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HomeMy WebLinkAbout01-20-10Board’s Official Business Highlights from Tuesday’s Commissioner Meeting January 20, 2010 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following comments were made: Eight (8) citizens commented on the reduced hours of operation of the Recreation Center and the closure of Memorial Field and expressed the need for the County to support these facilities for children, families and the community as a whole; a citizen commended the U.S. Military forces on their efforts to provide relief to the citizens of Haiti; a citizen expressed concern about salmon poaching on the peninsula and asked why the County is spending significant amounts of money to restore salmon habitat if it is going to allow poaching activities to occur; a citizen stated that the last time the County conducted a Community priority survey was 9 years ago and he doesn’t think the “On the Road” meetings are enough for the Commissioners to receive ongoing, scientifically factual, and balanced input from the public to determine funding priorities; a citizen presented a copy of a resolution passed by the Citizens Alliance for Property Rights regarding taking legal action against the County and other organizations over the Shoreline Master Program update; a citizen discussed the lack of credibility of the Hood Canal Coalition and false comments that group made about Fred Hill Materials. CONSENT AGENDA: The following items were approved after noting that item #1 should read: naming a private road “Rylie’s Way” and not “Big Sky Loop”. RESOLUTION: Naming a Private Road “Rylie’s Way”; Bruce and Linda Brown, Petitioner 9 AGREEMENTS: 1) 2010 Community Services Grant Funding with the Port Townsend Senior Association; 2) Amending the 2007-2011 Consolidated Contract with the State Department of Health; 3) Funding Support for the North Pacific Coast Marine Resources Committee with Clallam County; 4) Breast, Cervical and Colon Health Program Services with Public Health of King County; 5) Amending the HIV Intervention and Prevention Agreement with Clark County Public Health; 6) 2010 Oral Health Care Services with Cynthia Newman; 7) Rick Tollefson Memorial Trail Project with the Washington State Department of Transportation; 8) Grant Funding for the Jefferson County Courthouse Roof Stabilization Project with the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation; and 9) Consultant Services to Replace 3 Culverts on the Upper Hoh Road with Tetra Tech, Inc. Advisory Board Reappointment: Robert McCauley to serve a 3 year term expiring January 9, 2013 on the Gardiner Community Center Board of Directors Payment of Vouchers/Warrants: Dated December 26, 2009 Totaling $4,730.44 and Dated December 28, 2009 Totaling $496,827.56 Payment of Payroll Warrants: Dated December 30, 2009 Totaling $110,431.84 COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING SESSION: Commissioner Sullivan: - In response to citizen questions he reviewed how County reserve funding is used and explained that a lot of thought and planning is put into discretionary spending. Commissioner Johnson: - Discussed Legislative House Bill #2637which would remove the “non-supplanting language” in the existing Public Safety Sales and Use Tax; the Mental Health Sales Tax; and the 6 year property levy lid lift and provides a limited tax for counties inside urban growth areas. The Governor’s proposed budget removes the “non-supplant” language until 2014. This proposed legislation has no deadline. It would also allow Real Estate Excise Taxes to be used for Parks operation and maintenance. - He reviewed information from the Coastal Caucus meeting and stated that Jefferson County is in a good position to receive federal grant funding. County Administrator Morley: - Explained that the current economic recession and the structural issue of property taxes versus inflation has created a significant gap in the budget which has necessitated service cuts. Additional service cuts in county programs will likely be necessary in the next couple of years unless additional revenue become available. County staff and the Parks Advisory Board have been working to prioritize parks and recreation programs and to reduce expenditures on facility costs. Consequently, a program was presented to try to develop community partners to take on a significant share of the maintenance of the County’s park facilities in order to direct scare resources to recreation programs. Unfortunately, parks and recreation is a discretionary County service and not a mandated service. The County has begun community outreach and has established coalitions for a number of park facilities which involved trying to develop a coalition for Memorial Field to keep it open. It currently costs approximately $92,000 per year to operate Memorial Field which generates approximately $27,000 in revenue each year. The gap in funding has been subsidized by the County in the past. The County can no longer afford this subsidy. Making capital improvements to the facility is also an issue, although there may be grant funding opportunities to pursue. Discussions regarding funding options have been held with representatives from the Port Townsend and Chimacum School Districts and the City. He agrees Memorial Field is part of the lifeblood of this community and knows it is important to have activities and facilities for kids and to have a balanced and sustainable community that is welcoming to families that live here and for those that wish to move here. LETTER: The Board approved a letter to the Washington State Department of Commerce in support of maintaining the current formula method for allocating Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding for Public Services provided by Olympic Community Action Programs (OlyCAP).