Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutM111599JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS District No. I Commissioner: District No. 2 Commissioner: District No. 3 Commissioner: Daniel Harpole, Chair Glen Huntingford, Member Richard Wojt, Member THE HEART OF TItE ()I.YMPIC I'~I~NINSULA ! Clerk of the Board: Lorna L. Delaney Director of Public Services: Gary A. Rowe Deputy Director of Public Services: David Goldsmith MINUTES Week of November 15, 1999 The meeting was called to order by Commissioner Huntingford in the absence of Chairman Dan Harpole. Commissioner Richard Wojt was present. Establishing a Rural Counties Assistance Reserve Fund: Commissioner Wojt moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 94-99 to establish this fund. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the motion seconded the motion which carried. Interest from Specific Funds to Accrue to the County Current Expense Fund: Commissioner Wojt moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 95-99 approving the accrual of interest from specific funds into the General Fund. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the motion which carried. The Board meet in Executive Session with the Deputy Director of Public Services from 8:30-8:50 a.m. regarding potential litigation. Consideration of Claim No. C26-99; Elaine Thornberg: Commissioner Wojt moved to approve claim C26-99 in the amount of $23,000 to Elaine Thornberg. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the motion which carried. Page 1 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of Novemberl 5, 1999 Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Wojt moved to approve the minutes of October 18 and 25, 1999 as presented. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the motion which carried. PUBLIC SERVICES BRIEFING SESSION: Gary Rowe reported on the 2000 budget issues including: · The balanced preliminary budget will be ready for public distribution on November 17, with the required public notice to be made on November 24, 1999. · There is $110,000 less available to balance the 2000 budget than was originally predicted. There were several expenditure items that have been reduced from the original request and numerous additional expenditure requests that have not been addressed yet which means that the budget is about $275,000 out of balance. Discussion re: Petition to establish Jefferson County Water Conservancy Board Submitted by Public Utility District #1 (PUD): Environmental Health Director Larry Fay reported that if a Water Conservancy Board (WCB,) is established, the members would have limited authority over processing water fight transfer applications. Any decision made by the Water Conservancy Board is subject to review by the State Department of Ecology (DOE.) He recommended that the process that has been started to assess water rights in the County be completed before a WCB is established. Dave Christensen reported that Lewis and Benton County have established Water Conservancy Boards. These Boards function well when the State Department of Ecology has the time to work with them. Jim Parker, PUD, reported that DOE says that Water Conservancy Boards are their solution to working with water fights. The DOE has to respond within 45 days to transfer applications sent to them by a WCB. If they don't respond, the action of the WCB stands as submitted. Establishing this Board would allow the transfer of water rights in the County, which is now impossible to do through the DOE. Commissioner Huntingford noted that the initial start up costs for this Board seems to be reasonable, but questioned what the costs will be in the future, especially if there is an appeal of the Water Conservancy Board's decision? Jim Parker noted that the decision is appealed to the DOE. The PUD Commissioners feel this is a solution to current problems with transferring water rights. Commissioner Wojt noted that all of this would have to be in place before December 31, 1999 if fees are to be established. Jim Parker estimated that the process to establish a WCB and train the members will take about a year and a half. Commissioner Huntingford asked if Larry Fay has reviewed this request? Larry Fay answered that he reviewed this process last year. He can review this further and make a report back within the next 30 days. Gary Rowe suggested that the Prosecuting Attorney review this petition and information and report back on the process. He asked if the WUCC should review this petition? Larry Fay reported that review by the WUCC isn't required. Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of Novemberl 5, 1999 PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following comments were made: The County should be cautious about establishing a Water Conservancy Board; a question about how the County's internet website is maintained; are existing plats in Port Ludlow subject to the CC&Rs and the development agreement; a request that the Board suspend any and all efforts to create the proposed Urban Growth Area in the Tri Area; a request that the Commissioners provide a clear path for resolving issues in the Th Area and Glen Cove; the need for legislation to allow counties to deal with derelict vessels; the cost of dealing with derelict vessels is prohibitive for small jurisdictions; and the grants for the Larry Scott Trail (phase 2) and the Gateway Visitor Center were approved for funding by the State. APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT A GENDA: Commissioner Wojt moved to delete Items 4 and 5 and to adopt the balance of the items as presented. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the motion which carried. 1. RESOLUTION NO. 96-99 re: Declaring an Intent to Facilitate and Examine Joint Ventures of Common Service Programs Jointly with City of Port Townsend (City Resolution No. 99-076) 2. RESOLUTION NO. 97-99 re: Sharing and Jointly Developing Facilities to House Law and Justice Services and Other Services Where Feasible Jointly with City of Port Townsend (City Resolution No. 99-075) 3. Rental Fee Schedule; Increasing Port Townsend Community Center Upper Level Room Rental Rate; Jefferson County Public Works; Port Townsend Seniors 4. DELETE Request for Additional Six (6) Month Extension of Summary Short Plat Approval; Bailey Short Plat; Located at Discovery Road and Cape George Road, Port Townsend; Barbara Bailey, R. Thatcher Bailey and Bruce Bailey, Applicants 5. DELETE Request for Preliminary Plat Extension Expiring October 24, 2000; Ironwood Long Subdivision; Located in Port Ludlow; Olympic Resource Management (Pope Resources) 6. Accept Recommendation to Deny Claim for Damages: #C-24-99, $2,253.15 for Property Damage; Mike Ragon COUNTY DEPARTMENT BRIEFINGS/BUSINESS: COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Director's Update: A1 Scalf, Community Development Director, reported: He has prepared proposed fee increases for the Department that are based on the fee indexing defined in the 1996 ordinance. This will add approximately $25,000 in revenue for the Depart- ment in 2000. The Bailey short plat (see Item 4 deleted from the Consent Agenda) is expected to be finalized and submitted for Board approval next week. The Development Agreement for Port Ludlow has been submitted to ORM by the Prosecuting Attorney. Page 3 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of Novemberl 5, 1999 The Department is ready to help the Brinnon area with the subarea planning process. The Brinnon community is asking how much change can be made to the Comprehensive Plan during this subarea planning process? He plans to have the community provide a list of items that they want, but some of these items may not be congruent with the Comprehensive Plan. He will bring that list of items back to the Board for their consideration. The Department needs to provide more information on how long the subarea planning processes for the Tri Area, Glen Cove and Brinnon areas are expected to take, and how much they will cost, before the preliminary budget is ready for publication. Warren Hart reported that he has prepared a first draft of a "Fact Sheet" for the Tri Area that would be mailed out to citizens, businesses and interested persons in that area. Commissioner Huntingford asked that the GMA Steering Committee agenda include a discussion about adding a representative for Port Ludlow. The Board met in Executive Session from 10:50 a.m. to 11:05 a.m. with the Director and Planning Manager of the Department of Community Development and the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney. PUBLIC WORKS Director's Update: Interim Public Works Director Frank Gifford reported on the following: · The engineering report for the Montgomery Lane project will be mailed today. The Public Works Department declined to participate in some site improvements to be made on Montgom- ery Court because of the County's participation in this larger project. · The crematorium at the Animal Shelter will be in operation within the next two weeks. · The oil tank replacement project at the Courthouse has been completed. · The debris in an area near the Port Hadlock Little League Fields will be removed by the Public Works Department. Discussion re: Options for Courthouse Basement Office Space (Former Long Range Planning Area): Nik Worden, Public Works, presented 3 options for use of the southwest area of the Courthouse basement. One advantage of doing something to this area for a large meeting room or courtroom space is that no other operations will have to be moved. Option 1 - Configured like Superior Court with a flat floor and raised bench, and bulletproof glass on the windows, but no room for a jury. The estimated costs for this option (including staff time, construction, and fumiture) is $196,900. Option 2 - Raised platform, but not as formal as a courtroom space. Cost estimate is $144,800. Option 3 - Minimum intervention to make it useful as a meeting space. Cost estimate $69,700. None of the options address the Custodian office spaces that are currently in this area. Page 4 CommisSioners Meeting Minutes: Week of November 15, 1999 Commissioner Wojt asked if a new Law and Justice Building would be needed if this area was converted to a Courtroom? Frank Gifford answered that the Law and Justice Building is a long term goal. He also noted that he doesn't know where the funding will come from for these options. He recommended that the Department look at an additional option between B and C. They could then look at the costs again and review the proposal in more detail with the Law and Justice offices. A new proposal will then be presented to the Board. The Board then interviewed the following citizens who are interested in serving on the Jefferson County Housing Authority Board: 1:30 p.m. John Estes and 1:50 p.m. Larry Wilson HEARING re: Proposed Ordinance Amending the Fee Schedules in Ordinance No. 12-1209-96for the Health & Human Services and Animal Services Department:.Environmental Health Director Larry Fay explained that this ordinance amends the fees in Section 2 of the ordinance but does not repeal the indexing in Section 4 of the ordinance. 1-695 raised the question of whether the fees in the ordinance could be indexed for 2000. David Alvarez, Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, has reviewed this matter and advised that he feels the County can, under the provisions of this ordinance, index the fees for the year 2000 without a public hearing. Environmental Health Director Larry Fay then pointed out the errors in the Leader and the correct fee: Item On Site Sewage Disposal New Conventional New Alternative New Community or >1000 GPD New Commercial > 1000 GPD Conventional Altemative public notice published in the Fee Published Correct Fee Other Correction $ 50.00 $250.00 Annual fee 300.00 300.00 Annual fee 250.00 250.00 Plus $42.00 per connection Annual fee 300.00 300.00 Annual fee 325.00 325.00 Annual fee The other errors were fees advertised as 3 year fees which are annual fees (see above list.) Commissioner Huntingford asked why there is a renewal fee? Larry Fay explained that originally the Department proposed a 3 year fee and no renewal fee. This new proposal is for an annual fee. Commissioner Huntingford opened the hearing for public comment Director of Nursing Jean Baldwin reported that the Environmental Health fees are lower in Jefferson County than in any adjacent counties. Larry Fay noted that the Animal Services fees include 2 year licenses for dogs and cats. This will cause a cyclical revenue stream for a number of years. Page 5 l ''93 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of Novemberl 5, 1999 Hearing no further public comments, Commissioner Huntingford closed the public hearing. Commissioner Huntingford stated that he would like to see the renewal fee eliminated. Commissioner Wojt asked if the other fees are indexed? Larry Fay reported that the Food Service Fees are not indexed, but they do cover the direct costs of the service provided. Some of the other fees, such as Solid Waste permits were not adjusted much because there are only 6 of these permits issued each year. He did not adjust the Pool and Spa fees or the Subdivision fees by very much. Commissioner Wojt asked about the Nursing Fees? Jean Baldwin explained that all of the Nursing Fees are on a sliding scale for people who cannot afford to pay the full fee or who are eligible for DSHS or medicaid reimbursement. If the Board passes this proposed fee schedule, these fees will replace the indexed fees for the year 2000. Commissioner Wojt asked Commissioner Huntingford if he agrees with the fee for a septic system being increased and being a one year fee? Commissioner Huntingford stated that he agrees with the fee increase, he doesn't feel that the permit holder should be charged a renewal fee for each of the next 2 years the permit is valid. There is an issue about how permits issued in prior years would be handled if the renewal fee is not charged. Larry Fay suggested that the permits issued in 1997, 1998 and 1999 be charged an annual renewal fee for the remaining years of the original permit. Commissioner Hunting- ford suggested that wording be added to the renewal to say "for permits issued prior to December 31, 1999." Commissioner Wojt moved to approved ORDINANCE NO. 11-1115-99 amending the fee schedule in Ordinance 12-1209-96 with the addition of the language suggested by Commissioner Huntingford on the renewal fee. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the motion which carried. The Board then attended a workshop on the 2000 budget. JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS (Excused Absence) Page 6 vol_ 1S04