HomeMy WebLinkAboutM05051404 ��
�4�450 N cpG L
9SNIN��
District 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 May 5, 2014
Chairman John Austin called the meeting to order at the appointed time in the presence of
Commissioner Phil Johnson and Commissioner David Sullivan.
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 stated: 1) The County has many residents living in poverty and with mental health
problems; and 2) A citizen would have better luck building a 4 -story marijuana operation than
announce plans for building a hotel:
3 citizens voiced concern over marijuana permitting and suggested the Commissioners: 1) Relay
marijuana rules to the Planning Commission and add these to the County's Comprehensive Plan;
2) Do further research on the issues; and 3) Look into residency and how it pertains to the cottage
industry;
A citizen stated he is disheartened and disappointed that Sheriff Tony Hernandez is not running for
re- election and urged the County to thank him for his service.
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner
Johnson moved to approve all the items on the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Sullivan
seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
1. Letter of Approval and Expedition of Special Occasion Liquor License Application for
Jefferson County Community Foundation — Fund for Women & Girls Event; Washington State
Liquor Control Board
2. Advisory Board Resignation: Jefferson County Parks and Recreation Advisory Board; District
#2 Representative; Garth McHattie
3. Advisory Board Reappointments (2) re: Jefferson County Marine Resources Committee
(MRC), Four (4) Year Terms; 1) Al Bergstein, Environmental /Conservation Representative,
Expires March 8, 2018; and 2) Tony Petrillo, District #2 Representative, Expires May 1, 2018
Page 1
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of May 5, 2014
COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING SESSION: The Commissioners each provided
updates on the following items:
t;
J
Chairman Austin
- Attended a State Department of Health meeting last week.
- Will be attending a Board of Natural Resources meeting and a presentation on the Dosewallips Sewer
this week.
- Will be speaking at a State Environmental Health Professionals meeting this week.
Commissioner Johnson
- Attended the Salish Sea Conference last week.
- Will be attending a Timber Counties meeting in Chelan this week.
Commissioner Sullivan
- Attended a ReCyclery celebration last week.
- Attended a Transit Authority meeting last week.
Will be attending a Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) Conference this week.
The meeting was recessed at 9:37 a.m. and reconvened at 10:02 a.m. with all three
Commissioners present.
Hearing re: Proposed Ordinance Amending the Duties and Responsibilities of the
Jefferson County Board of Health and the Appointments of its Members: County Administrator Philip
Morley explained that the proposed amendment to the ordinance would clarify who is elected to the
Board of Health. Documentation submitted for the meeting states: "If adopted, the ordinance would
amend the Board of Health's duties and responsibilities to include its existing role in appointing
members of the Substance Abuse Advisory Board, and add a responsibility to coordinate the activities of
the Clean Water District with the programs and activities within the purview of the Board of Health. The
proposed ordinance would also revise the members, terms, appointment and vacancy provisions
regarding the Board of Health with technical corrections, and provide greater flexibility in appointing at-
large positions. The proposed revisions are timely as the County Commissioners will be considering
appointments for several positions on the Board of Health in the near future. The revisions would
become effective seven days after adoption."
Chairman Austin opened the hearing for public testimony.
Tom Thiersch, Jefferson County: He stated that he is concerned about the proposed membership on the
board in the following sense; there are no qualifications stated. Nobody on this board has to know
anything whatsoever about Public Health issues. They simply have to be an elected official. That seems
short sighted. How can you make informed decisions about subject matter in which you have no
particular training or expertise? He does not believe that is an appropriate way to run a board. The fact
that some of the current Commissioners have some experience in the field, does not mean that future
Commissioners will. It has not been the case in the past. That is a problem. Mr. Thiersch stated that for
the At Large members to be appointed, they should be required to demonstrate some experience and
competence in the field of public health or at least possess knowledge in health matters in general.
Another concern for him is that the County Commissioners now are the sole deciders on who gets
Page 2
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of May 5, 2014
. Ec
appointed. Even though you are selecting or appointing persons who are members of other boards, such
as the Hospital District and City Council. It would seem more appropriate to him that those bodies elect
from amongst themselves on who would serve on the Board of Health. The Hospital Commissioners
could appoint one of their members to serve. That person would be the one to serve, rather than to have
been selected by the County Commissioners. You would have the elected officials from the Hospital
District deciding who amongst them would be best to serve on that board. Similar consideration for the
City Council. Mr. Thiersch suggested taking the revision back and re -write it with those ideas in mind.
Hearing no further testimony, Chairman Austin closed the public hearing.
Chairman Austin stated a precedence has been established by the State Board of Health which depicts
"members at large" to be any consumer of Public Health. He noted that the Commissioners that will
supersede them may not have as much formal experience in Public Health, but that would be okay as the
idea of the expansion is to reach out and let a member of the public have an opportunity to serve on the
board.
Commissioner Johnson stated that when he was new to the Board of Health, he learned while he served
on the board. He is not concerned with appointing someone who has had no previous health department
knowledge.
Commissioner Sullivan stated that elected officials can change from time to time. Having a citizen as a
member could be a benefit as that person could potentially be on the board for a long time.
Commissioner Sullivan made a motion to adopt the ORDINANCE 04- 0505 -14 re: Amending the
Duties and Responsibilities of the Jefferson County Board of Health and the Appointment of its
Members. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion. County Administrator Morley stated that under
section 040 Appointment, the City of Port Townsend and the Hospital District nominate a single
individual for consideration by the Board of County Commissioners (BOCC). The Commissioners have
the ability to accept or reject the nominated person to the Board of Health. He added that the jurisdiction
has the opportunity to select a person they believe is the most qualified. Typically, the Hospital District
and the City have done a good job of nominating suitable appointees. County Administrator Morley
pointed out that when a citizen is considered for appointment, one of the attributes they would want is
for that person to be reasonable and intelligent. He added that when you possess those characteristics,
that person could learn the subject matter.
Chairman Austin called for a vote on the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
Letter for Review: Chairman Austin stated that he received a request from a staff member
of the Public Health Department to forward a recommendation for an individual to be nominated for the
Andy Palmer Scholarship.
Commissioner Johnson noted that the scholarship candidate was instrumental in orchestrating the
Students for Sustainability trip. Commissioner Sullivan pointed out that if they haven't looked at all the
candidates for the scholarship, it did not seem fair to forward a recommendation for one person. He
suggested looking into the process.
Page 3
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of May 5, 2014
The Board agreed to discuss the topic further during the County Administrator's Briefing (CAB) session
this afternoon.
The meeting was recessed at 10:28 a.m. and reconvened at 1:31 p.m. with all three
Commissioners present.
COUNTYADMINISTRATOR BRIEFING SESSION: County Administrator Philip
Morley reviewed the following with the Board.
Calendar Coordination:
• Commissioner Sullivan wilt be certifying the Sequim School District elections on May 6, 2014.
• Commissioner Johnson and Commissioner Sullivan will be attending the Washington State
Association of Counties (WSAC) Conference in Lake Chelan May 6 -9, 2014.
• Chairman Austin will be attending an Ecosystem Coordinating Board meeting on May 8, 2014.
• There will be a meeting in Brinnon regarding the Dosewallips Wastewater system on
May 8, 2014.
Chairman Austin will be making a presentation at the State Environmental Health Director's
Conference on May 12, 2014 and will be unable to attend the Board of County Commissioners
(BOCC) meeting that day.
• There will be a Jefferson County Library annual breakfast meeting on May 15, 2014.
There will be a Jefferson County Board of Health meeting on May 15, 2014.
• All three Commissioners will be marching in the Rhody Parade on May 17, 2014.
• There will be a presentation made to Roberta Frissell during the BOCC meeting on
May 19, 2014.
• Chairman Austin and County Administrator Morley will be attending a JeffCom meeting on
May 22, 2014.
• Memorial Day will be on May 26, 2014.
May 27, 2014.
The BOCC meeting will be held on Tuesday,
• The County Administrator Briefing (CAB) session of the BOCC meeting on May 27, 2014 will
break before 3:00 p.m. to allow the Developmental Disabilities Board to hold their meeting in
the Commissioners Chambers by 3:15 p.m.
• Chairman Austin will be attending a Washington State Board of Health (BOH) meeting on
June 11, 2014.
• Commissioner Johnson will be out of the office June 12 -26, 2014. He will not be attending the
BOCC meeting on June 16, 2014 or the Jefferson Transit meeting on June 17, 2014.
• There will be a Hood Canal Coordinating Council (HCCC) meeting on June 18, 2014.
• There will be an All- County Picnic Potluck at the Cape George Community Center on
June 18, 2014.
• There will be no BOCC meeting on June 23, 2014.
• Chairman Austin will be out of the office June 23, 2014.
Chairman Austin will be attending a Puget Sound Septic Financing Advisory Committee meeting
on June 26, 2014.
Page 4
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of May 5, 2014
• County Administrator Morley will be attending a JeffCom meeting on June 26, 2014.
• There will be a Jefferson -Port Townsend Response Emergency Preparation (JPREP) All- County
Picnic on August 17, 2014.
Miscellaneous Items
Discussion re: Geoduck permitting: Department of Community Development (DCD) Director
Carl Smith and Planning Manager Stacie Hoskins discussed with the Board a letter received
regarding concerns over a geoduck farming project near Port Ludlow /Shine area. Ms. Hoskins
reviewed the Army Corp of Engineers (COE) application permit process, vesting requirements,
conditional discretionary use, high intensity zones and conditional use permits with the Board
and how they pertain to geoduck operations. In December, DCD received a few inquiries from
individuals indicating a desire to vest. Geoduck farming requires a Conditional Use Permit
(CUP) under our current Shoreline Master Program (SMP) except in High Intensity areas. It also
requires a Department of Natural Resources (DNR) permit if located on public lands. Initially, it
was considered under the old SMP from the perspective of the timing of the Army Corps of
Engineers approval, but is not County- vested before the February 28, 2014 effective date of
Jefferson County's new SMP. Staff has determined this particular project has no vesting, since
there was no County permit application, unless a Corps permit was issued before then. Ms.
Hoskins noted that the Army COE application permit process can take up to a year. If an
applicant applies now, it does not necessarily mean they will vest. She added that geoduck
permitting poses an interesting situation because if a geoduck operation does not already have a
COE permit, they would need to apply for a CUP with Jefferson County. If it is determined by
the COE that it was not vested by them, then a COE permit will also be required.
• JeffCom meeting with Adcomm on Regionalization Study.
• Marijuana Grow /Process regulations.
• Ewen Shortess college scholarship recommendations — not a matter for BOCC formal action, but
rather, by individual Commissioners.
• Tala Shores No Shooting Zone Area update.
• At 2:58 p.m. Commissioner Johnson excused himself from the meeting to attend another
appointment.
• Treasurer's vacancy and appointment: Letter from Republican Central Committee with three
candidates for BOCC consideration: research on process.
• Letter from City of Port Townsend regarding Howard Street property owners.
Page 5
Commissioners Meeting Minutes of May 5, 2014
Kc
NOTICE OFADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Sullivan moved to adjourn the meeting
at 3:32 p.m. until the next regular meeting or special meeting as properly noticed. Chairman Austin
seconded the motion. The motion carried.
SEAFf `g •� J
Aq
- G
t
ATTEST..-
Carolyn Av y���
Deputy Clerk of the Board
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOA COMMISSIONERS
Jo A Chair
Phil Johnsol . mber
Page 6