's just good to have those conversations with⦠like, I'm sure you heard this morning at the meeting that I had a meeting with last week.
13:14:37 You know, just talk to, uh, the group about, you know, what they'd heard and, you know, rumors, and between every, you know, people avoid, you know.
13:14:46 Make a mountain out of a molehill, a meeting that they saw, that they thought Border Patrol was with Vision Wildlife.
13:14:52 So Fish and Wildlife is now doing immigration, and it totally wasn't the case at all, and, you know, the wildlife was having a meeting, and, you know, Border Patrol stopped
by, hey, what are you guys doing? And they said, get out of here. Well, someone saw all that and just assumed, you know, and so what if people are just, you know, high alert? I mean,
it's pretty⦠scary, really, you know, residents, they don't know what's going on, you know, and quite honestly, you know, from.
13:15:13 the federal level to the state level, it's like, kind of⦠we don't really know either. It isn't like ICE is going to call us saying, hey, we're going to come into your community
Monday at 8 AM. Right.
13:15:22 And we don't have any contact, because we don't have a working relationship with the federal government, so⦠It's just kind of a⦠I mean, obviously, if something happens,
we're gonna respond, and we're gonna respond there, we're gonna keep the peace, and I think it's just good to have those conversations with the public to let them know that, you know,
that we're thinking about it, too.
13:15:38 It isn't something that we⦠it isn't totally off our radar. We're definitely going to be involved in, you know, helping our community out. That's our focus, is public safety
within our community.
13:15:48 It was just a release from the Seattle Times that the governor put something out today. I don't⦠I haven't had a chance to look at it, but⦠I also was meeting with some.
13:15:57 pretending school staff, and they're internally thinking about how they respond to anyone, so it, you know.
13:16:04 But I think it's good that we get coordinated as best possible. Right.
13:16:10 Veronica, do you have something to add on this?
13:16:13 Yes, thank you. Um, some time ago, there was a⦠a policy. I don't know if it's a policy or resolution regarding.
13:16:22 this topic for courts, because there was a requirement that courts came up with this.
13:16:27 And I did reach out⦠I did reach out to the PAO, um.
13:16:27 Yeah. Yeah.
13:16:33 Requesting that⦠something be written for other departments as well.
13:16:38 Um, and I did speak to Ariel. about it. I know that she didn't have time to finish anything.
13:16:44 Um, but I just want⦠I just want the county to think about that. You know, I understand that there was a requirement because of the courts.
13:16:53 But we, you know, other departments serve the same clients, and.
13:16:58 Employees need guidance. Um, not just courts, but all employees need guidance, and so I just want.
13:17:05 that to be considered.
13:17:07 I think that's exactly the conversation that I'm hoping for, and then, um, you know, and then a broader.
13:17:16 community communications plan, as you're suggesting, Sheriff. Right. That's the right path.
13:17:31 That should include all the electeds and directives.
13:17:38 Yes. Yeah, I think guidance⦠Response. Yeah.
13:17:43 It's pretty timely and important. And that's why. Senate Bill 5974. Because in this community that I work for is in Olympia, you know, it isn't, you know, the governor's office,
it's our community.
13:17:57 Right. And that's why it's so important, and obviously, historically, the sheriff goes back a long, long, long time as the elected⦠constitutionally, the person in charge
of the people, you know, that enforces law.
13:18:08 And so that's so important that it's based upon the community that you serve versus, you know, some group out of Olympia or, you know, wherever, big city that doesn't know anything
about Jefferson County and the problems that we have here in Jefferson County.
13:18:21 You know, appreciate your stance on it, and you know, your proactive communications with Sarah and other organizations, so, I mean, that's⦠That we have to do as well. Addis,
this is going to be something that, you know, we're going to need to do some research on, because.
13:18:39 Our local law enforcement, they operate under Washington laws and the Washington state constitution.
13:18:45 You know, if you remember initially doing 40, I think it was 15 years ago, that mandated.
13:18:50 de-escalation training for law enforcement, so there's been a real emphasis on de-escalation.
13:18:57 Uh, in law enforcement training since then. And honestly, I think that that training had been present for years, I think the college may just not have been quite as a rare,
but it's something that law enforcement officers take very seriously. They do it not just for the public safety, they do it for their own, too. Um, looking at federal law.
13:19:17 It seems like they kind of took the D out of it. Escalation, and, you know, they⦠their academy was for ICE is substantially shorter than that of our local law enforcement,
and indeed.
13:19:31 I think any other federal law enforcement, they're just not as trained.
13:19:35 And, you know, I have to wonder, you know, who's joining those agencies these days? You know, who's looking at that and saying, yeah, that's what I want to be a part of. It's
concerning. And the other thing to think about is.
13:19:48 When we're talking about federal, uh, law enforcement, we're not talking about the very restrictive Article 1, Section 7 of the Washington State Constitution, which limits the
ability of the government to intrude in someone's private affairs. We're talking about the Fourth Amendment.
13:20:04 Which is not quite as restrictive, and⦠Because we live in a border zone, we have even fewer protections against government intrusions, so⦠The normal privacy we might enjoy
under the Fourth Amendment doesn't exist when we're in a border zone.
13:20:21 They have even more rights or ability, uh, the federal agents to intrude in our affairs.
13:20:28 And that's something we are going to need to look into and actually figure out what that is. It's not something that we deal with on a daily basis. I'm usually looking⦠working
with Washington Law.
13:20:37 Washington Constitution and washing certified peace officer, so. Um, I know these issues are out there, and it's concerning.
13:20:47 You know, I hope that they completely overlook Jefferson County, but hope is not a strategy. Hope is not a strategy. I appreciate it. And we just cross the bridge.
13:20:56 Yeah, yeah. Do the island strategy? Okay, well, um, yeah, no, it's important to talk about it, and yeah, you're right, your hope is not a strategy, so⦠Appreciate everyone's
sentiments on this.
13:21:12 the work that we'll have to do is to prepare. Well, I think it's just good to have the conversations and, like, a tabletop exercise with community members, and like, hey, let's
say this happens. This is what we're gonna do, this is what you could do. So people could kind of, like, plan, versus, you know, we're just gonna go in there, we're gonna stop this.
Well.
13:21:28 You know, reality is you're probably not going to be able to stop, you know, thousands of armed people coming into, you know, you'd be able to deter and deflect and, you know,
witness and, you know.
13:21:38 be safe, is the primary goal, you know, so⦠but I think just have those conversations, like a realistic expectation of what.
13:21:46 to expect, and what you would see, and what their authority is. That's a really good point that the prosecutor brought up, and it's like, people don't realize that you can't
just come into my house. Well.
13:21:57 They can. You know, under certain⦠You know, federal laws, they can, for immigration things, so it's⦠and it's pretty scary, really scary. To Veronica's point, in the courts,
we were talking about the need for a judicial warrant versus an administrative warrant. Is that the same kind of.
13:22:12 Um, practice that is⦠applicable elsewhere is, like, make sure that.
13:22:19 whatever agent has intervened, you know, in a way that you don't expect, especially in a county facility, that it's a judicial warrant and not an administrative warrant. Right,
right, right. I mean, the other thing is, is that, you know, we're talking law here, but⦠As far as I can tell, that doesn't seem to be really at play with some of these agencies.
13:22:39 appear to operate with impunity with little investigation into their activities.
13:22:43 If that's the case, then what's written on paper doesn't really matter at the end of the day. Well, I'm hoping.
13:22:50 Hoping, too, because I just got an email as we were in this meeting from the.
13:22:54 an International Association of Chiefs of Police, and they're actually reaching out to the federal government to try to have, like, talks on a more local level between the federal
and state government and local authorities.
13:23:05 to be able to, like, sit in one room and say, listen, this is what's going on, this is what's going on in my community, you know, the practices, what you're doing there, to
try and resolve it at, like, a higher level, so it isn't the continuing Minneapolis across the nation.
13:23:17 So I think, which I think would be really good, you sit people down and talk about, you know, policy and.
13:23:22 the way it works, I mean, gotta give it a try. Right.
13:23:28 Okay, wow. start placed in Don, but we're⦠we're at⦠It'd be great to give people a slight break before we come back at 1.30, so we'll⦠Um, recessed this meeting. Thanks,
guys. Yes, thank you so much. Back at 1.30, and go directly into executive session, soâ¦
13:32:42 They could do both.
13:32:46 Okay. Sorry, we're a minute here late. I'm, uh, calling us back into session, and we're going to go directly into an executive session with the County Administrator, Chief Civil
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
13:32:58 Um, as well as the sheriff and the central services director.
13:33:02 Potential actual litigation exemption is outlined in the Open Public Meetings Act, RCW42.30.110 parentheses 1, parentheses I, we're going in for half an hour, let's say 32 minutes,
we'll come back into open session at 2.05.
14:05:48 All right, we're coming out of executive session. We need to go back in, so we're going to go back in for another 10 minutes until 2.16. We're going into an executive session
to remind folks what the county administrator, Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney.
14:06:03 the Central Services Director and the Sheriff on potential and or actual litigation exemptions outlined in the open Public Meetings Act, RCW42.30.110, parentheses 1, parentheses
I, and we'll be back at.
14:18:29 All right, coming back, uh, into session. No action taken from our session about potential and actual litigation.
14:18:41 And, uh⦠The only additional thing that we have on our agenda is legislative updates. We've got a little bit more briefing and some calendaring to do.
14:18:52 Uh, it would be lovely to get out of here early so we can go take a little break before our 6 o'clock meeting. I have another board meeting, too.
14:18:58 You have another board meeting? Yep. Oh, jeez.
14:19:03 Wow, when's that? 4.30 to 6. Wow. Jeez, you're really packing it in today.
14:19:11 Okay, um, so maybe we can continue with our briefing and wrap that up, and then do some quick calendaring, and we'll talk ledge. Maybe we can debrief a little bit of our conversation
with the directors and electeds. Is there anything else that folks want to.
14:19:27 address today. Do you want more of an update on our legislative priorities? Yeah, let's go through our briefing and calendaring first, but I'm just curious if there's anything
else we want to walk on today?
14:19:36 No, except to just let the IT staff that my computer is⦠Totally frozen now. Totally frozen? Yeah. Throw it. I don't know what's going. Sometimes it is a good hard reset.
Yeah.
14:19:49 I've got my phone, so I can see the calendar.
14:19:53 All right, well, I will look back. Sorry about your computer. Let's see, of course, um, with you guys on Tuesday, the lovely Martin Luther King Day.
14:20:04 Snowy month. Mountain, um, with you guys at the budget meeting. I think, Josh, you might have referenced this earlier too, but some good news came out in the budget meeting.
Great to see the revenues.
14:20:19 exceeded, and the expenses were a little less than we had anticipated, so we kind of⦠A little bit of relief. Yeah, kind of a⦠I mean, am I right, Josh? About a million
dollars better than we thought we were going to be, is what it looks like?
14:20:31 That sounds about right. I would ask Judy for a decision on that, but I also just want to point out that that's.
14:20:39 That only just gets us closer to our goal of 15% reserve in the general fund based on expenditures, and we're still not there yet, right, and we still have a cash flow issue,
and we still have the.
14:20:52 the systemic issue going into next year, which is that.
14:20:56 Our expenses are exceeding our revenue, so yeah. So it means we have to take about a million⦠half a million out of⦠Out of our, um⦠Expenses. Yeah.
14:21:06 Or 27. If all other things remaining equal, right? No, I don't, actually, I think we're still at 1.1 million is what we're dealing with, because that's a different issue. So
there's two issues. One is.
14:21:16 How much do we have in our general fund? Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And the second issue was on an annual basis.
14:21:21 Okay. How much more are we spending than we're taking overall? And that's 1.1. So it doesn't affect that. Okay. It just gives us better news on how we're building⦠Where's
our reserve, reserve?
14:21:33 Yes. But, hey, think it wouldn't get it. Absolutely.
14:21:38 Um, did agenda planning with Josh on Wednesday, then the Hood Canal Coordinating Council meeting was canceled for lack of business.
14:21:46 So it's all right. When I saw Marty Supreme, highly recommend it. Very good movie about ping pong.
14:21:52 Not really about me, but good movie. Uh⦠Jeffcom, uh, on Thursday. One of the big things coming up there, uh, is they're⦠renewed, um, focus on, uh.
14:22:08 Uh, capital planning, and I suggested we really include the Sheriff's department, and corrections, as well as DEM and Central Services and that, because it's easy just to get
focused on the needs of JEFCOM.
14:22:21 Um, they're losing our warrants officer at Jeff Palm, which is good news, since we had, if you'll recall, just redone the contract, so we're taking the warrants back into the
sheriff's office and the police department, primarily, and that, uh⦠Um, was gonna end up in losing a position in June. Jennifer, who's a great employee, but she found.
14:22:44 Other employment, so please move on. We're moving on in a week or so.
14:22:49 But the Capital Conversations, um⦠I think everyone is poised for. I talked to Sean a little bit about that.
14:22:57 Then I told you I was meeting with the city and the Low Income Housing Institute about a tiny shelter village, and.
14:23:04 So, um, eh, you know, it was good, good meeting, great to meet those folks that put them together.
14:23:10 Their cost for shelters are substantially more than we were paying at Coswell Brown, and uh⦠we thought that they had a revenue⦠operational revenue source coming in, but
that operational revenue source is.
14:23:21 What local funds are there? Like, we're oversubscribed for this. Was it Sharon that came? Uh, no, Matt and Donna, and Melissa, and John were, like, build the tiny shelter vision,
and then do the operations.
14:23:34 And, uh, you know, they have this conversation started with the city about doing affordable housing at Evans Vista. Usually, they do kind of start with a shelter village that
moves to affordable housing.
14:23:45 They're like, well, we kind of got that segment a little bit more covered. Our real gap is the affordable housing, whether permanent supportive or another, so just renewed focus
with the city on working on a program with Lehigh for Evansvista. Okay.
14:24:00 Um, good meeting, I⦠We'll want to connect them with Matt Rady, who's trying to build one of his own, and, you know, that might be a possible course. But they're shelter stops.
14:24:12 35,000 each, so⦠Yeah, substantially more. Uh, I met with Peggy Webster⦠Well, holy cap, and just kind of got an update is⦠Things are moving along there, systems are
going well, um, reallyâ¦
14:24:33 They're running into, you know, cash flow issues a little bit as they try to work on just.
14:24:39 Yeah, alright. Um, Jamie Almick wanted to type in on something you just said about the Sheriff Department.
14:24:46 Okay, yeah, go ahead, Jamie, let's bring it over.
14:24:58 I'm glad that someone's still listening to the meeting. Usually, when it's just us and crickets, what's going on, Dan? What did Iâ¦
14:25:06 Sorry, sorry to unmute. Um, yeah, I listen to you guys every Monday in the background.
14:25:11 Um, I just wanted to clarify, the records are not going to the Sheriff's Office and to the Port Townsend Police Department. They're going to the courts.
14:25:19 Oh, thank you for that clarification. Sorry, thanks for getting⦠Gotcha.
14:25:21 Yeah. Mm-hmm.
14:25:27 Alright. Yeah, it'd be great. I'd like someone to follow me around with doing, like, uh, drum rolls and everything, but also correcting my misstatement. So, thank you, Jamie.
14:25:37 Um, and then, uh⦠with OLICAP, you know, it probably is the end of the year that they're going to be ready with those.
14:25:46 the challenges of cash flow issues and reimbursement-based, uh, uh.
14:25:51 contracts and everything. Do you think there is a fleet of being able to separate out Jefferson County and Folland County.
14:26:00 Expenses versus⦠Uh⦠That's a good point. I mean, it's kind of programmatically, like, all the housing in Jefferson County. I mean, they do a lot of Jefferson County, we
actually did a disproportionate amount of their focus, um, because.
14:26:18 They do almost no housing in Collum County. Uh, yeah, I think⦠I can⦠we're gonna ask again. Actually, you can ask again. I think they're⦠they are getting that.
14:26:32 a little bit more granular, and they did some⦠slide map, but it's really, you know.
14:26:39 Like, echo is entirely, uh⦠Early childhood education, you can see the very specific places that you can do a pretty easy math.
14:26:48 Um, I think the ones that get a little tougher by heap and some of those programs that span both counties and aren't as, uh⦠tied to a particular facility, but um⦠Yeah,
I don't have a better answer for you right now.
14:27:03 it's just something, I mean, we asked for it.
14:27:06 very beginning with my term, I think. Yeah, and I mean, as I said, they're still frustrated with the amount of information they're getting out of the CLA that's been doing the
finance, and I really believe that.
14:27:19 something they're going to need to do is get a finance director.
14:27:22 in-house, but we know that's the challenge. The finance directors are really in demand, they struggle to get one for years, and⦠Of course, we lost our new finance director,
Jefferson Transit already, so⦠there's jobs around, and it's challenging to hold on for the smaller organizations.
14:27:40 I met with Liz Coker on Friday as well, too. I was looking for an update, building, um.
14:27:46 association and other things, just on, you know, she was our facilitator for the first 5-year plan that I participated in.
14:27:54 Um, and uh⦠just curious where things were going, so we chatted and talked about projects.
14:28:00 Sean Fredericks joined me on KPTZ to talk about central service.
14:28:08 services, uh. projects for 2026.
14:28:13 Before I saw Dip the Coyote, have you guys heard about Dip the Coyote? Apparently a sick coyote that's all over the social media feeds, but I just saw this tag, and I was like,
what are you doing standing on the road?
14:28:25 Middle of the day, and he was there when I went into Fort Wharton, and when I came out of Fort Wharton, too.
14:28:30 I took a picture, I was gonna do some⦠Some, uh, AI slop with them, but now I feel like is it⦠taking advantage of them?
14:28:40 Um⦠met with, uh, Hans Fredrickson from Fredrickson Electric, talking about their infrastructure project, and they've.
14:28:48 abandoned that infrastructure project and are instead, um. you know, purchasing some other land to build additional facilities, you know, they moved from 15 to 32 employees,
and⦠Most of those employees are out in the field doing electrical work, but more and more are in the office, and their facilities are just bursting at the sand.
14:29:08 Um, and then I met with⦠Which is also the same as true for Atlas, right?
14:29:12 Yes, they're also⦠there's Atlas, I talked to Jed last week as well, and they're, uh, um⦠Their septic system is kind of⦠on his last legs, and you know, the questions
that he really had were, should we do a robust septic system that's going to allow us to expand, or do we need to mark time until we can connect to the, uh, to the sewer? And so these
areâ¦
14:29:34 Um, big questions. But, uh⦠I invited, uh⦠Both joined the EDC. I invited Hans to join the EDC, and I want to invite Jared, because, uh⦠They'd both be so great. Totally.
14:29:46 So, um, again, I just feel like⦠aligning public projects with private interests is maybe the secret sauce that we haven't tried yet to develop a little more synergy with
actual impacts on the street and good-paying jobs. Job creation, yeah. Job creation, job preservation.
14:30:05 Bang in that drum. Yeah. Yeah, you know⦠Occasionally, he and I are like a broken clock, we agreed twice, twice a day. That's right, twice a day.
14:30:14 Um, and then met with the Jefferson Transit team to talk a little bit about.
14:30:20 What we can do to, uh⦠get that third maintenance bay going, you know, understand the issues with that, having⦠I mean, so they have one that's, like, for⦠maintenance,
oil changes and everything. They have one, so that gives them one more.
14:30:35 Um⦠But they paid for. Well, they have a second one already that's functional, but if they are doing a teardown or something, you can't just push the bus out and out if you
need to do, uh, you know, a quick brake job or something, so it's, um⦠Frustrating not to do. It is frustrating.
14:30:49 Yeah, I don't know, look⦠The plot will contain, you know, continue scenes. We can find ways to advocate for a short-term solution. There's⦠there are.
14:30:59 Possible short-term solutions and long-term solutions, and just the, like.
14:31:02 Um, one solution is, and the city's participated as well, is connecting to the city water that goes by there, because they need a blowout for the water coming in, they don't
have a way to access that and blow out pressure when they need to, and there's obviously.
14:31:14 plenty of pressure in that, uh, 4,000 paper line.
14:31:18 Um, but it's still on the wrong side of the building, so it would involve, you know.
14:31:23 Cutting through the bus concrete, as well as the whole parking lot and everything, so it's, uh⦠The statistic⦠I would love to⦠I'm focused on finding a solution that
gets them able to use that site. Awesome, thank you.
14:31:38 And that was my week. Josh, how's your weekbook?
14:31:43 Last week, Tuesday meeting, budget meeting on Wednesday morning.
14:31:48 Um, Commissioner Brotherton already meant for agenda planning. Then, uh, get⦠meet with the judicial staff about conflict attorney appointment. In fact, there's an ongoing
issue that the clerk of the Board just reminded me of another issue today, so we'reâ¦
14:32:04 finding it challenging to meet the requirements of that, and so if I wanted to get more information about.
14:32:10 Um, from those staff who have worked in that realm before, and⦠And then I had my one-on-one with Sean on Thursday.
14:32:18 We talked to the general manager from the PV about, um, some water system issues.
14:32:24 And then I had my, um, one-on-ones over on Castle Hill with Jeremy and Eric.
14:32:29 For DC&E and Public Works, respectively, and I met with Richard Davies from Jefferson Associated Council on the afternoon, as I mentioned before.
14:32:37 To negotiate the terms of an agreement that's⦠really expired at the end of last year, but had a 2-year extension automatically, so that's why its time is of the essence on
a new agreement.
14:32:50 And I had my periodic meeting with the civil team at the PAO.
14:32:55 in a while, all the way up until the weekly legislative update from WCAA affiliate of WASAC.
14:33:02 On Friday, um, we had the meetings that Commissioner Dudley-Nolette has already described, so the meeting for the city.
14:33:10 Um, where I really run the encampment issue, and then our discussions with public.
14:33:15 Um, works Parks and Rec. Staff about options.
14:33:20 there, and reality is around funding those services. in preparation for interactions with the city, and also the Jefferson County Community Foundation.
14:33:28 oriented campaign, and then the larger question that we would like to address this year.
14:33:34 in the bigger picture of how to effectively fund things like farms and Recreation and other community services, such as.
14:33:40 Fairgrounds or community centers. I meant to ask Heather, what were the lessons learned from the encampment issue?
14:33:46 Well, uh, that's⦠I mean, it was a really complex conversation, so⦠and, uh⦠I would say one of my lessons learned.
14:33:58 Um, has to do with⦠the sequence⦠of communication when⦠John contacted me.
14:34:09 And all of his City Council members. to say he needed to send this message out, to say, you know, we need a solution here.
14:34:18 Um, you know, we took to consider. moving this thing. And he and I had talked by phone.
14:34:26 And, you know, I asked him to really leverage the behavioral health providers.
14:34:31 To get their expertise into the conversation and all of that.
14:34:35 That made a lot of sense at the time, and I'm⦠in many ways, I'm glad we did it.
14:34:41 But it was just way too late. to engage and try to⦠try to engage our behavioral health.
14:34:50 solution beyond what these providers had already been doing for years, trying to work with this population, what they learned.
14:34:57 And continue to learn that is part of their expertise, but they try to teach us to do.
14:35:03 is that this is a long game. It's a⦠it's a, um⦠it's a, you know, of⦠iterative vacillatory, uh⦠Apple used the term vasculatory process, right? It's because people
with these behavioral health conditions.
14:35:20 And co-occurring conditions are in and out of willingness and ability and capacity to accept services, right?
14:35:27 So we had a lot of our conversation was, um.
14:35:32 in that morning meeting was about. How do we⦠do a better job at collaborating with one another for immediate solutions.
14:35:45 While we work on⦠supporting the overall behavioral health support system. So we then started to talk about the importance of the continuum of care and, um, you know, how
we engage together, the city.
14:35:58 It should be involved in that conversation, but that at no point should we.
14:36:04 try to rely on a behavioral health system that inherently takes a lot of time.
14:36:10 To be the solution for⦠To be a quick fix in a moment when we need a quick fix. So there was also a lot of conversation about.
14:36:18 Um, you know, that it's really better for people overall, people inside the encampment and outside the encampment.
14:36:26 When the jurisdictions can get really clear about what.
14:36:31 is allowed, and where it's allowed. And to be very on top of enforcement around that, because.
14:36:40 even if we think we're being compassionate and not enforcing.
14:36:44 what instead we're doing is allowing. people to get settled. Right, right. Where they are, and then⦠And then, when⦠if we're ultimately going to ask them to leave, we're
allowing them to get settled in a place that we're then going to ask them to leave, and that doesn't serve anybody.
14:37:01 So, it was⦠You know, there's so much nuance to the conversation, but it⦠for one, I think it was great we were having conversation. We were saying, okay, let's not let
too much time pass from this circumstance.
14:37:17 can we at least use this opportunity? to work better together.
14:37:23 And so, just, you know, a lot of dialogue about what kind of communications we needed with each other, and it was⦠It was really productive in that way.
14:37:33 The intense thing, I think the most intense thing about having those conversations that still felt intense as we left the room was.
14:37:43 That it's such a⦠it often feels like a problem we can't solve, right? And⦠Um, and so looking at, like, what is our responsibility? What can we do?
14:37:55 What actually does benefit people? What should we stay out of?
14:37:58 Um, and then what⦠what do we have to accept about the choices that our residents make?
14:38:04 So, it was, you know⦠a good soul-searching, and also⦠Um, getting clarity about our communication with each other, how we work better together.
14:38:16 What's a step. It was a⦠There's the next step.
14:38:22 Is that a decent summary of a really, really complex conversation, but I think.
14:38:27 That kind of hits off most of the points. Yes, nothing to add. Yeah, sorry, I interrupted your⦠that was Friday, yeah. Okay.
14:38:34 Great, well, let's do stink-style calendaring, see if you⦠why don't you keep going, Jeff? Sure.
14:38:42 If you're doing a draft, do you, like, the person that goes last goes again?
14:38:48 Okay, tomorrow is⦠tomorrow is one of those days where there isn't any daylight.
14:38:54 Oh, wow, that's right. So, um⦠We're gonna have a⦠Sarah at HR and I are going to have a conversation with Ahmed.
14:39:04 Oh, yeah. About his situation and his message. denial of his request for an expedited.
14:39:10 So, no other, uh, recourse, right? Yeah, see at the end of May.
14:39:17 So⦠so we have that conversation in the morning, and then⦠then, um, travel out for the senior management team meeting, which is actually going to be hosted by.
14:39:24 Department of Emergency Management tomorrow, so we'll get a little tour of the facility there from Wheel Benz.
14:39:30 And then I'll be back, we'll have the⦠I'm hoping to participate in the Capital Facilities Planning Committee meeting tomorrow.
14:39:37 Commissioner Eisenhower and I have a meeting with. Our Forester, um, Mallory.
14:39:45 for Chickety forestry, and I think she's bringing her intern with her, or there was some message about internships that I need to read. I haven't read any of that. I believe
Sean will try to⦠Join us for that if you can, and again, we're.
14:39:57 just ongoing⦠it's our periodic check-in, but we're gonna be talking about county parcels and.
14:40:01 Future forestry activities and things like that. And then, um, a short break to eat something before I get down to the AT meeting, and then⦠Um, we have a meeting with the
finance director and others about, um, some cash flow issues that I think I alluded to earlier.
14:40:20 Can you speak on the 18 meeting about the conversation, I guess, we had? There will, okay, great, absolutely will.
14:40:26 And bring back to you, whatever. Yeah, and one other thing, when you're out at DEM, the Public Sector Cabinet, so you're meeting with them twice tomorrow.
14:40:33 The PEM is our Senior Management Team, so that's our department directors. Same thing capitals, capital work there, too.
14:40:40 Sean's gonna be out there with you? Yeah. Great, because⦠bursting at the seams. Yeah, that's right, yes.
14:40:47 Then a meeting with the HR director, of course. He's off on PTO, so that's late tomorrow afternoon.
14:40:55 And then, um, Wednesdays as periodic communications check in with Liz and Sean.
14:41:00 Um, our financial planning meeting, you and I, Commission, we have our finance director.
14:41:06 Um, a meeting with⦠State Department of Health and our own Environmental Public Health.
14:41:10 And others about, um, water system updates and so forth.
14:41:16 mentioned. Then agenda planning, and then, um, my one-on-one with Sean in the afternoon.
14:41:23 Thursday⦠This is exactly⦠Sorry, I'm just⦠oh, there's this conversation that NOAA has been having with Sea Grant and others about.
14:41:36 permitting for aquaculture, actually, that I was participating in in my last role, but I've handed that off to DCD staff, so⦠But it's still ongoing conversations.
14:41:46 Interesting to that. Talk about it sometime. Um, then my one-on-one with Willie, and then⦠Um, Heather and I will be going to a meeting at City Hall talks about things like
Parks and Rec and Community Services.
14:41:59 And then, on Friday, let's take an update with Kushner Eisenhower, and then my one-on-one with Jeremy.
14:42:06 And as of today, I think I'll be on the radio with Commissioner Eisenhower as well, possibly on Friday, unless, unless, um⦠Plan B happens there, and⦠They're gonna be inside.
14:42:18 Looks like remarkably, I don't have, um⦠a meeting in the afternoon, except for late lunch, alright.
14:42:24 I'll try to catch up. Great. Well, let's see, are you joining us tonight? Yes, okay.
14:42:32 So you don't have to tri-area Cleaning Center at 6. I don't have a calendar entry in mind.
14:42:36 calendar, but I anticipate⦠I know it. You know that someone out previously canceled 531, but I don't have a 6 o'clock one, but I think⦠I think I see why there's a⦠there's
the other Greg, another Greg, is listed. Can you forward that? Carolyn to, uh, this Greg? That happens to me sometimes, too. Yeah, yeah. No worries. Two drink bees.
14:43:02 Good morning. Um, let's see, so tomorrow we have the shelter operations meeting, um⦠Still haven't heard back from the American Legion about extending that contract past June.
14:43:14 And then, uh, a bunch of conflicts with the Shelter Coalition overlaps with the Capitol.
14:43:19 facilities meeting, and always will. I asked Sean if there might be a different cadence we can find for that, but um⦠probably not be there, so if someone else, uh, wants
to sit in on the Capitol Committee tomorrow, I don't think I can make it.
14:43:32 Multiple overlaps? I would not daylight tomorrow, either. It's from 11.30 to 1230.
14:43:41 Um, I am gonna be at the bone house. I might⦠be able to be back here by 11.30? Well, it's in the chambers. You can fill in, so you can step in, even for Barter, just to see
what the conversation is, broadly about, you know, week one and week two.
14:43:58 Um, that's what⦠dentist appointment, so yeah, it's gonna be tough to get into all three of those things.
14:44:04 And I'm joining, uh, Julia Cochran, and she meets with John Marrow to talk about.
14:44:09 Um⦠general police activity in the, uh, in the city.
14:44:16 And then, thank you, Josh, for setting up the meeting with Judy and myself on Wednesday morning, meeting with the new director of.
14:44:25 EDC team in Jefferson, and then we have agenda planning, and then a big housing fund board meeting, where we're talking about continuum of care plans.
14:44:34 Look at a 5-year plan implementation⦠new officers for the housing fund board, and also Judy's gonna make a quick presentation about the additional.
14:44:45 Um, revenue we got from the Department of Commerce, and, uh, talking about whether we set that aside for emergency shelter operations, or whether we put it into the pot for
RFP.
14:44:57 And, uh, nothing on my calendar Thursday, which is strange.
14:45:03 Late, late weeks, and then, uh, doctor's appointments on Friday, so it's a bit of a short week for me, a little bit of daylight there.
14:45:11 Okay. But I will, uh, let Sean know that you might be attending the Capitol. Yeah, um, would you just let us⦠let him know I might be a little bit late?
14:45:20 I'll forward you on that. Yeah. But I should be pretty close to 11.30.
14:45:28 Um, and I'm looking at my calendar, so I might as well jump in if you're done.
14:45:32 Um, I have a meeting with Christy Kisler from Jefferson Community Foundation tomorrow morning.
14:45:39 Um⦠And then I am actually doing a non-county thing right after that, which would make me a little bit late to the Capital Facilities Committee, but I will officially announce
that I'm going to put in my.
14:45:52 my hat into the⦠The 70-48 ring, where the team, um, went to Rosa, so the 8th, so⦠that's a four-person skull kind of thing. Uh-huh, it's a four⦠four rowers.
14:46:07 and a cock, so it would be⦠we have 5 teammates. Wow. Um, but we have to⦠we have to get a photo with our boat, so I have to run over to the Northwest Mountain Center, pulling
the boat out, and the team's gonna get together and take a photo, so⦠I mean, that's the big thing we have to do at 103.
14:46:23 But, um, that should be quick, and I should be back here in time to do that.
14:46:28 Capital facilities. Um⦠Yes, I'm excited about that. It'll be fun. There's no guarantee that we'll get accepted. It's actually more, um⦠More competitive these days thanâ¦
and we have to prove our worth and our ability to⦠Like, trials, or⦠No, you just⦠you apply and, um, have to kind of.
14:46:49 you have to submit an athlete's bio and talk about your training and how you're prepared, how you're going to prepare for this event. They're really vegging to see whether or
not.
14:47:01 People will, um, be safe. think. So, anyway, we have to get that application in, but we're hoping to be able to roll it.
14:47:10 Um, then, uh, later in the day, I'm gonna do⦠I'll jump into the, um, Hood Canal Bridge Project Steering to meet team.
14:47:18 Um, presentation⦠from, um, along with the Kings.
14:47:24 Um, they are doing that about quarterly, and I've been participating in those meetings, so I'll get an update on where they are in the Canal Bridge.
14:47:32 Um, redesign process, which is kind of a⦠5-year process that, um, that they're in right now.
14:47:41 And then I will have an intellectual and developmental disabilities advisory Board meetings.
14:47:47 Um, Housing Fund Board meeting on⦠oh, sorry, end of the day, um, after.
14:47:52 Of course, today I will be with⦠I'm with you, and I'm with you this evening for the special BOCC and Solid Waste Facility Task Force meeting.
14:48:01 tomorrow evening, I will be at, um, a Jefferson County Fairgrounds Association meeting.
14:48:07 about board structure and staff and volunteer support. So we're just looking at all the ways that we need to.
14:48:16 support, um, the⦠very small but mighty staff, um, also talking about building a more robust volunteer corps.
14:48:26 There, and we were to do that, how we would support that and make that, um, sustainable, and make it a great place to volunteer, and all of that.
14:48:35 And then also having that conversation that I talked about this morning about.
14:48:39 Um, just the structure of the board, and as this⦠as it's gotten⦠as the organization's kind of stabilized a bit, um, what is the board structure need to look like?
14:48:49 Um, and of course, housing fund board meeting you described perfectly on Wednesday. That is the only meeting on my calendar, so I'm hoping that's going to be a work⦠a product,
work product day for me, getting some of the many things I obligate myself to do, getting some of them out the door. That's my hope.
14:49:09 For Wednesday. Um, Thursday, I will be at the Winter Welcoming Center from 9 to 3 p.m. That's one of the volunteer⦠as one of the annual point-in-time count volunteers, so
I will hopefully be counting⦠Uh, people who are unhoused and unstably housed in Germany will be over at the, I think, uh, the Alps, no?
14:49:28 I've held on PFW for, like, veteran program. Oh, great, Wendy will be, that's great, thank you.
14:49:32 Thank you for doing that. Wendy? Bye. Um, and then going to the city, um⦠for the meeting that Josh described about parks and Rec Community Services with.
14:49:46 Parks and Rec and Community Services discussion with the City of Townsend.
14:49:52 Friday. Um, oh! Actually, this is kind of fun. I forgot this was coming on. I'm doing an online continuing education course with Penn State.
14:50:02 Their College of Education. The topic is building youth civic Engagement Skills.
14:50:08 So, um, it came up, and I was like, oh, this sounds perfect for the Youth Commission work we're trying to do, so I'm excited. It's just an hour long from 9 to 10, but, umâ¦
really, umâ¦
14:50:21 lauded, uh⦠educator who teaches a lot across the county about this topic, so I was excited that that came up.
14:50:29 Uh, then I have a meeting with Patti Schmucker of the⦠now, of the Pacific Northwest.
14:50:36 Um⦠business advisors group, I think is what they⦠what they're calling themselves, so I'm going to hear about what they're planning, and⦠Um, what they hope to contribute.
14:50:48 Um, I may⦠I probably will⦠dial into the Wasatch Virtual Legislative Update. I know you will be there, but uh⦠as that alternate, I think I can dial in without making
comments, and that's a lot of alternates do that. Yeah, and even participate in LSC, I noticed. Yeah, cool. Okay, cool. Yeah, so justâ¦
14:51:08 So the public knows, we will both be there, dial into that.
14:51:11 And then, um, the other thing to note is that both Heidi and I will be together.
14:51:18 This weekend, starting Friday night, most of, if not all of the day on Saturday, and, um.
14:51:27 And all, uh, half the day on Sunday until about 1.30 in the afternoon. We're both participating in what's called a winter gallery. Mrs. Maggie Chumley, um.
14:51:38 pulling together a community leadership retreat. Our understanding is that there's over 70 community leaders who are going to be participating.
14:51:47 And so we'll just announce that here, that we will both be there. It is a leadership, um, skill building and kind of building connections. Yeah, all those things. But we will
not be discussing county business there.
14:52:02 And so we are not noticing this as a public meeting, as it is not county business.
14:52:07 And we are both absolutely dedicated to not discussing county business. I don't see any concern there, but I just wanted to make it public that that's where we will be, and
we'll be there happily together.
14:52:17 And we might be dancing. We might dance together. Oh, alright.
14:52:22 I look forward to bringing back how we can facilitate the dance. Maybe while you're playing your tune. Oh, yeah, absolutely. We need more talent up here. I know you guys both
have lots of talents. That's right.
14:52:34 demonstrated that the day. I did just decide. I turned 55, and the day before you.
14:52:43 Yeah, so, um, March 20th, but the 21st, which is your birthday.
14:52:51 I am seriously considering how I can do a dance of some sort might be⦠Lion dance class. I love it, yeah. You know, somebody either go to the Hilltop, or somewhere where they're
doing it, or hire someone to teach us, butâ¦
14:53:06 put it on your calendar, March 21st. Okay. You may be doing something for your birthday. We could celebrate you, too. Yeah, yeah. I've been⦠I've done that before.
14:53:14 Haven't thought of laying out to class at Rain Gos Farms, and it was a great barn for that. I totally want a line dance class, and⦠I don't know why, but Thin River hadâ¦
or Fen River hasn't want some otherâ¦
14:53:27 Let's do it. Is it on Saturday, so we'll see. Excellent. If it's on the 21st of March.
14:53:34 Yeah. Well, I can mash up my looking ahead and the legislative updates. Yeah, that's true.
14:53:40 Oh, I should⦠one thing, it's almost the big bottom.
14:53:44 We had a request from the Beacon on Friday. They wanted updates on the ice temperature. Oh, yes, yes, yes. By 3 o'clock today, and I don't think any of us⦠have any of us
reached out? No, I just⦠that's actually the message that I sent around⦠I sent to Josh and Liz earlier. Yeah, no, she had asked me about it for the lunchtime meeting. Yeah, and
so that's why I asked around here, but I feel like the update is.
14:54:09 that we discussed it here, and that, um, we do anticipate having sort of more one-on-one conversations and, uh, and potentially.
14:54:19 Um, community engagement. Yeah, yeah, and, you know, a discussion with our elected someone.
14:54:26 and directors. I don't know if we can commit to when we will do that, but we haven't discussed it yet. No.
14:54:36 Do I have a mirror. Um, I'll respond as you go. Okay, yeah. Okay, message.
14:54:43 So, this morning⦠see⦠This morning, I was here early.
14:54:52 For a briefing on a bill, which is Senate Bill 6239.
14:54:57 Which is about⦠Um⦠Oh, I got it. Uh⦠Requires arbitration⦠arbitration for tort claims against the state.
14:55:10 And it's subdivisions, like counties. It's a high-priority WASAC piece of legislation.
14:55:16 It would be a huge win for public entities across the board, because it would potentially.
14:55:22 Um, lower our public defense expenses on court claims. Yeah, a risk, a risk. Our risk expenses, right.
14:55:30 So, um, I am going to testify on that.
14:55:37 Tomorrow morning at 8. Um, but⦠And the talking points.
14:55:44 I'm not leaving this morning, talking about⦠Um⦠even though we're a small rural county with not a lot of claims.
14:55:53 Our rates are reflective of all the county's rates.
14:55:56 So the counties that do have a lot of claims and higher costs.
14:56:00 Associated with these kinds of claims. affect our risk pool rating. Yeah. And that's the main point I will be.
14:56:07 making as a small rural county. Um, absolutely true.
14:56:14 So, let's seeâ¦
14:56:19 I was with you all day. I have a community foundation board meeting at 4.30. I will join you at 6.
14:56:25 at the Tri-Amunity Center for the Solid Waste Transfer Station.
14:56:29 conversation, which I think there's a lot of community interest in, so we should hope so. Hope to be anticipating a lot of folks showing up to that. I'm going to say it out
loud.
14:56:38 Here now, again. Tomorrow morning, I will be testifying on Senate Bill 6239, which I just talked about.
14:56:46 And then, immediately⦠Following that⦠Somehow trying to squeeze in a forest walk with a Seattle Times reporter in Mallory tomorrow.
14:56:57 Either between these two testimony opportunities, or later in the afternoon.
14:57:03 Um⦠And then at 10.30, I will be testifying on⦠House Bill 2199, which is the Kitsap County-inspired.
14:57:15 Derelict vessel bill. Um⦠And then at 1230, I will be with Josh for our meeting with Mallory and Sean, and Mallory's.
14:57:25 Check it used to intern. And then after that, we have to find time, and I⦠you don't have time, and I probably do tomorrow, to fill out our local community project request
form for the Port Hadlock.
14:57:37 wastewater treatment plant, 6.75 million additional, uh. appropriation, that's our number one legislative priority.
14:57:45 Because that is due tomorrow⦠by tomorrow at midnight, so we've got that time, but I⦠I have⦠On my calendar to start doing that at 1.30 tomorrow.
14:57:54 And then I'm meeting with one of my solid waste advisory Committee colleagues at 3⦠And we'll come back and complete the LCP form.
14:58:03 If it's not already done. But I haven't even looked at what needs to go into that yet, so⦠I wish I could offer more definitive.
14:58:11 Support for that, but you have been in touch with our wastewater team.
14:58:15 Um, but costs or anything that we need to⦠Yeah, I got⦠I got a very skeleton estimate from.
14:58:21 Sam, a couple of months ago. And I can check in with him tomorrow.
14:58:27 Then Wednesday morning. Wednesday morning, I will start the morning in the car at 7.
14:58:33 headed to Olympia for trust land transfer lobby day.
14:58:37 And on my way south, I will testify on, um⦠House Bill 2170, which is DNR's ecosystem services bill.
14:58:47 I'm gonna work this afternoon in any gaps in time on compromises on that bill, because currently WASAC is.
14:58:54 con on the bill, but there are a number of us counties that have been working on these forest issues.
14:59:00 Who are going to be testifying pro. So, a little bit of a split in the⦠in the coalition there, but⦠the word is that Paul Jewel is working on some fixes to the bill.
14:59:11 And so I could testify other⦠turning to pro if those fixes are incorporated, so I'll find that out after we adjourn today.
14:59:21 Otherwise, I will testify pro, because it's another tool in DNR's toolbox. I mean, it's not very controversial.
14:59:28 Um, in my opinion. Um, and it's been on our priority sheet since the beginning.
14:59:35 Thursday, I'm having a chat with, um, public health director and our team.
14:59:41 having lunch with Mark McCauley. I have a community foundation engagement meeting.
14:59:47 Sunfield is performing Little Women at Port Townsend Auditorium. Nice.
14:59:52 And then Friday, I will meet with Josh and Kelsey, um, on our legislative check-in.
14:59:59 I'll attend the NACOs Public Land Steering Committee. And then Josh and I will go on KPDZ to talk about.
15:00:06 Um⦠Senate bill⦠Senate Bill 6239, and⦠kind of the⦠the domino effect of these.
15:00:17 Um⦠the costs of litigation to counties and how they affect.
15:00:26 small rural counties who don't have a lot of these cases.
15:00:30 Because larger counties that do⦠I mean, just kind of the urban-rural⦠Um, impact to our risk pool.
15:00:38 Expenses. And I didn't know if there was a third person that we should ask to join us.
15:00:46 Like, Judge Math was one idea I had, and I kind of mentioned it to Maite, or⦠emailed it to him today, hmm.
15:00:54 But just kind of⦠I don't know how to round out that conversation other than you and I talking about it.
15:01:00 I'll learn a lot more through my testimony tomorrow as well. I know somebody knows a lot about it, but might not want to.
15:01:07 Offer legal advice on the radio. How could they help frame theâ¦
15:01:17 I guess I'm just thinking, if we're talking about⦠that specific issue and impact on liability insurance costs.
15:01:24 We have a resident expert who's the chair of the underwriting committee at the risk plan.
15:01:31 Oh, has Houndsg ever been on the KPTZ show? Yeah. Has it? I don't know. I've never⦠Have you ever taken? Nope, I never had. He's probably listening right now. At 12.30 to
1255 on Friday. I'm picking James.
15:01:47 Kennedy, you can zoom in if you want. Um, well, we'll think about that.
15:01:53 So, that's the week⦠Then I will also be, after that, going to the.
15:02:01 inter-gathering that Commissioner Dudley-Nolet mentioned. Um⦠I felt like I had a conflict, but maybe that was next week. Um, do you want to talk about O3A real quick? I think
you⦠did you send a message saying⦠Oh, I do have a problem with February and March, but I'm seeing the February meeting maybe canceled. I just see that the February.
15:02:24 Nope, it's the⦠they made a new meeting announce⦠meeting calendar invite. Oh, okay, so did they remove that one for me because of⦠So February, um, 5th.
15:02:34 At 10 AM. For an hour and a half, there's a meeting.
15:02:38 It was⦠that conflicts with LSC. And that's why it was⦠a problem just for those 2 months.
15:02:47 Yeah. 11.30, and then the birthday. I'll do that one. And then the next one is on⦠March 5th. March 5th.
15:02:59 I could do photos. That would be awesome. Yeah, I can do both. Great.
15:03:13 Hey. You want to tell Carol Ann just to send me the, um⦠I can just forward it to you. Okay, perfect.
15:03:21 I have it here. Rich. I got this look on.
15:03:28 They were kind of already held on my calendar because they were canceled meetings, but⦠That was perfect.
15:03:36 All right, well⦠Anything else for the good of the order? It'd be great to give Heidi a little time to get home. Are you going in person to this 4.30 meeting, or doing between
this on our 6 o'clock meeting? Yeah, no, I'm gonna do it remotely. Okay.
15:03:54 We must just meet on Zoom anyway. Oh, okay.
15:03:59 We're all gonna be in person for the meeting tonight.
15:04:02 I'm gonna be in person, yes. Me too. So we'll hear about it.
15:04:07 All right, no. One last⦠Call out for anything else?
15:04:15 Okay. Go to the order⦠Just look ahead to the following⦠week. Oh, I had mentioned that I would like to have.
15:04:28 a conversation. I think we need a little prep time for it, so it's not today, but⦠Um, since we have limited our travel budget, I'd like to better understand, um.
15:04:41 How limited is it, and, um, what⦠Can we say yes and no to? I am going to, as you know, I'm⦠newly appointed, um, just as the alternate to the Wasack Board of Directors,
um.
15:04:55 Or is it Western Regional alternate, so I'm gonna go, because they're also doing their legislative.
15:05:01 Um, reception that night, and this⦠the board of directors meeting. So the alternates are required to attend all the meetings. Oh, okay.
15:05:11 So, um, that's⦠that's great. I'm going to go to that.
15:05:16 meeting in person on Wednesday the 4th, because I'm also going down for the legislative.
15:05:21 reception. Um⦠And I don't have to put in hours for that, or mileage for that, or whatever. When SwapSec reimbursed for miles? No. I do not.
15:05:32 They do not. But are you staying the whole day on Thursday? It's just from⦠it's from noon to⦠3 is the board meeting that I'll be going to, and then I'll have a gap of
this work in between, and then go down to the other section that says.
15:05:47 So I'm going down at, oh, noon to 3 on the 4th, noon to 3 on the 4th. Yes, I was gonna say we could go together, but I say over that night. Oh, you're staying over on this.
15:05:57 Yeah. So now, at the beginning of the year, we have more money right now. Better now than later. It's a short legislative session. I would like for us to⦠Look at the whole
year, ideally, I'd rather strategize about what we want to attend, like, do we want to go to the annual conference at the end of the year? You know, I'd rather notâ¦
15:06:16 run out of, you know, just like willy-nilly show up to everything at the beginning of the year and then have the money, and not show up for something that we really wanted to
attend. So, um, you know, for example, ultimately, if we take on the COC, should we be going to House in Washington, that kind of thing.
15:06:31 Um, so maybe we could just look ahead to our calendars, and anything that you feel like is on your radars that you want to attend or need to attend because of appointments or.
15:06:42 Um, so I did that, and we have $2,000 in our travel budget, $4,000, $4,000, and then $2,000 was, um, has already been used, right? A lot of that's been used. When part of our
job requirement is to get CMC certified. Yeah.
15:06:58 Um, so I've got involved a little bit of travel as well. Um, but also, you know, you're the commissioners, there could be a budget appropriation in the fourth quarter if you
needed more money to attend these things that you.
15:07:08 loss of 10 for legislative purposes, you know? I mean, honestly, I⦠I don't want to be the reason we have an appropriation when we have just⦠No, I just kind of want toâ¦
I kind of added up in my head and said, okay, there's $2,000 left if we split it three ways, that's about.
15:07:24 six, seven hundred each. I'm going to Olympia twice for LSC.
15:07:28 That's gonna be $300 a trip. There's my⦠that's my travel for the year to Olympia twice.
15:07:33 Yeah, that's kind of⦠that's exactly what I want to think through, is, you know, and then not attend the annual conference, just attend remotely this year.
15:07:42 You know, that kind of thing. So I⦠Um, we can just think it through. I mean.
15:07:48 I didn't submit, really, any mileage for anything that I attended last year, except for the ones that I was already getting, like.
15:07:55 you know, when I drove over to Spokane, things that we were, you know, gonna be paying a hotel for, or whatever. Um, so I'm perfectly willing to keep.
15:08:05 attending these meetings on my own. And we're a bottom line budget, too, um, so, say we don't use as many office supplies.
15:08:13 that we could add more money for travel. Um, producing subscription, we cut, um, WAPRO, which is WAP Public Records Association.
15:08:21 Um, or Association and Public Records Officers. Anyways, we cut that because we have been paying for that annually, the clerks and I, the girls and I, and um⦠We haven't been
going to their trainings lately, so⦠Okay. Which is just a little bit. Gives them some money, you know, so⦠But you already cut that from the budget, right? No. Oh, you didn't.
Okay. No, so this isâ¦
15:08:39 It's not much, but⦠Yeah, we're just looking at things that we don't use, and um, so we have a records officer now.
15:08:46 We are pretty up-to-date on the public records rules. Yeah, absolutely.
15:08:51 Believe me, I'm in no way suggesting that we should go over a budget. I'm more opposite, like⦠And within our budget, we might have a little wiggle room, but this is something
we just keep an eye on all the time and on what we're doing. Let's look ahead. And it sounds like you've already done this, Heidi, but maybe just⦠Send me and Carolynâ¦
15:09:08 Your note about your plans for the year, and then we'll put our heads together, and Caroline's already got a spreadsheet going, and we'll just come back to you with a report
out of, oh, it looks like we're good, or no, it looks like we're gonna have to move money around to make things happen. Okay, sounds good. But it's just being⦠well, isolated.
15:09:27 Those, those 2 legislative. Trips were the only ones I'm⦠yeah, anticipating. Okay, yeah.
15:09:31 Great, all right, well, everything else I can do remotely, I think.
15:09:36 We just attend remotely. Yeah, no problem. an internal year.
15:09:41 Okay, thanks for that. All right, yeah, but we'll think through it and send in what we think to Josh and Carolyn, and we can see if there's a⦠So, problems living on the horizon.
Okay, alright.
15:09:52 Okay. Last call for anything?
15:09:59 All right, well⦠One more time to remind the public, we'll be back.
15:10:03 This group of the Tri-area Community Center for our meeting with the Solid Waste Task Force⦠what is it? It was SWTPF? You were on it, I don't know who was it. It's a long
acronym. Facilities Task Force. Solid Waste Facilities Task Force.
15:10:21 50, yeah. That's actually pretty good. Okay. Are you drifting?