HomeMy WebLinkAbout08.27.2026 SWAC Special Mtg DRAFT Minutes
Jefferson County, Washington State
Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAC)
Meeting Minutes
Special Meeting, Thursday, August 27, 2026, 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Public Works Office, 623 Sheridan St., Port Townsend, WA
Hybrid Meeting
Audio and video recordings posted under Meeting Recordings on this website
https://www.co.jefferson.wa.us/483/Solid-Waste-Advisory-Committee
Opening Business
Meeting agenda posted on website on August 19, 2026.
Call to Order and Roll Call – Rebecca Jewel, Chair (Timestamp 00:02)
Committee Members Present for Roll Call:
Tracy Grisman, District #1
Phil Sonne, Citizen-at-Large, Vice Chair
Rebecca Jewell, Chair, Citizen-at-Large
Joey Deese, Waste Connections
Jim Friedman, District #3
Simon Walter-Hansen, District #2
Keith Dixon, Industry Representative
Bliss Morris, City of Port Townsend
Committee Members Absent
Heidi Eisenhour, County Commissioner Kimberlie Webber, Port of Port Townsend
Public Works Staff Present
Al Cairns, Solid Waste Program Manager Chelsie Kilmer, Admin Support Staff
Public Comments (00:55)
(Keith Dixon arrived 01:30)
• Recycle bins at the Transfer Station accessibility concerns
• Recycle bins at the Quilcene Drop Box accessibility concerns and concerns regarding
cardboard burning
• Response to first public comment with recycling education resources
Approval/correction of Minutes from Previous Meetings. (10:37)
Moved by Jim, seconded by Joey, and carried all in favor: to accept meeting minutes from April 23,
2026 with the correction of misspelled names.
Staff Report (12:40)
(Bliss Morris arrived)
• Transfer Station Replacement Planning Process
• Solid Waste Staffing
• Recycling Program Revisions
o Discussion occurred regarding the recycling revisions including the cost of the
program
• Curbside Collection Low-Income Discount
• Household Hazardous Waste Collection Events/Kitsap County Interlocal Agreement
• WA Organics Recycling Council Webinar
• Composting Close to Home: Community-Scale Solutions in WA
Old Business (22:25)
1. Circular Economy Grants
Al invited SWAC members, not to surpass a quorum, to participate in a new program similar to King
County’s Re+ (zero waste) grant program. Simon, Keith, Tracy, Rebecca, Phil, and Jim showed interest.
New Business (24:55)
1. Customer Scales Replacement
• Al presented the status of the Transfer Station customer scales, the needed replacement, and
funding sources.
• Discussion occurred regarding new scale plans, project timeline, and logistics for the
operation during the replacement.
2. Grizzly Failure (33:35)
• Al reviewed the Grizzly history, the equipment failure, staff response, equipment
replacement, cost, and other major facility repairs.
• Discussion occurred regarding how the new equipment improves the SW operation.
3. Transfer Station Facility Tour (42:05)
• Al requested SWAC schedule a staff guided tour of the facility.
• Tuesday, Sept 15 at 8:30am was the chosen time and date. All members showed
availability.
• SWAC requested a tour for the Quilcene Drop Box, as well. This item will be added to the
October SWAC agenda.
4. Transfer Station Operational Efficiency (47:00)
Al reviewed current function & operations of the Transfer Station and the need for greater
efficiency. He shared different strategies to improve efficiency, compared neighboring county
strategies, reviewed Transfer Station customer trends since the 2023 fee change, the 2023
customer survey, and the difference in efficiency on a commercial hauler day and a residential
self-haul day, and asked SWAC to consider increasing the minimum fee and/or consolidating
commercial/residential days to be discussed at the October 2nd SWAC meeting.
5. Preliminary 2027 Budget (1:08:50)
• Al explained the Solid Waste program funding sources, the budget process & timeline, and
Solid Waste program budget content, including funding reserve balance. He reviewed the
projected budget health for 2027, compared fee increases to Consumer Price Index (CPI),
reviewed the capital fund & cash balance health (poor), and planned discussions with Board
of County Commissioners (BOCC).
• SWAC discussed minimum fees and how fees are set for counties and Waste Connections,
reviewed the potential for a salvage program, and how modeling after Clallam County’s fee
schedule could affect the budget.
Partner Updates (1:35:55)
1. Artist in Residency (Tracy Grisman)
Artist in Residency will reveal Dennis Weatherman’s, the current Artist in Residence, creation
on Sept 21 – date yet to be confirmed.
2. Return to Earth (Keith Dixon) (1:37:09)
Keith reviewed the material and amounts he takes in and shared Return to Earth is slowly
growing.
3. Waste Connections (Joey Deese) (1:39:10)
(Tracy Grisman left 1:42:33 quorum maintained)
• Joey gave an update on the recycle changes including increases in customers since the change
and the improved efficiency since the transition to the single container recycling bins.
• Discussion occurred regarding customer count changes after the recycle changes, if it’s
possible to add another entry road to the facility, and staff/facility capacity.
4. City of Port Townsend (Bliss Morris)
Bliss shared Steve King will be unlikely to attend SWAC meetings during his new role in the
City of Port Townsend. Joey provided an update on the Port Townsend recycle bin change.
Last Discussion (1:56:20)
SWAC discussed Transfer Station capacity limits.
Adjournment: Meeting adjourned at 5:00 pm.