HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-29-05Board’s Official Business
Highlights from Monday's Commissioner Meeting March 29, 2005
SWEARING-IN CEREMONY: Several employees
from the Sheriff’s Office and other Departments were
present when Tim Perry was sworn in as Undersheriff
by Sheriff Mike Brasfield.
REQUEST FOR INFORMATION: Representative
Lynn Kessler’s Office has asked for a specific amount
in writing on the Courthouse Clock Tower Project
because the State Legislators are discussing the
budget this week.
FERRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE UPDATE: Several
items were mentioned including:
•A 7% increase in ferry tariffs is being
considered by the State Transportation
Board.
•The ferries will begin using an electronic fare
system later this fall.
•The proposed Port Townsend Ferry Dock
project will allow any boat in the fleet to dock.
Currently, the maximum capacity for ferries
on the Port Townsend run is 65 cars. This will
increase to 130 cars. There are concerns
about how this will impact traffic on Water
Street. There is an open house this week to
take public comment.
•A private passenger ferry began operating
from Kingston to downtown Seattle earlier
this year which has decreased the number of
passengers on the State’s Bainbridge and
Kingston ferry runs.
•Two 78 hour Hood Canal Bridge closures are
anticipated in August or September. A survey
is being sent out to the public asking
whether they prefer weekend or weekday
closures. A mitigation could include ferry
runs from Port Ludlow and Port Townsend to
Seattle.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following
comments were made: Several citizens agreed on
the importance of having two emergency dispatchers
on duty at all times as was originally agreed by the
JeffCom Board and the past County Administrator;
when the dispatchers are on duty, they shouldn’t
spend their free time playing on the Internet; the
descriptions are too vague for Executive Sessions
listed on the Board’s agenda; who was Commissioner
Rodgers walking into the DCD office’s with last
summer when Commissioner Titterness was also
present?; and the data was manipulated to come up
with the $362 amount for the Commissioners monthly
car allowance.
CONSENT AGENDA: All of the items on the Consent
Agenda were approved as presented.
RESOLUTION: Increasing Cash in the Solid W aste
Scale House Cash Drawer
5 AGREEMENTS: 1) Grant Funding for the Courthouse
Clock Tower Rehabilitation Project with HUD; 2) WRIA
17 Instream Flow Setting; Amending Period of
Performance and Payment with State DOE; 3)
Reduction in Funding and Move Liability to Safe Harbor
with the State Department of Alcohol and Substance
Abuse Services; 4) Project Management Services for
WRIA 17 Amending Specific Duties, Period of
Performance, and Payment with Sound Resolutions,
and; 5) Educational Presentation “The Magic of
Recycling” to School Districts in East Jefferson County
with A Touch of Magic, Inc.
BID OPENING: Bids were received for the publication of
County legal notices from The Leader and The
Peninsula Daily News. Staff will review the bids and a
recommendation for award will be made to the Board.
ADVISORY BOARD RECOMMENDATION: The Parks
Advisory Board went through the park naming process
for the waterfront park in Irondale as outlined in the
Master Plan. The Board approved the name Irondale
Beach Park which was the Park Board’s
recommendation.
NOXIOUS WEED CONTROL BOARD UPDATE: The
Chair of the Weed Board and the Noxious Weed
Coordinator from Clallam County discussed several
noxious weeds found in Jefferson County which include
Gorse, Poison Hemlock, Scotch Broom, Tansy, and
Nap weeds. They asked the Board to consider
assessing each property in Jefferson County a $4 flat
fee to go toward program operations which is State
mandated. The discussion included educating property
owners and voluntary removal of weeds instead of
County enforcement. Commissioner Rodgers stated
that he is concerned about raising taxes and wants to
see an analysis. The other Commissioners agreed that
they would like to see the analysis before land
classification hearings are scheduled.
CONNECTING SCHOOLS & COMMUNITIES
PROGRAM: A student and the Program Coordinator
from Quilcene High School gave a Powerpoint
presentation on the special training being provided to
high school students that keep them in school and will
allow them to have living wage jobs and stay in the area.
FIBRE OPTICS PROJECT: This project was submitted
as a Public Infrastructure Fund application last year and
is before that Board again this year. The goal is to
connect with NOANET and continue into the City of Port
Townsend through Glen Cove. This infrastructure is
essential to attract businesses to the County.