HomeMy WebLinkAbout042621_ra04 JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
AGENDA REQUEST
TO: Board of County Commissioners
FROM: Philip Morley,Jefferson County Administrator
Mark McCauley, Central Services Director
DATE: April 26, 2021
RE: Update on County Operations
STATEMENT OF ISSUE: The Board will consider providing direction for potential
adjustments to county facility operations as may be appropriate given trends of the COVID-19
pandemic in Jefferson County, including case rate trends, variants, and vaccination rates.
ANALYSIS: Since March 23, 2020 during the COVID-19 pandemic, Jefferson County has
been operating under a Resolution Temporarily Limiting Access to County Buildings and
Offices. The public has been directed to use remote services, with limited in-person services by
appointment. However, starting March 22 of our current year, all of Washington State, including
Jefferson County, entered Tier 3 of Governor Inslee's Healthy Washington—Roadmap To
Recovery, which allows up to 50% occupancy for Professional Services. Jefferson County
continues to be in Phase 3. With local businesses and restaurants opening up more, and with
Jefferson County leading other counties in vaccination efforts, the County began considering
whether it was time to consider relaxing some of the restrictions on public access.
At the same time, much of the nation and Washington State have been dealing with a fourth
wave of COVID cases, driven in part by more transmissible variants of the coronavirus.
Jefferson County has seen an increase in cases, and our rate per 100,000 population for the most
recent two-week period had risen to 72, and the positive test rate had climbed to 3.16% of tests.
County operations were discussed with independent elected officials and department directors on
April 9, and again on April 23.
What emerged is a desire to add walk-in services starting June 1 at the Courthouse, Castle Hill
offices (Public Health, DCD and Public Works) and possibly the Sheriffs Office lobby, subject
to strict capacity screening. The County would continue to encourage the public to use remote
services to reduce in-office traffic and exposures. Between now and June 1, the County would
monitor COVID trends, and could postpone the June 1 start date, if trends made that advisable.
1 of 2
Targeting June 1, rather than sooner, as the date for implementing a change is advisable for
several reasons in addition to allowing more time to monitor trends:
• It gives time to give advanced notice to the public about the change in operations;
• Allows Public Health and DCD to operate in step with the rest of the County (they were
not prepared to open sooner);
• Allows Central Services Facilities time to work with each facility to adopt a
comprehensive COVID-19 exposure control, mitigation, and recovery plan and designate
a site-specific COVID-19 monitor at each location to monitor the health of individuals
and enforce the COVID-19 job site safety plan, as required by the State; and
• For the Courthouse, allows Central Services Facilities more time to coordinate with the
Sheriff's Civil Division and with our security contractor for handling increased traffic.
To implement operational changes on June 1, staff would also prepare a Resolution, for adoption
by the Board beforehand, amending Resolution No. 20-20 which established the temporary
access limits to County buildings and offices.
FISCAL IMPACT: None identified as of this date, but minor facility costs might be incurred to
safely accommodate the increased traffic.
RECOMMENDATION: Staff recommends that the Board pass a Motion directing staff to take
measures to implement the addition of walk-in services effective June 1, 2021, at the
Courthouse, Castle Hill offices (Public Health, DCD and Public Works) and possibly the
Sheriff's Office lobby, subject to strict capacity screening, and in compliance with all State
requirements, while recognizing that the June 1 date may be postponed if COVID-19 trends
made that advisable.
REV B :
eV
Philip Morle untyy Admi rator Date
2 of 2