HomeMy WebLinkAboutclosed_caption09:00:12 do go ahead and turn on me capture.
09:00:17 You're muted.
09:00:21 Because he needed a song.
09:00:28 Waiting for Greg to join us.
09:00:33 How's your Zune screens looking on my public the zoom is frozen. I'm wondering
09:00:44 now at Florida health meeting I was helping Glenn, and there was issues with breathing as well so looks like I'm having some issues he had on Thursday.
09:00:59 Does anyone want to maybe capture.
09:01:03 See what I'm looking at it just frozen.
09:01:07 Yeah, my computer's not me and but I'm watching a Navy Captain continuing to do it so you can go ahead and start Okay, great, computers and then.
09:01:17 Okay, great. He's watching on a big capture, looking at going.
09:01:24 Morning. Good morning everyone.
09:01:27 Call this January 24 2022 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners to order.
09:01:37 And as to see some of you on the zoom screen here.
09:01:42 Hope everyone had a good weekend and.
09:01:47 And the thing I wanted to call out this morning as we got started was the fire the mill. I'm so thankful that it got thankful for East Jefferson Fire Rescue, and all of our
partnering fire departments for helping get that fire out quickly.
09:02:02 It could have been much worse much right very quickly so thankful for that, and could have impacted hundreds of lives and families in our community.
09:02:15 So, with that note we always start off with public comments.
09:02:22 And we like to provide the people the opportunity to give 30 minutes of public comment if there's interest, and so is anyone wanting to make public comment this morning.
09:02:35 If so, raise your hand at the bottom of the zoom screen.
09:02:41 You can also call in, there's instructions on our agenda to call in, if you need to do that.
09:02:49 Is there anybody wishing to make public comment this morning.
09:03:03 I'm seeing no hands go up.
09:03:08 Oh.
09:03:15 We'll leave public comment open until 930 so if someone does was to make public comments, please raise your hand. And we'll pause and bring you over.
09:03:26 I guess. First we'll start with written public comments, do you have Gregor k Do you have any reactions to comments we received in writing, over the last week.
09:03:38 He wanted to call out.
09:03:43 Um, it's it's always a little hard to track what is public comment and what is just normal business through the course of the week. And I don't necessarily double check that
with our correspondence, but I can't think of anything in particular to call
09:03:59 out.
09:04:02 No.
09:04:05 Okay.
09:04:07 Well, we're just going to be moving through our agenda quickly today.
09:04:16 Um,
09:04:16 no, and neither does Greg, do you want to join you for a second, no no keep asking me prompted me to start the meeting so I'll try restarting.
09:04:25 Oh, I'll move over there again the second, so you don't have anything you want to add for public comment.
09:04:32 Rap reacting to public comment you read. No, no. Okay.
09:04:35 So I guess we'll move on to consent agenda.
09:04:40 Okay.
09:04:43 So, we move back up to a beefier consent agenda this week and there were some quite large items on it.
09:04:52 Anything you want to call out from consent Kate.
09:04:57 Um, no, I am.
09:04:59 I'm a little bit curious on the recycling contracts.
09:05:19 services and recycling does not make money, it is a cost to the county that has changed over time.
09:05:25 But just want to be sure that we're incentivizing our provider to be marketing as many materials as possible.
09:05:37 So as it's written now we pay them the same regardless and then the county earns back whatever is sold this commodity.
09:05:44 And just want to make sure that we have a mechanism by which they are also incentivized to be moving as much material as possible I realized there's a lot of uncertainty and
some risk associated in that industry right now.
09:05:55 But, but it is, you know, right now I'm, I am not sure how, how they are incentivized to be selling as much as possible. So just curious I'm hoping to hear from hell on that
I don't know if anyone has any information on that process.
09:06:13 Talking about it when when when we got the, the, we did the RFP and got the two applications and this is a chain, you know, it's just smaller chains and the other qualified
applicant for the RFP, much smaller and that was kind of a substantial we jiggering
09:06:31 of how we did there still, I mean getting rid of everything except what the jobs and models basically so I think that
09:06:39 to my eye and I'm happy to get Al's perspective, too I did miss the first sweat meeting because the Board of Health conflict last week but I think that in removing those high
contamination hard to sell plastics, it's.
09:06:54 To me it's a demonstration of trying to get the best value because they're still kind of whittled it down to the plastics that do have marketable value and gotten rid of the
ones that were a lot of our contamination and lower the cost right i mean the
09:07:08 cost that we get for scooping gets is always based on kind of the contamination level of it. And we've always historically gotten a very better rate for our recyclables than
similar counties around just because of how clean it is.
09:07:25 So, yeah, worth worth checking with slack but about incentives, but I think that, to me, the RFP response speaks to it.
09:07:45 Right. And I was the commissioner on slack when we were reviewing this and we weren't we weren't talking so much about incentives, but the contract that most maintained our
ability to recycle as much as possible.
09:07:49 And not change, change everything. You know the competing proposal was very different would have been very different for everyone to get used to, and are keeping community,
and so I mean I think that they estimated that they were going to the contracts,
09:08:24 over five years.
09:08:27 Cuz I mean it's always been general fund enterprise fund supported by you know tipping fees, always right.
09:08:35 I remember what it was in the last contract cycle.
09:08:38 I don't remember what the number was but I remember feeling like this was less change than what the other proposal that we were seeing significantly less change
09:08:51 might be a good time to call out to the public that we will be only accepting number one into plastics and is that with a with a Mac jugs basically something with a neck is
that correct.
09:09:03 Yeah, yeah. So, reducing.
09:09:05 What will be accepted at our recycling spots as well as curbside patch.
09:09:13 Right, that is, again, to, because that's where the market is for plastics So Mark Did you have anything dad.
09:09:23 Um, yeah it looks like just plastic bottles and jobs are going to be recycled. So, yogurt yogurt containers and sour cream containers, I guess, will no longer be recycled.
09:09:37 That's a change.
09:09:46 Yeah reuse them instead. There's plenty of applications with yogurt and my cupboards can only hold so many of those containers. So at some point you gotta get rid of them, and
Kate on, on page two of the agreement there's a one line sentence about materials
09:09:58 marketing it says a contractor shall market materials to establish regional buyers offering competitive current commodity market pricing, but I don't see it anywhere else in
the agreement where there's an explicit incentive.
09:10:12 And so what outcomes on later, and you can pose that question.
09:10:16 Yeah, and and you know even with our well sorted recycling, we're ahead of the curve terms of having a market for a lot of our recycling but we still only end up the cycling,
I believe it's like around 55% of of what we are putting into recycling ends
09:10:34 I believe it's like around 55% of of what we are putting into recycling ends up being recycled. So, you know, it's a it's a tough market and I know a lot of thought has gone
into this and just hope that that the contractors also on the hook for trying
09:10:46 to help move as much of it to the right stream as possible.
09:10:53 Well, I just wanted to recognize the Public Works was the big player on the consent agenda again. So thank you for every all the work in our public works department I was excited
to see the extension of the Olympic Discovery Trail to Anderson like State
09:11:09 Park, again on the agenda.
09:11:14 And the roads, you know, a lot of, we spent a lot of money on roads in Jefferson County.
09:11:21 And this is we reminded me of that this Consent Agenda Item.
09:11:27 So, if there are no more comments on consent I would entertain a motion to adopt the consent agenda.
09:11:35 Adopting approve the consent agenda as presented in a second but I do have another question from Mark.
09:11:43 Mark. Do you know that it's unusual for our consolidated contract with Department of Health to be amount to be determined. Do you know the status of that.
09:11:53 No, no, that actually caters more frequent than than you would think.
09:11:59 They've done this repeatedly.
09:12:03 And, you know, prior to the adoption of appropriations. I guess they have to have to be determined in there. And this just I think gets them out of the power curve and they
can insert the dollar amounts later.
09:12:19 Okay.
09:12:19 Thank you.
09:12:21 It's been moved and seconded. Any more discussion all in favor of adopting the consent agenda today.
09:12:31 i.
09:12:35 Okay.
09:12:41 So I guess we can do some briefing. I don't see, I'm just gonna say to the public if there's anybody who would like to make comments this morning, please raise your hand. Using
the raise hand button on the bottom of the zoom screen or calling using the
09:13:04 Oh, okay we got one.
09:13:16 greats.
09:13:26 trying to reboot his computer.
09:13:26 Todd.
09:13:27 Todd put out a notice to everybody that over the weekend they were going to do updates and so make sure your computer is up and running to avoid having to reboot repeatedly
on Monday morning.
09:13:40 So
09:13:40 that's what happened.
09:13:43 I'm bringing over, Deborah Peterson the Q her up.
09:13:47 Nelson could be a zoom thing. I recently made the commissioners all co hosts and so that might be an issue. He said he was having trouble.
09:13:56 So you got you brought two people over.
09:14:02 Yeah, queued up, Deborah, Tom shares his first
09:14:05 morning Mr tears.
09:14:08 Morning commissioners.
09:14:11 So this is one of the few times that I didn't read your consent agenda in depth.
09:14:17 Usually, not all that much there and usually the contract for recycling services as a matter of pro forma just regular thing.
09:14:27 And so I was not aware that this major change in plastic recycling was included in that. And I guess I only have myself to blame for that but I do have to say that this is a
major change for the public.
09:14:42 For those of us who take the time to properly separate and very careful about choosing the right kinds of plastics and keeping our waste stream as pristine as possible.
09:14:52 So I'm really very disappointed that there wasn't more public notice given more expansion of this, and you know just explaining to people what's going on.
09:15:05 I mean, nobody goes to the solid waste advisory committee meetings.
09:15:09 Let's face it, hardly anybody ever goes to any of the committee meetings.
09:15:15 And so the opportunity for people to become aware that there's going to be this major change in their, in their behavior.
09:15:22 Let's just not there, and that's very disappointing to me, I think, I think he kind of fell down there in terms of letting people know what the government is doing.
09:15:32 I understand that, that they're good and valid reasons for doing it, but just letting people know well in advance. And you know maybe there are some opportunities for other
approaches.
09:15:43 Before making such a drastic change just disappointed in the process. And I guess we have no choice but to accept the outcome.
09:15:53 Thanks.
09:15:59 Right, Deborah.
09:16:02 Hello, Deborah Peterson Port Townsend, I raised my hand to ask a question that doesn't that is now.
09:16:11 Up until, when I was being promoted. I didn't see the opportunity to choose gallery view and I could only see the speaker. Now I can choose gallery view.
09:16:22 So, nevermind. Thank you very much.
09:16:31 There's another hand up Carolyn.
09:16:38 I see
09:16:38 two more. I'll bring over Stacey, and then Diane, what more.
09:16:59 morning Stacy, I just wanted to mention the.
09:17:04 Yeah, it's a bit.
09:17:07 Unless your panelists, you can't see everyone at once and so I don't know what changed. I guess the computer upgrades this week or whatever but do I have to stay as a panelist
to be able to see everyone.
09:17:22 I don't know.
09:17:24 We have any sense of what's going on.
09:17:27 Carolyn Carolyn so the same issue happened at the Board of Health meeting on Thursday I was trying to troubleshoot it. If I was a one time occurrence.
09:17:36 And what happens is I can control what the attendees see behind the screens, but if I, when I click gallery view for them. It doesn't work the screens are all frozen.
09:17:45 But when I click on the speaker view like whoever's talking, the spotlights them, then it seems to work so unfortunately I can't figure it out during the meeting.
09:17:55 Maybe I'll try playing around with it but for right now. The only way it works is if I just put it on speaker view so I apologize, I just don't know how to fix the right now.
09:18:04 I totally get it thank you and just know we pay attention. So, thank you.
09:18:15 And then Diane Whitmore's next.
09:18:18 Hi. Yeah, thank you for hosting this, I'm in cloud county and to the recycling point.
09:18:26 We recycle tubs. And I'm just wondering if there's some creative endeavor that is efficacious, and, and, you know, along with your protocols that we could get together as counties
on recycling those lower down items and perhaps have a more marketable
09:18:47 product together. Thank you.
09:18:54 Anybody else wanting to make a public comment today, raise your hand at the bottom of the zoom screen.
09:19:04 If there are no additional folks wanting to make public comment. We will respond to the comments we've received.
09:19:14 Great. Do you want to. Sure, yeah sorry man. I'm having issues with zoom keeps asking me to start the meeting so I'll keep trying during that Dr Mary's presentation but thanks
everyone for their comments regarding the recycling, you know to Mr Tisch we
09:19:28 I mean we have been promoting this I know that most meetings that I go to I talk about the change coming up in recycling and we have a public opening of the bits and I've been
through this multiple times, no matter how much you've communicated I think
09:19:41 it's going to bring catch people by surprise.
09:19:44 But will continue to to push it out.
09:19:49 I'm redoing a recycling video with with slack that I did before that will will help to illustrate it but it is really much simpler, if it you know, it's doesn't taper into a
lid on the top and it's not recyclable.
09:20:01 And two, diamonds from clown county I appreciate. Always the effort to get more out of our are throwing away materials. I do think we're going to have to change the way we consume,
we buy materials as well.
09:20:14 And there's interesting legislation on that coming up this year, I guess. But,
09:20:20 you know, IBM IBM styrofoam the styrofoam recycling programs, a program that is done by residents and is able to capture some of that styrofoam and get it into the recycling
stream.
09:20:33 And I think there are always opportunities for community driven efforts you know we can easily set up with, with a partner a place to collect pubs which you are still recyclable
in Jefferson County, but not for much longer.
09:20:48 So I think that those are the kinds of programs you can get together and Diane I encourage you to reach out to me and we can help find a place to collect those and everything,
how effective that will be in moving the stuff I'm not sure I think the reason
09:21:02 that cycle times is because, or aren't going to recycle times going forward is mostly because the market isn't that strong for them so love to look for solutions but I think
we're you know we are, where we've taken the bid with with just ones and twos.
09:21:34 So, onward, we can, we can look for other partnerships for those tunnels and happy.
09:21:27 Yeah and zooms a little screwed today.
09:21:32 That's it.
09:21:32 Okay, do you have anything you want to add.
09:21:34 Yeah.
09:21:36 So, just got some intel from my father who watches this meeting every week, and he said he's able to see it in gallery view so it's a little tough.
09:21:47 We're not seeing the same thing as attendees to but just want to call out make sure they know that in the upper right hand corner of the black screen is a view tab, and that
you can often choose whether you see in speaker or gallery view.
09:22:02 So just want to make sure folks know and can try that, if they have not already but it might be an issue on our end but at least one participant is seeing gallery view so give
it a try if you haven't already.
09:22:16 I'm back to the solid waste question.
09:22:18 You know this is, it's very frustrating, you know, so many of us want to be able to recycle.
09:22:26 Many more materials, then we're able to, we are going to rural area that that alone present some challenges.
09:22:34 And then, much less the larger kind of global markets that exists for recycling, that are very volatile and subject to a number of political geopolitical, an economic factors.
09:22:51 But really what what I have learned in this process is just how the industry has really pushed the responsibility to the consumer.
09:23:01 And, and two counties counties largely have a solid waste throughout, certainly in Washington State to deal with the enormous amount of plastic that is purchased consumed produced
and and the responsibility lies with small counties like ours often to
09:23:18 deal with a mountain of waste for which there is no markets.
09:23:24 And so you know we are, as we heard we're paying about $1.2 million over five years to basically subsidize the recycling program that comes at a tipping fees, and people aren't
aren't going to be happy when they pay more to dispose of garbage either.
09:23:38 And yet this is the reality we consume too much plastic period, and it's and there's not a profitable market for it. So how do we want to handle this.
09:23:50 We want to be throwing it away Do we want to be paying more subsidizing the recycling more.
09:23:55 These are real questions and.
09:23:57 For now we have decided to limit it to where there is a market which is the number one into plastics. And do you want to touch on the legislation that Commissioner brother to
mention because it is.
09:24:09 Exactly. I think how we need to be turning the structural problem on its head. The state is doing what the state of Oregon has already done and what British Columbia has done
which is proposed legislation, which would make the all packaging materials
09:24:25 the responsibility of private industry to have lifetime custody of those materials so if this bill passes and unclear whether it will but it does have pretty broad support.
09:24:37 It would require industry to be paying into a recycling system statewide where all materials from consumers would be collected and recycled.
09:24:49 And instead of us subsidizing that either with general fund taxpayer dollars or from our tipping fees at the at the transfer station industry would be paying for that and then
they would be incentivized to be producing less, less single use materials
09:25:08 or support supporting a market for recycling those so I'm really excited about that. I know are solid waste manager l Karen's is to we will be supporting this bill, and it's
a move in the right direction but we we needed to put a stake in the ground and
09:25:25 say we can't keep collecting all these materials that people want to be recyclable is aspirational recycling right people put all sorts of things in their recycling that is
not even remotely recyclable.
09:25:36 Even if there were a market for it so it's.
09:25:39 This is, it's a painful pill to swallow but I think we all have to take a look at how much plastic we are buying and using thinking that it's recyclable and that that's an answer,
but it really isn't.
09:25:51 So, that's my soapbox number one for the morning I guess I'll just pile on to that and say that as a member of slack last year in advance of considering the responsive requests
we got to the recycling contract, we heard from, Lauren Tucker about her work
09:26:09 looking at what was ending up in our recycling bins around the county. And it's astonishing what ends up in the recycling bins and how much of it ends up having to be put in
garbage, because of contamination, so I'm actually relieved that we can still
09:26:29 recycle some of our plastic based on the contamination we found in our recycling waste stream. And we'll look for ways to improve that types of plastics, we can recycle in the
future.
09:26:44 In the meantime, My husband's making art with some of it.
09:26:46 So, anyway, I appreciate the comments and know that we all deeply care about the state of our recycling and the county and we're thankful that we can continue working with scoop
them to recycle as much as possible but some things are just ending up in
09:27:04 the trash even things that we were recycling.
09:27:08 Before, there was no market for them so they would end up being disposed of after everyone put the time into putting them in the right Ben's if if that happened.
09:27:19 Okay, it's 927. I'm gonna do one last call out. And are there any last hands that want to go up for public comment.
09:27:31 Seeing then I'll close public comments.
09:27:35 And we have about 15 minutes and tell Dr. Barry joins us so do we want to do a little bit of looking back at our calendars last week and reporting out to each other.
09:27:50 Hi, Heidi.
09:27:51 After Mr Tisch made his comment. I asked our parents when they made that public presentation on recycle, and there was a PowerPoint and a discussion with the board.
09:28:06 On May, May 24 of last year.
09:28:08 We're all of this information was was put out there for the public.
09:28:14 Yeah.
09:28:21 Okay.
09:28:21 I could, I could get started on a look back at last week.
09:28:25 Just that may be worth announcing to that.
09:28:28 Congressman Kilmer is going to be joining us immediately following Dr. Barry, so if folks are interested in getting an update from Congress.
09:28:36 That will also be aired on QPTZ from 1030 to 11 today.
09:28:42 Just want to put out a shout out for folks to not disconnected soon as we wrap up with Dr. Barry, so it'll be a good presentation.
09:28:48 Hey, happy to do look back at last week relatively short week because we had, um, Monday was the Martin Luther King Jr holiday Tuesday we were in public session here with all
of you rest of the week, quite a bit of work with the legislative session.
09:29:06 Wednesday I did testify in favor of the marine Loomis bill, which is very controversial the hearing had to be extended and that is going to be a really massive piece of legislation
and still a lot of kinks to work out and I certainly testified with concerns
09:29:24 for the implemented ability for counties. And so, the sponsor and the governor's office are expressing a lot of interest in making it a workable bill, so we'll see us that continues
to move through the process.
09:29:42 Hopefully,
09:29:44 there's some sense that it might not get through this session because it is just so big and too many large issues still to work out in a short session but can expect to hear
more on that in policy management group we largely talked about the policies
09:30:01 which we will be discussing later today changes to our public employee policies so I will save that discussion for later.
09:30:14 Had a Hood Canal coordinating council meeting and
09:30:20 few things to call out there. One is the duck a bush estuary across the projects the highway one on one rebuilding of one on one, moving, building a large span.
09:30:34 That has not appeared in anybody's budgets, it is seems to be a little bit of a stepchild, and some of the original work for that was funded, but it is.
09:30:46 It's strange because it's such a highly ranked project in many ways, but I think because it's a hybrid of salmon project and the road project that it does not seem to be getting
a lot of traction.
09:30:58 It was not in the governor's budget, which was a massive salmon recovery package. Also, and it was not in the Army Corps budget.
09:31:08 So, that is, we have some kind of status update to be getting there.
09:31:15 We did get a update from the governor's seven recovery office and.
09:31:23 One thing to note there. There is about a billion dollars in infrastructure package the federal infrastructure package for covert replacement and Washington is positioned for
much of that funding the way it was written it lends itself to a lot of that
09:31:40 expenditure being here so we can anticipate more covert replacements.
09:31:46 Um, let's see.
09:31:49 Sam and stuff last week, apparently.
09:31:53 Um, let's see how it works some more on this electrician apprenticeship training.
09:31:59 Bill and, you know, while that is specific to the journey level of electrician apprenticeship training I think what we're finding is more and more that alumni really needs to
hear from rural regions that there are just a real lack of training for the
09:32:16 trades in rural areas like ours and then expecting the workforce to travel, many many hours a day on top of working full time in order to get their required classroom hours
and qualifications, is just not realistic so I'm making some progress but it's
09:32:35 it's interesting the organized labor is pretty feels pretty strongly that they want their training programs to be you know the the ones prioritized by the states and just very
little effort has been put into creating other training programs, whereas,
09:32:52 you know, community colleges could be running these programs and they're not so think this is really a long term workforce development issue, glad we're working on it, all we're
asking for really at this point is to delay implementation of the electrician
09:33:07 bill which would no longer allow trainees to be trained as they have in this region by our electricians for who knows for forever. and they've been trained, that way forever.
09:33:21 They've been trained, that way forever. And instead, they will be required to go, exclusively to states apprenticeship program of which they are far away, and do not work with
our local workforce.
09:33:33 So, that is supposed to go into effect next year and we've asked for an extension to have two more years to be able to work with our community colleges to develop an alternative
pathway.
09:33:42 So fingers crossed. We'll see it's quite a bit of work and kind of long, slow slog had a meeting with our new Workforce Development Director, so that was run out of kids have
county they.
09:34:01 Jefferson and column. There is a new director there.
09:34:04 He used to run workforce for the state of Colorado so he's used to large programs and welcome him to the fold and hope that we can. We're only trying to get more of those dollars
into Jefferson County, a lot of the workforce dollars end up staying and
09:34:23 kit SAP and so have to continue to be a squeaky wheel to move those funds to Jefferson and cloud them.
09:34:31 But, feeling optimistic there.
09:34:35 And we had a meeting with the hospital and monthly meeting. Talk advocacy so kind of found out what their legislative priorities are for the session and talk some more about
funding and childcare, don't think anything, especially important to report their
09:35:02 Um, but it helped me to meeting, we were all present for
09:35:07 there's anything we need to report from Board of Health to let you guys think about that.
09:35:18 And, see, Friday, Greg and I did the Chamber of Commerce state of the county address, I was not able to stay for wisdom brother tins portion. So I do want to go back and listen
to it, but we've gotten some good feedback from that, and always glad to have
09:35:33 the opportunity to geek out about county governments and surprise people in the ways that county government works that they have no idea happening here in the courthouse, then
moved into our county coded coordination meeting, and together we so iterative
09:35:52 process. Wednesday Policy Management we talked about the, The employee policy.
09:35:59 Then next iteration went to the coordination meeting on Friday and made some additional revisions, then that will come to you later today.
09:36:15 Then when rolled right into legislative steering committee for the Association of Counties, and later today I'll do a legislative update.
09:36:22 But that's a fast and furious session I think everybody thought it might be a little quieter session being the second year of the biennium but sure enough, lots of bold legislation
is coming forward.
09:36:35 So, report on that later.
09:36:39 That's all.
09:36:41 Thanks Kate.
09:36:43 Lots of interesting stuff, get into that duck abortion what the rationale is I mean, that was like held up is like the ideal project for years, it seems like so yeah curious
to see what kind of limbo that's in my last week, do sir I'm reading carry on
09:37:02 this chat. I think that's a good idea to promote the panelists. Jeff be OCC the panelists.
09:37:10 Tuesday as we did our session.
09:37:13 After observing Martin Luther King, Jamie. King jr. Day on Monday. I also was able to sneak off lunch for the harm reduction meeting in South County, continue to be the those
conversations are often driven by a transportation issues, you know the MMS
09:37:46 a real burden of transporting folks out of the county, as we know, transportation between healthcare systems is something we're more cognizant of now and it's it's it's really
at the breaking point.
09:37:43 So there's some interesting alternatives there's maybe a private company that's starting to offer non emergency transportation services like in a Sprinter van rather than an
ambulance with with, you know, paramedic 3pm at the MTS on board.
09:37:59 So, you know, continue to have those conversations, and then also was able to will see empowered teens coalition, on Monday or Tuesday afternoon since we got out a little bit
early.
09:38:11 We've got our action plan for the empowered teens coalition go on. There's programs that they're already doing within the school that are able to be funded primarily for them
powered teens grant, as well as the kind of good choices, which has done both
09:38:24 and Chima come and Port Townsend and then kind of a student driven program as well looking for student voices to help lead the prevention movement into in the policy in school
district.
09:38:40 On Wednesday, let's see, just a bunch of different meeting.
09:38:49 Nothing. Kind of, yeah.
09:38:51 Behind the Scenes working on the landscape of behavioral health and housing. At our normal 17 Hendricks development meeting everything is still on target and under budget so
far, we are reaching out to Li was one question about prevailing wage but feeling
09:39:09 pretty comfortable that the operating assumptions that we have regrets but just kind of making sure.
09:39:18 On Thursday, the cause well brown village is moving forward got our initial bid on septic, and it was, it was pricey. It was you know North north of 100 k for the septic work.
09:39:33 We're where we did a few more tests on land, and there are some good alternatives. We are going to. So, we might be able to save some dollars if we put the dream field closer
to the
09:39:49 phase two, and cabinets.
09:39:52 They're just our permutations for long range use of the space that we're trying to be cognizant that we still have this master planning effort that's going to go on.
09:40:01 And so you don't. Yeah, don't screw it up so I think we have a path forward I think we're still doing the drain fields and paints for the additional transport line up to the
north side, that might, that is kind of along
09:40:18 Sims way I guess coming into town. So, plans haven't changed but are doing just a little bit more due diligence and are ordering the three tank so septic in about a month it's
about a month for those special vertex, a board of health.
09:40:34 Oh, I guess I'm the new chair that's one thing to report from a board of health so excited to have that opportunity.
09:40:42 Yeah, We'll see what comes.
09:40:46 We had on Friday I think we all had four meetings at the same time I had sales behavioral health Administrative Service Organizations and I've seen on this chair for that as
well so I'm sharing right in the left this year.
09:40:59 Unfortunately, the Board of Health meeting I was, I had to miss the solid waste advisory committee meeting and sounds like it might have been helpful to inform our whole comment
this this morning discussion about the consent agenda but I'm excited to
09:41:13 jump back into that group was able to join for a little bit, the food bank associations meeting about their new building Food Bank project.
09:41:24 Just not taking a super active role I brought one request to this, this group once before, and supporting by waving some fees for the boundary line adjustment they haven't do
that, that's all done now they've got the extra hate feet they need that vacated
09:41:41 an old road basically.
09:41:43 So yeah, moving forward.
09:41:45 And it's exciting project.
09:41:48 Happy to help however I can. And then on Friday, as I said sailors behavioral health Administrative Service Organization, and then I also stopped in on on Jay bats, and I don't
think we've talked about it here but the $750,000 ARPA commitment we made
09:42:07 for their broadband state broadband office grant was approved.
09:42:11 So that's great news that's $9.7 million coming in for, you know, Kate and George middle point marathon island for unserved customers but. So, I guess, mark that 750 spent,
and that's a huge boon for.
09:42:27 So the underserved population so if you have less than 25 three.
09:42:32 Then you'll be able to get PD and our Jefferson County PD is the only PD that got one of those awards, and I believe is the only pod in the state that is really actively engaging
and, and being a retail provider for broadband so well that's great, That's
09:42:50 great news. Thank you. I wasn't aware of that. So I'll put together grant agreement with the PUD.
09:42:59 And I'll bring that to you, unless you want to delegate approval authority, like do you have in the past.
09:43:04 We can discuss that I'm fine with either way I think we probably got time to wait for a contract to come but if whatever.
09:43:12 It's not a rush.
09:43:15 So, I'll get it on the consent agenda for the board.
09:43:19 Sounds.
09:43:28 What do you say the total amount they got was $9.7 million.
09:43:28 That's a good, good leverage. That's a lot of fiber.
09:43:27 fiber.
09:43:28 So, yeah. And I just want to encourage folks to look at if they qualify. I think they're going to really defray the costs for initial hookup, you know, it's just like a sewer
any other infrastructure, the more people you get engaging in that monthly ONM
09:43:42 and I think they're going to charge $65 a month. The the cheaper it is for everyone. So I think that there will be significant discounts if not absolutely free to get set up
at the the initial project time.
09:43:57 Well, I think the the board deserves credit for their foresight on this getting their match up to 20% was probably pivotal, and they're securing the grant So, so that's good
work bored.
09:44:09 Yeah. And I wonder how they're going to promote it probably in this probably in their beauty Bills, Bills I encourage you to go check out their website they have a big write
up on it now under the broadband section.
09:44:23 So, you know, our NTIA grants are still not awarded the awards haven't been announced, even though they were supposed to be announced in late November and then you know they're
getting ready for that reconnect grant to if they hit all these action items
09:44:36 I think they are really, especially with the hooking up communications application to to serve broad broadband and Brendan Brendan area, then most areas that are unserved will
be addressed through, through and attentively so it's really, it's really good
09:44:56 news. And I also we ran through the sales Ph. So agenda so I can get to the chamber meeting and.
09:45:05 And it was great. I think it's going to be on the Chamber's YouTube page today or tomorrow so I encourage you to check it out, Kate did a great job with lots of charts and really
spread the breadth and then I just vomit information for another half, and
09:45:20 and then oh on Saturday I went out to the blessing for the new paths place. I wouldn't 10th in Port Townsend love to see all the signs from the happy neighbors that have a lot
of them have really changed their tune, and during the process and it looks
09:45:34 so nice and it really better the kitchen and bathroom facilities compared to Peter's place, it's 100% better so they're, they're learning their stuff and really impressive.
09:45:45 Alright, thanks you guys well. Looks like we're right at 945, so maybe when we continue briefing later I can fill you in on what I did last week but looks like we have Dr.
09:45:56 Barry and director Ben's coming over to join us.
09:46:03 So it's 945 946 Now let's get going.
09:46:07 What do you have for us this week. Dr. Barry, everyone.
09:46:23 So the coven update this week, it does appear that we're reaching our peak in cases for our region as a whole, including Jefferson County nationwide we are starting to see cases
peak throughout the country, and the places that had the first search are
09:46:27 already starting to drop so the northeastern us we're seeing cases throughout relatively rapidly in the Midwest and the South we're seeing cases continue to rise they've not
yet reached their peak in the West, we have primarily reached our peak in Washington
09:46:42 State. Our peaks across the state, or different whether you're in eastern Western Washington so Western Washington has reached the peak of infections, but Eastern Washington
is unfortunately still rising in Jefferson County our current case totals were
09:46:58 up to 2371 cases that puts us at a case rate of 1398 per hundred thousand so just slightly down from where we were last week, still very very high but we are, it does appear
that we have finally plateaued and will likely see cases, decrease relatively
09:47:17 soon. our percent positivity is 18%. We do have four of our citizens currently hospitalized for a total of 96 hospitalizations so far in this response and 22 deaths.
09:47:29 We do have one current long term care facility outbreak with three positive residents. So relatively isolated right now we've done a round of testing on step on staff and residents
and no other positives have been found.
09:47:42 So we're hopeful that we will be able to contain that one in relatively short order. We have still seeing that among, even among long term care facility residents those who
have received their full course of vaccination and their booster are doing quite
09:47:56 well, which is also quite hopeful when it comes to those outbreaks in neighboring column County, our current case rate has also plateaued it's up to 2022 per hundred thousand
in the last two weeks.
09:48:10 I've heard some folks say that that that rate is confusing which is fairly some complex math in that we do that so that we can compare counties to others.
09:48:19 But for a rough, a rough breakdown what we've seen in clown county is in the last couple weeks we're getting more than 100 new cases a day.
09:48:27 If we see that decrease to less than 100 then we see that numbers start to drop lower and lower.
09:48:33 So what I want folks to know today is how to understand when you hear kind of hopeful news about the fact that infections are peaking, how do we interpret that as a community.
09:48:45 And the key thing to think of there is, we have mountains here. Imagine if you've climbed to the top of a mountain, but you're still up very high.
09:48:52 So we still need to come down the other side of that before we have low rates of covert 19 in our community.
09:48:59 The good news is that when we look at our neighboring jurisdictions when we look at other countries. We have seen relatively steep drop offs from those peaks so we're hopeful
that we will see that here as well, but currently in our community there is
09:49:12 still a ton of code circulating, it's still very risky out there, we're very happy to have at least reached our peak so we're not continuing to climb, but it's still very easy
to get infected in our community.
09:49:23 And unfortunately hospitalizations and that's trail behind coven 19 cases so we are still likely to see significant strain on our hospital system for at least two more weeks.
09:49:34 It's just important to be aware of that if you're accessing medical care that you are likely to see some delays in accessing that care for the next couple of weeks.
09:49:44 We are unfortunately continuing to see a critical shortage of testing.
09:49:48 Many folks may have seen that you could log on and order tests from the federal government, and for a very short period of time, you could log on an order tests from the Washington
State Department of Health as well.
09:49:59 Unfortunately the Washington tests have all been ordered at this point. And so, we can't continue to order here until they get that that system up and running again.
09:50:10 And unfortunately, both of those tests distributions are delayed by about a week or two. So it's not tests that you can use right now it's not going to get us through this surge
that we're in right now unfortunately, we are still seeing shortages of tests
09:50:24 in our region. I know our schools have been struggling with shortages of tests because they do a lot of testing in schools. Right now we are still able to support all of our
schools for testing of symptomatic and exposed kids and staff, so that's good
09:50:38 that's how we keep schools open and safe, but in many schools around our region we're seeing such significant shortages of tests that we're seeing high risk indoor sports have
to go at a temporary pause because of simply the inability to test those kids
09:50:55 to keep it as safe as possible in those areas. We have not seen that we have to pause.
09:50:58 We've had a couple of school districts actually here that have had to pause in the last couple weeks. So you may hear updates like that from your child's school.
09:51:07 We don't have any plans to pause this week but that can always change if we run out of tests in our region for that group as well.
09:51:15 If you're navigating a testing shortage and you are not able to access a test one of the key things to do, to know is what do you do so if you're sick, and you can't get tested
for covert 19, the most important thing to do is stay home while you're sick,
09:51:29 and to us, as much as possible stay at home for five days from one year symptoms started because it's very possible that it's coded. And if you can't get tested.
09:51:38 You can't know for sure that it's not Clomid and that you're shedding that virus at work. And so we really do want if you can't get tested for you to stay home for five days
when you're sick.
09:51:47 Same thing of if you're exposed if you're exposed to covet, you can't get a test can't know what to do. We're asking you to stay home for five days, if you are on boosted if
you're boosted you can continue to work.
09:51:57 That's kind of the simplest way I can break down the guidance around isolation and quarantine I know there's been a lot of confusion about the new CDC guidance, but I think
that's the simplest number.
09:52:07 If people don't have access to a test, of course if you can get tested we recommend that you do. And if you are positive for covert 19 the safest thing to do is to actually
stay home that 10 days from when you got your symptoms starting.
09:52:20 If you are negative, then you can come back as soon as your symptoms have resolved.
09:52:26 So with that, I'm happy to take any questions from the listeners.
09:52:45 Okay, do you have questions. Great questions I have kind of some general questions about stuff we haven't talked about in a while and then specifically about this boosted,
09:52:46 I guess, status, personal status. We're about to approve later today, our updated covert protocols for the county. I don't think we really talked about boosted in there versus
fully vaccinated, but I'm wondering if you think the nexus of those definitions
09:53:04 are changing have changed. Sure.
09:53:07 So right now, at least. Currently, the CDC definition of fully vaccinated is still having completed your vaccine series. But as far as immunity to oma Kron goes, we are seeing
of course decreased rates of infection and transmission if you're fully vaccinated,
09:53:24 but to get to that point where you have a very low risk of contracting combet and spreading it such that we wouldn't even ask you to quarantine if you were exposed to it, you
generally have to have received your booster or have received your vaccine series
09:53:36 within the last six months.
09:53:38 So that's kind of how we break that down when we, when we do it at public health is if you, if you've had a known exposure say your kid has coded.
09:53:51 Generally we will say that you have to quarantine unless you've completed your series in the last six months or gotten your booster.
09:53:54 Okay, great, and then more, I guess general questions. I feel like I'm happy to ask, you know I continue to do it wherever ever needed but it seems like a failure of policy
that we are doing most of our mitigation right in front of my mouth and nose and
09:54:15 not controlling the environments more, I walked into a store the other day that had you know plexiglass glass, all the way around a center island with for staff members inside
that and it looked like they are in a tiny room together and I can't imagine
09:54:29 that that's effective and I feel like plexiglass seems counterproductive for my understanding of it. And we still don't have co2 monitors, in every room or, you know, at every
building so we can do an actual evaluation of the environment that we're in,
09:54:46 I mean it seems like knowing the parts per million of co2 and looking at the change when you open a window is as effective as anything that we're doing and I feel like we're
not doing it anyway.
09:54:57 So I wonder if you could address those, or is there more we can do to make safe environments.
09:55:02 Yes, there is more that we can do, I think, I always try to try to remind folks that we don't have to pick between our mitigation measures we can mask and do indoor air quality
and in fact I would recommend that we do.
09:55:16 It's not really one or the other but yes, I think, environmental modification as far as increased airflow in an indoor spaces is a really key area where we've not seen enough
work done.
09:55:28 And we really have seen we we started doing a lot more work on this back before the June 30 full reopening. When we were trying to figure out how to make restaurants safe.
09:55:38 And one of the ways that we were able to do it was increasing air flow to make it so that it was as if you were outdoors.
09:55:45 Even if you weren't outdoors if we had enough airflow that we could see that co2 dropped to basically what you would see in an outdoor setting. We knew that it was a safer space
to be.
09:55:55 And so I think that is an area where businesses could do a lot more work I know many of our schools have done work on that which I think has been quite helpful.
09:56:04 Of course there are challenges in modifying our built environment as it exists, you know, certainly Port Townsend has experienced we have some relatively old buildings.
09:56:14 I'm still trying to figure out how to make those buildings more have better airflow can be a challenge but I think that is an area where a little investment goes a long way.
09:56:25 I mean, if they have windows, opening the windows helps opening windows helps a lot.
09:56:38 Just like we don't have any evaluation for how how's the ventilation in my rooms I guess I just I'm looking for a recommendation from you, a prescriptive This is the CEO to
monitor that that businesses or, or the county should get.
09:56:45 And this is how you should use them, I think I feel like that's something that is past past to. Sure, so we can take a look at and be happy to take a look at the kind of exact
co2 cut offs, as far as that goes.
09:56:58 I don't have a specific brand recommendation for co2 monitors, but I do think that co2 monitoring is a good environmental modification that we could use to look at how our ventilation
is in our indoor spaces, and the exact definition of the right cut
09:57:15 off has still been a little bit amorphous it's an area where I wish there was more, where there was more research that had already been done.
09:57:24 But we do know that certainly if you can get your co2 down to the level that you see outside, that's very safe, how much you know what the gradient is beyond that that you could
tolerate and still reduced transmission.
09:57:34 That's a little less clear right now.
09:57:38 I mean there's other medications as well i mean if you're in a if you've got h back or something, making sure those hapa filters in right is pretty critical and you can't use
the co2 monitor in the same way, my understanding, but I mean there's also just
09:57:53 you know a box fan with a furnace filter on it. That seems like they're really effective in that scrubbing the air and I guess I was not suggesting in lieu of masks I just,
you know, I feel like we're just doing the masks and we're just walking around,
09:58:07 I mean, you know, at risk of a tenuous metaphor you know these folks I saw at the store, it's like they're all in the salad, in this in the sneeze guard but they see, and it
seemed just in counterproductive to the highest degree.
09:58:24 And I think that is part of the challenge to is, and we've struggled with this the whole time that, who, who are we protecting folks from there is this 10, there's this tendency
to assume that for instance as a worker, the person that you need protection
09:58:38 from is your is your clients or your visitors, but it's actually your co workers that are your highest risk so putting you and your co workers into a Plexiglas shield is a risky
move, I agree.
09:58:49 I think those are holdovers from back when this was more droplets spread.
09:58:54 And I think that's the other challenge to I've talked to residents lately about how frustrating it is that the guidance changes over time and the challenges in the last two
years, the viruses change.
09:59:05 And so the guidance that was right for original coven is very different than the guidance that's right now. And that's hard to follow, that's hard for us to stay ahead of it
certainly hard for the general public to follow as well.
09:59:18 But yes, airflow is key masking is still key vaccination is still key if you do all three of those, you really can dramatically reduce your risk of spread and I think that's
the other key message is there is a tendency especially with them across the
09:59:31 field like, what does it even matter we're all going to get it. And that's not true. We are not all going to get it we don't have to all get it. Um, and these medications do
work but you do need to layer on top of each other.
09:59:45 Great, thank you. Thank you.
09:59:50 Have any questions.
09:59:52 Nope, I don't think something secondary.
09:59:56 I just had an observation maybe that you could reflect on for me as I was planning on going for a family members birthday to a retreat center, I'll say in Oregon, and they change
their vaccination policy, they were just doing you know backs vaccinated
10:00:18 only, and now they're not requiring that to go there so we're not going. But I'm wondering how much we're seeing kind of this shift this this turn towards the light if you will
or this turned towards being more open.
10:00:36 Are we seeing that regionally statewide Have you been hearing about kind of a change in philosophy about facilities and when you say turn towards being more open you mean like
less regulation less restriction.
10:00:53 I think there's certainly a demand for that, um, you know, I think there's a general community desire to be done with coke ID, and the challenge is how do you balance that against
the fact that now is actually the riskiest time, when it comes to Kobe
10:01:09 and it's that's a big challenge in the public health sphere.
10:01:14 When many people are tired of their response but the virus is still very very much with us, and currently overwhelming healthcare systems around the country.
10:01:23 How do we how do we navigate that and I think the key there is that I do actually think there's light at the end of the tunnel so actually one of the first questions we had
from KPTZ is, is why do we think things are going to get better in a couple of
10:01:38 weeks. And when we look at epidemiology from around the country and around the world, is we are seeing after the oma cron peak, a dramatic drop off infections and the primary
reason for that is it has exhausted its sources.
10:01:52 The primary reason for that is it has exhausted its sources. We have basically what I've been telling folks is in this last surge you either got boosted or you very likely got
infected and that got you some degree of immunity from all across, it's not
10:02:04 done yet. We're not done with our search, but we are likely to see this surge drop off very quickly in February and be in a much much better place. In March, after that I think
many of us will have achieved in some degree of immunity, in some way, either
10:02:20 by getting vaccinated, or getting coven are getting covert and getting vaccinated.
10:02:24 All of those things together are increasing our general population immunity. And so I don't think this will be forever I think we are going to be in a much safer place by probably
around mid March, in our community.
10:02:39 And I actually think unlikely to see a significant search like this again for some time, likely be relatively safe through the summer and how it's always hard to make predictions
you never know what this virus is going to do.
10:02:53 But I do think enough of us will have achieved some degree of immunity by then, that the chance of significant searches that would overwhelm our hospital system will be much
lower at that time.
10:03:03 And so I think we will be able to remove a ton of restrictions. In March, what is not smart, is to do that right now.
10:03:10 If you're doing that right now that's not data driven, that's just fatigue driven, and unfortunately what we're seeing in the Midwest and the South is their peaks haven't even
hit the top yet.
10:03:22 And a big part of that is because they have no restrictions.
10:03:25 There's letting everybody mix and see what happens. And that is, that is what allows that peak. So what we're seeing right now is we've gone up. We flattened, we will likely
drop, but if we let everything off right now, we can just keep going out to an
10:03:40 even higher peak and I don't want us to do that. So if we can hang tight through February, I think we're going to be in a much better place, and this will not last forever,
it will actually stop.
10:03:52 We talked about on the last call raising the threshold for the release of the the proof of vaccination orders I think that's very reasonable. I would plan on lifting that when
we get to the 200 cases per hundred thousand threshold, which I really think
10:04:07 we're going to get to by March.
10:04:09 So if we can hang tight through this surge let us come down that that mountain of infections, then I think we're going to be in a much better place and we will be able to be
much more open going forward.
10:04:23 Okay, okay so before we move to KBGZ questions I just want to announce that the hearing that we had scheduled for 1030 is going to be moved to 11am because congressman Kilmer
is going to be joining us right at 1030.
10:04:38 And at that time I asked that anyone on Kilmer his team, raise their hands so they can be brought over as panelists at 1030. So just want to make that public service announcement
and get back to the list of questions from KPDZ and hear from Willie to.
10:04:56 So I'll jump into some of the key PTZ questions. So that was the big one on why we expect that really steep drop off. It's actually immunity, one way or another.
10:05:06 The safest least problematic way to develop immunity is to get vaccinated that's how we know that you're less likely to end up meeting hospital care.
10:05:16 But if you get infected as well in the last couple months that does add to the immunity mix, we don't encourage folks to go out and get infected. Because, among other things,
you tend to pass it on to other people.
10:05:26 But the infection and the vaccination really do increase our immunity, reduce our cases. That's why we expect it to drop off.
10:05:36 One person asked with the new advice from the CDC about using can 95 mass instead of clock mess. I've been finding that my can any five inches this person's face.
10:05:46 Is it reasonable to wear a cloth mask under the can 95 to reduce that. And actually we generally recommend you keep your highest filtration mask closest to your face.
10:05:58 So if you're finding that you can't tolerate your can any five, I would actually consider switching to a surgical mask and then putting a cloth mask over it for that additional
filtration and try that out, see how that goes.
10:06:09 The other thing that often causes that fiber itching, is that you've been wearing it for too long, and it's starting to break down, and that's how you're getting those fibers,
hitting your face of switching to a new or math or having surgical mask that
10:06:21 you use just one for one for a day, often will be will be better in that situation but try out different masks see what works for you. Generally we don't recommend cloth under
one of these higher filtration mass because it does reduce the filtration.
10:06:35 If you want to add class, you put it on the outside of your higher filtration last.
10:06:41 I'm this person, apparently is following some state dashboards very closely they said could you please explain why there are no oma cron cases diagnosed yet, I person county
in the January 12 update from the State Department of Health.
10:06:54 Two things there, at least the most recent call I was on on Friday, they do have a documented oma crime case on that on that state dashboard. But the biggest reason why you
won't see cases there is the state uses random sampling of labs, spread throughout
10:07:11 the state to look at their own micron sequencing so they can sequence all the cases that gets sent in. They only sequence from certain labs. And unfortunately, none of them
are in Jefferson County, they most of our labs are actually run in house, a Jefferson
10:07:27 healthcare so they never get sent to the state so we're never represented in that pie. So that's why you don't see our numbers in there. It's just a matter of where they pull
the data from in the most recent State Department of Health Report 99.5% of
10:07:42 their sequences were coming back on cron, and in neighboring column county which is included in the random sampling 100% of our samples are coming back home or chrome.
10:07:52 So, given that we all live in the same state that we're seeing the same virus mix. It's just that we're not picked up in the state sampling so that can lead to some confusion
if you're following those maps.
10:08:02 But at this point, if you have Colvin, you should assume that it's almost Chrome.
10:08:08 Um, couple other things are there stats on the coven rates for those with boosters versus those who have had, who have had the first two shots and not the booster.
10:08:19 I'm curious since I keep hearing from friends and family have had the booster and still gotten Kobe. So yes, if you are boosted. Right now we are seeing a 70% efficacy against
symptomatic disease, basically combet at all.
10:08:33 That means that you're 70% 70% of folks, not going to get, not going to get coven of any kind, but up to 30%, if they were exposed could develop in 19, even after they got a
booster.
10:08:45 So that might be part of why you're hearing about your friends getting breakthrough infections, even though they're boosted, it does happen. It's not 100%, but it's much much
less likely.
10:08:56 Then, if you have been. If you've not gotten your booster or of course if you were unvaccinated and we did share that. State Department of Health Report on our recent Board
of Health meeting that I think really does a good job of emphasizing that difference
10:09:09 it still happens if you're boosted, it's just much less likely. And the good news is we're seeing much milder disease in those who are boosted.
10:09:18 We're not forcing much much lower rates of things like hospitalization, or even just significant prolonged disease in those who are boosting, so it's it's your best protection,
but nothing's 100%.
10:09:29 The other big thing that we've been seeing is those who were boosted who get infected often got infected within the first two weeks after they got their booster so wet because
of the timing of when boosters became more widely available, and when the democrat
10:09:49 search happened. And when the holidays happened a lot of people got infected before they were really experiencing the full protection of their booster. That's the vast majority
of our booster breakthroughs.
10:09:52 At this point, but I think the other big reason why I hear about it is if you're boosted and you get coven you, it's a it's a notable thing, you tell your friends and your friends
tell their friends and the word gets out.
10:10:04 But we are still seeing much lower rates in that group, not not zero, but much lower.
10:10:22 I got Kobe over Christmas. How long does this experience benefit me, that is, give me extra protection from getting Kobe, a second time. For those who got all McCarron over
Christmas. We are still figuring that out, we're analyzing that data right now
10:10:29 it's too early to see if people are going to get, how long that protection from an individual infection will last. We do feel very confident that you have at least 30 days of
protection.
10:10:41 That was the shortest window we saw reinfection from delta to oma cron, but we haven't had enough time since overcrowded started yet to see how long protection from home of
chronic infection last.
10:10:52 What we do know is that from every prior variant, if you were just infected. We see an receive that immunity way, and we see an increased rate of reinfection within one to three
months after you have that infection.
10:11:07 And so we do really recommend you get your vaccination as well for those who are vaccinated, and had COPD, but we see really prolonged immunity, very very low risk of getting
reinfected so if you have not gotten your vaccine yet do and that will dramatically
10:11:21 reduce the risk that you ever have to go through that again.
10:11:28 I'm all right in Jefferson County has a population of 33,171, and there are 22 deaths. What is our death rate 400,000 and how does that compare to other counties in the state.
10:11:41 So generally that puts us at 66 deaths per hundred thousand, as our death rate, and that gives us one of the lowest rates of death from Cobra 19 in the state and in the country.
10:11:54 And that really is, in large part thanks to all the work that has gone into the covert response and the incredible participation of our community in that response.
10:12:05 It's how many of us got vaccinated how many people are wearing masks, how many people are following the Colby protocols. That is not uniform across the country and certainly
not uniform across the state, the Washington State death rate is quite a bit
10:12:19 higher than that it's over 100, though even that is one of the lowest in the country, due to the mitigation measures that we've seen in Washington State.
10:12:28 It makes a big difference. What we've done, we've lost a lot less of our people. Because of that, and we were, we would have lost quite a few more just because of the age of
our population so we would have actually had a higher death rate than the country
10:12:41 just based on our baseline demographics, but we did it because of the work of so many people who volunteered for this effort, and so many people in our community who really
got on board with following those recommendations.
10:12:56 I'm couple more and then I'll pass it to Willie, I've heard that the engine tests aren't as effective at detecting the oma cron virus, how frequent are false negatives.
10:13:06 So we're gathering a lot more data on the efficacy of the antigen test at detecting oma crime but you're likely hearing, there's been some reports of decreased sensitivity of
the antigen test for oma cron and you may will have heard some reports anecdotal
10:13:20 reports of individuals who took a while to test positive, who were a couple days into their infection before they turned positive and that's concerning because we know that
you're contagious.
10:13:29 But even before your symptoms start, what we are seeing is some decrease sensitivity in these in the antigen test for McLaren compared to others, they still detect it but they're
slightly less sensitive than they were before the exact number varies depending
10:13:45 on the research paper. So we're seeing up to a 20% loss of sensitivity in some research papers. But then there was another paper that looked at actual viable viral load.
10:13:56 And what they found was that 95% of those who had high viral load so your most contagious people were picked up on the antigen test and in short order.
10:14:05 So what that says to me is that there may be some decreased ability to detect oma Kron but also we are getting a lot more breakthrough infections in our community.
10:14:14 And those breakthrough infections generally have lower viral loads, so when we've seen those anecdotal reports in our community of people who tested positive late in their infection.
10:14:24 It's actually often people who were fully vaccinated, so they may actually had a low viral load that whole time until they turned positive.
10:14:31 So we're going to get a lot more data on that they're certainly studying that right now.
10:14:35 But so far what we're seeing is the antigen tests are still really good at catching the highest viral load people at the highest viral load point in their infection.
10:14:44 There's still a really good measure, but nothing is 100%. So if you're sick, still really important to stay home, even if you test negative, make sure you stay home until you're
better if you have access to a second test, you could test again in 24 to
10:14:57 48 hours, do. And if you're negative twice, you can feel really confident that you don't have coven, or at least you have passed through your symptomatic period, and are less
likely to give that to others.
10:15:08 Remember, a cold right now is stressful for everybody so even if you don't have coven going to work, and getting all your colleagues six so that now they have to worry about
whether they have Philbin is not a good ideas, please stay home if you're sick.
10:15:20 But we are hopeful that the engine tests are still doing a good job at catching the infections most likely to transmit to others.
10:15:29 Um, this person. Number eight, raised a good question. They said they had a procedure at Jefferson healthcare. And when I was tested for co but I was told to swab each nostril
for three seconds.
10:15:39 I've been hearing you recommend 10 seconds for weeks now. But is this just for antigen tests or the PCR tests that much more sensitive. So thank you to whichever listener sent
this cuz I was on a call with Jefferson healthcare before this one.
10:15:53 And we have changed that. So the PCR tests are not not enough more sensitive that three seconds will count. We do really want 10 seconds in each nostril they're going to be
updating protocols on that.
10:16:06 I think the challenge that we're seeing in a healthcare setting is that because things are so strange, there are more and more people moving into roles they haven't before,
and we're having to train them really quickly and so sometimes balls are being
10:16:20 dropped in that process, and so they're doing some retraining with those folks and you should see that it'll say 10 seconds, going forward so thank you for bringing that to
my attention.
10:16:32 And that's the that's the last Colbert related question that I received this week so I think I will go ahead and send it to Willie.
10:16:41 Thank you much.
10:16:43 Um, so as I mentioned last week, our volunteers got a little bit of a break this weekend as we utilize the caravan from the Department of Health.
10:16:53 Traveling service.
10:17:03 They used to conduct some on mobile vaccine and booster offerings. And we had them up in Port Townsend in the morning at Blue Heron.
10:17:03 They had 120 doses out of that event. And then we're down in Britain in the afternoon and we had a little under 70 folks turn out. And they offered all three flavors of the
vaccine so I don't have an exact breakdown of, who got what but I'm really happy
10:17:19 with that turnout down in South County. So thank you, Brian for coming out and thank you to the caravan for coming and giving us a little bit of relief.
10:17:29 And we'll be back at it, this Saturday at Blue Heron. As usual we do in the under crowd on with Pfizer offerings in the morning complaining about him, then in the afternoon
from one to four will have Madonna for the 8pm overcrowded um so whether it's
10:17:49 first, second or your booster knows. We have an offering for you, honey of spots still available on at that clinic on so do check that out on the Public Health website or by
calling us here at the EEOC call center and demand at pharmacies has dropped.
10:18:06 Pretty precipitously since the highest demand back in December so appointments are readily available there I do know that Trey was offering walking services on has reduced their
offerings can just two days a week, as a result of the decrease demand so
10:18:29 of you who can't make one of our Saturday clinics, again it will be a little easier for you to get an appointment at a local pharmacy or walk into one. And as usual, I'm in
swimming Burton at the large pharmacy chains booster doses are readily available
10:18:36 fair as well, but we're seeing a drop in demand. And we're likely to have this large clinic on the 29th. And we're expecting to schedule one about three weeks later on in February
as a follow up for anyone who gets there first dose at that clinic, and
10:18:52 especially for the kids. And then it's likely we might.
10:18:58 for the kids. And then it's likely we might. We look to be winding down our offerings at these large aspect and clinic, really handing things over on to the pharmacies, the
health care.
10:19:06 So, um if you are looking for your booster dose want to come and see us at one of our large mass vaccination clinics, on this couldn't be one of your final opportunity so plenty
of room still available please do come in and.
10:19:20 Now moving on from the vaccine offerings, and the next is Dr. Barry was talking about the next great way to protect yourself you've gotten your booster dose.
10:19:43 I mean that's through a high quality masking, and the state did announce that they be making high quality masks available, everyone I know there was a lot of folks interest
to get their hands on someone we're waiting on some additional guidance, and we
10:19:46 have pushed out 8000 K and 95, and 95, as of late last week, and we are expecting to order more and have those in, and pushed out here relatively soon.
10:19:57 And we've made masks available on through on the free grocery stores of UFC in PC and have lock, as well as Safeway and PT.
10:20:07 The library here in Port headlock as well as the primary of Food Bank, half mast visible as well. And then we pushed out several thousand through the chamber, who distributed
them to a variety of local businesses so they'll be available through those
10:20:22 avenues, as well. I'm we're ordering more, we want to get masks to the other food banks, typically against we can serve our folks down in South County, we want to get more through
the chamber, after we had delivered our first several thousand of them
10:20:37 thinking that would last them. I'm at least through the week.
10:20:40 They created what Arlene called a little bit of a stampede of the need was was really there and they rid of those masks really quick so we actually created the second round
so we really are looking to get more in and push those out in the meantime they
10:20:54 are available through those avenues, and we'll have that information up on the Public Health website shortly, an updated list where you can get k and 95 this was in 95.
10:21:04 And again, we're going to be getting more in and continuing to put out.
10:21:08 We are actually hoping to work with in our neighborhood preparedness group, I'm in partnership with local 2020, to give those who are neighborhood organizers in our block to
help distribute directly to their organized disaster preparedness.
10:21:25 So, um if you were in an organized and prep neighborhood. I mean maybe hearing from your black Captain currently about an availability of masks, just within your unit.
10:21:34 And once you do get an in 95 hurricane 95.
10:21:37 Once you do get a 95 hurricane 95. It is really important to know how to use one, um, it is a little bit different. I'm in a surgical mask or cloth mask it's not quite as plugin
place so to speak.
10:21:48 So, um, when you get your in 95 year old kid 95 on do look up the instructions on how to properly use those. It's really important to get a good seal or else it's not going
to filter properly.
10:21:59 So, so do make sure you look up you you really make sure that you fit those properly, get a good feel out really properly filtered providing the most possible action.
10:22:11 And as one of the questions though noted this week, um, they are more difficult aware than cloth masks of which we all likely found a cloth mask by this point, and that's pretty
comfortable to us.
10:22:23 I'm surgical masks on as well are pretty easy to put on and wear for decent period of time. I'm k 95 and 95 are much harder so you prep yourself for that transition and learning
how to fit it properly.
10:22:38 And it's going to be tough if you're not used to wearing one So, having said that all the more credit to our partners in health care who were, you know, in 95 for 812 hours
plus.
10:22:48 On any given day so and if anything it will give folks a creative even greater appreciation for the word.
10:22:55 Other than that, that's the end of my report. Barring any questions.
10:23:01 Okay.
10:23:02 Yeah, thanks Willie and I'm not sure who This question is for but how valid is the concern about, about the counterfeits can 95 cents.
10:23:16 Can you just give us a quick little what to look for and, you know, is there really little value in wearing one or is there still some value, even if it hasn't, you know, passed
the purity standard
10:23:32 millenia want to take this one or maybe I can lead it off by saying that the masks that we are supplying have been checked to ensure they're not counterfeit.
10:23:41 There were a small number of counterfeit masks that were pushed to local emergency Emergency Management departments on through the state.
10:23:48 Those were pretty quickly identified and recalled so the masks that, you know, we are, we are putting out have already been verified it as not counterfeit.
10:23:59 And then 595.
10:24:00 I'm It is important if you are going to order them online which they are available.
10:24:05 And, you know, be cognizant of who you're ordering from there are a lot of secondary suppliers for example through Amazon, that have been known to be supplying pretty steady
streams of counterfeit.
10:24:18 Um, so do you know who you're ordering from do a little bit of research on that, and you should be able to protect yourself from accidentally again ordering those counterfeit.
10:24:27 And those counterfeits, and I made it for this to Dr. Barry do provide may provide some protection.
10:24:35 So they're not completely useless. But you do really want to make sure you are getting one verified standard in 95 or K 95, because that will just ensure that you're getting
the most protection possible.
10:24:49 The thing about the counterfeits is being counterfeits not being verified the level of protection you're getting a may actually be pretty good.
10:24:59 Maybe awful. You really don't know because the quality does vary so wildly and being counterfeits, you know, folks tend to cheap out when they're not making a product that's
going to be verified it.
10:25:11 So, it's really kind of a crapshoot with a counterfeit in 95, the ones that we're putting out have already been verified, you're buying yourself. Just do check in, be be aware
of who you're from.
10:25:23 Yeah, I think that you particularly paying attention to the seller being really careful with anything you're buying up Amazon. That's the one where we've seen a lot of counterfeits,
but it's true there's variable quality among the counterfeits some of
10:25:36 them are actually perfectly good and use pretty widely in Asia, but just haven't gone through a vetting process in the United States, and some of them are basically paper, and
it's having that scene which one you're receiving.
10:25:49 It's hard to know.
10:25:50 But the key also is just take a look at your mask when you get it so. Does it look and feel like the masks that you've seen around does it feel thick, when you put it on does
it feel against your face.
10:26:01 if you breathe in does it actually bend in a little bit. That means you're getting a good seal and that's actually pulling air through the mask and not just around the science.
10:26:09 That's a good rapid fit check you can do with any mask, even a really good mask if it doesn't fit your face that well it's not doing that much for you.
10:26:17 And so when you breathe in, you see, with a canny five you should see a little Brendan, and that shows that it's actually filtering air.
10:26:24 But one of your best practices, is you know either buy from a reputable company there's some places online that already site that they've got that they've gone through the vetting
process of the United States government or buying from one of our pharmacy
10:26:38 so a good over the counter surgical mask with a cloth mask over it is also good protection is going to provide you a lot of good filtration protection so making sure you have
something valid fits your face well, and still wearing a face covering actually
10:26:53 does make a big difference so having something on that's properly fit to your face, that makes a difference for protecting you. And for protecting the people around you.
10:27:06 Thank you. I do have one more question, but I want to give others the opportunity also, when Kate.
10:27:13 Okay.
10:27:14 So you both heard that congressman Kilmer is going to be joining us in a few minutes just curious, I'm not sure if you're going to be able to stay and welcome to listen in on
it, but I'm just curious if you have any questions that come to mind if you're
10:27:28 not able to join that we could pass on I'm certainly interested to hear how some of the federal funds like in the ARPA act, how those for covered response has actually been
utilized.
10:27:45 It has, you know, there are literally 10s of billions of dollars for covert response and sometimes it is a little unclear where that's gone and how that's been put to use so
just curious if you have any, any thoughts on federal response to cover it or
10:27:53 anything we can pass on to congressman Kilmer.
10:27:59 Um, you know I've really appreciated the degree of seriousness with which congressman Kilmer has taken the pandemic. And I know he's been a big supporter of properly funding
the response properly funding public health.
10:28:14 I think yeah we're where we are on some of the things that only the federal government can do so some of these supply chain issues, things like that that we can't fix down here,
and we're really dependent on our federal partners for.
10:28:25 I think that would be that would be a place I'd be interested in how that work is going and what the sustainability of some of these funding streams will look like.
10:28:35 We know that for instance public health has been dramatically underfunded in our country for years. And we're really glad to see these federal packages come down to improve
the funding of the public health system but one of the concerns I hear from my
10:28:49 colleagues is Will that be sustained. Or will we hire staff for two years. And then after fire them, because we're not going to, you know, support a public health system anymore
so just kind of addressing the sustainability of that kind of work, be interesting
10:29:04 to me.
10:29:06 And you both kind of took the words right out of my mouth, how the ARPA funding has been used and how we're going to use it to be prepared and ready for the next pandemic, as
well as the next large disaster.
10:29:19 You know, we really need to take this opportunity to grow our, our resilience.
10:29:25 And so you know there's tons of funding available to do that. And how is it being again How is it being used to be sustainable, we're not just throwing money at a problem solving
it for the next year or two and then, hoping for the best next time because
10:29:39 I think we found out during this pandemic. What happens when we rely on a little bit of hope as opposed to serious sustainable planning and capability building so again just
to echo I think both of you said it perfectly so I appreciate that.
10:29:55 And then I think just along that same line there have been issues that have been highlighted by the pandemic especially around areas of workplace safety, realizing that we have
a economic system that is built on people working well Ill is questionable
10:30:08 and so what are we doing federally to look at, you know, paid paid leave when you're sick across the board, so that we don't all have to work when we're sick, things like you
know the challenges of childcare, that we're seeing right now.
10:30:23 The shortages of childcare especially highlighted in the pandemic how do we make sure that our workers can work and also care for their families, especially if their families
or ill.
10:30:34 I'd be really interested in where, where that legislation is going as well.
10:30:38 It looks like he has joined us so maybe he got to hear it right from YouTube which is even more valuable. So thank you very much.
10:30:45 Thank you guys, I'm just going to restate my announcement that we are going to delay the hearing that we had scheduled for 1030 on considering an ordinance to inactive eight
to county funds, and we will do that at 11.
10:31:02 But at this time I would ask, I see. Congressman Kilmer in the room with us I would ask anyone else from his team and wants to come over to raise their hand.
10:31:10 And we'll bring you over. But, Congressman Kilmer you there You are welcome.
10:31:18 Thanks for joining us today.
10:31:20 Thanks a bunch Thanks for having me.
10:31:24 I'm one person appreciate it getting to hear at least the tail end of Dr Barry's comments and it's probably appropriate for me to start by just saying thank you to every one
of you on my screen and to the county staff and to the public health professionals
10:31:43 for all that you do.
10:31:45 Obviously, this has been a really challenging time.
10:31:48 From the standpoint of our public health system and we've also faced some extraordinary economic challenges as well and each of you have been on the front lines just trying
to help your community.
10:31:59 So I want to say thank you for that. Thank you to the commissioners and to the staff as well, and appreciate dr Barry's guidance about, about how we move forward and hopefully
move past this pandemic and do all we can to prevent the further transmission
10:32:16 of this, of this virus.
10:32:21 I do think it's worth just remembering how far we've come over this last year, if you think about it, just a year ago, the headlines were pretty dire, as you know as 2020 came
to a close, there were articles about food banks facing record demand about
10:32:34 the record housing instability in our country far too many of our employers we're still really really on their heels and some even closed at that time.
10:32:44 Most of our kids were in virtual school.
10:32:47 And most of us parents were realizing how bad we were at teaching middle school math.
10:32:52 You know, and as of, a year ago, we had not yet seeing the widespread rollout of vaccines, which is why in early 2021 Congress passed the American rescue plan with a goal of
getting folks vaccinated, and enabling kids to get back to school safely and
10:33:08 supporting our local businesses through things like that paycheck Protection Program, and some specific grant programs for things like restaurants and our movie theaters and
some of those event venues that have been particularly hard hit.
10:33:23 And importantly, providing some direct help to just enable people to keep a roof over their heads and feed their families and pay their bills.
10:33:30 That's had a huge impact on our economy.
10:33:34 Since, the American rescue plan past we've seen over 6 million jobs created over 210 million Americans vaccinated our unemployment claims are the lowest they've been since 1969,
and importantly that law provided some substantial resources to state and
10:33:50 local governments and just a couple weeks ago now.
10:33:54 We saw and hopefully you saw the final rulemaking by the Biden administration that provided some additional flexibility to local governments to make investments that your community
needs those funds can be used to expand access to testing and vaccination
10:34:08 to fund water, sewer and broadband projects to respond to public health and economic impacts including investments to make services like childcare and affordable housing more
available and I know all of those have been priorities for for your county commission
10:34:24 to your credit.
10:34:26 And beyond that, I'm.
10:34:40 As you likely know at the end of last year, Congress passed and the President signed into law bipartisan infrastructure bill, which I think is the primary reason I've been invited
to visit you know it's worth talking a little bit about what that was about
10:34:45 it's about putting people to work now and laying the foundation for economic growth over the long haul. By investing in roads and bridges and transit and water systems and ports,
and in broadband.
10:34:53 It's about recognizing that we, we can't compete in a 21st century economy with 19th and 20th century infrastructure.
10:35:00 So why does it matter to our community well one that matters for everyone who's tired of sitting in traffic or who's concerned about the state of our roads and bridges, which
we all should be given.
10:35:12 Given the condition of our roads and bridges. There will be significant federal dollars coming, predominantly to the state to put to good use to reduce gridlock and to repair
roads and bridges across the district I represent based on formula funding alone.
10:35:29 Our state is expected to receive $4.7 billion for federal federal aid highway a portion of programs over $600 million for bridge replacements and repairs.
10:35:40 Under the infrastructure, law, that will be over the next five years and we saw already the first slug of that money on the bridge repair provided to the state, and we've got
a lot of bridges that are on the state priority list in our region.
10:35:57 There's more to the bill it makes historic investments in transit and we know how important that is not just to taking vehicles off the road and trying to reduce our carbon,
carbon footprint, but also helping workers get to a job, which matters to workers
10:36:11 and employers.
10:36:13 My team and I did a zoom call with the the porter Port Townsend, last week. I, it makes it this bill makes substantial investments in Port related infrastructure to repair and
address maintenance back backlogs to reduce congestion in our ports to drive
10:36:31 electrification and other low carbon technologies.
10:36:35 Importantly, not just not just with respect to ports there's $50 billion for resiliency and weatherization to address, particularly challenges that we face in the face of climate
change, to enhance our resiliency and which is vitally important to our
10:36:53 coastal communities.
10:36:56 communities. This bill matters to everybody who doesn't have broadband access, we've learned over the course of this last year that internet access is not just about whether
you can watch only murders in the building on Hulu, which you should because
10:37:10 it's terrific.
10:37:12 But it's about whether you can operate your business when your storefront shut down or whether you can take remote learning opportunities at the college or whether you can have
those telehealth visits, and for far too many people in our region, they can't.
10:37:27 And thankfully I think this bipartisan infrastructure bill treats rural broadband almost like rural electrification was in past generations.
10:37:42 internet. We did a call this morning with the PUD and kind of ran through some of those programs and if you've got questions about those I'm happy to run through them with you
too.
10:37:54 Um, I know, a big priority for the county has been clean water, and addressing wastewater.
10:38:02 There's funding in the bill for that as well and I'll say a few words about that. And importantly, also for things like electric vehicle charging stations as we look at our
environmental priorities.
10:38:14 There's a new billion dollar program that I helped craft in the house and that Senator Cantwell lead the charge on in the Senate to remove and replace failing culverts so that
we can restore fish passage and help ensure our salmon populations make the
10:38:27 recovery that we need them to.
10:38:29 So, one of my goals in visiting with you and one of my goals for this year is to make sure that now that we're going to see the significant infrastructure investments that those
dollars come to our region, and help address our problems.
10:38:43 So part of my goal and attending today is just to tell you what we know in terms of being able to access those funds. I'll be up front, there's still a lot that we don't know
because the administration is still doing rulemaking on some of this we've not
10:38:56 seen very many notices of funding opportunities yet.
10:39:00 So first let's talk about water.
10:39:02 The bill includes $23.4 billion for drinking water and wastewater infrastructure.
10:39:10 It supports programs that are geared towards providing safe drinking water. Treating wastewater such as sewer overflows or storm water, and it does this primarily by reauthorizing
and revising the Clean Water State Revolving funds and the drinking water
10:39:26 State Revolving funds.
10:39:30 That is shorthand for a lot of this funding is going to flow through the state of Washington, so I know that your commission has been in close touch with the state level stakeholders
to discuss your plans and I know that representative Derringer who writes
10:39:44 the state capital budget is no stranger to some of your priorities, but I just want to flag. A lot of these programs are going to run through the state and the bipartisan infrastructure
law also includes $15 billion for lead service line replacement,
10:39:59 and $10 billion to address the removal of P fast chemicals.
10:40:06 There are also some smaller programs, big programs in the grand scheme of things smaller in the scheme of this infrastructure bill but water infrastructure and tribal communities,
there's a $3.5 billion program, some phone programs as well through the
10:40:24 Indian Health Service.
10:40:27 There are a few smaller grant programs that may be of interest, and there is a Congressional Research Service report that my staff will send you that kind of details, it all
in at least as much gory detail as we have it, the eligibility, and what those
10:40:46 dollars are going to be used for.
10:40:50 And then, and I know it's not news to you some states and localities can also use the some of the funding through the American rescue plan covert Relief Program, also for water
related infrastructure.
10:41:03 Beyond that, and the biggest slug of money in this bill is for transportation programs and in fact the federal do t will be the lead agency on implementation of most of this
bill.
10:41:15 On the, the USDA ot will oversee a number of pots of money, where projects can compete, where the community can make direct application to the US do t.
10:41:26 rebuilding American infrastructure, with sustainability and equity grant program.
10:41:40 Historically, that's how to maximum award have about $25 million.
10:41:46 There's also a bigger program that's more for projects of regional and even national economic significance called the infrared grant program.
10:41:56 There's 12 and a half billion dollars for the bridge investment program. I'm the, there's something called the protect program which is about the resiliency of infrastructure.
10:42:08 I, I know of great interest by a lot of the municipalities that I represent and probably for your commission as well there's the safe streets for all program which is focused
on reducing traffic accidents and fatalities for drivers and pedestrians and
10:42:22 cyclists. And then there's a couple of rail grant programs as well.
10:42:28 So all of those will involve direct application, and we'll send along.
10:42:37 And in fact I've put up a on my website. A, which is kilmer.house.gov, a link specifically around infrastructure. And we've got a bunch of probably far more detailed than you
want it this point for things like funding opportunities specifically for rural
10:42:53 communities.
10:42:55 Some of these Congressional Research Service reports that kind of dive into the details on some of these programs and the eligibility for them.
10:43:03 I should also mention.
10:43:05 A lot of this funding will, and I already mentioned will flow through the state of Washington, the, the highway and bridge program lending money.
10:43:17 In particular, I should mention, and this was a big part of the conversation with the pod earlier today.
10:43:23 On the broadband funding the bulk of that will flow through the state broadband office. And so we've already been in touch in reaching out to the state broadband office to try
to sort of flag some of the priorities for our region.
10:43:36 There will be a part of my barking dogs.
10:43:40 There will be a minimum amount amount of funding that the state of Washington will receive, and then based on the need of our area, both in terms of, of those without any access,
and then based on the quality of internet access more funding will be made
10:43:56 available.
10:44:00 So far, as I mentioned, you know this conversation we're a bit ahead of the game, having this conversation because very few notices of funding up opportunity, have gone out
the door so far, one that has closed already specifically to federal lands and
10:44:13 tribal projects another for inner city passenger rail.
10:44:19 And you should also be aware when it comes to the transportation funding that the administration has laid out several priorities with regard to where those dollars will go,
it's things like creating and sustaining good paying jobs, improving safety combating
10:44:34 inequity and improving quality of life for all spring economic competitiveness combating climate change, promoting environmental sustainability and driving innovation.
10:44:45 When we had a call to two weeks ago with us dot. They encouraged applicants to highlight those AP aspects of their applications in your materials. They also made clear that
that you may want to apply for more than one that there may be programs where
10:45:05 you're eligible for more than one of these programs and they said if you have a project, feel free to apply for project funding from through more than one of these programs.
10:45:15 I want to just say pretty explicitly. We want to help.
10:45:19 If you have questions about any of this will work to ensure that you have proper contact information at the dot for application questions, I'd be happy to offer letters of support,
as you navigate these programs because again we want these dollars to
10:45:35 come to our community.
10:45:36 If I have two more minutes, I can mention a couple other quick things do I have two more minutes.
10:45:42 Okay, I see not yet, we have a hard stop at 11. Okay.
10:45:49 For questions but go ahead. You got it. Let me quickly move from the rearview mirror to the windshield and mention one other thing that has not yet made it across the finish
line but that has passed out of the house and is awaiting action in the Senate
10:46:03 and that's the build back better act.
10:46:06 There's been a lot of press attention to the day to day and sometimes even the minute to minute negotiations on this bill. I do think it's worth just taking a second and flagging,
what that bill is about, and in a nutshell, it's about trying to give families
10:46:19 a break, and trying to help folks make ends meet, like, a lot of people. and I'm sure like the members of your commission, there's concerned about rising costs for families.
10:46:30 And thankfully we have a plan for that it's called the bill back better act to reduce those costs.
10:46:35 It's a bill that would reduce the cost of childcare by cutting in half. For most American families their cost of childcare and providing universal preschool for three and four
year olds free preschool for every three and four year old in America.
10:46:51 It gives more than 35 million families a major tax cut by expanding by expanding the child tax credit.
10:47:01 Obviously a lot of families are concerned about the cost of education and of higher education. We've seen student debt surpass credit card debt in this country, to build back
better act expands funding for financial aid in funding for, for many of the
10:47:17 Department of Labor's workforce development programs. I know, and when I've met with your commission previously concerns around affordable housing, have been paramount in this
bill makes the most significant investment in affordable housing in American
10:47:33 history providing more rental assistance addressing the public housing repair backlog and investing in the National Housing Trust Fund to build them. Preserve more affordable
homes.
10:47:44 It also even deals with energy bills. Not only are these investments in focused on reducing or combating the climate crisis, but they will have a immediate impact on reducing
energy costs for everyday Americans will also just mention, there are provisions
10:48:03 I will also just mention, there are provisions in this bill that are about revitalizing committees communities that have largely been left out of economic growth that we've
seen in some parts of our country.
10:48:12 I am the lead sponsor of a bill called the re compete Act, which is bipartisan legislation that's focused on providing some help to persistently economically distressed communities,
and we have a lot of them on the Olympic Peninsula.
10:48:26 It would enable grants significant grants over the course of 10 years to those communities to implement economic development strategies to create jobs over the long term and
again I'm happy to talk more about that, but I'll just flag for you.
10:48:42 This is a bill that.
10:48:45 According to a recent report by Moody's is found to increase economic growth and actually ease inflation which seems like a pretty good idea to me.
10:48:55 Um, let me just end by also mentioning, I know Mary Jane Robbins from my team is on the line half of our team here in the district does what we call case work where if someone
has an issue with any federal agency we go to work on their behalf.
10:49:09 Over the last year, a lot of that's been with the Small Business Administration, in terms of accessing some of those programs.
10:49:15 We do a lot with the Veterans Administration when we have people who have served our country and are grappling with VA benefits.
10:49:22 Social Security, Medicare.
10:49:26 Lately we've gotten a lot of calls from people who are leaving the country for the first time in a long time and didn't realize they have expired passports.
10:49:33 Our office can help with these things and so I just wanted to flag for anybody who's watching or.
10:49:40 I know most of you on my screen and know how active you are in the community so if you hear of anybody who need to hand please don't hesitate to point them are direction.
10:49:48 So with that, why don't I pause there and if there are questions I'm happy to take them, and acknowledging that a lot of the questions. There aren't yet answers for and so we're
also happy to take questions as homework assignments for the future and get
10:50:01 back to you as soon as we can find the answers for them. So I'll stop there.
10:50:07 Great, thank you so much. We really appreciate you being here and taking the time.
10:50:12 We have about 10 minutes for questions I'm wondering who on our, in our Zoom Room has a question for congressman Kilmer.
10:50:40 Hey, I'm happy, I'm happy to jump in thanks so much for being here. Congressman Great to see you back.
10:50:29 Thank you.
10:50:30 I you know I think there's some value and in this conversation as also being a feedback loop to you so if I can just talk for a little bit about kind of what cares at DARPA
has done for this community.
10:50:44 First off, just want to say really really grateful. It came at the right time, we've been able to mobilize those dollars in many different ways across the community we've been
very intentional about how we spent those.
10:50:56 We have record high sales tax revenues right now. The economy is behaving and really strange ways and predictably.
10:51:05 And in many ways, it has been good for Jefferson County which is bizarre to say because I know a lot of businesses are hurting so, just so you know, very helpful.
10:51:14 Thank you. We have people able to be spending money at local businesses we actually have fewer people going to spend money in our neighboring counties so we're capturing a lot
of retail leakage right now to which is really interesting.
10:51:29 The world I'll say to that some of that funding has already come to the states and been granted to us for the headlock sewer Project $22 million in the legislature last year,
capital budget so we we are already seeing benefits.
10:51:41 We appreciate it. We're putting into good work.
10:51:44 You know definitely worried about how do we not go back to business as usual, some of the kind of structural problems you talked about income inequality gentrification affordable
housing, lack of childcare.
10:51:56 Early Childhood Education, you know, really would love to see build back better pass and we know that our delegation is already on our side from training make that happen.
10:52:07 But those those challenges are what keep me awake at night.
10:52:13 So, I will actually turn this into a question, I promise.
10:52:18 And I think you heard a little bit of the conversation. I think there is some question about kind of how you know ARPA had literally 10s of billions of dollars for coven response.
10:52:30 And it feels a little fuzzy to us where that is being spent. That is, maybe coming to us and kind of fits and starts with a, you know, for, for tests per household and some
more PP, but it feels like a little bit of a black hole.
10:52:46 Can you speak to, kind of, how do you know how that is being spent and are we not accessing it that that has been a little bit lacking and just curious your response to that.
10:52:58 Yeah.
10:52:59 So there are, if you go back to the American rescue plan.
10:53:05 There are big chunks of money for different things right so there was a big chunk of money for trying to get schools reopened right so specifically targeted at K 12, there was
a big chunk of money, targeted to just helping Americans keep a roof over their
10:53:20 head so a lot of money flowing through the rental assistance program just as an example when programs for food security as well.
10:53:30 There was a big slug of money that was targeted towards public health expenditures, and for frontline healthcare providers.
10:53:40 And then there was, as you know as the county has been wise stewards of there was funding for state, local, and tribal governments, which I actually think was important and
as you may recall was appointed to have some consternation and debate at the time,
10:53:55 but I think there was rightfully recognition that
10:53:59 you are on the front lines of this right the the effort to combat the challenges of this pandemic.
10:54:08 While some of them are being addressed in marble buildings 3000 miles away. They're mostly being an event addressed on the front lines in your community.
10:54:17 There was an intent behind the flexibility granted for those funds right for some community some communities may have different needs right so some communities may say, you
know what we're doing okay on the public health front so you know we're going
10:54:31 to optimize around some of these capital investments that we're allowed to make these are one time monies let's use them for a one time purpose other communities are struggling
on the public health front so they're just trying to fire fight right so other
10:54:44 communities have used it for housing, to make sure that we don't have a public health crisis followed by the housing crisis. So, I think it was right to provide that flexibility
but it does lead to that, you know, I think the nature of your question is
10:55:00 so you know how are these dollars being used.
10:55:03 I think the short answer is, in different ways by different communities, mostly to try to address their most, most urgent needs.
10:55:14 I think what happens from here will depend on what happens with the virus, right, if the, you know there's been some discussion around some additional support particularly to
some, particularly hard hit sectors of our economy.
10:55:31 As I mentioned the build back better bill addresses some of the housing insecurity issues, in particular, I think you're going to see action by Congress probably be driven by
the root of this virus going forward.
10:55:59 about five minutes so we might have time for one more question. Okay, I'll make my answer shorter. Yeah, I just I'm wondering you know specifically still with this rear view
mirror kind of idea wasn't a 20 billion for testing I just feel like as a, as
10:56:11 Wasn't there 20 billion for testing I just feel like, as a nation, that's something that we've not quite done, can you dig into how some of that, that dedicated tranche towards
testing was used and how can we do do better and I will echo Kate's comments,
10:56:22 you know, thank you I mean we are seeing evidence of your work in Congress on the street in Jefferson County so thank you for your representation. Yeah, I am glad that since
December, you're seeing the administration push out more resources related to
10:56:38 testing, I think a lot of communities were eager to see that capacity earlier, but the fact that you're seeing those resources now I think will be helpful to communities in
terms of making sure that people are are are getting tested, and if they're coded
10:56:58 positive not infecting more people.
10:57:01 That goes for the at home tests that have been made available including resources for the state of Washington, that, you know, it's gone. In essence from the feds to the state
and then from the state to public health departments and to school districts.
10:57:14 All of that is, you know, flowing over the course of, of this month and going forward.
10:57:21 Beyond that, you know, I think you're going to see the administration continue to try to ramp up testing capacity.
10:57:27 You know it's clear that this is you know this is not a word that will be one on one front right, as much as vaccination was sort of the primary front of the war, it's very
clear that that testing is a critical component of this, as well as well as some
10:57:42 of the other key steps just from a standpoint of things like social distancing and trying to make sure that we're not having folks walking around infecting each other.
10:57:55 Right.
10:57:56 That was shorter.
10:57:59 So in this era. One more question from anyone here.
10:58:03 Anyone have another.
10:58:10 I'd love to hear from Dr. Barry, you you have a finger on the pulse.
10:58:26 Now I do think that Kobe numbers at least in the coming months are likely to get a lot better but I am particularly interested in in workplace safety, and how we reduce, we
saw such massive outbreaks and such significant harms to particularly our workers
10:58:32 in frontline professions and I'm interested in what work there's going on at the federal level for workplace safety issues.
10:58:40 Well I heard your comments and I completely agree with that with with your comments about the importance of paid family leave in sick leave.
10:58:49 In fact, there's a standalone bill called the family act that I'm a co sponsor of that would have the United States join. Most of the developed world in providing substantial
paid second family leave, me included in the bill back better act was expanded
10:59:05 paid family leave and sick leave, and to me this boils down to a pretty simple principle of people shouldn't have to choose between their health and their paycheck.
10:59:14 And if they do, they put in jeopardy both. And so, I wish I could tell you I was confident that that's going to make it across the finish line as part of the build back better
act i can tell you were fighting like heck to get it across the finish line
10:59:27 because I think it's critical to the well being of families and to the public health of our community.
10:59:34 Thank you for trying, we do think it's really critical from the public health and I, I wish it was getting more traction.
10:59:43 Thank you so much congressman Kilmer.
10:59:46 I had a couple questions but I did not want to open a Pandora's box so I'm going to keep on, and and we'll talk later. But I look forward to the time we can see you again in
person I've been saying that allowed to everybody and I feel that sincerely with
11:00:00 you I always enjoy our encounters and seeing you out here in the community and let's get back to being together, so
11:00:10 we appreciate you being here this way today. It's my pleasure. Thanks for having me. And we will follow up with details on everything I just ran through.
11:00:22 And then, as I mentioned, on my website which is Kilmer house.gov, we just keep populating with infrastructure resources and so we'll send you that link and then we'll continue
to populate it as we get information from the administration, so thanks again
11:00:35 for having.
11:00:37 That's perfect. Thank you.
11:00:40 Nice poster.
11:00:43 Star Wars yeah yeah it's good I was always want always wonder you know Star Trek or Star Wars. Now we know, Congressman Kilmer.
11:00:52 I'm so it looks like going back to our agenda. Can Do you guys want to a quick break, trying to be the 40 reschedule one sec I can push through I wouldn't mind a break, but
uh, yeah.
11:01:06 After the hearing, take a break. Okay. Yeah, this is, this should be short.
11:01:11 Okay, so I'm Heidi's first hearing.
11:01:17 And I see a note from Carolyn that we receive no written or emailed comments for the hearing.
11:01:24 So, we are.
11:01:28 I'm going to call this hearing to order.
11:01:31 We welcome everyone to this public hearing regarding that and activating to funds not and use fun to 02 dash 000 dash 030.
11:01:45 The road improvement bonds and fund and fund 602 dash 000 dash 010.
11:01:57 The road improvement guarantee fund.
11:02:01 We will now open a hearing on inactivating these two funds, I don't know if mark you want to provide some background for folks.
11:02:09 And then we'll open the hearing if there's anyone raising their hand in the Zoom Room.
11:02:14 Right.
11:02:16 So, these funds were created decades ago,
11:02:23 in relation to road improvement districts and bonds that were going to fund work in those districts.
11:02:32 And both of these funds have been an active since the projects related to these funds are complete, and any debt associated with those projects, has been paid off.
11:02:47 And so there's residual funding and each of the funds, 5000 and fun 602, and about 4700 and fun to go to.
11:03:01 And what we like to do is keep our general ledger neat and tidy and eliminate funds that are no longer needed. And I think in the past five years since I got here we've been
activated, more than half a dozen funds.
11:03:17 And we've created others, based on on need.
11:03:21 And so these funds are just sitting there idle and, you know, Stacy Prater can add to this discussion of if she wishes I know she's on the call.
11:03:33 But typically when you activate a phone you can do it by resolution, but RZW 35 dot 54 dot 095 requires that the board.
11:03:49 Close these phones and transfer the monies through an ordinance and that's why we're having a hearing this because this is an ordinance, and we wanted the public to have a chance
to chime in and I see Stacey has joined us.
11:04:04 So Stacy if you want to add some context I welcome you to do that.
11:04:10 Now, perfectly said and appreciated we do want to get rid of things that we don't need to manage because it does just add that little bit more of work to maintain and make sure
it's done correctly, we had talked a couple of years ago about inactivating
11:04:24 it and I think you're not, we weren't clear whether or not.
11:04:30 We had another road guaranteed portion and so we've confirmed with public works that no we, we don't have any and that this wouldn't be needed that discussion I think took place
in 2019.
11:04:46 And so three years later, here we are slightly cleaning up our, our general ledger.
11:04:54 Right. Any other comments from Greg or Kate before we open the hearing.
11:05:03 So friends in the public as your elected officials we want to hear your public testimony on this issue. If you have something you want to share with us your testimony will help
inform our deliberations and decisions.
11:05:17 I'm now going to open the hearing, to listen to public testimony.
11:05:23 And if you are interested in making testimony, you can raise your hand at the bottom of the zoom screen using the raise hand button and you'll be brought over to testify.
11:05:34 If you're on the phone you can hit star nine to raise your hand.
11:05:39 And if once you come over, you'll have up to three minutes to testify on this issue.
11:05:46 So I open the hearing to public testimony.
11:05:51 Is there anybody here wishing to make a comment on an activating these two funds
11:05:59 and give it a couple of seconds.
11:06:05 Oh, we got. Yep.
11:06:09 Carolyn.
11:06:11 There's a couple of hands raised over, Georgia, first and then never Peterson, doing her up for next.
11:06:28 The senior. the zoom gallery screens in weird again,
11:06:41 Do you want to unmute and turn your camera on or not. We love to hear your comments.
11:06:45 Looks like you're still muted
11:06:51 it again.
11:06:53 All right, thank you.
11:06:56 As a bookkeeper I heartily endorse cleaning up the general ledger.
11:07:00 But I, and I didn't read any accompanying documents and I didn't hear any mention of where the money is being transferred to I assume it will still be for the benefit of roads.
11:07:12 Thank you actually know it's going to be transferred to the current expense fund otherwise known as our general fund.
11:07:21 I would say that, where the funds came from so we always return the funds to where they came from when we closed them.
11:07:34 George you're welcome to unmute and turn your camera on or not very you can hear me oh can you hear me.
11:07:42 Yeah, I would just echo.
11:07:46 Close them out.
11:07:48 That's my road.
11:07:50 Thank you.
11:07:52 Is there anybody else on the line who would wish to make public comment at this time. If so, raise your hand at the bottom of the zoom screen, or if you're on the phone, press
star nine other doesn't look like anyone's still on the phone,
11:08:08 not seeing any more hands go up is anything that Greg or Kate wants to add for the good of the order i mean i i agree with keeping the books as clean as we can and tidying up
unused funds.
11:08:27 Makes sense.
11:08:29 Yeah. Oh, just, it's good timing, I spent a lot of time last week, creating a presentation to the Chamber of Commerce about county government as I mentioned and, you know, so
kind of deep dive in the budget trying to pull out the important parts to have
11:08:44 the public understand how our budget works as our most important policy document and, you know, there's just there's so many funds like, you know, literally couldn't fit it
at one graph.
11:08:56 And so anytime we can make that clear it also is easier than for the public and anyone working in the county to understand how our budget works so I fully support this and appreciate
the good work that's gone into vetting to make sure that we're doing
11:09:13 this at the appropriate time.
11:09:18 And that there were a lot of them before but now with RERP. Um, it's a fabulous system but it has a lot more account I think it has about 18 account lines for every specific
thing.
11:09:33 And that's just one account like you know the due to do forums and all of that and so it's a great system but it also takes a lot of maintenance and we don't want to maintain
more than we need to.
11:09:48 Okay, so I I guess I'm going to close the public hearing.
11:09:52 So, thank you everyone for your comments and hearing no further testimony I'm going to close this public hearing.
11:10:03 If there's any more points of deliberation or comments that anyone wants to make. Let's make them now.
11:10:10 If you're ready for emotion I'm happy to proceed with one.
11:10:14 That would be great.
11:10:15 Okay.
11:10:17 I have make a motion in the matter of inactivating, I guess a motion to pass an ordinance in the matter of inactivating funds to 02 dash 000 dash 030 Road improvement bond funds
and fun 602 dash 000 dash 010 Road improvement guarantee funds, and I need
11:10:40 to put a verb in here just make sure I get a great to activate those two months.
11:10:52 To activate those two funds. All in favor of the motion on the floor.
11:10:56 I, I,
11:11:00 passes unanimously job is easier.
11:11:08 Yeah, quite that much. Yeah, I'm
11:11:12 really sorry.
11:11:21 He said, ordinance, but we normally do them as resolutions.
11:11:20 Right, was created by ordinance. No, but RCW 3554 095 authorizes a transfer of funds of this nature to the general fund by ordinance.
11:11:33 Thank you probably a discussion I shouldn't have with Mark before now but thank you all good takes a village.
11:11:41 Thanks, everyone.
11:11:44 Thank you, Stacey.
11:11:48 So, now do you guys want a brief break.
11:11:52 Stand up, get a glass of water come back.
11:11:57 Okay.
11:12:05 We will break until 1117 five minutes. All right, and you might want to say hi to the meeting will continue to the lunch hour today as well.
11:12:10 Right. We do have a quarterly elected and the directors meeting today from noon to one. So, we will be live on zoom with more of our colleagues then.
11:12:24 Right. Thank you.
11:17:52 back.
11:17:53 Okay.
11:17:55 at capture.
11:18:25 So I will call us back to order at 1118.
11:18:32 And I guess we can pick up with briefing and rolling the calendaring if we, we have some time now until noon.
11:18:42 See there's nothing else on the agenda this morning.
11:18:47 So I can just share a little bit about what I did last week, and I think I reported last week that I was going to talk with Carolyn and Mark about starting to do a staff huddle
every week after the SEC meeting so we're starting that today.
11:19:05 After the meeting with myself and the team over in the county administrator's office, and just, I feel like it's a little bit selfish for me to get feedback and to tune up as
I enter this role of chairing, but also to just build a little bit of continuity
11:19:25 in communication and the team and see if we can just start some practices that don't take a lot of time but keep us better coordinated.
11:19:41 Also I I think last week I reported that Mark and I were going, we're going to review the list the long list of workshops that we brainstormed last year.
11:19:44 And he and I spent quite a bit of time on Friday doing that and discovered that we'd actually covered a lot of the topics that we put on that list. Over the course of our, you
know, our just our regular commission meetings and our are working board activities,
11:20:00 over the last year so we did
11:20:04 identify a few that we thought would be useful and I will make two and that list up and bring it back to you guys maybe next week, just for the idea of workshops that we might
want to have discussions about in the coming weeks and months Mark did you
11:20:19 want to say something. Yeah, and Greg and Katie I'll be communicating with you on a number of those just to get some clarity.
11:20:27 And I'll do that tomorrow probably or have to the meeting today.
11:20:36 I'm so excited to dig into those couple of processes and then last week I had a code compliance briefing with our code enforcement officer Doug Murdock about a few cases she's
working on and district two that I hear about frequently, so I'm just collaborating
11:20:57 with her and being being support for her as I can.
11:21:04 I'm still working on this Sept edge situation analysis so I think as I reported reported a couple of times we are retained we are at capacity basically with fog fats oils and
Greece, in terms of disposing of it, especially when it gets mixed with other
11:21:32 streams. That seems to be the big problem area and that's mostly coming from goodness and sanitation talking with Amanda for narrow there. So looking at coming up with solutions
for fog is more of a front burner issue.
11:21:40 And then Sept edge is more of a longer term issue and some of our staff and Amanda have all been having conversations with other counties in Western Washington.
11:21:49 And it sounded like there's a lot, a number of counties that are reaching kind of their capacity for septic solids. And so where we've sometimes taken ours to other counties
or to Port Townsend, for example, different treatment plans are reaching their
11:22:05 capacities on the solids. And so, there's potential interest in working with Department of Ecology and Department of Health and doing a Western Washington septic capacity study.
11:22:18 And so I started talking with Representative Derringer about that last week and right now what I'm trying to do is collect the information from the conversations that pinky
and Linda Atkins and Amanda been having with other counties so we can kind of
11:22:34 do a situation analysis and and go from there. So, it's a rising tide right now of information and set the edge.
11:22:48 I attended the typical manpower teens coalition meeting, and there's a new coordinator at Environmental Public public health. Drew Ferran back, I don't Bach I'm not sure exactly
how to say his last name I'm not sure if you guys have met him yet but he
11:23:02 seems to be a wonderful addition to the team and a lot of this meeting was kind of getting him oriented to who the coalition was,
11:23:14 that was senator Vandeweghe with recreation and conservation advocates last week to talk about some bills moving in this session and then also looking forward to the budget
setting session next.
11:23:30 In the next round and funding for conservation programs and things like trails that we care about.
11:23:39 Had a Jefferson Community Foundation Board meeting that trust land transfer work is pulling back up and the phase two DNR work group is also spooling back up so I'm preparing
for the the face to work group has been expanded to include some tribal representatives
11:24:00 and some more state agency representatives so it'll be interesting to see who's at that table and we're meeting starting those meetings next week, again, that the Board of Health
meeting with you guys had a key part of that sewer land under meeting that
11:24:17 went well.
11:24:21 I participated in the Washington wildlife recreation coalition and Recreation and Parks Association Lobby Day last week.
11:24:31 You know everyone's kind of surprised that each, the Senate and House both have about 400 bills moving through them and a short session. So as Kate said earlier it's just been
super active, and you know, stuff coming all the time read this.
11:24:46 Can you comment on this so a lot of things moving in this short session, and a lot of big policy issues that I think will be continued into the next legislative session.
11:24:59 And then, National Association of Counties leadership work. As I said last week, there's some of that every day for me right now, and it's going really well and I really like
I have a smaller group a cohort that I'm working with folks from what come gadget
11:25:16 clown counties some counties in Nevada County and Alabama so it's interesting mostly rural counties and just a mix of county council members county commissioners and like fire
chiefs and, you know, community leaders so it's interesting to get a peek into
11:25:39 other communities through the issues that these folks are sharing stories about.
11:25:46 So that was, that was last week.
11:25:52 For me,
11:25:52 what's ahead for you guys, or Mark Do you want to talk about what you did last week.
11:25:58 Sure, like you said it was a short one.
11:26:02 The holiday on Monday and then the board all day on Tuesday, on, on Wednesday Greg and I met with commerce regarding the shelter grant that we have with Bayside.
11:26:19 We got a non compliance letter from commerce there some policies that that Bayside has in their, their procedure guide that are not consistent with the requirements of the grant,
and so I reached out to Bayside, and we have a conversation going.
11:26:39 Garrick Easter was out of town last week he turned the problem over to staff.
11:26:44 And so I expect to connect with him.
11:26:47 And they're perfectly willing to, to change their policies.
11:26:53 However, he asked a very good question and the question was, do the commerce guidelines, apply only to the people in the rooms that are funded with the grant or do those rules
apply to all their clients, and apparently the rules apply to all their clients,
11:27:13 which seems like an overreach but but certainly that's something that we've got to sort out, and I hope to have that done in the next week so that they stay in compliance so
that we can continue to benefit from those grant dollars.
11:27:27 And then we had Policy Management Group. I think Kate covered that well.
11:27:33 In the afternoon, I got Cindy Burks to sign the EDC contract for the half a million in business grants. So that's moving ahead.
11:27:42 Greg I need to talk with you about the conversation with Cindy about criteria for selecting businesses to receive grants. And then in the contract I also added some language
about the board and the EDC jointly developing metrics, so that we can evaluate
11:28:01 what the money did after the grants are distributed.
11:28:07 Good Mill Road update meeting, I think Greg covered that.
11:28:14 I met with Don McNeese with Jay CSA, they've had some changes in their board structure, and they've got a much more functional board now, and things seem to be going very well
their membership is increasing.
11:28:30 And so, after a couple of years of controversy and turmoil I think we're in steady waters now.
11:28:39 And so that was nice.
11:28:42 And then on Fridays and so upon soccer and I met with the risk for and with cloud county to talk about the Brett Wilson.
11:28:51 I don't know what you call it, but he's the one filing liens against public officials yourselves and Dr. Barry and so on and so forth and so Philippon soccer put together a
cooperative agreement where we can share information back and forth.
11:29:09 As we defend ourselves against Mr Wilson.
11:29:15 I also got the only cap contract sign, increasing their funding for middle road.
11:29:20 So that's it.
11:29:22 That's just up to a million right fully up to a million. Yeah.
11:29:28 Hey Mark question I don't know if this came up with the sportsman's Association any different any, any additional talk of them kind of doing some self monitoring with the claims
that we get about, you know, after our shooting and Krishna brother tennis,
11:29:45 tennis, been a proponent for some self monitoring there is there any progress well yeah DOM is nice.
11:29:52 He's on site, you know he's got a recreational vehicle that he lives in on site and he's, he's pretty good about.
11:30:06 I mean he is there and if somebody starts shooting prior to when they're supposed to or after, when they're supposed to. You know he's right there to take notice. But, but we
didn't talk about that specifically.
11:30:11 Okay. Thanks.
11:30:16 Doesn't sound like a short week after but everyone reported that last week so well you can pack five days of work into four days if you try hard.
11:30:26 Yeah.
11:30:28 Nice work, everyone.
11:30:30 What's on the, what's on the horizon.
11:30:33 What do you got this week.
11:30:36 Right.
11:30:40 Okay.
11:30:43 Oh, let's see.
11:30:44 So, today's the past day I'm just want to let you know I'm going to have to leave our quarterly elected some directors meeting a little bit early.
11:31:03 I had agreed to do a presentation to the Peninsula College nursing students about how policy is made and how to engage with the legislature at 1230, the quarterly meetings were
not on our calendars, when I made that so I apologize, but I'll be around
11:31:10 for the first half hour anyway, so a couple of couple meetings at lunch tomorrow is a one of the last meetings I think of the maritime Washington National Heritage Area steering
committee so we have a draft
11:31:24 management plan which is required by Department of the Interior for funding and has to go through an approval process, Department of Interior so that draft is I think set to
go public in the next couple of weeks it's an impressive document and it's been
11:31:42 a really worthwhile process with many stakeholders in all of coastal Washington and, including sailor see Puget Sound region.
11:31:52 So I'll pass that along to you when it's ready for for viewing. We have a special meeting for transits.
11:32:02 All three of us probably do that tomorrow afternoon that should be brief, did not mention in our report out that Greg and I are both on the subcommittee, to provide more comments
on the long term plan for transit.
11:32:16 And that's for the Transit Authority Board so not a quorum of this board.
11:32:20 But for that long range plan should be also available for public consumption relatively soon, and we're getting closer.
11:32:31 So, what we hope to see in an aspirational document for transit.
11:32:36 My first four tons of empowered teens coalition meeting tomorrow afternoon. Wednesday morning we will all be in budget meeting, followed by conversation Mark and I will be having
with some department directors about our communications position, getting
11:32:52 a better sense of what departments he wants to need from that's Public Information Officer or communications director.
11:33:02 Policy Management Group Wednesday midday, then working on the electrical apprenticeship bill. Wednesday afternoon.
11:33:10 Thursday is largely devoted to the nightclub Development Council that's kind of a full day, once a month so that's Thursday I'll be taking over as Chair this year.
11:33:19 Friday morning have a meet up with Representative Berenger to talk about largely about update on the sewer but also just to get a check in mid session.
11:33:34 A little bit consortium board.
11:33:37 That's our workforce development board meets Friday morning have not looked at the agenda for that yet. And then legislative steering committee.
11:33:45 Once Friday afternoon.
11:33:47 That's my week
11:33:51 and take a photo and
11:33:54 I can go up my Of course we're all doing the quarterly collectives meeting, and a little bit here and then I haven't North root canal chamber meeting this evening, I think will
be voting on officially joining the North canal chamber into folding into
11:34:09 the Jefferson County Chamber, so I anticipate positive action on that, but we'll see.
11:34:17 Tomorrow I have the Jefferson transit special meeting and I have a bit of a conflict to 45 is the developmental disabilities advisory board meeting the first one so I'll probably,
if that's still going to get action items, Jefferson transit out of the
11:34:30 Is that still going to get action items, Jefferson transit out of the way so I can leave and pretend that first meeting budget meeting as Kate said on Wednesday and then I have
the normal Wednesday development meeting for seventh even just, you know,
11:34:45 working on the parking lot right now.
11:34:46 Jeff calm. On Thursday, don't, and Kevin what's going on this week I haven't looked at the agenda there either I'll probably miss most of the Cosmo brown village meeting and
join at the end of lunch with the situation.
11:35:04 Friday, Jefferson broadband Action Team the executive committee meets, and it's been kind of, we were doing a website's was a communication subcommittee of Jay bath it's working
on that I think it's going to be under the team, Jefferson TV TV Jefferson,
11:35:21 etc. The banner, but working on kind of finalizing that website also kind of revamping our mission with the real positive steps and traction that Jefferson PD is getting on
the broadband arena to, you know, how can we help basically instead of me I think
11:35:41 in the beginning it was, how can we get something moving, and now it's what what do you need from us to to best help these efforts that you guys are doing.
11:35:53 And then those are the the high points of my week, and then I don't know if we want to go into the following week but of course we have a fifth Monday the following week so
we don't have the SEC meeting on the 31st.
11:36:09 So, I'll be around that week but I'll be actually gonna be out of town but will be attending meetings from remotely.
11:36:17 Greg, just I think the transit meeting should be all of five or 10 minutes, so I don't that'll be a conflict for your 245 or whatever I don't know why it's such a big chunk
of time in our calendar because it's just a formality that facility needs to.
11:36:34 We need to do some restructure for the city with their the timing of their newly elected I think there's also an enter local or there's an agreement that we're about the gateway
Visitor Center.
11:36:46 Oh, right. Okay. Yeah, well there's two items on the agenda for that meeting. I can see I have looked at the agenda, I have not.
11:36:53 Thank you
11:36:58 can still be brief. Yeah, yeah.
11:37:01 And so, tomorrow. My first finance committee meeting. And my question for you, Kate or Greg as chair of the BOC CPU, take, take notes for this finance committee meetings.
11:37:14 Nope, I think I remembered you doing that for budget. Right.
11:37:19 Yeah, although there's not a chair assignments that's just somebody has to volunteer, I think, Okay. Hey, Heidi I, I think that was rescheduled for the first of February.
11:37:31 Okay.
11:37:34 I just had a hard time account, are you right there it is.
11:37:37 So I don't have that next week.
11:37:41 Yeah, I'm great. Thanks for clarifying that. Um, So Budget Committee on Wednesday.
11:37:49 And then I'm doing signature verification training.
11:37:53 Wednesday after budget.
11:37:56 Thursday I have a meeting with DNR and it was watershed Institute, Institute on a day by natural area expansion.
11:38:05 Kind of picking up the conversation we started and left off in December.
11:38:12 Leadership Academy or middle of the day on Thursday and Mark and I work on the agenda for next week but next week there's not a meeting mark so maybe we can continue our workshop,
thinking on Thursday or maybe I don't know if we need to meet on Thursday
11:38:28 this week.
11:38:30 If we meet that's what we should talk about, hopefully I'll have feedback from all the people I'm supposed to communicate with before then. Great.
11:38:40 And then, mental health field Response Team Thursday afternoon and then Quinn is hosting a workshop on precinct repressing thing with the Republican and Democratic Parties the
interested folks from those parties who've been engaged in our redistricting
11:38:57 process so I'm going to go just to hear what people what input people are giving.
11:39:04 And then, Friday or to trust land transfer proviso work group, part Two kicks off, and then more Nicole leadership work.
11:39:17 But that's all that's on my calendar this week I'm grateful for more time to actually do tasks. This week, and had a fun weekend plan but it got canceled due to the question
I asked Dr.
11:39:32 Barry earlier.
11:39:37 hmm, the retreat. Yeah.
11:39:40 Just staying home for big sister's birthday.
11:39:45 So, that's my week, I should tell you guys have been going to puppy class every Saturday with my, my puppy, who he's a he's a handful.
11:39:55 I'm getting stronger.
11:40:00 What about you, Mark. What does your week look like ahead.
11:40:04 Well, I'm going to put a contract together for PhD in the 750 in broadband monies.
11:40:19 tomorrow, I've got a team meeting with Aaron Kevin and john Wednesday. Budget Committee in the morning.
11:40:29 Then the meeting that Kate referenced about the communications officer with Veronica Monte and others.
11:40:36 And then Policy Management Group at noon.
11:40:39 Thursday.
11:40:41 Jeff com admin board member Mill Road updates and.
11:40:48 And then simplify it and go over workshop topics.
11:40:54 And then Friday, pretty light day, we have
11:41:02 somebody coming in to do a 13 point assessment of our cyber security posture,
11:41:09 continue improving our cyber security, or our defense against cyber threats.
11:41:15 So that's pretty much my week.
11:41:21 Hey,
11:41:24 I'm just to let you know I did a emailed Dr. Barry and William KBTZ to let them know we won't be on the line next Monday.
11:41:35 Great.
11:41:37 Great, did you have something saw your hand go up.
11:41:40 Just a.
11:41:53 I don't have to be I don't think we have time before the lunch hour but I would love to put on the agenda a brief executive session to talk about the performance of a county
employee. Invite, Sarah, as well as Mark, and I think that's all we would need 15
11:41:57 minutes.
11:41:59 This afternoon.
11:42:01 Yeah, I'll be fine.
11:42:07 So, we have that quarterly elected meeting at noon, and then it looks like we reconvene at 130.
11:42:15 And we have a workshop on solid waste facility replacements and bytes temporary policy.
11:42:27 So should we do you want to do that right at right at the top of 130 Gregor should be.
11:42:34 Wait, just do it.
11:42:37 It's hard to kind of know how long those two items are going to take.
11:42:48 I'm going maybe over the break we can check with Sarah's schedule but it's not. It could be after we're done with everything else, I think. Okay.
11:42:52 Sounds good.
11:42:54 I don't think we have anything else for this morning so do you want to take a few minutes to round up your lunch and get in your seat for the lunchtime meeting.
11:43:03 And that's the same link for the lunchtime meeting we're just coming right back here and continuing that the SEC meeting Correct, Yes.
11:59:46 It when we come back and did you want to maybe ask department directors and see if there's any staff they want to join the meeting or there's anyone on the call.
11:59:57 Yep.
11:59:57 Great, raise their hand.
12:00:12 Good afternoon, everybody. Welcome to the kickoff of quarterly elected and directors meetings for 2022.
12:00:22 We have a short agenda today which should leave quite a bit of time for department updates, which is great.
12:00:30 Actually what I'm more interested in.
12:00:34 So I'll call this meeting of the quarterly and liked it and directors to order and
12:00:42 have to have folks look in the room of attendees and see if there are people that we need to bring over, and let Carolyn know.
12:00:55 See
12:00:59 if I see Brenton there I see.
12:01:05 Can you stand over. Yeah, great.
12:01:10 So we'll just give ourselves a minute I'll get in the room.
12:01:17 And then, maybe we'll go around the zoom screen because.
12:01:22 Not sure everyone. I think everyone knows everyone but let's just do it anyway for the good of the order.
12:01:29 Anyone else you want to bring over, Denise.
12:01:32 I see a couple of staff in the house there, apple, I see Apple. Apple This is Denise.
12:01:45 Thank you.
12:01:52 If there's any staff in the attendee list who have been asked to represent their department if they could raise their hands, bring them over an idea, off the agenda.
12:02:09 Okay, well let's get going
12:02:14 to people feel like they need introductions.
12:02:19 do we do roll call. How do you guys usually like to run this, this meeting.
12:02:27 I get to run the smooth and efficient.
12:02:30 Hey, wow.
12:02:33 So, anyone new okay we sent an agenda out Did everyone have a chance to look at that were there any additions for the agenda for this meeting we have an HR update.
12:02:44 Apple and Willie with a covert update, fill up with them, coven policy temporary number nine.
12:03:00 Item, and then I said future agenda items but I also just think it'd be good to go around and hear updates from folks if you have things you want to share for the good of the
order.
12:03:13 So who wants to kick it off Sarah you ready with an HR update.
12:03:19 I am ready. Okay.
12:03:22 Good afternoon, everybody.
12:03:27 HR update we've got a lot going on in our recruiting world right now.
12:03:35 County administrator recruitment has begun.
12:03:38 And the first review for this will be February 27.
12:03:44 So we're really looking forward to this recruitment round.
12:03:51 We've updated our recruiting outreach a little bit, focusing also on more social media, and also targeting groups that represent diverse groups of the population so we're really
excited about that.
12:04:12 And the county as a whole, we have 26 open positions right now.
12:04:20 And 19 are regular positions.
12:04:23 So there's a lot happening and we're hoping that our change in our union contracts this past year will really help to attract more applicants from outside.
12:04:39 And the labor negotiation world, we've completed for contracts.
12:05:03 And one contract was ratified and will be going before the board for approval hopefully in early February once we get a signed document.
12:04:59 And we've got two contracts to go, so we're getting closer to the homestretch for that.
12:05:08 So does anyone have any questions on those items, and sure we're the bulk of the vacancies that the 26, open positions where they can Public Works public health.
12:05:20 Then majority right now. Well, it's public works, mostly public health and community development.
12:05:28 But we've had ongoing vacancies for example Sheriff's Department had vacancies.
12:05:35 We've got vacancies now in prosecuting attorney in the assessor's office, and what's been happening is we've had retirees, and then on top of the retirees people leaving and
so I think departments have had kind of this cycle of vacancies happening because
12:05:52 they haven't been able to retain staff.
12:05:56 Thank you.
12:05:59 At a question, Sarah.
12:06:01 What was the significance of February 27.
12:06:04 Every 27th is the first review date for applications for the county administrator. Okay, and then just out of curiosity.
12:06:14 Is there like a normal number of positions that are open in the county it seems like usually there's zero.
12:06:21 Well, I think that like zero to three was was, was the normal for years. Yeah, what I when I gave the budget presentation to the board and December I think we had 16 vacancies.
12:06:37 And now we have 26.
12:06:40 Yeah, so I think it ebbs and flows but 26 is, you know, we got what 290 FT so that's eight to 9% of our positions bacon.
12:06:52 I guess it's staying there, I mean it's a reflection of the community at large, I guess, with what's going on.
12:07:00 Yeah, with the housing problem we have a lot of the people that want to come here and work in the county simply can't find housing.
12:07:10 Thank you.
12:07:14 Yes. Are there any other questions.
12:07:19 I would just comment that in public health, it's ebbing and flowing, there are times where we sit on positions for so painfully long, and oftentimes the housing situation even
rental prices are a large contender.
12:07:35 And recently, we've had some positions filled that have gone fairly smoothly. So, it's up and down.
12:07:44 I do feel like we're kind of coming to a brief pause after many positions needed to be dealt with.
12:07:54 But then we have as I've told many of you we have a lot of succession planning going on this year.
12:07:59 We already have had some you have some major ones.
12:08:04 Throughout this calendar year so more work to do.
12:08:11 As a guy at DCD grant.
12:08:16 Well we, as you know have had record after a record, meaning that the 2020 was a record year in 2021 was a record year.
12:08:26 And we're seeing that, you know, we had no response to our planning manager recruitment.
12:08:36 And so we're struggling with that, as well as the fact that there have been certain things that have been done.
12:08:45 One of them is the comprehensive water system management plan. I guess that was started in 97. And what that means essentially is that we've seen some plants were developed
that weren't in, in accordance with the whack.
12:09:06 And so what that means is that a higher cost because then you have to go back and redesign it, or the cost is that the property and casualty insurance that every community member
pays is higher.
12:09:19 So there are some concerns that I have, but I think they've got a good team.
12:09:25 And I also wanted to thank the board for the prompt action, it prevented a resignation and resignation was rescinded because of the conversion of that.
12:09:37 Those two positions from temporary or permanent so. So what were actually just keeping up we're trying to keep up.
12:09:48 And so that that's where I'd say that we are, and and we do have just quite a few large projects.
12:09:56 It's a consequence of
12:10:01 discovered and and we're seeing this out flight from Seattle and I don't know if it's the, the baby boomer migration, if you know that was it, baby boomers are retiring about
2012 about 10,000 persons a day.
12:10:17 So that's an impact.
12:10:20 But were able to, we're getting it out the permits out and we're really trying to make sure that we're addressing the community's concerns as they come forward.
12:10:31 Hey.
12:10:34 Any other directors want to report on this state of their HR and their department. Thanks apple and rent and
12:10:44 see what else is feeling stuck or
12:10:49 needs us to go out and beat the bushes.
12:10:53 I'll just say I really appreciate that the board is approved another position in my office I hadn't been, its financial and we've got a lot of openings for financial.
12:11:13 But so in that 26 I haven't put it out yet but i will be doing that soon and, you know, we'll see if if we get any less did make a big difference in the office if I could get
it.
12:11:22 One thing I would like to pose on this topic is.
12:11:27 And it's open ended doesn't have to be answered now it's probably a bigger conversation with Sarah, for me personally, in my position but I'm really interested in what streamlines
knowledge there is around, sort of, you know, the whole digital promotion
12:11:44 of positions in public health we work really hard to try to stay up with the trends and figure out what digital employment platforms are best to use some are more expensive
than others and I, I'm noticing that there's,
12:12:02 there's a real concerted effort here to try to be innovative and get out ahead of where people are looking for jobs to do really thorough recruitment and I don't know that our
strategy is a streamlined or lean as it as it could be given that we you know
12:12:19 we do recruit a lot of time on it every other thing that we're tasked with to do these sorts of tasks with regard to human resources so I don't know if other people have strategies
they commonly used their positions in in digital realms.
12:12:39 We've had some real struggles with indeed which are a little inextricable to me but they tend to persist. We've been using LinkedIn, which seems worthy and fairly more straightforward.
12:12:53 But anyway, I just wondered if in the future, there was some energy to sort of see what all the departments are doing and complement one another so that we can get more traction
by collaborating on what the strategies are rather than doing them kind of
12:13:10 an isolation, and that's just an impression I haven't may not be true for others.
12:13:16 Thanks Apple I completely agree I'd love to hear where people are not seeing results and where they are. I did not have any luck with him D in the past, you know, took a lot
of effort to do it and then nothing.
12:13:31 And really it just seems like because of the housing situation it's really people who already have family here and can live with family or really appreciate the opportunity
for longevity and career advancement.
12:13:52 But, I think, maybe you see more people coming from out of the area.
12:13:59 Hopefully the the higher wages will help but it's really to me it's been
12:14:07 some Facebook people will respond and ask questions.
12:14:12 But it's the people in the office, sending it out word of mouth and really selling that it's a good office to work and
12:14:36 I mean I hear the nine other sectors right now too right i mean Gemma gum the corner store has been having a hard time, and they're, they're paying. Good, good hourly rate now
they're having to increase their hourly rates and I know Finn rivers been having
12:14:45 having a hard time to larger, larger not you know as large as the county but larger employers and different sectors in our community are experiencing the same challenge attracting
applicants so I think it's, you know, the success I hear the anecdotal
12:15:02 success I hear is there is kind of in the working your personal networks, but
12:15:08 if I could just add to. I was really, We had a standard format of what kind of add we would put out and it was very factual.
12:15:26 And so I have been looking more about the language we're using, and the actual job advertisement. And so I think, in addition to where we place them I'd love to hear the types
of things that are helping get a response in the actual job announcement.
12:15:43 Now I would second that Stacy I've been studying other local health departments and other counties that I'm either more or less familiar with just to see what their tone is
with regard to the same type of jobs, let's say for instance a coded nurse which
12:15:56 is kind of a hot topic right now, and other nurses are leaving hospital jobs and looking for different nursing opportunities so you think there might be a lot to capitalize
on there, the language that I'm generally seeing as a trend is is.
12:16:13 Interestingly, very informal, and so I have some reservations about it because you know, it needs to be professional, it needs to abide by certain principles etc But I wonder
if those other health departments have done their research and it's just sourcing
12:16:29 their crowds means that it's not informal but it's a little bit more casual. It seems like it's speaking to a much younger audience, I may say that.
12:16:41 So it's just something in my mind, I don't know where our job descriptions need to land to get more exposure but I'm sure you know every county is struggling with how to reach
and capture and then retain.
12:16:58 You know the such vital workforce. and we have our own issues in Jackson County especially around affordable housing, and remoteness if people are moving in from elsewhere.
12:17:09 That's very fascinating topic.
12:17:17 Anything else on HR that anyone wants to touch on one just general general question in line with this conversation and that's I guess how virtual can some of these positions
get, I just, like, I don't know the answer to that and you know every position
12:17:33 is different but our, Our department heads, looking at new, I guess modes of having workers as we go through this shortage, or is that feasible I mean the equity of different
roles is pretty challenging in the county and I'm just curious what people are
12:17:53 thinking about that. I know in my office, were so small that, and even using the portal, you know, when people use it at home, their connection isn't as fast and so a job might
take five hours that would pay you know maybe take three, if you're in the
12:18:12 office.
12:18:14 I think it, you know it does take some more intentional work on creating the team, if they're remote but basically the other, you know, four of the positions I have really,
you know, only maybe half of what they do could be done remotely.
12:18:35 And I just have, you know, there's the preference but I guess we'll see as time goes on and I kind of debated on this Greg but I remember seeing, you know, a cute Twitter ads
that they've done it like the sheriff's office I don't know if it was Thurston
12:18:52 or Pierce County and Mark larger areas but I know you have a real affinity and skill for videos, and maybe it's time to get some selling the area that doesn't just get county
employment but also helps the greater community.
12:19:12 Yeah.
12:19:15 I mean who wouldn't want a job in paradise.
12:19:27 I go ahead Brandon.
12:19:25 I would have that.
12:19:26 I think the reason that we have those two assistant planners is because four days a week they're working remotely.
12:19:33 I don't think we would have them on staff right now.
12:19:37 If we didn't avail them that opportunity.
12:19:40 So, I'm recognizing that that they want to live in the community, but they can't find housing.
12:19:48 And so, for those for two staff members I've already identified housing and forwarded to.
12:19:56 And I think that's going to go a long way to keeping them.
12:19:59 But I think that the biggest obstacle we have is that especially if you're a low lower on the totem pole pay that you can't afford the housing.
12:20:13 Yeah, I was going to put in a plug for everybody can be another lookout and using the county want ads for housing we have many people in the county or losing places and, you
know, we could easily lose those employees to.
12:20:26 So if you hear of anything. Let's try and help spread the word.
12:20:36 I'm just trying to keep the conversation moving along so if we don't have anything else on HR, Mark, do you want to give a budget update.
12:20:44 Yeah, this is, this is not an in depth dive into the budget.
12:20:49 We have a budget committee meeting on Wednesday the first one, since November, and we'll, we'll dive into 2021 results, you know, Stacy you'll do revenue reports for the year
and Judy I'll do it.
12:21:03 expense reports, but I just wanted to say that we understand our general fund expenditure budget by 1.1 million.
12:21:15 And if you divide that by the total budget that's a carry over a 4.3% in our target for carry over is 1.75.
12:21:24 So that's that's that's a pretty good indicator happily I think Kate you mentioned earlier how well we're doing on revenues we we exceeded our revenue budget by 1,052,000.
12:21:39 We did. We did spend more than we brought in and revenue and that's largely because some of what we spent this year was revenue that we received in 2020 and that's the cares
dollars.
12:21:53 So we had cares dollars in our fund balance.
12:21:57 And that was posted as revenue in 2020, but then we spent a bunch of it in 2021. And so, so that's why we have that million dollar gap between revenues and expenses.
12:22:15 So that, that's just a quick snapshot. And I think on Wednesday what Judy will be joining us, I think we're going to talk a little bit about how we're going to start focusing
a bit more on department revenue budgets and how well departments are doing
12:22:32 and bringing in revenues, so that we can fine tune our revenue budgets because we had some big businesses in 2021 and we can talk about those on Wednesday.
12:22:44 I might say though that DCD at a at a banner year.
12:22:49 They blew away their revenue budget, and they underspent. And so, so that first time in my time here at the county that I've seen that so I'll give Brent the credit even though
it's only been here for what eight months now seven.
12:23:07 Yeah. So that's just a quick snapshot so we can move on to the next topic.
12:23:12 Not that long.
12:23:15 Like it just add I, I am curious how much of the inability to hire has affected, or contributed to the under spending, you know, it's really kind of we've got up, an hourglass
or, you know, bottleneck of being able to get work done and not that it's not
12:23:33 good, you know, we use every dollar wisely but kudos Brent, and just keep trying to spend what we need so we can get the services done.
12:23:44 Yeah I'm certainly you having bacon positions does contribute to having budget on us that the end of the year.
12:23:53 I just wanted to make sure people didn't think that we didn't need it.
12:23:57 No, no, that's why we don't have a user policy here. Yeah, thanks.
12:24:05 If I may, just in that vein, what we're trying to move forward with are some changes to the fee schedule.
12:24:13 One of the most significant components of that change is to make it so that it's adopted by resolution.
12:24:19 And that would enable a greater degree of flexibility we'll still have the outreach that goes to the community.
12:24:26 But one of the things that we've done in that process is included some best practices, so that what happened with that one applicant that left $190,000 in arrears could not
occur again.
12:24:41 And there were a bunch of other little tweaks that we've made going toward the greater likelihood for sustainability
12:24:55 screen.
12:24:57 And just so far as there has been some outreach by, I sort of fell upon soccer yet he's here to some of the department heads are elected to have fee schedules.
12:25:08 But I don't I'm not sure if everyone has been appraised of that, that most of the fees for different departments are still within the, the municipal code which is sort of an
anomaly.
12:25:21 If you go to a lot of other communities, you see that they're adopted by resolution.
12:25:26 And so, I just wanted to make sure that that I know was Gordon has a bunch of fees and the Superior Court that are also adopted by ordinances supposed to resolution, as well
as public works in public health.
12:25:45 And so if you look at, like, a lot of the other communities Snohomish County city of Port Townsend, those are done, typically by resolution. This was the first time that I'd
seen that, that county had done it by ordinance.
12:26:09 Anything else loosely on the topic area of budgets.
12:26:13 I'll just say that I talked to Monte about it and that's as far as I have gotten.
12:26:26 So, next item on the agenda is that coven 19 update.
12:26:33 Apple you got anything in your back pocket for us.
12:26:38 Well I think you heard a pretty good synopsis this morning.
12:26:42 I feel like I've been sort of giving the same report, very recently so I've given it multiple times I think the bottom line is that certain we're still in the surge and we hope
to be coming down the other side of it by beginning of March that will see.
12:27:02 You're still amassing numerous cases every day we're working our best to continue to provide support for positive cases that we're aware of course there's an abundance of people
taking home test kits that we don't know about who are positive, that we
12:27:19 are just generally messaging, with the testing shortage, that people just stay home and away from others. If they're feeling sick.
12:27:30 And it's really difficult to message that when testing supplies and capacity and when to test and why to test and is all you know very Paramount Paramount on people's minds
and testing is not insignificant for sure there's a lot of good reason for it
12:27:48 but when we're in this emergency of shortage in terms of supplies we really just want people to notice how they're feeling and not minimize, even the mildest of symptoms because
this is so contagious.
12:28:06 Our testing supplies are there dried up for this very moment, we. It's a new week now and I was saying the same thing last Friday so we are not able to give out self test kiss
for people to stop by and pick up and take home with them.
12:28:20 At this time, but we hope that that will change soon we have plenty of orders out from the state.
12:28:28 We hope that citizens have gotten the information though under understand that channels for all this information is coming at people at a ridiculous speed but the sort of federal
outlay of testing supplies that people can order through the USPS on the
12:28:46 federal side as well as what stood to be a Washington effort to also provide test kits to households lasted all of the day before they exhausted their allotment but that doesn't
mean that it'll come back it's just the system was flooded in the day of
12:29:04 the launch actually there was a soft launch that they are so before, but those supplies got accounted for and seized right away, so we'll see what happens.
12:29:18 I think the folks who've ordered tests online through these other avenues, it'll be interesting to see what happens in the population in a week I think most people were promised
that these tests coming to their households would come within seven to 10
12:29:35 ish days. And we're kind of in the middle of that now so once people's mailboxes have test kits in them I'm interested to see sort of how people behave, and what their questions
become then of course we hope people will report stuff to us and we always
12:29:51 encourage anyone to report a positive case to us.
12:29:55 We take messages so those kinds of questions over the phone or not answered immediately they are triage in a phone system that we have here among the coded response team and
they do get to those calls as best as they can within the day.
12:30:12 So I guess that touches on,
12:30:15 you know, prevalence of cases, state of this particular surge low testing capacity I know you're sick of hearing that, but I think things will start to improve as soon as folks
get their household orders.
12:30:29 You know received in their mailboxes and please encourage people to do that.
12:30:35 What else we we continue to do vaccination clinics and Willie is on the line I may just like pass it over to him for a brief. Just announcement of what what the next.
12:30:46 I know we have one this coming weekend and maybe what the plants are beyond that to my.
12:30:52 I was gonna say what I was gonna ask you that. But I would just was going to point out my mom got her test kit within three days, fresh from the federal so it is working.
12:31:02 It's the only report I've heard of anyone getting it in the mail but hers came quickly.
12:31:08 Good to know. Yeah, someone in my office is already received there's two.
12:31:16 Willie over to you.
12:31:20 And brands he's got his hand up.
12:31:24 Um, I've gotten my email that my kit will be shipping my test kits will be shipping shortly but haven't got the official notice they've even shipped let alone an expecting and
arrivals that's that's good to know they're getting out there.
12:31:43 So in terms of the good news, testing shortage but the good news in terms of available booster doses. Those are becoming more and more readily accessible.
12:31:46 It's unfortunate that we're seeing you know a little bit of a drop off in demand there is kind of a weird phenomena out there of folks who got their first and second doses but
have decided, you know enough is enough I'm not going for the third.
12:31:59 So we're seeing. Fortunately, though all those who wanted the third um have just about gotten it. Um, so we're kind of in mop duty right now in terms of our vaccine and booster
program.
12:32:11 I'm at local pharmacies and previously you know Safeway was experiencing up to a three week, wait for an appointment. And that has been reduced to just a couple of days on and
folks are often able to walk in, especially during the lunchtime, our and grab
12:32:28 grab their booster dose if they so choose. I'm try area pharmacy is down to just two days a week, offering walk in booster doses in the morning. I'm going to get those wait
times were north of an hour during peak and those have been reduced to where folks
12:32:42 can just walk in and register on site and be out of there. I'm in a pretty short period of time.
12:32:57 Our program is, we're really in the process of looking to D mobilize on partially thanks to the fact that we have a little bit better access to a state resource we use this
past weekend, Department of Health has had a couple of contractors with mobile
12:33:14 clinics they've been sending the communities have been request, and that's going to be a little bit more readily available to help us meet demand so we had them in both PT and
Brennan this past weekend on this weekend.
12:33:15 We will be operating one another one of our mass clinics and hopefully one of the last.
12:33:21 We're doing I'm Pfizer for the 18 and under crowd in the morning from 10 to noon, and then in the afternoon one to four we have Madonna.
12:33:33 For the above crowd, and that's first, second, booster doses, whatever it may be, we will serve them.
12:33:37 I'm just in the past couple weeks so we're going to do, likely one more wrap up in mid February, and then hopefully D mobilize those large clinics from their turn it back over
to the pharmacies.
12:33:55 I'm in the health care system as part of, you know, really, the transition from pandemic mass response mode to endemic a normal day to day that way of operating so we.
12:34:09 I know that the public health vaccine managers all of our volunteers are very much looking forward to that.
12:34:14 And we talked a little bit about the testing shortage. One area where we're not experiencing a shortage thankfully unlike early in the pandemic is with pp.
12:34:24 And I'm sure you've heard, Governor Italy has announced a release of K 95 and 95 from the state PP backstop for us from the by the general public. So we distributed 8000 last
week to the chamber to a county library on to the grocery stores for distribution
12:34:45 to the general public, and we have another 10,000 on order on that we should get later this week early next week and will continue to review those to a couple of key partners.
12:34:58 I'm thinking about those unfortunately, is they are for the general public or private personal use.
12:35:05 For first response health care agencies for the city, county government employees.
12:35:11 The, we are still supposed to have you all look for an PP from commercial vendors as that still is readily available to the states looking to push this out to the general public,
again, private and personal use.
12:35:25 So, I'm continue to look through your existing commercial sources for pp. If you do run into. For example, a delayed shipment of the supply chain issues, or if you have had
an outbreak and are burning through stuff quicker than you previously were, and
12:35:41 we can pull from our backstop and help bridge that gap for you into your commercial.
12:35:49 And we can also work within the gray area a little bit and provide you some high quality masks to provide your employees for private personal use. And then we, you know, won't
necessarily be doing, you know any sort of spot checks to make sure they're
12:36:02 not wearing them at work.
12:36:04 For example, so a little bit of gray area there but you didn't hear any of that. So, that is available, um, reach out, if you do need any from that backstop, not only pay 95
and 95, but gloves.
12:36:18 We have a bunch of surgical masks. I protection, things of that nature.
12:36:23 That's the end of my report.
12:36:26 Boring, boring any questions.
12:36:30 Have a question Willie, just to make sure I'm following you right there.
12:36:34 So as far as PP for coven we should start thinking about fending for ourselves is that the way to think of that.
12:36:43 Yeah, think for yourselves, unless something comes up, and there is an emergent need, and then we can pull from a little bit about our backstop, we are expecting at some point,
rpp stock to be released for any potential usage but i right now I think the
12:37:01 state wants us to hold on to least a portion of that, again, for those emergent needs and isn't ready to quite really set all all yet so look to fend for yourself but we're
still here to help out if needed.
12:37:14 All yet so look to fend for yourself but we're still here to help out if needed. All right, thank you.
12:37:17 I had a question regarding to temperatures.
12:37:22 I know what my last job I didn't have a thermometer at home. And I saw that were being requested to ask employees to check the temperature. I didn't have to worry because when
I went to my office.
12:37:33 There was one I couldn't get through, I had to have my temperature, check before I entered the offices. And then, what is the process on that. Do we have temperature or thermometers
and each entry point.
12:37:50 That was very much I think a relic of the early pandemic that has since been phased out that you still want to screen folks who enter your office you know are you experiencing.
12:38:02 You know sore throat runny nose asked him if they're experiencing a fever a headache, things like that. But in terms of the temperature checks.
12:38:10 You know they were as effective as they hoped and they worked time consuming, so I don't know if Apple wanted to speak a little bit more to that but that's very much fallen
out of favor in most settings, if that is something folks wanted to, if you wanted
12:38:25 a one of those digital thermometers they look a little bit like a some sort of laser gun that you pointed the forehead and it takes your ticket, real quick, we do have some
of those in my office I'd be happy to loan you, but that practice again has very
12:38:39 much fallen out of favor. Whereas in the early days, it was nearly universal in a lot of cases. Yeah.
12:38:47 It has changed quite a bit. I don't believe that minimizing the value of a temperature check is really what we're after, but procedurally, we did do it and force you know in
our offices at schools upon entry into the classroom etc for quite some time
12:39:04 and I think we, as far as operations are concerned, just didn't yield enough of a result to sway.
12:39:15 In terms of the time taken to do so. I do think though that you touch on something that we don't have to really dial into here so much but it is important equity issue.
12:39:25 It's having a thermometer at home it's not something most of us worry or think about, especially if we haven't had a fever in a really long time, but it is pretty common for
people all across the you know the income spectrum to not have them at home.
12:39:43 And so I did hear a lot of voices in the past. Earlier in the pandemic indicating that they, they didn't have that we had a lot of clients actually who we serve who are generally
lower income, definitely didn't have such a device at home.
12:40:00 So, I mean, as a general public health educational mission.
12:40:04 It would be nice for there to be equity and access of the monitors in people's homes just as part of their routine household, first aid kit like you would want them to have
ibuprofen or band aids or whatnot.
12:40:18 Again, that's not something we have to figure out in this meeting but Brett your point is well taken it used to be something we did a lot we don't require it anymore.
12:40:25 Not even here in our clinic we were scanning every even public coming in for clinical appointments and obviously all of our staff on entry into the building.
12:40:36 I'm sure there's one you could have on site just for General Staff use.
12:40:41 Sounds like Willie might be able to give you one.
12:40:43 We have them but I think we've got to for our whole building one for each division.
12:40:56 Thanks everyone.
12:40:58 And any more questions or thoughts to share on coven want to be great when it's not a standing agenda item for us every meeting.
12:41:12 And so I think that Philip was going to talk to us about the ninth temporary coven policy which we're going to discuss this afternoon I don't know how, how deeply we need to
go into it here fill up.
12:41:25 But do you want to give people an overview of what we're looking at.
12:41:29 Are you there, I see you there.
12:41:32 Hey, I'm here I'm just, I'm just trying to tap in.
12:41:36 Yeah, so I'm happy to do that but I wonder if maybe Sarah is not the best person for that.
12:41:43 You're both listed on the agenda so whoever wants to grab the time.
12:41:48 Yeah, I'll start it up, Philip and please jump in at any point.
12:41:55 Yeah, so just kind of a high level overview.
12:41:58 We will this topic will be discussed at the commissioners meeting this afternoon. So if you all would like a more in depth, more in depth information or discussion please dial
in at that time.
12:42:15 I'm not a super high level.
12:42:18 Because of the change with the Alma con variant, we are updating our latest temporary policy for the county.
12:42:28 And so this will be the ninth policy in response to the cupboard 19 pandemic.
12:42:34 And if you scroll through the actual resolution.
12:42:39 The big changes is just a couple paragraphs, about a micron, and the effects and impact that it is having on our community.
12:42:51 In terms of the meat of the appendix temporary personnel policies to address coded 19.
12:43:00 There was a little rearranging of the information because in the past, that's needed folks were treated differently than unvaccinated, but because of how homework on works in
terms of Matt facial coverings.
12:43:15 But in terms of how Amazon works now all people are required to wear face covering. So, why I'm using face covering is, and this policy face covering is defined and that includes
masks also defined as a fully vaccinated employee.
12:43:37 And so it lists out in here, when you are required to wear a mask, which is almost all the time.
12:43:44 And when not, which primarily is if you are vaccinated and you have your own office space, and you are alone, you wouldn't have to wear a mask, but please read through this
document.
12:43:57 Another really big item and this document is that
12:44:03 there's a lot of focus on this really wonderful
12:44:11 flow chart that was created by public health, and it is in response to Omar Khan and also folded in that as the fact that there are not a lot of test kits available.
12:44:23 And the response is a little different so we're asking that if employees and apartment leaders have folks who are feeling sick, who are sick, and who are sick hopefully at home,
then they're working with this flow chart.
12:44:40 If you have questions about the flowchart.
12:44:43 Those would be directed to the HR manager.
12:44:48 And we could come up with a plan for response in concert with public health.
12:44:53 And then the other big change to this is kind of coming back around to paid temporary paid administrative leave for those folks who are either getting a vaccination, or are
getting a booster or who may have symptoms from the vaccine or the booster.
12:45:15 And also, up to 14 hours of admin Lee, if people are required to stay home to quarantine. They have symptoms of coded, or if they have coded. And also they could use that for
their children.
12:45:31 So just in swap. That is what this policy is covering.
12:45:41 So anyone have any questions, insight, additional information.
12:45:50 It sounds like the leave to leave policies for if you're if you're feeling sick or if you need to get vaccinated or the biggest the media is changes and temporary policy.
12:46:04 Is that correct Am I really am I hearing that right.
12:46:09 I would say that as well as the change in the wearing facial coverings for all folks.
12:46:18 And, yeah, I would say those are the biggest one. The biggest changes.
12:46:25 I guess we always I always thought we were supposed to be wearing these were not in our own little bubble, so.
12:46:38 Okay, any questions for Sarah, not a question I just wanted to thank you for moving this forward and for allowing it to work for people in January, it's been an impact whole
month.
12:46:54 If you approve it.
12:47:00 Is that because of people being out sick, Stacy, you say impactful. Yes. Yeah.
12:47:12 And out sick can also mean taking care of a child who's sick or being on quarantine not sure if you're sick yet so yeah yeah exactly the discussion on Friday we had where we
talked about.
12:47:29 I'm just testing in case they work because there was another virus or something going around.
12:47:35 That was not coded but could have been and so it was discussed on Friday at the meeting that as proposed that person could also use some of that paid admin leave up to the 40
hours.
12:47:55 Yes, and there will also be a form that will be going out and employees can use to document their request believe, and that would be signed by the elected official or department
head.
12:48:06 So it's much like the forum we had previously when we had admin leave for folks, and just for gearing up again. If there's any questions about that.
12:48:17 Feel free to just give a call and we'll work it out.
12:48:24 No that largely impacts January, at least, currently, and we have a pretty tight system for reminders about time sheets to be turned in, which I think is in the next two days
some, depending on what happens this afternoon will want to just get that communicated
12:48:42 to all the people internally, manage time sheets and whatnot and those forums available to staff who do need to utilize that benefit backdated to the first of the month.
12:48:58 And also just to know for everyone if if I think that there's a lot of fear about the virus and getting the virus, and that's what I heard from staff.
12:49:11 So, if there are you know anyone who has fears about that or questions or just wants to talk to that about that, please. Just give me a phone call. I mean I'm not a public health
official I don't have that awareness and knowledge but I do have.
12:49:28 I know where we can go for more information.
12:49:33 How we responded typically to these issues, and really we're on the same boat so if we're talking to each other and supporting each other. It will make all of our jobs a lot
easier.
12:49:45 And also, just to a shout out to facilities, and to let you all know that they are here and if you are sending people home sick or people have been sick, whether it's with coven
or something else, please.
12:49:58 You're free to contact facilities and they have special protocols to sanitize your workplace.
12:50:08 I would also add that. If you are having stuff who are expressing to you privately or otherwise some considerations or concerns still about being vaccinated at all.
12:50:20 There's also support for that too, which, again, would the recommendation would be to, to let Sarah know as director of HR and she has resources at her fingertips that can help
support those types of, you know, can be complicated conversations, you know
12:50:40 people have a lot of questions and concerns so just making another plug for that too.
12:50:51 I just want to add one thing though the policy was written to add support to the directors and elected.
12:50:59 And so, if you look at it closely you'll see that, you know, it adds to the discretion that department directors have and to follow up on something and Apple said, You know
you've got timesheets coming do pretty soon, and it's going to require a department
12:51:17 director approval for the, for the lead that gets passed. So, so just keep that in mind.
12:51:29 Thanks.
12:51:33 And that's the live the end of our list of formal agenda items and I thought that we breeze through that in half an hour but here we are almost the end.
12:51:43 And in terms of future agenda items I've heard a few comments about how these meetings worked in the past when we get all sit around a table and have lunch together which sounds
so much better to me.
12:51:54 Just because that sounds good.
12:51:58 Um, so hopefully we'll get back to that in the not too distant future, but I was wondering if anyone had ideas of how to make these I mean we only meet quarterly our next meeting
is until April 25.
12:52:14 Are these meetings still useful for you all, or do you feel like they should be more frequent less frequent I'm just curious to hear people's input.
12:52:29 Yeah, they're useful for me, it's kind of funny because I I just realized this was the, I knew what this meeting was when I came to it but I was thinking I was in the biweekly
code, eating.
12:52:40 But I would fear that if we stopped doing it women ever start again.
12:52:46 And I mean it's only what every quarter.
12:52:50 I find it useful, and that's, that's, that's my boat
12:53:02 snap on Stacy, Stacy.
12:53:03 I'm sorry. I also think they're really useful, and I feel like the pace of this one was allowed to be more relaxed, because we are having the BI weekly coven meetings.
12:53:16 And so I would strongly support an ongoing having those bi weekly coded and having this quarterly I think it's good for us to have this in a open, you know, forum where the
public can chime in and then, or you know at least you the conversations.
12:53:41 And then the ones on Friday only have one Commissioner, but even if a commissioner wasn't attending I think it would be useful to the rest of us because the commissioners meet
every Monday, but you know you're very good about letting us speak when we
12:53:58 have something to talk about. But it's really us viewing a conversation amongst the commissioners and the public and this is really the only forum, we have to ask questions
and learn from each other.
12:54:15 Right.
12:54:20 I believe this is my first attending of this quarterly meeting there must have been one in the fall that just must have happened right before I took this position.
12:54:30 So I was really using today as a.
12:54:32 Just find out what the context and the tone of this particular meeting is.
12:54:37 I do agree Stacy that it does have a relaxed quality to it and I, I'm not sure I can pinpoint why but maybe it's because of the lunch hour does seem like it would take an hour
rather than a half an hour so I want to make sure I have enough time to it.
12:54:52 What I am also interested in is that the two division directors that work in our department, both nice were invited, which they were surprised at so I say yay to that and pinky
was able to make it today.
12:55:08 I would think in this forum for all the reasons that Stacy said including that more levels of management and leadership are here, the better.
12:55:20 So that's my pitch, I would vote to keep it as well. And it seems like the topics could be pretty varied from budget to it to recruitment to living and working in Jefferson
County to all these various other really big ticket items that most people in
12:55:40 leadership are always thinking about all simultaneously every day with read spots to their own staff and their own work.
12:55:52 Right.
12:55:56 Thanks for I think there's a lot of value in these meetings, I really appreciate them. I will correct one misstatement. I think that the commissioners we're the only one that
ever eat their lunch.
12:56:06 Rarely do people eat their lunch and I think the more people should eat their lunch together it's disarming I think it's an important part of this before.
12:56:14 I am cutting up a chicken thigh here and you know cutting out the chicken thigh in front of other people is it's a disarming thing so I mean I'm only partially been slip I think
it is important for us to break bread together in this man.
12:56:28 Just, just don't get any on your keyboard Greg.
12:56:32 Yeah, Greg, I was thinking about that as I did eat my lunch today and I did turn my camera off for a little bit I just feel like with coven I've kind of lost my manners and
I don't, I may have to learn how to to gracefully.
12:56:48 Turn my camera off a little bit too It was pretty It was really held together.
12:56:55 That's great. I thought I saw some food on your hands states you.
12:57:02 My lentils.
12:57:05 Well,
12:57:08 Anything else. Anyone got a good joke.
12:57:13 Any kind of fun. We want to have together back is it back to the back to the salt mine for everyone.
12:57:23 I have a trivia of the day.
12:57:26 Great.
12:57:28 When did Ellis Island first open as an immigration station.
12:57:33 1859 1858 1827.
12:57:49 Later, later than marks guess.
12:57:53 Well I thought I thought it was interesting, we had a lot of activity in Port Townsend before this open.
12:58:05 1875. Keep going. 1921.
12:58:09 Okay. 1892 second half is, when did it operate until 1992 through
12:58:22 1965.
12:58:27 Close.
12:58:27 1958, even closer.
12:58:33 1954 54. There you go.
12:58:38 All right.
12:58:41 I was good.
12:58:41 Good job, everyone.
12:58:44 Okay, everybody. Well, thanks for being here.
12:58:48 Thank you for having us. Everyone.
12:58:51 Yeah.
12:58:55 We are recessing.
12:58:57 The commissioner meeting until 130.
12:59:00 So your commissioners will back, we're back here live on this channel at 130.
12:59:04 Thanks everyone.
13:30:32 If I do follow host view because I have that option because I'm the host, my fellow hosts do it also doesn't work for the only one that works not frozen is the speaker view,
unfortunately, right now I don't know I can try troubleshooting it tomorrow,
13:30:48 but it's 130 so I'm attorney at capture
13:30:54 and zoom will change my name.
13:31:01 Okay, it's 130.
13:31:04 Everyone's back we got the band back together McCall the meeting to order.
13:31:21 And we are going to start off our afternoon session with a workshop on solid waste facility replacements and review a draft resolution, about a task force to undertake that
facility replacement So, and turning it over to you out.
13:31:33 Oh you're muted.
13:31:38 Thank you.
13:31:40 So we just wanted to briefly cover.
13:31:43 The reason why we want to embark on a capital facility replacement planning process for our solid waste facilities, and how we'd like to conduct that work.
13:31:58 Can everyone see my screen there.
13:32:02 Okay, so we opened the facility in 1992, moving away from our landfill and and towards original landfill model, which require us to open a transfer station.
13:32:17 And just to give you an idea of how long ago that was the national average for unleaded was $1 11. So nice to return to those days but I don't think we ever will.
13:32:32 So obviously our facilities are getting a bit old.
13:32:37 And this shows the amount of demand on our facilities measured in tons of municipal solid waste that you can see our peak year was. Previous to the last three was in 2006.
13:32:53 You can also see pretty clearly what the economic contraction 2008 did for sideways tonnages, it's taken, seven or eight years to kind of rebound from that.
13:33:08 You can see here why a lot of financial planners and investors turned to solid waste data is an indicator of the health of the economy.
13:33:18 2021 was obviously our record year gives us a little bit of pause and how much material we're managing out there, we're doing it effectively but obviously we're going to have
to start thinking about some revisions to the physical infrastructure to manage
13:33:36 tonnages of that order.
13:33:40 So we want to start asking ourselves.
13:33:45 You know, what sort of facility, it is that we want to manage the projected waste and the growth of our customer accounts, where to put it.
13:33:57 whether it's a wholesale revision.
13:34:00 On the footprint that we already occupy just outside of where towns in or whether it's better to consider other properties around the county for wholesale replacement of the
facility.
13:34:12 And then we also want to consider how we're going to finance it.
13:34:17 And what means we have to do that.
13:34:23 So we're thinking that the best way to get there, and truly engage a large segment of our population and that is with the formation of a solid waste facilities Task Force, much
like the critical areas ordinance Task Force.
13:34:43 I think there were some, some good results from that task force and likewise were thinking that we could greatly benefit from a similar task force for solid waste facility replacement
planning.
13:34:58 We're thinking that this list may be adequate to gain the area of expertise that we want to find locally and assisting staff with the planning process.
13:35:14 This is not an all inclusive list and certainly want to entertain any recommendations from the Board of County Commissioners here, additions or subtract or subtraction from
this list.
13:35:29 Some of these representatives we would imagine wouldn't sit through the entire planning process which we're imagining to take at least two years, perhaps, for some of these
representatives they would join.
13:35:43 Select meetings where we've already identified a conceptual design and a site, and they could bring their area of expertise, just to those meetings once we've accomplished that
work.
13:36:00 And this is bit of a summation of the process that we're imagining presently.
13:36:08 We would hope to contract with an engineering firm that would also include financial planning services and group facilitator public facilitation services as well.
13:36:20 We would hope to have that contract ratified by May of this year. And also, if the board is is agreed with our recommendation attached Task Force created by that time.
13:36:36 Then between May and August of this year we would coordinate with the consultants.
13:36:42 In August of this year we would hope to conduct at least eight community meetings across the county survey our customers, and then bring that information from that from those
meetings to the task force at a kickoff meeting, hopefully, in December of this
13:37:00 year,
13:37:02 where we would anticipate at least six meetings to develop the conceptual design, and then apply that an optimal design to various sites across the county to identify how well
the sites perform in hosting that ideal design.
13:37:24 And then of course do some cost benefit analysis by sight.
13:37:29 Determine, you know the likely cost to develop the site to host those ideal arrangements.
13:37:39 And then finally arrive at both the conceptual design, and the proper site.
13:37:47 And then, we're imagining it will take several months to do the financial planning once we've arrived it recommended conceptual design and site. And then we'll bring that financial
planning that to the task force and further develop recommendation, and
13:38:07 then hopefully in early 2024 deliver that recommendation to the elected bodies being the Board of County Commissioners and city council as well.
13:38:18 So that's, in a nutshell, where we're hoping to go with this process.
13:38:25 This is kind of a draft resolution shamelessly borrowed from the resolution word used to form the critical areas ordinance Task Force.
13:38:37 So very similar in nature.
13:38:42 And if the board is agreed that this is a sound recommendation, then staff would deliver this draft, to the county administrator for review.
13:38:58 Any questions.
13:39:03 And one just one question Alex sounds great. I think it's time we work and obviously we've set aside some money to start this so I appreciate this plan looks well founded.
13:39:14 Are you thinking that the whole Board of County Commissioners who participate in the task force
13:39:20 we'd certainly have the whole word, if they wanted to.
13:39:25 We obviously would like to have new Commissioner Brotherton on there as the swag representative.
13:39:43 Yeah of course I would does that's I guess that was the meat of my comment. Yeah, hope, hope I would be as the swag representative may be great to have the whole board. It comes
with other complications I just wasn't clear from your from your presentation.
13:39:48 Great, thank you.
13:39:50 I wonder with all those complications of just the ability to be a part of public meetings might have a lot of value to but let the test force, you know operate more,
13:40:02 you know, with with a little more latitude.
13:40:06 But I think we'd all be interested but might be cumbersome to have all of those be public meetings.
13:40:14 Yeah.
13:40:27 I just was gonna say I read it as one, you were looking for one Commissioner on that list so I'm not going to arm wrestle Greg for this.
13:40:31 Well, I'm going to switch topics so if you're at that same topic, go for it. I was just gonna say I think these taskforce are typically set up without the full board on them.
13:40:41 I mean, as Alex said we're modeling and after some previous Task Force whether it was the critical areas. One or, or working on the shooting ordinance or whatever where the
task force.
13:40:56 You know, might have one one member of the board on it.
13:40:59 And then at key intervals through that process and it doesn't have to be at the very end, there could be board workshops to update the board on the progress made or or whatever.
13:41:13 One of the task forces that I would see that happening not not going through an entire, you know, year and a half or two years of planning and then finally, you know, having
a discussion with the board about the recommendations so we could, we could have
13:41:27 some check in workshops along the way.
13:41:35 Um, you guys remind me of the how our relationship with the city works around solid waste. Is that is that formalized somewhere.
13:41:46 It is.
13:41:57 I would say it's formalized in the Solid Waste Management Plan, where they are a signatory and that is a statutory requirement that all plants have to have the approval of any
of the incorporated cities within that jurisdiction.
13:42:06 Thank you. I mean, the city has the option of developing their own Solid Waste Management Plan.
13:42:14 The city, the city could build their own transfer station if they want it there's nothing legally preventing them from doing that but we have 30 years of history here, much
like, you know, many of the counties around the state of working cooperatively
13:42:30 on our solid waste needs and as Al says that's formerly embodied in the city, signing on to be to operate under our, our Solid Waste Management Plan, and then being a member
of our slack.
13:42:50 Thank you.
13:43:03 I agree with Greg, sounds great, really appreciate the emphasis you put on getting a lot of input and it's it's interesting that like everything now it seems like with grants
and in the legislature it's like all about the public input process and affected
13:43:12 communities and so I think it sounds like a great process and I look forward to attending some of the community meetings and but happy to have Greg represent us on the test
course.
13:43:29 So, but the recycling contract is separate for the city correct.
13:43:33 Oh, but the recycling contract is separate for the city correct. That's correct. Okay.
13:43:38 Well, I mean, again, we provide the facility for recycling to be processed but the city has its own contract for Holly.
13:44:01 That's between the city, the city residents in the cities contractor.
13:44:08 g certificate Hall, we you know people have the option of signing up but that's directly with the hauler.
13:44:17 Just, Just the hauling that's separate right comes to our facility for the same handling and.
13:44:24 Right, correct. That's correct. And, you know, our, our involvement in that contract is simply to ensure that we're getting a clean mix of materials that we're going to manage
their contract.
13:44:40 So, and we do keep open communications with the city and their contractor on those issues.
13:44:47 Yeah.
13:44:50 The next iteration of the Solid Waste Management Plan do.
13:44:55 That's actually, it's, it's due on a five year cycle, although some counties, extend that sometimes to twice that term, with amendments, instead of wholesale revisions.
13:45:08 We've had several communications with Department of Ecology and explaining the process that we want to embark on here in the facility replacement process and they are agreed
that it won't be until likely until you've identified the conceptual design and
13:45:26 the saving and the financing that will then open up our current plan and incorporate a lot of that planning work into it. It'd be premature to do it to do it presently with
as many changes as we're likely to make in our program through this process.
13:45:47 What's it, when was it last time.
13:45:50 1630 I thought it was that we've approved it in early 17 maybe think that's right yeah yeah and and really there's, we could, we could probably, if we were to update it presently
we could probably do it just through an amendment process, rather than opening
13:46:09 up the whole thing. we really haven't made any sweeping programmatic revisions.
13:46:17 Thank you.
13:46:19 I have not had the pleasure of working on swag I can never wrestle it away from either of these two. So it's been a while since I've looked at this stuff.
13:46:27 Excuse my ignorance.
13:46:29 It's been five years since I've looked at it probably.
13:46:35 So, I mean I just, I hope everyone appreciates what we're trying to do here which is, You know, there's many models probably for facility replacements that upgrades.
13:46:48 Everything from, you know, staff just deciding what to do on and haphazardly throwing up buildings and lean tues on large pieces of land but that's, you know, really not the
process we want to use we want to go through a, you know, very methodical thoughtful
13:47:04 planning process so that, because we're talking about facility facilities that, you know, could you need to be adequate for the next 30 years just like the last one was with
the current one is so I mean everything's on the table.
13:47:20 I mean we'll, we'll find out that maybe some options aren't as viable as others, but everything from, you know, upgrading the site that we have and the facilities we have in
a phased manner to complete replacement and relocation so we just want to make
13:47:39 any early assumptions that
13:47:44 you know set us off down a path that we can't recover from, because we didn't, we weren't thoughtful enough about the long term implications of some of those thoughts so you
know we've
13:47:59 found out that kid a task county is going through a project like this which has been helpful to see some of the things that they've done their county with maybe twice our population
but not huge and they were forced to look at this because they had, you
13:48:16 know, flooding issues at their facility from the outcome a river but in a lot of ways. Some, some very similar issues to us as far as planning for the future in the long term
of an essential service like this so it's very interesting, something you can
13:48:35 It's not something you can just do overnight and there should be a variety of viewpoints looked at so that's what we're up to.
13:48:44 And we're also winds up on the moderate risk waist considerations into this planning process is that correct. That's correct. Yeah, that'll be looked at and other, you know,
things like.
13:49:09 Not that don't end up happening or happening right away but construction and demolition material separation food waste, you know, long term
13:49:16 projections on how recycling, where those programs will go.
13:49:23 Of course the yard waste issues, our programs.
13:49:31 And there's a lot of variation in variety, you know, out there, um how different jurisdictions handle this. So, we have a pretty good model for here but it's worth looking at
other
13:49:45 innovative ways of doing things. But, you know, from a really basic level we just, we have aging facilities that are becoming undersized and in particular at our facility we
have a real Ingress egress problem, and not a lot of room to fix that without
13:50:07 some major investments, just because of the way the facilities were all kind of jammed up near the entrance to the property.
13:50:16 Because the landfill takes up this huge amount of room behind it.
13:50:21 So, you know, you can build all the buildings you want but if you still only have two lanes, one in one out to get there, it kind of limits you with, you know, very limited
room for queuing or separating commercial traffic from residential and things
13:50:36 like that so all those issues will have to be looked at.
13:50:57 And also not an ideal intersection the way Lansdale wrote and Jacob Miller wrote a line,
13:50:50 be interesting to me I don't know if we'll get to have any certainty after this session but the senate bill that is pushing responsibility to recycling, back to the producers.
13:51:05 You know, if we decided to opt into that and whatever form it ends up taking that would be collecting a lot more material.
13:51:16 And so, hopefully we'll have some sense of where that's going in the course of this work.
13:51:27 I think Monte you you laid out all, many of the permutations really well and this program. Yeah, I love the way of front loaded community inputs.
13:51:35 Yeah, it looks it looks just right.
13:51:40 So do you want emotion on this, or is this more kind of preliminary for discussion today.
13:51:48 We were just looking for feedback.
13:51:53 Today, if there's consensus that this is the way to go and then staff can start drafting up that resolution and start forwarding it towards you.
13:52:04 That's good.
13:52:07 Yep. Thumbs up.
13:52:09 Alright,
13:52:12 well we'll get busy then.
13:52:16 Yeah, it's gonna be an exciting time to be a commissioner and watch this unfold.
13:52:22 Yeah, that was sure both money you got a lot on your plate man, you know, a couple pretty big projects there and then you got roads and transportation always plugging away in
the background and parks as well but yeah
13:52:39 yeah well that little Mighty Mouse character you two are the mighty mice.
13:52:46 Well, and thank you to the board for your investment in this process through the capital improvements fun. That's greatly appreciated here
13:53:00 at once right yeah that well that's because revenues were off the charts, so
13:53:08 people you can.
13:53:15 Yeah.
13:53:15 Thank you to our I saw that note that you had sent on to Mr tears based on his comments today and WNK can to help get that get the word out about recycling changes but a unit
was was dead on and what's what's the date for the.
13:53:28 We have a date for the transition of service at all yet. We're, we're looking at kind of a soft rollout will start the messaging in March of this year.
13:53:37 Fully a month before the new contract term begins.
13:53:42 And, and then of course, we're expecting that by April one under the new term of the contract that spooked them will have their on site representative to coach our customers
about that change yours No, no great urgency and pulling that that those other
13:54:15 out of the mix, it's going to be a long process here, that will will be measuring over the next year or two, and refining the program as we go.
13:54:12 I tried I tried to make the point that we are discussing in the solid waste committee of the you know the certain materials there just is no market for him, so there's no use
and recycling them because we just have to put them in the waste stream and
13:54:28 so I, you know, I don't know, somebody from column piped in I don't have you heard that this morning that they're still recycling they're younger, they're tubs.
13:54:40 And so I don't know what what solution they've found for that but I feel like, right.
13:54:49 What did you say landfilling right yes let's say they think they're recycling their jobs.
13:54:58 Yeah, pretend they are no we should be proud that we've got it intellectually honest program here, and it's not an easy message to sell, but it's an honest one right
13:55:13 now.
13:55:16 Well thank you all for having us giving us this direction. looking forward to starting this one, x.
13:55:29 Okay, so I think we're moving on to the discussion and potential potential action on adopting and nine temporary accountancy county policy based on the emergency response to
the coven 19 pandemic.
13:55:45 And I think we're bringing Sarah and fill up over anybody else.
13:55:53 I don't see anyone else on the list who
13:55:58 needs to be brought over.
13:56:08 Oh, did we lose one second.
13:56:11 I don't see him.
13:56:12 He wasn't the attendees list but now he's gone.
13:56:21 Tried to bring him over your time so there is a little delay. He was in limbo.
13:56:23 Sometimes it takes a second.
13:56:24 Yeah.
13:56:29 I have arrived.
13:56:35 So, um, we're one of you was going to share screen on a document that we're going to discuss the draft temporary policy correct.
13:56:46 Yeah, the, the, the PDF that's attached to the agenda is the one that
13:56:52 before the edits were made on Wednesday and Thursday or Friday.
13:56:57 Okay. And so I think Philip for Sarah has the latest version that could be shared.
13:57:04 Okay.
13:57:10 So to some I want to tee this up. Oh you're muted Sarah.
13:57:14 I have that on my screen. If you all would like to pull it up here.
13:57:21 And this is a tee up over the course of the two year pandemic we've had eight temporary county policies to cope with changing circumstances.
13:57:30 And based on Homer Crone we determined that we needed a nice temporary county policy and that's what we're talking about this afternoon.
13:57:41 Right.
13:57:48 Okay. Are you able to see my screen, do you see here you might want to go to one page in the View menu.
13:58:05 To the right there.
13:58:09 Okay, then.
13:58:18 And then zoom.
13:58:25 Okay, can you see that I don't, for some reason I don't see this on the screen I just see my own screen. Yeah. Yeah. Okay.
13:58:27 So, as Mark mentioned, this is the ninth temporary county policy.
13:58:45 And Philip Hunsaker, and I worked on this, although Philip did a lot of the heavy lifting, lifting so thank you Philip.
13:58:44 Well, if we can just grow I'll just scroll through this to show to highlight where changes were made.
13:58:53 So of course the
13:58:57 resolution goes through various dates of what happened historically so for anyone who's interested in reading what's happened over the last couple years, it is a historical
document that saves all this information.
13:59:13 As we all know, and September 2 proof of full vaccination against Cobra 19 was required for all persons entering bars and restaurants and cloud and Jefferson counties.
13:59:27 The document in areas does have some grammatical errors corrected.
13:59:34 One of these whereas sections here targets the oma con vironment or highlights the oma con violent crime variance in the county and the increased rate of breakthrough infections.
13:59:50 As we discussed in our meeting last week.
13:59:55 The community transmission rate in Jefferson County is really high with a case rate of 1460, or 100,000, which was the highest since the start of the cold in 19 pandemic.
14:00:10 And then scrolling down, You can see and that's where the area now there for the result. There are some changes to the appendix. I temporary personnel policies, and this details
those changes.
14:00:27 And while when we go through the appendix we'll see what those are.
14:00:35 So anyone have any questions or comments to this point.
14:00:39 No.
14:00:41 Hey.
14:00:50 So in the appendix. I went, someone is sick, they must notify their supervisor, this has been consistent throughout the last iterations of this document.
14:01:00 This highlights explicitly that the notification, or more explicitly, the notification must be confidential except as provided in section two D.
14:01:13 The supervisor or department director notifies the Human Resources manager.
14:01:18 The reason for this change is to
14:01:22 document in a general way where we're having outbreaks in the county government.
14:01:31 I have one question on that. Sure. Yeah.
14:01:36 I see we put in the flowchart from the public health and everything, if that changes if the recommendation changes will they be able to use the same address and update the flow
church, without invalidating our policy.
14:01:55 Well, I think if that were the case, we might have to respond with language that said the most current flow chart available from the Department of Public Health.
14:02:10 What would you say Philip.
14:02:14 Um, yeah I think you could do it that way.
14:02:18 Maybe, Maybe you.
14:02:22 You could take out the link and just, Just do what you said Sarah.
14:02:27 That would probably work.
14:02:31 You know, the Department of Public Health most current coven 19 flow testing flow chart or something like that.
14:02:39 Greg and pitcher they have been trying to keep the same link to avoid this problem, but you're right i mean it could still end up.
14:02:49 You know, going a different direction but if they have been mindful of not having a bunch of versions of different links.
14:02:58 It's not a big deal, obviously we can open it back up again to but
14:03:03 referencing it by what it is, instead of an explicit link would be more general I guess it's more future proof.
14:03:12 I think, I think that does it.
14:03:24 I'm sorry sir, I have a copy open to but just so I'm sure we're looking at the same one. Okay.
14:03:30 Does this also include if they if they are known contact.
14:03:40 I have don't believe this one says right here. Let's see.
14:03:46 We're talking about the flow chart or. This document.
14:03:50 And I guess number two in general, because we certainly want people who are also contacts to follow the flow chart, but I can't remember if it's covered somewhere else, or the
same on the next page right if you have a family member at home was comin.
14:04:05 I don't think it says contacts.
14:04:10 Because on the flow chart.
14:04:17 I wonder if maybe we shouldn't include that.
14:04:21 So, I mean, they don't have to close Codex don't have to notify supervisor or HR
14:04:30 do today.
14:04:32 You made a point of their family members is sick.
14:04:35 York they've had. They've been a close contact, regardless family or socially or yeah it doesn't currently require that. Okay.
14:04:46 But we could modify it if you want. Mm hmm.
14:04:52 It's tricky because the the flowchart says, if you have been boosted, then you don't need to modify behavior.
14:05:02 So, so, so I think a is designed to deal with the ADA question right about an employee's.
14:05:12 You know, health information so I don't think you can really fiddle with, with a.
14:05:21 You need to add something, some other requirement that you know regarding exposure that they have to notify you if they've been exposed.
14:05:33 So you could do that, you could
14:05:37 you could, I guess you could put it in the first part of to. If an employee is sick or has been exposed.
14:05:47 Yeah, and I'm wrong so the new flow chart does say even if you're fully vaccinated and had your booster. Oh, it's just pointing not necessary, wear a mask take a test on day
five.
14:06:00 So quarantine not necessary,
14:06:04 but only if you're boosted.
14:06:12 Um,
14:06:12 I think
14:06:16 I might stick with the same language as the flowchart which is if you're a close contact or is the close is a close contact of a known case.
14:06:32 It says, it says exposed, and contact.
14:06:39 But it does take close contacts further down
14:06:47 in parentheses.
14:06:51 Mm hmm.
14:06:55 So that would be with coven 19.
14:07:02 Yeah, maybe move that to the after that with her without.
14:07:06 Move the new sentence.
14:07:19 My only concern about exposed is that
14:07:24 there's, especially related to workplace, there's, there could have been exposure, but unless it reaches that close contact threshold.
14:07:36 Exposure could mean a lot of things, whereas close contact is defined in the guidance, so
14:07:45 I would be a little worried that people say I've been exposed to have to stay home for five days clearly like well there's a criteria.
14:07:56 So this is designed to trigger a discussion with the supervisor.
14:08:07 Um, and then, and then get to with the supervisor and ultimately with the HR manager.
14:08:16 So, so sort of a funneling of information way it's revise
14:08:26 and then ultimately, if you go down, I think it might be for the hour.
14:08:33 or later in three it.
14:08:36 It requires development of a plan yeah there we go. Three.
14:08:43 I'm fine with it as you have it.
14:08:47 Okay. Well I think one value this does add is that as Philip alluded to it starts the conversation and employees can ask, Well, do you mean at work or at home.
14:09:00 Well, the conversation is the mean both.
14:09:04 If someone's in close contact with someone at home, then we would still want to have that conversation.
14:09:13 I do think and to your otter expose to coven 19,
14:09:20 or.
14:09:22 Yeah. And then
14:09:29 what and then an unknown case with with with, you know, of covert 19.
14:09:39 Right. Yeah.
14:09:42 There you go.
14:09:44 Looks good.
14:09:50 So much more fun to be saying that looks good, then we then doing this.
14:09:59 Okay, So we kind of wrapped up in this section.
14:10:07 I had a general question that goes into the next intersection three as well specific a preserving anonymity of an employee that does has caught comin right so that's the ADA,
it's a protected class, I guess I'm just trying to understand that a little
14:10:23 bit more because it seems like a real handicap in trying to prevent infectious disease if we can talk about who was sick.
14:10:34 Yeah, so we. So we had a discussion with public health about this and basically, and Dr. Barry.
14:10:44 In the last Policy Management Committee meeting, and with Dr. Barry said is you know you're you, you have to respect people's privacy.
14:10:55 But there's also a principle of protecting other people too. And so this language that we have here was designed and kind of keep both of those things in mind.
14:11:12 So that's why we had gt there, it's, it's to its to give flexibility and how to, how to handle this to the department heads.
14:11:24 Because how you know all very large department might handle something we're versus a very small department might handle something could be really different.
14:11:34 And it depends on the person effective some people are have time to talk about it and want to tell people that they may have been near and others don't.
14:11:42 So, yeah.
14:11:46 Yeah, so try to allow for flexibility.
14:11:49 Okay, thanks.
14:11:52 And I noticed here references that the link to the flow chart so I'll just add the
14:12:02 code 19 testing flow charts.
14:12:08 Instead of here. Right, right.
14:12:12 That makes sense.
14:12:23 When I say the most recent like you did above.
14:12:31 There you go.
14:12:35 left here Here is the hanging Chad in there, you see that before what you answered it right here. Yeah.
14:12:43 Well it's crossed out.
14:12:44 Okay, I can't see that my screen.
14:12:53 So we're having staff and notify other or will notify other staff and we've been exposed without and identify the employee and working with the Human Resources manager to develop
a plan, and how coordinate with the Department of Public Health before finalizing
14:13:11 a plan, a response.
14:13:18 So again, moving on to four.
14:13:22 We're wanting our people to follow guidance from Jefferson County Public Health regarding some some symptoms and testing using the most recent coven 19 flowchart
14:13:50 following guidance from the CDC, and possibly working remotely, it's approved by the police department director
14:14:03 at the end of be it's, it's a colon, you might want to change it to a period, which right here, right there.
14:14:12 Push the formatting on that line and a couple others is like right justified.
14:14:25 Hey, go.
14:14:37 So under required face covering section, he has was discussed and a couple other meetings.
14:14:45 This was rearranged, and there were
14:14:51 definitions definitions section created, including what a face covering means, What does it mean to be a fully vaccinated employee.
14:15:03 And what an unvaccinated employee,
14:15:09 as time has gone on with Alma Kron face coverings are required from all for all employees at all times while indoors.
14:15:19 And the section goes through that requirement.
14:15:26 Phase covenants are not required for employees while working outdoors.
14:15:31 Employees continue to avoid touching surfaces in their face, that was part of the old policies.
14:15:41 And this has a section limited exceptions to mask wearing for fully vaccinated employees and fully vaccinated employees are not required to wear a face covering.
14:15:55 In these circumstances when they're in their own non shared space.
14:16:01 However, if other employees enter that space, all the employees must wear a mask.
14:16:08 And then while eating maintaining a distance of six feet
14:16:14 about unvaccinated employees eat
14:16:21 outside or by themselves or I mean, they would have to have their mask on, even if they were in an office by themselves so I'm just wondering, how did they eat.
14:16:31 There's no difference in masking for vaccinated and unvaccinated
14:16:41 anymore. Right.
14:16:49 Right.
14:16:57 vaccinated employees doesn't talk about unvaccinated
14:17:04 That kind of implies a be that you can't eat around an unvaccinated and play good because you can only take off your mask while eating.
14:17:15 When you're six feet apart from other fully vaccinated employees.
14:17:21 So if anybody's in the room, even though you're six feet apart if someone's unvaccinated you can't remove your mask.
14:17:28 Right. I mean, but that's it we're saying that, and that five also says that if you are unvaccinated in your own office, you need to have your mask on.
14:17:40 So how do you eat by yourself
14:17:43 fully vaccinated will have to go outside sitting there cars.
14:17:50 For that doesn't make sense.
14:17:55 What does it say for unvaccinated below though.
14:17:59 That was five was fully vaccinated right
14:18:06 yeah there's no exceptions for unvaccinated.
14:18:10 So you're talking about the risk of somebody pulling their mass offers unvaccinated in their own office.
14:18:20 I don't think we, I don't think we allow that now.
14:18:24 Even if they want to eat.
14:18:28 Right, I don't think so.
14:18:29 What do they do them at lunchtime, go out, go outside, leave the building.
14:18:36 Yeah, or go in their car I mean that's what it's that's what we're saying.
14:18:42 We have another cold snap and we get down to 20 degrees, I don't want to send people outside to eat.
14:18:49 And a lot of people don't have a lot of people don't have their own office, either or their own cars.
14:19:10 What if we scroll back up to the eating portion.
14:19:18 Yeah, Maybe we could just have a separate
14:19:22 section that says, well, eating some take it out of the fully vaccinated part.
14:19:33 So while eating maintain a distance of six foot feet.
14:19:36 Period.
14:19:40 I think you're going to want to consult with your public health people about that.
14:19:47 Yeah, I mean it's I know it's not ideal but we don't, we don't have a space.
14:19:54 Yeah, Ellen I might be interested in the fact that we're not waiting are unvaccinated people eat.
14:20:02 And if we have a policy that is not being enforced it has limited value so you know making this so it can be enforced is an important piece of it.
14:20:15 Well, that's an interesting question because an owl and I is, is that going to be the safety of the work style, that's more important than the ability of someone to find a safe
place to eat.
14:20:33 Yeah, I don't think there's an exception in the Ellen I rule for for bat vaccinated people eating on mask wearing.
14:20:46 So, well, I think that's kind of silly but I've got some guidance open right now see if I can find.
14:20:55 I'm looking on The Ellen I website.
14:21:00 Maybe can hydrate or eat that's not right.
14:21:06 Put the
14:21:09 kids there, fetch it.
14:21:14 Somebody's got.
14:21:39 go under reasonable.
14:21:47 If you look under requirements for employers and non public spaces.
14:21:53 The first bullet there.
14:21:55 Zoom just a tad on that.
14:21:59 Oh sorry I don't have, I, I can put it up, if you want, China's you man it's not.
14:22:07 Let's see.
14:22:07 There we go.
14:22:09 There you go. Let's good.
14:22:13 Yeah.
14:22:16 This second bullet talks regardless of vaccination status.
14:22:20 So locked into an office with a closed door who is unlikely to be visited regardless of vaccination status may take off their meds.
14:22:39 me I guess to me. Number five, with where we are, I would say, regardless of vaccinations status is what the hell and I would say, we just take out the word vaccinated fully
vaccinated employees for both A and B.
14:23:01 Do you want to add something like that sentence.
14:23:05 That's in the Li guidance a person is working alone if they are isolated from interaction with others, and have little or no expectation of in person interruptions.
14:23:21 And that's just for eating.
14:23:23 Yeah, just add that to the two they're allowed to eat, or something like that, according to Elena to if you're even if you're not eating if you're in an office and unable unlikely
to be disturbed, Elena says you don't have to wear a mask.
14:23:40 I think that we put in there as an incentive to get vaccinated right that incentive probably has a limited powers of persuasion at this point.
14:23:52 I agree with that.
14:24:00 So according to Ellen I
14:24:05 Fully vaccinated and non vaccinated folks are not required to wear the face covering, when in their own non shared office space.
14:24:19 I prefer.
14:24:21 Keeping it as we have it written but calling out, eating provisions for unvaccinated folks and in part that's because of conversations with Dr. Barry about the futility of people
having their masks off or pull down and then when somebody enters pulling
14:24:37 it up, because that it's the airborne transmission is not addressed by that, you know, somebody would could walk into somebody's office unwittingly or not.
14:24:53 And, and be exposed.
14:24:56 If somebody has been without a mask, so I still like the idea of of.
14:25:04 Well I don't know I could be convinced either way it's, but I, there is risk. There's more risk of a lot more risk of
14:25:15 transmission with unvaccinated unmasked workers.
14:25:21 You're muted grid.
14:25:27 I said yeah I'm I don't feel super strong one way or the other. I just want to make sure that it's an enforceable policy that we end up with, you know, and I mean it's assuming
that they're not singing by themselves, when they're by themselves in an office
14:25:36 you know there's still much less, much less aerosol if you're just sitting there breathing than if you're talking to someone or participating so I think being alone.
14:25:46 And I guess I would say both those, we should just take away the vaccination requirement in line with Elena recommendations, but I I'd be happy to just kind of kick this camp
for a week and see what Dr.
14:25:58 Barry says to.
14:26:17 Well you could you could take the, the vaccinated require full vaccination part and just add this limitation that as long as they're meeting this requirement that they're isolated
from interaction with others and have little or no expectation of in person
14:26:22 interruptions.
14:26:24 That might solve the problem and be consistent with the Elena guidance.
14:26:29 What do you think about that Kate.
14:26:32 I mean, I think would say there's, there's a pretty good increase risk there. And that's coming from the conversation specifically about people pulling up their masks and somebody
walks into their office.
14:26:47 So, It's that that very situation but I'm,
14:26:58 I don't know, I could go either way on it. I do think there's more risk that way. That said, I, you know.
14:27:06 Well, it's all right, Heidi What do you think, I was just reading through the coveted Q and A's and on a good sign about eating lunch was class face covering your mouth be removed
during lunch yes but social distancing needs to be maintained but it doesn't
14:27:22 say whether this is direction for unvaccinated people.
14:27:28 So I was digging into the weeds of Ellen my website, sorry.
14:27:34 And this Elena guidance we're looking at dates back to the Delta Varian it doesn't. This is not new guidance, yeah.
14:27:45 This was from September. Yep.
14:28:03 I would rather add just add a section that specifies that unvaccinated people can remove their masks to eat. When able to maintain safe social distance.
14:28:13 I don't think we can specify behind closed doors because we don't necessarily have that those facilities.
14:28:30 We could say preferably or, you know,
14:28:35 when available, should remove a mask to eat behind in a non public space I guess is the term.
14:28:52 In the interest of moving forward you know with with Kate suggestion, switch some accommodation for folks to eat their food.
14:29:05 So with this being a separate section or would this be added as like a section see here.
14:29:12 I think that section is for vaccinated vaccinated, place it would have to be a different number.
14:29:21 So we need a six I'm thinking here, or to go under seven.
14:29:30 It's better to keep it with the exceptions masking exceptions.
14:29:35 Ou. I don't know what your schedule is today but one thing you could do is ask us to, to come back to you later today on this point was some language, maybe we could get all
the Dr.
14:29:46 Barry.
14:29:48 In the meantime, and that way maybe we could have some language that would be acceptable.
14:29:54 Yeah. What do you think about that.
14:29:59 Yeah, I don't know how long that the meeting is going to go this afternoon, but if the board's open to that Apple also could be a good resource.
14:30:08 Yes, excellent thought.
14:30:12 This is the last item on our agenda for today except for the, you know, list of standing agenda items, so we can table this and go to those and then come back to this.
14:30:28 But basically make it all the way through I leave questions on one more section so we should maybe Apple to join us to, that's another possibility
14:30:39 or Dr. Barry I don't know what her schedule is.
14:30:43 Except I need her to, to get back to me on something today, really important.
14:30:51 Apple,
14:30:53 and blackberry is pretty likely to answer your phone college she's able So,
14:31:01 Yeah, I can try.
14:31:04 I'll mute myself.
14:31:06 Okay.
14:31:43 apples in a meeting but she's breaking away to join us.
14:31:54 You guys know that
14:31:58 she needs to be sent a link.
14:32:01 Now because it's just a min link she was in earlier. Okay.
14:32:20 Looks like Phil might have gotten Dr. Barry to
14:32:26 took the phone a friend option.
14:32:45 While we're waiting Can I go to my other note.
14:32:49 Section seven.
14:32:50 And I, and I did get her she's going to dial in over going can.
14:32:56 And I think Apple is as well.
14:32:58 I did ask her about my question to though, just.
14:33:04 Yes first.
14:33:11 While we wait for them on number seven, we talked about being sick or quarantining. And I feel like isolating is a different category sometimes you're sick when you're isolating
sometimes you're just you're getting you're over it, but I'm wondering if
14:33:25 we should say sick isolating or quarantine.
14:33:32 The several times that it's mentioned in section, which sections that again. temporary paid administrative leave enhancements.
14:33:37 It might be other places too but there we go.
14:33:43 Like let's see, or isolating.
14:33:48 Yeah, I just think isolating.
14:33:50 I mean, you often you're sick when you're isolating but you'll be continued isolate after you're sick necessarily so I'm just wondering about adding isolating as a triumvirate
they're sick isolating or quarantine
14:34:10 twice in that paragraph Let's
14:34:19 remember fo.
14:34:27 Thank you.
14:34:51 Hey
14:35:01 guys thanks for joining.
14:35:04 No problem. Glad to join
14:35:09 wants to tee up the question.
14:35:13 We got hi centered in this policy on
14:35:17 talking about unvaccinated people eating lunch.
14:35:22 Eating and drinking also important to health measures. Yeah, where I'm asking.
14:35:28 They do what our policy right now
14:35:32 where they're not allowed to eat.
14:35:34 Um, so I could offer what we have in the schools which is that you that you can pick off your mask, regardless of vaccination status when eating or drinking, but we would recommend
maintaining a distance of six feet between yourself and others, regardless
14:35:51 of vaccination status, if that helps at all.
14:35:57 And in the case where you were, you know some folks have access to their own office or more private spaces. We encourage that versus kongregate. Yes. Yeah, we would we would
encourage the use of private spaces for eating for index and employees I think
14:36:17 that's reasonable.
14:36:23 So we had talked about having a different section.
14:36:31 It sounds like just taking eating entirely out of wood no reference to vaccination when talking about eating so a section on eating.
14:36:41 Yeah, I would, I would hesitate to decide on like certain sections for vaccinated and unvaccinated in place I think that that goes in a direction that we wouldn't want to go
and
14:36:55 although we are calling out.
14:36:58 For example, the difference in,
14:37:03 and would we suggest anyone be using a non public or private space, regardless of vaccination status.
14:37:13 They're unmasked to eat.
14:37:28 Let's see spacing during eating is entering any unmasked time is a good idea, regardless of vaccination status. And if you have access to private dining spaces, at least while
we have this level of transmission.
14:37:30 That would be recommended. So for instance, the Department of Public Health. We are near universally vaccinated and we still try to eat separately from each other as much as
possible.
14:37:43 And Dr Byrd you speak a little to the dangers of unvaccinated folks being in their own office unmasked, and then putting the mask up as someone walks in, and that's something
that we're another, I guess decision point in this policy.
14:37:58 And so it does carry some risk you know say you're in your office alone and coven positive, and you're shedding viral particles into that space. And so then when someone else
comes into that space those particles hang in the air for up to an hour after
14:38:15 you brief them out.
14:38:16 So, there is some risk of coming into that space and then inhaling those particles, though I think it is lower if, if the person who's entering that space is mast.
14:38:27 And I think there is some. I think that's a space where there is, it would be a reasonable place to offer some flexibility. I think it is hard to maintain a mask 24 seven if
you're not used to it so if you're in a closed private office and you make sure
14:38:40 your mask went around others. That's, I think that's reasonable, if you have the option of going to a separate space where you haven't had unmask people hanging out all the
better.
14:38:50 But I think that's a space where some flexibility is reasonable.
14:38:56 And that is consistent with the alumni guidance to
14:39:06 go ahead, sir. What I'm hearing is is that we have one possibility would be to edit this section, and have it be limited exceptions to mask wearing
14:39:23 employee employees
14:39:30 are not required to wear a face covering and the
14:39:38 employees. This should be here.
14:39:51 Not required to wear a face covering. In the following scenario.
14:39:49 When within their own.
14:39:56 employees are not required to wear a face covering within their own non shared office however if another employee interest they wear a mask.
14:40:08 What well, eating and drinking and utilizing a private space is encouraged.
14:40:16 So this would go back up under that section five.
14:40:22 Would you want to put social distancing in that in there somewhere too and see what is now six.
14:40:30 But it looks like you kind of cover that in five be so while eating maintaining a distance of six feet between other fully vaccinated employees could just add that sentence
right there.
14:40:45 Utilizing a private spaces and current.
14:40:47 And then you don't need to have six.
14:40:49 Yeah, perfect.
14:40:54 But that's it still says, other fully vaccinated in place.
14:40:59 Yes, we'll have to remove that part.
14:41:05 And when we want a sentence somewhere in that oh that that does specify that that we do encourage.
14:41:14 Well, it's not encouraging but that that there is higher risk with unvaccinated in places like this feels like a opening a door wider than I think we we've considered previously.
14:41:31 And do we want to, you know, limit it a little better discourage wide use of these except exceptions. No one can change from vaccinated and unvaccinated now they can only change
from unvaccinated the maximum.
14:41:58 So I feel like at the time for persuasions, I don't know.
14:41:58 I'm going.
14:41:52 I just knew or interrupt interpretation of the policy.
14:42:12 them overlap with with shared meals. And so the more that we can keep folks based out while they eat in an unmatched setting, regardless of their vaccination status in truth,
the better of course that risk is higher, if you're on vaccinated.
14:42:24 But it's not zero. If you're fully vaccinated.
14:42:28 I guess Dr. Barry and he was almost gone and it's vaccine resistance, it like what's good, good for the goose is good for the gander right I mean yeah same infection control
measures that are good for the unvaccinated are also good for the vaccine.
14:42:50 Yes. Yeah, you're going to have less outbreaks in a fully vaccinated population but not zero, and so spacing spacing masking the things we already do right we acknowledge this
in the fact that even fully vaccinated people have to mask indoors right now.
14:42:57 And so, layering those medications regardless of vaccine status makes a lot of sense.
14:43:10 long as we have Dr. Barry. I guess I'm still maybe I'm just reading it through in this document the first time the ADA protections of anonymity inside of departments seem like
they would really inhibit adoption department or employers ability to control
14:43:30 infection if you're like oh, you know, one of the four people that you work with, is got an infection. So we need to do this and this and this.
14:43:39 But it's like, I mean, I'll know I have been you know 15 minutes in close proximity with someone, if I don't feel like without that information it's harder to make effective
interventions on a small scale.
14:43:55 I'd say yes. We have certainly run into contact tracing cases where lack of information has made that contact racing more complex, or less effective. Someone won't tell you,
if they're positive and you can't figure out exactly who is positive.
14:44:11 Contact racing is less effective.
14:44:13 Most of the time we do have success with voluntary compliance.
14:44:18 But I think your inability to share it with others is can sometimes be limiting, we do make exceptions for time periods so you can say for instance you were exposed on Tuesday.
14:44:32 And you're going to be able to figure out that it was at least one of these four people on Tuesday and that's okay, because you do need that knowledge in order to keep other
people safe so it's always the minimum disclosure to reach the required amount
14:44:45 of knowledge to keep focusing.
14:44:49 I mean that there be a caveat, if the employee volunteered that information said yes use this information I released my control over it.
14:44:59 I mean I I'd be open to Philips ideas about it we do that in public health, so we always ask the individual, you can we share your information can we say to your friends that
hey it was Joe, who was positive.
14:45:13 And if they say yes then we do.
14:45:16 But if they if they don't, then we can.
14:45:27 And I'm sensitive that I brought Apple over here and I'm not sure she was in another meeting Do you need to go back appa.
14:45:37 Well, I could. I'm not sure that I can provide any finer fitness then Dr. Barry Can she has dealt in these policies much, and she's pretty. She's very aware of what we're doing
here, particularly in, in, in public health if that's any model.
14:45:57 So I don't know.
14:45:59 Dr. Barry Are you are you good.
14:46:03 I can, I can take this one and let you get back to
14:46:09 your face. Okay, you too I appreciate it thank you for calling me over and release thank you all for coming over.
14:46:20 Philip just put some language in the chat. Looks good.
14:46:31 think this looks good.
14:46:40 Okay, so we're okay with this question, thank you so much Dr. Barry for joining us.
14:46:47 Thanks for saving associated. Yeah.
14:46:55 Do you need anything else from me actually while I'm here. Well, I guess, as long as you're here I'd love to hear Philips response to the idea of maybe putting something in
that if an infected individually employee volunteers the information that can
14:47:06 be shared.
14:47:08 Right. I don't think that's a problem at all.
14:47:15 Do you think it needs to be added, or is that explicitly prohibited right now, so I think at least the prohibition should be amended.
14:47:24 Without the Express approval of the employee
14:47:31 or maintain confidentiality of an employer a sticker exposed, unless the employee consents to releasing the information or something. Yeah.
14:47:42 When you could specify consents to a limited release of information you know there, there's not going to be any time that we're going to, you know, put their name and an email
and blast it out to the county.
14:47:52 But that you know a limited release to for employee safety or something like that, however.
14:48:13 related to the exposure.
14:48:25 Well, editing a Word document in front of us, it's good it's it's it's daunting.
14:48:30 Next we'll do Excel. after that we'll do accents.
14:48:35 I've done that and PowerPoints to in groups.
14:48:43 Oh yeah.
14:48:46 Just imagine it being a bunch of lawyers doing it all at the same time.
14:48:54 You want to make it in writing for safety sake, because that might be wise.
14:49:04 Or you mean the approval of the employee to release the info have that writing.
14:49:09 Yeah.
14:49:17 Save us from, I didn't say you could do that.
14:49:25 performance for Sarah to make
14:49:30 them all the time.
14:49:31 Yes.
14:49:33 That's exactly right.
14:49:40 Okay. does this capture what we're discussing here does, it's good
14:49:51 to since we have Dr. Barry if we could quickly go over the leave.
14:49:56 We're sharing, we didn't make any substantive changes, Dr. Barry since we talked about it on Friday but might be good to just get your final.
14:50:04 Okay, um, the language we're considering today, or
14:50:15 just reading it real fast.
14:50:19 You know, if it's not obvious changes in blue ink.
14:50:24 Thank you. It was not obvious actually so I was reading all of the red.
14:50:30 Yes, I think that, That looks reasonable.
14:50:34 So why do we have the vaccine information in the top, the first part of that paragraph.
14:50:44 It was in, it was in the eighth policy.
14:50:49 That's just.
14:50:50 We didn't take it out.
14:50:53 We could take it out, easy. I don't think you need it.
14:50:56 Yeah, me neither.
14:50:59 I think it could start at Jefferson County in order to promote public health.
14:51:04 Teams it's, you know,
14:51:20 I think the reason that may have been included originally was to provide the justification for why we were
14:51:33 don't know, offering up this unpaid leave or retina on paid but the paid leave.
14:51:39 But maybe that doesn't really make sense because it's when people are sick.
14:51:44 And it's it's not for people who are vaccinated or unvaccinated whitelist widely available.
14:51:52 I think it could just take that sentence out and you'd be fine.
14:51:57 To buy the first two or just that one.
14:52:02 Just that first sent the first sentence as of March.
14:52:08 But why why keep the second one. Yeah.
14:52:12 Oh, you're right. Yeah, that's what I was saying, Yeah, good point.
14:52:19 Yeah, got you got you Heidi I get it now.
14:52:23 And Sarah while you're at it, in the header of paragraph seven administrative business phone.
14:52:32 Man,
14:52:35 and spell check didn't catch that what what was going on.
14:52:47 So is this in line with what other jurisdictions are doing. Do we know Dr. Barry.
14:52:55 I'm so column has something very similar, though they are limiting they're still vaccinated in place.
14:53:01 That's a little, little change.
14:53:04 I'm not quite sure about other jurisdictions though.
14:53:07 I know King has been maintaining sickly for people who test positive are exposed to Kobe for the same goals. Reasons Why You guys are as to make it possible for people to isolate
and quarantine, and not come to work with Kobe
14:53:29 is keeping it to be, or their child is sick quarantining or isolating should that the dependence.
14:53:39 I was seeing the same actually there, you know, for instance, you may have a frail elder who has co bed who needs care. So there, there are people we provide care to corner
children or foster child or.
14:53:55 So changing this to say dependent.
14:54:10 And again, this was written in such a way to give department director some flexibility, it's about them, granting. So based on the, you know, they know their employees and they
know their employees situation so director would have to, you know, know that
14:54:24 there's a dependent in the home who needs help and some.
14:54:29 There's some discretion given to directors.
14:54:34 Also, that also applies to that.
14:54:36 Leave for vaccination, and recovering
14:54:46 and conscious of not wanting to take too much of debt to various time
14:54:55 think this looks good, um, were there other points where, where I could be of help.
14:55:03 Now we really got a high centered on the eating, eating lunch thing. For some reason, it, it can be hard when you're in the midst of updating the document that can get, get
down a rabbit hole, but now I think this was.
14:55:17 So, me or your work on this.
14:55:20 Thanks for coming over to Dr. Barry.
14:55:26 I did notice that maybe a Scrivener there and when we were going through the.
14:55:31 The adopting ordinance. It has a date of July, 26 in there somewhere. and I don't think that's correct.
14:55:42 So, was saving this for last week remember which page.
14:55:51 Yeah, it's right there, down there. Oh yeah, sorry.
14:55:55 Yeah. Yeah, right there.
14:55:57 So we could, we could put today's date
14:56:02 in place for that.
14:56:12 Wonderful.
14:56:21 So are there any further changes, than anyone has
14:56:30 the numbering page numbering still funky.
14:56:34 That's a good question. So page five of three.
14:56:41 Chef get out of the footer and looks like the right.
14:56:47 It'll be the last page that does it to you.
14:56:49 Yeah, I was in the first Oh yeah.
14:56:52 Yeah, take some five oh yeah all right so any recommendations from the people about changing the numbers.
14:57:01 Change the five to seven and you should be okay.
14:57:09 And the other policy had it as well.
14:57:12 First one.
14:57:23 Okay.
14:57:25 And what was that Kate Hollis, the first policy also had the last footer was wrong.
14:57:43 I'm sure that was my, I'm sure that was my fault, actually. So, I'll take responsibility.
14:57:50 Three, is it three of three.
14:57:53 Right How many are there, how many hours five.
14:57:58 So I think if you just changed the seven at the end, it'll probably work that's just a guess.
14:58:04 The two separate policies though, the appendix. Oh you remember. Oh, You're right. Good point. That's a really good point.
14:58:17 Although you can have it as part of the ordinance just one numbering system for the whole ordinance and fix the policy when you adopt it.
14:58:28 Okay, well it's just changing that to a five corrected that part of it.
14:58:34 What's the last page look like
14:58:45 journey content on page seven.
14:58:56 Yeah, this is the content on page seven right here.
14:59:03 Okay.
14:59:11 Anything else on here.
14:59:16 Now we're doing the debt.
14:59:20 Do we just make a motion to accept it with the changes proposed or do we want to, because we made so many changes, do we want to accept all the changes and
14:59:32 how
14:59:35 do we want it.
14:59:37 Okay, could save it as a new document and then accept all changes and see what it looks like.
14:59:46 Seems like it'd be good just to look at it before we.
15:00:04 Okay, here's the tricky part is saving it to where I know I'll find it.
15:01:04 Hey.
15:01:17 Alright, yeah, page numbering issue on on the first page in the footer.
15:02:11 Ah, Nice.
15:02:13 Well done, good
15:02:26 sweaters.
15:02:30 Yes.
15:02:33 There was a word of it was underlined and read on page two
15:02:44 theaters.
15:02:47 I looked it up they're not just for your feet. It might be misspelled.
15:02:50 It might be a spelling error, I don't know, that's a standard spelling. Yeah, right.
15:02:57 Thought too.
15:02:59 But we're doesn't agree with us.
15:03:41 It wants you to say using instead of utilizing. That's why it's giving you a hard time.
15:03:51 Anyone want to wait does their vote for using or utilizing. I'm making a comma.
15:03:54 Instead of a period.
15:03:56 If you spell Gator with the knee instead of a know it might
15:04:02 might get rid of that red underline.
15:04:12 Um, do you guys want it to say Gator with he.
15:04:16 Well I just I just did a search and I typed in gay tour, and nothing came up except Gator with an E.
15:04:28 Unless you're in Louisiana.
15:04:32 And then No, no I Yeah.
15:04:45 Wait, where's
15:04:39 the definition of face coverings.
15:04:44 Okay, here we go.
15:04:47 That's quite like having definitions all in one place in there.
15:04:52 No, no red line.
15:04:55 Okay, so here we go.
15:05:03 Makes sense.
15:05:21 The other sections have spaces between these wanting to.
15:05:45 Is it dnt dependent, I don't know, it's says there's a spelling issue.
15:05:52 Yes, no gnt some smart.
15:06:01 Much better. It looks good.
15:06:19 Both ways.
15:06:22 Okay and now there's not seven pages.
15:06:31 There you go. You accepting all the changes.
15:06:34 Yeah.
15:06:38 Okay.
15:06:41 Okay.
15:06:44 Is there any section, you would like to go over again or, or have you slow down to look at.
15:06:53 I mean I think we, we slow down and look for my God.
15:06:59 So
15:07:03 does anyone want to make a motion.
15:07:06 I'll make a motion.
15:07:09 Adopting a resolution.
15:07:20 Second,
15:07:23 I'll try out with a friendly amendment as as modified today right. Yes, thank you.
15:07:33 All those in favor.
15:07:45 Hi.
15:07:38 Although, let's see, we need to do two separate ones.
15:07:44 Does the resolution cover both policies over it covers the policy, you should I think you're good.
15:07:54 This has been a lot of work. Thank you, Sarah and Phil.
15:07:59 Always painful to do this live thanks for walking through this.
15:08:03 And it's like the third or fourth time we've done it lives in various venues
15:08:10 that the public gets to see the sausage being made every once, while you beat me to it so I was gonna say something about sausage myself.
15:08:22 This pandemic has been a lot of extra work for everybody, you know, and these kinds of policy tune ups need to be done as these variants land on our shores, so it's important
Mark appreciate, trying to be fair, and passionate and strike the right balance
15:08:46 it takes some work.
15:08:48 Yeah.
15:08:50 Then we can while we have the players that are here we can do that brief executive session I was talking about.
15:08:57 Yeah, we're done with our listed agenda items and then we have our standing agenda items that we could do and except brief Executive Session first.
15:09:09 You do need me for that because it's you don't necessarily need me.
15:09:14 I don't think that we need you felt. Thank you. I first was Carolyn if there's an executive session there should be a prosecutor. Our legal counsel in our executive session.
15:09:25 It's for discussion of the qualifications of an employee right so I don't think you have to have a lawyer there, or.
15:09:33 Okay, actual or potential litigation, or Sure you do.
15:09:37 Okay and Heidi Do you have the RCW on that, or the exemption.
15:09:43 You're already sent to you.
15:09:44 I don't have it at my fingertips that we don't have a meeting.
15:09:52 We had one though. Two weeks ago. Yeah, you can find it on there. Yeah.
15:10:02 Look.
15:10:21 Alright, if it's okay with everyone, I'm going to take my leave. I think my legal assistant is freaking out she was expecting me to be backed by 230 so.
15:10:30 Hey, thank you.
15:10:32 You're welcome.
15:10:33 I've got it here if you want, Heidi.
15:10:38 Do you want to read it.
15:10:40 Or I can share my screen and you can read it. Okay.
15:10:44 I have a link for the executive session together Go To Meeting link that you use some two weeks ago on our calendar.
15:10:53 Two weeks ago on our calendar and work.
15:10:56 Can you see it.
15:10:59 Yes.
15:11:02 So, so, do you guys all have the link from two weeks ago, so you know where to go on your calendar, could you send that to me.
15:11:14 I'll send it to you, I don't think.
15:11:21 Yeah, but that talks about qualifications of applicants. Yeah, that's not the reason we're doing this. Oh, sorry, sorry.
15:11:25 We need performance.
15:11:32 Yeah, Mrs C has it.
15:11:37 good learning for me.
15:11:40 should make a little change I have it.
15:11:44 I have it. Thanks Carolyn.
15:11:47 Okay. Okay.
15:11:50 Can you just share your screen.
15:11:55 Um, I'm running at capture and she can read it and make it full.
15:12:00 OK, Now after reading.
15:12:05 And I'm sorry I don't know who will all be present solid Heidi do that part of it, I'll just read off the CW exemptions are outlined in the open public meetings act are cw 4231
10 parentheses.
15:12:20 One parentheses g review to review the performance of a public employees,
15:12:26 and will be going into that executive session with the three commissioners and human resources director Sarah melon con and interim county administrator Mark McCauley, and what's
the time frame will be back at 330,
15:12:47 from 312 to 330, you're welcome to hop off now.
15:12:51 Thank you.
15:46:07 I'm you
15:46:09 doing so good to.
15:46:13 is doing so good too.
15:46:22 We're coming out of executive session regarding review of a public employee exemption as outlined in the open public meetings act RCW 42 dot 30 dot 110 parentheses, one parentheses.
15:46:30 x.
15:46:30 And you're taking no action
15:46:36 from CT correct.
15:46:43 What
15:46:40 you are saying, and didn't sound like g.
15:47:03 ORTW, a list I have parentheses g sorry do I'm going to restate that we're coming out of executive session. You don't have to go when you're coming out.
15:46:59 It's only when you go in type on my piece of paper. Looks like he
15:47:08 think we should let mark in.
15:47:21 our guys have something he wants to bring up regarding the ordinance that you approve.
15:47:29 Mark would you want to take the phone.
15:47:38 mark you're on mute.
15:47:41 You're trying to speak.
15:47:43 Yeah prisoners I Mr tears, who's a pretty good watchdog pointed out that
15:47:55 the RCW that was in the ordinance today.
15:48:00 3550 4095 refers to cities and towns.
15:48:07 There.
15:48:15 I'm sorry I had a be captured going.
15:48:32 He pointed out that the, the RCW on eliminating funds or that type is governed by RCW 36 dot eight, but to 35.
15:48:36 And so, you are approved the ordinance.
15:48:40 with the 3554 dot o 95.
15:48:44 And so that we can call that descriptors there.
15:48:48 But,
15:48:51 Carolyn Do we need a motion to have the board reapproved that with the correct RCW reference because we will have to change the document before you sign it.
15:49:02 Yeah, I would say that you're calling it out on the record and it's happening in the same day so as long as the commissioners are in agreement that we can go ahead and fix that
error to the RC W.
15:49:12 I don't think there's a need for another emotion.
15:49:15 Okay. Just, just wanted to announce that an open session, let you know that that we're making that change any minute or reflects that.
15:49:28 Yeah, certainly support that and thank you to Mr tears for catching that. Yes, thank you. I see it's referenced in both the agenda request, and the and the ordinance itself
so we should make sure to adjust both support that change as well.
15:49:42 Yeah. Thank you.
15:49:49 Okay.
15:49:53 So, that's our agenda.
15:49:56 And we have, we just have our list of standing agenda items here.
15:50:01 So I think we've covered everything we need to cover on weekend weekly covert 19 discussion is there anything else that anyone wants to bring up today.
15:50:13 uncovered or in general uncovered.
15:50:16 Am I going down the bulleted list to the end of our agenda.
15:50:19 One at a time. Yeah, Bo D Don Coble.
15:50:24 Lots of coverage lately.
15:50:26 Okay. So legislative update anything for the good of the order that you want to bring up Kate. in the last week. You've been tuned to um yeah I can fill you in on some bills
that are of interest to the county.
15:50:45 And I'll I'll go through these quickly I will say that the Lorraine Loomis act that we talked about previously is very controversial and me taking a position as controversial
and so let's just hope that the.
15:51:02 They keep working to improve that Bill and I stand behind my support of it but it is it is raising some hackles within counties so.
15:51:15 Okay.
15:51:17 Few health bills of interest. Host Bill 1074 is establishing fatality reviews for overdoses and suicides, this is an important tool that's used in all children's deaths have
a fatality review and requires a sharing or allows for sharing of information
15:51:36 that is would normally not be allowed due to privacy issues, but is really helpful in assessing for prevention purposes so that is got to be a valuable tool in some of our prevention
efforts.
15:51:55 There's a potential for increase in vaping tax to prove to fund prevention and cessation.
15:52:03 wycech generally supporting that so long as it doesn't affect the foundational public health funding. Currently, those funds go into the debate text goes into foundational public
health, so they don't want to take it out of foundational public health
15:52:18 if it is additional. Then they support it.
15:52:20 And there's a Senate Bill, which is creating a misdemeanor for forging vaccination records and federal felony for selling false vaccine cards.
15:52:37 That's interesting.
15:52:39 I go back to tobacco for one second. There was one that was brought up in our empower teens coalition that seems like a real no brainer about moving the age of enforcement for
tobacco products to are making.
15:52:53 There's, there's no enforcement from 18 to 21 currently, because we change the age, you know from 18 to 21. So it's basically removing misdemeanor for possession, up to age
18 as well, and prevention populations are supportive of this, of this bill.
15:53:12 I'm wondering if you've heard of it or just one of the key you into it.
15:53:16 I did not hear about it at yc.
15:53:19 It does sound like something that's, that was that would support the consistency and enforcement is certainly a priority and I want to talk about it with power tease about my
bring it up on their own but that's great.
15:53:34 Okay. Good to know.
15:53:36 A couple of big voting bills one would move the Washington primary dates.
15:53:45 Earlier you know there's a lot of people who feel like our primary is useless. Other in national elections.
15:53:51 But it runs into a number of statutory problems so was x not supporting it currently because it's, it's too complicated to implement, and another is a bill, allowing ranked
choice voting, allowing counties to do that which is not currently allowed and
15:54:11 it's a concept I'm really interested in.
15:54:15 And, but it's not getting a lot of support from counties in particular, so it'll be interesting to see that conversation move along.
15:54:24 And there is a big voting rights bill that was that considers totally unwieldy.
15:54:34 And maybe too big to be able to get across the finish line of this session, which I hope is the case because I certainly don't want to end up being opposed to a voting rights
bill.
15:54:46 There's a house bill to create a state agency for housing and homelessness.
15:54:53 And the first step in that is a creation of a task force I think that the bill might just call for the task force that will then look into doing a state agency for housing and
homelessness
15:55:07 and hospital 1820 would allow counties to permit a TVs to go on county roads, something that a lot of rural counties want, and definitely some concerns safety concerns, and
high speed roads, it would be optional you wouldn't be required to adopt it but
15:55:39 anticipate there being some pressure to adopt it if it were an option. I'm seeing.
15:55:42 There's a bill which would require that the Department of Health, take into receivership group a water systems currently counties service receivership for failing group based
systems, and apparently it makes sense to move that to do Ah, it's a liability
15:56:01 for counties so inexpensive liability.
15:56:04 There's a bill introducing the vehicle miles traveled road usage charge, instead of, you know, as an alternative to fuel tax.
15:56:17 Let's see. Now, pilot program with that already like a bunch of people.
15:56:36 So this is kind of the next step in implementing that.
15:56:42 Um, let's see there's a bill to phase out gas powered equipments.
15:56:49 And that is unpopular with a number of counties who love their guests powered everything.
15:56:57 You know, it's the circular argument of. How can you require us to face these things out when there's no market for non gas powered it's like well, there will there ever be
a market unless you start to face them out, chicken and egg problem,
15:57:14 it's one that's sounds like a small bill but it's getting a lot of attention this summer 1722, requiring counties to allow micro trenching for broadband installation.
15:57:26 So, it's a technology that does less disturbance, and entrenching for installation of fiber.
15:57:37 But it is that there's a lot of concern about preemption of county authority and Funny enough, it wouldn't apply to state roads.
15:57:45 So whatever you know safety concerns that counties might have the same thing though, your problem
15:57:57 I'm still uncertain how this bill is going to move.
15:58:01 Senate Bill 5868, which would allow the funds to be used for affordable housing.
15:58:09 And they're not willing to add our extension of those funds into the, into this film, just a little bit odd.
15:58:20 You know was there was an Am I associated with what what that was.
15:58:27 I'm gonna know for 80% are under.
15:58:31 I can't remember the use designated like how those dollars could be used. I'm not sure if it's specified, or if it referenced another state standard.
15:58:46 Um, This is an interesting one.
15:58:48 Yep, that was for workforce housing right.
15:59:02 Um, I think they call it affordable, affordable workforce housing or something, it is a, we could look it up. maybe when we move out I'll look it up again.
15:59:07 I'm couple of taps bills would allow counties to tax marijuana operations.
15:59:15 Further, and then a second one which would allow counties to implement an income tax, so long as they are decreasing, decreasing other Texas. Interesting.
15:59:29 So, those are those are the main ones I think that touch our issues.
15:59:39 Yeah,
15:59:41 as well as the ones I mentioned earlier the electrical apprenticeship when we're working on.
15:59:49 Um, let's see.
15:59:52 I'm not sure that there's any hearings coming up this week I'm going to be taking part in.
15:59:59 Um, but yeah, that's it that's it from a legislative report.
16:00:04 Right.
16:00:06 Right. Are there any so are our last three items are very miscellaneous miscellaneous items calendar coordination our future agenda items.
16:00:26 So anything you guys want to talk about for future agenda planning. Mark and I are, as we mentioned earlier, tuning up a subset of our workshops list to bring back to you guys.
16:00:34 But that'll be that's future agenda but stay tuned.
16:00:50 I don't think I have anything else.
16:00:50 I don't know.
16:00:51 Okay, well, then I would add during our meeting for the day.