HomeMy WebLinkAboutDRAFT 081822MS ICG
MINUTES
Special Meeting of the Intergovernmental Collaborative Group (ICG)
Thursday, August 18, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
“Under the Tent” at 22nd and San Juan Avenue, Port Townsend (2135 San Juan Ave) WA
WELCOME AND CALL TO ORDER: Rotating Chair/City of Port Townsend Mayor David Faber
called the Intergovernmental Collaborative Group (ICG) to order at 5:08 p.m. He stated the intention of
the meeting is to help address the dire housing situation created by current laws and policies.
Jefferson County Board of Commissioners:
Chair Heidi Eisenhour, Commissioner Greg Brotherton and Commissioner Kate Dean.
Staff present: County Administrator Mark McCauley, Department of Community Development
Director Brent Butler and Planning Manager Josh Peters
Port Townsend City Council:
Mayor/Councilmember David Faber, Councilmember Monica MickHager, Councilmember Amy
Howard, Councilmember Ben Thomas, Councilmember Owen Rowe, Councilmember Aislinn Diamanti
and Councilmember Libby Wennstrom
Staff present: City Manager John Mauro, Planning, Community Development Director Emma Bolin
and Building Official David Nakagawara
Jefferson County Public Utility District (PUD) No. 1:
Commissioner Dan Toepper and Commissioner Jeff Randall.
Staff present: PUD General Manager Kevin Streett and Broadband and Communications
Director Will O’Donnell
Port of Port Townsend Board of Commissioners and staff:
Commissioner Carol Hasse
Staff present: Executive Director Eron Berg
In addition to Elected officials, staff and public, there were various individuals in attendance that were
representatives of local housing agencies and Planning Commissions.
AGENCY REMARKS: The following individuals at Jefferson County, the City of Port Townsend, the
Port of Port Townsend and the PUD provided the following comments:
Jefferson County:
Commissioner Brotherton commented on the following:
• The Housing Fund Board (HFB) will be finalizing a Request for Proposals (RFP) for Affordable
Housing and Homeless Housing funds
• The HFB recently awarded the second grant from 1590 funds
• The Port Hadlock Sewer Project is in its final phase
• Concerns about the unintended consequences regarding housing issues
PUD:
Commissioner Randall commented on the following:
• He hasn’t seen this kind of collaboration to solve problems in 25 years
• Housing issues have a lot of external problems
Intergovernmental Collaborative Group Meeting Minutes of August 18, 2022
Page 2 of 3
• The PUD is infrastructure-driven and they will be operating the Port Hadlock Sewer when
complete
• PUD is providing broadband, water and electricity to Jefferson County residents
• Employers, including the PUD, have a hard time obtaining applicants due to housing
Port of Port Townsend:
Commissioner Carol Hasse commented on the following:
• She is happy for this kind of collaboration on something of this importance
• The Port of Port Townsend is mandated to create economic development
• Addressing the housing crisis is beneficial to the Port carrying out their mandates
City of Port Townsend:
Rotating Chair Faber presented a 2022 Municipal Excellence Award which was awarded by the
Association of Washington Cities to the ICG for coming together to tackle local issues. Councilmember
Howard noted that there is no other collaborative group like the ICG in Washington State.
CONVERSATIONS FOR THE CAUSE: City Manager John Mauro thanked everyone for
participating in this meeting, with the main goal to tackle our housing issues together. He explained that
the next portion of the meeting will be to split up into groups to brainstorm housing strategies.
REPORTING BACK: Housing Solutions staff members read off various housing ideas which covered
research, removing barriers, engagement, setting a foundation and tactical wins, and outcomes.
REFLECTIONS AND CLOSING THOUGHTS FROM ELECTED BODIES: The following
individuals at Jefferson County, the City of Port Townsend, the Port of Port Townsend and the PUD
provided the following comments:
City of Port Townsend:
Councilmember Rowe:
• Importance of engaging those in need of support
• Approach housing issues in an equitable way
Councilmember Wennstrom:
• Would like to see partnering with employers
Councilmember Howard:
• Would like to see meetings more fun and keep the community engaged
Councilmember Thomas:
• Look into declaring a State of Emergency regarding housing
Rotating Chair Faber:
• Review unintended consequences surrounding housing
• Two books about housing: 1) Fixer Upper – How to Repair America’s Broken Housing System;
and 2) Golden Gates re: Challenges of housing in San Francisco
Jefferson County:
Commissioner Brotherton:
• Boarding houses
• Redistribution of wealth
• Community outreach and holding meetings where the homeless are
Commissioner Eisenhour:
• Providing the basic foundational support for homeless individuals
• All of us are neighbors
• Encouraging more conversations and diversity
Intergovernmental Collaborative Group Meeting Minutes of August 18, 2022
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Commissioner Dean:
• Jefferson County is tasked with protecting working and wilderness lands
• Cautions that loosening of codes may conflict with protecting the environment
• Encouraged working together with environmental groups and Tribes in this process
PUD:
Commissioner Randall:
• There are limitations on what the City and County can do under the Growth Management Act
(GMA), so we should focus on what we can control
• Encourages hiring a professional housing person that all agencies can fund jointly
Commissioner Toepper:
• Work on the short-term goals
• Proposed working together on less restrictions on water, or we may lose the ability to have the
quantity we need
Port of Port Townsend:
Commissioner Hasse:
• Proposes a united effort between the agencies to address the state on taxing individuals with two
or more homes
• Encourages funding and permitting of net-zero homes, and potentially providing land for these
homes to be placed
CLOSING REMARKS AND ADJOURNMENT: Housing Solutions Network (HSN) Director Liz
Revord provided information on upcoming events and goals for the HSN:
• ADU meeting will be held on September 29, 2022 at 5:00 p.m.
• Reviewing deed restrictions
• Fall Sanitation Education Series
• Economic Development Council Team Jefferson will be providing a Workforce Report
• Researching the creation and funding of a Director for Affordable Housing Strategy
• Housing is healthcare
Rotating Chair Faber thanked everyone for attending the meeting and adjourned at 6:56 p.m. until the
next regular meeting or special meeting as properly noticed.
APPROVED AND SIGNED this ________ day of ________________, 2022.
_________________________________
Carolyn Gallaway
Jefferson County Clerk of the Board