HomeMy WebLinkAbout040826M Draft PIF MinutesP u b lic Infr astru ctu re Fu n d (P IF) B o a rd
SP EC IA L M E E T IN G M IN U T ES
Wednesday, April 8, 2026 at 5:00 p.m.
This is a Hybrid meeting: Virtual and In-Person Attendance at
1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA 98368
PIF MEMBERS: * indicates present at meeting
Heidi Eisenhour- Jefferson County Commissioner*
Josh Peters - County Administrator (Altern ate)*
David Faber - City of Port Townsend Councilmember*
John Mauro - City of Port Townsend Manager (Alternate)*
Pete Hanke - Port of Port Townsend Commissioner
Eron Berg- Port of Port Townsend Executive Director (Alternate)*
Dan Toepper - Public Utility District No. 1 Commissioner*
Joe Wilson - Public Utility District No. 1 General Manager (Alternate)*
Joe Johnson - Citizen District #1
Scott Rogers - Citizen District #2 *
Dan Ventura - Citizen District #3
David Ballif - Economic Development Council (ED C) Team Jefferson Director*
Karen Bennett - EDC Team Jefferson Board Member (Alternate)*
Also Present: PUD General Manager Joe Wilson, and Jefferson County Public Works
Director Eric Kuzma
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WELCOME AND INTRODUCTION: Chair Eisenhour called the meeting to
order after establishing a quorum. This was a joint meeting of the Board of County
Commissioners, so that the Commissioners could participate in PIF discussions.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Chair Eisen hour opened the floor to allow for public comments, and
no comments were received.
APPROVAL OF THE MEETING MINUTES: Member Berg moved to approve the October 3, 2025
and November 13, 2025 Minutes as presented. Member Toepper seconded the motion. The
motion carried.
DISCUSSION re: Jefferson County Partner Support for APEX Accelerator Program: EDC Team
Jefferson Director David Ballif spoke about the program. Member Berg moved to approve the
$10,000 request to the EDC for the Apex Accelerator Program. Member Toepper seconded the
motion. The motion carried.
DISCUSSION re: Scope, Schedule & Budget Updates for Current PIF Projects: Staff reviewed the
current PIF funding spreadsheet and discussed challenges in addressing emergent projects that
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do not align w ith existing RFP tim elines. Project updates incl uded: the Sim m s Gatew ay pro ject is
delayed until approxim ately 2027 due to Tribal consultation related to cultural resource im pacts;
the Q uilcene Com plete Streets project rem ains active but continues to fa ce challenges, w ith
approval given to purchase speed radar signs; and the JC IA Park pro ject has expended ro ughly
75% of its funds, w ith additional ro ad work anticipated and coordination w ith the PUD ongoing,
though tim elines rem ain uncertain. The G len Cove pro ject is still in developm ent, w ith ongoing
co ordination needed to determ ine project leadership and use of allocated funds, while the
Q uilcene w ater kiosk pro ject w as w ithdraw n, return ing funds to the PIF balance. The Lawrence
Street project has been fully expended and successfully leveraged additional extern al funding.
DISCUSSION re: PIF Availability Projection and Process for Project Selection and Fund
Distribution: The gro up discussed PIF fund availability pro jections and potential changes to the
pro ject selection and distribution pro cess. Staff will work to update the current fund balance. A
pro posal w as intro duced to m ove from a reactive RFP-based m odel tow ard a m ore strategic and
collaborative appro ach, such as developing a ro lling six-year pro ject list w ith defined criteria to
guide funding decisions and support long-term infr astructure, public-private partnerships, and
w orkfo rce housing. M em bers generally supported adding a m ore strategic framew ork, while
em phasizing the need to m aintain flexibility to act on em ergent, job-creating opport unities.
Discussion highlighted the im portance of balancing long-term planning w ith nim bleness, aligning
efforts w ith existing plans such as SED S, and potentially inco rporating dedicated tim e fo r
strategic planning w ithin regular PIF m eetings. The idea will be further developed fo r future
co nsideration.
DISCUSSION re: Emergent Projects and Opportunities - Process for Consideration of Current
and Future Proposals: The gro up discussed an em ergent funding opport unity to support
infr astructure im pro vem ents at the Jefferson County Intern ational Airport tied to a tim ber
cooperative pro ject, w hich w ould leverage grant funding, expand operations, and create local
jobs. A ft er discussion, M em ber Berg m oved to fund the Port of Port Tow nsend with $285,000 to
support this [Jeff erson Tim ber Cooperative] pro ject. Chair Eisen hour seco nded the m otion. The
m otion carried. Sco tt Freem an of Leopold Freem an Forest LLC and Jefferson Tim ber Cooperative
Board m em ber thanked the PIF m em bers fo r supporting their pro ject.
Discussion continued aro und the need fo r a m ore flexible pro cess to address future em ergent
opportunities, incl uding m aintaining reserve funds and potentially co nvening special m eetings to
respond to tim e-sensitive pro jects w hile aligning decisions w ith bro ader eco nom ic developm ent
goals.
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FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS: Follow-up topics for future meetings included: Review PIF balance,
strategic framework discussion, aligning broader plans, project selection process, revenue timing
clarification, meeting cadence and process.
CLOSING REMARKS: Chair Eisen hour noted that she was happy that the Timber Cooperative
project was moving forward.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Eisen hour adjourned the meeting at 5:56 p.m. until the next regular
meeting or special meeting as properly noticed.
Submitted by Clerk Carolyn Gallaway
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