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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11-25-08Board’s Official Business Highlights from Monday’s Commissioner Meeting November 25, 2008 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following comments were made by citizens: a person stated that he thinks that the number of State grants will be reduced next year due to the budget deficit; a citizen said that in his opinion the replacement cycle for computers needs to be reviewed and the proposed amount to be spent on them in the 2009 budget needs to be reduced; two people asked that the Board not cut human service network programs; a resident reviewed a “Solid Waste Site Visit To Do List” he received from Public Health and said that he feels that most of the items to be cleaned up are trivial and pose no environ- mental threat; a citizen stated that he thinks the Sheriff would not have to pay overtime if the three Courthouse Security Staff were in patrol cars and a Security Service was hired for the Courthouse; a property owner stated his concerns about the current discussion at the State level to convert agricultural lands used for horse boarding from an open space tax designation to a residential tax designation; a person stated that he thinks the County should not make cuts in the 2009 budget to basic services that can provide revenue; and a person said that in his opinion the three minute public comment time limit does not allow time for people to elaborate on their testimony. CONSENT AGENDA: The items on the Consent Agenda were approved. 2 HEARING NOTICES: 1) 2009 Jefferson County Budget; Hearing scheduled for Monday, December 8, 2008 at 10:00 a.m., and 2) Emergency Ordinance No. 10-1103-08 enacting a moratorium against the issuance of permits or approvals pertaining to adult businesses; Hearing scheduled for Monday, December 15, 2008 at 10:45 a.m. RESOLUTION: Naming a private road Wildcat Way 3 AGREEMENTS: 1) Amendment to the 2007- 2011 Consolidated Contract for health services with Washington State Department of Health; 2) Collect geographic data for use with 911 mapping systems with microDATA GIS, Inc.; and, 3) Jury management system software maintenance agreement renewal with JSI, Jury Systems Incorporated ADVISORY BOARD REAPPOINTMENT: Kaheya Cunningham to a 3-year term that expires November 21, 2011 on the Jefferson County Developmental Disabilities Advisory Board PAYMENT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY VOUCHERS/WARRANTS: Dated November 17, 2008 totaling $313,508.92 PAYMENT OF JEFFERSON COUNTY PAYROLL WARRANTS AND A/P WARRANTS: Done by Payroll dated November 13, 2008 Totaling $103,217.82 AD VALOREM TAX LEVIES HEARING: The County Administrator gave a presentation on the state of the 2008 budget since the pre- liminary 2009 budget was presented to the Board on October 6. Supplemental budget requests for the third and fourth quarters have been much higher than anticipated which will leave less reserve at the end of the year. He discussed options for the 2009 budget with, and without, the use of banked capacity. He has been working with the Elected Officials and Department Heads to make cuts whereever possible. Several Elected Officials were present to support the use of banked capacity in the 2009 General Fund budget. After discussing options, Chairman Johnson and Commissioner Austin approved resolutions to declare a financial emergency in the General Fund (which allows for the use of banked capacity), and to increase the Jefferson County General Fund levy for 2009 taxes. The Board approved a resolution to increase the road levy and the Conservation Futures levy by 1% for 2009 Taxes. UPDATE FROM FERRY ADVISORY COMMITTEE: The State has not made a decision on the bid for the Port Townsend- Keystone ferries yet. There was only one bidder and the bid was $40 million over budget. They are also looking at other options. The current service will run through January 5 when the ferry needs to go in for inspection and maintenance for two weeks. During that time, a passenger-only ferry will be put into service. There has not been a decision made on operating one Edmonds/Port Townsend ferry run for commercial traffic when the Hood Canal Bridge is closed for repairs in 2009. HEARING ON CHIMACUM CREEK NO SHOOTING ZONE: Approximately a dozen people testified at the hearing on this proposed no shooting zone. The majority of the people were in favor of the proposed boundaries. A few people asked that the mouth of Chimacum Creek remain open to hunters during hunting season. After hearing the testimony, the Board approved the no shooting zone as presented which includes the mouth of Chimacum Creek.