HomeMy WebLinkAboutclosed_caption09:00:17 okay, It looks like we're live. And so I will call this October twenty-fourth, 22 meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners to order good morning everybody.
09:00:33 recording in progress. Okay, So as we do every Monday morning, Oh, I've got a begun with going I'll turn it off.
09:00:44 Okay, there, it's off. Sorry: my, as we do every Monday morning we'll start off with comments if you've joined us this morning and are interested in making a public comment.
Please.
09:00:56 Use the raise hand, button at the bottom of the zoom screen.
09:01:00 I see nobody's with us on the phone. So zoom is our option this morning and the raise hand button is the middle in the middle at the bottom of the zoom.
09:01:10 Screen. If you're interested in making a public comment, If not, we'll keep public comment open until 9, 30.
09:01:20 If somebody decides their move to make a comments and move along to consideration of Oh, okay, there we go.
09:01:34 You're gonna need to accept the promotion to panelists.
09:01:37 There you go!
09:01:39 Good morning, Annette. You'll need to unmute, and you have 3Â min for public comment.
09:01:45 good morning, Commissioners. Thank you. Heidi. Am I audible?
09:01:51 Thank you. I'm calling into discourage zoom from extending the emergency over Covid.
09:02:01 It's been long enough now. The research coming out now is very clear that we are creating negative efficacy with these jabs, and that's why, with such a high, highly jabbed
population, our cases are so high other than that we're over.
09:02:17 Testing, but I know so many people right now that are sick, who have had the jobs, The emergency is not necessary to please.
09:01:50 Yes, you are
09:02:29 Thank you for your comment on that. Is there anyone else with us this morning who would like to make a public comment? You can indicate your interest by using the raise hand
button at the bottom of the Zoom? Screen And then we'll bring you over for public comment
09:02:46 Not seeing any other hands go up here, as I mentioned a moment ago, we will leave Public Common open until 9, 30, in case someone joins us a little late, or somebody remember
the comment they wanted to make Okay, was a little and maybe looks like we have a very short consent.
09:03:14 Agenda. That's more. Could probably get that taken care of.
09:03:22 Anything. Anyone wants to call out on consent agenda this morning to say that Board of Equalization is going to be working hard.
09:03:36 Thanks for taking that hit. It's not an easy one to serve on. Yeah. Yeah.
09:03:43 And Margaret's been a real asset on that board, and I mean, maybe since we have time, might be worth talking a little bit about the valuations that were sent out last week that
gave a lot of people some anxiety, and just want to remind folks that evaluation is not
09:03:58 your text, bill. So whatever your value went up, that does not equate to the amount that your tax bill is going to go up.
09:04:03 The counties, Portion, property tax can only go up by 1% a year total, and so that 1% gets divvied up equally among all of the properties in Jefferson County.
09:04:16 So you might see some portion of an increase. You might not.
09:04:20 But the the States portion of sales tax, you know.
09:04:24 That's that is what has varied more wildly over a number of years.
09:04:28 And then, of course, the voter approved Levies and bonds increases.
09:04:33 Property taxes quite a bit, but the the county portion that is tied to your valuation is see, sees less less variation, and just trying to help folks understand that they're
if you.
09:04:46 Saw 30% increase on your on your valuation. It's not going to be a 30% increase in your taxes.
09:04:50 Total so hang tight in February you'll see a likelihood modest increase on the county portion, and don't anticipate a large increase available of any school bonds.
09:05:00 In fact, some school districts have head bonds, or levies, retire so should see a decrease in South county property taxes.
09:05:08 Totally. Yeah, Let me be there. Yup, no. I think that's a good point, and something that that took me a little while to learn conversations with the Assessor.
09:05:17 Is that it's it's proportional, right?
09:05:20 So the whole assessment is going to raise 1%, and if my value the value of my house goes up 30%, and the value of your house goes up.
09:05:28 50%. You're going to see a lot larger increase compared to mine.
09:05:34 So it's it's how is it relative to the other properties in the in the county as well?
09:05:38 So. And it is based on market value, even though typically they tend to trend a little bit lower, sometimes a lot lower than market value.
09:05:46 But those are values that are, you know, pretty rigorously sets it as it is, you know it's a lot of speculation and real estate values, but it is done every year for every property
only one fifth of the county gets, done.
09:06:03 In person every year. But so you know, if they look kind of high right now, it's because they were for the January first value when the real estate market was really high Yeah,
and they they will likely come down.
09:06:17 Again, if we continue in this cooler market, no good point was definitely the question.
09:06:25 I was getting out and about this weekend. Yeah, Yeah, yeah, So yeah, grateful for Margaret stepping up for and another other than that, we have a very light consent agenda.
09:06:46 I'm happy to move to a proven adapt to the consent agenda.
09:06:48 I'll second all in favor bye. Bye passes unanimously.
09:06:56 Okay, I'll put out another call for public comments.
09:07:01 I see we have a member of the public who's just joined us in the room, indicating an interest in making a comment.
09:07:07 So Stephen, when you're ready. No hurry, no hurry.
09:07:12 we got time, anyone else online wishing to make a public comment this morning.
09:07:21 No quiet bunch
09:07:27 Maybe we'll have an easy day. There is another one.
09:07:30 I'll Oh.
09:07:34 Okay, let's let's bring George over Stephen. You're gonna have a minute because we have one more online.
09:07:44 George, you're gonna have to accept the promotion to panelists
09:07:51 Not a helicopter activity today. It was on the postcard all the way.
09:08:00 Okay, Can you hear me now
09:08:04 Yeah, I'm not sure how to to comment on this, but is traveling to me where now, in the election season and was see lots of ads and things like that.
09:08:17 And I I don't know if it's a trend or what.
09:08:21 But I saw in the leader this last week probably the most horrendous full page.
09:08:28 Add going after a particular candidate, and I have not seen that in the 50 years I've been in port towns, and it's very troubling is that there should be some kind of a standard
that people run on their merits and the issues rather than trying to demonize a candidate that's running
09:07:59 Fingers crossed. Okay, we can hear you, George Yup.
09:09:01 Thank you, George. We appreciate you showing up and making a comments.
09:09:05 Steven, are you ready here in the room? Okay.
09:09:13 Good morning, Yes. Good morning. Yeah. So first of all, I'd like to follow up in something I didn't get to finish at the Board of Health meeting which was this this top expert
was It's feeling that the at the top at the levels.
09:09:31 Of the policy, levels of the Cdc. And Fd.
09:09:36 That there was a capture regulatory capture by Big Pharma, and yet he also felt they were really good signed this all the way down the line.
09:09:44 But the messages, the information that has been promulgate last couple of years, which our health officer has been very faithful, just, you know, putting forth, is often based
on Was he considered to be garbage science garbage studies and here's a case in point you know, masking you know.
09:10:05 this protects you from me, spitting on you, It's honest, that's all it does.
09:10:10 If you basically, you know, have a conventional mask.
09:10:14 These are these things at best protect against bacteria. That don't protect against virus transmission.
09:10:22 they don't protect me from from viruses. If I had a respirator or a special mask, if I fitted it right, maybe it could protect me.
09:10:30 Just my mass protect you. No, Because basically it follows the path.
09:10:36 The least. Resistance is just goes through. There goes up here it goes everywhere, And And so this whole idea that my mass protects you.
09:10:45 My mass protects grandma. That's bad science. And yet, like we we were hearing last week from the health officer that we're still having indoor mask mandates, for in in health,
service is and also nursing homes and stuff you know, for these purposes and yet you know.
09:11:05 I don't really feel that's good science. I don't think the best environmental scientists believe it's good science, but it is what is being promulgated from the top levels.
09:11:13 You know, through, you know whatever. So now I want to get to my main point, which sort of relates to this is that I was speaking to someone I knew who was a manager of a large
store and I was just sort.
09:11:23 Of feeling bad that their employees were needing to be wearing masks, while shoppers didn't have to be and that seemed because kind of like class division. Thing.
09:11:33 It just didn't seem to be based on any release science, and I was really kind of concerned about that, and I was told that they're in a place where they're you have L and I
You've got health officers you become this maze of intersecting levels.
09:11:48 Of requirements. If anything I was told that it's more confusing for them now than at the time of the heart mandates, and they're in a place where like there's a case, and then,
as a case even though if there's a case anywhere, within the entire store then it's all
09:12:06 shut down, in so far as everybody having all the employees having to wear masks.
09:12:10 Because of some of these these things. And it's it does sort of put them in an egg.
09:12:16 Shelley type place. Later I was able to speak to an employee there after the masks.
09:12:20 Yeah, they were able to not asks. And I was. I just admit it last No, that's 3Â min.
09:12:36 That's already 3Â min, and I can't even get to my point yet. Oh, there you go!
09:12:37 We have another opportunity for public comment during the emergency declaration conversation I may not be able to be here today. Okay?
09:12:42 Well, hey? Very much. I appreciate that No one's at 1 30. I'm sorry. 1 30.
09:12:49 Oh, hope you made it to 1. 1030, maybe. Okay, Thanks.
09:12:53 Yeah, 3Â min goes fast. Yeah, Anybody else with us online wishing to make a public comment this morning, you can use the raise hand button at the bottom of your zoom screen
or as you can see on the zoom screen you can come in and stand at the microphone.
09:13:09 Because it's vacant. Now that that's strange that it's sewing the microphone.
09:13:16 Okay, Anyone else, hey? Gonna leave public comment up until 9 30.
09:13:22 We've my computer is saying it needs to reboot.
09:13:29 So if I go away, that's where I went. We Have done consent, agenda So the next thing on our agenda is the proclamation we could do some I don't see?
09:13:45 Oh, yeah, no, or fails there. Shaun is not here yet.
09:13:52 So our guess for the proclamation are not all here yet.
09:13:58 Do we want to do some briefing from last week?
09:14:01 We can respond to public sorry wants to respond first.
09:14:07 I guess Greg does. Oh, well, something something to say, not a lot.
09:14:10 But I appreciate all the public comment, you know, to Mr.
09:14:16 Yance. You know I don't know what to tell you.
09:14:19 I don't I don't like negative campaigns, either, and and I I have seen a disturbing trend towards kind of attack politics, and I think we just have to, you know, make an individual
choice.
09:14:30 Personally, I I see attack politics, and I I usually go the other way so I think everyone has to to live live their own truth.
09:14:37 There! But it is. It's disturbing to me, too, but it's everyone's right to to campaign as they will.
09:14:45 but thanks for bringing it up to Steven here, you know my wife had surgery couple of weeks ago, and I'm sure glad that surgeons were masks when they were in the operating room.
09:14:58 I mean there's a reason that health care, you know you, you you you often bring up a person that says this is bad science.
09:15:05 At the same time that we we know that these mass surgical masks in 95 will present prevent, you know, infections.
09:15:14 When my wife was cut open, I'm glad they did that.
09:15:16 She's healing up fine, So the mask that you had also was pretty gauzy.
09:15:21 I could see your lips moving, so I'm not sure if that one does actually protect grandma.
09:15:25 If you're wearing it around them. But I'm I'm still pretty comfortable with the science as represented by our our health officer.
09:15:31 I think we're you know. We've talked about this before, but but to both Steven and Annette, you know, we have a a real crisis of of not believing experts looking for contrary
science, and that's you know we're dealing with a preponderance.
09:15:48 Of evidence, and we have an expert that we trust and has guided us very well through this.
09:15:54 This pandemic a series of experts So I'm gonna continue to take the science queues from the epidemiologist that we have on staff that have done very well.
09:16:04 And I'll always listen to you, and I'm always willing to engage in conversation.
09:16:10 But unlikely to change now, and there really are not, you know, mandates too much.
09:16:15 The emergency that we're going to look at is really primarily to maintain flexibility of the county through the continuing situation with Covid.
09:16:27 As we move from a pandemic to an endemic situation.
09:16:30 Those are important kind of important levers to to keep our hands on.
09:16:37 But there is another opportunity, 1 30, not 1030, as I said before, and and love to hear your thoughts on that and thank you for your comments. Do.
09:16:47 We want it. We have another hand rate. We want to take another comment before you respond or so. Yup, I'm still trying to get back into the meeting, but
09:16:59 Great
09:17:06 okay, Oh.
09:17:11 good morning.
09:17:16 My name is Patricia Jones, on behalf of the Olympic Forest Coalition.
09:17:20 Thank you so much for the opportunity to comment. I hope the Commission was sent an invitation from the Department of Natural Resources to a inviting you to have a specialized
briefing.
09:17:33 On the second phase of the carbon project there are several parcels that have been included in the second project in East Jefferson County.
09:17:42 I am requesting that the Board of County Commissioners take the opportunity to from Dnr.
09:17:10 I was gonna say, is it? Good morning, Patricia
09:17:50 And request a specific briefing from Dnr. But from staff with expertise on these specific parcels, how they were chosen in our jurisdiction, I hope we can learn what the process
for selection of these parcels, were more in depth with the criteria were that were used How
09:18:11 it was applied in Jefferson County, and what specifically high conservation value analysis really means how it was applied to do. More.
09:18:23 The proposed sites in Jefferson County, and how our local government and other stakeholders can engage with the process, and propose possibly other parcels of higher value.
09:18:35 In our area, and actually, what is the timeline for the process of selection through to final decisions?
09:18:42 So I'm I'm hoping that you have received him an invitation, and that you consider taking the department up on that opportunity, and that that briefing as you have done, which
I'm very grateful for.
09:18:55 Be held in public, as you have the quarterly meetings from Dnr.
09:19:00 The deadline is on November eighteenth for comment.
09:19:03 as this. Conservation stakeholder. That's an important deadline for us.
09:19:08 I don't know if that's quite so important for local government.
09:17:52 No.
09:19:16 Thank you. Patricia. Is there anyone else with us who's online this morning who would like to make a public comment?
09:19:23 If so, you can use the raise hand button at the bottom of your zoom screen
09:19:29 And someone let me know if they see a hand go up, cause I'm still trying to get back in.
09:19:37 okay. So I'm not seeing any hands go up on the screen and the chambers here Kate, do you want to respond to comments received so far? Sure.
09:19:46 And I'll let you. How do you discuss the Dnr: Yeah.
09:19:48 Worksshop that we have scheduled
09:19:55 Let's see, I guess. And I'm always a little bit hesitant to weigh in on epidemiology, cause I am not trained as one, clearly but just just to remind miss Hanky that we we we're
aware that we you know that case.
09:20:11 Counts are not the the number that we need to be looking most closely at, and you know, we've learned all along the way in the last 2 and a half years about this Wiley virus.
09:20:22 And you know it was was that Mccran that taught us that.
09:20:25 You know that the vaccines were not going to be nearly as effective, in in stopping transmission.
09:20:31 They're going to be High case counts, and it's all about looking at serious disease, and that is what the protection that vaccines are providing. Now.
09:20:37 Nobody is saying that our case counts should be kept low by vaccines anymore, and we haven't for some time, And all along the way we have had to say, Wow, look at this something
new we have to learn and we have to adjust it's been a constant adjusting to what we learn and
09:20:53 what the how the virus mutates, and it's extremely humbling, you know.
09:20:57 And yeah, I think the the experts are the first to say that they have had to learn and adjust.
09:21:02 So I'm not sure what to make of the over testing comment.
09:21:07 I'm not sure what that means. I have really enjoyed having access to free tests that have kept my family safe.
09:21:15 Twice we have caught asymptomatic infections.
09:21:19 One moments before grandparents coming over for dinner on Christmas Eve, the other moments before I got an airplane, with tribal elders to go to Washington, DC.
09:21:28 Neither my son, or I knew we we were infected. I did get, you know, relatively sick.
09:21:36 in the next couple of days following. Really glad I wasn't stuck in DC: really.
09:21:38 Glad I had an exposed folks unwittingly and and same with my son.
09:21:44 So big believer in testing with it, we have been able to stop any further transmission.
09:21:49 All of the cases in my house have been limited to one person.
09:21:56 So yeah, I think that's that's all for me.
09:22:00 Oh, I should say too, though just encourage folks to vote.
09:22:03 Ballots are out. Really encourage everyone to get those filled out, and in the mail or into our ballot boxes.
09:22:10 This is an important election, as they all are, of course, and love to see our turnout continue to be number one or 2 in the State.
09:22:20 Let's make it number one. This selection, as we often are.
09:22:23 Okay, let's see. So to in that on the thirteenth revision of our policy, I think my main holdup and wanting to consider the 13 revision is just to make sure that all of the
the procedures and processes, we put in place to protect county staff our maintained If we are
09:22:46 to remove the emergency declaration, and so we'll have more conversation about that this afternoon.
09:22:54 But you know we put a lot of stuff in place, and I wanna make sure that folks have the tools they need in their toolbox to make it through any other outbreaks of the pandemic
that maybe on our horizon which you know I did a little bit of reading this
09:23:15 weekend on this, and it sounds like there's some concern about a third uptick or another uptick and covid in the fall.
09:23:22 Here. So let's see to George. Yeah, I'm a super sensitive, human human being.
09:23:34 And then the campaign negativity really great, at me and great, that my community, as well.
09:23:40 I've heard a number of people express concern about our elected officials, and I just feel like the divisiveness that's pretty in our culture right now, is unhealthy for everyone
not just those of us who sit in the elected offices, but our families our friends our communities, because I
09:23:59 hear concern everywhere about that division, and I don't think it's productive in terms of finding a a path forward to make our community whole and healthy.
09:24:14 So to Steven and Masks. You know I I hear the questionings and concerns about masks, and it your your little display of putting masks on and taking them off here reminded me
of a video my husband made early in the pandemic in his studio one day.
09:24:34 He was He Someone had told him Masks didn't work, and he put a mask on, and he he blew a match out without a mask on, and then put a mask on and tried to blow that match. Out.
09:24:48 And the match would not blow out. And so you know the the sense that there that masks aren't effective in terms of stopping transmission of vapor or anything seems a little
flawed if you're wearing the right kind of mask and he was just wearing a
09:25:07 fabric mask like I still wear a fabric mask.
09:25:10 So at. You know, I just that's what that made me.
09:25:14 That's what that brought up for me. And then Patricia, to your comment.
09:25:19 We haven't. By the Dnr. To come and make a presentation to our full board of Commissioners on, I believe November seventh, November seventh, at 3 o'clock, and they've accepted
that invitation and I specifically invited Chinka Fabrini
09:25:40 the kind of the lead for the carbon project, and also Dwayne Emmon.
09:25:45 So I'm not sure who all will be coming, but I know that Chinka will be here, and maybe others on the Dnr team.
09:25:52 we've also started our work, looking into forestry options in Jefferson County, in partnership with Dnr.
09:26:00 And Brian Turner from the region has been the assigned as the Dnr staff person who will work with Mallory from ticketee forestry.
09:26:12 Looking at Dnr State Forest transfer trust lands in Jefferson County.
09:26:17 as part of our project. So some updates on that work for you there, and it's 9 26.
09:26:26 If there's anybody else who Oh, I see. Is there a hand up?
09:26:31 I see, No, okay. So still still not in. So if there's something that I need to be told that's in chat, just tell me.
09:26:40 It. But is there anyone else with us on line who would like to make a public comment?
09:26:46 If so, you can use the raise hand button at the bottom of your zoom screen.
09:26:51 I know as I say, that I'll get back into zoom, and not seeing any other hands, go up maybe we should talk a little bit.
09:27:03 We have a few minutes before the proclamation about our our unusual few weeks ahead, and beoc unusual.
09:27:09 Few weeks, we'll have a very full meeting on the seventh, although I will not be here for a good chunk of that meeting.
09:27:16 I'll join by phone in the morning and then but have to be in Olympia at an important meeting all afternoon.
09:27:22 She couldn't, couldn't, can't, miss. And then, not meeting on the fourteenth so great truncated So we're not meeting next, week because it's a fifth Monday and we traditionally
do not meet when there's a fifth Monday in a month
09:27:36 and it happens to go inside with Halloween, which is amazing.
09:27:39 At the corner Right? So I can't speak so that will provide us with the capacity to focus on the courthouse.
09:27:52 Halloween activities Yeah, and it so the courthouse will be open, and all of the departments.
09:27:54 Just so, the public who hasn't been with us in the past knows there's quite a competition between departments in terms of who does the best decorations and I'm hearing about
a little bit of a showdown that's.
09:28:09 Brewing. Yeah, yeah, So there's a lot of pinup energy about it, and a showdown brewing.
09:28:17 So I encourage folks to come into the courthouse on Halloween and walk around the different departments, mask on, or mask off and the trick or treating, and there's trick or
treating and check it out and I should say it's almost entirely off of county time and out of the
09:28:35 the pockets of employees privately, I was driving around half the weekend, collecting relics from farm farmer friends.
09:28:46 So yeah, So that's gonna be fun. And then on the seventh, we will have our very packed agenda, because on the fourteenth we'll all be out of office for a Washington association
of counties conference or elsewhere or elsewhere, and and with that
09:29:06 it's almost 9 30 and I also wanna mention that we're this So this will be our last regular weekly update with Dr.
09:29:14 Barry this morning. Oh, Dr. Locke, right our last weekly update.
09:29:19 This is quite kind of that'll be with Dr. Locke.
09:29:25 and we will be going to a monthly update from Dr.
09:29:29 Barry starting next month, the third Monday of each month will be our regular monthly update on on Kptz We'd be doing it just once the month of if you spoke with Kptz.
09:29:41 okay. And it's just gonna be that And I'll say that again once we're rolling on, Kptz, because I'm not sure that we are.
09:29:50 Yet, and then do need to mention that I need to leave today at 3, 30 for an important meeting.
09:29:56 So, if I have to step out, someone will take over, of course.
09:30:04 see, through our proclamation. Let me see, we only have a minute.
09:30:10 Oh, we have. All you have for 15Â min. What am I doing?
09:30:12 I'm 15Â min early. Yeah.
09:30:19 Well, let's bring roughly over and see if we're We need to wait for Ask him if we need to wait for Shauna Maybe only one of them was gonna join us.
09:30:34 Yeah, Okay, Did we give her a time
09:30:43 Okay, You hearing us talk about you.
09:30:48 hey! Good Good morning.
09:30:50 Yeah, we're just waiting on Shauna
09:30:54 She said she hoped to be here by 9 30. Her daughter has a doctor's appointment at 9
09:31:02 No, that's going
09:31:00 Hmm: Okay, So should we wait for her?
09:31:13 Okay. Calendars. Anyone Wanna look at their last week, do a little briefing.
09:31:24 Fill fill 5Â min, Sure, hey? You want to start I should remember.
09:31:29 I don't think I had a 5Â min week last week, but it was pretty packed.
09:31:35 It's funny then. I always say that back to school is for us, too.
09:31:41 Things get really busy. In September everybody puts everything off till September.
09:31:43 I know it's now the middle of October, but you know what I mean.
09:31:50 Let's see with you all on Monday, Tuesday I had an Economic Development Council Finance Committee meeting.
09:31:57 still really trying to get that organization righted and we're gonna be hearing about some budget shortfalls they have, and lot of even inconsistency or clarity in our contracting
with the edc So just a ton of of cleanup and there have been so many different
09:32:16 iterations. I did Warren Heidi, and I'll just put it out there again to make sure we catch it, that we really need to have another piff meeting for in order to look at the Edc.
09:32:28 Funding that is going to expire. So when markets back, open, Heidi and Mark will get that going, and I think that board was repopulated, which is great.
09:32:38 so, if anything you know, up to that board, I guess, to decide whether or not to do another funding cycle.
09:32:45 but waiting on Wait not E. Edc. Is gonna be anxious for that.
09:32:51 So I'm just passing along that message. We had a transit meeting and really looking forward to our upcoming process to hire it.
09:32:58 New general manager, and she had a good meeting with Erin Berg.
09:33:05 If the port of Port Townsend talking about the the short farm project that they are undertaking, and seems like they're getting really serious, about doing a lot of outreach
and well, I'll I'll jump into it another topic.
09:33:23 Related to that, and Wednesday and Thursday I was with Washington C. Grants.
09:33:28 I'm on their board, and first time I've met with that board they happen to be doing a retreat in Blynn.
09:33:35 So it was very handy They could have been anywhere in the State, and chose to be here, which is great and discussed a number of things.
09:33:42 But the 2 emerging topics that they are most interested in really taking on, you know, and they so they do research.
09:33:48 And then outreach and education. They're the the Wsu version of of marine.
09:33:56 systems. So Wc: extension, you know, they're really meant to be bringing read good research to applied and community based work.
09:34:04 so that the 2 things they're gonna be taking on very seriously in the next few years are seaweed farming.
09:34:12 the only permitted seaweed farm in the State is in Jefferson County, but there's a ton of interest whether it's for carbon sequestration or food supplies biofuels you name it
I mean it it.
09:34:25 It's interesting. Everybody is seeing seaweed as the panacea for all the world's problems, which a number of researchers were saying.
09:34:32 Manage your expectations, and we know that intensification of any farming system can have impacts, and so how to create the right regulatory framework.
09:34:45 but there were a lot of interest in in in having somewhere for processing sites to be.
09:34:53 There are. There's no processing site for for seaweed in the State of Washington.
09:35:00 So so that got us talking about the the Story Farm Sorry? Yeah, that could be a component.
09:35:08 So more to come. Obviously But yeah, fascinating conversation about that.
09:35:12 And then the other second big issue, even more complicated, is offshore winds, energy, and it sounds like we can really expect that to heat up.
09:35:22 Apparently all of Washington's coast is basically off limits because of the marine sanctuary, although you could go further offshore and But there's really about 38 miles of
the Washington.
09:35:35 Coastline that is available and suitable for wind energy, which is in the Grace Harbor area.
09:35:41 But pretty, massive tribal concerns and phishing industry concerns so really robust conversation about You know there's some coastal communities there saying This will destroy
our way of life.
09:35:58 It will destroy fisheries and our way of life, and and then some of us saying the call of doing nothing is that your communities are also incredibly vulnerable to to both, decreasing
fishery stocks and climate change which of course wind is trying to mitigate so
09:36:18 that's I think that's gonna be a big deal in the State in the next.
09:36:24 Who knows how many years but massive, regulatory, Federal complicated framework, so something to to stay be aware of?
09:36:34 I wasn't aware how much it was coming to a head, and it it sounds like it, it is.
09:36:38 There's a few applications, in some of which have already been denied because of either.
09:36:45 tribal resistance, or I mean you, you The the marine spatial planning that's been done.
09:36:51 Shows how many uses are layered on top of you know you you.
09:36:58 Looks like the big, wide, open ocean, but in fact, there are declared shipping lanes There are, declared fishery area fishing areas, And so really, there's very little space
that is kind of unspoken.
09:37:07 For And so companies are brilliant, trying to get leases for the potential to build, wind up to 50 miles offshore.
09:37:15 What is? It looks different than in the middle of the grassland.
09:37:21 I assume, what is when generator generation looked like in water.
09:37:26 Huge turbines, huge turbines up in the air.
09:37:29 Yup, Yup, and not super High up in the air.
09:37:32 in the right spots. They don't have to be that high, and you know.
09:37:38 Other parts of the country have done this successfully, and been able to mitigate impacts.
09:37:43 the White House has put out a call, for it's 10.
09:37:48 I don't want to miss speak basically enough wind power to power 10 million homes in the next 5 or 10 years, And this this could provide about 10% of that So the most viable
application in the State of Washington So I mean it's it could have real impact one of the interesting points
09:38:09 they showed was that the total fisheries value in Washington waters, and I believe it didn't include tribal subsistence fishing, which of course, is hugely valuable but it's
about 235 million dollars a year, and they used as a counterpoint, in
09:38:26 New York. The leases alone for wind power were a 1 billion dollars.
09:38:30 So like making up that kind of just Financial difference. Is huge, but I mean, we, of course, know that things like fisheries have a lot of other benefits for coastal communities.
09:38:39 In particular, so very complicated cost benefit analysis ahead. And yeah, just how to how to communities and communities like ours.
09:38:52 Think about the future. I mean, we know that people resist change, and yet not changing, is going to have some catastrophic effects, for communities vulnerable to climate change.
09:39:02 In particular, so really great to be, and locked in a room for 2 days with very smart people, and learning about these issues that they're gonna be more and more on our horizon.
09:39:12 Sorry I told you it was not a my computer rebooted anyways.
09:39:19 I know we have to get to proclamation before try title.
09:39:29 Energy did not come up in this discussion. It was all offshore energy
09:39:46 it. It's okay to start if you'd like, and I'll just let China know what happened.
09:39:35 Okay, it looks like Shauna has not joined us yet. The doctor offices are running pretty far behind these days, yeah not them out of a doctor. In less than an hour, and some
time
09:39:52 Okay, Does anyone want to tee this one up? Hmm: Well, I'll just say this: We We do this proclamation every year, and always grateful that Rafael can join us?
09:40:09 Shauna joins us most years, too, of course, but I'm I'm always amazed to learn at the amount of pro bono work that our attorneys here, do and just so grateful that there are
folks who are helping people in their Most vulnerable moments and often in
09:40:23 their most financially stress times, to work through complex legal issues, and I'm sure that covers a whole range of services that that you and your colleagues provide.
09:40:34 Rafael. So thank you, and happy to to read the proclamation.
09:40:40 Yeah, I'm happy to start. Or do you want to start?
09:40:43 So this is a proclamation for pro bono Law week, and it starts out, whereas our justice system is founded on the fundamental principles of equity and fairness for all and pro
bonus services grant individuals access to legal representation regardless of their means and whereas nearly 3
09:41:01 and 4 Washington residents, face urgent civil, legal issues each year, including issues related to health care, consumer and financial services, domestic violence, divorce,
child custody, foreclosure, eviction and abuse, but less than 25% receive legal assistance, and whereas access to legal assistance, can
09:41:20 improve economic security and personal safety, protect civil liberties, and lead to a more just.
09:41:25 Society; and whereas legal service agencies, pro bono service programs law schools, the American Bar Association, the Washington State Bar Association, the Jefferson County
Bar Association and Private Firms throughout the State have enlisted the Services of volunteer Attorneys to address the Legal needs of Low Income people
09:41:46 and whereas all attorneys licensed in Washington State are encouraged to provide at least 30Â h of free legal service services annually to those unable to obtain legal counsel,
and whereas in 2,021 volunteer attorneys in Washington State provided legal help to over
09:42:04 20,000 individuals and families, volunteer attorneys with Cllam, Jefferson County, pro bono lawyers provided over 920Â h of service, and now therefore we the Jefferson County,
Commissioners proclaim the week of October to the 20 ninth
09:42:19 22 as pro bono Law week in Jefferson County to honor and thank the attorneys who volunteer their time and expertise to provide legal services to those in need.
09:42:28 Proclaim this twenty-fourth day of October, 2022.
09:42:32 I'm happy to move, to approve the proclamation as red.
09:42:36 Second, all in favor. Bye, bye.
09:39:52 Thank you.
09:42:47 Absolutely so for people who don't know me. My name is Rafael Ericia.
09:42:51 I'm a local attorney here in Jefferson, Colin County.
09:42:57 I'm also the president of the column. Jefferson pro Bono Attorneys organization.
09:43:01 For this year as as Kate mentioned earlier, We've been doing this now for several years.
09:43:08 It's always an honor to be able to speak in front of the county Commissioners and talk about something that's very, very important to me and other attorneys, and that's pro
bono work, as Kate stated, 3 out of 4 people will face some type of legal problem.
09:43:26 and They simply can't afford legal services, And a lot of times those 3 out of 4 people, we'll face multiple legal issues in every year.
09:43:34 I think that average legal issue a a person faces is like 3 to 4 every year, and and it's there are issues that can really affect someone's children.
09:43:44 Their home, their their job. As we're talking about real issues.
09:43:51 also, and I don't usually do a good doubt of this.
09:43:53 But I'll talk about the actual numbers this year. So over the past year there were 920Â h donated to the pro bono organization.
09:44:05 I know, for our fact that tax feed low, and maybe even very low, people. A lot of iteries do pro bonal work, and they don't report it so at least put 920Â h alright we helped
630 people in both Jefferson, Clown.
09:44:20 Counties. We had over 45 attorneys donate their time to pro bono services, so that those are real numbers, helping real people.
09:44:30 And as I think I said before, it's our goal in my goal personally, just to increase those numbers, I'm lucky and fortunate to be an attorney.
09:44:41 And I think it's every attorney's duty to provide pro bono services.
09:44:47 Being an attorney, you could directly help someone in a very, very positive way And like, I said, That's that's an honor, and I think every lawyer should strive to at least
do some pro bono work every yeah so thank, you so. Much.
09:45:01 For having us Thank you for supporting provo services in Jefferson County, and and we hope to help more and more people each and every year.
09:45:12 Yeah, let's break the record in 23.
09:45:13 Right. Thank you. Thank you for being here. Thank you. Okay, look at us.
09:45:22 9 45. Dr. Barry. With us.
09:45:27 Good luck! Oh, Dr. Lock, Sorry I keep doing kind of used to Dr.
09:45:33 Barry at this point. Folks Sorry
09:45:39 Dr. Luck. It's great to see you You're gonna need to unmute and turn your camera on.
09:45:46 Oh, there you are! Good morning, So it's 9 45.
09:45:56 I'm assuming that Kpd. Has us up and running, and, as I mentioned before, we are on air with Kptz, this will be our last weekly update from our good doctors we are moving to
a once a month schedule and we're looking at the third Monday of each month
09:46:14 to be broadcasting on Kp Z. And having our regular update.
09:46:19 So adjust your calendars community and get used to a different cycle for this update.
09:46:25 But it's kind of fitting that our last a weekly update is with Dr.
09:46:29 Locke, because I started off my tenure as a commissioner with Dr.
09:45:48 Hey, Marty!
09:46:38 Well, thank you, and and good to see everyone today, and welcome to my my new office in Portland.
09:46:46 But since we last yeah. Matt, my wife, Jeanette and I moved to Los Angeles.
09:46:52 So we're now city residents, probably for the first time, did 40 years for me, So I'll I'll It's my pleasure to fill in for Dr.
09:47:03 Barry this week, and I'll I'll start as she often does, just with a quick review of the numbers.
09:47:11 internationally, we Covid has been in decline through the summer, but that thing reversed itself by the middle of September.
09:47:20 So so now internationally, covid rates and hospitalization and deaths are starting to go up again.
09:47:28 we're especially seeing this in in Europe and and parts of Asia.
09:47:32 in the United States as a whole, we're still in a law case.
09:47:37 Rates are are continuing, to drop hot, and as as the Commissioners I'm I'm sure no At this point case rates are not a very good measure anymore, since our our testing strategies
have changed a lot but hospitalization, and death rates are Still, a very good measure and hospitalizations
09:47:59 are down very slightly nationally. Death rate is down 6, so the average daily death rate now in the Us.
09:48:09 It's below 400. It's it's 361, and then a another measure that we're using more and more is is wastewater surveillance.
09:48:18 So looking at virus in ways flatter, and and that's still low in the Us.
09:48:26 Although it's starting to rise in some northeast States with could be a harbinger of things to comp in Washington State.
09:48:37 we're we're in the lower tile of States We're 36 among States in terms of Covid activity.
09:48:46 cases are down, about 24% hospitalizations.
09:48:49 Death rates are also down. So so, on average, there's about 9 people die in Washington State every day from Covid.
09:48:58 Yeah, and that's that's still a very significant number.
09:49:02 Jefferson County's 2 week case rate is at 243, which is a declining trend from what it's been in.
09:49:12 There are currently 2 people in the hospital in Jefferson County with Covid in Clown County.
09:49:18 The case rate is 136 for 100,000, with one hospitalization, and then, in terms of of of monkey pops, fires, Mpv.
09:49:31 The We're We're now in the eighth week of a declining rate.
09:49:35 nationally, and and also in in Washington State. So so that's good news.
09:49:43 and so far in the state we've had over 600 cases.
09:49:47 One of them losing Clown County. None so far in Jefferson County.
09:49:52 5 of them in kits that come, and we're moving ahead with vaccination programs and and the the vaccine is becoming more and more available in the indications for the vaccine
are are widening I also like to just mention influenza that that should be on all our
09:50:11 radar screens as well, and and right now got influence.
09:50:16 Activity is minimal in Washington State. There's some increase, some some early increases in the southeast United States.
09:50:27 but we, when we try to predict what's gonna happen in the northern hemisphere, we usually look at the southern hemisphere as a clue, And and what what happened?
09:50:38 This past summer in Australia, in New Zealand, is is worrisome.
09:50:44 They both had an early influenza season, and the influenza season was unusually severe.
09:50:51 And that's what we're expecting in the Us.
09:50:54 This year in that we've we had 2 years of virtually no significant seasonal flu and this was because of all the masking and distancing we were doing for Covid, but that also
means that population immunity to influenza drops and also at the same time vaccination rates
09:51:15 went down the last 2 years, so Oh, well, we're being set up for more severe flu season this year, and so they the I.
09:51:29 I think that the th the question I'm often getting nowadays is is what comes next.
09:51:36 What is the forecast? And I I quote, I like to to use.
09:51:40 this is Michael has ostrich home from the University of Minnesota.
09:51:46 he has a saying that the Covid pandemic is a 3 act play, and we are still an app, too.
09:51:52 At this point so right. Not only is it not over, but the next app is something that that there's a lot of uncertainty as to how it's gonna play out.
09:52:04 it's for for the at least the early part of X 3 is gonna have a lot to do with seasonality with with population, immunity.
09:52:12 And then how we respond, how we use the tools we have available to to mitigate the impacts of the pandemic.
09:52:21 And yeah, for for most people, we can't do a lot about seasonality that that as the days get shorter, people spend more time indoors that that the cool dry air is is actually
favorable for virus, survival, so so those things increase, our exposure risk population
09:52:45 immunity is something that's been spent steadily increasing, and that's the combination of the immunity we get from vaccines and from natural infection and and vex being great
although they they kind, of stalled nationally they're still significant, you know, with with 60
09:53:04 68% of Americans fully vaccinated, and Washington State at 75 79%.
09:53:12 Jefferson County and and about 70% clown, And also, there's significant natural immunity.
09:53:19 That's developed There was one study that estimated that up to 80% people in the Us.
09:53:26 Were exposed to Omaha, and these last 11 months that it's been circulating.
09:53:32 so the combination of those 2 at this point means there's there's a lot more population immunity than there was earlier on in the pandemic, and if the virus would just stop,
mutating, we would be in very good shape in in terms, of the pandemic but
09:53:51 of course that's not how evolution works. You know as as that.
09:53:55 Oh, the the virus as As population, immunity increases the strains of virus that circulate are the ones that are able to evade this mute.
09:54:08 And so that's exactly what's happening, and it's a kind of competition right now between the the existing da 4 and BA.
09:54:18 5, which not only have we developed a lot of immunity to, but are included in the new by Valent Vaccine.
09:54:27 It's a competition between this and these will be variants that are starting to arise around that the world that there's whole long list of them.
09:54:38 But there's 3 of them that we're really focusing on this what's called Bq.
09:54:43 One and and 1.1 which is a spin off of of the B a 5.
09:54:48 This is the one that seems to be moving the fastest in the Us.
09:54:54 It's doubling every one to 2 weeks, which is a sign that it's a very effective competitor to the other virus strains.
09:55:03 and then even more worrisome, is this one called Xb.
09:55:08 that that's sort of currently taking off from Singapore and and one that we were really concerned about a Co.
09:55:16 About a month ago. It's even more ungainly title of B. A.
09:55:22 2 point, 7, 5.2, and these these are both highly immune.
09:46:34 Lock at the helm here, so take it away, Tom.
09:55:28 Information And there, there's something that not only they have the potential of causing infection in people who have been precisely exposed to previously immunized, but very
concerning is the fact that they're resistant to the monoclonal antibiotics that we use to protect
09:55:46 people who are munosuppressed, or to treat people who have severe disease.
09:55:53 and and a hospitalized. So so we we run the risk of losing those effective tools as the subvarian predominant.
09:56:05 right now. It It looks like like the the the bk one, and 1.1 are the ones that are most likely to be the the next wave in the Us.
09:56:14 And I I I think questions about this. What are these mutations? You know they?
09:56:22 I think there's this conversation that these are radical mutations of the virus but actually they're very subtle mutations, just very tiny shifts of an area.
09:56:32 The virus known as the receptor binding domain, and this is a critical area.
09:56:37 This is how the virus attaches to ourselves, and it's also where the antibodies we developed to defend ourselves attached to the virus.
09:56:46 So, if that area changes, then the the antibodies don't work as well, and the the virus is able to infect ourselves.
09:56:55 I Fortunately, though our immune system's much more sophisticated than that, even if our we get infected, we still have a second line of defense that is triggered by vaccination
and natural immunity it has to do with the these white blood cells known as
09:57:11 T-cells, and And that's basically why vaccines, even if they can't prevent all infection, still do an incredibly good job at preventing severe illness, hospitalization, and
and deaths.
09:57:24 So so in summary, and say that that in terms of forecasts, code rates almost certainly are gonna go up this month.
09:57:35 And how bad it's gonna be will depend a lot on which sub variants are predominant, and and how severe they might be.
09:57:46 it. It's a It's a very good idea to get a biovalent booster, and and to do so as soon as possible, because we're look based on the fact that rates are rising rapidly now in
Britain.
09:58:00 And Europe, we think the same thing is going to be happening in the Us.
09:58:05 In about a month. So right around Thanksgiving time. And then, as I said, influenza, it's likely to be earlier this year, and more severe.
09:58:18 So probably around that Thanksgiving time again the so called twinemic that that the media has been talking about, and it.
09:55:44 Hmm.
09:58:28 Some people are even talking about a triple damage, because if you if you factor in this this respiratory virus known as Rsv.
09:58:39 At respiratory sentimental virus which has been around for a very long time.
09:58:44 and but there's a very severe in in infants.
09:58:49 so children under one year of age, and then then in the elderly, or, do you know, suppress?
09:58:56 And this is something we've been working on a vaccine for this for the last 50 years, and we think we're pretty close.
09:59:04 There's a very promising adult vaccine that's in final clinical trials.
09:59:08 There may be a pediatric vaccine within 4 or 5 years, but right now we don't have any vaccine for this, and it's filling up the pediatric ice use in many areas of the country
so watching that really carefully so our response
09:59:27 is what it's been for a long time, that is, you know, vaccination remains key masking and high risk settings and and when you're trying to protect the vulnerable, ventilation
I try to keep mentioning over and over and that's something we're under
09:59:46 investing in, And it's it's worth hugely significant.
09:59:49 there was one very good study that suggests we could prevent 80% of school based infections just with better ventilation systems in school, And that's not just covid. It's It's
all the respiratory viruses that that often spread in schools And then move out
10:00:09 into the community. So there are some national initialatives to invest, and and better ventilation.
10:00:16 and then finally, we have good treatments for people are severely ill, or people who are at risk of serious complications, that things like Paxlibid are very, effective at re
reducing severity of illness, and and risk of hospitalization, so just look at the time here
10:00:40 Mike, I I think I I probably have time just to briefly mention one other Arian.
10:00:48 That is something I've been working on a lot, and and we can't lose sight of, and that is pandemic preparedness.
10:00:55 we're not only do we have a ways to go in this pandemic, but we have to stay prepared for for future ones, and and it any pandemic is kind of a stress test of your system tells
you what's.
10:01:08 Working and what's not working. And and so far we we have found a lot of things that are not working about it.
10:01:17 System that we need to be addressing. Announce the time to do it.
10:01:20 the the way I'm working on this is we we have a statewide process.
10:01:25 It's called the Public Health a Advisory Board, and it was set up by the Legislature to look at the whole public health system.
10:01:32 But but especially right now it at that. How we, responded with pandemic and look for ways to improve things and and their national efforts similar to this underway, I And there's
there's some common things now.
10:01:47 Everyone agrees on that. We need to focus on. First of all, our data and surveillance systems are wally and addict for much of the pandemic.
10:01:59 we were. Fly blind, at least in terms of us data.
10:02:03 and we made a lot of our big decisions based on data from Britain and Israel and South Africa.
10:02:08 But turns out have much better data systems. So we need to improve those in a local and state and national level.
10:02:16 personal protective equipment, although we have adequate supplies right now, we still have inadequate stockpiles and we don't have the capacity in the United States to make
more that's something we should have fixed.
10:02:30 A long time ago, but we haven't. I mentioned already.
10:02:34 Got improving benilation in in public places, and then we need to get better At rapid response you know, being able to deploy vaccines and medications more rapidly and more
equitable.
10:02:51 that's something. We've fallen down. So with that, with my comprehensive update, I hope this has the Commissioners.
10:02:57 Hmm, hmm.
10:03:04 Thanks for being here, Dr. Locke. We really appreciate it.
10:03:06 It's it's nice to see you again. I was just gonna say, I got my my shot on Saturday at the Mass vaccination clinic, and Dr.
10:03:15 Barry was there, giving shots, and I felt like there was a rock star in the room, and I feel like we have another one in the room with us this morning.
10:03:20 So do any questions for Dr. Locke and from us this morning I do.
10:03:25 I have one nice to see you, Dr. Lockett. I can't believe it's been 2 and a half years since I said.
10:03:31 What would you think about doing a weekly update? To the Poc: It's like we're gonna need current information.
10:03:39 I'm curious. What is the status of the ability to do?
10:03:44 Some sort of tighter testing to understand immunity.
10:03:02 It's if you had any questions
10:04:02 Well, we we have. We have very precise testing of of that, you know that we can match up antibodies that are produced for present in people's blood.
10:04:16 2 specific variants and some variants to the virus.
10:04:21 most of that is is available in research settings. There are very few of them that have been deployed on a mass level or are available available to clinicians.
10:04:35 although there are some, you know. For instance, there there there are tests that are readily available to see if you've been exposed to code.
10:04:42 So if you have antibodies there even tests to differentiate whether that exposure or that that immunity came from vaccination, or from natural immunity.
10:04:57 but beyond that we we don't have any readily available tests to look at.
10:05:02 At the the sub variance, and and that's that's what we we.
10:05:08 We need to increase, especially in terms of the the ability to produce fax scenes that are better matches for what's circulating.
10:05:19 Now, and the the latest bivalent vaccine was actually pretty impressed that one of the good things about Messenger Rna Vaccines is you can produce them really quickly?
10:03:48 Will will we get to a place where we can have some sense of how much immunity we have in our system to be able to assess when we might get another vaccine, or when we need to
be really cautious, or is, that is, that something we can anticipate.
10:05:30 Once you decide what to make, you can start cranking it out in just a couple of months, which which is extraordinary, you know, with flu vaccine, which a lot of it's still made
in eggs it takes 9 months to to produce the vaccine.
10:05:47 So so, yeah, we, you know, if we had a system, a tuned up better we could do.
10:05:55 yeah, what the hope is, we could get ahead of the buyers, and and immunize people against the variant that we thought was coming.
10:05:45 Hmm.
10:06:09 I'm surprised how much vaccine fatigue I'm hearing from people who have been very enthusiastic about getting back vaccinated previously, people just saying oh, but Tom, I have
enough immunity and so it's you know I wonder if getting to a place where
10:06:27 they could have some sense if they had enough immunity or not like we do with Tb: Right?
10:06:34 but it sounds like because it's still mutating quickly.
10:06:04 Not the one that just moved through the the community
10:06:37 Well, well, I think tho what I urge people to look at it is is that you know immunity is it?
10:06:44 It is something that you develop and modify over time. So you start with vaccination ideally.
10:06:51 But most vaccinated people are going to be exposed to Covid.
10:06:55 And they're gonna they're gonna get infected with it whether they know it or not.
10:06:59 You know, ideally. They want you to know in the sense that their immunity will be good enough, that they they don't even know they're infected.
10:07:07 But their immune system will and will get benefit from it.
10:07:10 So that's how we get out of this ultimately is.
10:07:13 We, we, we get our our immune systems as robustly proficient, and fighting the viruses they can be and then, when we do get infected, it's a mild kind of set the the real problem
with the pandemic was not the fact that the the people who got mild
10:07:33 respiratory infections, and the problem is, the people who were hospitalized, who died, and very significant people who have long coat, you know, which is something we're just
starting to grapple, with but but it is is probably something we will remember long after this pandemic.
10:07:54 It's past. It's the number of people that are still with us who were permanently injured.
10:06:36 That's not realistic. At this point
10:08:04 I have a couple of quick questions. It's great to see you, Dr.
10:08:07 Locke, and it is yeah, It's it's nice synchronicity having you here today, Wondering, you said that some of the new strains of Covid are more resistance to the monoclonal antibodies
and i'm wondering if there's ever any
10:07:59 As a result of this infection
10:08:25 I. In in in theory there could be, but so far not so pexlobed remains highly effective.
10:08:36 it moderating the infection, and this the the other oral.
10:08:41 Yeah, any viral. It's not that it's lost effectiveness.
10:08:48 It's just that the the latest studies of it show that it's not very effective.
10:08:54 so it never was very effective, but but paxilvid is is really the go-to drug.
10:09:00 at this point, and there's other iron antiviral medications that are in development.
10:09:05 So Antivirals are very promising things. A way of of you know.
10:08:20 lessening of effect of the antivirals that has been
10:09:21 Great, and then great to hear you talk about ventilation.
10:09:24 I've been, you know, beating that drum since the beginning, and and you know even the the small business that was set up to kind of test folks ventilation is that almost no
interest.
10:09:34 So let's keep beating that drum. Not not really a a question there.
10:09:38 My other question is about the emergency response. You said we need to start planning for the next pandemic, and you know, if memory serves.
10:09:46 When this started we didn't have enough masks, because after star as they kind of stopped buying the mask that were made domestically.
10:09:12 If you can't prevent infection, if you can prevent its complications, that's still a very worthy goal.
10:09:53 And I'm wondering are are we on the Federal level doing a better job about not just treating the the burn burning house, but also the the aftermath. And then the next house
to burn with with keep your national stockpile up of the mitigations. That we know we're effective.
10:10:10 it. I unfortunately, as far as I can tell, the answer to that is no we're we're not addressing that, and there, there there's a plan to address that there's there's an 88 billion
dollar request from the administration 2 to do the next
10:10:30 phase of of preparedness, and to develop the next generation of vaccines and to replenish the stockpiles.
10:10:40 But but what have been called is that that legislation is going nowhere in Congress right now, and but it needs it.
10:10:49 It needs to be on a fast track, because it it's, you know, not only there's this Covid have more in store for us, but but and an influenza pandemic, that there are.
10:11:03 Strains of influenza that could occur that would be would make Covid look like a walk in the park where where fatality rates.
10:11:13 You know, are in the one to 2 to 3% range.
10:11:18 So so tens of millions of people could die in an influenza pandemic in the United States.
10:11:24 If we did not respond. 2, it well. So. Yeah, we've been trying to prepare for that for decades, but we need to.
10:10:16 Hmm.
10:11:36 Okay, Hmm: Thank you, But I You know I have more questions, but I know we've got some kptz questions, so I'll I'll I'll hold the rest of them Yeah, I know I saw a couple of
kbtz questions.
10:11:32 We need to keep on the guard for
10:11:57 Well, I'll I'll jump into those real quickly.
10:12:00 Here is that the first is for someone who's who's going to be hospitalized and have surgery.
10:12:06 So and it's really wondering if if the surgical mask is good enough to protect them in the hospital, or whether they should be using a higher grade mass like, an or a into that
I'd say that you know certainly there's a different in difference in mask so
10:12:25 so that the high efficiency particular mass, like N.
10:12:29 95 are, are still the gold standard for protection, and literally filtering out about 95% of of airborne particles, surgical masks in comparison around 60%.
10:12:43 But the question here is, do you need that gold standard in a hospital setting?
10:12:50 And the answer is, probably not hospitals, you know, unless you're in an Icu or or in A, you know, and in a room with someone with Covid are actually very low risk situations
for transmission that's because there there are such stringent infection control, practices in
10:13:11 place so it's one of the safest places you can be.
10:13:16 and and Dot, I I think that you know, if a person wanted to use a higher standard and wanted to wear an N-* mask in that setting, I think they should be allowed, you know, as
long as it doesn't obstruct their breathing or cause problems, but But my personal advice.
10:13:34 Is, I would be comfortable with a regular surgical mask in a hospital, setting, because I know the people in the hospital are doing a really good job at at making that.
10:13:45 A a safe environment to to be. And then the second question is, is asking about availability of of Nova vaccine as a booster, and I just heard from that help department staff
that that this is available now locally the nova facts in addition to being approved as
10:14:08 a primary series. It it now is, is approved as a booster.
10:14:14 for people 18 years of age, and older It's it's approved for for and the primary series for 12 years of age and older.
10:14:24 It's that the caveats are that it's number one.
10:14:27 Some monovalent back seat. So it's based on the original Covid strain.
10:14:31 It's not been updated for B. A 4 or 5 It's it's mostly for those for use as a booster for those who who can't or or won't use The messenger Rna.
10:14:46 Booster, because we we think the MRI boosters are are superior It's it's not.
10:14:53 You're not eligible for it. If you've already had a messenger, Rna.
10:14:57 so it's it's Novax is is licensed.
10:15:03 If you need a booster even if your primary series with Messenger Rna, you you can use an overvax booster, and then finally, you need to wait for 6 months after the completion
of your primary series to to get a note of exposure But with those
10:11:48 And I have one questions, but I think it's morn Will Willie's wheelhouse, so I'll hold questions, for now I know there were a couple of kptz questions at least.
10:15:36 Great any other questions. Monty, do you have any questions for Dr.
10:15:38 Locke Monte is standing in again as our county administrator Mark Macaulay is on his last day of vacation.
10:15:45 I hope he's having last moments of fun. So let's hear from Willie
10:15:53 Good morning, Willie.
10:15:54 hey? Good morning, everyone, and welcome back Dr. Locke to see you again.
10:16:01 we wrapped up with our final mass vaccination clinic potentially of the pandemic.
10:16:07 on Saturday, and when I reported out last week we were talking how it was specifically for 5 do 11 year olds as well as teenagers up to 18, because of relatively low registration,
at least we were able to handle some more folks We did open that up to
10:16:23 adults, 18 and up as well, We had a little over a 100 actually registered for the clinic beforehand.
10:16:32 but then we had almost 60 walk-ins to the clinic that day, which was a record for us and I think that spoke to the fact that folks were realizing this was the last opportunity
to get the vaccine.
10:16:43 In this particular setting, so they took advantage of the open clinic I'll told a little over a 150 vaccinated on Saturday.
10:16:52 this week We are immobilizing our equipment, working the inventory, and put it into storage, but still have it readily available.
10:17:02 Could the need arise, and in the future to Commissioner Brotherton's question about staging equipment and on a national level.
10:17:10 Things aren't looking so great as I'm talked about.
10:17:14 I'm here locally, though again we have all of our equipment to be able to deploy a mass vaccination clinic relatively quickly.
10:17:20 We do still have a decent stock of surgicals, a couple of different types of N; 90 fives.
10:17:27 A lot of them aren't the optimal brand and fit for a lot of our emergency response partners.
10:17:32 We have them, nevertheless, as well as a smattering of medical supplies as well.
10:17:38 That will be keeping in storage for a quick deployment, should the need arise.
10:17:42 So. And that is a big change for us. A lot of this in terms of masking and medical supplies.
10:17:48 All the equipment for a easily deployable mass vaccination.
10:17:52 Clinic wasn't something we had going into this pandemic, this stuff that we had purchased in the heat of the moment to get this up and running.
10:18:01 But we do have it here locally now, ready and available for quick deployment for the The next.
10:18:09 so other than that that wrapped up our mass vaccination clinic, schedule with the funding ending at the end of a month, are ready willing and able for the need, spin up again
other than that first shake out was last week thank you to everyone who
10:18:25 participated in that drill, however big or small, Whatever you're participation, looked like I'm a special shout-out to on vcom or volunteer emergency communications group.
10:18:36 Our ham amateur radio operators who ran a successful communications drill as well as all the in prep neighborhoods who participated in their own drill in their own ways.
10:18:48 particularly the the Wall Street neighborhood. Do that? Or yeah, pilot project for us, as we're exploring some new ways to expand our integration, so shout out to them as well
as Port, Ludlow who they had over a 150 people participate and their shake out drill
10:19:04 this year I double their number from last year, so I'm huge things.
10:19:09 There as always. If you don't live in an imprep neighborhood, or if you don't know whether or not you lived in an organized neighborhood and head to our website or the local
website Yeah, but other than that we look forward to that to take out next year that's
10:19:29 Well, I was just. It was yeah, it was it was me.
10:19:31 And I I did participate in the Max fascination vaccination, clinic on Saturday.
10:19:36 Thank you for opening that up for adults, and you know I just am struck by the relatively low percentage of folks in our community who've gotten the bivalent booster relatively
low percentage compared to last you know, previous rounds.
10:19:53 Of the vaccination, and so just wondering if we wanna remind people where to go to get their their booster, and if they're whatever be the possibility of having another clinic,
of some sort or or partnering with the pharmacies are I don't, know having a different model
10:20:16 for getting more more of these boosters out there.
10:20:24 yeah, So the vaccine is still available at our local pharmacies.
10:20:29 So safeway Tri area, or through your health care provider, I'm so talk to them if you're looking for options, I'm you're also still welcome to call us here at deem I mean, we
can help find you an appointment if you have questions about where to go and if
10:20:44 you do travel outside of the county for any reason, it is much more available in some of the more populated areas where you can go to Walmart, Walgreen Cvs.
10:20:56 Any of those major chain pharmacies, as well. I mean, there's plenty of availability there.
10:21:01 I would be at. And this was a helpful reminder on Commissioner Eisenhower.
10:21:07 There is another clinic that's actually not being run by us.
10:21:10 So it wasn't on the tip of my tongue, but the Water State Department of Health have what they call a mobile care event which offers a mobile vaccination services.
10:21:24 they will be here on the thirtieth. How much is a Sunday of this month, that quumper Unitarian Universalist fellowship import comes in from one to 4, so another opportunity
for folks to go and get back ended on the weekends Sunday the thirtieth one to
10:20:20 I'm just concerned that with the low percentage of folks in our community have gotten it
10:21:40 4, the Jefferson County Public Health website I'll let it d em on, if you need to sneak an appointment that otherwise I think it was Commissioner Dean who mentioned There is
a little bit of vaccine fatigue.
10:21:54 So early on in the pandemic. It was about in the vaccine, was being pretty carefully rationed, and then there were very limited supplies, so it was tough.
10:21:40 Right.
10:22:01 Come by. It was often difficult for folks to kind of sneak in, and snag an appointment.
10:22:07 I'm on relatively short notice, as it was becoming available.
10:22:11 No, the vaccine is widely available. You can walk into just about any pharmacy and go get vaccinated, but folks have already had 3, maybe even, 4 shots and a fourth or a fifth
seems a little daunting but as Dr.
10:22:24 Barry has talked about as Dr. Locke has talked about.
10:22:28 it really does provide excellent protection against the latest variant, So we're really hoping that even though folks might be a little bit fatigued, we'll continue on with
our messaging asking folks to really consider this going into the winter weather season, I just really hope that folks consider
10:22:45 this booster before we start, seeing the next spike I'm due to folks who aren't vaccinated against this.
10:22:52 We're very so please call us. We're happy to walk you through your options.
10:22:58 I mean, we do have volunteer our volunteers, who are no hunger busy every week, and if you need to talk to I'm a doctor.
10:22:07 Okay.
10:23:05 Please talk to your health care professional, walk you through the process here.
10:23:12 I was just surprised at the number of people who didn't know what the alarm was for the Shake House Great sake out!
10:23:13 yeah.
10:23:19 I'm like what people you know on Facebook and next door, and saying, What's the what's that phone?
10:23:24 And I'm like, Oh, come on so nice work on that!
10:23:29 And we still have a lot more community education to do, and it's incoming on all of us to help get the word out about those events.
10:23:36 So Yeah, any other questions for Willie, I have one more quick question for Dr. Locke, because we have a moment or 2, and that's just I.
10:23:46 Unfortunately, I got my second case of Covid a couple of weeks ago, and wondering, can you remind us how long after a case of Covid should you get the the biovalence booster?
10:24:02 there. There's some variation in recommendations on that.
10:24:04 technically to be eligible. You only have to wait 2 weeks.
10:24:09 so so you you can legally qualify, but but really it's it's it's unnecessary to get vaccinated, and 2, probably even 3 months after the infection.
10:23:55 How long should you wait for maximum effectiveness?
10:24:26 And if you do, you don't benefit from it much because you're you're you're antibody.
10:24:33 Levels are so high. They just sort of eat up the the antigen that the vaccine produces, so so the recommendation, what I recommend is 3 months minimum and there, are some credible
experts that say waiting as long as soon as 6 months is optimal so so recommendations vary from 3 to 6
10:24:31 Yeah.
10:24:56 Great. And then I asked a question to Dr. Locke. I think last week or the week before, but as we expand sewage, monitoring, is there any push on the local or national level
to expand to the flu as well so we can kind of track that And then a question I ask you all the time is
10:25:18 Where did the flu go? When it was gone, you know. So it's like festering, and a few people have it.
10:25:23 Can you just talk kind of about the epidemiological narrative that has been the flu kind of gone for 2 years and Now back?
10:24:52 months. But I I I would go for 3 months
10:25:35 Well, first of all, with Wastewater, I've not heard people talking about monitoring for for flu.
10:25:43 there there are efforts to monitor for polio virus.
10:25:49 there. There's some work on Mpv. Monitoring, but and it would be technically possible to do it for flu.
10:25:57 the the answer with, Where does flu go? It? It never really goes away.
10:26:02 We we see sporadic cases throughout the year.
10:26:06 there's areas in the world. The closer you get to the hemisphere Alright, I'm sorry.
10:26:13 Closer you get to the equator, the less seasonal flu become.
10:26:17 So. So if you're in an equatorial country, they get sporadic flu all year round, and they have no seasonal increase in in that. That.
10:26:26 the more northerly or southerly your latitude, the more seasonal fluids and tends to cluster in outbreak periods.
10:26:36 But but it's always around smoulder and and influential, like all contagious diseases, it's kind of a chain reaction, phenomenon that when you have a set susceptible population,
and it enters that population.
10:26:51 it, it. It grows exponentially because it, as it moves person to person, and and as long as the conditions are favorable for to do that, and with all our masking and distancing,
we made conditions unfavorable, so we could, if we did, that every year we would not have seasonal.
10:27:14 flu zoom. A really interesting state, and if if we were somehow able to vaccinate all school age, children for influenza, we also wouldn't have seasonal food It just wouldn't
be able to.
10:27:29 Take off, and and spread to the community. But But we're not there yet, and and our our flu vaccines, unfortunately, are not nearly as effective as our Covid vaccines, but that
may change there's some really promising flu vaccines in the pipeline messenger
10:27:46 Rna base, and then what's called an m protein vaccine, which lasts multiple seasons.
10:27:52 So you don't have to have a booster every year.
10:25:31 You know, as we remove our our other mitigations
10:28:01 Thank you, and great to hear from Willie that we have a local stockpile.
10:28:04 At least we've learn some of the lessons locally.
10:28:06 So let's open up the windows and keep the help of filters going this winter, unless it's too, cold.
10:28:16 this veteran. Yeah, Thanks. You guys appreciate you being here today.
10:28:21 And, as I mentioned earlier, this is our last weekly update for a while we're gonna go to a monthly update schedule on the third Mondays of each month at 9 45.
10:28:33 So same time, same place. But just once a month on Kptv.
10:28:38 And thanks to our friends at Kptz for all of their service to the community over the last couple of years.
10:28:44 With these weekly updates and changing their programming schedules around.
10:28:48 We really appreciate rising to rise into the occasion with us.
10:28:53 super grate, grateful for having a local radius radio station.
10:28:59 So I think we're gonna sign you guys off and move on to a discussion of our open public meetings, act guidelines for boards and committees
10:29:13 so we'll bring so I'm sucker over, and I'm I think, just fill for this agenda.
10:29:22 Item: Carolyn
10:29:27 Okay. Good morning. Fill up.
10:29:34 Good. We're all here, And looking forward to this discussion on the guidelines that you guys have been working on for months.
10:29:46 Now you reminded me on Friday, Philip, and also letting folks know that we are going to have a public comment period as as a portion of this agenda item.
10:29:31 morning. Heidi, how are you all this morning
10:30:01 I sure can. So, as you said, we've been talking about this for several months, I think this is our fourth workshop on this.
10:30:12 Maybe it's her third, and we've had some back and forth.
10:30:18 We, I think, improve the proposed guidelines, and for today I also have.
10:30:25 I'll put in the agenda a proposed resolution for adoption of the guidelines, that, I'm hoping that we were there today see it might make sense to start with that start talking
about that and then talk about the guidelines a little bit and
10:30:45 then, in terms of the changes since the last session, and then hats public comment.
10:29:57 So, T. Philip, are you gonna tee this one up
10:30:53 Yeah, it makes sense. And I just would remind folks that this came up because of some new rules that came out as a as a result of some legislation that passed in the last session.
10:31:05 So this isn't just a something we decided to do on our own.
10:31:10 We wanted to make sure we were in compliance with the State law around open public meetings, and also wanna thank Caroline for all of her work.
10:31:19 And putting this together, she did a ton of work on this set of guidelines.
10:30:53 Does that make sense? Okay.
10:31:31 Alright. That's really important. Hi, and particularly the changes that came into effect.
10:31:38 this year in July, related to required public comments.
10:31:45 those are probably the trickiest, and the ones like to trip people up.
10:31:53 So that is a one of the focuses of this.
10:31:56 And then, of course, we've had issues related to what you could do in an emergencies.
10:32:04 We've been relying on the governors. Declaration of emergency for most of the pandemic for our opma guidelines, and have used that and of course, that's a going way.
10:32:16 But fortunately the legislature pass some legislation to deal with that So I mean, we were on the edge of our seats, repeatedly during Covid about about whether we could actually
have remote meetings and and the governor sometimes issued, something at the last second so
10:32:34 without further ado. All go through the the resolution.
10:31:28 Yeah, but you did some work, too, my dear. Okay.
10:32:41 Can everyone see it? Okay, So per I tried to make it pretty simple.
10:32:53 You know the first, whereas just clause saying that what what?
10:32:57 What the Legislature did, and then the significant changes in the second, whereas clause the direction to staff to create a draft of guidelines, and then what we did over the
last few months and then in terms of the actual resolution paragraph one you're just
10:33:23 adopting the guidelines and paragraph to your directing staff to conduct training to implement the go guidelines.
10:33:33 I highlighted paragraph 3. And that's just when the resolution becomes effective, it it could become effective immediately, or you could delay it until there's until there's
some training put together.
10:32:44 Yup
10:33:49 Into, but given that where and we have these help, a comment, requirements probably makes sense more sense for it to go into effect immediately.
10:33:56 Even even
10:34:06 And it seems like we would want to have the plan for trainings in place before this became effective.
10:34:13 No colleagues.
10:34:17 I'm trying to think what like, what we all that training look like.
10:34:22 We haven't talked about but scope. Who needs it?
10:34:28 Who's gonna provide it? And I mean, I guess it partly depends on what direction we go with some of the decision points in the network.
10:34:37 10Â min. So my my guess is it will not require major training that it's largely the same staff.
10:34:45 Those of us who are conducting open public meetings will largely save the same I mean, I know, like with the Board of Health that I make sure the clerk interfaced a little bit
with Carolyn and and went through the the updated updated drafts so Yeah, I don't I don't know
10:35:03 the answer to that either. But I think it's well we kinda need to know the answer to it before we put something in place.
10:35:11 Right? Yeah, yeah, I know I know these things change all the time.
10:35:16 But I wonder if it would be worth recording video training.
10:35:20 That's you know, new members of our boards to which Pma.
10:35:24 Applies, watch, you know, so efficient way to to try to get these best practices across, because there's opma.
10:35:31 And then there's also some best practices in the okay guy.
10:35:37 I can't remember that, and a a list of which boards those are Yeah, it's tricky.
10:33:58 But that's a point of discussion. So if you want want to talk about that a little bit, this might be a good time
10:35:43 That's then, of course, things change, and then is it obsolete
10:35:49 yeah, I think it's just yeah, in terms of the training.
10:35:52 It's just, you know, talking about how we're gonna do it.
10:35:58 I was envisioning, you know. A couple of sessions, and you definitely need some training for the folks who work running the meetings sooner rather than later.
10:35:48 We could come back to it. Well, it's
10:36:18 maybe we just do one training. We do it here where we can record it on AV capture and and memorialize it, or zoom or zoom.
10:36:11 I would think, but recording it's probably a really good idea and make it available
10:36:31 Okay, Well, does it make sense to come back to this at the end?
10:36:27 Yeah.
10:36:33 And okay, alright. So I'll re share
10:36:46 Okay, So save this as a new document. So if we have other changes, we can make them on the fly.
10:36:33 Yeah.
10:36:57 But this was the document that was sent out with the agenda request even though it has a different date in the bottom, and it has a different name.
10:37:09 Yeah.
10:37:14 Okay.
10:37:10 and I suppose the biggest changes we're trying to get clear on using the terminology testimony versus public meetings, which was Mr.
10:37:21 Tearsh's Yeah, Sorry pro public comments. Thank you.
10:37:25 Mr. Richard's primary suggestion. After the last session, and I tried hard to go through and catch.
10:37:36 Every one of them also found some typos like this one.
10:37:38 Here? And is it make sense to just look at the changes as we go through?
10:37:50 So this is the public comment versus testimony, language, and I just.
10:37:58 I put this here to make it clear that what we're talking about, right?
10:38:04 So because if you look in opma, sometimes it says public comments.
10:38:09 Sometimes it says testimony, and this is just trying to make it clear what we're talking about.
10:38:15 Sometimes it's clear that you know, we're talking about oral testimony.
10:38:20 Sometimes it's clear we're talking about written testimony, and I tried to get rid of any confusion that could exist related to those things.
10:37:21 Public comment.
10:38:37 Well. So we have typically accepted public comments during public meetings and accepted testimony during hearings.
10:38:28 In this draft, questions about the what I was, what what the the attempt was
10:39:00 Well, so if you have a hearing, typically you set a written public comment period and and there's some flexibility on on that in terms of when you, when you want to have received
public testimony, sometimes, you have, said you want it by the end of the Friday, before the hearing.
10:39:27 Sometimes I say more typically it's at the end of the hearing, so people can submit things and writing and up until the end of the hearing, sometimes it's been extended.
10:39:38 if you're not going to decide that day, I think it's just terminology I mean, I don't think there's a big difference between public comment and testimony.
10:39:47 It's just the preference, you know, for using the terminology and sometimes it's clear what you're talking about setting up a public comment period that's in a in a I don't
know disappearing that gets published that's you're talking about written
10:40:03 testimony, oral testimony is taken during the hearing so or oral public comments.
10:40:11 Same thing to me. It's the same. It's just how you wanna refer to it here, and say, you know, I think, and Mr.
10:40:22 Chair, I'm expecting he'll have some comments about this, but trying to use the same language Testimony was an attempt to eliminate some confusion.
10:38:48 it is that distinction no longer valid. Should we be talking about testimony, regardless of the type of meeting
10:40:35 Maybe it didn't do that. So
10:40:38 well can I? Can I dig a little deeper into my my confusion?
10:40:44 Here is that I thought there was some anonymity protected in an open public meeting, whereby the public did not need to state who they were; whereas in testimony that it was
required for the record hearing record to state your name and place, of residence and that could just be purely cultural that
10:41:04 we. That is how we have functioned. And so it's stuck in my mind.
10:41:09 But it, it would. It'll be hard for me to to unlearn that, so it'd be helpful for me to understand the framework.
10:40:42 Sure.
10:41:19 So, that's so. That language is still maintained in this draft.
10:41:25 that distinction is maintained, or just, we're just instead of calling things public comment we're calling them testimony.
10:41:33 Good. It's no, it's doesn't, doesn't matter what you call it.
10:41:39 you can call it testimony. You can call it public comment.
10:41:43 It's one in the same thing. So this is attempting to make it be use a consistent throughout these guidelines, I don't know if that answers your question, but in in the in the
hearing part of the of these guidelines that what you're saying is been
10:41:16 The legal framework for that. Moving forward
10:42:02 And so it just would be that in a hearing you would be required to provide name and place residence.
10:42:11 But testimony in a regular open public meeting, would not?
10:42:00 maintained terms, of
10:42:13 You would not need to state that
10:42:18 So? Is it just semantics? Because I've been corrected a bazillion times for saying public comment and not testimony, as in hearings.
10:42:15 That's right. And that's maintained in these guidelines.
10:42:28 And so I'm just trying to understand if it's just semantics
10:42:36 In my opinion, it's semantics
10:42:41 and it's what people are used used to saying.
10:42:43 They're if you look at Opma, it uses testimony sometimes, and sometimes it uses public comment.
10:42:38 Okay.
10:42:53 Even under under what you have on the screen here under B.
10:42:52 So
10:42:56 It still says: Public comment required under our Cw.
10:42:59 Yes, and then But there's another place where it says testimony.
10:43:04 Oh, and this is just an attempt to harmonize it.
10:43:03 Right, right, yeah, okay.
10:43:11 harmonize the language, that's all. So
10:43:12 Yeah, but in a hearing, in a hearing, we would still want to call it testimony and have the name and place of residence right
10:43:22 Well, if you, if you follow the change in these guidelines, you would call it testimony.
10:43:26 Hmm.
10:43:32 Okay.
10:43:39 I guess even if it was a term of art, the distinction between testimony and public comment previously in our practices, it was clearer than just.
10:43:48 They mean the same thing, but this testimony is different in this testimony you have to give your name, and and and your admin address, or where you live. And then.
10:43:28 But I I will say to you that you is public comment, whether it's whether you want to call it testimony or not. It's still public comment
10:44:02 Now, if you, if you look at the part that talks about what you have to do on hearings that has makes that distinction a Testament that you give it a hearing, you have your you
can ask for the name.
10:43:58 This testimony, you know, whatever you want. So it's it's just
10:44:16 I mean I I understand that I I just, I guess I agree with the point.
10:44:21 I think Kate is making that if it it muddies the 2 terms for me.
10:44:14 And oh, and where they live
10:44:46 Well, you you're typically you're typically recording everything now, and the only distinction would be, for where there's a hearing, you're you're preserving the testimony
that's being given orally as part of the here, a part of the record for that decision
10:45:10 bye, when you're when you're you know, even if it wasn't in a hearing.
10:44:26 When before, I had a clear idea of the distinction between testimony and public comment, as used by the county, the other difference being that testimony and a hearing remains
on the record verbatim whereas public comment does not correct.
10:45:22 Did we decide that that all, all open public meetings will be recorded? I wasn't.
10:45:18 If people are talking about it, we're preserving that. Now we're recording all these meetings
10:45:27 I wasn't sure where we landed on that
10:45:29 Oh, no! I was talking about the I was talking about the boards, the boards, meetings, so
10:45:36 But if the planning Commission has a hearing, they will record and and keep all of the Testament right
10:45:52 But the Climate Action Committee may not, and our action only minutes.
10:45:42 Yes, correct. Right. And there's a requirement for that. Or you know a requirement that for a about that, for parents
10:45:59 Still an allowable form of of record
10:46:06 In which case the public comments would not be preserved, or the testimony whatever you want I mean, it's actually been a helpful distinction for us for some of us.
10:46:23 I can just imagine if not, Nichols would still doing cartoons, and the leader that this would be great fodder for one.
10:46:29 Yeah, Hmm: So do we want to go through this We've got high centered really quick.
10:46:37 That's what we're doing. I mean, we're trying to get to this level of detail today, to finalize.
10:46:03 Yes.
10:46:41 Okay, So I mean it in some ways. I would rather we stick with our previous practice.
10:46:49 But maybe I just need to to re calibrate my brain, to to use them interchangeably.
10:46:57 but I I do think it. It does trigger a different set of responses which is helpful for me, in in sharing meetings for me, too.
10:47:07 But we want to be consistent with the language in opma and statute, inconsistent with the language; and opma consistently.
10:47:14 Inconsistent Yeah, oh, it sounds like opma is a little inconsistent.
10:46:44 So
10:47:20 Yeah, so, I think it's I think it's a matter of choice for you.
10:47:26 and I don't think it makes sense to go through all of the changes one by one, to see if you want to maintain.
10:47:20 Okay, Gotcha.
10:47:37 You know the test, the testimony versus public comment, Language, you know I could just, I mean, if you if it's your desire to go to, you know, make clear what we've been using
the word testimony for in the past.
10:47:55 We can Do that. So it's just it's just a a choice for you to make when you adopt this.
10:48:10 I agree. We don't need to go through each instance of the change.
10:48:14 Maybe, after public comment, we can come back to Well, I wonder, too, if maybe in this section we we call out that, open the public comment and testimony. May be used.
10:48:25 Interchangeably, except in the case of hearing testimony or something. These guidelines use the term testimony throughout her refer to public comment, whether written or oral
where the necessary a distinction is made between oral testimony and written testimony I guess I
10:48:42 don't know. Yeah, that's fine. Just gonna take some time to get used to, And you know, I think I think part of the way I'm thinking about this.
10:48:57 Is that we will probably be doing a lot of education to our to chairs of various boards and commissions, and so you know the idea that understanding something is one thing,
teaching.
10:49:08 It is another so. But that's okay. They will not be as set on the difference as we are right.
10:48:00 But in terms of both P. And a Oh, Pier, may I do not believe there's a difference between testimony and and public comment in terms of how it's used
10:49:16 No, that's that's possibly true. I don't.
10:49:16 Great
10:49:22 I don't know. So those you know. Those are the bulk of the changes.
10:49:29 really were testimony and public comments, and I just tried to use testimony so that they're I was hoping to create less confusion in the end.
10:49:40 But I did Rick. Reckon guys, that that might not be the outcome.
10:49:39 Hmm.
10:49:44 So but and there's a some language here that I deleted because it seemed to inconsistent with with the rest of the sentence right I mean, if you're gonna receive it after the
deadline it really can't qualifies public comment But it can be
10:50:07 distributed, and you know individual Commissioners can decide whether to take it into account and making decisions.
10:50:01 Yeah.
10:50:19 But it wouldn't be part of a hearing record, for example, and I can think of a few times where.
10:50:27 But we've had some Po public comment that was delivered late that we thought, Oh, that's a good idea, and we've actually implemented it.
10:50:44 Can I just push that point a little bit, Philip, just to, I guess my befuddlement, you know, continues with this term 2 times of art So if we had a hearing that was open until
you know Monday at noon, and then as you say we received some constructive feedback at one
10:51:02 o'clock to me. It's helpful to know that the testimony period closed at the end of the hearing, but that this public comment was still helpful and incorporated into the later
draft or something.
10:50:35 So, anyway, that was just to try to get rid of an internal and consistency, and the in the in the language sure sure
10:51:21 Well, it's it's a matter of whether you have to consider it or not.
10:51:25 So, having a debt having a deadline is important for that purpose.
10:51:29 So it's so all it means is that you don't.
10:51:15 I just I guess I find the distinction, as Kate said, helpful more than
10:51:37 Right, and then with this, with this draft, it both would be testimony.
10:51:41 So testimony is completed, for this hearing is closed.
10:51:44 But we're gonna consider this other testimony that we got late.
10:51:48 It's just the semantics. I don't know.
10:51:34 You didn't have to consider it, but you could, and
10:51:49 I guess I'm I'm high center on it, too.
10:51:54 Well, change is a high centering event
10:52:01 yeah, I mean, so I you know I'll if you tell me what you want me to do.
10:51:58 okay.
10:52:08 I could make it happen. So up to you I just try to be consistent in terms of the terminology.
10:52:09 Okay.
10:52:16 Throughout the whole document
10:52:18 Well, there's actually nothing that stops us from continuing to use that distinction in this correct But we're training everyone to use the same set of practices.
10:52:29 So are we training them to use our practices that don't align with the the document we just created.
10:52:22 Absolutely nothing.
10:52:46 Well.
10:52:50 I think it's pretty clear what what they're supposed to do.
10:52:56 the way it's written. It's just your you're used to using testimony one way, and which is, which is fine.
10:53:09 but and you we can change it to to continue to do that, you know, maybe, where Kate was suggesting.
10:53:17 You know. That's where you would do that where you would make it clear.
10:53:22 but to me there's no difference. It's all public comment.
10:52:35 I mean, that's it's not a huge thing, but it does seem well if we're providing them with the document as the rules, play, and then we're teaching them different rules. It's
it causes confusion.
10:53:28 So to me, You know whether you call it testimony or public comment.
10:53:36 Same thing, and it won't matter if you continue to call it public comment or testimony, it'll all be the same thing.
10:53:46 so it's just up to you whether you want to be more specific in certain contexts.
10:53:35 Platform
10:53:50 And that's just fine. But I think
10:53:53 Alright. Thank you. I think the way it's written is fine. The way you have it written is fine
10:53:59 Hmm. And I I think there's a value in using same terminology throughout, so that so the week, so that we're talking about the same thing all the time, and we're not getting
confused to me the big difference is whether it's or or written
10:54:15 Hmm.
10:54:21 That's funny, cause we use that distinction less.
10:54:18 you know
10:54:22 but
10:54:23 it's is this more consistent with opma, using testimony as the def defaults or defecto
10:54:30 I think either can be in can be consistent with opma. It's just it.
10:54:36 It is. I don't know. Semantics may be too loaded to term, but it's just it's a question of choice well, how do you?
10:54:34 Okay.
10:54:47 What language do you want to use so
10:54:54 Yes.
10:54:58 Okay, yeah, I have no idea whether what he's gonna say about this.
10:55:03 But I I'm pretty sure we're gonna find out.
10:54:49 Well, maybe, Mr. Tir Schwarzenegger some light in when we take testimony on this topic.
10:55:10 There was the 72Â h there done up.
10:55:08 okay.
10:55:11 Oh, thanks! I didn't mean to skip. Yeah, So this is the question that we talked about last week.
10:55:20 A little bit in terms of posting materials, and and I was thinking about.
10:55:11 Oh!
10:55:27 I came up with setting 2Â h, because I was thinking Friday and Monday right, but oftentimes, you know, we'll post things that the end of the day Friday, not sure that 72Â h
so.
10:55:39 Is the 72Â h a requirement? Sure, no should.
10:55:43 No.
10:55:47 Now, if you're if you're talking about a hearing if you're talking about a hearing, then you need to have the the resolution or ordinance posted somewhere when the hearing notice
is published so that's already a requirement alright this is just you know beating
10:56:07 packets. So we spent some time talking about this last week and you know what's feasible.
10:56:17 Should we require it, I put, should in there for your consideration.
10:55:45 Okay, because it
10:56:22 Well, let's let's not think about. Let's just for greens and giggles.
10:56:28 Let's think about another like the Housing Fund Board, which I'm not on.
10:56:32 So I'm not biased in any way. In the instance of that meeting, which is another meeting.
10:56:38 That's shared by staff and I mean staff, anyway.
10:56:43 What how, how much in advance of those meetings are materials for the meeting posted Usually Friday for Wednesday.
10:56:50 So it more than 72Â h
10:56:57 yeah. And it's still helpful to add it.
10:57:00 You don't want to keep it away from the public right, and and I I mean, I think that the trickier part is the drafts, that when edits are made, which there's often very good
work, done.
10:57:10 You know, like, So do we do. We have to have final documents, I think, is the question, and it doesn't say final documents here, just as materials, right?
10:57:22 And so for regular meetings. I think that's less of an issue.
10:57:27 Hearings, I think, are a little trickier, but you know I think sometimes we have to provide that flexibility for staff too.
10:57:34 the legal lot of record most recently working on a very difficult timeline, us asking for a lot of changes right up to the last minute, and so having that flexibility is important,
but I still think of, a best practice is valuable I think should capture that one i'm i'm comfortable, with this
10:56:21 But
10:57:58 Yeah, I think that's the best way to say it.
10:57:54 language. Okay, me, too. Okay, Okay.
10:58:03 Carolyn has a question
10:58:07 Question, regard, and not paper. Sometimes there are documents within the packet that need to be signed off, and so, like an engendary way, has an original signature.
10:58:19 So that's why we have a paper packet, and that's for the Bsd.
10:58:24 Anyways, I'm not sure about any of the other boards and communities, but as far as I can see, we'd always have a paper packet, unless we could scan in assigned copy and then
toss it and as far as I know.
10:58:01 This is intended to be a best practice
10:58:39 That's true.
10:58:44 So this doesn't prevent there being a paper, a paper paper packet.
10:58:49 it's just putting a best practice. Yeah, and requiring that that it be madeable available online.
10:58:45 Right.
10:59:00 Maybe removing the last 3 words that sentence just cause. Yeah.
10:59:06 So it's not either or right. It should be electronic.
10:58:57 So, you know
10:59:11 Should be available, yeah, eliminate the word and and not paper the packet for the meeting should be made available at electronically.
10:59:17 Oh, Gotcha
10:59:19 The sentence before. Yeah, that one.
10:59:27 Okay, anymore, on this item, how about should be made available electronically?
10:59:32 Just. There are some folks that just some older folks especially, who sometimes prefer a paper copy, and we help them and make that available
10:59:21 Gotcha Gotcha: Yep: Okay.
10:59:46 Yeah, yes, good.
10:59:47 How's that?
10:59:51 Okay.
10:59:55 Okay, or written testimony versus public comment changes more of the same
11:00:13 We're in hearings now.
11:00:22 Let's call it public comment and hearings, just to be conf confusing
11:00:17 we are.
11:00:30 What call what public comment and hearing testimony, just being snarking
11:00:39 Well, you know I I'll just tell you why I don't like the word testimony, because it has a meeting where you square tell the truth, We don't require that Alright.
11:00:48 You know I We are talking about opma, which uses both works both terms.
11:00:47 Right.
11:01:02 So now did somebody found a typo. I think that was. Monty found that typo missing the best in age
11:01:09 No.
11:01:13 More public comment versus testimony, language.
11:01:21 Right. So we're out of hearings. Yeah, So what did we?
11:01:24 Where did we land? On? The was Still, it was a question in the agenda request.
11:01:35 About one of the 3 questions. We are trying to get to.
11:01:23 Route Appearings.
11:01:47 So this this. And see here, talks about posting the notice and the agenda, and let's see, Sorry.
11:02:04 Let's go back to
11:02:10 Public hearings. Okay.
11:02:22 First of all, you always have to look at the particular ordinance or resolution to figure out what's required.
11:01:42 How about the materials being made available for hearings and
11:02:29 That's really important. And
11:02:38 And then.
11:02:42 This is what we typically do, or we're generally required usually we're talking about 10 days.
11:02:48 Notice and
11:02:58 And and and the notice the way we do it is, we put in the notice where to find the ordinance or resolution.
11:02:58 But that's different than the documents for consideration
11:03:08 So. So maybe we should say a resolution here
11:03:14 yep.
11:03:18 it's it's it's relatively rare that a hearing is required for a resolution.
11:03:23 But there are things where where our county code requires notice, and hearing on a resolution.
11:03:32 I'm thinking, for example, the you know, the Quarterly Budget resolutions.
11:03:23 Right.
11:03:39 I think those are. Those have to be noticed for hearing. So.
11:03:48 Yeah, but you know you have to when you put the when you put the hair notice together and the hearing notice we we always say where you can look at the materials, and you so
you have to give you have to give notice of what you're talking about right so the ordinance of the resolution would have.
11:04:07 To be put in the hearing notice, so so let's see what it says here.
11:04:13 Maybe you need to add some stuff. Well, we have a form hearing notice, form, and I it.
11:04:30 So do we need to get any more specific cause You know the the hearing notice has gone out without the final document being available.
11:04:20 That form definitely has. You know where you would find the document online.
11:04:43 So they. So typically we would send it for publication without, and oftentimes without the the document available.
11:04:52 but the document should be posted before it actually is published in the in the paper.
11:04:59 So you know, so that people are actually getting notice.
11:04:59 okay.
11:05:09 Yeah, And I mean, could even you want to say, like draft documents should be available at the time of publication
11:05:05 So this might be a place where you want to say that
11:05:29 Well, so when you when you're doing a public notice, you you do it of the draft that's available.
11:05:34 When you give public notice, but when you're doing deliberations you can.
11:05:21 Proposed. Yeah, but knowing that they might, they might undergo some edits
11:05:39 You can change that so that's just your starting point.
11:05:49 Well in an ideal situation you would want to avoid that.
11:05:42 Yeah, just the public doesn't like when we're deliberating on a different draft than they've seen
11:05:53 Right? Yeah.
11:05:53 But, as you say, sometimes, we don't have those ideal situations always.
11:05:58 What? Pardon me where and we're up against some kind of deadline time.
11:06:07 Yeah, and the vast majority of the time we do have the final document.
11:06:05 Deadline. That's when that happens
11:06:11 Yeah, for consideration. Yeah.
11:06:14 so. I mean, I think, just getting clear on what you want to say here.
11:06:23 hey? Graph.
11:06:27 Hmm, hmm.
11:06:42 You can. I think you can go with the must Here
11:06:51 Yeah, you're right. Shares? Yes, much better. Thank you, Commissioner.
11:07:26 How's that?
11:07:26 that makes sense looks good. Yeah, hopefully, in an obvious place posted online in an obvious place at the link provided, or Hmm
11:07:48 It's I think it's fine how it is.
11:07:42 Yeah, I mean, we could get that specific if you want.
11:07:56 Okay.
11:07:50 Yeah, homepage also. Hmm.
11:08:09 That's more comment, testimony, consistency, confusion, lack of confusion.
11:08:20 More the same
11:08:16 Okay.
11:08:28 Spelling.
11:08:36 Take your job seriously
11:08:28 got a misspelled word here. I think that was a Monty as well, always good to have a fresh set of eyes. And I just added this for clarity, adding this language, here for clarity
11:08:55 Because at some point you start looking at this, and you're brain starts to not read things anymore.
11:09:01 I'm I'm pretty sure I'm at that place, or close to it.
11:09:08 and then in the appendices, more testimony and comment changes
11:09:32 And I know Heidi hates this graphic, but it's the only way I could get it on the page
11:09:39 And then here this is changes we talked about last week.
11:09:39 No, wait. There's something
11:09:47 Pluto, List
11:09:54 more. This is changes we talked about last week, so I'm not sure we talked about this specific change.
11:10:04 but listing the members and other person's president, Executive session.
11:09:47 Oh, right yup yup
11:10:08 This is for the minutes. So I think that's wise.
11:10:09 Why did? Why is here time here? Oh, I see.
11:10:15 this is particularly important. If you have an exact executive session related to potential or actual litigation, it's helpful that to have listed that a lawyer was present
super tech the privilege involved
11:10:29 Okay got it? Hmm
11:10:34 I think that's about it.
11:10:40 We go back to the executive session section above, on page 18
11:10:52 I think it would. Here, there.
11:11:07 Hmm! Number 8. No decision can be made. It would be helpful to to, and I know you're trying to be consistent with the language and statute, but I think it might be good to call
out including straw polls.
11:10:49 18. Okay.
11:11:19 Or you know, for for folks who who are using this who don't know the law as well, I think, calling, it's very easy to think Oh, you can't make a decision.
11:11:25 Sure.
11:11:29 But why not say, hey? How would you vote or
11:11:43 Hmm.
11:11:48 What does that look different?
11:12:35 thanks. Very practical
11:12:47 Okay.
11:12:56 The Roberts rules Question: Did we decide on that last time? Right?
11:13:03 we said, no, don't mention it explicitly.
11:13:09 I mean the yeah, the trouble is, it's it's a useful framework for 95% of operations, and but it's that it can be weaponized, and really.
11:13:16 Like, if you get down in the weeds, can be not well understood or abused by those who do understand it Well, you know we talked about looking into the the light.
11:13:30 Version
11:13:31 I think just not speaking to it. This could be my preference.
11:13:33 Probably I mean allowing it to be used by those groups that do use it.
11:12:51 Anything I we should talk about
11:13:41 This comment: 9
11:13:48 Hmm! But
11:13:44 Well, it's just whatever's in this procedure as was adapted from that motion procedure
11:13:55 But do we have to say that? Do we have to say the procedure wasn't adopted from Robert's rules?
11:13:59 No.
11:14:01 Hmm.
11:14:10 Man, I don't mind the footnote, you know.
11:14:13 I I mean it doesn't mandate that that you do.
11:14:16 You use Roberts rules. It's just it's good to give the site.
11:14:19 So I'm I am fine with it as it is.
11:14:04 We can do weight the footnote
11:14:23 share. Should Caroline asked the the bullet that says all remarks must be addressed to the chair, and commented that often remarks are addressed to the board or to the guests,
like in this conversation.
11:14:27 Sorry could. I couldn't hear that. Probably the pupa couldn't either.
11:14:46 Right now. Maybe should. Or hmm
11:14:52 I'm sorry. Which bullet is she talking about?
11:14:54 The fifth one down. All remarks must be addressed to the chair
11:15:00 And you know in practice we see a lot of other
11:15:05 I don't even know if I think they should be addressed to the chair.
11:15:10 Right. I I if we I would rather just get rid of that, because most of our boards are very conversational, which is valuable.
11:14:57 Got it? Okay.
11:15:20 address, other numbers, right
11:15:33 or or take it out, or change it to the board.
11:15:38 Yeah, I would too, because sometimes there are guests or or public that are very involved in the business of yeah, I would take it out.
11:15:47 I mean if anything, I mean, we talk about the chair managing the meeting right?
11:15:27 That's the consensus. Take it out
11:15:51 I think that's the critical thing to convey.
11:15:57 Hmm is. There's not a
11:16:06 this is Go on, I'm thinking that the chair should always remain impartial.
11:16:14 unless a tie breaking vote is needed or something right.
11:15:55 I agree.
11:16:18 Hmm.
11:16:19 I think this is a demeanor. Not meant to be a demeanor, comment, or suggestion.
11:16:25 It's not. It's not, it's not minted too, to to deal with boating.
11:16:38 Yeah.
11:16:33 So I mean we could maybe fiddle with it to to make that clearer, you know, in handling comments, or I don't know but
11:16:43 in managing the meeting. I mean, I agree. Because yeah.
11:16:45 When when you're taking a vote, you're not remaining in partial.
11:16:47 But the chair, you know, usually has the the The should be voting.
11:16:53 Hmm! Not always. I mean in some boards shared doesn't vote unless needed.
11:16:59 And that's in a version of Robert's rules.
11:17:02 It's 8. Usually the chair Will refrain from making the motion or second thing, I don't think I participate in any boards where the chair only votes.
11:16:44 Yeah.
11:17:13 If necessary. But that's still not remaining impartial. You're only voting if there's not a consensus.
11:17:21 Yeah, I think the proposed language captures the idea here.
11:17:22 that sounds great
11:17:25 Yeah, yep.
11:17:25 Well.
11:17:30 Looks, good
11:17:39 Hey? Anything else we should talk about.
11:17:55 And we want to come back to the, to, to the when it's effective.
11:17:48 Not that I can ready for. So let's let's open
11:18:03 Yeah, let's well, they might want to come in on the Con conversation about when it's effective.
11:18:08 Yeah, I agree. So let's continue chair. I agree. Hmm.
11:18:16 Do you wanna justify on that? So the question was about for me was that training?
11:18:25 How how it training was part of the stash to charge requirement.
11:18:00 Now, or do you want to take testimony and then come back to that
11:18:35 Right. And so this also would apply to the training.
11:18:41 So getting the training started, so you might have to break it up if you wanted to do that, or you could, or you could say, you know, implementation of section one will be effective
X days and on X days.
11:18:31 Correct.
11:19:03 Yeah, so.
11:19:00 But I think you're gonna wanna you know. Get this going
11:19:12 And the training of the schedules prepared by Emma, implemented by board staff
11:19:18 But I mean, I also think that you want people following these immediately, whether they're trained or not, because of the public comment requirement.
11:19:29 Right, I mean, and the and the impact of that is really big.
11:19:34 So I know that some boards are are already looking at this.
11:19:39 these guidelines, and then there are not final form.
11:19:42 But I but I think you could get something out there pretty quickly that says we just adopted these start doing it.
11:19:40 hmm.
11:19:50 Training will follow. So I I guess my recommendation for you to keep it.
11:19:51 Yeah.
11:19:57 As it is
11:19:58 I'm fine with that. But the but they this resolution shall be effective includes the trainings.
11:20:07 So do we Wanna separate the effective effective date from the training clause I think we're technically still in compliance with the State requirement for public meetings.
11:20:22 Training. Like all of our members, do have to do that. So I I think this is. I don't think we're really at at risk other than we want to, You know.
11:20:31 Be consistent, And also apply our the changes we've made here so I don't.
11:20:33 I don't see a huge rush so long as we're we're still in compliance
11:20:41 Which I believe we are Okay, Do we? Want to do? We want to have any kind of statement in here that people should be familiar with these guidelines?
11:20:53 I don't know. Yeah, it's something nice.
11:21:03 I like that, Carolyn just said. The idea of ha!
11:20:06 Right.
11:21:07 Of having people sign an affidate David, that they've read these guidelines
11:21:17 Oh!
11:21:20 Acknowledgement. So we'll will. Our folks still be doing the State training video training, And should that be included here.
11:21:32 I mean, they're still required by the State right? Or is that our protection?
11:21:38 Is that our policy? So do we just need. As this reads, We're just publishing a schedule. Do.
11:21:45 We just need to publish a schedule of those state trainings
11:21:51 It's not. Yeah, it's just a video. It's it. It doesn't right.
11:21:55 I have to do it. I bet they'll update it.
11:22:00 Yeah, so. But my question is, is that request is the state one required regardless?
11:22:05 And if so, how do we want to nest our more localized training with that?
11:22:12 And I don't know if if the State training is required, or if we do that for our own risk management.
11:21:15 an affidavit, or just, or just say, an acknowledgement
11:22:21 Okay, But what about volunteers who share boards? If they're in open public meetings, they have to take the State training per But that is that language. Is that clear?
11:22:31 Hmm, alright! So they wouldn't. Well, we do treat volunteers as employees.
11:22:44 That Alright will give me training
11:22:50 Yeah.
11:22:58 This is more like the you know. I mean, that is covered by 2 as is drafted currently right like, Do we really need to add more?
11:22:23 Alright. I was good.
11:23:12 I mean whether it's the state training plus reading this book, bringing in policy
11:23:36 See, I think we would still want to rely on the State training
11:23:41 And then for opma, and maybe then have a supplemental for Jefferson County boards in the form of a another video like, you've you've to see in the States trading video on open
public meetings.
11:23:26 Sorry.
11:23:55 That. Curious how we implement that in Jefferson County and drilled out into some of these more particulars.
11:24:01 So that's what I was trying to get at here.
11:24:02 Hmm.
11:24:04 This language, the new language, and 3 works for you.
11:24:12 They have to do that one. Yeah.
11:24:12 Oh, Sorry open, public! Hi! Bad.
11:24:22 Open yeah, open public meeting, Zack.
11:24:27 By, although they have to do the public records one too
11:24:33 Umhm!
11:24:24 Thank you.
11:24:43 It's still not clear to me how we're gonna put this local training together, and one that included in here
11:24:52 So this is a direction to do that, or that was the attempt
11:25:04 and reading it. That's what I was wondering.
11:25:08 Money, just to ask. He didn't speak into his microphone County Administrator.
11:25:15 Please speak into your microphone. Just putting these guidelines together and requiring that appropriate people.
11:25:23 Read them is the training I mean. You that it's step beyond just reading the law.
11:25:31 Now the counties published guidelines that to me help.
11:25:36 Which is, it is training, I mean, you need someone to read this to you, to call it training, right or can you just read it yourself?
11:25:42 I don't mean you, I mean so I mean, certainly additional training is discretionary and could be helpful to highlight some of the the the key points, but I don't know that it's
necessary or required Again, I mean these these guidelines.
11:26:02 Are very helpful. We in public works have the solid Waste Advisory Committee and the Parks, and Reckon Advisory Board and Phillips been working with, us you know, for the last
6 months to make sure we come up to speed on on the new open public
11:26:22 meetings act, but what he's been telling us is what's now published in these guidelines And and we've been saying, Hey, is there something we can just turn to? Here?
11:26:31 It is so. I think that to me so does additional trainings is kind of an extra, but not necessarily a mandatory thing on these particular guidelines.
11:26:42 Just to become review of these open public meeting act guidelines
11:26:50 I mean, does it Is this I'm I'm saying. Can we simplify?
11:26:55 Make this more. Rubber meets the road today. Then talking about something aspirational in terms of a further training.
11:27:03 No, I mean, I yeah, I agree with what Monty just said.
11:24:58 Shall be prepared and implemented
11:27:11 So one thing you could do is this gives you a lot of the way it's written, gives you a lot of flexibility, including doing what Moni suggested.
11:27:19 So you could direct Staff to do this and come back to you to talk about it, and you can talk about what the plan for training is.
11:27:27 I think it could be a combination of things, you know, putting Monty and Carolyn's idea together.
11:27:35 Maybe you have an acknowledgement that you know that you keep a record of that.
11:27:41 People actually read this, and then maybe you have a video for people that you know as Commissioner pro that said you people could look at and have that available.
11:27:07 I do, too. I Oh, I'm not supposed to have an opinion on the chair
11:28:03 Yeah, and I just think, you know, if, if, like this, we are choosing to do more than the state requires us to do.
11:28:14 And if we keep in mind the intent of this, which is to limit our liability, I think the reason the State went to video training also is because it's more effective.
11:28:26 It's stickier. It it, it, you know, gets people understand and retain.
11:28:31 Many people understand and retain things better when it is in a verbal or visual, and perhaps, in addition to the written.
11:28:40 so you know, I think there could be multi layered.
11:28:43 But I do think that it's more I think it would be more effective if it had a a video component to it.
11:28:48 So any of those ideas we could just leave to. As it is, though right, there's an extra, and and in 2 after, in the third line, after committees
11:29:04 If you read a schedule of training on the open public meeting act guidelines for Jefferson County Boards commissions and committees for all members and employees.
11:27:56 but I think trying to design the training in this form is pretty difficult
11:29:12 His staff. You see that? Okay.
11:29:16 That's one you meant right, Heidi
11:29:18 Yeah.
11:29:26 Okay? Are we good with how this is reads, I mean, we haven't exactly decided on our semantic question, but I'd love to hear the public.
11:29:35 Okay, Are we ready for public comment? Team? Yep: Okay, So I'm gonna open a public.
11:29:44 I'm gonna open a period of testimony on this item.
11:29:53 regarding our open Public Meeting Act guidelines for boards and committees.
11:29:58 If you're with us this morning on zoom, and would like to make a comment on the discussion we're having on open public meetings. Act guidelines for boards, and Committees, please
raise your hand using the raise hand button at the bottom of your zoom screen
11:30:25 Good morning, Mr. Tearsh. You'll need to unmute, and you'll have 3Â min for comments.
11:30:35 Yep.
11:30:34 Hi! Can you hear me? Thank you. Thank you. Surprise: Yeah. Comments on the comments.
11:30:43 see what we can get in in 3Â min. Let me just state from from the record.
11:30:48 I did not recommend changing all the occurrences of public comment to testimony.
11:30:53 In fact, if you look at my October the tenth email that I sent directly after the last workshop.
11:30:57 On this, I mean, I thought I made it really really clear that there were only 2 areas of of the policy where the word testimony should be clarified, and and made explicit clear,
because you know the the point of of testimony is yes, it's not something that's made under
11:31:15 oaths, like in a trial, or anything like that. But it is a more formal kind of communication.
11:31:22 It's something as as Commissioner Dean pointed out, it goes into the the hearing record, and so forth, and so those are the 2 situations where that I Pointed out in my email
where I think the word, testimony is appropriate every place else where public comment was used I think it should remains.
11:31:39 Public comment, I'll point out that doing a quick search of the opma online, the word testimony appears 7 times the word public comment appears 16 times.
11:31:50 So I think there's a preference. On the part of the Legislature to consider comment to be, you know, more casual commentary, almost conversational, but not quite.
11:32:02 so don't blame me if you, if If there's confusion, I didn't I didn't.
11:32:09 That was not my intent. One thing about the the section on the deadline for submission of public comments.
11:32:17 receiving writing if they're received late after the deadline.
11:32:20 I think it would be important to note that the comments won't be discarded, but they'll just be included in the next packet for that particular board or Commissioner Committee.
11:32:09 Yeah.
11:32:28 however, if the submission was testimony for a hearing, the testimony will not be included in the formal record of the hearing but nonetheless will not be discarded It's still
commentary that that should be should be a part of the of the public records.
11:32:36 But no.
11:32:44 the training issue is interesting. Of course, as we know, it's already required by the opma, but you know, just training on this policy is not nearly enough.
11:32:56 because if you look at the Attorney General's training, that really should be used as the gold standard, because this policy is, if you read through it, it doesn't cover everything
that you are legally required to know about the opa you still have to take that Attorney general's, training.
11:33:13 this this policy should be in addition to, and you know I'm sorry.
11:33:18 you know Mr. Grinders, reading the policy is not enough now.
11:33:24 It's at the O. The opma specifically requires training.
11:33:28 It doesn't require reading. It requires training and it's it's important that People be, you know, presented with something point by point by point, and not just say, well,
here's 30 pages.
11:33:39 Understand it, the and that's about it, you know.
11:33:44 I think I think what we've got here is is a good policy.
11:33:47 I think it It It's going to be very helpful and reduce risk for the county, and I I sincerely appreciate all the time that's been spent by staff and the Commissioners in working
on this thing.
11:32:45 Thank you.
11:34:04 Thank you, Mr. Tears. That's 3Â min anyone else with us this morning.
11:34:12 Yeah, I see Bill Dean has his hand up. Anyone else wishing to make public comment, You can indicate your interest by using the raise hand button at the bottom of the zoom screen
on This item that.
11:34:23 We're talking about, which is open public meetings. Act guidelines for boards and commissions.
11:34:29 Good morning, Papa Dean. Good morning, Mr. Dean. You will need to unmute
11:34:45 You're still muted. We can't hear you
11:34:49 good? How's that? Okay, It's it's bumpa.
11:34:50 Oh, there you go! You're unmuted now. You have 3Â min for public comment.
11:34:57 so, if we're gonna go there, I spent a couple of years before any of you were commissioners coming to Pocc meetings and was participating in the public comment period, and I
just feel that the difference that Mr.
11:35:20 Tears just mentioned that Commissioner Dean mentioned is, that is, is very much there.
11:35:28 I don't think you're gonna want to start off each Bocc meeting with a testimony period.
11:35:34 Testimony is more formal then public comment. And you're gonna want to continue to have public comment at the beginning of every meeting, And I just I just think we're making
it You're combining 2 things together that in the public's mind, is still somewhat somewhat different.
11:35:51 I I understand I'm I'm not a lawyer, and I'm not trying to pretend that I am more than I normally do.
11:34:57 Hmm.
11:35:59 but I would just suggest that you maintain the differential that you've had in the past, where testimony is something you give that's more formal in a hearing and public comment
is a comment that that the public is making.
11:36:11 that is not a a legal element. That comment made Philip.
11:36:17 You had. You made a comment that one of the major changes that you were putting into this draft was the distinction between written and public comment or testimony, and I wondered
if you wanted to just say a little bit more as to what you that was kind of an offhanded comment, you made but
11:36:37 I didn't hear it followed up with, What is the big difference between public and written? And it's probably in the document that I have not read the whole document.
11:36:54 I think I think you mean oral or written right? Bell.
11:36:47 But since you made that comment, I think would be helpful to just if you would explain that a little bit as to what what you were referring to. That's all I've
11:37:00 Okay, And I'm sorry about the papa, comment. I'm always just jealous of Kate whenever her dad shows up cause I lost my dad 25 years ago, and miss him horribly, and wish he'd
show up for public comment
11:37:13 I'm I'm wondering if if Commissioner Dean appreciates it when her father shows up.
11:37:20 We all do. We all do. Hmm! She's out.
11:37:22 So okay.
11:37:25 Voted. If she does, although I'm not allowed to vote right?
11:29:21 That's a good catch
11:37:31 that was a question for you, Philip. Sorry we digress
11:37:33 Yeah, how do you had it? Right? The distinction is between written and oral oral meaning speaking versus Britain
11:37:45 And that that distinction exists. No, if you want to call it testimony or public comment, that's still a distinction.
11:37:45 So I
11:37:53 Terms of whether it's whether it's speaking, or whether it's written
11:38:07 But because if it's frequently you're you're requiring written comments by a deadline, and the oral, the oral comments for testimony is happening during the presentation, or
hearing that's the distinction so you're not gonna have oral it's just you're not gonna have
11:38:24 oral comments or testimony before the proceeding, or after the proceeding.
11:38:29 That's really the difference. So I try to make it clear.
11:38:35 You know, in this policy or in this guide, in these guidelines, which was which, and whether it says public comments or testimony, that's distinction, is still there
11:38:49 What I want to get clear on it that I don't completely understand is, is the use of the word testimony, as as you understood it as board members for purposes of or how it's
used colloquially and so that we can make sure we get that right?
11:38:00 I think the question is, what is, Why is the distinction important between written and oral
11:39:16 Well, I think that Yeah, sorry to to answer that I I think I agree.
11:39:12 Throughout the throughout the guidelines, so that maybe you can help me with
11:39:28 Okay.
11:39:20 With the the public comment that we had today, that you know, keeping testimony tied to hearings for me makes a lot of sense whether it's written testimony or oral testimony
which is pretty much the way it was before and and still the terms of art that I naturally
11:39:31 Got it.
11:39:38 gravitate to, so I find it clarifying to keep that distinction
11:39:45 And I could see, we might need to. Hmm I don't know if we need to reference that that the the terms are not strictly defined in Opm.
11:40:01 because it sounds like they're not, although the senses of the intention is that they are somewhat different, less formal, more formal.
11:39:43 Understood.
11:40:10 So it sounds like it's not. There's not a bright line and maybe we need to acknowledge that, but for our purposes that we keep the public comment to open public meetings, and
and we use testimony for hearings which of course a type of public meeting
11:40:26 Well in that and that one section you could spell that out, and the specs in the section that talks about you know that issue where we were looking at earlier, spell that out,
it's no problem to go back and change it back and make it you know be consistent, If that's what you'd
11:40:44 like, but I think, having it clear, is, is a really good idea.
11:40:50 alright.
11:40:55 I I will say I do appreciate Mr. Tears providing statistics that prove my point about it being about terms being an opma.
11:40:49 That's the most important thing, because we'll be giving these to lots of other people to adhere to
11:41:04 That's the nature of legislation. Unfortunately, you know, sometimes you have these things, and I think you know we're most we. Since I've been here.
11:41:04 Yeah.
11:41:14 At least, we The board has been pretty good about getting confusion out of legislation, so I think, having it clear this isn't well.
11:41:23 The resolution is legislation, of course, but the guidelines aren't necessarily legislation, and every aspect so getting that clear, I think, is a good thing, and and I think
having this discussion about comment and testimony was good to to get it quick help help get it clear so if that's
11:41:41 the sense of the board I'm happy to go back and revise that, and and let me know what what your preference is.
11:41:51 Okay.
11:41:50 I can get that done today if you want to. If you're interested in Pat, you know, getting this off the table and getting it going today won't be too hard.
11:42:02 Yeah.
11:42:06 That's that sounds great. I know that Carolyn needs a little time before 12 o'clock, so session to transform the room here.
11:42:15 So, I think, and as opposed to trying to finalize this now, it would be better to take it up this afternoon.
11:42:26 Fine with it. I've been trains sufficiently.
11:41:58 I could cut back this afternoon. I'm here, anyway, at 1 30, so you'd like to need to do that, happy to do it
11:42:42 Well, it's I think it is port that you formalize it.
11:42:31 I think, in the hearing protocols. So as soon as we change it, you'll start calling a testimony all the time, as people make Yeah.
11:42:48 Yeah, I do, too.
11:42:54 Okay, So we will finish this discussion in the afternoon.
11:43:01 after our discussion of the 17 temporary policy before our discussion of the draft comments on the Pacific Northwest Trail draft plan
11:43:21 but we're taking public comment on the 13 temporary policy.
11:43:26 I'm not sure how long that'll go. Yup.
11:43:33 Okay, So I'm gonna close public comment on this item, For now, I feel like I didn't see any other hands go up.
11:43:43 And are we? Are we good to recess now until 1 1, 30.
11:43:49 I know that we're gonna come back together from noon to one with our workshop of quarterly elected officials and department directors here in this room, and and then we'll recess
until 1 30 and start up at 1 30 with adopting a thirteenth temporary county
11:44:11 policy. Consideration of that, then consideration of this opmate guidelines, and then consideration of the draft comments on the Pacific Northwest Trail draft comp plan Sound
good sounds.
11:42:45 So everybody's using the term consistently. That includes me.
11:44:25 Good Okay, thanks. Philip: system.
12:01:25 What's that?
12:01:31 Trying to, because you know no more single use plastic. It's garden, right?
12:01:35 Yeah, I put down so much, and I already was pretty mindful about.
12:01:43 Yeah, no, I can't like my recycle, then has like the sign of success.
12:01:49 Yeah, Oh, yeah, no. Good. Hope. I always said that. Yes, Okay.
12:02:00 Do I call this? Maybe North? Yup? Right? Oh, no.
12:02:14 Okay, So a number of us are in the room here together, But I will call this meeting of the quarterly elected officials and department directors to order and reconvene the board
of County commissioners the agenda for this meeting there's 5 items on the agenda the first being
12:02:37 an update on human capital management, and employee, self service implementation.
12:02:43 That must be you, Sarah. Can you guys hear me? Let me seek right into it?
12:02:50 Okay, Can you hear me now, Jeff? Can you hear? Can you give us a thumbs up if you can hear Hi, Jeff, Can you hear me?
12:02:59 Okay.
12:03:02 Hi! Everyone! Happy Autumn! Beautiful, blustery day! And before I get started with the update on the human capital management employee self service with Munich, I wanted to
invite Sorry huh?
12:03:20 Got it. Okay, I wanted to invite Mr. Rogers here with us.
12:03:28 I don't know if you guys all watched Mr. Rogers, neighborhood of the child, but he pops up every now and then, and so some of his quotes on my calendar.
12:03:39 I thought were very pertinent to us and our team and everybody working together.
12:03:46 And so this train of thought started on Friday. The 20 first, and he said, It's very dramatic.
12:03:54 When 2 people come together to work something out, What is really exciting to me is to see people with differing views come together and respect each other.
12:04:03 And I think that's a such a simple foundation for us all to think about, and and wonder and embrace here as we work. Together.
12:04:15 And then after that he said, as different as we are from one another, as unique as each one of us is, we are much more the same.
12:04:23 Then we are different. And so, you know, even in those times, where we don't agree with each other, just imagining or wondering about being curious about how we are, and how
perhaps we are similar to this despite our differences and our different way of approaching issues, problems, and challenges okay, and then he
12:04:48 says and all that you do in all of your life. I wish you the strength and the grace to make those choices which will allow you and your neighbor to become the best of whoever
you are.
12:04:58 So I'm just here to say that I'm glad you're all in my neighbor.
12:05:06 Oh, to be my neighbor. Yeah, So the update. So when we talk about human capital management and employee, self-service implementation, we're referring to Munis and the county
is already, implemented the financial side of Munis and now we are working on payroll and the human resources side, and the plan
12:05:29 is to go, live in January and the Hr.
12:05:36 Group and the payroll group have been working tirelessly parallels and updating information and testing information and training.
12:05:48 And so we're moving forward in toward the end of November.
12:05:54 There'll be training for folks. Most of our departments will be entering time sheets into what's called ess, or employee self-service, and they'll be training.
12:06:06 About that as we come closer to the end of the year, we're told by the Munis folks to have that training end of November even to the middle of December.
12:06:17 Because people, can forget exactly what we're doing. So we'll be training people and working with people who have questions
12:06:28 the next item on the agenda. Can I just move to?
12:06:31 That is, Perk Perk stands for public employees.
12:06:39 Relations Committee, Thanks. And there's a group we have.
12:06:46 Perk is a Washington State committee. But here in Jefferson County we have an employee engagement group called the Perk, and every month per gets together and plans, events,
lunches, social engagements, so that employees can get together learn about each other support each other and you'll see
12:07:11 that there's in most apartments. There's a person who is a per representative.
12:07:18 So I'd like to bring it forward, and just to thank all of those departments you have representatives, and also to encourage those apartments that may not have a per representative.
12:07:32 Perhaps they could find a volunteer who would be willing to meet the meeting.
12:07:37 The time commitment can be about 1Â h a month, and we just get together and plan what events we can do to engage and support each other, and that's actually all I had today.
12:07:52 Anyone has any questions, or like more info, feel free to give me a call.
12:07:59 There are per events coming up. There is one. There's actually going to be well first of all, Halloween is a huge Perk event.
12:08:07 So I can't divulge what the Board Office will be doing.
12:08:12 But I invite you all to come by on Halloween, and really excited to see other departments as well.
12:08:19 There's also another event that's gonna be a bingo, and it's Caroline.
12:08:25 Do you remember the date on that November? Yeah, November?
12:08:31 It's Thursday yeah, And so we'll be getting together at the Rec.
12:08:39 Center and inviting employees, their families to come out and and play some bingo, so it'd be fun.
12:08:46 Yeah, Thank you. Yeah, I see that apple apple has her hand up Apple.
12:08:54 nope, just a just a comment about Perk. I just wanna to say kudos to our representatives here, I think.
12:09:03 Some years ago we decided that we would have some parallel.
12:09:06 Perk activities over here on Castle Hill just because it's hard for some of our staff to to come over to the courthouse for some of the activities.
12:09:14 So this last one we had was last week. I think we had 7 soups.
12:09:17 We all unanimously agreed on a soup day we raise some money, and we had it between ourselves and Dcd.
12:09:26 Which was really nice. I actually got to meet some Dcd staff who've been hired during the pandemic, but I've never seen in person, so we all got soup in our in our shared kitchen
for public health, but we had dcd folks come over and join us too
12:08:52 Do you have a question for Sarah or
12:09:46 James, I see your hand up, or else
12:09:52 Before
12:09:57 the next, to be a kid to trick the trade at the courthouse.
12:10:00 No? Now, okay. Yeah. Who's not a kid? Right? Are you doing the update of the interim plan update on social media?
12:10:09 Who's yup between vice if I have food in my mouth, and Carolyn feel free to jump in.
12:10:18 so in as all of you know. Probably Jeannie Mcmacin left county employment last month, and so we have not been using the Facebook account, and there have been some time sensitive
importance pieces of information that various departments have wanted to, push out and so carolyn
12:10:42 and I decided to manage that page with some training. So we've been doing a deep dive.
12:10:48 We initially tried to turn off comments on Facebook and then found out.
12:10:52 You can no longer do that. It is expected to be a two-way communication with government.
12:10:57 So we will be managing that. And if folks want us to post anything on behalf of your department, you need to send that information to us.
12:11:04 Sorry some of you have heard this already. On Friday, and we just ask that you also provide some information about where they can go for more information, so that we're trying
to limit the number of comments we have to monitor on Facebook So say for more information.
12:11:19 Call this person or check this website or email here, because monitoring is is kind of a a It's a really important job that it needs to be done well and like this weekend, it
was the First time. I was.
12:11:30 Like. I can't rest. I have to make sure there's nothing awful in the comments so, but that can be emailed to either Carolyn or I think that's all.
12:11:42 There was an email. It was like social media, or something
12:11:51 And there's we'll be hiring a public information officer.
12:11:54 But this is just the the stop gap, the bridge strategy to get us to that person.
12:12:03 so there's no other items on our agenda other than around table open round table discussion, and I know there's oh, I see Mandy has her hand up.
12:12:12 But let me just say that I know there's been a lot of interest in the past.
12:12:25 just a comment. It's really difficult to hear the folks that aren't in front of a microphone.
12:12:33 I I couldn't hear any of the questions that were being asked, So if there's a question asked, maybe someone can just repeat it.
12:12:17 And just having most of this time being different departments, reporting out and checking with each other. So that's mostly what we'll be doing today. Mindy, did you have a
question or a comment
12:12:40 Okay, Got it.
12:12:45 Or we can. If you guys are speaking, just slide that microphone
12:12:57 Any department's interested in doing a kick off of reporting for their departments.
12:13:07 certainly I'll kick this off, and I'm sure that most every department has experienced this.
12:13:18 But we had the perfect storm of retirements occur in the last couple of years.
12:13:21 On top of a pandemic, and for my office on top of unprecedented valuation increases.
12:13:29 And so, you know, we're all doing the best we can to get new employees and get new employees up to speed.
12:13:38 But we did lose an incredible amount of institutional knowledge that you know I wasn't losing employees who were only here for a year or 2.
12:13:45 I was like employees who had been here for 10 years and 20 years, and so all that experience and knowledge goes away.
12:13:04 Jeff, I see your hand up, ready to go
12:13:53 I mean, I do have a very dedicated set of employees now, but like for valuation, they take 6 years for us to really have people out in the entire county looking who have looked
at every place and for some of my employees, they've only been here one.
12:14:11 Or 2 years, so it's gonna take them a while to be able to accurately answer questions.
12:14:16 I think every office that I've seen is is going through the same thing, and it is dealing with it very well.
12:14:08 No.
12:14:25 we'd rather things had happened differently. We'd rather there hadn't been a pandemic.
12:14:31 We'd rather the employees the turnover would happen, you know, a few every year, or one a year, or something where it doesn't all hit you at once.
12:14:41 But I will say that I think everyone's doing the best they can, and doing a pretty decent job of it.
12:14:46 we. I just sent out 20,000 valuation notices to basically every taxpayer who has property in the county, and valuations increase were significant.
12:15:01 And you know we're talking about 20 to 25 and in some places up to 100%, depending upon where you were and what it was.
12:15:08 And it's based on sales. And you know there's a lot of fear out there that these big valuation increases are going to result in huge tax increases, and for the most part that
isn't the case the lesson rates are gonna also drop to dramatically.
12:15:28 Low So it's your assess value times. The new levy rate that'll equal your taxes, and the tax increases, or or even decreases.
12:15:35 In some cases probably are. It's difficult to PIN them down right now, because that happens in February.
12:15:42 So you don't see your levy rate till the end of the year, and your new taxes, in February, and we're still in the process of calculating all that and we will be over the next
few months.
12:15:53 But it's hard to see. These big value increases without knowing exactly what is impact.
12:15:59 It's going to have on your taxes I get that we have.
12:16:01 We have some great taxpayers They they ask a lot of good questions, and I'm hoping that we can get out there in the next few months and meet with them after the you.
12:16:11 Know, after we get past the election which is taking. I I know a lot of public time, and and started addressing these issues so anyway, I'm thankful for that.
12:14:28 Okay.
12:16:21 I'm thankful to Perk Perks also. You know, we have our representative to Perk retired, and you know it's really hard, for Perk to actually carry the mood of upbeat mood for
all the employees through these times and they're doing and the ones that remain or they have the new ones
12:16:40 that are joining are doing a great job of doing that.
12:16:34 Okay.
12:16:58 okay, yeah, just a just a few things. I wanted to say that I've recently had some meetings with this local school superintendent's least for the Jimmy.
12:17:11 Kim Kelsey and Brennan, and we have some good conversations.
12:17:15 We're getting some deputies strolling through the campuses again, and if you're looking for something to do on Thursday from 6 30 I mean, from 4, 30 to 6 30.
12:17:24 There's trunk or treat at Jimicum school.
12:17:27 If you want to bring any kids by there, we're gonna be.
12:17:32 Giving out candy and goodies out of the trunks of our cars.
12:17:35 We'll have the old 51 ford out there.
12:17:37 Fire Department will be there, and some other people, too. Drug, take back for over the over the counter prescription medications is going to be occurring this Saturday from
10 to 2 at import Ludlow.
12:17:50 At the each club, and down in quil scene at the cool scene.
12:16:48 Thanks, Jeff. Anyone else have any general department comments or on top soa as your hand, Joe
12:18:04 Oh, Joey! Last year. Hmm
12:18:16 no, any, anybody else wanna take up the reporting mantle.
12:18:24 Bruce and we'll we'll finish up with Joe when he comes back.
12:18:29 Oops, I've just done this, assembled your equipment, and you're welcome The clerk's office is Bring has just brought on a new staff person for the first time in 7 years, and
I want to say, a lot of The hiring practices.
12:18:43 Are different than they were 7 years ago, and they're much improved, much, much more professional, much better support, more complete support.
12:18:50 And I do think that the Linkedin advertisements made a big difference in, And maybe Facebook, I'm not sure but I, as usual, got no response from my traditional methods, but
more people to interview than ever and good candidates, to which I am you know, not necessarily used, to finding that can just
12:19:11 hire somebody right away from the first batch, so so kudos to Hr.
12:19:17 And and I was happy to see that change also. We are working hard on trying to get our Blake reimbursement documentation in shape.
12:19:26 I'm working with Michael Mark, who's fantastic, and that's been going very well.
12:19:36 Awesome James
12:19:44 Alright, so I will be losing an employee soon, and we will be gaining a new clerk and dovetailing off what Ruth said.
12:19:56 I I recently hired a person to fill that spot, I will be requesting a bunch of supplement to bring money early, so they can cross-train but the previous openings that I've had
I've been I've been fortunate and that I've always gotten at
12:20:14 least one qualified person, and actually I've been really lucky because I've been able usually very well qualified people, but it's usually been like 1, 2 in the entire hiring
process, and I've only got a handful of applicants each time This time was very different this was the the
12:20:31 hardest hiring decision I had to make because I got multiple qualified people, and it was tough.
12:20:40 And so, but I am excited about the person I'm I'm bringing on on
12:20:46 And let's see what else Prosecutor's office has had.
12:20:50 Like a a number of victories lately that we're very, very proud of.
12:20:59 But involving variety of issues. But the same personality It's been a sailing.
12:21:07 the office for a while, but it's feels pretty good to have those. I think it's going pretty good
12:21:20 Mandi wants to know if any of your candidates have engineering backgrounds I think I'm kicking you off for your update.
12:21:30 Okay.
12:21:35 Sure we can always use more people with commercial drivers, licenses for our operations, positions which have been really a challenge to fill, and engineers like you say, as
well, or both our transportation and sewer wastewater project but Anyway, from public work
12:22:03 standpoint. Some of our projects are getting close to being wrapped up.
12:22:07 The Thorndyke Road Bridge, Fish passage, barrier should be getting paved this week.
12:22:15 The jump project is closed. The jump playground at H. J.
12:22:19 Carol is getting getting there I know they're putting down the turf and foam under the play equipment and offense should be going up hopefully this week.
12:22:30 Around that facility so I can't give you a firm opening date, but it's the lights at the end of the tunnel, few weeks away.
12:22:42 Yeah, we should be there
12:22:47 or years, This year's work is wrapped up out on the whole river, with Federal highways, and another 120 foot bridge more bank armoring out There we continue to design a bunch
of projects for next year, and and beyond as well including the Lord's Lake repair
12:23:11 the Snow Creek culvert, repair, and some others.
12:23:15 I think we'll get some more construction funding for some more fish barrier projects that we've already got designed in Chimicon Valley
12:23:26 as I mentioned, hiring is a challenge in public works.
12:23:31 I'm glad some other departments are having some success.
12:23:33 Maybe we'll start to see more success. But certainly the difficulty finding housing is what's primarily driving that, particularly for positions that don't pay as much to start
with so solid waste you know we talked to you a week ago about the changes we're making and our
12:23:56 scheduling to help. Oh, with our staffing issues there as well There's a lot been happening in in solid ways to course the Mr. W.
12:24:05 Facility closed at the end of September, which was imminent in a couple of years, anyway, because of the port wanting that facility back, but given the staffing resignation
there We we made the choice to to just do that now and so We ran our first remote if
12:24:29 you want to call it remote? It wasn't. It was in Chicago.
12:24:32 So what do you want off site? Let's call off site collection event.
12:24:36 We had a 140 customers filled. The last container that the contractor brought with the last customers items, so they were just enough capacity to handle the customer base There
we plan on doing 4 household hazardous ways events every year and a small quantity generator event.
12:24:58 So those events will move around the county, Port Ludlow, South County, just to serve those folks But we're in a bit of a staffing crunch right now for sure, and solid waste.
12:25:10 We've had some people go out and it takes a while to get new folks on board and train them up, and everything.
12:25:19 So it's a and we have a big scale replacement project happening in the pit out there as well.
12:25:25 In the middle of all this Parks course is wrapping up the big season campgrounds, busy as ever, There's a big game at Memorial Field on Friday.
12:25:37 Look great. I went by. Stands were packed lights look great.
12:25:40 I know Field was a little wet, because it poured rain, but we've done a lot to improve that field.
12:25:48 some new employees, and parks doing a great job since Andre left us, and Molly's doing a great job as well.
12:25:55 So and there's I could talk for hours about the wastewater project.
12:26:00 But I won't really It's great to see the Pd.
12:26:09 Starting to really get involved there. Given that they're planning to operate the system.
12:26:13 So they're really getting involved in the design end of the project.
12:26:16 Now, which is, which is helpful. So we have a great team there still, trying to add to it.
12:26:21 But I like where we're going with that project, I'll stop there.
12:26:25 Heard some great feedback from folks in the community about the How household hazardous ways of meant Jimicum.
12:26:31 People really liked having that event cause close to home. That's great to hear, and I think we've got similar feedback from the South County as well.
12:26:43 that they're looking forward to that event down there, and I know our solid waste manager.
12:26:49 Really believes in trying to make that service more available to everyone
12:27:02 Oh, good afternoon, So Treasurer's office has had staffing issues for quite a while, and quite a bit of turnover.
12:27:12 After we had some long time retirees of, you know, 2530 years.
12:27:17 And so we went from. Let's just say, 140 years worth of experience in the office to now we have 2 of us have about 50, and the other 3 have maybe 10.
12:27:28 So, you know, they're doing great, but you just. It takes longer to do things when you're newer to it, and you haven't been doing it for a long time.
12:27:38 with The Munis implementation. I'm really excited to keep making progress for the financials and be able to just expand the capability of what we're doing.
12:27:52 and we'll keep by fighting things off as we can.
12:27:56 But it is all you know, a constraint for amount of hours in the day.
12:28:02 So with Staffing. I do have a position that I will be working with Sarah on to finish the job description, but I've had it in the budget for a while, and I haven't move forward
on it because the priorities were to get the work done.
12:28:17 And I didn't see the other comparable financial positions getting filled with the county.
12:28:22 So I'm heartened to hear that people are getting more applicants, and so I'm hopeful that I can get someone.
12:28:28 So stay tuned. It'll be a a good level financial position in the county.
12:28:34 So looking forward to that the other is taxes are due on Halloween.
12:28:43 come by, say Hi, there's candy absolutely, if you can.
12:28:48 Hey online, by phone or online or with the check, you could come in and enjoy it rather than standing in line I do anticipate the lines will be long, and we only have so many
people to process everything.
12:29:06 yes, yes, yeah, and it helps if you've got your statements and coupons, we will help you with. Yeah, you do not, but it does take longer, So just know that.
12:29:19 And then I've got a little quiz for the day, cause I'm well, I will also say I feel like we've been meeting as a group without all 3 commissioners more regularly, and so to
me.
12:29:32 It feels like this meeting is not such a stressor to try to get so much information out.
12:29:37 I'm feeling like we're more in tune with what's going on, and I really appreciate having those, and they opportunity to keep this so that we're with everyone, and it's open
public meeting.
12:29:50 So we have a mind vendor question of the day.
12:29:52 We do in my office, and it's out of Denver.
12:29:55 And the question today, I thought, was interesting, for especially our assessor.
12:30:02 But the question of the day is, There are approximately 2 million of these in the United States. Approximately 2 million homes in the United States have this
12:30:17 And I would garner that more rural areas would be more likely to have these.
12:30:23 And so I also looked up. There's about a 140 million homes in the United States.
12:30:30 I don't know
12:30:32 solar panels.
12:30:35 elevators. That is a good one, and there could be other answers that are this amount.
12:30:42 But there is one specific, and I would say that Greg is closest.
12:30:48 Oh, yeah, good job out houses. That's just permanent ones.
12:30:38 he pumps
12:30:53 Right absolutely. How else would we know?
12:31:09 I did. I was just going to give a little update on District court.
12:31:14 I think, since the last time we met together we've we were able to hire a jury manager which handles jury.
12:31:23 It's not only for district Court, but also for Superior Court, and having that person in places been really wonderful, She's really stepping up to the plate and doing a great
job, which means that potential jurors are having a specific person to interact with because we we run the jury numbers all the time, even if
12:31:41 there's not a trial happening. And so it's a really important position for for my staff to have built the other update that I'd give is that again, this is kind of a joint venture
with a superior court is that We've hired a therapeutic court
12:32:00 Coordinator. And we're really really excited to have her on board.
12:32:04 she's already jumping in with both feet and really getting some policies and procedures in place, and we're very excited to have her and her name's Rebecca, and she's how's
right now right by the security guys downstairs so feel free to introduce
12:31:00 That's Texas. So I think I said I thought
12:32:18 yourself and say Hello!
12:32:22 Great. I just had a quick update of, and then I'll come to you, Bridget.
12:32:28 But from central services. Our new central Services Director starts next Tuesday.
12:32:33 Chris Goy, so we'll have a new leader in that department coming Re.
12:32:38 Coming up, and thank you to those of you who have volunteered to be on the strategic planning committee.
12:32:44 I know that we're meeting on the Julie's got a schedule for the 20 ninth November, and we wanted to wait until Chris got here, and situated.
12:32:55 Before we met with those consultants, and chose one.
12:33:00 So hmm, That's what I know from Mark's world.
12:33:03 Mark's other world, My half a Mark's world.
12:33:05 So, Bridget, did you want to give an update
12:33:12 Oh, we can't hear you or you yet. Oh, we see you now.
12:33:15 let me check my Okay, Thank you. Yeah, I just wanted to.
12:33:25 After hearing other department heads. I feel pretty fortunate We We are fully staffed right now at the extension.
12:33:30 I know yay, although Sue Tipton, who is integral and making everything run, there will be retiring at the end of this year.
12:33:39 So we are looking for Africa or her position. So we have some overlap.
12:33:44 But you know all of our programming, noxious, we stream stewards, all the classes have been happening this past fall.
12:33:54 For H is seen a lot of interest and involvement.
12:33:58 So I'm gonna report from Sarah that new enrollment and club starting up again, which is exciting for you.
12:34:06 and you know, Master gardeners, we have some new trainees to get out there and do some environmental education for the folks and master gardener program is celebrating its fiftieth
year next year, and so yeah, we're really excited to start planning some outreach for the community
12:34:26 and and do some events here out of extension, and trying to fulfill their mission.
12:33:16 We got you.
12:34:34 Any update on New Director. Even though we're thrilled to have you in that role.
12:34:31 So I think that's my update
12:34:38 I appreciate that, Kate. I have not heard anything other than what we've been hearing, which is, it's in progress.
12:34:37 Bridget.
12:34:46 I wish I had a better answer for you. I'm sorry
12:34:49 and Mark, I know Mark was reaching out to my Gaffney right before he left, prodding riding on that one.
12:35:01 So
12:34:56 Yes, yeah, yeah. So. But but we're marching on
12:35:02 Yeah, thanks, Bridget. We're glad. You're in your role.
12:35:05 There and both your roles. Okay, yeah, Brendan, do you want to give us an update on Dcd
12:35:11 Yeah. Am I coming in clearly? Oh, great. So we are moving ahead at warp speed right now.
12:35:21 2 of the 3 grants that were awarded by the department of Aology.
12:35:27 those are the Flood Control Assistance account program. Grant fcat That's enabling us to do a comprehensive flood hazard management.
12:35:37 Plan for for the first time ever encompassing both the little and big quilt scene.
12:35:45 Rivers, and we have a lot of support by our environmental health partners and others in the community.
12:36:00 so really, quite quickly, and and that is our seat level.
12:36:06 Wise grant, and that Grant is really looking at what are the areas within the county that are likely to see elevated?
12:36:17 see heights, and for which we really should have some information available, and maybe even additional right regulations to protect life and property.
12:36:30 the third grant, The department of the college is now.
12:36:35 Finally, I should say, provided us sure line, shoreline Management Act.
12:36:43 The update, but we don't have the capacity right now to engage them.
12:36:48 But that third grant is related to that. That's the shoreline users.
12:36:52 Guide; and so, as soon as we have additional staff capacity, we, we had software to have these meetings with them before we started, implementation of the new lot of record
and but now that we're in the implementation phase, we do not have capacity to meet with of the department
12:37:15 of ecology, but we're hopeful that'll change soon.
12:37:21 we also had an amazingly productive retreat at the end of September, and he chair.
12:37:29 Eisenhower. Thank you for your keynote address.
12:37:32 It was really appreciated. You touched upon some things that are near near to our team.
12:37:41 Thank you. One of the things that came out of that It's been also something that was recommended by Chair Eisenhower that was reaching out to our partners for implementation
of Lean 6 Sigma and so We have every month our continuous
12:38:04 Improvement Project. We're looking at what we can do to streamline permits, and as part of our retreat we have what we call the waste detective.
12:37:40 was happy to do it. Rent
12:38:14 I'm identifying areas that
12:38:20 That are wasteful for And so we're moving ahead with that.
12:38:25 that was quite helpful. Another thing I should point out is that we are starting to see some changes in permitting, and when I say changes, the interest rates have doubled.
12:38:39 we're starting to see a slowdown, but we typically have a slowdown at this time of year.
12:38:46 But but compared to the last year and the year before, looks as though we are starting to see some impact on new permits in line of that We Our department's been looking at
Grants.
12:39:04 We've reached out to the Department of Ecology, because some of the grants that focus on missing middle are not available to counties.
12:39:14 And so Commissioner Dean, and I, on your role on the legislative, staring to me.
12:39:20 If some of those grants could also include counties, is being considered.
12:39:25 Especially county is, that may have urban growth areas like our soon to be designated.
12:39:34 Hadlock. It would really help us in planning, and so that those Grant funds are available, and they are specifically designated to help with legislation and programs to identify,
how to get when I stay missing middle I'm referring to duplexes triplexes
12:39:54 and quads, and so that type of housing sorely needed, especially in our in the county and in our only place that we can do that in the county outside of the city limits will
be our new urban growth area and put Hadlock and then we are right now because of
12:38:20 Oh, cool!
12:40:14 what I heard Assessor Chapman use the term perfect storm, and I almost feel that we have that currently with regards to inter gov the rollout intergo and the implementation
of the lot of record and then we did lose a staff member that's been critically important for us on these 3
12:40:37 grants that I I I mentioned early, so as a consequence of that, the level of service that the customers that submit applications expect is declining at. Currently We're trying
to get a handle on that and but we do have right.
12:40:57 Now I think some of the the longest turnaround times during my tenure, and so any closing, we're we're really hopeful that of the crop of new apple caps that we received, and
alarming number of new, candidates that'll be interviewed
12:41:20 tomorrow. Might help us fill 2 of the positions that are empty, and and help us really address that that level of service that has been up until recently.
12:41:31 no greater than 10 to 12 weeks for uncomplicated permits, so.
12:40:26 Okay.
12:41:42 Right when you say the alarming number of applicants.
12:41:38 And now that's we feel is no longer likely to be the case.
12:41:48 Yes, we have had our first large pool of applicants, which is a good sign, or potentially a bad side, depending upon.
12:41:45 Are you also seeing a lot of applicants for jobs
12:41:59 And
12:42:04 Yup
12:42:07 Anyone else up apple I see Apple. Your hands just went up, Sure?
12:42:13 if Joe wants to finish, I know he got cut off. Go right ahead, please.
12:42:13 Oh, and Joe too.
12:42:19 Okay, thanks. This will just take a second. Yeah, I don't know if any of you are having this but my computer's been restarting on morning updates at the best, times.
12:42:29 So one thing I wanted to add, it was about hiring.
12:42:26 Yeah, I have yeah.
12:42:33 we were, we were allowed an Over higher position, because we anticipate a possible departure at the sheriff's office, but we had 2 experience kits at county deputies that want
to come to Jefferson county now so and forego their their bonus over there
12:42:51 so we thought that was pretty good, and they were interviewed last week, and we had 1 one of our corrections officers 2 that applied, and they were all very good candidate.
12:43:10 no problem. That's good news. Good for you. I'll just pull up the rear here, and just give a few updates for public health feel like, I do this a lot.
12:43:20 But this is a somewhat different audience. I suppose I wanted to make a shout out to the contracting service, as it's really been cleaned up and streamlined with risk.
12:43:34 And legal, and then the approvals through the board. We've had a ton of them Come through.
12:43:37 As many of you know, and I think it's working really well, so I just want to say, thank you for that process, and we have a good person at the helm here, who's helping us orchestrate
that Glenn Gilbert so that's that's nice when that flows Well.
12:43:50 Thanks everybody for helping with that. As Brent shared.
12:43:56 leave a lot of records issue is at hand, and they're working on that.
12:43:59 And we're collaborating our 2 departments around Site Development Review process, which is ongoing.
12:44:06 So that's been quite a bit of work. And I want to mention also that, as Brent said, we we partner in many things in Dcd.
12:44:17 And the onboarding of intergo has been long lasting, and the go live date has been pushed several times, and, as you all probably know, we're losing Linda Atkins to retirement.
12:44:30 And Yes, Jeff, it's a I appreciate you saying that we're we're handling these successions.
12:44:36 Well, despite the fact that all that institutional knowledge is leaving the building and the county so it's been a hardship, I have to say, a lot of grief here around losing
really valued long standing members of our staff who have so much.
12:44:50 Wisdom and experience being flexible, and all the things that we get thrown our way, and new people are coming in.
12:44:57 I'll talk about hiring in a minute, but I do feel like you know, we have to have some grace around folks that are newer that are filling some really big shoes, and we want them
to enjoy what they do and have pride and what they're contributing to and sometimes it can be a little slower
12:45:15 as we heard someone else mentioned earlier. We need to give them some space to to learn their jobs.
12:45:22 Well, so we're just. We're doing the best we can.
12:45:23 So thanks for saying Thatja. Let's see on the Covid front, as you all know, the rescision of the Statewide emergency declaration is happening at the end.
12:45:33 Of this month, on the 30 first, and that has some impacts here, but spice it to say, I think something I'm wanting to acknowledge, and just give a hooray for is that we have
wound down.
12:45:45 And done our last mass vaccination clinics in the county.
12:45:49 That was as a last Saturday at Blue heron, or communicable design team.
12:45:54 Our nurses and our vaccine managers have been working for over a year doing these kinds of events with absolute dedication on their weekends and all of the logistics, and training
that helps those events happen very flawlessly and I don't know if any of you have used those I know some of
12:46:11 you have in the past. We have just really tightened the ship and made those a really, you know, successful deployment in our county. We did see.
12:46:21 Decoder numbers of folks register to get the bivalent across Specific booster.
12:46:29 At this last mass vaccination clinic. So. Maybe that is an indication that we are.
12:46:33 We are in right, timing in terms of winding down, doing those events, and having staff attend those events along with the statewide precision of the declaration of emergency.
12:46:48 Post. Now we will be having what's called the care of an which is State Department of Health.
12:46:54 Mobile unit will come and do pop-up vaccination clinics.
12:46:57 The next one is that the Quimper Unitarian Church on the thirtieth the day before Halloween.
12:47:04 So we'll continue to have those through this season, and we will no longer be doing mass facts, clinics with department emergency management, as we have done in the past.
12:47:13 We have some jobs that have been filled. So thanks I'm really glad to hear that people are having success with recruitment, and that you're having sort of the volume.
12:47:23 I'm I'm really impressed because I feel like the dial was way off for all these many months.
12:47:29 To the pandemic and some land, hearing hearing a different tune, which is great not for everybody, though, so we still we've got room for improvement.
12:47:37 We have a new code, compliance. A person coming on board the first week of November.
12:47:45 we have a communicable disease staff person moving internally to fill a position from a retirement that's been left vacant since May, and we are interviewing for the community
health improvement program position.
12:48:00 We'll finish interviews this Wednesday and hopefully select cannon.
12:48:03 We got some some great contenders. So that's promising.
12:48:07 I think other than that. It's important to say that our staff is about 15 staff, who were engaged in a three-month training around diversity, equity, inclusion.
12:48:21 It's a deep dive. Immersion training, and we're nearly done.
12:48:26 So it's been a an interesting learning art for us, and a way for us to talk about things that are really complicated and also super necessary, not only for self-reflection,
and understanding, our complicity, and also our desire to change systems, as well as understanding how those structures have worked within our
12:48:48 programming and our service delivery in our county to our residents.
12:48:52 We want to make sure that we're being inclusive and having diverse voices at the table, and including everyone who needs to be there.
12:44:09 okay.
12:49:04 Thanks Apple
12:49:09 Is that anyone else? Ruth? Ruth's got your hand up
12:49:17 keeping with the theme of losing institutional memory.
12:49:20 If you were to look on Governor Inslee's website and drill down, you'd find that Judge Harper has announced his retirement and his last day will Be January. 30. First, and we
wish him Well, Yeah, Hmm.
12:49:39 Yeah, for good of the order. I I don't know.
12:49:42 I don't know. Brenda is. Is there to give an update from the auditor's office?
12:49:46 I see you online, Brenda, but I don't know if you're wanting to give an update from the auditor's office.
12:49:52 No! Well, we see you. Let's do for good of the order now other than department reports for the good of the order.
12:50:05 What do we all need to know? Just a few things I wanted to add.
12:50:11 let's see one with the appointment.
12:50:13 That's gonna come from Governor Inslee for Superior Court.
12:50:19 I hope that we have someone By January thirty-first.
12:50:22 That takes months even not during the holiday season. So we'll see how that goes.
12:50:28 2, I should have said this during Updates. I apologize, but with the holes port Headlock sewer thing, we've had one person in the prosecuting attorney's office has been working
very hard in the background of this and that's proper early man working on
12:50:43 code. And She's wrapping that up so she's been doing a awesome job.
12:50:48 3, we have one not to step on anyone's toes.
12:50:51 We have a department who's gonna be leading us soon, and that's Barbara Carr.
12:50:57 And speaking of institutional knowledge, she has been a great asset for this community.
12:51:04 I'm going to miss her. I do know that interviews have happened to select a successor, and I don't know anything more other than they've occurred.
12:51:17 Yes, I I know that because one of my employees was on them, but nothing else will stay vulgar to me, so I don't know, And then, on that same theme we have or clerk.
12:51:28 Ruth, this is you're gonna be your last, I mean, I believe, and I just want to say that you know, having a what one vacancy in 7 years.
12:51:38 That's pretty impressive, and speaks volumes to your leadership within the office.
12:51:42 That's amazing. And this is a shot out for apple.
12:51:48 So I was talking to my friend the other day. He lives in Kirkland, and he was telling me that his wife is working on a college project, and one of her projects is she has to
do a report on a a public health agency in the State of Washington and so she chose
12:52:06 Jefferson County, because our public health, apparently has this reputation for excellence and outreach.
12:52:12 So it goes beyond our county border. So wonderful work. You're doing that
12:52:21 Hey!
12:52:25 I'll do a few updates, and what I've been at kind of focused on, and I realize we do have a number of meetings that are coming up against each other here with budget and covid
coordination in this, meeting, So I trying to decide how to divvy it up
12:52:40 just shout out, That as the legislative session approaches, always happy to hear from departments on important issues, and things that we can be helping to advance or obstruct
in Olympia so please go free to reach out we will be reintroducing
12:53:00 our point, 0 9, our Piff Fund Bill with Representative Thringer, Monty and I've been working on that for a number of years and hoping that this year's the year, but facing some
headwinds There the association, of counties took that on as a priority which
12:53:15 is helpful, One of the other priorities is around jail funding and just want.
12:53:20 To be sure, Sheriff Noel, that you're getting the the emails and getting information to association account counties on need for jail funding, And so we should connect on that
juvenile detention is always that's been a big issue the last few years.
12:53:35 That we'll keep working on so just many things that I need to be working with those of you who are, you know, much more informed on the specifics of these issues, to be able
to advocate for effectively let's see I've still been trying to stay pretty up to speed on all
12:53:51 of the Federal funding sources that are available so congressionally directed, spending earmarks which we are effective in getting a couple this year, one for the sewer and
one for a new childcare center in the county But I guess i'll just say if folks are are thinking about going
12:54:08 after specific funding obviously this applies to some departments more than others.
12:54:14 but just, you know, might be good to touch base, and you know, be kind of strategic, both with our our new Grants manager at the county, and I'm happy to try to advance things
politically to cause that.
12:54:25 Many of them do have a political component or it's helpful to get our delegation on board for seeking funding.
12:54:33 and then just to say, there are a few capital projects that are happening in the community, that we are.
12:54:38 The county is, is touching on, like I mentioned the child care facility that is at this point, being there's a will be a public notice going out to consider citing that at the
high school in port Townsend school Board just approved that last week we are providing a lot of the
12:54:58 funding for that through that earmark, and then also with some Arpa funds, we see that as an enormous need for our workforce as well as for our residents, so that's one you'll
you'll might hear about and say what why is the county giving a lot of
12:55:11 money to that, but it's it's largely, you know.
12:55:15 Pass through money, but we are in a better position than some of the community partners to be advancing.
12:55:20 That so the partners are school district. Y.M.C.A.
12:55:25 city? Who am I forgetting how the Egyptian health care has been driving that for last couple of years, so good partnership couldn't do it alone.
12:55:34 talk about, I might start hearing about a new pump track at the fairgrounds again.
12:55:41 Kind of a collaborative number of folks involved in that.
12:55:43 And since we are the owners of fairgrounds, we might play a role in that to some degree And what's the third?
12:55:51 One and 3 capital projects. I want to touch on. No. Oh, the aquatic center community wellness, facility that the city is reinitiating that conversation, and so we will be involved
in.
12:56:03 That probably on a number of fronts. So just want you all to be informed that as you start hearing about projects that the county is associated with, we, you know, always try
to stay in touch with relevant the relevant departments, as we advance those projects but feel free, to say hey?
12:56:19 What's, going on Why haven't we heard about that?
12:56:21 So I think those are my my main 3. I guess I would just couple of things.
12:56:27 I share both el tech and behavioral Health Advisory Committee, and both of those Grant rounds are imminent.
12:56:36 for the lodging tax funds. We're doing the Grant proposal considerations on Friday, and we're meeting next week to start talking about the Rfp review process for the behavioral
health funds.
12:56:48 So I'll be if if I'm seem buried for the next couple of weeks.
12:56:54 That's why could could you give a quick thumbnail on the the Dnr State Trust lands for folks just?
12:57:01 They're probably getting postcards in the mail.
12:57:04 Also people getting postcards, Because I have Yeah, okay, okay, as part of our questions, our list of questions about forestry issues and where we intersect with the department
of natural resources.
12:57:20 One of the things that we asked about was the carbon project that they rolled out early this year, and they are embarking on outreach around phase 2 of the carbon project and
we've asked them to come and have talk with us so they'll be here november
12:57:37 seventh, at 3 Pm. For to meet with, in open public session, with the Board of County Commissioners, to talk about the carbon project concurrent to that, or even a longer longer
term project than that is that we're working with Mallory Weinheimer at Chickadee
12:57:55 forestry, to do an assessment of county forest lands, and Dnr State forest lands in Jefferson County, mostly large.
12:58:08 I mean completely East Jefferson County and looking at potential areas where we might want to consider multiple uses for attractive forest land like recreation or conservation
along with forestry activities, so Mallory is doing a cursory kind of survey of all of those lands and
12:58:30 coming back to the commissioners at the end of January with a report So we're kind of in a study phase, and I think most of what I sense is. People are frustrated because we're
slowing everything down but I I'm not frustrated with slowing things down because we've got
12:58:46 to take a look, you know, and we've got to understand what we're talking about.
12:58:50 And already, in one case of one of the timber sales that we brought up last, the Beaver Valley Source timber sale.
12:58:57 There was a a unit of that summer sale that was pulled from the timber sale because it was of equality that Dnr would not have cut it.
12:59:04 Anyway, and so slowing down isn't a bad thing, and it's I People are feeling really threatened by it.
12:59:11 But trees grow, grow slow, and they get bigger as they grow, and so we're not asking Dnr.
12:59:19 To stop timber. Harvest in Jefferson County.
12:59:21 We're actually looking at ways we can actively manage our timber, our county own timberlands better in some ways, and trying to understand where we can collaborate with dnr
for multiple benefits.
12:59:35 So if okay, no, that's it. On the topic of forests. And for the good of the order, I spent a lot of time in the car yesterday, and I heard a really cool story on Npr about rewilding
wild horses.
12:59:52 As a forest fire, fire mitigation, strategy. It's being done by a county in California.
12:59:56 Really successfully. So, Fyi, you could get some wild horses from the Bureau of Land Management, where they just, you know stockpile horses, and you know, with deer can We take
the port towns and deer add into the hinter ones
13:00:17 Right. I plan my garden for a well. We're at one o'clock. Any last last updates are questions for for the good of the order
13:00:29 Good to see everyone. Yeah, Yeah, nice to see you all half of our meeting is in this room right now.
13:00:34 Half the attendees, We'll see in a little bit or someday we'll all be together again, I hope.
13:00:43 Maybe I'll Yeah, Thanks, Jeff. Nice to see you, Joe, how you got your apple cider.
13:00:51 did you get your apple cider
13:00:53 it was gone.
13:00:54 Oh, my God! That was the whole purpose of me bringing that jar down there.
13:01:03 yeah, It was good. I didn't get. We didn't have as many apples as year, so I didn't get as much, and it's gone in my house.
13:01:02 Well, I think the word the word got out, and
13:01:10 Too, so
13:31:19 Yeah, and brought a sweater
13:31:28 Okay.
13:31:36 Okay. It looks like a V capture is running, and I will call us back to order.
13:31:43 Welcome back everyone. I hope everyone had a relaxing lunch.
13:31:47 Few minutes, And we're gonna start this after new calls back to order.
13:31:54 I'm gonna start this afternoon off with continued discussion potential action regarding a resolution in the matter of adopting a thirteenth temporary county policy based on
emergency response to the Covid 19 pandemic and we will be taking post comment on this item so who wants to tee up where
13:32:15 we're was Kate gonna bring us back the conversation between the county coordination meeting.
13:32:21 Sure and maybe I'm Carlin. Do you bring an apple over?
13:32:25 Thank you. Yeah, So I couldn't introduce the topic, which is not new.
13:32:32 Obviously we've been talking about this for a few weeks, but we took the the draft that we had works pretty carefully on last week to the covid coordination meeting on Friday,
which was happening at the time when our network was like shutting down and we had to people had to
13:32:50 reconnect that meeting many, many times. It was frustrating, and I think we got through everybody's concerns, but did did give folks an opportunity to also send us additional
at its comments questions concerns, and I did not receive any I don't know if filler apple did But
13:33:08 thank thank you, Phil, for incorporating. They were, as usual, like many things that we had.
13:33:13 None of us had caught, that our our wise colleagues said, Hey, is that still current And so that's really helpful.
13:33:19 So maybe I'll let Phil Philip or apple anything I missed before we dive right in
13:33:31 no! Go ahead, apple
13:33:36 Yes.
13:33:43 just a little bit of a shout out to to Matt Tyler, who had who had read it very carefully, and he caught a bunch of things.
13:33:29 No, I I think the changes are evident in the strike throughs and changes we made in person with the folks who were making the suggestions
13:33:50 So that's sure. Sorry My mistake
13:33:49 Matt Stewart. I think Matt Stewart
13:33:58 so does it make sense to kind of go through this?
13:34:04 Okay, So I don't think we did any. Any changes were proposed to the whereas clauses. So.
13:34:13 and if you there were 3 versions that were posted with the agenda request.
13:34:02 Please.
13:34:19 The first version was, as we left it last week The second version were the additional changes proposed by during the county coordination meeting, and then the combo, which is
what I have up now, which is everything altogether does that make sense What's that I'm just curious was it easy to follow with the
13:34:33 Yup
13:34:37 3 versions up there
13:34:40 Okay. Good Okay, good. I was just hoping we did have a bit of a curve thoughtful that was caused by me.
13:34:51 trying to save the P. The word document to a Pdf.
13:34:55 And it didn't save the the red lining.
13:34:39 Yes, I found it
13:34:58 So Fortunately we caught and fix that at the last minute.
13:35:03 Friday afternoon, but anyway, so here's here.
13:35:09 We're on Appendix I, which are the temporary policies, and I guess I should say we didn't have any proposed changes to any of the paragraphs in in the resolution. Itself.
13:34:59 Oh, no!
13:35:26 Except I did catch some missing commons. In a missing and comma.
13:35:32 but here's the appendix I and I'll just try to scroll down it to get to the first one.
13:35:44 and then where I have all of you. I can't see the whole thing so moving, moving you out of the way to the other part of my screen, so we did have us have a discussion, in and
subsection be that the deal with the sick or family members.
13:36:06 portion, and
13:36:11 And there was a question about whether we're still doing the the developing, a plan for each each department.
13:36:27 And so we had that comment and a question for Sarah.
13:36:33 She's she's in the attendee list, so can we bring her over, Sarah.
13:36:37 We're gonna bring you over. Hope that's okay.
13:36:44 Here, she, I think. Yeah, here she comes.
13:36:55 Sarah. Were you following that section section that Phil was just reviewing
13:37:04 Yes. Can you hear me? I was following that comment, and it's my understanding.
13:37:05 Yes.
13:37:35 Does it seem like it would be useful or necessary at this point?
13:37:12 The departments have been working on their own in this for this section, and I haven't finalized a plan with the Department of Public Health for the county in total
13:38:06 I would agree. I can speak internally for our own department at Public Health, and how we handle that, but also that we have not, since we've instituted this policy where departments
would come up with a plan management, of of said you know contagiousness, or what have you folks who are turning
13:38:32 up positive at work, or needing to take time off, and then doing contact tracing.
13:37:56 Well, I feel my perspective is the departments to a good job of developing the plans that work for them, and responding to the needs of their department.
13:38:36 We have not actually been called upon to help in those situations like we would have formerly.
13:38:42 So I think the evidence is that departments are handling it very well, and we're just doing less contact, tracing altogether, not only has employers, but also in in the in the
public's case, as well, I think it's probably time to to take this part out of the policy and know
13:38:59 that department heads. Obviously they need to let their staff know if someone has been at work and has been positive they need to encourage staff to test, and they also need
to encourage staff to not come in.
13:39:15 If they have symptoms, and then leave, or if they have symptoms at work, to be permitted to leave without consequence.
13:37:39 Or is this the kind of thing where we can take the foot off the gas? And you know that our departments are just kind of, you know, doing a good job of managing close contacts
and I guess it's question for apple or Sarah
13:39:38 Hmm.
13:39:38 so take it out
13:39:43 Okay.
13:39:41 Yup yup
13:40:01 So this was the change we made last week. We didn't do any changes to that. Let me see if that's right.
13:40:11 Can we go back to 3 for a moment? Just grammatics.
13:40:14 As long as we're reading it. Closer and closer.
13:40:17 The first sentence says: When a supervisor department director is notified, have a employee with sick, they must, and then all of these letters below it.
13:40:24 But even like F is departments, may request the facility, sanitize the workplace.
13:40:30 Should that be under 3
13:40:34 Because it's a main item It's a subset set of an employee who is sick.
13:40:13 Sure.
13:40:41 But this is about a facility, right? And it's a must.
13:40:42 Yeah, this is something we talked about and thank you for.
13:40:51 raising that Commissioner. This is something we talked about in the and the county coordination meeting, and we had, and originally proposed to take this out.
13:41:01 But at the request of one of the departments, they wanted to make it separate, to request.
13:41:10 So it doesn't follow. The must. You're right about that, you know.
13:40:43 I'm under a
13:41:15 Cool. If there's a a request to to retain it.
13:41:14 We could make it a 4. If you want
13:41:22 Yeah, I would say, making it a form more appropriate.
13:41:32 So can I ask an overarching question? I have wondered, and I started wondering this in our meeting last week, how much of this is stuff that we really should have in our employment
policies.
13:41:54 Our employee policies versus
13:42:02 Something that we need in this, you know, emergency order. And I understood.
13:42:09 We talked about a little bit last week that that would be another process, and it would.
13:42:13 And that Sarah is working on updating those. But I just wonder where our timelines are lining up.
13:42:20 And are we just doing this as a stop gap measure for to give Sarah time to update those policies?
13:42:29 Sarah, are you equipped to answer that question?
13:42:36 Cause. It's important to have that these precautions in place and these tools in place for department heads and and employees.
13:42:57 yeah, yeah, I wasn't in the conversation last Friday.
13:43:01 So I don't know if I missed any part of of what has evolved.
13:43:07 However, in the meeting I attended last week early last week.
13:43:13 there was discussion about adding, So my policies into the Personnel Manual, and we had it yet decided whether that was something we would do.
13:43:25 And I'm also waiting on no guidance from the commissioners on it.
13:42:46 But you, know, it seems like they fit better in an employee manual like, we're always gonna want to have the ability to do this, not just during the pandemic right
13:43:31 But I think the intent of connecting this was to keep tools, in the toolbox for for temporary hiring for the to be paid leave, which are would not be a part of the likely not
part of the personnel and play manual
13:43:54 I'm sorry, I would say, in response to your question, Commissioner, we were trying to do 3 things: one we were trying to keep the policies that are still helpful.
13:44:06 Specifically directed at Covid, and and then and and take out the ones that we didn't think applied anymore.
13:44:15 And then, secondly, with the understanding that the the manual was being revised to, and that this would be these.
13:44:04 Okay.
13:44:26 Some of these things were just good period. Whether it's for Covid or not, that that those things would be considered for inclusion into the revision to the manual, and in that
and then I guess the third thing is it is sort of a stop gap to give us time to do that and an
13:44:46 organized way, and I thought that was sort of the pitch last week, or at least, you know what I was suggesting last week.
13:44:29 Right, right.
13:44:54 So? Is that? How? How does that answer your question?
13:45:13 Right? Okay, And then, or we we did the changes to 4 and 5 last week, I believe.
13:45:29 and then this is another question for Sarah about the log that we were at 1 point.
13:45:35 I don't know if we still are required to keep by L.
13:45:38 And I, and and this is the question: Well, so there's a question of what is fully vaccinated, mean.
13:43:29 On that as well
13:45:55 I looked. I remember this last week after our conversation, and the log is only required for those agencies where the there's a vaccine mandate.
13:46:04 So I have a log that from previously, when it was required by State L.
13:46:10 And I, I have not been keeping a log for newly vaccinated employees.
13:45:50 and then do Are we still doing that? Keeping the log
13:46:22 Okay. So that's that tracks with the language here, right for for workplaces where vaccination is required.
13:46:30 So 1 point we were required to do that, and we're not now.
13:44:58 But that answers it well, and I just wanted to reground myself in that place because I feel like I've had a lot of conversations and questions over the last few days, so just
wanting to talk about the the purpose of this activity
13:46:19 If it's not a requirement of Lni anymore.
13:46:34 Awesome.
13:46:38 So do we want this item D to stay in this, or do we take it out for now?
13:46:55 Okay.
13:47:04 Are we somewhat waiting to see to what direction the state goes with this?
13:47:09 Yeah, would we say when required, Keep a log, I mean, it's it seems like it's this is, if we or if required, why not, where vaccination is required, if required.
13:47:18 yeah.
13:47:27 and then the question that Stacy had was, what is fully vaccinated.
13:47:25 Got it? Okay? Got it?
13:47:33 Employees mean and I put up here what Apple said at the account at the County coordination? Meeting?
13:47:35 Yeah.
13:47:47 Yeah. Fully vaccinated, fully and update are are slightly different.
13:47:52 It's hard to hard to track, sometimes fully, vaccinated, as your primary series that you've completed that 2 dose series.
13:47:40 I think
13:47:59 If it's pfizer or maderner, and that one dose series, if it's no of X or what's the one that's so?
13:48:12 No! Oh, sorry about that. So the question is you're you're up to date If you've had your boosters subsequent to the primary series, and we have not been tracking boosters among
staff, even though we do track whether people are vaccinated or not and I
13:48:28 think we'll remain doing that until the State says otherwise.
13:48:08 Still works. So I'm sorry. Go ahead. Apple
13:48:37 Okay.
13:48:43 So is I mean, I guess the question is, do we, Stacey questions?
13:48:32 Okay.
13:48:49 Do we need to define this fully vaccinated employees here
13:48:59 Well, we have app apples, means completion of the primary series
13:48:56 Or do we have a definitions? Thanks, Sam.
13:49:08 I think, referencing the State as much as possible. I don't think we're gonna deviate from the States requirements.
13:49:06 But I mean
13:49:15 So the just a footnote, yeah, or even just you know, take out fully.
13:49:24 And then you talk about L and I requirements after that, so that would, I would assume, go to the standard that L.
13:49:31 And I requires
13:49:22 We check out fully, I guess.
13:49:42 What? That answer? Stacy's question
13:49:50 Hmm.
13:48:32 Which is what Kate was just saying
13:49:48 I think that works. How's everybody else feel about it?
13:49:55 Yeah.
13:49:54 Feels good yeah, that way. If that if that definition changes, we don't have to change this.
13:49:56 Okay.
13:50:00 It's just yeah, referencing the state. Okay, Yeah, we don't.
13:50:03 I'm I'm all in favor of that.
13:50:11 Okay, So we did add that definition the last time we were meeting, and then this was a change proposed during the meeting.
13:50:06 We don't plan to do anything more than the state
13:50:28 On Friday
13:50:40 Bye, I think the intent was to make it less mandatory, sounding, even though the word should.
13:50:37 passive voice. But whatever that's fine.
13:50:47 and it's more accurate. It is a recommendation.
13:50:46 Was there
13:50:52 yep.
13:50:55 Okay, everybody's good with that
13:51:01 Alrighty. These changes we made last week
13:51:10 Yup. And then these were changes we discussed on Friday
13:51:22 So they intent of the of the proposed changes was to incorporate the learning that we've now had regarding Covid, where let's let's now become more clear that passing covid
through touching surfaces is very less likely, than originally
13:51:43 the concern was So that's
13:51:45 So as they just sanitation, recommendation, or I mean, or do we need this in there?
13:51:52 Well, I think the plan, The idea was that this this is always a good idea, as changed, but the
13:51:58 Yeah, but but I don't know if it's in a Covid policy.
13:52:03 Well, yeah. Oh, it's currently part of the of the manual, because this is they and appendix to the manual.
13:52:12 So the so the you know the question would be, Does this get moved over into the next interaction of the manual?
13:52:34 this feels broader and unrelated to less related to Covid.
13:52:40 To me, and I mean I I made the comment last week that I remember that signs of the Maritime Center when Covid first hit our shores and the the song lyrics it took 20Â min.
13:52:52 To sing but I feel like it's me Frequent hand washing is like crushing your teeth, you know it's it's not a covid policy.
13:53:02 It's a I don't know. Maybe I'm being.
13:53:06 I mean, I think we're going to update the kind of the the employee policy ultimately.
13:53:12 But is it something that you should take out like we don't want to mention it I don't feel like we need it, because I don't feel like it's Covid related really anymore?
13:53:20 But it's public health it's it's you know, disease, mitigation, strategy in general, And and maybe it's not in this regard, specific You know instruction, to wash more frequently,
I I think we did that early on in the pandemic and that was really helpful and people
13:53:41 are doing it less now; but I I would suppose that having it in here is isn't isn't a detriment.
13:53:20 No, there can be transmission
13:53:51 It's a good reminder for Covid and all, and all spread of diseases.
13:53:56 So it's a mitigating factor that can be reiterated.
13:53:58 I do think that it needs to have highlight in the personal manual Broadly, if it isn't already, because it is something that people hear a lot, but they don't.
13:54:07 Heed, and I know in health care. We certainly have to heed it a lot as we enter different rooms and come in and out of an engagement, with a client.
13:54:15 But it's it's an appropriate thing to encourage people to do in their workplace, even if they're not working with patients.
13:54:03 Right.
13:54:40 You live with it, hiding I just think it's silly and I think it's overboard, but it's fine.
13:54:44 I'm fine Yeah, We we talked on Friday about the like, you know.
13:52:21 Because it's important. It's in would be impossible Now, as a as a, you know, a covid policy, but it's probably has more broad effect than that in terms of promoting public
health
13:54:49 Do we put in here and use common sense? I'm fine with.
13:55:03 Keep it.
13:55:02 Okay, work. We're gonna keep it then, for now.
13:55:07 Hmm.
13:55:11 Alright. This change we made last week
13:55:18 yeah.
13:55:22 I mean, in my mind. That's why we have this.
13:55:20 same with this one alright
13:55:24 We're doing. This is that item 3,
13:55:34 Can I ask them a little bit about the county coordination?
13:55:36 I guess the consensus was it Was it a consensus among the directors, and elected that we contain this policy and have a 13 policy.
13:55:46 Yeah, there was, there was definitely support for it. And it'd say the you know, there was 1 one step person with just who is kind of saying is all of this still necessary and
helped us identify.
13:56:00 Where We could update it, make it more current and applicable.
13:56:04 but there was no other. There was no kind of descent to the the idea of continuing it.
13:55:30 And that's all the way through it
13:56:11 Yeah, Okay, great.
13:56:20 Umhm!
13:56:12 And I could add, just on the language changes. That was all consensus, because I asked every time just the consensus of a group, and God has sent
13:56:26 You know, and I think that the just to reiterate that we're not mandating anything here actually it's you know, any mandate that still exist is from Federal or State government
regarding masking requirements or vaccination, logs but there's there's Nothing new in here.
13:56:48 that is a a mandate, or a shutting down of anything I know.
13:56:27 Okay.
13:56:53 I've seen the words left down a lot I'm like, anyway, so
13:57:00 So we're so we're good with this as it is now.
13:57:04 I think so.
13:57:06 I I have one question in that. The that item 3, the last one which is the maintaining the administrative, leave, that it was number 3, I think, in the last Yeah, that was seen
as a one time leave opportunity or up to 40Â h for folks and then, up to 8Â h for a vaccination or for
13:57:35 a booster, and I'm not sure that is clear.
13:57:22 Yeah.
13:57:40 There Maybe it is, and I missed it.
13:57:53 Oh, yeah. So that was it. Total per employment. So that does.
13:57:46 Using the form that help total per employment
13:58:01 Have we had anyone I mean, I know there are people at this dias who've gotten covid twice.
13:57:56 That is what that language means. Okay, thank you.
13:58:08 Are there people who've had to. We've had them make exceptions to that for or
13:58:15 Okay, Okay, So are there any other points of discussion before we have public comment on this item?
13:58:26 Okay, So and I would invite members of the public who are interested in commenting on this thirteenth temporary county policy based on emergency response to the Covid 19 pandemic.
13:58:45 If you are online, and you would like to make a comment.
13:58:46 Please raise your hand, using, the raise hand button on the bottom of your zoom screen, and if you are in the room with us you can simply raise your hand yeah, Steven and you'll
need to pull that microphone over.
13:59:06 Okay, Hmm: Hmm.
13:59:10 Hmm, And if you don't mind bringing the microphone right up to your mouth, Steven, it's yeah, yeah. And then if there's anyone else who's in wants to get in line to make comment
after saying you Can raise your hand, and we'll bring you over after Stevenson with
13:59:28 his comments, so start the ticker, and you'll have 3Â min.
13:59:34 Yeah, look, I just wanted to tie it bo on the mask thing again. Sorry you're right.
13:59:39 That surgical mass protect surgeons from blowing bacteria directly into an open wound.
13:59:43 You're right, and you're right to mass restrict airflow so you can't blow out a candle. But viruses are more than an order of magnitude smaller than bacteria so they can pass
through surgical masks and they do easily.
13:59:54 Pass around the sides and top of all kinds of mask, and breathing out, fogging past the least resistance, after which they enter into the persistent viral soup of the indoor
atmosphere so I agree ventilation is important that's why masks have never shown
14:00:06 any significant, violal protection for others in randomized, controlled studies. True: Okay.
14:00:11 So getting onto the point at hand. Shucks! I you know.
14:00:14 I heard tell about you know costs and benefits, and so cost-wise.
14:00:20 I just wanted to say, on the one hand, I got into this this mask, cul-de-sac, because of of of this employee situation that I was that I was involved, in and I get it that by
having these emergency.
14:00:37 Orders. It does make things more flexible from a public health point of view.
14:00:42 To be able to, you know, react to new things that are happening.
14:00:44 Make changes. And all this kind of stuff. But look at from the other side of the coin, I mean from the point of view of businesses and individuals you know, trying to live their
lives.
14:00:54 This flexibility make also creates an unpredictability, because you don't have, you know, understood pre-existing rules of law that are that they are following, and that is
why I was surprised to learn how difficult it is for managers trying to figure out you know how to mediate their
14:01:10 their policies because they've got these layers of different different authorities that they're they're jumping with hoops of all of them.
14:01:18 And then I was also surprised that these employees, once they didn't have to wear a mask anymore.
14:01:24 They weren't even super happy about it, because they just sort of felt like that could change tomorrow.
14:01:29 And and so, just because of these ideas that anyway, I'm not said about that.
14:01:34 But I just sort of do feel like there. There are costs from that point of view, from another point of view in general, the the the real cost is integrity.
14:01:43 I mean, really, I really have not heard anybody actually say right now that we're in an emergency I've I've heard people say, talk about crying Wolf and about it being disingenuous,
and all that kind of things and I understand that it may be practical and more helpful
14:02:01 easier to keep the current emergency. But the real actual reality is is that emergencies ought to be as far as I'm concerned, for short-term things like earthquakes and not
for long-term persistent conditions and to have it be a situation in which it's going on for months
14:02:18 even past the point in which pretty much everybody in the room agrees that we're not in an emergency now, but like, maybe a will be in an emergency later.
14:02:28 It just does feel like it. It reduces public trust, and if anything, I also just actually feel it's kind of almost illegal and wrong to be able to just basically say, you know,
you when it's not an emergency so anyway, thank you very much I do appreciate all the wordsmithing and I
14:02:45 you know I appreciate the diligence. And I can just totally see the care you guys are taking to try to figure out this policy.
14:02:51 So. Thank you very much for hearing these comments. Thank you, Stephen.
14:02:56 I see that Tom Tier says, his hand raised. If there's anyone else who's joined us on zoom this afternoon, there's no one else in the room with us, so if you are on zoom and
would like to make a comment on this thirteenth temporary cannons county
14:03:10 policy based on emergency response to the Covid 19 pandemic.
14:03:25 Hi! Good afternoon. Yeah, I am strongly in favor of the commissioners retaining the emergency declaration situation.
14:03:34 We heard just this morning that we're looking at a a double or triple whammy coming up this winter.
14:03:40 The county, and public health need to have the ability to react very quickly to outbreaks.
14:03:48 Of you know the known Covid variance and new ones that could pop up anytime and we don't have the time to spend on, you know.
14:04:00 10 day notice of a hearing, and and all that kind of stuff that takes forever before the county would be able to react if the emergency declaration were lifted So Yeah, Jeffreyson
county might be an outlier in terms, of its aggressiveness.
14:04:16 Of approach But guess what? We're also one of the more healthy counties in the entire country.
14:04:21 And there's a good reason for that. Our public health people have done a great job protecting us.
14:03:14 Please raise your hand, using. The raise hand button at the bottom of the zoom screen, and, Tom, you will have 3Â min
14:04:26 Despite all this insane vocal opposition, You know, he's anti-vaxers, anti-maskers, Nonsense!
14:04:33 Those people are cut have led to the deaths of a 1 billion excess deaths in this country.
14:04:40 That kind of attitude. We can't afford it. People are still dying at a rate of 400 per day across the country, and I think we can do better.
14:04:48 And so what you've been doing is great. Keep doing it.
14:04:52 Get ready for the next one, because it's on its way.
14:05:09 Thank you. Yes, I'm one of those crazy anti-baxers and handy maskers that continues to stay healthy, just keeping my natural immune system up and able and I haven't injected
any experimental gene therapies in me to figure out how that's
14:05:28 going to turn out if our commissioners in the county bureaucracy decide that this is the only one of 39 counties in this State that need to extend the emergency order it will
not be crying wolf it will be crime authoritarianism it cannot be justified
14:05:45 when the rest of the State is moving on Doctors Berry and Locke were dead wrong when they told us almost 2 years ago that the jabs would confer immunity and prevent transmission.
14:05:55 They hardly have a corner on the truth This very morning Dr.
14:06:00 Lott claimed if we vaced all school age students for flu, we wouldn't have flu.
13:57:16 Oh, okay.
14:04:59 Okay, and then I'm assuming a net was brought over, cause she raised her hand. I'm sorry I didn't see the hand go up, but in that you'll need to unmute and you'll have 3Â min
for public comment.
14:06:04 This is patentally false. The Cdc. Claims itself that only 40 to only it claims itself only a 40 to 60% efficacy.
14:06:13 When the jab is well matched to what's circulating, which is where it's often more around 10%, according to even provider sources that was pure, unbridled disinformation.
14:06:23 But you don't care when your expert experts do that.
14:06:28 Both Locke and Barry are parroting the narrative of a completely captured agencies and pharmaceutical felons who rake in billions as they operate with 0 liability for harm costs
by their vaccine products They have lost the trust of many of Us.
14:06:42 In this county for these regular evidence free claims drop the emergency order as the rest of the counties in Washington are doing.
14:06:49 If you choose, not to your blatant power grab will be obvious to everyone in the entire state.
14:06:12 Let's see.
14:06:58 Thank you. And that is anyone else with us on the attendee list today, interested in making a public comment on this item?
14:07:09 If so, use the raise hand, button at the bottom of your zoom screen.
14:07:13 I see a hand up there. Oh, you need to accept the promotion.
14:07:19 There you go. Good afternoon, Gene Ball. You are going to need to unmute, and you'll have 3Â min for public comment.
14:07:31 Hi! Support connection. Oh, we can hear you
14:07:41 Jane, we're not able to hear you
14:07:53 Hmm: Okay, Jean
14:07:59 Did she mute herself, or did we so
14:08:08 Jean, if you are able to get a better connection, you we raise your hand again, using the raise hand button at the bottom of the zoom screen, and anybody else doesn't look like
there's any more members of the public on the Attendee, list.
14:08:20 okay, Well, we wait to see if Jean raises her hand again Does anyone want to start with response?
14:08:28 No, gee is! Raise your hand.
14:08:37 Okay, Jean, can you hear us? Much, much better.
14:08:39 How about now? I can hear you
14:08:44 Oh, thank you! My apologies I did not know I was not being received, so I think Mr.
14:08:51 Tish knocked it out of the park, and I think it is foolish of us to attempt to fix.
14:08:58 When I broke. We are the lowest transmission and death rate in the second.
14:09:03 Excuse me, lowest transmission, and death rate in the State last.
14:09:05 I checked. And so that suggests to me that what we've been doing is effective.
14:09:12 And so I think it is foolish to argue with results.
14:08:43 You have 3Â min for public comment.
14:09:20 Thanks for your comment, Jane Karen I don't see any but any other members of the public there, so I'm not gonna make another call for public comment.
14:09:29 I'm gonna close public comment on this item and ask my colleagues if they want to respond
14:09:40 Oh, thank you, Let's see response before deliberation.
14:09:48 I I guess I'll just say I think if I think we would be failing in the realm of authoritarianism.
14:09:57 with this policy. That is, we are suggesting that people wear a mask under certain circumstances.
14:10:04 we are trying to give folks an opportunity to stay home.
14:10:07 Really, we're trying to give more flexibility. And so this is certainly not my idea of authoritarianism, and for anyone truly living under authoritarianism, I think they would
likely agree with me that this is a failed power grab we aren't requiring businesses to require their
14:10:25 employees to mask employees often have the opportunity to master not, and there is a wide range of feelings, a lot of a public facing employees feel most at risk, and so choose
to mask.
14:10:38 This has nothing to do with business other businesses in the county.
14:10:43 This is how we work with our employees within our departments, And again, it's giving a lot of flexibility and giving us access to tools that we might need in the upcoming.
Months.
14:10:55 When we expect a pandemic could worsen again.
14:10:57 So I I feel strongly that we can move forward I'm glad that we have updated the policy, to rec reflect reality.
14:11:05 Our current reality. And you know I think we will all celebrate when we all feel comfortable We're sending it, but we have.
14:11:16 We have been cautious throughout. I'm also proud of the outcomes we have, as a result of that, and and it we don't relish, and continuing this.
14:11:26 But when the when the time comes, when when our staff, who feel most cautious, feel ready for us to move on from this, we will.
14:11:33 But we've gotten feedback pretty clearly that we we can.
14:11:38 Continue to be a bit of an oddball in terms of counties and jurisdictions, because it's worked for us
14:11:45 Thank you all for the comments. Yeah, I agree with everything, Kate said.
14:11:49 This is really about staff and I'll point out that we've had more service level impacts and and the burnout is a cumulative thing.
14:11:58 So you know, protecting our ability to to support our staff is is critical in this phase of the pandemic pandemic phase, and you know, we want to maintain service levels.
14:12:10 We want to make sure we keep our our staff safe, and that we give them the flexibility to, you know, work remotely.
14:12:17 Stay at home, stay home with their sick kids. We'll continue to come back to this, I think, as we, as we move through the fall and winter.
14:12:30 But you know the most important stakeholders in this decision.
14:12:37 To me are the the directors and elected who are going to have to manage that staff, that this policy is directed to.
14:12:44 I mean, that doesn't have any any external impact.
14:12:48 I don't think at all right, so it's really it's about.
14:12:51 There is an emergency in Jefferson County. It's still here.
14:12:54 We're really, we are struggling to maintain service levels and keep our our staff safe and manage this.
14:13:02 This, this virus, as well as we can, so I guess that's kind of a response.
14:13:09 Slash, deliberation, and I would just say, I've reread through the appendix, and it is all directed at county employees and our ability.
14:13:20 For our managers to manage their teams, and the only part that still hangs me up, as all hand washing thing.
14:13:30 But I'm not. Gonna. I mean it. That feels common sense to me.
14:13:34 But maybe common sense doesn't exist anymore. So yeah, I'm supportive of it.
14:13:41 As a drafted, because it's got a limited scope and gets at the tools.
14:13:49 Are team needs, and We are, you know, largely public facing services in our county, and I think it's important for people to have the guidance and the tools they need to do
their work and feel like we've got their back.
14:14:08 So happy to support this as well. Oh, that's not deliberation, but that's
14:14:19 I mean, you know it's the whole thing. I'm about.
14:14:24 We're the only county, are we really? The only counties Having these conversations, We don't know that I'm sure we're not the only county.
14:14:28 Having this conversation. Now, as we come out of this pandemic that we've been in.
14:14:33 Well, not coming out of it, but adjust to the pandemic that we've been living with for over 2 years.
14:14:38 Now. But are you ready for a motion Share sure move to approve a resolution, and the matter of adopting a thirteenth temporary county policy, based on emergency, response to
the Kovat 19 pandemic second all in favor Hi hi passes unanimously not opposed and
14:06:09 Right.
14:15:10 bill is Appendix I adopted by reference in that resolution as well.
14:15:15 Okay, Thank you. Thanks Team for persisting on this one and getting it right.
14:15:24 And I'm sure we will have another conversation about this in the near future.
14:15:30 can. I just say thank you to you all, and to Sarah and Philip as well?
14:15:36 I appreciate all the deliberations and the editing of the document, and all of the different rounds that it's made, and we appreciate your due diligence around just the safety
and Well, being of of county staff in general and the flexibility that is embodied in
14:15:55 this latest version of the policy really is an indication of our success and movement forward So while the pandemic is not in our rear view mirror, we we have learned to live
with it, and we've all learned tremendously how to work together to help support each other so that we can function as
14:16:12 best we can in our work, dedicated to the residents of the county.
14:15:29 Lucky. 13 yeah.
14:16:17 Things, Apple, and we appreciate the work of you and your entire team at public health over the many many months that we've been dealing with this pandemic and you've had all
of our backs, and we've got yours
14:15:15 Yes.
14:16:40 Alright.
14:16:35 Okay, So Philip, don't go far, cause as you know, we we are going to look at the open public meetings, act guidelines for boards and committees again, and
14:16:53 I'm ready
14:16:56 Okay. So let's see here, here's the resolution.
14:16:55 Okay, we're ready.
14:17:08 All I did was take out the highlight, and then or oh, let's see.
14:17:11 Hmm.
14:17:17 Yeah, yup, we see the signatures follow on next page That's what we're seeing right now.
14:17:17 Can you see, this appendix? A: Okay.
14:17:25 Oh, okay, sorry. I'll re-share
14:17:24 We're still looking at the resolution
14:17:33 How's that? Better?
14:17:37 Yeah, that's it.
14:17:37 Okay. So over the lunch hour I went through and made corrections, as was expressed as consensus during the morning session, and I will show you.
14:17:57 I took out for the most part the change from public, from public comments to public testimony, except as it related to hearings.
14:18:05 So you'll see a lot less red in this version.
14:18:15 and then this is this: is that section we were talking about earlier.
14:18:20 Where we were talking about before it was explaining the testimony question Right?
14:18:26 What, what do we mean by testimony? And so I just revise that to to make it clear how we're using it.
14:18:35 and mostly that's in the in the In the last sentence where we're talking about testimony, we're using it to or refer to.
14:17:49 Yeah.
14:18:47 Is that not true of written comments to a hearing? Is that not testimony?
14:18:45 Or all public comments made during a hearing
14:18:52 For also for the record
14:18:53 Well, well, this gets you into that question that we just not talked about, and if we were following Mister Tier's comments, he only requested a couple of changes to testimony.
14:19:10 Those were related to hearings. Only so I think I I think I have it the way.
14:19:00 This is an important
14:19:16 At least he was suggesting it the way I thought that you guys were suggesting.
14:19:21 I
14:19:21 But the last sentence is only pertaining to hearings also.
14:19:25 The last sentence is only pertaining to hearings
14:19:27 So it is written. We also accept written testimony for hearings
14:19:45 No, I think we get written testimony for a hearing as well.
14:19:49 So I think, just adding the word oral or written.
14:19:33 Well, we we can call it testimony if you want to. But I think what we've been calling testimony was aal communications, or at least that's what I thought we were talking about.
14:19:52 But you know, when we have a hearing. Well, we receive written testimony as well.
14:19:58 Yeah, and we call for it in the notice, even no way written testimony will be received.
14:19:58 Okay.
14:20:05 So I'm still Umhm.
14:20:11 Hmm.
14:20:10 Okay, that's fine. And then when we get to the hearings part, we can decide whether we want to change some of that, too.
14:20:18 Okay.
14:20:19 Okay, this is just something I caught when I did a search for test, the word testimony.
14:20:22 Is.
14:20:27 It wasn't It wasn't a chain, it was I don't know why, caught it, but I caught it so public comment should be there.
14:20:37 and this is catching the discussion we had earlier about, and also Mr.
14:20:44 Church's public comments About what do we do with late received public comments, And this is these are just.
14:20:56 This is clarifying language of how we're gonna deal with it.
14:20:31 Hmm.
14:21:11 Well shouldn't be to be consistent. Written testimony
14:21:17 Received after the deadline and section 4, which is the hearing section right.
14:21:22 But then it, if it's not, if it's received too late, then it's not testimony we're if we're just keeping right. So written written testimony received after the deadline in a
section will not be included.
14:20:58 So it's not part of the official record of any hearing, but it will be distributed as comments for the next meeting of the Board Commission or Committee
14:21:36 In the official record of any hearing, but will be distributed to the Board Commissioner Committee as comments for their next meeting That's what Kate was saying. That if it's
late, it's not Testimony Yeah, Hmm.
14:21:51 Okay, and Carolyn was saying, they have a stamp that they put on it.
14:21:56 That can be included in the record, but says it's was not included, received late.
14:22:01 Is that right, Carwin? What we've been doing is other subfolder for any testimony After I still see the same area.
14:22:15 But it's definitely not
14:21:48 Right. It's still a public comment.
14:22:25 Hmm.
14:22:30 Okay.
14:22:30 Awesome. Right? Hmm.
14:22:37 Oh, what? Greg was suggesting was that would be. We would change written public comment. Okay, right?
14:22:43 Okay.
14:22:45 Yeah, lots of ways to skin that sentence. Yeah, Yeah, I don't know that we need to.
14:22:36 No.
14:22:54 Okay.
14:22:49 Okay, let's move along
14:23:11 Yes, public hearing section, you mean, Yes, written test
14:23:19 A public hearing. Primarily is it to obtain written or or written testimony
14:23:27 Right a public hearing primarily is intended to obtain oral or written testimony.
14:23:01 So here's the public comment section, and you wanna say written testimony here
14:23:35 If you're taking comment out
14:23:37 Got it.
14:23:41 Oh, right not, or but and thank you, Philip. Your patience is impeccable.
14:23:50 No worries.
14:23:51 Hmm.
14:23:54 I like making sausage. Okay, let's see how we
14:24:03 Yeah, that that reads good
14:24:15 Umhm!
14:24:11 Okay, alright. That's good.
14:24:27 You go back up there for a second. Right there, top of pages 12.
14:24:27 Where do you want to go
14:24:33 I want to read that longer paragraph
14:24:48 You go? Oh, so at a minimum. Jefferson County again as public comment, when I think we're changing that to to decision right or I mean a testimony.
14:24:59 Are we just at the top of the page
14:24:35 Okay.
14:25:08 Oh, or maybe alright! Is this just a hearing section right now?
14:25:17 Yeah.
14:25:25 Yeah.
14:25:35 Is that a good? No section? Okay.
14:25:40 Say, or resonance.
14:25:15 Yeah, This: the this is hearings
14:25:47 Some more of some reason we decide to hold a hearing. It's required for ordinances, not for resolutions, but budget budget resolutions, and the like.
14:26:03 I catch all of them
14:26:19 I think there's another section in here, too, that deals with it. Also in the appendices that we'll probably have to look at regular meeting. Notice We didn't change any of
that
14:26:47 Okay, here's that hearing language. Here's what we were talking about this morning.
14:26:51 Just happened at
14:27:00 You got public comments in there again
14:27:06 We testimony right in the parentetical sentence.
14:26:54 Be there.
14:27:09 Yep.
14:27:08 There for each oral public. Okay.
14:27:30 Yep. I think so. Yeah, That works.
14:27:29 Oh, just say testimony.
14:27:38 And is the address required, or just the the city or place of residence.
14:28:01 Perfect.
14:28:11 Do we want to make any comment about the? I guess the protection that's provided by a regular meeting You know where you have a public comment period at the head of the meeting?
14:28:23 I know many of the smaller committees are gonna Just have a public comment period at the beginning that would qualify for any decisions they make on any agenda items throughout,
so they don't have to make a specific public comment period on each decision point which we know can get pretty laborious for some of these
14:27:59 How's that?
14:28:40 smaller.
14:28:41 So. I think there's more detail on that in the public comment section earlier that talks about you could have more than one. You're not.
14:28:45 Okay.
14:28:56 I think the where I see that coming up is if item gets added to the agenda like that.
14:29:05 If they somebody missed the first public comment period at the beginning of a meeting, and then an item was added.
14:29:10 Then you would want to provide an opportunity, because that hadn't been kind of noticed previously.
14:28:50 You're allowed to have, but are not required to have, more than one public comment period
14:29:24 Yes.
14:29:18 you are going to be making a decision, taking action.
14:29:30 Okay, So
14:29:37 I'm sorry. Can you go back up again to Limited to 2, to 3Â min top of the next page we wanna put in here, since this is for all our different boards that it's the chairs discretion
here
14:29:55 It's supposed to be a usable policy, and
14:29:39 Sure.
14:30:03 Nice, perfect.
14:30:14 Good, good.
14:30:13 How's that?
14:30:30 Okay, I was just saying that that callers must be able to remain anonymous if they wish comma, unless the comments are at public hearing.
14:30:40 Isn't that the last sentence? Okay.
14:30:28 I'm sorry, having trouble hearing Carolyn
14:30:52 Oh, take unless the item is a hearing comma, make sure.
14:30:52 Oh!
14:30:57 Is that what you're saying? Move the end of the sentence to the beginning
14:31:04 I I'm not sure
14:31:11 and take off the last sentence.
14:31:02 Oh, move this to the beginning
14:31:18 You see that before the program is kind of re repetitive. So take the last phrase from the last sentence, and added, just before the parentheses
14:31:25 Got it.
14:31:38 Is that not what you said? Yeah, yeah.
14:31:46 I was saying where it says, comment.
14:31:38 Right there, and then take this out
14:32:04 oh, oh, Gotcha
14:32:04 Yeah, you. You see the the sentence before the one you just edited.
14:32:09 People commenting need not give their name, address, or other information, unless the comments are at a public hearing.
14:32:12 So maybe, that since it's just edited, you could excise entirely and just take the parentheses out of the hearings sentence, and then it would make sense
14:32:24 I was saying, remove the one right before that. Simple? Oh, okay.
14:32:27 So sorry, too many, too many cooks in the kitchen, and listen to me.
14:32:02 So
14:32:33 Listen to Caroline. I like her idea
14:32:39 for me, Okay, I guess. Remove that sentence that you would.
14:32:44 That starts with people commenting.
14:32:48 Remove the last part of it. Okay, just the the last phrase there, unless the comments are at a public hearing. But isn't isn't the first part of that the same as like you could
Take out, that whole people commenting sentence.
14:32:36 Okay, So what are we trying to do
14:33:04 so cut the whole sentence. Not it is repetitive.
14:33:13 Hmm.
14:33:17 So. It feels like we can get rid of the whole sentence.
14:33:21 Call that's not must be able to run. Hey?
14:33:13 His repetitive
14:33:29 Sentence before that, Let me see, anonymous part is not, oh, so
14:33:42 It may, That's that's Oh, Gotcha!
14:33:49 So just unless the item is a hearing that I just had you put in there.
14:33:53 Caroline's recommendation is to take out that new red right No; unless the comments are at a public.
14:34:00 Hearing, Okay, I just have it in twice.
14:34:06 can we get the camera moved over? Hmm, hmm!
14:34:12 so she's suggesting taking out after the 5, unless the comments are at a public hearing.
14:34:21 Sorry I didn't wait.
14:34:37 As of zoom. Thanks
14:34:43 But I would say, replace that with, and maybe, and and may be able to remain anonymous if they wish.
14:34:51 We got that highlighted, the currently highlighted part
14:33:36 That's a different point, right? That they have to remain in office.
14:34:57 Anonymous
14:34:57 Well.
14:34:56 Yeah, camping on our reading room level. There.
14:35:03 It's getting really and elegant now.
14:35:29 What if we started with, unless the item is a public hearing, and put the 2 together?
14:35:10 People commenting need not give their name and address, or other information, and must be able to remain anonymous if they wish, unless the I, unless and a public hearing, or
unless in a hearing
14:35:38 Hmm good idea.
14:35:37 So you're not saying it twice
14:35:44 So they wasn't gonna get involved. Hard to resist word smithing
14:36:09 Hmm.
14:35:49 The price of perfection late; and ladies and gentlemen
14:36:36 Sorry. And I do this without looking, and it's not working.
14:37:15 3 or 3 30, alright.
14:37:13 how about that?
14:37:35 So elegant. Phil.
14:37:43 Was trying to It's it's less explicit about the requirements of a hearing, is my concern.
14:38:23 place, of residence.
14:38:38 Public customer testimony, not public comment. We had already changed that one can of worms.
14:38:45 Hmm.
14:38:57 doesn't need parentheses, though.
14:38:58 Just sentence, right? It's not a subset, or we kind of was stuck in the middle
14:39:05 Hmm.
14:39:09 Then it would need a semicolon between the 2 statements.
14:38:21 What was the language? Use
14:39:16 Hearings, a different semicolon. If you took out the parenthetical.
14:39:20 I'm gonna send my call in here and take out the parentheses
14:40:23 want to see what it looks like clean
14:40:51 Hmm, Philip, can you hear us? Okay, Great. We lost sound for a second
14:41:00 We were getting reports from, other end of the building that they couldn't hear us.
14:41:07 Okay, So typically the time, unless the item is a hearing, People commenting need not give their name, address, or other information, because commenters must be able to remain
anonymous if they wish Hearings are different. Name of this. A residents are required for testimony during hearings looks good
14:40:53 yeah.
14:41:30 What's next?
14:41:37 I I still find that motions overly restrictive. Sorry.
14:41:41 I know that public comment is now required before a decision on any motion that just really looks like.
14:41:35 Well, what is next?
14:41:50 I mean, I know. Can you show me you, said Philip, that elsewhere he talks about a public comment at the beginning of the meeting is a is meets that state for for regular meetings?
14:42:11 Or
14:42:04 Sure. That's making Note of what page we're on So when we come back to it, I won't.
14:42:12 Could have changed.
14:42:13 Okay, Got it.
14:42:26 Public comment is required before my canvas is 7
14:42:35 Page 7
14:42:33 Okay, And I'm trying to get there using this function.
14:42:39 Oh, okay. Fancy
14:42:41 Oh, I don't know. It's not working, but
14:42:47 Too much pressure on the operator. That's why Okay.
14:42:59 So this is the section on the public comment requirement
14:43:11 So I think the reason that we have it in that motion section is to remind people that in the situation where you're making a motion, especially when it wasn't expect an an unexpected
motion that you need to have public comment and a lot of times those motions, are, made sort of on the fly
14:42:45 2 fans.
14:43:33 right.
14:43:38 So at this a a motion calls for a decision. Right?
14:43:45 And it's pretty clear that you have to have public comment before decision.
14:43:53 I I would love that, I guess, in this section I don't.
14:43:50 If it's if it's already on the agenda, no problem
14:44:03 Yeah, talk about
14:43:58 Is that listed anywhere that you know
14:44:10 yeah.
14:44:14 But just adding it. Okay.
14:44:20 I think it could be read by a lot. You know, boards that might be are not doing this as often that before every motion the chair would have to open it up for public comment.
14:44:14 Here we go.
14:44:36 Oh, it's it's not before a motion. It's after the motion and before decision. Right? So you would make the motion, and then you would call for public comment.
14:44:47 So the tricker would be the the motion.
14:44:54 And I guess you could have public comment before there's a boat on the motion.
14:44:59 But you could have it. You know you'd have the motions need to have it seconded.
14:44:31 And I guess I just wanna. Be clear that that is not what the standard is
14:45:05 Then you'd have public comment. Then you would have discussion and decision.
14:45:05 Yeah.
14:45:11 We never do that
14:45:15 That's what we would be
14:45:18 Additional and and you've got need the public comment before the decision, not after the decision.
14:45:08 That would be the sequence, I think
14:45:26 Correct, has to be before absolutely
14:45:33 So, if you have, if you have it on the agenda, and you'd have an and you have an agenda item for something, and there's going to be a motion made on an agenda.
14:45:42 Item you will have already had the public, and you have public comment listed.
14:45:26 After this decision doesn't okay. So like, I just you know.
14:45:57 I think that should be explicitly listed, that that what you just said just that if it's not on the agenda, that part well, yeah, you know, a public comment period at the beginning
of the meeting suffices for public comment before a final decision for any published published agenda.
14:46:14 Item but for any new item, or added to the agenda, additional public comment is required before a decision is taken.
14:45:47 You will have already had the public comment. But if you don't have it on the agenda and you make a motion, then you'd have to have global comment before the decision
14:46:26 business, Carolyn Just said. We call that an additional business item, but it varies and board.
14:46:29 Hi!
14:46:43 Okay, huh? I think there's somewhere in here where it talks about new items, but it's hard to do this on the fly at this level of detail.
14:46:57 so? Where are you thinking that would go, Greg? In the motion section?
14:46:35 The board can
14:47:01 That makes that would make the most sense to me.
14:47:07 Okay.
14:47:05 I would defer to you. I don't know where it should go. I don't know that this section is pretty, yeah, I think. Wouldn't want to leave it out of a it is an important
14:47:17 Oh, so we could put it both places. I made it right's really important.
14:47:21 yeah, the way that you just phrase it verbally was.
14:47:27 I thought excellent
14:49:13 I would add in the first sentence: If a motion relates to an item on an agenda, then the then public, comment anytime prior to making a motion
14:49:11 How's that?
14:49:30 So adding the word anytime prior to prior
14:49:33 Sure.
14:49:51 Alright.
14:49:59 Well.
14:50:04 If it's not on the agenda, you can't make a decision.
14:49:50 And I would say, maybe take out the regular meeting in the first sentence, because it could be a special meeting or a regular meeting right
14:50:09 But the first, the first one could be a special or the first sentence.
14:50:12 If a motion relates to an item on the agenda for any meeting in public, comment, anytime prior to making a modest generation satisfies the public comment requirement right that
applies to both special and regular meetings the first sentence, because it's on the age
14:50:08 If it's a special meeting
14:50:27 Hmm.
14:50:34 So just take out the word regular
14:50:38 I think that's fine. How he's got it.
14:50:31 Okay, Well, it does. This doesn't have to be specific to regular meeting
14:50:50 Okay, that makes sense works for me. We might wanna copy that
14:50:59 Or we could do it again It's slightly yeah.
14:50:55 Yeah, I'm that's a good thought.
14:51:05 for some reason, the words, I'd rather die comes to mind.
14:51:10 But I don't know. I don't know why
14:51:03 We should want to set that one more time. We can do better
14:51:16 okay. So now we're back to 15, right page 15,
14:51:21 Oh, yeah, absolutely.
14:51:27 Okay.
14:51:36 Motions.
14:51:20 Yeah, having fun. Right, okay.
14:51:45 Wasn't the first part of that motions pertaining to public comment
14:51:41 So
14:51:54 Yeah, it is Yup number one. But number one.
14:52:12 Wouldn't.
14:52:17 sure there's a way to collapse. Some of those sentences.
14:52:21 But yeah. And are we supposed to just have one space after a period?
14:51:56 Oh, thank you!
14:52:24 Now
14:52:26 That depends on whether you're older or not.
14:52:29 Yeah, no. I I struggle with it. I I end up doing both worlds. The trying.
14:52:34 Now right.
14:52:36 One space is easy to fix. If that's where you guys want it.
14:52:42 No, I I frequently. I'm submitting a brief or something.
14:52:40 No, I'm I'm I'm being
14:52:47 I do a search at the end for 2 spaces, and replace all
14:52:50 Well, hmm!
14:52:52 But you know I was. I was taught how to type in, eighth grade, You know it's that double thing.
14:53:00 It's like a habit, you know.
14:52:57 No. Hmm: Yeah, Yeah, totally The old mechanical typewriter.
14:53:02 Oh, yeah.
14:53:05 I wonder if maybe that would be better as a second paragraph, just easier to read
14:53:11 Sure.
14:53:13 Yeah, I don't know if it needs a second.
14:53:18 A number 2 but
14:53:14 Super easy.
14:53:22 Oh, Yeah, it would just be under number one. Still. Yeah, if you take out
14:53:24 stands out, stands out more this way for sure
14:53:28 So maybe take out the number 2 in front of it. So it's part of number one
14:53:34 Oh, yeah, you can do that, too.
14:53:36 I'm gonna do all of them
14:53:38 How's that?
14:53:39 Yeah, okay.
14:53:43 There you go!
14:53:44 Perfect.
14:54:00 and then scroll in a bit
14:53:55 Yeah, I think the flow is okay.
14:54:17 So the motion procedure? Should the points under that be indented, Where is that
14:54:27 Are those part of the process right? Yeah, If one is indented, 2 should be
14:54:42 Caroline and Gibson, and I used to do this.
14:54:44 Kate Hmm. Hmm. Joint editing of Grant proposals
14:54:59 Hmm.
14:55:03 Yeah, we're almost done indenting
14:54:30 Sure.
14:55:14 Okay.
14:55:06 Having fun, Monty. They will spend right hopefully, multitasking
14:55:32 Alright. So there's 2 down to there next page
14:55:37 Can we add something? I'm sorry. The and the first point there on motions, motion, motion, proceeded one, that I find really helpful is that there should only be one motion
on the floor at a time, it's a little confusing in the in that that it says rather than to make various motions
14:55:54 that will need to be amended, but I think it's helpful to say only one motion shall be on the table at a time, so you don't end up with competing motions and that should be
the first point right Yeah, up in that first one it is best practice you could just add only one motion she'll be on the
14:55:50 Sure.
14:56:40 How's that?
14:56:42 Yeah, I mean, I would probably say like, I would probably want it more strongly worded that there shall only be one motion on the table at a time.
14:56:49 I think it's helpful, cause folks wanna say, but I'm gonna make a motion of this instead, and it's like No, one.
14:56:56 There's one, and it gets voted on her dies.
14:57:05 And and then do we, and continue discussions on that motion
14:56:48 Oh sure!
14:57:16 put in. It is best practice to back in front of it
14:57:27 But we shouldn't even be considering various motions.
14:57:30 That's why it's helpful to talk but they're only big one.
14:57:20 Sure.
14:57:35 Hmm.
14:57:45 rather than to make Okay.
14:57:38 This is Karoline sentence that I don't really want to stop stamp it out so
14:57:53 this is because of the topic. Okay.
14:58:02 540, No.
14:57:53 So that this is this is the why, or one other reasons why
14:58:12 Okay.
14:58:06 Okay, or to help his name. Many, many. So it's best
14:58:20 I think you're actually cover it if you say there's going to be one motion on the table at a time, But I don't know if that is too if that's wonky language.
14:58:32 I don't mind the why that that that second sentence is, I think it clarifies it but you can't really have met various moments.
14:58:37 There should never be various motions. Big name.
14:58:46 to help. Right sure so many, instead of having discussing topics, those motions continually, This will just stop that.
14:58:57 Yeah, not that we
14:59:04 well, I think it is clarified by Capes first sentence, so I wouldn't mind taking that second sentence out.
14:58:16 What's your pleasure? Leave it, delete it
14:59:10 I don't think it adds, we don't have to have the one
14:59:19 I'm fine with that Yep could even add that short sentence to the the next sentence.
14:59:17 Consensus to delete
14:59:28 One member makes a motion, I concur, and they're shall only be one motion on the table at a time.
14:59:36 You want to move it down to there. What you're saying?
14:59:38 Yeah, it could. Yup.
14:59:44 As the second sentence
14:59:39 Sure.
14:59:52 You lost your period.
14:59:54 I got it back
15:00:08 Okay.
14:59:56 There it is. Good. Yup! I like it.
15:00:33 Do we define a quorum in here for the purposes of the silent vote?
15:00:42 some boards, operate at a quorum is, or majority is half of all present. Some require.
15:00:48 Well, I guess for it to be an open public meeting. You'd have to have a quorum, anyway.
15:00:52 So quorum is a majority majority of those present, or as a majority of the membership of the Board, or do we just leave that up to each board to decide.
15:01:02 Yes, yeah, slippery slope, I think right? Okay, Let each board decide.
15:01:34 executive Sessions is the next session section, and that did not get changed at all.
15:01:32 What section are we on to now
15:01:44 I don't believe
15:01:49 minutes. I don't think that got changed tips for the clerk side out.
15:01:57 Got that got change limits on communications. That's been the same over the last couple of weeks.
15:02:05 disruptions, the same liability, the same forms. We did make some changes to the form.
15:02:15 As a result for our discussion this morning, trying to get back to public comments as opposed to public testimony.
15:02:24 But there is a a form for hearings that would need to look at because of the slight change that you wanted to make for hearings and use the word testimony related to hearing.
15:02:41 So, hearing notice, form, here we go.
15:02:52 So wanna leave it at testimony here
15:02:59 Hey, let's see here!
15:03:26 so I just added this to make it clear that Nope, you're going to get, oral public comment or oral testimony.
15:03:37 maybe want to fiddle with the sentence a little bit.
15:03:39 That's cool, clunky Now for
15:03:42 but then we want to say we want to say written testimony there, right instead of a comment, cause it's for hearing oral testing.
15:03:50 Oh, above it.
15:03:47 Yes, yes.
15:03:56 Hmm. Oh, yeah, up the line above it, too. Yeah.
15:04:06 Oral testimony
15:04:20 Okay? Looks good.
15:04:10 Gotcha.
15:04:27 Oh, wait. Can we scroll back to that notice
15:04:29 Yep, sure
15:04:37 You're welcome.
15:04:47 To request form. I don't think that was any changes.
15:04:48 Executive session form minutes, form. I don't think there's any changes there.
15:04:56 Step, returning it to public comment.
15:05:03 And I think that's it. This is just the procedure for disruptions.
15:04:35 Okay, Thank you.
15:05:09 hmm.
15:05:13 I saw one typo a long time ago, and I was disagreeing with Greg on something, so I didn't bring it up.
15:05:19 Do you mind doing a a search for C. O. M.
15:05:08 At the end
15:05:23 I think there was a partial word thrown in
15:05:32 I could be wrong, but I I thought I saw
15:05:35 It's gonna be a 1 million of them. Oh, shoot now!
15:05:23 Sure.
15:05:38 It'll be partials
15:05:41 There's a way to do just is do, is it?
15:05:40 I'm sorry.
15:05:46 Quotes around, because otherwise you're gonna have a 1 million right occurrences
15:05:53 Are you at quotes around? See? Oh, I say, Okay.
15:05:56 Yeah, and and again.
15:06:08 Sorry.
15:06:09 None. Okay, Okay, Now we we, we got it. Then.
15:06:15 Hmm.
15:06:18 Alright.
15:06:25 No worries.
15:06:21 No, that's good. That's I I I'm Miss Reddit.
15:06:31 Just fine.
15:06:29 So are we. Good with this
15:06:32 yeah, But do we have to take public comment
15:06:36 Sure, yeah, Yeah, it wasn't on the agenda So do you want to accept all the changes?
15:06:42 Oh, it was in the morning, Right? Okay. So I'm gonna open this item for public comment on the open public Meetings Act guidelines for boards and committees.
15:06:53 Is there anybody with us who would like to make a public comment on this item?
15:06:59 If so, use the raise hand button at the bottom of your zoom screen, or raise your human hand.
15:07:06 If you're in the room. Okay? No, okay. Tom.
15:07:12 Tears has joined us with comments. Good afternoon, Tom.
15:07:20 good afternoon Yeah, in the Thank you for for reopening public comment.
15:07:24 I appreciate that I noticed one thing in your discussion, in your sausage making in the motion procedures section.
15:07:19 Umhm!
15:07:33 You, you made a revision to include, the phrase, a motion on the table.
15:07:38 I don't believe that's what you meant. When a motion is placed on the table.
15:07:41 That means it's been put aside for later consideration.
15:07:43 I believe what you want to say when a motion is pending, there can only be one motion pending or under consideration at a time.
15:07:52 So just a little bit of Robert's rules of stuff, just kind of like.
15:07:34 Okay.
15:06:35 Alright good. It might not be a bad idea
15:08:01 Thank you. Mr. Chair. Yeah, Well, I mean, it is a common.
15:08:09 It's coming to say we have a motion on the table, but I do agree that we also, table although you don't actually table, a motion motion dies.
15:08:16 If it's not seconded. So I do get the confusion, but because it is common to say a motion on the table. But I think they'll change in the language to pending is clear.
15:08:27 we We've never used the term emotion as pending like.
15:08:31 Is that clear? That is spending? There should be only one motion, active or under consideration under consideration.
15:08:38 I like that, or under discussion table table. One does have you do.
15:08:43 After a second you can table it to get more information We've table motions before.
15:08:04 You're good with that change. Commissioners
15:08:48 Hmm.
15:08:52 Yeah, I think that works
15:09:00 Yeah, Stacy said. If there's a motion to adjourn, then would you would public comment be required.
15:09:07 But I think actually motions aren't required for adjournment.
15:08:50 I like under consideration
15:09:12 we yeah.
15:09:17 Hmm.
15:09:22 I think under consideration works. Do you guys agree? Yes, can we move along.
15:09:13 When you get, when you get to the end of a J, your agenda.
15:09:34 That's correct.
15:09:29 Yup nice work. Except change
15:09:35 Okay, I did. I did make it all one spaces.
15:09:39 Hmm.
15:09:41 Get get it out of the old old man Style
15:09:46 man, Mr. Hunsucker. Good use of your time
15:09:52 Well, I mean, yeah, how hard is it? You know it's a global change. I did it.
15:09:57 I did it While Mr. Tears was talking, and I was still able to listen to him.
15:09:56 Hmm.
15:10:05 Yep. Looks good. Did you close public comment, or are you still?
15:10:12 Yeah, I did not close public comment. Is there anyone else who would like to make a public comment on their open public meetings? Act guidelines for boards and committees?
15:10:22 Thing. No other hands go up. I will close public comment on this item
15:10:30 Okay, So are we good with this Now, any deliberations or discussion needed?
15:10:41 No, Oh, we've spent a lot of time on it for something that's non non code or resolution, or appreciate all the all the effort I'm happy to make a motion to to approve the opmaa
guidelines for county boards, commissions.
15:10:01 So alright. So we're good with this. Okay.
15:11:01 Committees, and as amended here today, Sorry there is a resolution to approve.
15:11:07 Sorry I move. I retract that motion. I move that we approve the resolution in the matter of adopting open public meeting Act guidelines for Jefferson County Boards, Commissions
and committees.
15:11:20 As amended here today, and I will second all in favor. Alright.
15:11:07 That's like. I'll help you out here
15:11:32 I'm pretty sure there's no one happier in the county than me. Thank you.
15:11:24 Hi! Thank you. Team for that. Oh.
15:11:36 Thank you for all the work. It's really important, and it's important that we get it right
15:11:48 That's my pleasure.
15:12:01 so my my suggestion is that I think we have a list of things that we sent out to department heads, and people who are running the boards.
15:12:18 Before I went on on vacation. I think Board Staff helping with that.
15:12:21 So you know I have that list. I could send it out and say this was adopted today, and then and then we could You know, Maybe it's Caroline, and me, or have a conversation about
what we think and then we could come back to you and propose you know what we wanted what we think should
15:11:40 It's great to make you happy, Philip, cause I know you toil over our crazy. Questions a lot it does. It does. Beg the question. And the rollouts like should we be bringing this.
To our boards or do we want to decide on a training protocol first.
15:12:42 be done on training. I think, thinking about that, and we we of course, we'd consider everything that was said today about that.
15:12:56 okay.
15:13:02 Yeah, and I I agree. The Hr director, too, because she does a lot of onboarding for new employees that may or may not have a hand in that
15:13:15 To keep room. Well, we could all premise
15:12:52 but I think that might make the most sense. So I I guess we could ask Caroline what she thinks about that
15:13:20 Did you hear that to to loop in, Sarah? Okay, Okay, anything else on this item, we have one small item on the agenda.
15:13:35 So at the last meeting I raise my hand to draft comments on the Pacific Northwest Scenic Trail.
15:13:45 Comprehensive plan, scoping process. And this is just the first step in this process.
15:13:51 But I did review the scoping documents and drafted comments, and sent those to Monty and John Fleming and Jeff Chatman, and they all gave me feedback, and so my attached comments
are the result of all of that input I received primarily this came to my
15:14:12 attention because I got a public comment from a constituent who had noon his property neighbors.
15:14:19 The Larry Scott trail, and he had spread the press release in the Peninsula Daily News, and was concerned that there was language about the trail right away.
15:14:34 Being a half a mile on either side of the trail, and that language is hi applies to Federal lands in terms of developing the trail and Federal lands
15:15:00 Who's present on the Internet? Oh, well, yeah, brings off over for sure.
15:15:09 I'm I'm looking at the document so I can't.
15:15:11 I can't see zoom right now, so these are initial comments.
15:15:16 There will be more opportunities to make comments on this plan as it comes into development.
15:15:21 This is just on their scoping document, and we are encouraging them to cooperate with agencies regarding regarding trail development, across non-federal lands, and to
15:15:43 Just be clear about their communication processes in terms of non Federal landowners
15:15:54 let's see. Let me go back to Zoom and see Jeff.
15:16:01 yes, on the there was an advisory council when we start work, when the comp plan effort started many years ago, and I was a private landowner.
15:16:13 It's designee on the Advisory Council That's for the whole trail. And the trail goes from Montana to the ocean.
15:16:21 and we were working on this, and nature and purpose, and some of the how it would deal with the portions of the trail that aren't on Federal lands, and how to make it clear
that it shouldn't apply to those And we really didn't get that much into that conversation before the
15:16:39 advisory Council was stopped when President Trump took office.
15:16:42 The discontinued a lot of advisory councils, and this was one.
15:16:46 It was a foka console, and he got discontinued and canceled.
15:16:50 But the forces continue to work on the Comp. Plan among their staff, and now several years later, they're beginning to roll it out.
15:16:59 They are gonna start the Advisory Council back up with new members, and maybe some old members.
15:17:05 We don't know yet who the Secretary of Agriculture has appointed to the Committee again, but for the most part they're they're gonna be at the tail end of this now instead of
at the head you know where they're basically just like, the public.
15:17:18 Are going to be looking at this, deciding what should be the official compound.
15:17:22 They, The concerns are are good, that it it really needs to be clearly stated with the Federal Government has authority and not and what one of the things is, we were looking
for.
15:17:36 An alternative route where it goes across the Olympic peninsula, and it can't go into designated route.
15:17:44 We had some ideas on that, and where it should be run, but never got anywhere with it.
15:17:48 The foresters went back to the designated route and the Congressional designated route, for example, goes through West Uncas.
15:17:56 It goes, across. Say, up Salmon Creek. So it goes across 4 or 5 private landowners.
15:15:57 Would you like to comment on this? Because Jeff's been flying load of this as well
15:18:01 It goes right by the portion, the property that the Land Trust is trying to buy, and I it.
15:18:08 I'm not sure how many of those folks are aware of it.
15:18:10 I I assume a lot of them are, but you know they they may or may not I?
15:18:16 One thing about this is one of the questions that's come up, and I've talked to the the Becky Blanchard, The trail administrator is saying, Well, maybe we should be notifying
pro private property.
15:18:27 Owners. Well, you know it. It won't be. Th. There is a requirement in law that this be a willing seller. Situation.
15:18:37 So any private lantern who is not, who hasn't been acquired across will certainly be notified if they, if it does try to put it across that route, and they'll know fully well
whatever's in this plan once it's completed next year but the the The situation may also exist that if they, don't
15:18:55 route it up West Oncus. Right They it may go down one o one, and go up Snow Creek Road.
15:19:02 Well, yeah, Well, what about all the private landlords along Snow Creek Road in the account? It's a county road, and and and it how are they going to Get design?
15:19:11 notified, so that may be a bigger concern, And indeed, in the scoping there's on page 10.
15:19:19 It talks about the half mile on each side. The foreground distance zone, as they call it, and what can be allowed? And they do?
15:18:01 Right? Yeah.
15:19:27 And again, This is they do right in there where the trail, right away, is located on lands managed by other Federal agencies.
15:19:36 The selection must be agreed upon by the heads of those agencies.
15:19:40 So you know, I think it is good that the county keep a close eye on this, that we review the the comprehension plan when it goes out for public comment, and make sure that it's
pretty ironclad.
15:19:55 That it's not going to affect private landowners off, you know.
15:20:03 I went along this trail, and so I'm I'm I'm happy with this comment letter.
15:20:09 I'm hoping that the Commissioners go ahead and send it and again.
15:19:32 Interesting.
15:20:11 This is just the the beginning of the process. There will be another ability to comment on The action.
15:20:19 Yeah, thanks, Jeff. And I also put a comment in there about consultation with tribes along the route in the letter.
15:20:26 So. Thank you, Monty. Yeah, I think the I agree with the language about the private property.
15:20:35 I feel like it could be stated a little more clearly, because it just says we feel it's important to call out the inclusion of this reference, but maybe more like we are concerned.
15:20:46 But or we we prefer that this. But the plan explicitly paragraph, we want to be clear in our strong support of the plan.
15:20:58 Up holding this clause and the National Trail System Act, and not impacting the rights of private landowners
15:21:08 so it says. It's important to call out this reference.
15:21:11 Yeah, because that's what's in the scoping document.
15:21:13 Yeah. But then it says the next sentence, Business is, we expect to be included in discussions regarding Federal land management.
15:21:20 It doesn't say
15:21:26 And then it talks about private landowners. In the next sentence.
15:21:33 Hmm. I mean if you want a word, Smith, it fine.
15:21:36 I just thought I felt it went from the the do.
15:21:43 They call it the citation. Yeah, into like the importance of working with us instead of like, it's the private we're concerned about private property.
15:21:57 But if you feel it's in there, I I yeah, I mean, it talks about private, city, county, and state holdings Yeah, I just thought it's it's important to call it out But then I
didn't get what was being called out like maybe in the to.
15:22:13 Work spent a little but we've already been receiving questions about the recommended national trail right away, or maybe instead, you know, we're concerned about the recommended
national trail right away.
15:22:23 Of a minimum of one mile. This little trail, and then that feeds into the next sentence, because it doesn't.
15:22:28 The questions I mean, questions aren't a position right? They're just but I think I think it's strong I'm I'm in support of it.
15:22:38 Okay, I will rewrite Redraft. You want to see it, and it's due at That's the only change.
15:22:48 they're they're they're trying to get a 15 day extension.
15:22:45 I think
15:22:52 So are you good with me, adding the concern. Yeah, Okay, thank you. Yup.
15:23:00 do you want to just sign it? I was gonna have us all sign it.
15:22:51 But it hasn't been confirmed yet to the common period
15:23:07 I also know it. It'll come into, you know. Ask. We tried to extend the Olympic Discovery trail Over Eagle Mountain down to discovery.
15:23:02 Okay, I'll circulate it for signature.
15:23:14 Bay. This is an overlay to it, so it'll be important that it talking to property owners that they're aware, and of any possible restrictions from the Federal overlay, hopefully
there.
15:23:26 Hmm: Yeah, So I'm missing. A. Why, on discovery in the last sentence, you hear that missing a Y. And discovery last sentence, Okay, I'll do a spell check. I'll come through
discoveries and a word.
15:23:46 Oh, yeah, discovery. I see it got it. Hey? Any further comments about this issue from Jeff or Commissioner?
15:24:01 Colleagues I think it's looks. Great. Thank you for doing it.
15:24:06 Yeah, I'll move that we authorize the chair to make the amendments that we discussed and collect signatures and send these comments along 1Â s, all in favor bye Thank you.
15:24:20 Everyone, any last comments for the good of the order today.
15:24:29 Oh, boards and committee vacancies. Let's see where we're at.
15:24:34 I've been having conversations. The list has been getting shorter, which is great.
15:24:43 pifboard. So keep forgetting about that.
15:24:45 I have a conversation teed up for the district, 2 seat for the piffboard, and I know Greg's working on some of that noxious weed board folks, and then the one that's in my district.
15:24:58 I did, have a couple of conversations, but people were not interested and being on the weekend, so I need to go back to the drawing board with I think it's the district 3 requirements
are challenging for that one Yeah, I thought, I had someone.
15:25:17 For Fairy Advisory committee, but I think it fell through or I'll I'll follow up again, and but might need to yes, that met again.
15:25:26 What's the standard for that? One is that economic development as someone who's who who's business or who represents businesses that rely on fairies for commerce, running a
business key city fish any business.
15:25:51 Yeah, I had the the chamber put it out on their newsletter.
15:25:51 But you know no bytes. Well, good job because the list has gotten shorter.
15:25:56 Every meeting for the last few meetings. So nice work, nice work, Julie, if you're listening and just keep turning those wheels sounds good.
15:26:07 The wheels of progress. Steven, you want to be on any boards or committees.
15:26:17 Yeah, anyone still in the room you're gonna get signed up for something just any any calendar calendar Yeah, we can do that briefly.
15:26:27 Let's see. My last week was nothing compared to Kate.
15:26:31 I don't even wanna hold up. Hmm! Let's see.
15:26:35 I hear me that's halfway mostly, because it was interesting stuff.
15:26:41 Do you want to finish last week, Kate? No, no, I mentioned the child, for center.
15:26:48 I did. Want to that cool. That is great news.
15:26:55 Oh, yeah, The Transit Transit Board meeting, I met with Chicken, the forestry I attended the empowered teams.
15:27:05 Chimica meeting attended the community wellness, projects, dinner.
15:27:11 It's been river. That was super inspiring. Met with Monty for agenda, planning attended the Board of Health with y'all, went to The Sierra Club North Olympic Peninsula meeting
to talk.
15:27:24 About for us and other environmental issues. We're working on And I mostly focused on the forest work and then Derek vessel recycling on the marine side.
15:27:37 And then had an encumbered lands. Work group meeting on Friday Feel like we're coming to some good resolutions.
15:27:48 There had a meeting with environmental public health on a site that they're having issues with
15:27:57 And then had the competing memorial services on on Saturday.
15:28:02 That's true, and I am. Don't want anyone else to die for a while.
15:28:10 miss, my goddaughter's eleventh birthday, which was devastating for me.
15:28:14 But there you go. That happens. And Yep, that was last week for me, and brief
15:28:29 I mean, you know, at Jeff Com spoke to the quilting school about careers, to a class, and worked a lot on the housing fund board applications that we're going to be considering
this.
15:28:44 Week, you know, $900,000 worth of applications for $650,000, with the money 600 as it goes.
15:28:54 I'm gonna miss some of the executive session this week.
15:28:59 Got a couple of different work subcommittees that I'm I'm working on, not for salary surveys and such as a community meeting in Brennan tomorrow evening to talk about only cap
governance.
15:29:13 I don't know if I've talked to you guys about this, but our contract, with only cap for the community centers.
15:29:20 I mentioned this. They they talk about and you know they predate leadership there by quite a few years.
15:29:28 But they talk about community board that kind of guides, the direction of community center management.
15:29:34 It has never been set up. As far as I know. So the kind of re-energized northward Canal Chamber of Commerce kind of, you know.
15:29:44 Say Well, we could also apply to take over the community centers.
15:29:49 good quill, seating, and and Britain community centers.
15:29:52 And so we had a meeting about that, and I invited the the chair of the Gardener community. Center.
15:29:57 That is community run. And I think his talking about how is just the community that does it? They're not going to be able to because they were talking about. Well, we'd need
$150,000 to run that we'll seen community center the way.
15:30:09 We want and there's probably not gonna happen. So they've I think backed off on that interest for the requests.
15:30:16 But there is still a lot of interest in making sure the community centers reflect the desires of the local communities.
15:30:23 So there's one on the 20, fifth tomorrow at 5 o'clock at the Brennan Community Center, and then the one in November had to get rescheduled.
15:30:30 But it will come soon, for the the quilting Community center, because those contracts are coming in front of us at the end of the year.
15:30:36 They they, you know, this year. So I don't think there will be anyone bidding for those contracts, but we might have We might be able to get some community board setup before
that It's a big thing this coming week and housing fun board of course, the triary community center that one is also coming
15:30:57 up Yes, but I don't think there's any community organization that was that I heard of that You know.
15:31:04 There's each of the 3 community centers have very different interactions between facilities and parks and wreck.
15:31:11 For who takes care of you know landscaping on the property landscaping at the periphery of the property, you know, building maintenance, so clarifying.
15:31:20 There's gonna be. There's gonna need to be some work, I think, clarifying that that agreement to make sure that the the different functions of different county organizations
kind of departments at those community centers are more explicitly clear so we don't have disappointed community members saying you
15:31:38 know no one's mowing the lawn, you know.
15:31:40 It's so just a little bit more. Clarity would be really good, but that work is continuing
15:31:50 Last week. I you know I did everything virtually as I was in my second 5 days of isolation, but not a lot of big stuff health board That board.
15:32:04 Health meeting was the big one that went well, and Jeff Com.
15:32:11 So I got last week no conflicts this week, except that I'll probably have to leave the executive session of the Transit Board meeting tomorrow early to get to us Subcommittee
meeting Hmm.
15:32:26 Do we wanna do the following week to just cause we won't be here.
15:32:31 you mean this weekend next week? Yeah, Yeah, I doing.
15:32:36 There's the columns of farm open house the following week, you know.
15:32:39 The Land Trust is set up I'll be certainly going to that, and going to Olympic community of health housing Conference They're continuing that work, and I'll try to go to some
of that But of course That's the same time as the transit budget
15:32:53 workshop, get a lot of transit conflicts.
15:32:59 Povc. Is back in person
15:33:03 My wife is out of town, so I'm managing the farm too.
15:33:12 I'll just I'll call that the and trees and Forest greenhouse gas report is being presented to the public by Climate Action Committee tomorrow night and it has been it was presented
to us already?
15:33:32 But it is a notices a public meeting, so anyone wanted to attend you could. What time is that?
15:33:40 And where is it? It's a via zoom 7 Pm.
15:33:44 Tomorrow night, although it's not a public meeting of the Bocc.
15:33:48 So how does that work, Carolyn? If it's a noticed public meeting?
15:33:58 Yeah, this one. I I really wasn't form, though.
15:34:06 I know I was thinking if it if it's noticed as a public meeting, can we go there? Does that have to be noticed as our public meeting?
15:34:14 sure only words, Right, right! So it might not How much value I'm presenting so well.
15:34:23 I think you should go I'll be at a meeting, and there's also housing solutions.
15:34:26 Network is doing A: Okay, What is it? Sceptic alternatives
15:34:36 They're doing, I would flush. Oh, yeah, right. That's at the same time 5, 30 to 7 tomorrow virtually
15:34:48 It's just virtual. I I actually spoke with Abigail Brown, who's from the Uc. Santa Cruz instructor
15:34:56 It's about sanitation.
15:35:07 Well, I can attend the Climate Action committee meeting and not say anything I know, but it'd be hard So we're gonna be talking about like like I wish you could.
15:35:17 But I I'm just for getting me to notice. It is our meeting.
15:35:22 If you both wanted to. County business. It's fine
15:35:31 It has to be our Yeah, right? Okay, Okay, tomorrow.
15:35:43 but I can go 7 7. We have time to special
15:35:50 Yeah, I cannot speak. I can just listen. Be interesting to hear what the questions are.
15:35:56 Yeah.
15:35:59 Are you done with this week? Are you Okay, So I've got a lot going on.
15:36:05 I feel like you didn't need to leave Heidi I've I've been worried about 3, 30.
15:36:11 No. It passed. I I got released from that obligation, so we're starting on our one tenth of 1%, behavioral health rfp panel or review tomorrow.
15:36:25 after the transit. Executive session which I am sharing because mayor favor cannot be there.
15:36:35 and then tomorrow morning at 8, 30, have the finance committee, and then Wednesday morning at 8 30, at the Budget Committee On Wednesday, most of the day I'll review be reviewing
all of the L tech proposals because we got a lot of them we got 1.2
15:36:50 1 million for $800,000 worth of funding. I'm attending a community foundation event on Wednesday evening.
15:36:58 I have a trustland transfer strategy session on Thursday midday, and then I agenda planning with Mark cause he'll be back tomorrow, and we have gotten into too much trouble.
15:37:12 With him, John, proud of us, Yeah, It's gone back quickly, and I will be able to go to the wassack Federal issues and Relations Committee on Thursday this week.
15:37:23 and then the Ltac Committee meets on Friday to interview all of the applicants for all of those grants.
15:37:32 And then I have a very cryptic hold. On Friday evening, or God knows what, and A.
15:37:43 another. Oh, good. Yep, right There's big decorating happening on Friday evening.
15:37:48 Gotcha or Halloween next week. It's yeah
15:37:57 have a forestry forest related meeting on Saturday.
15:38:03 Monday will be Halloween in the courthouse, which will be fun.
15:38:08 Do experience. And then next week transit budget workshop.
15:38:17 On Tuesday, encumbered lands, provides a work group.
15:38:22 On Tuesday after Budget Marine Resources Committee.
15:38:26 Tuesday evening. Transit Finance Committee meeting on Wednesday, agenda Prep.
15:38:34 With mark, or the seventh I don't have agenda prep this week.
15:38:41 wasack Federal issues and relations next week, as well. Jefferson County Peninsula trails, coalition, Cohort.
15:38:51 On Thursday evening, and then meeting with Mark and Mallory on Friday
15:39:00 Going to get to the dentist Friday afternoon to get this chips tooth fixed It's been driving me nuts, and then I might attend that Kalamoto Farm warming.
15:39:10 Yes, good morning. Yeah, very exciting. So yeah, it just feels it feels like with all the Grant proposals for the It's just a lot of, review and thanks to think about yeah,
we just did that.
15:39:29 For housing fun, board
15:39:35 So you want to fund everything. Yeah, nothing that doesn't deserve and need yeah funding.
15:39:39 There! Hmm!
15:39:44 So anything else. I didn't really, go over my couple of weeks, but I don't know any conflicts you need covered, and the next couple of weeks
15:39:59 just
15:40:03 Wanting to be on vacation
15:40:18 Nope, I'm looking okay. Well, if there's nothing else, I will adjourn this October 20, fourth meeting on the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners.