HomeMy WebLinkAboutM111813District 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
Week of November 18, 2013
Chairman John Austin called the meeting to order at the appointed time in the presence of
Commissioner David Sullivan and Commissioner Phil Johnson.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following is a summary of comments made by
citizens in attendance at the meeting and reflect their personal opinions:
• A citizen mentioned there is a group forming to meet the current needs of the Mountain View
Commons building and urged the Commissioners for further cooperation;
• Nine citizens expressed concern over possible program cuts and closing of the Port Townsend
Recreation Center. Of those citizens, most mentioned they would like to do what they can to help.
Benefits of keeping programs running were noted. Citizens urged the Commissioners to have more
information available on how they can help;
• A citizen stated: 1) Last weekend in Quilcene a meeting was held to brainstorm future plans for
Worthington Park; 2) Santa is coming to Quilcene the day after Thanksgiving; and 3) a craft fair is
coming soon;
• A citizen stated: 1) Everyone needs to remember that President Kennedy was assassinated. He
mentioned 5 democratic public figures that were assassinated around the same time and explained
why the U.S. was moving towards fascism; and 2) There is a desperate need for industrial zoned
property in Jefferson County;
• A citizen noted that you can only raise taxes to a certain point. Regarding the Port Townsend
Recreation Center, he believes raising fees to make programs self - funding is a solution; and
• A citizen stated: 1) Regarding the Port Townsend Recreation Center, Jefferson County is not the only
agency facing cuts, it's happening to the State and the Nation as well; and 2) Jefferson County
Democrats will be interviewing candidates for the office of Assessor on November 19, 2013 at 6:30
p.m. at the Port Townsend Recreation Center.
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner
Sullivan moved to approve all the items on the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Johnson
seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
1. HEARING NOTICE re: 2014 Budget; Hearing Scheduled for December 2, 2013 at 10:00 a.m.
in the Commissioners' Chambers
2. AGREEMENT re: Subcontractor to update www.jcchoice.org website; In the Amount of
$1,960; Jefferson County Public Health; Reynolds Training and Consulting
Page 1
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2013'
3. AGREEMENT re: On -Line Food Workers Training, Testing and Card Issuance; In the Amount
of $7 per card issued; Jefferson County Public Health; Tacoma - Pierce County Health
Department
4. AGREEMENT, Amendment No. 11 re: Consolidated Programs containing both State &
Federal Funds; Additional $10,220 for a total of $1,248,065; Jefferson County Public Health;
Washington State Department of Health (DOH)
5. AGREEMENT re: Internet Vehicle /Vessel Information Processing System (IVIPS); In the
Amount of $0.04 per VIN search; Jefferson County Public Health; Washington State Department
of Licensing (DOL)
6. AGREEMENT re: Coordinated Prevention Grant No. G1400361; In the Amount of
$133,333.33 with a match at $33,333.33; Jefferson County Public Health; Washington State
Department of Ecology (DOE)
7. AGREEMENT, Amendment No. 1 re: Medicaid Administrative Claiming No. 1163 - 35242;
Un- suspending Contract, fee for service - no max; Jefferson County Public Health; Washington
State Health Care Authority
8. AGREEMENT, Amendment No. 6 re: Language change; No dollar amount; Jefferson County
Public Health; Washington State Department of Social and Health Services (DSHS), Division of
Behavioral and Recovery for Substance Abuse Prevention
9. AGREEMENT re: Developmental Disabilities Video Interviews; In the Amount of $1,500;
Jefferson County Public Health; Wall Fly Films
10. AGREEMENT re: Continued lease for the Mail Postage Machine located in the Courthouse; In
the Amount of $252.12 per month; Jefferson County Central Services; Pitney Bowes
11. AGREEMENT re: Snow and Ice Removal on Clearwater Road, County Road No. 107508, M.P.
0.00 to M.P. 4.13; In the Amount of $10,000; Jefferson County Public Works; Washington State
Department of Transportation (DOT)
12. AGREEMENT re: Wetland Biologist Services; In the Amount of $25,000 maximum; Jefferson
County Public Works; Olympic Wetland Resources Inc.
13. AGREEMENT, Supplemental No. 1 re: Queets Bridge Painting, County Project No. CR1881,
County Road No. 107518, M.P. 0.60 to M.P. 0.76, BHOS -16WA (001); In the Amount of
$42,522.34; Jefferson County Public Works; Exeltech Consulting, Inc.
14. AGREEMENT re: 2014 Public Defense Funding; In the Amount of $33,918; Jefferson County
Administrator; Washington State Office of Public Defense
15. AGREEMENT and SUBSCRIPTION AGREEMENT re: Collective Bargaining Agreement
and Trust Participation for the Jefferson County Central Services Staff; Teamsters Local #589
and Washington Teamsters Welfare Trust
16. Advisory Board Reappointment re: Jefferson County Civil Service Commission (CSC); Six (6)
Year Term Expiring November 1, 2019; Robert Gebo
17. Payment of Jefferson County Vouchers/Warrants Dated November 13, 2013 Totaling
$637,771.31
18. Payment of Jefferson County Payroll Warrants Dated November 6, 2013 Totaling
$122,287.69
Page 2
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2013
COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING SESSION: The Commissioners each provided
updates on the following items:
All 3 Commissioners
- Will be attending the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) Conference this week.
Chairman Austin
- Will be attending a Board of Health meeting this week.
Commissioner Sullivan
- Will be attending a Community Impact meeting this week.
Commissioner Johnson
- Will be attending a NW Straits Conference this week.
HEARING re: Setting the Ad Valorem Tax Levies for Jefferson County Levy in 2013
and Collection in 2014: State law (RCW 84.55.120) requires that the Commissioners hold a public
hearing on the 2014 Ad Valorem Tax Levies for levy in 2013 and collection in 2014.
County Administrator Philip Morley explained the two part process. The hearing today sets the Ad
Valorem tax levy rates and amounts for 2014. Later in December, there will be a budget hearing where
the budget for 2014 will be set and the amount that gets collected will not exceed the budgeted amount,
except for new construction.
Assessor Jack Westerman elaborated by saying that the portion of the budget that is around property tax,
the revenue side of the budget will reflect exactly what is adopted. The amounts for the budget adoption
aren't necessarily the same amounts as shown on the four separate individual resolutions. This is due to
the amounts of the one percent increase resolutions which are exclusive of new construction, state
assessed utilities, refunds from the previous year, etcetera. The amounts on the resolutions will not
match the amounts that the levy will be set for because that is the amount that will be in the budget, and
that does include the estimate. He stated they estimate the two on the high side because they don't know
what the state utilities will be and he has to levy the lesser of. He mentioned that they have to budget a
little on the high side because if the state utilities come in much higher, and they didn't budget for it,
they can only set an amount for the lesser of the budget amount, or what you're allotted to by law.
The following are the levy amounts (Real and Personal Property) for the 2014 tax year. Levies have
been set in accordance with law.
I. Total County General Fund Levy
(2013 actual amount @ 101% plus new construction and refunds) $7,430,000
A. Veterans Relief (43,000)
(2013 actual amount @ 101% plus new construction)
B. Mental Health
(2013 actual amount @ 101% plus new construction) (42,500)
Page 3
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2013
C. Developmental Disabilities
(2013 actual amount @ 101% plus new construction) (42,500)
D. Current Expense (Remainder) $7,302,000
II. Total Road Levy
(2013 actual amount @ 101% plus new construction and refunds) $4,160,000
A. Diversion to Current Expense (Set Amount) (720,000)
B. County Roads (Remainder) $3,440,000
IL Conservation Futures
(2013 actual amount @ 101% plus new construction and refunds) $218,500
Assessor Westerman explained the reason for doing this in a two part process is because when voters
approved Referendum 47, it forced every taxing district, except for the state, to adopt the I% increase
resolutions. Instead of the public having to delve through an entire budget to find out what was
happening in the coming year versus what happened in the past year, the legislature felt it was important
to adopt these resolutions on one page, showing the amount of the increase that is being taken in
property tax from one year to the next. He elaborated by saying that due to the language in Referendum
47, you required to have the percent increase amount and the amount increase. This is not a significant
increase given the inflation rate, in fact, there are those that would argue that this can be somewhat
crippling to a taxing district. For districts where property tax is their only source of revenue, it can be
someone limiting. That is why over the years, some of the districts like the Library District, Fire
Districts and Emergency Medical Services (EMS) Districts, will ask for a lid lift of the 1% to ask for a
higher levy rate than they have at the time. He stated that in his tenure with the County, they have never
done a lid lift.
County Administrator Morley reviewed the four resolutions before the Board: The General Fund Levy
in the amount of $7,352,892.14 which is an increase of $72,800.91, one percent (1 %) from the previous
year. The Road Levy in the amount of $4,110,537.54, which is an increase of $40,698.39, one percent
(1 %) from the previous year. Diversion of Road Levy for Traffic Law Enforcement. He stated that under
state law, out of the road fund, there can be a diversion to road traffic law enforcement. So what this
resolution does, it set the diversion amount to $720,000 (which has been the same amount for about 4
years) deposited in the Current Expense Fund and identified as Revenue Code 311.20, and the remainder
deposited in the County Road Fund. The Conservation Futures Tax Levy in the amount of $214,684.17,
which is an increase of $2,125.59, one percent (1 %) from the previous year.
Chairman Austin opened the hearing for public comment.
Linda Herzog, Ouilcene: She did not intend to testify during the hearing, but changed her mind. She
stated that the Commissioners have her support as a citizen for raising the tax levies in whatever way
they can without a vote. It is probably time for a levy lid lift. Ms. Herzog noted that most of the people
who spoke earlier about loss of programs because there is not enough tax money, or there is not enough
revenue in the account, left the room before an opportunity to speak in support of levy amounts and even
to possibly suggest an increase in that percentage. She for one would love to have some way for people
to get educated on what is going on here. It is not just a matter of complaining about what the
Page 4
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2013
Commissioners cannot do, and being explained as to why they cannot do it, it's a matter of what can be
done if people have the will. She is discouraged of the missing part of citizenship responsibility. When
the Charter movement began, people thought it was a problem with the form of government. Ms. Herzog
believes that it is a problem with people not paying attention, not caring, and not putting their money
where their mouth is. If anyone has some brilliant ideas on how to get that education out there and how
to make people really understand how it all works and do their part with their property taxes as well as
with their complaints at this microphone, she would love to help them get that done. She also thanked
Assessor Jack Westerman for his services.
Tom Thiersch, Jefferson County: He seconded the comment made by the previous speaker regarding the
absence of public at the hearing. He mentioned this was very notable and a great observation. There was
a lot of people asking "What can they do ?" and then they left the room. People were not involved at the
Metropolitan Park District (MPD) meetings either, no one showed up. I don't know what it takes to get
people's attention, maybe change the name to Redskins or something. It is guaranteed to fill the room if
the subject is football. In regard to Commissioner Sullivan's comment he made after the public comment
period at the beginning of the meeting where he was explaining some of the County's difficulties, he
noted that the assessed valuation of the County had decreased from $5.4 billion to about $4.4 billion. In
doing that, he believed the statement suggested that it had something to do with County tax revenues,
when he knows Commissioner Sullivan knows that it doesn't. Mr. Thiersch stated that is how that
comment comes across, people do not understand that just because property values go down, their taxes
do not go down. They get redistributed, but they never go down. He suggested to Commissioner
Sullivan that when he makes those kinds of comments in the future, to make it clear that it has
absolutely nothing to do with tax collection. In regard to Chairman Austin's comment he made after the
public comment period at the beginning of the meeting about Tim Eyman's initiative in respect to the
1% limit, Mr. Thiersch stated that it was due to Tim Eyman. It was an initiative and it was passed by the
people, but it was rejected by the State Supreme Court and it was re- passed by the State legislature. The
1% is a reflection of the democratic process of representational government. It has nothing to do with an
initiative as such. Let's be clear and let's be honest. We the people said no, we do not want unlimited tax
increases every year, which was running about 6% or 7% before that law was passed. Mr. Thiersch
stated he would hate to see us go back to the 6% per year. Can you imagine what your property taxes
would be if that had continued? It would be astronomical. With talk of lack of construction, lack of
people wanting to move here, with that cost of living, not a chance. He thanked Mr. Westerman for his
years of service to the County and that he had done a pretty good job.
Steve Oakford, Port Townsend: He was moved by the public comments that were made this morning.
When you are figuring out what things cost, what is more expensive, the cost of providing healthy
programs that get our kids going in a good direction, or remedial programs after they are messed up and
in trouble? He believes Sheriff Hernandez can be quite enlightening on that issue. Mr. Oakford says he
is like everybody else. He hates to see taxes increase, but these are things that do take cash. County
Administrator Philip Morley mentioned that volunteering is great, but some things just takes cash. Some
things have to be done by people with licenses and certifications so that it can be compliant with the
myriad of regulations. He encourages, if there is a legal way to generate more revenue, go for it. If
people want programs, like Mr. Thiersch stated, they have got to be paid for. Taxes are not always the
answer and fees are not always the answer because they rule out those less advantaged with nowhere
else to turn. It has to be a combination. Everybody should have to be a part of it. If you can provide a
Page 5
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2013
scholarship for someone to participate in a program, they still should have to pay some minimal amount
so they take ownership of it. He urged the Commissioners to search all the ways to raise the additional
revenue because he believes the programs are very important. Possibly the City's cooperation could be
extended. People need to show up for meetings. Mr. Oakford suggested holding the public comment
period for each issue that is discussed, rather than at the start. He said there is a great flood of people at
9:00 a.m., and when the gavel is brought down at the end of public comment, there is a mass exodus of
people. He suggested not making the time of public comment predictable, people may spend some time
at the meetings and learn what is going on.
George Yount. Port Townsend: Speaking on behalf of the Jefferson County Democrats. He urged the
Commissioners to support the resolutions before them. To make democracy work, it is not only the
responsibility for the citizens to be informed, but to work to be informed and to be involved. It is their
duty to be present at meetings and be a part of the decision making process.
Hearing no further testimony, Chairman Austin closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Sullivan addressed some of the comments mentioned during public testimony. He stated
that when he spoke of the decreased valuation of the County, he was speaking towards equity losses and
people's ability to pay for things. He stated that he was talking about a lot of things extemporaneously,
but stated that in the future, he will try and be clearer when speaking on this topic. He added that the
levy lift idea mentioned earlier is worth considering.
Commissioner Johnson moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 54 -13 Increasing the Jefferson County
General Fund Levy for 2014 Taxes. Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion which carried by a
unanimous vote.
Commissioner Sullivan moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 55 -13 Increasing the Jefferson County
Road Levy for 2014 Taxes. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous
vote.
Commissioner Johnson moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 56 -13 Diversion of Road Levy for
Traffic Law Enforcement for the 2014 General Fund Budget. Commissioner Sullivan seconded the
motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
Commissioner Sullivan moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 57 -13 Increasing the Jefferson County
Conservation Futures Tax Levy for 2014 Taxes. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which
carried by a unanimous vote.
Commissioner Johnson moved to approve a letter re: 2014 Real and Personal Property Levy Amount.
Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
The meeting was recessed at 10:42 a.m. and reconvened at 1:35 p.m. with all three
Commissioners present.
Page 6
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2013
COUNTYADMINISTR,4 TOR BRIEFING SESSION: County Administrator Philip
Morley reviewed the following with the Board.
X�
Calendar Coordination
• Chairman Austin will be attending a Jefferson Transit Board meeting on November 19, 2013
• All three Commissioners will be attending the Washington State Association of Counties
(WSAC) Conference in Vancouver, Washington November 19 -21, 2013. Commissioner Sullivan
and Commissioner Johnson will be attending all three days. Chairman Austin will be attending
November 20, 2013. Commissioner Johnson will be attending the Coastal Caucus and Timber
Counties meeting
• Chairman Austin will be attending a Cooperating Agencies Conference in Vancouver on
November 22, 2013
• Commissioner Johnson will be attending the Northwest Straits Commission Conference in
Bellingham on November 22 and 23, 2013
• Commissioner Sullivan will be attending a Community Impact meeting on November 22, 2013
The Courthouse will be closed November 29, 2013
• The HCCC will be meeting on December 11, 2013
• Chairman Austin will be attending a JeffCom meeting on December 19, 2013
• The Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC) will be meeting on January 15, 2014
• County Administrator Philip Morley will be attending a JeffCom meeting on January 23, 2014
• Chairman Austin will be attending a National Association of County Officials (NACo)
Conference in March, 2014
Miscellaneous Issues:
• Parks and Recreation
• Department of Community Development (DCD) scheduling
• Shoreline Master Plan (SMP) timing — impact on the Port Townsend Paper Corporation
(PTPC) pond project, and on shorelines not yet being protected under the new standards
• Uhaul project at Courtesy Ford
• Transit project
• JeffCom and Tower agreement
• Beausite /Gibbs Lake transfer with Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR)
getting close
• Barking Dogs
• November ballot and election certification
• National Marine Sanctuary meeting; National Heritage Area
• Transit stop request to move to Washington and Cass or Walker; also designer selection
• HCCC — in 2014 Rob Gelder will become the Kitsap representative.
Page 7
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of November 18, 2013
�, Ejc-V7�
NOTICE OFADJOURNMENT.• Commissioner Sullivan moved to adjourn the meeting
at 3:38 p.m. until the next regular meeting or special meeting as properly noticed. Commissioner
Johnson,secondo the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
S�,t'' , a
r • J i*: +C.` r,- :i Jo J air
4t,7 • . .
ATTEST: Phron, Member
Carolyn very Da v er
Deputy Clerk of the Board
Page 8