HomeMy WebLinkAboutM070802District No. 1 Commissioner: Dan Titterness
District No. 2 Commissioner: Glen Huntingford
District No. 3 Commissioner: Richard Wojt
County Administrator: David Goldsmith
Deputy County Administrator: Gary Rowe
Clerk of the Board: Lorna Delaney
MINUTES
Chairman Richard Wojt called the meeting to order. Commissioners Glen Huntingford and
Dan Titterness were both present.
Approval of Minutes: Commissioner Huntingford moved to approve the minutes of June 17,
2002 as presented. Commissioner Titterness seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR BRIEFING SESSION: Gary Rowe, Deputy County
Administrator reviewed the 2003 Revenue and Expense Forecast, the General Fund Budget Plan for 2003,
and the 2003 budget goals and objectives with the Board. He noted the following:
* Sales Tax revenue growth has been declining so the budget projection for 2003 has been
lowered by 4%.
* The Building Permit revenues have begun to increase over the 2001 levels as a result of the
fee increases adopted in March.
* There has been a significant decrease in revenue from interest earnings since 2001. No
increase is expected in the future and, as a result, $200,000 has been taken out of the revenue
projection for interest earnings.
* There is a $2.5 million budget reserve because the authorized budget has not been fully spent
each year. The goal has been to keep a $1.2 million reserve.
* Total revenue for 2003 is forecast to be $11.5 million.
* The original 2002 budget for expenditures was $12,178,000 which was revised after budget
cutting to $11,351,000. With the additions and adjustments required for salaries and benefits
in 2002, the forecast is $11,473,000. This figure does not include a cost of living adjustment
for employees other than those required by Union contracts.
* The 2003 General Fund budget plan divides County services into the primary functional areas
of General Government, Law and Justice, and Public Services.
* The budget goals and objectives would take the Public Service Departments (Health and
Human Services, Natural Resources, Public Works, Central Services) out of the General Fund
which will allow less reliance on the General Fund shared resources.
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of July 8, 2002
* The negotiations with the City of Port Townsend on the Regional Service Contract will
include Cooperative Extension, Emergency Management, and Parks & Recreation services.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following comments were made: A question was asked
about the County leasing property from the State for the Larry Scott Trail? (Chairman Wait advised that the
section of the trail that runs along Highway 20 under the bridge is leased from the State. Commissioner
Titterness added that more property had to be leased from the State for the bicycle path;) the County's
survey in that area of the trail doesn't make sense; and there is an $100,000 surplus in the revenue forecasts
which could be used to restore the salary reductions that were made this year (Gary Rowe explained that any
position that had a salary cut for the last half of 2002 will have the full salary reinstated in the 2003
budget, but there is no COLA planned for any positions, other than those built into Union contracts.) A1
Scalfthen reviewed information about his meeting last week with the State Department of Natural Resources
on the Fred Hill Materials Shine Pit proposal.
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Titterness
moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the motion which
carried by a unanimous vote.
1. RESOLUTION NO. 41-02 re: Updating the Official County Road Log: Frayn Street, Meg's Way,
and Pete's Spur
2. AGREEMENT re: Waste Management Facility Fence Project Phase II, Project No. 1583; Jefferson
County Public Works; Viking Fence Company
3. AGREEMENT re: Propane Disposal Service; Jefferson County Public Works; Sunshine Propane
4. AGREEMENT Amendment #1 re: Lease a Portion of the Larry Scott Memorial Trail Adjoining
SR20 (Olympic Discovery Trail); Jefferson County Public Works; Washington State Department of
Transportation
5. AGREEMENT #2002-0185-000 re: Grant Funding for Acquisition of Chimacum Creek Beach Park,
Project No. SP 1429; Jefferson County Public Works; National Fish & Wildlife Foundation
6. AGREEMENT #00-1488A re: Grant Funding for Acquisition of Chimacum Creek Beach Park,
Project No. SP 1429; Jefferson County Public Works; Washington State Interagency Committee on
Outdoor Recreation (lAC)
7. AGREEMENT Amendment #1 re: 90 Day Extension to Update the Jefferson County Personnel
Policy & Development of an Employee Handbook; Jefferson County Administrator; Cailin O'Reilly,
O'Reilly Enterprises, Ltd.
8. AGREEMENT re: Educational and Therapeutic Services Birth to Three Programs; Jefferson County
Health and Human Services; Holly Ridge
9. AGREEMENT Interlocal, Amendment #2 re: Aids Omnibus Services; Jefferson County Health
and Human Services; Southwestern Washington Health District
10. AGREEMENT Interlocal, re: Assessment Services; Jefferson County Health and Human Services;
Clallam County Health and Human Services
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of
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12.
13.
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July 8, 2002
AGREEMENT re: South County Services Birth to Three Programs; Jefferson County Health and
Human Services; Concerned Citizens
Approval of Concurrence and Authorization to Proceed with Real Property Acquisition of the
Chimacum Creek Beach Park Acquisition, Project No. SP 1429; Jefferson County Public Works
Request to Hear Property Tax Appeals for the Year 2002; Jefferson County Board of Equalization
Washington State Hazard Mitigation 20/20 Software Request; Jefferson County Emergency
Management
HEARING re: Proposed Budget Appropriations and Extensions; Various County Funds:
Gary Rowe reported that the first 4 items on the proposed resolution under the Current Expense Fund all
have funding to support them from grants or they are operating transfers to move funding between different
funds in the budget. The $14,000 for Cooperative Extension is for a bill that should have been paid in the
2001 budget, but didn't get paid until 2002. That amount will be taken from reserves. The request for the
Special Funds all have reserves to cover these amounts because they have received grants that were not
anticipated when the 2002 budget was set. He suggested that the 2002 budget reductions be taken before the
Health Department appropriation is made.
Commissioner Huntingford asked if the request for funding in the Hotel/Motel Fund for the Gateway Visitor
Center is for the current building or the new building? Karen Bednarski, Auditor's Office, explained that this
appropriation is for work that the Public Works Department has done on the new facility.
The Title III (Secure Rural Schools) funding of $75,000 is for the after school education program. This
transfer won't be made to the YIPPEE Fund until a plan is submitted on how these funds will be spent, Gary
Rowe explained.
Hearing no further comment for or against these requests for budget appropriations and extensions, the Chair
closed the public hearing.
Commissioner Huntingford moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 42-02 adopting the budget
appropriations and extensions as submitted for the following departments and/or funds: Current Expense
Fund for the Noxious Weed Board, the Marine Resources Committee, WSU Cooperative Extension, and
Juvenile Services; Auditor's O&M Fund; E-911 Emergency System Fund; Grant Management Fund;
Hotel/Motel Fund; Health & Human Services Fund; Federal Forest Title III Fund; Affordable Housing Fund;
Water Pollution Control Loan Fund; and Quilcene Flood Control Fund. Commissioner Titterness seconded
the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
HEARING re: Setting Fees for the Juvenile Court Diversion Program: This proposed
ordinance is to establish a fee for the Juvenile Court Diversion Program.
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of July 8, 2002
The Chair opened the hearing for public testimony. Hearing no testimony for or against the proposed
ordinance, the Chair closed the public hearing.
Deputy County Administrator Gary Rowe asked if Section 2 of the ordinance should state that the Superior
Court Judge has the authority to waive the fee instead of the Juvenile Court Administrator? The Juvenile
Court Administrator is appointed by the Superior Court Judge and is under the Judge's supervision.
Commissioner Titterness stated that he doesn't feel this is an issue because the Judge appoints and supervises
the Juvenile Court Administrator. If the Judge has a problem with what the Administrator is doing, the Judge
needs to let the Administrator know. Commissioner Huntingford suggested that wording be added to note
that the Administrator is under the direction of the Superior Court Judge. After more discussion of the
administration of this program, Commissioner Titterness pointed out that the juvenile must qualify for this
program and the fee is only $35.00.
Commissioner Titterness moved to approve, as written, ORDINANCE NO. 05-0708-02 to authorize the
establishment of a fee for the Juvenile Court Diversion program. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the
motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
HEARING re: Proposed Ordinance for Establishing a Conservation Futures Fund
Application Process: Associate Planner Randy Kline reported that this version of the proposed ordinance has
been publically available on the Jefferson County web page. It establishes a process for accepting and
reviewing applications for Conservation Futures Funds. This tax raises about $150,000 per year and can be
used for protection of open space and habitat. The ordinance establishes a 9 member citizen oversight
committee composed of 2 representatives from each Commissioner District and individuals representing
several different interest groups (forests, land trusts, parks, etc) The wording in the ordinance can be changed
from testimony received.
Chairman Wojt opened the public hearing.
Tom McNerny, Brinnon, said that he noticed that the composition of the Board members are by
Commissioner Districts and interest groups. He asked why the Jefferson Land Trust is an organization listed
in this ordinance when it isn't a public (quasi-governmental) organization?
Commissioner Titterness explained that the ordinance says that membership can include representatives of an
incorporated land trust or similar non-profit organization. Natural Resource Manager David Christensen
advised that this wording is consistent with the RCW.
Sarah Spaeth, member of the Conservation Futures Advisory Board and the Land Trust, commended the
Board for putting forward the Advisory Board's recommendation. This should be a good program. There
will be ongoing review of how the process works.
Hearing no further testimony for or against the proposed ordinance, the Chair closed the public hearing.
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of July 8, 2002
Commissioner Titterness pointed out that the Citizen Oversight Committee members serve 4 year terms, but
the wording in the proposed ordinance about staggering the appointments so that all of the members don't
come up for reappointment at the same time doesn't work because there are 9 members. David Christensen
explained that the proposed language reflects the recommendation from the Citizens Advisory Committee
and when the proposal was 7 members, the wording made sense. Now that the number of members has
increased this needs to be changed. Commissioner Huntingford added that he thought the original group
would continue to serve on the first Oversight Committee to handle the first cycle of the application review
process. He doesn't have a problem with the makeup of the Board, but wants to use the original board for the
first year. After a discussion of this proposed language, Randy Kline suggested a change to Section 5, Item 3
to say that "the Board will appoint the Advisory Board as the Citizen Oversight Committee for 1 year from
today and then advertise for the new Board at the end of that year."
Gary Rowe pointed out that the Board could appoint the Advisory Board members as the Oversight
Committee when the ordinance is approved and if some of the members don't want to serve an complete term
they can resign after first round of applications have been reviewed.
Randy Kline explained that the Advisory Board had 9 members, including Commissioner Huntingford. If all
of the members of that Board except Commissioner Huntingford are appointed to the Oversight Committee,
the County will need to advertise to fill one position. Sarah Spaeth noted that the Advisory Board had talked
about having a representative on the Oversight Committee for Parks and Recreation interests.
Commissioner Titterness moved to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 06-0708-02 with a change to page 11,
paragraph 4, to say that all Oversight Committee Members' terms will be for 4 years except for 4 members
who will serve 2 year terms when the Committee is established. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the
motion.
Gary Rowe noted that the ordinance proposes a July 1 deadline for the Oversight Committee to provide a
recommendation on projects for funding to the Board. He asked if the Board wants to waive the July 1
deadline for this year to allow the process to start in 2002? He suggested that the Board extend the
application deadline for 2002 to October 1. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney David Alvarez proposed that the
wording on page 6, paragraph 3, be changed to say that the Oversight Committee submit a recommendation
to the Board by October 1, 2002 and by July 1 of all subsequent years.
Commissioner Titterness amended his motion to include the language change suggested by David Alvarez.
Commissioner Huntingford agreed to the amendment of the motion. The Chair called for a vote on the
amendment. The Board voted unanimously for the amendment.
The Chair then called for a vote on the motion as amended. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
The Board then interviewed Mark Gordon at 11:30 a.m. and Heidi Lee at 11:45 a.m. who are
both interested in serving on the Jefferson County Housing Authority.
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of July 8, 2002
Appointment re: Jefferson County Housing Authority: Commissioner Huntingford moved
to reappoint Mark Gordon to another 5 year term on the Housing Authority Board (term will expire July 7,
2007.) Commissioner Titterness seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. The Board asked
that a letter be sent to Heidi Lee thanking her for applying and urging her to re-apply when a position comes
open on this Board or to apply for open positions on other Advisory Boards.
Resignation re: Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board; Forest Shomer:
Commissioner Huntingford moved to have Chair sign the letter to Forest Shomer acknowledging his
resignation and thanking him for his service on the Weed Board. Commissioner Titterness seconded the
motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
2003 Budget Goals and Objectives: Gary Rowe continued his review of the proposed 2003
budget goals and objectives that was begun during the County Administrator's Briefing. Other information he
has developed and assembled includes: 2003 Revenue and Expense Forecast, the General Fund Budget Plan
for 2003, and the General Fund Allocation of Resources for the 2003 Budget.
Commissioner Huntingford referenced the first page of the proposed resolution and asked if the increase in
costs due to inflation affects salary and operating expenses? Gary Rowe answered that is correct. He
pointed out that the "Whereas" statements in the resolution list the issues. The Board determines the policies
to limit contract negotiations. Commissioner Titterness added that the Board has discussed trying to limit the
increase in costs so they don't exceed the increases in revenues. Gary Rowe noted that wages are one
increase, but other costs increase also such as the increase in postage. These increases in costs are
considered inflation. Gary Rowe continued with his review of specific goals and objectives:
Fiscal Budget Objectives (See Page 3)
Items 7 and 8 - Growth in General Fund (Road Fund) property taxes shall not exceed 1%.
Item 9 - Consideration will be given to use of "banked capacity" tax for one-time expenses
that are for a specific duration. Chairman Wojt advised that even though the goal is not to
use the banked capacity, it may be needed as a transition strategy. These Goals and
Objectives, Gary Rowe pointed out, are only a starting point for the development of next
years budget.
Item 10 - Departments shall prepare budgets which will yield the best results for the revenue
available. This is a change from the way budgets have been prepared in previous years
because it is not constraining Departments by what they spent last year. They are being asked
to build their budgets on resources available.
Item 12 - Where programs are dependent on the continued availability of grant support,
departments need to indicate the sustainability of the grant source and the implications of
the grant funds being reduced or eliminated. Departments are to look at grant support and if
it is sustainable.
Item 13 - Encourages departments other than the Law and Justice block to collaborate in
budget preparation for best results.
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of July 8, 2002
Item 14 - Requires that a minimum reserve of 10% shall be maintained for all operating funds.
There is currently 2 1/2 times that amount of reserves. The PILT funds came in higher than
expected, expenditures are less than originally projected, and revenue from DNR timber sales
is higher than projected.
Item 15 - Any revenue in excess of reserves shall be held for one time special purpose needs
to fulfill the strategic objectives of the County.
Items 17, 18 and 19 - deal with a realignment to keep the General Fund focused on primary
objectives of Law and Justice and general government. Other items are earmarked to be put
into separate budgets.
Item 20 - Parks and Recreation shall be funded on a short term basis with a goal of shifting it
to a Park and Recreation District for long term funding. He recommends that the funding in
2003 for Parks and Recreation be with the idea that the services will be moved to a District
budget at the most appropriate time to put the issue on the ballot.
Items 20-25 - Strategic Budget Objectives: The Management Team has consolidated and
narrowed the focus of the Strategic Plan this year. A staff position to coordinate economic
development is recommended. Chairman Wojt asked what a person in this position do? Gary
Rowe answered that they would work for the County Administrator on policies dealing with
economic development; with the Economic Development Council of Jefferson County on
issues regarding the permit process for a business that wants to locate here or expand; and
with that business to help them through the process.
Items 27 to 29 - Efficiency and Effectiveness Objectives.
Commissioner Huntingford said that he doesn't see any objectives about unfunded mandates or level of
service by departments. Gary Rowe advised that in addition to looking at unfunded mandates, there is a need
to review the mandate for a program and the scope of program that is required to meet the mandate.
Commissioner Huntingford asked that this be addressed in the goals and objectives since the Board is going
to be looking at programs and level of service for next year.
Commissioner Titterness noted that the Board has asked that records be kept on mandated versus non-
mandated services so that information is available if the counties choose to do something about mandates on
the statewide level. The Board needs to pursue a legislative solution for these costs. Commissioner
Titterness asked that Gary Rowe insert another objective under the Fiscal Budget Objectives (new item 16 a
or 17.)
Commissioner Titterness moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 43-02 establishing budget goals and
objectives for 2003 with an additional goal to address unfunded mandates and pursuing legislative action to
address them. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
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Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of July 8, 2002
Gary Rowe then reviewed the 2003 budget plan and allocation of resources to 3 major functional areas
(General Government, Law and Justice, and Public Services.) He reviewed 3 scenarios and explained that
this is a budget tool for the Board to determine the amount they feel is appropriate for each functional area.
He further explained that property taxes are considered a shared resource, but part of the sales tax is
specifically for Law and Justice and is considered a program resource. Program resources are revenues
collected specifically for that functional area (i.e. District Court fines.)
Commissioner Tittemess moved to begin with Option 3 (General Government: 19.37%; Law and Justice:
41.84%; Public Services: 10.69%; Non-departmental: 14.75%; Operating Transfers: 13.34%) as the
recommended allocation. Commissioner Huntingford seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous
vote.
HEARING NOTICE re: Proposed Salt Water Intrusion Ordinance: Commissioner
Huntingford moved to set a public heating on the proposed ordinance establishing regulations for salt water
intrusion on July 22, 2002 at 2 p.m. Commissioner Tittemess seconded the motion which carried by a
unanimous vote.
MEETING ADJOURNED
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ATTEST: "- ............ '
Y
Dan Titterness, Member
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