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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM021483District No. 1 Commissioner: District No. 2 Commissioner: District No. 3 Commissioner: Clerk of the Board: Engineer: A.M. O'Meara, Chairman B.G. Brown, Member John L. Pitts, Member Jerdine C. Bragg Milt Sanstrom Week of February 14, 1983 Chairman O'Meara called the meeting to order at 10:00 a.m. Commissioners Pitts and Brown were present. Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Brown made the motion seconded by Commissioner Pitts, to approve and sign the minutes for the week of February 7, 1983. Unanimous. Hearing; Franchise Application, Donald Shultz: Seven indi- viduals were present for this hearing, opened by Chairman O'Meara. Gary Rowe, Public Works, reviewed this application to install pipes for a public water system in the County rights-of-way of all platted streets in the Trails End Homesites plat. Assuming that easements across lots will be provided, he recommended approval of the appli- cation. There was discussion regarding water system approval pro- cedures and the fact that permits will be required when any work is done. No one spoke against the franchise. The hearing was closed, and Commissioner Pitts seconded Commissioner Brown's motion to grant the non-exclusive franchise by signing Resolution No. 16-83. Unanimous. Mr. Shultz was given instruction regarding the necessity of accepting the franchise in writing. License to Use and Maintain Garage; Graves: This agreement with Michaei and Susan Graves, stipulating the condi-fions of continued use of a garage encroaching onto Maple Street, was approved and signed on the motion by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Pitts, unanimously passed. Contracts for Professional Services; Health Department: _& Contracts or protessional services, as speci _rie , -with le-anne Hibbard, Patricia Biro, Lois Twelves, Christy Helsell, Mary Catherine Merrill, Mary Tudor, and the Jefferson County Mental Health Services for January 1, 1983 through December 31, 1983 were approved and signed following the motion by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Pitts. Unanimous. Executive Session: The Board met with Teamsters' Union representatives regard-Ingpersonnel matters. Funding for New Building at Fairgrounds: John Steward appeared on beit of the Fair Board to request _TFe Board's certi- fication of matching funds on the application to the State Fund for Agriculture Fairs for funds to construct a steel and wood building at the fairgrounds. The certification was signed following a motion by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Pitts. Unanimous. Amendment to Sales/Use Tax Administration Agreement: The agreement originally entered into with the Department of Revenue in October, 1970 was amended when Commissioner Brown made a motion to sign the amendment. Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion. Unanimous. The meeting was recessed until Tuesday, February 15, 1983. All members were present when it reconvened. Week of February 14, 1983 Historical Society 1983 Budget Revision: Peter Simpson explained that, due to Mrs. urns retirement, it is necessary to hire a director. This change was not anticipated when the budget was established. There was no change to the total amount budgeted, but a director position was added and a clerk was eliminated. Com- missioner Pitts seconded Commissioner Brown's motion to approve the revisions with the signing of Resolution No. 17-83. Unanimous. Bid Opening; Used Solid Waste Crawler -Loader: At the appointed time, the tollowing bids were opened and read into the minutes: Bidder: Model: Total Bid:* Smith Tractor John Deere 755 $ 52,840.50 John Deere 955 66,540.22 Westgate Tractor Fiat FL14C 57,040.89 NC Machinery Cat 977L 113,036.88 Howard Cooper Int. 175C 65,435.00 ICONOCO Cat 977L 90,695.00 Case Power & Equipment Case 1450 63,089.50 Case 1450 52,419.50 Case 1450 41,749.50 *Includes trade-in credit and tax Commissioner Brown made a motion to compare the bids through exami- nation of each piece of equipment, including service records, age, total hours, and field operation test. Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion. Unanimous. Petition for Revision of the Marrowstone Island Community Development Plan: Robert de Beauchamp presented petitions signed y Marrowstone s and residents regarding boat -related business activities, and amplified on the situation on Marrowstone Island. ITT Rayonier Shoreline Variance: The Board met with the following people to discuss the variance recently granted to ITT Rayonier regarding logging of more then 30 percent of the merchantable timber along the Clearwater River: Randy Johnson, Department of Fisheries; Gene Tillet, Department of Game; Bruce Jones, Quinault Indian Nation; Glenn Colley and Harry Bell, ITT; Marcy Golde and Marian Meacham, Washington Environmental Council. Mr. Tillet presented information to substantiate the importance of maintaining the area along the river in a natural state for survival of the most important herd of Roosevelt elk on the Peninsula and other wildlife. His points: 1)The elk and most wildlife will con- gregate within that 200 foot strip along the water, especially in winter, due to favorable conditions created by the water. 2)Essential needs of the wildlife which are provided by a 200 foot buffer zone include protection from the weather, food and forage, and protection from harrassment. 3)Maintaining old growth in the buffer zone is critical, since old growth provides food and forage, even when there is a complete canopy, but replaced stands of trees do not provide food and forage. 4)A 25-50 foot buffer zone will not provide any reasonable protection to wildlife. Mr. Johnson spoke regarding the importance of this 200 foot buffer zone to maintaining the production potential of the salmon habitat. Natural vegetation, particularly wood, along the river bank stabilizes the river bed, reduces the effective gradient of the stream, increases the amount and stability of the fish habitat.. helps maintain the temperature of the water, and provides cover. Clearcutting along the river will cause deterioration of the fish habitat. Mr. Jones read a letter from the director of the QDNR which reiterated VOL FA,F 00435 Minutes, Week of February 14, 1983 Page 3 Mr. Johnson's comments and stated that large organic debris is imper- ative for salmon rearing. This large organic debris is provided by the breakdown of old growth. Second growth provides little LOD. Ms. Golde quoted from the Shorelines Act, reminding that a major in- tent of the Act is to protect against adverse effects to the land, its vegetation and the wildlife, and the waters and aquatic life. Preferences to uses are mandated to be, in order of recognition: 1)Statewide interest takes precedence over local interest. 2)Pre- serve the natural character of the shoreline. 3)Long-term over short-term benefits. 4)Protect resources and ecology of shorelines. 5)Increase public access to publicly -owned areas of shoreline. Ms. Golde read the only criteria provided for exemption from the limit- ation which permits selective commercial logging in the 200 foot buffer zone only up to 30 percent of the merchantable timber every ten years: Other timber harvesting methods may be permitted in those limited instances where the topography, soil conditions or practices necessary for regeneration render selective logging ecologically det- rimental. She rebutted ITT's reasons for requesting clearcutting of this area: 1)Blowdown occurs in all stands of trees and selective cuts. While it may be ecologically damaging to the stand, it is ecologically necessary for maintenance of wildlife and fish habitats. 2)The infestation of dwarf mistletoe disease may be detrimental to stands of trees, but it is not ecologically damaging to the shore- lines, which is the only criteria for consideration regarding the buffer zone. 3)The unfeasibility of returning to the area in 10 years to take a second 30 percent of merchantable timber and disrupting the new ten -year-old growth is economically detrimental but not ecologi- cally detrimental. She further contended that the very fact that conditions were attached to the variance granted to ITT sets precedent which could be applied to other exemption requests. Mr. Bell responded to previous comments as follows: 1)During the last 5 years he has worked extensively in this area, there has never been more than a foot of snow, and it never lasted more than a week. It has never been severe enough to cause starvation of animals, and he doesn't think the particular strip in question would have an impact on the elk herd. 2)Whenever they have left a strip of trees standing along the river, it has blown down in a short period of time, since the trees have no resistance to blowdown because the trees are newly exposed. 3)Large organic debris is produced by trees within 25 feet of the river. Trees further away would not be moved into the water. 4)Bank instability has been caused because log jams (large organic debris) were cleared excessively during the 1800's, and not by clear - cutting. 5)In his opinion, the Shorelines Act was written without specific regulations in order to give latitude to the local authorities to determine what is best in each situation. He suggested a possible compromise would be to leave a 25 foot strip along the river in its natural state, removing merchantable timber from the other 150 feet per the conditions of the variance as granted. Mr. Colley pointed out that, even as the variance was granted, the area will not be clearcut: conifers and alders will be left standing, as well as wood not considered of high enough value. In response to questions, he stated that merchantable timber is a minimum of 6 inches by 12 feet and usually does not include low -value timber. He estimates that 50-75 percent of the trees in the buffer zone in question are old growth. The characteristics of the Clearwater River differ from the Hoh or Quinault Rivers, and therefore bank erosion is not as great a danger. Lengthy discussion followed, with all parties debating and countering with examples which made their particular point. The Board informed those present that they would give consideration to all the information presented prior to making a decision. On February 16, 1983, they discussed the issue with Planning Department staff. After considering possible alternatives, Commissioner Brown made a motion to rescind the previous approval to take more than 30 VOL rHc � Minutes, Week of February 14, 1983 Page 4 percent of the merchantable timber in the buffer zone, and to write a letter to ITT Rayonier informing them that permission has been re- scinded. Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion. Unanimous. It was also decided that ITT will be informed that further discussion will be pursued with the Department of Came, and others concerned, in the hope of finding an alternative that will be satisfactory for everyone. Park 'N' Ride Lot Site: Peter Badame, Jefferson County Transit, and DavidCunningham, 15ope and Talbot, discussed the site selected on Beaver Valley Road. Pope and Talbot is amenable to the use of the site for a park 'n' ride lot, but they want to grant the County a 20 -year lease, with certain restrictions regarding such matters as fencing, maintenance, power installation and drainage, rather than actually conveying the property by deed. Mr. Cunningham explained the Company's reasoning that if the stipulations were re- corded as restrictive covenants on a deed, any default would require court action to enforce, while the procedures for enforcing a lease are less formal and less costly. Commissioner O'Meara was adamant that the County should have a deed to the property without restrictions, that the County would honor their agreement regarding improvements and maintenance, but would have the option of selling the property if and when it became advisable. Commissioner Brown stated that he felt the lease, if approved by the Prosecuting Attorney, would be acceptable. Mr. Cunningham told the Board that the restrictions, including a reconveyance to Pope and Talbot clause, should the site cease to be used as a park 'n' ride lot, would become restrictive covenants on a deed, if, in fact, the Company could be convinced to grant a deed. The proposed lease was reviewed in detail. There are a number of elements involved in this venture: the County would be paying to have power brought to the area, from which Pope and Talbot would benefit in terms of developing adjacent property, and the State is committed to construction of the lot as part of the transit program, with the Transit operating and maintaining the lot. There was lengthy dis- cussion, with the result being that the Board will give further con- sideration to the lease. Soldiers' & Sailors' Relief Fund Application: On the motion by Commissioner Brown, seconded y Commissioner Pitts and unanimously passed, a disbursement of $450.83 to Danny Baughman was approved. VFW Hall Agreement; Maria Children's Home: Commissioner Pitts move to approve and sign the agreement wit beryl Woodruff on behalf of the Home for use of the building for an exercise program. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. Unanimous. Public Notice; Availability of Budgets: Each of the com- missioners signed a notice tor publication giving notice that the 1983 Current Expense and Special Revenue Fund Budgets are now available for review. The meeting was recessed. On Wednesday, February 16, 1983, the Commissioners conducted the Health Board meeting before recon- vening their regular meeting. Professional Services Contract; James Mathias: This con- tract for counseling and treatment for the Mental Hea t Services program was approved and signed per motion by Commissioner Pitts, seconded by Commissioner Brown. Unanimous. The contract does not have an expiration date, but does have a 30 -day termination clause. BUSINESS FROM COUNTY DEPARTMENTS: Planning re: SEPA Threshold Determination; Bridgehaven Community Club: 2/14/83 Peter Friedman reported that no adverse response was received as a result of notifications regarding the pro- posal to construct bulkheads and/or docks on 18 lots at Bridgehaven. Following brief discussion, Commissioner Pitts seconded the motion by Commissioner Brown to ''OL 9 FAGH0 04-11 Minutes, Week of February 14, 1983 Page 5 approve and sign the Final Declaration of Non -Significance. Unanimous. Flood Hazard Area Boundary Determination; Richard Short: David Goldsmith presented is report vera yang the boundaries of the 100 year flood hazard area as it affects Mr. Short's property. On Mr. Goldsmith's rec- ommendation, Commissioner Brown moved to recognize and establish the height of the flood plain hazard area boundary at 120 feet above mean sea level along the boundaries of Mr. Short's property. Commissioner Pitts seconded. Unanimous. Glen Cove Industrial Area Drainage Study Mapping: Mr. Goldsmith presented estimates, prepared by the Pubiic Works Department, for this proposed study prepared in several formats. There was a question about who will pay for the study, and following further discussion, the Board decided to discuss this with the Public Works staff. On February 16, 1983, Mr. Goldsmith reported that a grant extension of $3,800.00, recently approved, could be allocated to this project by the Planning Department, and that the Public Works Department could allocate some funds toward the project. He suggested the PUD be approached about providing the balance of funds needed. The Board felt this would be a good solution. Resignation, Shorelines Advisory Commission: Commis- sioner Pitts moved to accept the resignation of William Thomas, and Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. Unanimous. The vacancy will be advertised. Northern Tier Pipeline Company Proposed Project: Mr. Goldsmith reported on the revised proposal prepared by Northern Tier. They have not, as yet, actually made application. Various aspects and implications of the situation were discussed at length. Amendment to Grant No. G83 -016B: This grant for shore- line administration was amended on the motion by Commissioner Brown, seconded by Commissioner Pitts. Unanimous. SEPA Threshold Determination; Mark Barclay II: Mr. Goldsmith reviewed the checklist or Mr. Barc ay's pro- posal to convert the Old Nordland Church to an art gallery. Following discussion, Commissioner Pitts made a motion to approve and sign the Proposed Declara- tion of Non -Significance. Commissioner Brown seconded. Unanimous. Final Short Plat; Poston/Ikerd: Mr. Goldsmith presented this plat tor approval, reminding the Board of their previous variance approval regarding the width of the road. Commissioner Pitts moved to approve and sign the plat milar. Commissioner Brown seconded the motion. Unanimous. Hiller Short Plat: Dave Goldsmith reported that Mrs. i er s neig or refused to sell property to be used for an access to lot 1 or grant an easement. He noted that a similar situation was solved when RCW 36-75.080 was applied, which states that a road used by the public for 10 years or more may be required to remain available for public use. Another option, though less practical in terms of location, would be for Mrs. Hiller to pro- vide access from East Marrowstone Road across property L ;1;c ' utes, Week of February 14, 1983 e 6 she owns. The Board delayed action on this matter. Letter of Support; Low/Moderate Income Housing: On the motion by Commissioner Brown, second_eU_b_y_Uommis- sioner Pitts, a letter of support regarding a proposed elderly housing project was signed. Unanimous. 6/83 DNR Proposal to Clearcut Near Cape George: Mr. Goldsmith reported that the DNR wants to clearcut, leaving a strip which would be selectively logged to provide a screen. There will be some opposition to this proposal which will probably be made formally in the spring. Treasurer re: Petitions for Property Tax Refund: Two petitions sub - 2/15/83 mitted by Cftarles G. Jones wereapprovedfor refunds of $3.85 and $3.68 following a motion by Commis- sioner Pitts, seconded by Commissioner Brown. Unanimous. APPROVED:- "-A.M. -U'M`eara, Chairman B.G. Brown, Member John -17. Pitts, Mem]5-er ATTEST: J ,pt�tine U. Bragg/ uie-"t t Board VOL rain 00443