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HomeMy WebLinkAbout052626M i,SON TOG 4. I'SIf f NO' MINUTE S Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners Regular Meeting — May 26, 2026, 9:00 a.m. Jefferson County Courthouse—Commissioners' Chambers 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA (Hybrid) AI use acknowledgment: Portions of the meeting transcript were summarized using AI and incorporated into this document. All AI-assisted content was reviewed and edited by staff before publication. CALL TO ORDER: Chair Greg Brotherton, Commissioner Heidi Eisenhour and Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nollette participated in the meeting. Chair Brotherton called the meeting to order at the appointed time and played a tune on a melodica. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Chair Brotherton called for public comments, and four comments were received. The Commissioners addressed the comments. APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Dudley-Nollette moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Eisenhour seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. 1. INTERLOCAL AGREEMENT re: Warrant Clerk; $100,000; Jefferson County Sheriff; City of Port Angeles 2. INTERLOCAL MUTUAL AID TEMS AGREEMENT re: Crisis Response Team(CRT);No fiscal impact; Jefferson County Sheriff; Clallam County Fire District 3 3. AGREEMENT re: Engineering Services; $145,955; Public Works; Sargent Engineers, Inc. 4. AGREEMENT,Amendment No. 14 re: Public health services: An additional amount$12,233 totaling $6,292,517; Public Health; State of Washington Department of Health 5. ADVISORY BOARD RESIGNATION AND APPOINTMENT re: Jefferson County Rural Library District Board of Trustees: 1) Resignation: trustee Michael Kubec and 2) Appointment: Trustee Stephen Chappuis 6. ADVISORY BOARD REAPPOINTMENT re: Jefferson County Intellectual/Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board (IDDAB); Amber Kent 7. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL WARRANTS: Dated May 20, 2026 totaling $76,099.93 8. APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE WARRANTS: Dated May 26, 2026 totaling $1,800,051.63 LETTER OF SUPPORT re: Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe Land Transfer Act of 2026: Commissioner Eisenhour reviewed the proposal by Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe to transfer the Dungeness National Wildlife Refuge(Clallam County), and Protection Island National Wildlife Refuge (Jefferson County) into trust for the Tribe. After discussion, Commissioner Eisenhour moved to approve the letter of support for the Jamestown S'Klallam Tribe Land Transfer Act of 2026 to Representative Emily Randall and Senator Maria Cantwell and Senator Patty Murray, as drafted in our agenda today. 1 Commissioners Meeting Minutes of May 26, 2026 Commissioner Dudley-Nollette seconded the motion. After a brief discussion on potential edits to the letter, Chair Brotherton opened the floor to allow for public comments on the motion, and one comment was received. Commissioner Eisenhour suggested modifying the letter to add a sentence regarding ensuring that protected status is preserved. She proposed placing it on next week's Consent Agenda, and then rescinded her previously made motion. Commissioner Dudley-Nollette rescinded her second on the motion. The letter will be placed on the June 1, 2026 BOCC Consent Agenda. CONTINUED DISCUSSION re: Follow up to Workshop on Artificial Intelligence Policy-Proposed Revised AI Policy: Central Services Director Shawn Fredrick was present to review the changes to the draft AI Policy. The Commissioners reviewed the policy and provided revisions which including clarifying policy language and definitions, balancing AI governance with practical employee use, and reducing fear and confusion for County employees using AI tools. After discussion, Chair Brotherton noted that this conversation will be continued to the afternoon session. He called for public comments on the current draft of the proposed AI policy, and one comment was received. The meeting was recessed at 10:54 a.m. and reconvened at 11:00 a.m. with all three Commissioners present. DISCUSSION re: HEARING NOTICE to Deliberate and Adopt by Ordinance Amendments to JCC 8.75 to Ban Fireworks in Jefferson County, hearing to be held June 15,2026 at 3:00 p.m. in the Jefferson County Courthouse,Commissioners Chambers located at 1820 Jefferson St. Port Townsend,WA 98368 (HYBRID): Department of Community Development (DCD) Director Jeremy Williammee was present to review the redline version of the proposed draft ordinance regarding a fireworks ban in Jefferson County, and to answer questions posed by the Board. Discussion focused on bolstering the proposed ordinance with clearer language around public safety, enforcement discretion, and permitted exceptions during increasing fire danger conditions. The Hearing Notice will be placed on the June 1, 2026 Consent Agenda for approval. COMMISSIONERS' BRIEFING SESSION: The Commissioners and County Administrator discussed recent meetings they attended, miscellaneous topics, and reviewed their meeting schedules. The meeting was recessed at 11:50 a.m. and reconvened at 12:02 p.m. with all three Commissioners present. QUARTERLY ELECTEDS AND DIRECTORS' COORDINATION MEETING: The Commissioners met with Elected Officials and Department Directors and reviewed the following: • Assessor's Office • West End and Brinnon valuations • District Court • Transitioning to Odyssey; going live this weekend • Superior Court • Ariel Speser is becoming new part-time Court Commissioner • Prosecutor's Office 2 Commissioners Meeting Minutes of May 26, 2026 • New Civil DPA Jen Bible • Communications Specialist • ADA Compliance; Jefferson Transit offering compliance work group • New communications request form coming • Auditor's Office • New Accounts Payable person • ACH payments; coming soon • Annual reports due • One-way back parking lot • New ballot boxes coming to courthouse • New ballot envelopes coming • Treasurer's Office • Delinquent notices went out • Department has been cross-training • Annual report is top priority this week • Human Resources • Two staff have moved on to other positions • Hiring Chelsea Pronovost from DCD for one of those positions • Juvenile Services • Staff is experiencing some fatigue • Would like to know more about next year's budget • Central Services • Courthouse back parking lot; signage comments received • AI policy; close to adoption • EV charging station grants update • Department of Community Development • Critical Areas Ordinance; fully in effect as appeal period has expired • Planning Commission; comment period has expired • Will miss Chelsea Pronovost, big shoes to fill • Planner Donna Frostholm is retiring • Timelines are still on track but may be harder to work on long-term strategic projects • County Administrator • Working on stability for staff during an uncertain environment • Public Health • Health Department consortium proposed for after-hour call for services • Working on Strategic Plan • Public Works • ODT wrapping up in July • SR19 North project; out to bid soon • Bridges at Oil City Road • South Shore Road; no movement so far • Quilcene Complete Streets; radar speed signs hopefully coming soon • Chipseal season starting soon, also doing some work for the City for some revenue • Pavement striping; reduced list of roads • Mason Street project; last minute needs 3 Commissioners Meeting Minutes of May 26, 2026 • Dovetailing with Comp Plan amendment • Solid waste; busy season coming • Levy lid lift; hopefully voters will approve • Sewer connecting to boat school an Ajax • FEMA may be reimbursing for a December storm • Commissioner Eisenhour • Upcoming tour of the Port Hadlock Sewer in July • Reactivated the Chimacum Creek Drainage District • Forestry harvesting happening; forward community questions to Heidi. Potential for revenue regarding carbon sequestering • Commissioner Dudley-Nollette • Upcoming Housing Fund Board meeting, ultimately the County may take on the Continuum of Care • Intergovernmental Collaborative Group (ICG); working on an economic development plan • Behavioral Health Consortium; opioid settlement distributor funds The meeting was recessed at 1:16 p.m. and reconvened at 2:00 p.m. with all three Commissioners present. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ITEMS: The Commissioners and County Administrator reviewed the following: • Commissioners' Briefing—continued CONTINUED DISCUSSION re: Follow up to Workshop on Artificial Intelligence Policy-Proposed Revised AI Policy: Central Services Director Shawn Fredrick was present to review additional changes to the draft AI Policy. The Commissioners reviewed the policy and provided further revisions. Commissioner Dudley-Nollette moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 29-0526-26R re: In the matter of adopting the Jefferson County Artificial Intelligence (AI) Acceptable Development and Use Policy, as modified here, including the scrivener errors to the table of contents. Commissioner Eisenhour seconded the motion. Chair Brotherton called for public comments on the motion, and one comment was received. After deliberations, Chair Brotherton called for a vote on the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote. ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ITEMS: The Commissioners and County Administrator reviewed the following: • Commissioners' Briefing—continued • Miscellaneous topics • Calendar coordination • Closing remarks 4 Commissioners Meeting Minutes of May 26, 2026 NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Chair Brotherton adjourned the meeting at 3:33 p.m. until the next regular meeting or special meeting as properly noticed. 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