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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM032805 District No. 1 Commissioner: Phil Johnson District No.2 Commissioner: David W. Sullivan District No.3 Commissioner: Patrick M. Rodgers County Administrator: John F. Fischbach Clerk of the Board: Lorna Delaney MINUTES Week of March 28, 2005 Chairman Phil Johnson called the meeting to order in the presence of Commissioner Patrick M. Rodgers and Commissioner David W. Sullivan. Introduction and Swearing-In Ceremony of Undersheriff Tim Perry: Several employees and Elected Officials were present when Sheriff Mike Brasfield introduced the new Undersheriff Tim Perry and reviewed his law enforcement history. He was sworn in by the Sheriff and Mrs. Perry pinned the badge on his uniform, which is a traditional practice in the law enforcement field. Undersheriff Perry's official duties begin on April I, 2005. Letter Regarding Courthouse Clock Tower Rehabilitation Restoration Project Funding; Representative Lynn Kessler: County Administrator John Fischbach explained that Representative Lynn Kessler's Office telephoned and asked for the exact funding amount that the County needs for the Courthouse Clock Tower project. Central Services Director Allen Sartin offered to provide an approximate amount for the project from budget data. Later in the Day: After talking with Public Works Director Frank Gifford, the Board agreed to state in the letter to Representative Kessler that $450,000 is needed for the Clock Tower project and $30 million is needed for the entire Courthouse restoration. Tim Caldwell, Manager, Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce re: Ferry Advisory Committee Update: Tim Caldwell introduced several members of the Ferry Advisory Committee who were present at the meeting. He explained that the State Transportation Commission will make a decision on April 26 regarding a 7% increase on ferry tariffs that would take effect on June 1. He added that with rising gas prices, a gas surcharge may also be established. There will be an open house at Fort Worden to review the plans for the Port Townsend Ferry Terminal Project and take public comment. The proposal is to expand the dock in order to accommodate any boat in the fleet. Currently, the maximum number of cars on a Port Townsend-Keystone ferry is 65 and this would Page 1 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of March 28,2005 ,~''''''ét,,' ;: ',t.. ":1'1·1/,,,,...,.;.'~ increase to 130 cars. A much larger footprint is needed and traffic concerns need to be addressed. If the Port Townsend project stays on schedule, it will be completed by 2008. A private passenger ferry began weekday runs from Kingston to downtown Seattle a few months ago and has already impacted the number of passengers on the State Ferries. The Department of Transportation is looking into passenger only service again. Representatives from the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce attended a hearing to comment on PENNCO providing a bus service from Port Angeles directly to Kingston. PENNCO has talked with Jefferson Transit about a connection from East Jefferson County. Two 78-hour bridge closures ofthe Hood Canal Bridge are being scheduled in August or September. A survey will be sent out to residents to ask whether they prefer weekday or weekend closures. The Port Townsend and the Port Ludlow Chambers of Commerce want to mitigate the bridge closures by running passenger ferry service from Seattle to Port Townsend and Port Ludlow and there are already several business sponsors. The mitigation for a 2 month Hood Canal Bridge closure will cost about $6 million and includes: a temporary parking lot at the Shine Quarry; a temporary passenger terminal at Southpoint; and a temporary parking lot and terminal at Port Gamble. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following comments were made: Several citizens agreed on the importance of having two emergency dispatchers on duty at all times as was originally agreed by the JeffCom Board and the ex-County Administrator; when the dispatchers are on duty, they shouldn't spend their free time playing on the Internet; the descriptions are too vague for Executive Sessions listed on the Board's agenda; who was Commissioner Rodgers walking into the DCD office with last summer with Commissioner Titterness?; and the data was manipulated to come up with the $362 amount for the Commissioners' monthly car allowance. APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Sullivan moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Rodgers seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. 1. RESOLUTION NO. 22-05 re: Increasing Cash in the Solid Waste Scale House Cash Drawer 2. AGREEMENT NO. B-04-SP- W A-0857 re: Grant Funding for the Courthouse Clock Tower Rehabilitation Project No. 30315470; Jefferson County Public Works; U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development 3. AGREEMENT NO. G0400298, Amendment No.2 re: Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 17 Instream Flow Setting; Amending Period of Performance and Payment; Jefferson County Health and Human Services; Washington State Department of Ecology Page 2 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of March 28,2005 i~"·";;\ + .,. '1,\'% J ~,,~~~ 4. AGREEMENT NO. 0363-28151, Amendment No.3 re: Reduction in Funding and Move Liability to Safe Harbor; Jefferson County Health Department; Washington State Department of Alcohol and Substance Abuse Services (DASA) 5. AGREEMENT, Amendment No.6 re: Project Management Services for the Watershed Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 17; Amending Specific Duties, Period of Performance, and Payment; Jefferson County Health and Human Services; Sound Resolutions, Susan Gulick 6. AGREEMENT re: Educational Presentation "The Magic of Recycling" to School Districts in East Jefferson County; Jefferson County Health and Human Services; A Touch of Magic, Inc. BID OPENING re: Publication of County Legal Notices: County Administrator John Fischbach opened and read the bids into the record. The Leader's bid was $7.50 per column inch for first insertion and $7.50 per column inch for subsequent insertions. The Peninsula Daily News' bid was $5.75 per column inch and $5.75 per column inch for subsequent insertions. Both newspapers also submitted circulation information. Commissioner Rodgers moved to accept the bids for analysis and to have staff review the information and report back to the Board with a recommendation that is in the County's best interest. Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Discussion and Possible Adoption of Jefferson County Parks & Recreation Advisory Board Recommendation re: Naming lrondale Beach Park: Parks and Recreation Manager Warren Steurer noted that the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board has recommended the name "Irondale Beach Park" for the new park in Irondale. He reviewed the process in the park's master plan for choosing the name. They advertised for approximately one month in the newspaper and on the County website for citizen suggestions. A sub- committee from the Advisory Board, representing all three Commissioner districts, with extra representation in District #2 where the park is located, reviewed the names that were submitted. The sub-committee noted three choices with "Irondale Beach Park" as their top choice. The next step in the process is for the County Commissioners to decide on the recommendation. Warren Steurer noted that most of the local residents refer to the park as "Irondale Beach Park." There were a number of people who wanted to name the park after an individual who had contributed a great deal to the community, but the sub-committee felt that it might be more appropriate to have a park shelter or a picnic bench as a memorial. Commissioner Sullivan moved to accept the recommendation from the Parks & Recreation Advisory Board and that the park be named "Irondale Beach Park." Commissioner Rodgers seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Page 3 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of March 28,2005 ~.,."".,. f #4,..'!. .. -. . .~ ":'.I-/":I ..(. ~'-~... The Board met in Executive Session from 10:30 a.m. to 11 :00 a.m. with the County Administrator and Public Works Staff regarding real estate negotiations. Judi Stewart, Jefferson County Noxious Weed Control Board re: Weed Control Program Update: Judi Stewart introduced Kathy Lucero, Clallam County's Noxious Weed Coordinator. Currently Clallam and Jefferson County share a grant funded by the Secure Rural Schools Act. This funding will expire in 2006 unless the Act is reauthorized by Congress. Kathy Lucero noted that gorse, a noxious weed, has been found in two locations in Jefferson County. This plant contains a natural creosote which is very dangerous during fire season. At this point, it can be controlled before it spreads. The County's biggest problem is poisonous hemlock. Tansy and knapweeds are also a concern. There are approximately twelve noxious weeds in Jefferson County that the State wants eradicated. Chances are that there will never be an enforcement officer to deal with the weeds although the Weed Board has that power under the law. When most property owners learn that they have noxious weeds, they voluntarily get rid ofthem. Within the past year the Weed Board has coordinated two weed pull events to get the public involved, but the County doesn't have the resources to do an effective job. Judi Stewart reported that the previous Board of Commissioners had asked them to submit information regarding a possible assessment. She explained that Jefferson County has budgeted approximately $20,500 for FY2005 operations and those funds will be exhausted by the end of the 3rd quarter. Jefferson County pays $5,000 to Clallam County for 5~ hours per week for the Coordinator and the remainder of the funding will be used for a postcard mailing, salaries, and to pay for a Clerk Hire this summer. The Noxious Weed Control Board is proposing an annual budget of $100,000 which would require an assessment of$4 per year per parcel owner. This is a flat parcel fee with an acreage component. Forest lands, by law, are assessed at one-tenth of that rate. State agencies and private property owners must pay the assessment. Federal and Tribal land is not assessed. Judi Stewart stated that she has talked with the Assessor and the Treasurer. The next step in the process is to hold public hearings in each Weed District before September. The Noxious Weed Control Board is responsible for classifying the lands and making a recommendation to the Commissioners. The Commissioners can approve the assessment. A vote of the public is not required. Commissioner Sullivan asked if Jefferson County is meeting the minimum State requirements for weed control? John Fischbach replied that he believes that the County is meeting the mandate. The concern is that the Secure Rural Schools Act funding may not be reauthorized. Commissioner Rodgers noted that an assessment is raising taxes and he is against raising taxes as a fundamental principle. It also changes the relationship ofthe Commissioners in terms of allocating the resources of the County. He asked for more information from the Noxious Weed Board about how the funding will be used and if it will accomplish their objective. Page 4 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of March 28,2005 ;'~''''''''i~ ~- ... (I/fl "...~~, Kathy Lucero asked the Board if the Noxious Weed Control Board can proceed with the land classification hearings? Chairman Johnson and Commissioner Sullivan agreed that they could proceed. Commissioner Rodgers asked to see an analysis before they move forward. They agreed to get the information to the Board and to meet with the County Administrator regarding a possible assessment. Katherine Baril, WSU Extension re: Report on Trip to Chicago with Students From Quilcene School District; Connecting Schools and Community Program: Funding from Secure Rural Schools Grants has been used to finance a very successful Quilcene 4-H After School program. The Gates foundation did a study on students in rural schools and found that after 8th grade, they begin to lose interest. WSU partnered with Quilcene School to receive a Gates Foundation Grant. The anticipated result is to connect students who have a passion for something with a healthy adult in the community, outside the school, who becomes their mentor and encourages them to follow their dreams. There are 54 students in the program. Joy Baisch coordinates the program with her husband. Two students in the Quilcene High School program were chosen by the Gates Foundation to attend a conference in Chicago and do a presentation on the program. Joy Baisch explained that Quilcene High School originally had a Gates Foundation grant that was primarily for infrastructure, and the Foundation wanted to add a community component. Liz Hodgson, a student in the program, explained that the coordinators had the students fill out a form about their interests and these interests were connected to jobs in the community. Joy Baisch noted that there are several tracks: natural resources, technology, arts, music and culture, community leadership, entrepreneurship, and individual learning projects. The students can be involved in a variety of methods: mentorships, internships, student- run businesses and service learning. Several activities in each track were reviewed. The students that are involved in this program have shown a renewed interest in school and learning. Many ofthese activities will give the students the experience and skills they need to graduate and get good paying jobs. David Brader, Westside Technology Coordinator, WSU Extension re: Discussion of Fibre Optics: David Brader stated that he is before the Board to request the $125,000 from the Public Infrastructure Fund that has been allocated to the fibre optics network project. Open access is necessary for economic development in the County. A goal of the project is to get the NOANET point of presence (POP) in place. He presented a plan on how the funding would be spent and outlined the phases as proposed. He is also working with Millennium Digital Media. Matching funds are in place for the first phase of the project if the PIP funds are made available. Partnerships with other agencies such as the State Department of Transportation (ferries) and Jefferson General Hospital are also possible. Connecting public agencies is also a goal of the Homeland Security Act. There will be an annual maintenance cost for the system. The Board asked for more information and about the need to overbuild the fibre optics network to allow for future growth. Page 5 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of March 28,2005 f~~ ~ .11",..(0\ Letter of Support for the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) Grant Proposal by Olympic Shadow Forest Owners: The Board concurred that Chairman Johnson sign a letter of support for a UDSA Grant proposal by Olympic Shadow Forest Owners in Quilcene. The proposal is for funding for a feasibility study to determine the possibility of retraining workers in Quilcene and Brinnon to serve the growing needs of small forest owners who are moving into the area. AGREEMENT re: Community Litter Clean Up Program Funding Application; Jefferson County Sheriff; Washington State Department of Ecology: Commissioner Sullivan moved to have the Chair sign the application for Community Litter Cleanup Program Funds for 2005-2007. Commissioner Rodgers seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. MEETING ADJOURNED .............'...."'.....~... ""- i ~/ ,,~1 r, o~,..\·- ,,/i~ '.: f:'.f ~-;t., :' I" " ,." ., ~' I.)','·,.. ; ·t"'. ~ ",.oJ",.._ ~.~ ð ,~ e' ":. - ,...,; ," !., ,\ .'., , I i ~' . , , I ' ',/) .. JI ~ ~ If p.. : ,r -. 't ,f ) .~- f." _ /, ,'-;M/' . .:... . ;' ~ '-",' / , .,. ':. ~\ /'" . ./' SEAL: ATTEST: /(}Cl{t c-JìZ (LtcILx..c¿_' ~ulie Matthes, CMC Deputy Clerk of the Board JEFFERSON COUNTY B~ <,BO,m, C~SSIONERS fJÆ!;fL Phil JoMson, Chair d. ~,?7ø < ,David~~~ ~~ Page 6