HomeMy WebLinkAboutM040413SDistrict No. 1 Commissioner: Phil Johnson
District No. 2 Commissioner: David W. Sullivan
District No. 3 Commissioner: John Austin
County Administrator; Philip Morley
Clerk of the Board: Erin Lundgren
MINUTES
Special Meeting
Apri14, 2013
Chairman John Austin called the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. at the Tri
Area Community Center. Commissioner David Sullivan was present as well as the following Jefferson
County elected officials and department directors: Treasurer Judi Morris, Sheriff Tony Hernandez,
Clerk Ruth Gordon, Prosecuting Attorney Scott Rosekrans, County Administrator Philip Morley and
Department of Community Development Director Carl Smith. Commissioner Phil Johnson was absent.
County Administrator Philip Morley served as meeting facilitator and welcomed everyone. He
introduced the elected officials who each gave a brief overview of the services provided by their office.
Afrer introductions and review of the format for the participatory exercise, the following citizen
questions and comments were discussed:
BUDGET AND FINANCE
• The Pierce trial has been a huge expense to the County. Who do you deal with about public
defense funding? What committee in the legislature would you contact to get assistance? You
need to sell this. Citizens could send emails in support of funding.
• I would encourage you to get the County's money out of Bank of America and use the services
of a local banking institution.
• Jefferson County is very dependent on grants. We could rename Jefferson County "Grant"
County, if a County with that name didn't already exist. It's looking like less money is coming
from the state and federal government. Will it be more difficult for Counties to get assistance?
• Are you finding it more difficult to get state and federal funding? Do you see any relief in 2013?
LAW ENFORCEMENT
• How do you interact with Border Patrol Boats?
• Do you have anything to do with the drug Court? Is it linked to the mental health program?
• I know you are working on mental health issues, but you don't have very much funding to do
that. Is there something the citizens can do to help you get the funding that is needed?
• We need to deal with mental health issues for people before they get into the system.
• Is there participation of the Hospital and/or Public Health on the committee dealing with the
mental health issues?
• The Jefferson County Sheriff's office has a good reputation in this area.
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Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes: Apri14, 2013
PARKS & RECREATION
• What do we get out of the Port Townsend Community Center? I suggest you sell it.
• You have started a hail storm with this new proposed tax (MPD). Why are you spending money
on facilities in Port Townsend that we don't use? The Port Ludlow Master Planned Resort
community is not going to support your effort on an MPD. You don't need an MPD, you need to
reallocate the funding you have in a different way.
• People are hurting and there have never been more foreclosures. It will be hazd to do what you
are proposing with the MPD. Opposition will bring dialogue.
PERMITS & REGULATIONS
• Are you still tracking permit times? Are they being listed as received or prioritized based on the
dollar amount? Are you tracking permits by their value?
TRANSPORTATION
• How do you show that the bus system has a profit? How can you afford to run it? The bus goes
by with one person on it. With the current price of gas, why do we have to have such a big bus?
Why can't we scale it down? We could get a smaller bus to do the same job.
• You might get more ridership if the drivers were more helpful.
• The new transit facility sounds expensive. Tell me about the new transit facility.
• What is the budget for building the new transit facility?
MISCELLANEOUS
• Is there a plan in the works to establish a Home Rule Charter in Jefferson County?
• Where would I find costs involved with the process of establishing a Home Rule Charter?
• Establishing a Home Rule Charter is very difficult and may not give you the results you want.
• Home Rule Charters cost citizens more in terms of the time involved as freeholders.
• I will contact the State Department of Community Trade and Economic Development (CTED),
currently named the State Department of Commerce, and San Juan County, to ask for a cost
benefit analysis on establishing a Home Rule Charter. Pazks and Recreation is important too, but
we are putting a price on citizen involvement in government.
NOTICE OFADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Sullivan moved to adjourn the meeting
at 9:04 p.m. until the next regulaz meeting or special meeting as properly noticed. Chairman Austin
seconded.the. motion. The motion carried.
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Clerk of the Board
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISS
(excused absence)
David
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