HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-06-08Board’s Official Business
Highlights from Monday’s Commissioner Meeting May 6, 2008
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following
comments were made by citizens: Two
hundred and sixteen years ago today,
Captain Vancouver sailed into Discovery Bay
and landed at Fort Discovery, and in his
explorations of the area, he discovered what
is now Port Townsend; there is a 35%
surcharge on ferry travel and on May 1 the
summer rates will go into affect; new studies
show that people are moving from rural
areas back into the cities to be closer to
work and be able to use public
transportation;1,000 residents in Jefferson
County commute out of the County to work
and if the gas prices continue to rise, they
will probably have to move closer to their
work; a citizen who gave testimony at the
Solid Waste Management Plan public
hearing stated that he was pleased to
receive a response from the staff person that
addressed his concerns; and the proposed
adult business moratorium scheduled on the
Board’s agenda needs to go through the
appropriate public process.
CONSENT AGENDA: The appointment of
Bob Hinton to the Board of Equalization was
deleted and the remainder of the items on
the Consent Agenda were approved.
2 RESOLUTIONS: 1) Establishing the date
for 2009 Budget submissions, review
hearings, and final adoption, and 2)
Application for funding assistance for the
Larry Scott Trail Final Phase Project with the
Washington Wildlife & Recreation Program,
Recreation and Conservation Office
NOTICE OF COMPLETION: Day Labor
Projects for 2007
ADVISORY BOARD RESIGNATION:
William Wheeler from the Jefferson County
Conservation Futures Committee
PAYMENT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY
VOUCHERS/WARRANTS: Dated April 28,
2008 totaling $410,807.24
CLERK’S OFFICE SPACE NEEDS: The
Superior Court Clerk stated that a study of
her office space was done in 2007. One
alternative is to move her office to the
southwest corner of the Courthouse
basement. The 2008 Budget does not
include funding for the project. She explained
that the present office configuration for the
Superior Court Clerk’s employees is very
cramped and there is no privacy for several of
the services that they provide to citizens.
Currently she has a vacant position that she
cannot fill until the office is moved and more
space is added for workstations. Ideally, she
would like to have some private offices and
conference rooms that would include an area
where 45 jurors could wait instead of using
the stairwell and landing on the 2 floor of thend
Courthouse. She would also like to see the
Law Library moved out of the Superior
Courtroom. In addition, she is requesting
bullet proof glass and a locked door entry
similar to the entrance to the District Court
Offices. The Board agreed that her office
functions require more space.
PROCLAMATION: Sheriff Mike Brasfield was
present when Chairman Johnson read and
the Board approved a proclamation declaring
the Week of May 11 through 17, 2008 as
National Police Week and observing May 15,
2008 as Peace Officers’ Memorial Day.
EMERGENCY ORDINANCE REGARDING
ADULT BUSINESS MORATORIUM: A draft
emergency ordinance enacting a moratorium
on adult businesses in the County was
presented to the Board. This subject was first
brought up in 2005 and an emergency
ordinance was passed by the Board at that
time. In reviewing the workplan for 2008, it
was agreed that this issue should be
addressed. In 2005, the City of Port
Townsend was still working on their ordinance
and it is now in place. The emergency
ordinance would be in effect for six months
and a public hearing must be held within 60
days of adoption. The process includes a
study to determine the type of adult
businesses that should be regulated and
researching the regulations in other
jurisdictions. The goal is to zone or license
adult businesses while considering freedom of
expression. One of the current Planning
Commission members has dealt with this
subject in another jurisdiction. The Board
approved the emergency ordinance.