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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM081103 ~~/~o~~ ~/~SON à""., t2~ ST/~«; °6\ ~~t:¡ \, ~~ I-) .._~ ~, .... \~ ~/J "~~l:!lNº-!:~/ District No. 1 Commissioner: Dan Titterness District No.2 Commissioner: Glen Huntingford District No.3 Commissioner: Judi Mackey County Administrator: David Goldsmith Clerk of the Board: Lorna Delaney MINUTES Week of August 11, 2003 Chairman Dan Titterness called the meeting to order at the appointed time. Commissioner Glen Huntingford and Commissioner Judi Mackey were both present. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Huntingford moved to approve the minutes of the August 4, 2003 meeting as presented. Commissioner Mackey seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Letter of Recognition for W ally Westergaard, Fire District #1: Wally Westergaard recently retired from his position as Commissioner for Fire District #1. He has been actively involved in the fire district for 46 years. Commissioner Huntingford read a letter thanking Mr. Westergaard for his dedication to the community and moved to have the Board sign it. Commissioner Mackey seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Discussion re: Various Boards and Committee Assignments: Commissioner Mackey agreed to represent the Board on the advisory boards and committees that were assigned to Commissioner Wrinkle at the beginning of the year. This includes the Developmental Disabilities Board, the Hood Canal Coordinating Council, the Law & Justice Council, the North Olympic RC & D, and the Substance Abuse Advisory Board. COUNTY ADMINISTRA TOR BRIEFING SESSION: The following items were discussed: Mary McQuillen, Makah Tribe, thanked the Board for supporting the Tribal Canoe Journey and presented them with a 2004 calendar with photographs of the 2002 canoe journey. She explained that this has become a traditional journey that the County continues to support. This year 33 canoes stopped overnight in Port Townsend and the Tribes set up their tents at Memorial Field. Page 1 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of August 11, 2003 "~''':'''''' ~~-~,~~ f.\/¡/!'."," · David Goldsmith explained that some of the Secure Rural Schools Title III funding has been directed to the Firewatch Program to educate the public about the current fire danger. A reader board about the fire danger has been set up at the Hood Canal Bridge, the signs regarding fire danger that are being made will also be put on fire vehicles, and door hangers have been ordered that will be distributed by the fire districts with information for homeowners about reducing fire risk. · The State of the County newsletter/survey results were available at the County Fair booth and included a press release that was sent to the newspapers. · Two years ago, an RFP was advertised for indigent defense services. On the whole, the Courts are satisfied with the current contractors who will be retained at a 2% increase for 2004. There are no rules for advertising these services, but the County will probably go out for an RFP in 2005. · He met with representatives from the State DSHS, Drug and Alcohol Division, the Courts, and the Health Department last week to discuss State Drug Court funding. The County receives $65,000 for the biennium to provide drug and alcohol treatment for offenders that don't qualify for other public funding, and for inpatient beds. The Courts were concerned about the 10% that the Health Department is allowed to take for administering the funds. The Health & Human Services Department agreed to defer the administrative costs ofthe grant. · Work on the implementation ofthe Enforcement Policy is moving forward. DCD, Public Works, and Environmental Health met to address several issues, including integration of the tracking system. The Code Enforcement Officer position is currently being advertised and when the position is filled, the employees working with the new policy will be trained. · Several weeks ago, the Board received a letter from a property owner adjacent to Hicks Park regarding possible encroachment on his property. In reviewing the complaint, it was found that the County park and the private property are located in different sections and the section line runs diagonally across the private property to the waterfront. A letter was sent to the property owner explaining the County's position. · The Skookum recycling contract is currently being negotiated and will be available within a few weeks. Green glass and plastics were included in the Skookum bid. There is a site that will take these commodities, but they have no monetary value, and the cost of hauling is an issue. · There is a 4 county (Clallam, Mason, Grays Harbor and Jefferson) CDBG grant regarding economic development that is currently administered by Grays Harbor County. They have asked if Jefferson County will take over administration by becoming the grant recipient and subcontracting with the agency responsible for the work. He is not opposed to administering the grant if the 10% administration costs can be charged. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following comments were made: the signs to alert residents and motorists ofthe current fire danger are almost ready to be put up around the County; Firewise.org, the DNR web site, encourages homeowners to have a 50 foot "safe zone" around their houses that is free of debris and combustible items; a suggestion was made to put informational videos dealing with current County issues in local libraries; at a meeting of fire chiefs, there was a discussion about creating a Page 2 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of August 11, 2003 ~.~"""." =~..~~7 ~. ,~ .~ Youth Fire Corp to help Seniors clear away brush and debris near their homes and implementing Firewise education; a fatal accident this weekend south of Brinn on closed Highway 101 for several hours and an alternate route for emergency access on Forest Service roads in the area is something that the County may want to consider; and the Hood Canal Coalition is continuing to grow with over 2,000 members. APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Huntingford moved to approve all of the items on the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Mackey seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. 1. RESOLUTION NO. 46-03 re: Updating the Official County Road Log To Add Parkridge Drive, Woodland Drive Extension, Mountain Vista, Quail Ridge Court and Blue Horizon Court All located in the Woodland Hills 2 Long Plat 2. HEARING NOTICE re: Adoption of an Updated Population Forecast and Allocation for Jefferson County; Hearing Scheduled for Monday, August 25, 2003 at 11 :00 a.m. in the Commissioners' Chambers 3. AGREEMENT re: Peninsula Healthy Youth Project to Reduce Underage Drinking; Jefferson County Sheriff's Office; Washington State Department of Social and Health Services, Division of Alcohol and Substance Abuse 4. Accept Resignation of Person Serving on the Jefferson County Marine Resource Committee, Environmental/Conservation Representative; Rex Rice 5. Reappoint Person to Serve another Four (4) Year Term on the Jefferson County Marine Resource Committee, Representing District #1; Judi D' Amore; Term Expires 8/16/07 Providing a Positive Cash Balance for the Natural Resources Fund: David Goldsmith explained that the Natural Resources Department receives funding from several sources that are billed quarterly. He and the Treasurer recommend that the Board approve a resolution authorizing the transfer of $20,000 from the General Fund into the Natural Resources Fund as a restricted fund balance. Any expenses that are paid from the restricted fund balance will be covered by revenues scheduled to be received by the end of2003. Commissioner Huntingford moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 47-03 to provide a positive cash balance for the Natural Resources Fund. Commissioner Mackey seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Page 3 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of August 11, 2003 ~.'."'''',..,., ":.<".,) \/!t.....,\ Discussion re: Results of Economic Assessment; Dr. Paul Sommers: Dr. Paul Sommers, University of Washington, explained that there were several components to the economic assessment study. A number Of business owners in different sectors of the economy were interviewed, a survey was sent out to a random sample of businesses of various sizes, data from the census and the Employment Securities Department was reviewed, and they interviewed business owners and groups throughout the County. They found that: · 60% of established businesses want to expand · Most business owners have at least 17 years of experience · 50% have 1-3 employees · 60% provide health care insurance There are not a lot oflarge firms in the County. Small businesses and entrepreneurs are the backbone of the economy. People locate businesses in Jefferson County because of the quality oflife and the slower pace. The cultural scene also attracts people to Port Townsend. Many of the barriers to doing business are similar to those that most small business owners in rural areas of Washington State would list. They include: · high business costs · land use issues · workforce development · lack of infrastructure · access to markets · available capital On reviewing the available data about the business base and the population, Dr. Sommers found that, on average, people in the County are well educated, with most people completing high school and many people completing college. There is more of a problem with high school dropouts in south County, although this has improved over the past few years. He added that the key to an improved future workforce and a better economy is getting people through high school and trained in a skill. There are several components, or clusters, of businesses in the County which include manufacturing, such as the paper mill and artisan manufacturing and tourism. One of the clusters that is currently working toward a more united front is the marine trades industry. The marine trades in Jefferson, Kitsap and Clallam County have applied for a State grant to develop a pilot project and work together to strengthen the industry. Dr. Sommers listed the following recommendations to improve the County's economy: · Forming working groups of industry clusters, such as marine trades and tourism, to work with the EDC. The County, City, Port, PUD, EDC, and community organizations are all working on projects to improve the economy. More collaboration and integration between these agencies and organizations is important. . Page 4 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of August 11, 2003 (IJ""~"'"'>~ ~'~- 'f\,!,~,.\,' · Supporting education and training programs that will produce a workforce with higher skills. · Developing an entrepreneurship support organization, continuing education programs, and increasing efforts to bring in capital to support expansion plans. · Developing a special set of programs for young entrepreneurs, especially in the south County. · Having the EDC focus their recruitment program to strengthen existing clusters. New light industrial businesses can provide a living wage. · It is important to develop a series of benchmarks to measure progress. These include: tracking increases in wages and personal income, and if new firms are being formed and surviving. Dr. Sommers pointed out that regulations for small businesses are always an issue, no matter where a business wants to locate. If the County can streamline the process that allows businesses to set up and expand, more businesses will be attracted to the area. Most ofthe people that don't complete high school move away to bigger cities where more jobs are available and there are more options for continuing education. Ifthe County expands higher education opportunities, the ability to retain young people goes up. There is also an opportunity to encourage people beginning families to move to Jefferson County if the job opportunities are available. It was noted that there has been an increase in 25 to 35 year olds moving into the community. When restrictions were placed on logging, the living wage from the industry were gone. This had a notable affect on the economy, especially in the south County, and it has still not recovered. GMA added more restrictions to land use out in the County away from Port Townsend, especially on industrial and commercial land. Dr. Sommers suggested that the plans for expanding the industrial area at the airport would help. Commissioner Huntingford noted that the County is putting together a plan to address how the City, the Port, the PUD and the County can work together to get infrastructure in the ground in the areas that are zoned for industrial and business. This is a major issue in south County. Katherine Baril, Extension Agent, stated that recently the third Economic Summit in Jefferson County was held. As a result, a small group of people are looking at the issue of joint venture capital and this has been advertised in the Seattle papers. They are also connecting with the Washington Technology Center for software development funding for home based industries in the County. The Jefferson County Education Foundation focuses primarily on higher education and incubators for small businesses that are getting started. They will be looking at a community foundation or a community credit card that puts money back into the community. There is a Gates grant pending in south County that looks at the role of youth entrepreneurship and the use of technology to solve community problems. An entrepreneurship group meets regularly at Cooperative Extension/WSU that is interested in pursuing an entrpreneurial network and mentoring. There is also a group of residents that are interested in increasing organic agriculture and food production in the County. Chairman Titterness noted that the results ofthe economic assessment will be incorporated into the County's updated strategic plan. Page 5 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of August 11,2003 ~'~~<""\ '.' """~""'" ,. . .~, .I/fr!>.'·\ The Board met in EXECUTIVE SESSION from 11 :00 a.m to noon with the Deputy Prosecuting Attorney, County Administrator, Community Development Director, and Associate Planners regarding potential litigation. The Board recessed at the close of business on Monday and reconvened on Tuesday morning with all 3 Commissioners present. Letter to A. Taylor re: Fred Hill Materials: Chairman Titterness presented a letter regarding clarification of the mineral overlay designation for Fred Hill Materials in Shine. Commissioner Huntingford moved to have the Chair sign the letter. Commissioner Mackey seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. The Board met in EXECUTIVE SESSION from 11 :00 a.m to 11 :20 a.m. with the County Administrator regarding personnel. All 3 Commissioners were present. MEETING ADJOURNED JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS SEAtir 'ý ""'" ,<~" \.;\, ,-<' ," ......, . '," . //,.:.,... . \ ~ . ", #> _i // '-> "...., -'..... ¡~ t::). . I 1,:0- J, .... . r",,<" .... ~"~: :~. ; ¿ 1,:' i·. n .\\1 .., f,~ , ¡. t. \. ....,. . , .. , \" I· .. I ,', "'... ~ I'f ,\' f.. .. , .. .",. _....... I. .. " . .. (" 't,......~_,. . ...--.....J ~",<, . ....... A TtEgT~ 'I \, ).\ Ç/il'tZ 7fá#~) ~-~ ~rnaDelaney, CMC i/ U Clerk of the Board ~tingfor .. \rv")~ Ju i Mackey, Member 0 Page 6