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HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-29-08Board’s Official Business Highlights from Monday’s Commissioner Meeting April 29, 2008 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following comments were made by citizens: During the Board’s joint meeting with the Planning Commission regarding the 2008 Comprehensive Plan amendments a 100 Year Conservation Visioning program with the Land Trust and the Nature Conservancy was mentioned but the Department of Community Development doesn’t really have the time and resources to put into this program and it has not been demonstrated that a harm to the environment as occurred under Growth Management protections in Jefferson County; the Puget Sound Partnership has said that saving Puget Sound will require low impact development regulations although studies continue to show that 95% of the pollution in the Sound is from runoff from highways, heavy metals in insecticides and fertilizers, and chemicals going through sewage treatment plants; the Commissioners are under a lot of political pressure; and a citizen stated that he is being retaliated against by other members of the public and he expressed concerns about open government. CONSENT AGENDA: All of the items on the Consent Agenda were approved as presented. AGREEMENTS: 1) Purchasing Microsoft products at State pricing with the Washington State Department of Information Services; 2) Therapeutic services birth to three years with Port Townsend School District; and, 3) 2008-2009 pavement markings on various County roads, Project No. 180-542-1798 with Road Runner Striping, Inc. PAYMENT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY VOUCHERS/WARRANTS: Dated April 21, 2008 totaling $305,937.67 PAYMENT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY PAYROLL WARRANTS Dated April 18, 2008 totaling $95,644.00 and A/P Warrants done by Payroll dated April 18, 2008 totaling $17,825.45 and April 21, 2008 totaling $60,754.11 STATE DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES UPDATE: Representatives from the DNR gave a presentation on the County income report from State Forest Lands and the projected timber sales in the County. The 2007 income was less than originally anticipated due to a pending sale that is in litigation. They are projecting an income of about $850,000 in 2008, but the timber market is down which will affect the amount of revenue that the County receives. DNR is required to maintain a sustainable harvest for future generations and this means less revenue until the timber market increases. However, two upcoming sales in the County are cedar trees for utility and telephone poles which don’t lose their value when the timber market drops. Several Aquatics Division projects were also reviewed including the removal of creosote pilings and application for the necessary permits to begin the restoration project on the old mill site at Discovery Bay. The State is considering shellfish bed closures at Mystery Bay due to large number of mooring buoys in the area. In addition, they recently issued a new 30 year lease to the Pleasant Harbor Marina. JEFFERSON COUNTY SOLID WASTE MANAGEMENT PLAN HEARING: The Comprehensive Solid Waste Management Plan for the County must be reviewed every 5-6 years. The plan has been revised with the help of the City of Port Townsend and the Solid Waste Advisory Committee. The City Council will review the document in May. Once it is approved by both the County and the City, it will be sent to the State Department of Ecology for a 45 day review period. There was a brief discussion about how education and offering the public alternatives is more effective than enacting ban regulations. The Board agreed to wait to approve the resolution adopting the plan until after the City does their review. REQUEST FOR AFFORDABLE HOUSING LEGISLATION: The Board signed a letter requesting that Senators Maria Cantwell and Patty Murray co-sponsor the National Affordable Housing Trust Fund Act of 2007 which would provide funding for construction, rehabilitation, acquisition and preservation of 1.5 million affordable housing units nationwide over the next 10 years. SPECIAL MEETING WITH PORT TOWNSEND CITY COUNCIL: On Thursday, May 1 at 6:30 p.m. the County Commissioners will meet with the City Council at City Hall to discuss affordable housing, homelessness and the Clean Water District.