HomeMy WebLinkAboutclosed_caption11:34:58 Okay, thank you and everyone. Thanks for everyone for your patience. I'll call this
11:35:03 Thanks for your patience everyone as we work through some technical issues I will call this special meeting of the Board of Canada commissioners to order and also will kick
off this county coordination meeting.
11:35:14 That we're kind of locked into our agenda because this is a special meeting of the board.
11:35:19 So the first thing is to talk about community outreach planning and I you know many of you were with us at the Tri Area Community Center and the takeaways from the last one
where we, I think, had 2 members of the public, one a planning commissioner member at planning commissioner.
11:35:36 And I think 2 people online was we had a great presentation and a really lively conversation about the sewer.
11:35:45 I guess my takeaway is that we should make sure that we can add some value. We can't really cancel these upcoming meetings and I think we'll I can work to get better, you know,
district 3 is gonna come out for the meetings.
11:35:57 No problem, but I do think we might want to focus on a a topic that we might even advertise, you know, in Brennan, the sewer probably and quilting some of the big projects down
there and garden or maybe the boat ramp project.
11:36:11 Or something like that. But, that was my takeaway of a good conversation and a poorly attended community meeting, but I'll open the floor to anyone else for other observations
or ideas for our next one at Gardner, which is in the I think the eighteenth of August.
11:36:28 Good.
11:36:27 Great, Greg, this is Carolyn. Sorry to interject here. I just wanted to say that the agenda had a public comment period, but there's no public in attendance.
11:36:34 Oh, thank you.
11:36:36 Also, I talked to County Commissioner McCauley and he was saying the. He was saying we should have a bigger conversation if we should still have these.
11:36:44 I suggested if we that we continue finishing off the rest of this year and then go ahead and a conversation about how we can promote it better.
11:36:50 But also maybe we do like, YouTube videos on certain topics as well. That's my input.
11:36:57 Thank you, Carolyn. Yeah, I think it would be disingenuous to cancel it, you know, for the communities that just because some haven't showed up.
11:37:04 But sorry, I saw a couple of people raise their physical hands. Apple and then Stacy.
11:37:10 Oh, I was just gonna comment on having gone to my very first one of these in 2019 and it was at Gardner and it was very well attended.
11:37:17 Certain populations we might just, that. We know they're gonna come out. I think Ludlow was an example of that.
11:37:24 I kind of expected that and it turned out to be the case that these others haven't been so I don't know.
11:37:30 I think Carolyn makes a good point and Greg you're saying as much that. We continue to do these through this year and then talk about it a little more going forward.
11:37:41 Okay.
11:37:39 I am a little bit worried about the West End. I don't want to go because I haven't done any work out there myself and.
11:37:47 Yeah, that would that's a very long haul and potentially overnight for just a one resume or 2.
11:37:54 And that one was very poorly attended even when I did this previously in 2,019. It was the worst attended one I believe.
11:38:01 Good evening.
11:38:01 Oh really?
11:38:01 Well, I have a dual missing to go and meet some people in that area. So I look at it as an opportunity, but I realize that the attendance could be very different.
11:38:09 It is.
11:38:09 We had about 15, we had about 15 people, which is actually more than the last 2 meetings we had.
11:38:13 Oh. Yeah, no, that's true. Okay. And there's lots of work going on over there too.
11:38:20 So stuff to talk about Stacy.
11:38:23 So I think the first one I went to was in like, 2012 or something and we had a lot more turnout.
11:38:31 And I too. I'm concerned about the West End. I really would like to see how we can meet their needs this year.
11:38:42 Before we go out there. I also don't want to cancel it, but I would like to find out what they would like to talk about and.
11:38:53 You know, be there for that and have an actual conversation. Yeah, I mean, I remember them.
11:39:02 Before I was treasurer and going to them and they were very There were a lot of people there, but they also were kind of community organized about a specific topic and specifically
one of them that I went to was the Port Ludlow one where they had had you know, we just issued the Sepa determination on one of the mines and that
11:39:26 was a focus. So if there are specific issues, You know, I think we had the sewer set for.
11:39:34 This week in anticipation of what we expected to be the questions but I agree if people had known there would be a huge focus on it.
11:39:46 You know, we might have even have gotten some people that came to the Port Ludlow or the port towns in one.
11:39:52 Great, thanks Stacy. Jeff.
11:39:55 Yeah, my own feedback is I like the. I like you know the other ones we've always had were you know early spring or late or late fall I mean it's basically around winter and
having them in the middle of summer you know you're basically competing with I mean a lot of people are doing other things during the
11:40:14 summer. And, but I'm also kind of biased because of property tax. The property tax issues and valuation issues you generally hear more in the fall and spring not in the middle
of summer so folks are focused on other things so it's hard to cover property tax when people aren't thinking property tax when people aren't thinking property
11:40:32 tax. And, and I actually enjoy the West End, you know, I lived out there and it was, I enjoyed even though you had a few people from but they're from the Ho tribe and that's
important is I don't get a chance to talk to the whole tribe otherwise and they're a lot of good things with
11:40:47 what's going on out there that do involve the whole tribe. So I did I do get something out of the West End eating meetings even with just a few people there because they're
often the movers and shakers for the area.
11:41:00 And 15 people is like, you know, 5, 10% of the population is actually really good turnout.
11:41:06 Kate.
11:41:08 Yeah, I, this brings up for me the question of where are people getting information right now, which I think has changed since the pandemic and I wonder how much Communication
is happening between like Wendy and different departments that have.
11:41:26 External communications and if maybe we could be doing a better job of being more strategic and in our county wide communications.
11:41:36 So like I said, I don't know if that is happening, but I would. I don't know, I guess just empower Wendy.
11:41:40 I see her on the call here today to like, you know, really help us think through. Where are people getting information and how can we be reaching them better?
11:41:48 Because I talked to a number of people who said they wish they had known about the meetings and didn't and you know I mean people I say that it's impossible to reach people.
11:41:57 I'm not pretending like we can Reach everyone and yet. I mean, I think, you know, this is problem.
11:42:05 We're all in our echo chambers. But so how are we gonna bust through that?
11:42:08 Because it, you know, it is our responsibility to be able to reach our constituents. I will say that West End meetings in the past, even though not very well attended, have
ended up being something of an informal retreat for those county folks who attend and I would really encourage people to do it even if we don't get great representation from
11:42:30 the public. We've always had a great time. Spending time together as colleagues out there. So if that's, helps anyone decide whether or not to attend.
11:42:42 It's really valuable time to be together in a really cool part of the world, which happens to be Jefferson County.
11:42:47 Yeah, that's great. I think the way meetings have changed too since the pandemic, right? And there's so many out there.
11:42:54 I mean, these are really, right? And there's so many out there. I mean, these are really meetings about nothing unless there's a topic that.
11:42:59 That people are focused on that we advertise I mean I know Wendy can speak for yourself but II mean she worked with the community center and we were out on next door and Facebook
and apparently where you know the kids are going these days.
11:43:10 But there were a lot of competitions as Jeff says in the middle of summer. So. Yeah.
11:43:15 I mean, maybe schedule is something that we can look at in the future.
11:43:19 Although we've done it in the fall in the past and we've gotten feedback both from county staff and from the public that they don't like to be out driving in the late night
dark.
11:43:27 Regard. Yeah, it's true. No perfect name.
11:43:30 So, you know, that's why it's like, that they don't like to be out driving in the late night dark. So it's, you know
11:43:35 Other other thoughts?
11:43:38 And to Apple's point, I think, you know, Gardner traditionally, I mean, because they have a really engaged community with that community center, I can send them a note and say,
Hey, make sure you put this in your newsletter.
11:43:51 And if we, especially if we have a topic that we're we can agree to talk about I think would be great.
11:43:58 So, is there anyone seriously considering not having the meetings? I feel like it would be just ingenious for those.
11:44:04 Those communities that haven't had an opportunity not to show up to not show up ourselves.
11:44:12 Okay. All right, well, is there, you know, last call, anything else people want to share takeaways?
11:44:21 Great, great presentation by public works. I'm not sure if Monty or Samantha are on, but I learned a lot about the sewer.
11:44:30 So, you're gonna be giving your cards out all over town.
11:44:32 Okay, well we will move on to budget guidance and appropriations. Take it away, Judy.
11:44:39 Okay, good morning and almost good afternoon everybody. Just a bunch of appropriations for approved on Monday.
11:44:46 They have been entered into the budget in Munis. It's resolution 2923 just the high points is general fund increased to one time expenditures was 88600105 most of that I have
to say it with the exception of about 100,000 was due to the medical benefit being paid
11:45:11 by the county. So, I know we're all, we're no longer on vacation, but the employees are because the county is picking up the bill on that.
11:45:22 So, and then for other funds we're at 1,000,091 $47 for the one time expenditures.
11:45:29 A 102,000 for ongoing and this just brings us again to the total of 1,000,009 77 152 for One time expenditures and a hundred $44,033 in one in ongoing expenditures.
11:45:48 So, a little more. Dane usual for the second. Porter appropriation, but, maybe quarter 3 will be late.
11:45:58 But we'll see. Okay. And then the other. Item that was, done on Monday was also the, matter of establishing objectives and procedures for the 2024 25 biennium budget.
11:46:16 And that's resolution, 33. I think most of you receive that in your email. Just a couple of high points.
11:46:25 We're working on salaries and benefits. We're working on salaries and benefits.
11:46:29 We're working on salaries and benefits. We're working on salaries and benefits.
11:46:30 I will be hopefully getting those out to departments are running them out of Munis as a projection this year.
11:46:34 And so hopefully getting those out sometime next week, I'm gonna push to try to do that. No promises, but I'll do my best.
11:46:43 And then, One thing that was nice is that in this resolution we incorporated the hard work of all of you on the strategic plan priorities and so when we're looking at budget,
how does that line up with our, county strategic priorities?
11:47:04 So what was, you know, it hasn't been fully accepted yet. I understand that, but, we did take those high points and put that into the presentation as well.
11:47:15 So just a couple of other things.
11:47:20 Other costs other than salaries and benefits will have a 1.5% increase. And then for 24 and 25.
11:47:30 So that's what we did for the 2023, amendment. So we're gonna carry forward with the 1.5 on the next 2 years.
11:47:37 Anything that is over and above the 1.5 for the general fund can be done with an add request.
11:47:45 That will be reviewed separately. So we also talked a lot about, prior to this service agreements.
11:47:53 A lot of you have service agreements like for PACs or from. Recording software election software so you would increase your budget to one and a half percent for those contracts
and then add it to your ad form and you know you don't have a lot of wiggle, you don't have any wiggle room on that.
11:48:12 So just put it on the add form. It'll be considered an add and I'll be covering more of that in the training.
11:48:19 So I just wanted to just do a high level. This is how we're gonna handle it. Transfers from the general fund at a minimum will stay the same as 2023 to other departments And
if there's an increase, it would comply with the general fund financial policy, in requesting additional funds.
11:48:40 And. As you know, appropriations when we do and through the year, all one time expenditures are not added to the budget for 24 and 25.
11:48:50 So only the ongoing expenditures are added to the budget. For the preliminary.
11:48:57 And then. I talked about add request and I think that's just a high level view if you have questions.
11:49:06 I'm here. Feel free to reach out.
11:49:10 Thank you very much, Judy. Any questions or clarification anyone would like? Today. Alright, well thanks so much for for shepherding us through this.
11:49:22 Fine intended. And Sarah why don't you take us through the good news with USCW and the collective bargaining update.
11:49:30 Good morning everybody. So yes, you have CW contract was ratified by the union members on July twelfth.
11:49:41 The signature. Document is now with USCW and I'm hoping they can sign that and turn that around.
11:49:52 The next steps in this process are Union signs it returns it to us it goes through our legal and risk review.
11:49:57 And then it's adopted by the Board of County Commissioners. So, I'm hoping that we're done with that by the middle of August.
11:50:06 It's hard to tell. But that's my hope. We have, agreements, not agreements.
11:50:15 We have meetings scheduled in August. With Sheriff's office admin. And, Team Source Public Works.
11:50:24 For, negotiating for those contracts. And looking forward to that in August.
11:50:34 Great. Thanks so much, Sarah. Any questions? Go ahead, Kate.
11:50:39 Yeah, this is more a question for departments that have, employees in UFCW. And we made some changes to how we did collective bargaining this year.
11:50:50 Thank you, Sarah and Mark. And I'm just curious if you received any feedback for how that process went.
11:50:56 And I feel largely out of the loop because commissioners are kind of kept out of the loop.
11:51:02 But would just love any, if you have any strong feedback.
11:51:07 Go ahead Stacy.
11:51:09 I'll just say I intentionally don't discuss any of that with union employees. So I only get.
11:51:19 You know, maybe I overhear something, but really I don't hear any of it. Because I feel like That's just a a problem area to get into.
11:51:32 So you know it's I hear things from management side and then I you know might hear a little bit but it's just No response at all.
11:51:43 On my end.
11:51:44 Always a good example. Treasurer prayed it. Jeff.
11:51:49 Yeah, the one big thing for me is that, we're done. And we've got the union contracts settled in July.
11:51:58 I have 6 months before it goes into place, not a year after it goes into a place.
11:52:00 Yeah.
11:52:03 And I mean, that makes life easier for everybody because, we're not going back. We're not guessing for the next 18 months.
11:52:12 It was just it's really nice that it was done before the contract starts.
11:52:18 That's yeah, 100% agree. Thank you, Jeff. Apple.
11:52:22 Resonate with Jeff. Thank you for saying that. Thanks Sarah and Mark, you're not here, but yeah, it's amazing to sort of.
11:52:30 Energy and. Just mobilization. So thank you.
11:52:34 And I was also just gonna, agree with Stacy. I also don't have any sentiments from my staff because they're very well versed in.
11:52:42 Obviously talking amongst one another, but not coming to me and so I have only heard a little bit over cubicle walls just by proxy.
11:52:52 So my point is, to say also that when Sarah was willing to offer sort of informational.
11:53:01 Meetings for us to come to to think through this after it's been adopted or after it's been discussed and agreed to.
11:53:06 I know it has more of a process to go through. I appreciate that because I'm intentionally trying not to be involved for all the reason Stacey said.
11:53:17 But I do feel it. In my new leadership, it feels a little rocky because big things are happening and I don't, you know, you don't know it in real time because you're not part
of the discussions.
11:53:27 So, and so thank you, Sarah, for offering the opportunity to come and learn about it. And I've been in a bit of.
11:53:34 So, and so thank you, Sarah, for offering the opportunity to come and learn about it. And I've been in a bit of uncomfortable over the last week just hearing that everybody
knows everything and I know some things that I really wanted to hear it like hammered out for my own sake because the ramifications while it's very good for
11:53:44 staff and really happy. And for recruitment and all the other things. It has a big impact on right now, especially during our budgeting period.
11:53:53 So I need to know and I have to understand to be able to engage in it better.
11:54:01 Great. Thank you, Apple. Shannon.
11:54:04 Yeah, so I guess cause my office is right next to the little, area we have lunch or maybe it's because I'm really close.
11:54:16 Just assumed the management role. So I'm still in the trenches a little bit in their view.
11:54:20 Not a listening in any information, but their talkers for sure in my office and I've only heard.
11:54:27 Like really, really overhearing, just wonderful. Just excited. The fact that it was done so soon.
11:54:36 That alone has kind of made them feel I get I get from them like valued or there's a big intention or.
11:54:45 Just the attention around it. Attention and intention. So I feel like the morale has boosted, at least in my office and I have a lot of new staff that are who are just really
excited about it and feel valued.
11:54:58 So I would I've heard nothing but really positive things. So that's mine little Intel.
11:55:05 Great. Thank you, Shannon. Anyone else with any thoughts on how this has gone? I mean, I think everyone's in favor of the.
11:55:13 The timeline that we've achieved. Thank you again, Sarah and Mark. That's you guys really.
11:55:19 Yeoman's work there. So thank you.
11:55:21 And just to note that there are, 3 more scheduled meetings, on how the changes we had our first this morning had about 12 folks there it was really really great really great
questions and more to come if needed.
11:55:40 The this is a really dynamic process and I think one thing that really assisted this time was the the opportunity that the county had to provide.
11:55:52 Bigger pay. Raises so I'm looking forward to 3 years from now to see how it goes.
11:55:59 Hopefully we'll have good news then as well. But you know, I have to say that we, the team, the shop stewards, these are county employees who volunteer their time.
11:56:10 Very thoughtful, intelligent. Really care about the work they do. And so really kudos to the employees who participate.
11:56:19 And represent all the staff here.
11:56:23 Great. Thank you, Sarah. Okay, well we're gonna have an update on the strategic plan.
11:56:31 Process from Stacy, Commissioner Eisenhower, who's also been on that leadership team was, I think that double booked or triple books perhaps right now.
11:56:39 So Stacy, how's it going? I know we were. I hope we weren't too brutal.
11:56:44 Really appreciate all the work that's gone into it.
11:56:46 I think what feels brutal is really what we need. You know, you can't sidestep it to get through the issues and the aspects we really wanna touch on and include.
11:56:58 So Apple's also on the, steering committee for it as is Chris Goy, Wendy, Davis and, Heidi and me and Mark.
11:57:09 So the consultant, grabbed what you had, really did a best turnaround of put it providing the updates to our group and then Wednesday we went through.
11:57:23 Those updates we made. Very minor. Suggestions on there but I think it's pretty ready for primetime to actually now go into.
11:57:37 Kind of the final plan, which is all of the artwork, the customization, the how you present it.
11:57:45 And so the laundry list of questions they gave where Mark said, yes, we do want all these things would be a letter from the board.
11:57:55 A letter from him as the county administrator. A background page on county government in this. Whole plan, a plan at a glance.
11:58:06 Because we want to be able to have a shorter version that we can. Refer to infographic page showing what went into this and they gave us an example so we could look at things
like that.
11:58:21 And a progress reporting page. So. They are gonna be working on the implementation plan.
11:58:31 And when I look at our calendar, we're really pretty on track with everything. You know, provide it to the board for any changes that was Monday as was on this sheet that is.
11:58:46 At least, 2 months old, so it's nice to see. There were only minor edits from when it actually started in February.
11:58:57 So I feel like they've run a tight ship and so has Mark and keeping it as a priority and moving forward.
11:59:05 So really we're looking at the final plan and implementation plan being done. By the middle of, August.
11:59:14 So. Greatly appreciate everyone's involvement and sincerity and wanting to make it a.
11:59:23 Viable and useful plan for our future. So with love to hear any other input from different perspectives because I think we've all had a very different Experience with this because
we've all been in different parts of it and.
11:59:42 Provided input and had very meaningful smaller group conversations. So. There you have it.
11:59:48 Great. Thank you, Stacy. And Shannon, I think your hand is up from before.
11:59:52 I'm gonna go to Apple next, but lower your hand unless you still have something to say and then we'll go to you after Apple.
11:59:58 Thanks, Stacy. I just wanted to piggyback on what you're saying. I'm trying to get my hand to go down.
12:00:04 Thank you. I think just in the essence of how you captured that it's really edifying process has been complex and it's heavy at times.
12:00:16 And all of you as Stacey said have contributed in some way or you experience it differently from your vantage point how involved or lesser involved you are or what parts of
the conversation you came in at.
12:00:29 My comment really is about, something that's symbolic to me. Is that we were asked whether we wanted folks involved, all of us, to potentially sign it.
12:00:42 And to me, that's a symbolism of buy-in. It is also a symbol that we all participated and I think I won't speak of the past or history very detail but I do know this is a huge
departure from how it's been construed.
12:00:56 In the past in terms of doing a strategic plan for the county. And to me that, needs everything.
12:01:03 The optics of that is huge and optics aren't superficial. They can go deep, right?
12:01:08 So I think our our signatures on it as a package as a conceptual design that we've all had contribution to.
12:01:15 Is unique for our county and I for in account really and we've done done a lot of work and I have personally learned a ton.
12:01:24 So. Yeah, thanks to everybody for their contributions.
12:01:28 Good.
12:01:28 Apple, I appreciate that. I also think that we've had more resistance to that from the consultants from then from anyone internally.
12:01:38 That's true.
12:01:48 Huh.
12:01:39 And so. As we're at this point where we are, they're still not putting certain things in, but I was like, okay, I'm gonna let it rest and we will see what Heidi and Mark provide
as input as it comes through.
12:01:53 But, they've definitely been, you know, responsive to the the requests and how we've wanted to do it.
12:02:03 They have remarked how unique our dynamic is here and I just feel like my, interpretation of it is it's just kind of hardwired into them that it goes a certain way and so for
us to say we would like to have.
12:02:19 Everyone signing this is just not registering and how they do these.
12:02:27 Excellent.
12:02:30 Yeah. Yeah.
12:02:27 Well, there's nothing to teaching the consultant something, right?
12:02:31 What's there? Do they have a rationale for resisting it at all? I mean, an indication, what does it indicate something to them that is Negative?
12:02:42 I mean, it sounds like a all positive and reflective of the work that's actually happened.
12:02:41 I I think because it's the, strategic plan for the county and you're the legislative.
12:02:52 Body of it. They don't say this and they do know we're all independently elected, but I think they, Just see.
12:03:06 The traditional you lead the county and we do our own jobs and they're kind of in different lanes and I guess I really see it as we all are.
12:03:18 Part of the huge picture and You could have an independent strategic plan all day, but without. The judicial and administrative branches that are independently elected.
12:03:31 I just don't see how you get that alignment and real. Progress. So.
12:03:40 That's my opinion. I don't know that they would. They keep saying, yeah, yeah, we know we know.
12:03:48 They just, but then when it comes back, it doesn't say. A picture of everyone involved.
12:03:52 It says a picture of the board. So, and Wendy's gonna be working on getting the pictures and I see her on the call too.
12:04:00 And so I, I figured let's just get the work going and if, the aspect we'd brought up, but isn't there, then we'll raise it again.
12:04:13 Okay.
12:04:14 Well, I wonder if that needs to come from us, Greg.
12:04:16 Yeah, no, sure. Yeah, yeah, we'll talk about it too. I mean, Heidi's kind of our proxy on that on that.
12:04:27 Steering committee so yeah thanks for bringing that up Jeff, do you have something to add?
12:04:32 Yeah, the one thing that I, and again, took me a while to get used to this strategic plan.
12:04:37 As this was presented but you know there is no measurement in there of us you know there's no measurement of our core values and to make sure that we are being ethical, that
we are moving forward with.
12:04:51 Technology to try to make as cost efficient as possible. And it was, it's probably not something that does go in here as a as a objective.
12:05:01 It's something that we are expected to do and we're measured by. On by the state and but it always thought well how come there's not at least one item in there that really measures
that you know we're being square with our taxpayers in our property owners but I don't know I just have to keep thinking about
12:05:19 How would you measure that? How well
12:05:21 that. I know it's tough and we all do our different things and we are in some of a lot of us are elected and we're expected to do that so you're right it would be very difficult
to do it.
12:05:31 Yep.
12:05:31 That's not what I was saying. I was just asking you how would you measure it? I wasn't challenging you.
12:05:36 I was asking is there a way that you can identify it to measure the you know the efficacy of your work.
12:05:43 The past state audits? I don't know. Yeah, I don't know how you would.
12:05:49 You're right. And I, and I, but I did put a lot of thought into it and I thought, well, okay, it's not in here except in the core values.
12:06:00 And, even if it isn't identified as a specific item. We're still gonna live up to that.
12:06:09 Okay, well, food for thought.
12:06:11 I, well, and I, I hear you on that, Jeff and I think.
12:06:18 That would be interesting. I'll give some more thought to it as well. The other is with the implementation plan and then they've identified metrics.
12:06:29 But the one thing on there is there's a whole core. Workload that isn't necessarily in the strategic plan because like Jeff said it's a given we have to do these things, but
I wonder as we do the implementation plan.
12:06:47 How we make sure we don't lose the other good work we're already doing and can be taken for granted.
12:06:54 And I think that was something that public works really brought up on, you know, they had. A finger in everything, but also a finger in nothing for what it was because they're,
capital projects are just kind of expected.
12:07:09 So I don't know, we'll see that on the implementation plan as we go forward if there's way to capture that.
12:07:16 And I know that was brought up that they wanted to for the other projects public works does.
12:07:23 Yeah, interesting. Thank you. Any other thoughts before we move on?
12:07:29 Thank you.
12:07:30 Okay, well thanks for all your work Stacy and Apple and Chris and Wendy and everyone that contributed to it.
12:07:38 It really is the work of the at the county. So I'm in favor of this signatures and take your point, Kate, that maybe we need to ask for that too.
12:07:44 Sometimes you have to step down. Just like in that we just experienced this with transit as well. Okay, well I just wanna reiterate that I'm gonna have to step out at 1225 today.
12:07:57 We can continue at 1230 or even a few minutes past if but maybe Kate, if I have to leave and we're still going, can I pass it over to you?
12:08:03 To share. Okay. Great. Well, we're, I believe at our round table now, so, I'll just go around my screen as I see it and you don't have to, give a report.
12:08:17 We'd love to hear what's going on in your neck of the county. So. I saw Jen just turned on her camera.
12:08:23 Let's start with you. Anything to share?
12:08:27 Yes.
12:08:25 Okay, can everybody hear me? Okay, so we got. Kind of approved to apply for.
12:08:36 Grant a reimbursement grant for courthouse security. To comply with general court rules for trial security so there's a reimbursement and so we have a security committee meeting
on the 20 fifth the application is due on the first, which is kind of a short turnaround, but so hopefully we can apply
12:08:59 for this and kind of update some of the stuff that we have for security, maybe get some more cameras.
12:09:05 Better, you know, dress alarm, broadcast system, those kind of things is what we're looking at.
12:09:12 So we're working with the courts on that. Chris Goy has helped out. Chris Ashcroft is gonna help out if we have to do a grant or help fill out the grant.
12:09:23 So that's kind of what we have going on up here. So.
12:09:28 That's great. Thanks so much. Alright, next next on my screen is Shannon.
12:09:34 Anything to share?
12:09:39 No, I think we're actually, no eventful things, which is great. We're just settling in.
12:09:48 We're actually, no eventful things, which is great. We're just settling in.
12:09:49 Everybody's, forming a great team and it feels like I went on a vacation just recently, which felt really great.
12:09:51 So. Oh, I think we're doing great.
12:09:54 Cool. Good to hear. Sometimes no news is good news. Jeff, how about the assessor's office?
12:10:01 Yeah, we're doing fine. We're on we're on target. We got full staffing and we're gonna get done.
12:10:08 And we're gonna have, there's a, which is good, cause we're getting it done with reval, but there's a lot of new construction out there.
12:10:15 So I've already got appraiser starting in into the new construction phase. One thing that really bothers me though is that the this we were trying to get more people on the
senior student exemption program we've been losing folks off that program because their median income their incomes out you know going higher than the threshold qualifying
12:10:35 level. And the legislature did some changes this last year, which I thought was gonna help that. And in the end, it really isn't because it's tied to the median income for Jefferson
County or for H county.
12:10:49 Based on OSM, what OSM and OFMs projections for 2022.
12:10:55 Dramatically change to what they are now projecting and so basically in 2,020 the project the income for Jefferson County median income was 66,000 And they were originally projecting
up near 80.
12:11:11 They're now down to 65,000. So dropping. Oh, excuse me, 63,000.
12:11:20 Oh.
12:11:17 So they're dropping 3,000. From the meeting income in 2020. On the other hand, Clown County went from 54,000 to 66,000.
12:11:27 So they went up 10,000. But as a result of that, our you know the qualifying income for seniors is going up over 9 years.
12:11:34 The last adjustment we had was 9 years ago. It's going up by 6%. Well, loaf of bread's gone up by 35% so you know it's not you know and I don't know about you know I don't have
much to do with OFM and I know it's based
12:11:48 on senses and during the pandemic it was based on employment security numbers and things like that. But it's just it's just a little bit of a disappointment.
12:11:59 So, so we're not gonna really promote it that much. I mean we're gonna keep promoting the way we always have.
12:12:05 We're gonna go back to postcards and yeah the let income level went up like a few $1,000 so you know it's it's good but it's not gonna get those 100 seniors that have dropped
off the rolls it's not gonna get those 100 seniors that have dropped off the rolls.
12:12:20 It's not gonna put more than 10 of them back on. So, you know, it's kind of a disappointment and the state I know is gonna promote it because the legislature pumped money into
promoting the senior citizen program.
12:12:28 I mean they're gonna have its billboards on the side of buses and stuff and it's good.
12:12:34 I mean we always like promotion but it's disappointing that we're still losing seniors off the program because they're not keeping the qualifying income levels aren't keeping
up with inflation.
12:12:47 Anyway.
12:12:47 That's super unfortunate. I know you're optimistic about legislation. It's too bad.
12:12:50 Yeah.
12:12:51 Thank you for sharing. Barbara, anything to share from the prosecutor's office?
12:13:03 Not just that we're busy and everything's confidential, so there you have it.
12:13:12 Okay. Typical. Alright, great.
12:13:15 Sheriff, anything to share from the sheriff's office?
12:13:19 Yeah, just a few things. We're still moving on with accreditation. We're about a third complete with that in the anticipation as we'll be accredited by spring of 24.
12:13:33 And thanks to the good work of, Chief of Corrections, David Fertino.
12:13:38 We are now he received a grant. So now whenever someone is released from the jail, they get some naloxone in their.
12:13:46 In their little bag of goodies. So, that's, a good thing.
12:13:51 We've recently completed, active shooter training down in Quilting at the Quilting school with, South County fire departments.
12:14:01 That were good earlier in the year. We did it at with, East Jefferson.
12:14:06 So, Good stuff going on there and just something that popped in my head as the I think, anyway when the whole tribe was mentioned, we are.
12:14:14 They lost an officer. So we are providing law enforcement. Assisting them with that right now and where you are talking about possibly, picking up that contract again.
12:14:26 To, provide law enforcement out there. So anyway, that's all I have.
12:14:29 Yeah, great. Thank you, Sheriff. Chris, how about central services? Oh, sorry, was there a question?
12:14:37 Alright, Chris, what's up with central services?
12:14:40 Howdy, folks. Couple quick quick items. For information technology in our effort to transition this servers down to the sheriff's office.
12:14:55 The next update that is relevant to you folks is that. We have some server configuration that needs to be done.
12:15:01 With respect to folks at Castle Hill. So there's likely gonna be a evening outage in terms of network capability at Castle Hill.
12:15:14 Possibly next week So we will give folks more than 24Â h notice. That's to let them know that they can either work from home or plan to stop working at 50'clock hopefully.
12:15:26 One of the days next week. We appreciate you bearing with us on that. It's sort of a necessary evil.
12:15:32 There's no real way to avoid it. Folks receive my email about switches.
12:15:40 You have pictures of what they look like. Those will help us prevent future phone outages, which I explain in more detail.
12:15:48 In the email that you all received hopefully. With respect to facilities, things are Moving along swimmingly we try to take full advantage of the warm dry months and folks are
very busy, but I wanted to highlight in particular what I believe to be an improving relationship with our new neighbors at 7 Haven.
12:16:09 I've been working closely with the directors at Castle Hill to navigate that and, figure out clear communication channels, when, issues do arise.
12:16:19 We're gonna be repeating that parking lot soon to better accommodate our guests in the front spots.
12:16:25 Parking spots that is. Err or Fleet as you all know them, is doing a board workshop on August seventh, which we're really looking forward to, incorporate some plans for fleet
electrification.
12:16:38 And, folks will have more information at that time, but long story short, the idea is to, utilize state money.
12:16:47 To install level 3 charging stations and to phase in as the useful life of vehicles. And the light duty vehicles that aren't required for life and safety.
12:17:00 To be replaced with a fully chargeable electric vehicles on their replacement schedule. So, minimizing additional costs to the county.
12:17:08 And, records. Folks just received a message from Ken. Hugeno are, records administrator, public records administrator.
12:17:20 If you have staff that are responsible for receiving public records requests, we'd ask that you encourage them to attend the training that he suggested.
12:17:29 He ends up having to do quite a bit of the work. parsing through those requests if folks aren't fully up to speed on what's required of them at the department level.
12:17:40 So we greatly appreciate your participation. I think that's it.
12:17:44 Great. Thank you, Chris. Thanks for. Pushing the training.
12:17:48 It's yeah. I think there's only gonna be more records request in our in our world.
12:17:53 So it's good to get up speed. Stacy, how's the Treasurer's Office?
12:17:56 Great. No, we are good. So you could see from our newsletter so quick shout out on the newsletter.
12:18:08 I absolutely loved it. I loved seeing. All of the different stories. Thank you Wendy for making that happen for everyone participating in.
12:18:17 Putting information in there and just being vulnerable in the workplace and showing some humanity. So in there you saw we have, Katie had gone through the professional development
academy and gotten her certificate this year and Sabrina is now retired after 31 and a quarter years.
12:18:39 And we have Thomas now here just. So in and working hard and really doing great exceeding my my hopes for the position so we're rocking and rolling and trying to get people
out of 4 closures so we don't have to sell their property and make sure we just.
12:19:02 Follow all the rules that institutional knowledge makes look easy and going through it on your own doesn't so
12:19:12 Great. Thank you, Stacy. Kate, we don't have you here in this group often.
12:19:17 Anything that you wanna. Let's try a little late on.
12:19:24 Oh.
12:19:23 It took me a minute to realize you're talking about me. That's right. I guess the transition. I don't think so.
12:19:31 Just, you know, as I mentioned earlier this year. It's gonna be out a lot.
12:19:36 It looks like I'm gonna be gone basically all of September and October. With my husband in a very intensive therapy and isolation in Seattle.
12:19:45 I will try to cover my bases, but we'll need a lot of grace from all of you.
12:19:53 Might need some support. You know, for example, on boards I sit on my desk for staff to fill in for me if the other commissioners aren't available or if it's pertinent to work
that you do.
12:20:05 But I'm not sure how much I'm going to be able to keep working versus being a caregiver role.
12:20:10 So it's all a little bit squishy, and a caregiver role. So it's all a little bit squishy, but, just ask that you be patient figure that out.
12:20:18 That's probably through the end of October. So.
12:20:20 Thank you, Kate, and you know, we got you back. So. Take care of your family.
12:20:27 Josh, how are you doing in DCD?
12:20:25 Thank you.
12:20:30 Thanks, Greg. Yeah, we're doing okay. So I was crunching some numbers here as we're going into our next phase of hiring and when I joined or rejoin the county last.
12:20:41 June, we were at 19.4 FTE currently at 16.4. But we lost 12 people in that period though so That doesn't tell the whole story that, you know, we're only 3 people down or so
forth.
12:20:55 Because a lot of the folks are new and so. That we've rehired. Anyway, so doing a hiring deal and we're also talking with multiple consultants had a bunch of phone calls yesterday
have one this afternoon and we're looking at as soon as we can getting.
12:21:11 As many as 5 consultants on board for all call services of a variety of nature. And that doesn't come actually the water quality work that health is looking at contracting for
as well.
12:21:22 So. Just kind of trying to rebuild capacity in that regard. Multiple steps at a time.
12:21:28 It feels like, but, still the progress won't see the results still a couple of months out, right, until we get those columns rolling and get new hires onboard it.
12:21:37 So it's just a process. And we're doing the best we can in the interim.
12:21:40 Meanwhile, we've got lots of projects going on long range and development review of course working on this rolling master program update with the planning commission, the conference
plan amendment cycle for this year that we're falling behind on.
12:21:52 We've got the periodic review under the growth management act that's due in mid 2025 that really the bulk of the work is going to be in 2024 including taking a fresh look at
our urban development regulations for the urban growth area now that the sewer is coming on board soon.
12:22:07 Since they haven't been looked at for 20 years so There's that and then on the bill review side, you know, I've happily handed over a lot though the permit decision making to
our development code administrator Greg Ballard and I've asked him to simplify things and move things as quickly as possible and so
12:22:24 forth and he's really been doing that since June 20Â s already made a lot of progress and I was helping the newer staff.
12:22:32 You know learn the ropes in a quicker way than we were able to before after having lost all that institutional knowledge And of course, Chelsea's on the on the line here and
she's been doing a fantastic job as our administrative services manager and we're learning together in a sense a lot of the nuances about how to run the
12:22:49 department. The folks who are running in the department are not here anymore so we're having to learn all that and we of course we've gotten fantastic assistance from all most
of you here over at the courthouse people like Judy Shepherd and Sarah Melissa and so forth.
12:23:06 So thank you so much and that's it for now.
12:23:07 Great. Thanks so much, Josh. That's a Pretty optimistic update from DCD. I like to hear it.
12:23:13 So good news. Apple, how are we doing in public health?
12:23:17 We're doing good. Happy Friday, everybody. These are rolled along.
12:23:22 We're always busy. I think, you know. Josh put it well.
12:23:28 Trying to get everybody up to capacity. We have new staff. We've filled some positions. We have less vacancies right now, which is always a good feeling.
12:23:37 As I reported to Board of Health yesterday, we onboarded our very first epidemiologist for the county and she comes with tons of experience from out of the state, we onboarded
our very first epidemiologist for the county and she comes with tons of experience from out of the state but moved and we
12:23:48 snatched her so it's fantastic to have an epidemiologist in our midst. We have plenty of staff in public health who engage in.
12:23:55 Information and data but don't have that expertise. And so we've contracted out for at the consultation.
12:24:03 Years and years and years and years. And It's really nice to bring that in house and we're doing a A lot of strategic alliance among Klan and Kitsa.
12:24:16 Because in public health we do a lot of cross jurisdiction, not only in contracts, but also in mission and also in, sort of the scope of some of our programming.
12:24:25 And so we having an epidemiologist that sits here and is, finely tuned and moved with our neighboring counties can help our work just have that much more impact.
12:24:36 Really going for is a sort of strategic shift in the way that we present data. We've had sort of offshoots of programs having their own little chunks of data that they kind
of.
12:24:46 Keep here and there and it's not really synthesized very well and we had nobody sort of the middle point person fielding those data points or those data dashboards or those
data in general.
12:24:59 So now to have a hub. Someone in the middle of our organization who will be able to hold that information and then present it will make it data transparency which has been on
my whiteboard which you can't see.
12:25:12 For a year and a half. Has it? Cool. And so data transparency to us means how do we bring data in, still it.
12:25:21 Adjust it, utilize it. Visualize it. How do we also collect data from the community?
12:25:27 And project it out so we haven't had any central place for that to happen ever for this department.
12:25:35 And public health really the inner core of public health in terms of moving the meal on anything comes from F epidemiological studies and, figuring out where the gaps are.
12:25:47 So I feel like we're in a totally new phase and there's a lot resting on Alyssa, I feel like we're in a totally new face.
12:25:57 And there's a lot resting on Alyssa, the new Epi, but she comes from a health partner in Florida and has done it for a while and she loves this area and I just feel like all
those little points of like, is she gonna stay?
12:26:02 I just feel like we ticked them all off, which is such a good thing for us.
12:26:05 In addition, we have, a new finance manager which Everybody on here is probably. For our long soft story of how vacant that position has been for close to 5 years and our deputy
director of Ankasha has done a masterful job trying to be a deputy director and a finance vendor at the same time.
12:26:25 That's been really hard. For her to do as well as she'd like to and so the team the finance team has a new manager and it's really, it just feels like a page in the book, a
big page of theme.
12:26:37 Turned epically. And Jen is, she's wonderful. She comes with lots of experience and management as in finance.
12:26:45 I know. We're very pleased. So other than that, we're dealing with an avian flu.
12:26:50 Outbreak called on Rat Island. I've not heard of that yet. And so we've got hot topics every day, working with a big flock of terms that were affected by alien feeling or trying
to keep people away.
12:27:07 For obvious reasons, there's no link between this. Avian flu outbreak and human beings, but we have to be very cautious as the clean up is happening, watching for vectors from
that central point.
12:27:22 And making sure that we close that down, clean it up. And I don't mean just we, we're also working.
12:27:27 Hey, I'm sorry to interrupt you. I gotta fly. We've got Commissioner Eisenhower with us now to fly we've got Commissioner Eisenhower with us now too so I won't adjourn any meetings
I'll just pass the chair, so I won't adjourn any meetings.
12:27:37 I'll just pass the chair conscience. I'll just pass the chair cons over to Kate and, great to see everyone.
12:27:44 So, to Kate and, great to see everyone. Sorry I have to jet a little early, but please, please continue with the We'll see everyone next time.
12:27:46 Have a great weekend.
12:27:47 Yeah, on that note, grown up, it's a county. I think public health is also growing.
12:27:53 It's a great relief to just see some fantastic evolutions and it's all complicated and difficult work, you know, to get it all buttoned up and dialed in, but I feel energy shift
here, which is really edifying and thanks to every one of you and all of your large and small parts of always being supported or public health.
12:28:14 We're glad to have code in there every year so we can think about other things. Thanks.
12:28:18 Great. Thank you, Apple. Anyone wanna jump in?
12:28:25 Jeff?
12:28:31 I've already spoken.
12:28:33 Oh, okay. Sorry. Multi-tasking a little bit. My daughter's having, Taylor Swift emergencies.
12:28:43 This is a big deal.
12:28:43 Yeah, give us the Taylor Swift update, Kate. What's going on?
12:28:49 And she just got her license and has an old electric vehicle and is afraid she's not gonna be able to make it to Seattle.
12:28:58 So, yeah.
12:29:00 You need someone to take the tickets.
12:29:02 Right. No, I could. I could make thousands.
12:29:08 Yeah.
12:29:08 If she would never speak to me again.
12:29:11 Well, I'll just say I can just say I'm sorry I was late, but.
12:29:15 I was participating in another round of interviews for our 4 H coordinator at WSU. So are the one we just hired last year, Sarah Peterson who was doing a fantastic job.
12:29:29 Her husband got a job. On the other side of the country in Maine, so she has left us unfortunately and we just had 2 fantastic candidates who we interviewed.
12:29:37 To fill that position and I think an offer will be made shortly to one of them so But you know, it's a important role and with fair coming up that's kinda Crunch time.
12:29:51 Showtime at 4 H right now.
12:29:54 Thank you for mentioning fair that you know the county is really reengaged with the fairgrounds and trying to Stabilize and revitalize that county owned facility.
12:30:05 So Fares coming up in a few weeks and would love to see more county folks there. Let's see, how about our auditor?
12:30:14 Brenda?
12:30:18 Yes, thank you. My camera is not working. It keeps freezing. So I won't turn my camera on, but.
12:30:25 Right now we're in the middle of an election. It's a pretty small election.
12:30:29 It's August first. It's the primary. Of course you know it's to nominate the top 2 to go to the general so that we only had 3 contests.
12:30:37 On the ballot and those were all in school 3 23 which is swim which is out in your gardener.
12:30:44 So we still have to go through all the motions. To do the whole election is just a lot smaller than we're used to.
12:30:51 And then we did just hire Connie Mackie. She's our accounts table person. She started Monday.
12:31:00 So anybody submitting, invoices will be emailing her and working with Connie. So we're happy to have her on board.
12:31:09 We do have a couple more vacancies. We have the grants manager which we will be interviewing next week.
12:31:15 And then we have our, physical specialist that we just did an interview by zoom. Last night so we're starting to We build our team also.
12:31:26 We're pretty excited and. That's about it for the auditors.
12:31:31 Great. You know, Brendan, I had an idea that, if we needed a topic for one of our community conversations this fall, or late summer.
12:31:41 That maybe doing a kind of elections 101 might be of interest you know how do we ensure that our elections are safe and fair and, you know, answer any questions are safe and
fair and, you know, answer any questions, maybe be able to, get people registered to vote and it might be a theme that would
12:31:59 resonate with people this year.
12:32:01 Yeah, that would be interesting and fun and when and Sandy would probably really like to be part of that.
12:32:08 Great. Okay. We'll talk about it at a commissioner meeting and see if we can pick up up.
12:32:13 If other topics like that, come to mind for people that we think would generate more, interest from the public.
12:32:20 Let's. Yeah, just be in touch with one of the commissioners.
12:32:28 Let's see. Josh, did you introduce? Chelsea.
12:32:32 Where's Chelsea had a chance to meet this group yet?
12:32:35 I may have in the past, but I'm happy to do so again. Chelsea, you wanna turn on your camera and.
12:32:41 Introduce yourself actually.
12:32:42 Okay.
12:32:43 Hi, yeah. Yeah, Josh, I think I think I've been introduced. I'm Chelsea and the new administrative services manager.
12:32:49 I have asked almost all of you for help and just like Josh, I'm very grateful for everyone's guidance as we learn.
12:32:56 What we're doing. So, is nice to meet you all.
12:32:58 Okay. Great. Welcome.
12:33:04 Who have we not heard from yet? Anyone wanna give an update?
12:33:11 We hit everyone.
12:33:13 Okay. I wanna ask one question as basically a Heidi probably interesting that too. It's about the Olympic discovery trial.
12:33:21 There have been changes in public works, right? So the Olympic discovery trail is no longer under Matt Stewart.
12:33:26 Right, it's going to be managed, but it's still gonna be managed through roads, right?
12:33:32 And Dale Brown's field will be. The manager. I guess it was just you know there was a lot of you know from the volunteers it was some question about those changes So Matt is
now in charge of Jeffcom.
12:33:46 Yeah.
12:33:45 Is that correct? Okay. Yeah.
12:33:45 Yep. And I and I have just been communicating with, Mandy and Eric and sometimes John Fleming about ODD stuff.
12:33:55 So we should ask. Monty that question.
12:33:59 And, I don't think we have anyone here from public works. Is that right?
12:33:57 Okay, thank you.
12:34:05 But. Yeah, I mean John Fleming has been the primary staff person on ODD for some time.
12:34:15 And II think he could continue to be a primary contact. Would you agree, Heidi?
12:34:28 Hmm.
12:34:23 Yeah, but I've been tending to run things by Monty and asking him. You know, where the questions should go.
12:34:41 No.
12:34:31 Yeah, Jeff Fleming does, I mean, he, John Fleming does development work on the ODT, but I was talking about maintenance, ongoing maintenance of existing portions and how that's
gonna change and there's a whole volunteer yeah, as you know, there's many members of the community that
12:34:49 are volunteers. And so that question became as who in the county ultimately is assuming Matt's role in that.
12:34:55 Right.
12:34:56 Thank you. Though I will find out from them.
12:35:01 Apple.
12:35:03 Is it time for questions? I assume everybody went who wanted to.
12:35:07 I think so. Yeah, yeah, go for it.
12:35:09 This is simple and it might seem a little bit minor but I just wondered in the grand scheme of this table where people are seated.
12:35:18 We're kind of restructuring how we manage staff training and tracking. As well as performance reviews and all that internal type of work.
12:35:25 To better streamline it. Again and again, come up with, sort of as.
12:35:31 As available trainings that people haven't gotten for at least 3 years and I'm I'm just curious for the good of the order if you're if you wondered about that about your staff.
12:35:41 I'm looking at a lot of people's training records right now and We don't have a fire extinguisher training.
12:35:47 That's been offered since I don't think 20 maybe 19. And I know that was supposed to come back online after the pandemic but I'm not sure where that's at.
12:35:57 I'm not sure who here has any knowledge about that and if it's not available I'm seeing that EJFR is offering those kind of trees as well.
12:36:04 Another training that I'm interested in, someone pointed out earlier that, That was Chris that Ken is offered this public records request.
12:36:11 Public records training, which I think is really great. It really gets buy-in from staff who get kind of suffered into that work.
12:36:18 And they often can feel. Kind of edgy about it because they're they don't feel fully trained in it and they learn through time that this kind of training is a great.
12:36:27 I have some staff that are feeling the same way. The Open Public Meetings Act and the changes that happen there and that there's an enormous document that kind of points out
all the rules.
12:36:37 But staff feel like they could really use some guidance. I don't know if that's something that we should be.
12:36:42 Telling staff to train up on through the MRC or whether there's some kind of internal opportunity for staff in the county to know better how to follow the new.
12:36:52 OPMA guidelines. I do know some of our staff have been in touch with both Caroline and Phil Hunter about whether there might be a training like that in the county and I think
there's sort so these are, these are things I'm wrestling with.
12:37:07 Does anybody have any knowledge about any of those types of trainings or their staff asking them for more opportunity?
12:37:17 Oh, go ahead.
12:37:15 I can speak to the Sorry, I can speak to the OPMA training. I had just sent an email to Mark this week asking him if I could have the go ahead to.
12:37:26 Kind of go over the OPMA training. All I had in mind was just taking the OPMA manual and reviewing it page by page.
12:37:34 I mean, it's a fairly big manual, but I would stop and answer questions needed of me as far as creating curriculum I haven't looked into that yet but it you know every time
someone from a border committee comes to me I address it.
12:37:47 Hi, dress them on a one on a y. Person by person, you know, individual basis. And so now it's like, well, maybe we should do more formal training.
12:37:57 That's all I can speak to.
12:37:57 Thanks. Yeah, I appreciate that. I know you've been involved in sort of thinking through this and I appreciate that.
12:38:03 Yeah, I think for some people just the manual itself is overwhelming. So they, it's hard for them to dig in.
12:38:11 And if you were to do something as sort of straightforward. If you will. As looking through the manual with people so they can digest it and think about it maybe more in a in
a group setting.
12:38:20 Though you're one on one side, it's helpful. I think that's a great idea if you're willing to do that.
12:38:25 Because some people will learn better and internalize it better and then activate those rules. So thanks. Anybody know about fire extinguisher training or where that might be?
12:38:37 Yeah, sure. Maybe she have no let his hand up and then Barbara and Heidi.
12:38:42 Yeah, thanks. Yeah. And, Stacy would know more about this than me.
12:38:48 I think. But. The Waco I know in the past has had public records training and.
12:38:56 No, I forget what the other one was. Oh, public.
12:39:00 Okay.
12:39:00 The public Mac stuff. So I've found that that's a good place to go look.
12:39:05 A training. They used to have a training list you could look at. And most of it was online, but and then as far as fire extinguisher training I know we have received that from
East Jefferson.
12:39:17 So, and you get to shoot a fire extinguisher. How often do you get to do that?
12:39:20 They're telling it on their social media.
12:39:23 Yeah.
12:39:25 And in that vein, active shooter training, I know you, provide that as a sheriff's office sometimes.
12:39:34 Okay.
12:39:31 We look for like different departments. Yeah, yes, like powder and what to do if something happens in your department.
12:39:38 Yes, we can.
12:39:39 In your queue for that for public health.
12:39:41 Yeah, get a, get a hold of me and we have people that are trained to, to do that.
12:39:44 A little bit of confusion, cause I think earlier on maybe last year, when this came up, I think DEM had said they might be.
12:39:53 Sort of facilitating or coordinating some of that type of training and maybe there's different levels of it and only the share's office can really do a certain version of it,
but that's sort of that conversation just trail off.
12:40:05 So that's why I bring it up again and I appreciate.
12:40:05 Yeah, yep, I'm not sure. I know that we've done it. I know, you know, we have a couple of deputies that are that are trained.
12:40:13 Jen, the courthouse is trained to give that training. So anyway, we can, if you get a hold of me, we can set something up.
12:40:21 For your department. And that's for everyone.
12:40:21 Thanks. Thanks.
12:40:26 Barbara.
12:40:27 Yeah, the AGs office has on their website, some training for both atma and, Public records.
12:40:39 Also records management. So there's, actually a little webinars. They've got posted.
12:40:46 There that could be helpful on those topics.
12:40:51 Yeah, those are actually required by staff. That do records management and meetings.
12:40:58 So, what Joe said, I did go ahead and look and we have 2 recent ones, both from June on the Waco website and I put the link in the chat.
12:41:09 One is. With the Secretary of State, on electronic records best practices and the other was with MRSC.
12:41:18 Legal consultant so you know definitely nice to have recent ones that hopefully address changes.
12:41:28 Yeah, I think the most recent issue that came up was. It was kind of basic meeting procedure rules.
12:41:36 And so I think it'd be a good refresher or a course for people in all departments that have to do open public meetings.
12:41:43 Well, they do have one that was December, 2022. So I don't know when you say recent, you know, if it was after that or.
12:41:54 Anyway.
12:41:55 This last issue was a quorum issue. There wasn't a quorum of the meeting continued, so I had to.
12:42:00 Either tell them to stop the meeting.
12:42:01 Yeah You really only need one person in the room to know the rules and you were it. Yeah.
12:42:09 That was, which is, you know, spotlight on us for learning a little more so that we can be more self-reliant.
12:42:18 Hey.
12:42:19 Well, and Carolyn, not always in the room, right? So we were lucky that that day she was in the room, right?
12:42:25 So we were lucky that that day she was in the room. It was a baby health advisory committee meeting and you know, it wasted a whole bunch of people's time a whole bunch of a
whole bunch of whole bunch of people's time both in organizing the meeting and getting all the guest speakers and you know, bring in the meeting agenda together
12:42:39 and getting it those of us who didn't show up in the room and then canceling the meeting.
12:42:44 And so but what this makes me think is this, this conversation is really popcorny ad hoc kind of you know, we've done this try.
12:42:55 I mean, I know I participated in active shooter training with Jen a few months ago. I mean, But I don't know who's tracking all the training and who's letting folks know what
trainings are required for various departments.
12:43:18 Yeah.
12:43:07 It feels like there needs to be. A central training function for staff and I this is where I was looking at Sarah's dark little Zoom box, I think she's got a plan for this,
but it really.
12:43:20 And when I was at the Maritime Center we had a whole program and spreadsheet, you know, we updated when people got certain trainings and when they're next.
12:43:29 Training renewals would need to be accomplished by so feels like we need with, you know. 300 plus people working for the county a more coordinated program to make sure that
we're all meeting the requirements.
12:43:46 Do you want to speak to that Sarah?
12:43:47 Yeah, so if I could speak to that. We do in human resources track training when employees take new employees are required to complete certain training like defensive driving.
12:44:00 Anti-harassment, diversity, open public meetings act records management. We have links to websites where folks can take that training.
12:44:09 We. Depending on the training, the, requirement to, take refresher changes.
12:44:21 And that would include. The fire extinguisher training although I know that that hasn't happened for a while.
12:44:30 Kind of coming out of COVID. I think we're seeing a lot more interest in training and folks being able to actually take this training where it's a lot better in person.
12:44:41 And so we can provide, lists of the, training matrix that we have for your department so you could see what records we have.
12:44:52 Health Department does keep really good track of their employee training. We might mirror that. Matrix and we can also send you the matrix that we have.
12:45:02 It is on my list of my top things to do. With capacity is to focus on training and ensure that there's more outreach to departments about that training.
12:45:15 And that our folks can get the mandatory training. So that is kind of. That aspect of training is facilitated.
12:45:26 Training for persons in their particular job of course goes through the department. So if anyone really wants more information on that or requires assistance, please just give
me a call.
12:45:38 Or also contact Kristin. She sets up training for all our new employees. And certificates for completed training.
12:45:50 Those are all sent here so that we have copies and employee files. And you know particularly like I mean these are all like really these are important trainings.
12:46:00 And my goal is to be able to do some of these in person and offer some of this in-house at some point or hire folks that can provide this kind of training.
12:46:10 There's a little ways to get there from here. But that's, you know, hopefully coming.
12:46:19 Anyone have any questions about that?
12:46:24 So I see your hand up. Is that? Did you have a question?
12:46:30 Oh, okay.
12:46:28 No, I had some comments. The general topic.
12:46:32 Go for it.
12:46:34 I just wanted to say that it is someone that's had experience with this regarding like public records in particular.
12:46:40 It's important that the training you take is like some kind of official training. If you find yourself in a lawsuit or something that will be looked at.
12:46:49 And I think someone mentioned this, the, the fresher it is, the better. The other thing I wanted to say in law enforcement ever since I, it's gotten more, incorporated but we
have lots of training that we have to take.
12:47:05 By by state statute. And so we have a good system of keeping track of all that at our department.
12:47:12 So if anyone has any wants to see how we do it or anything, we have it in one of the sergeants as a training officer and he keeps records of everything but.
12:47:19 So, and it sounds like Sarah is kind of in the same. On the same page there.
12:47:24 But, if any, we could, if anyone, you know, we could help out or provide some pointers or something.
12:47:30 So just wanted to add that.
12:47:35 Go ahead, Heidi.
12:47:36 Just had a thought. I mean, it seems like we. I'll take the online trainings about public records and open public meetings.
12:47:44 And give our certificates to Kristin and Sarah, but you know the issues that we're coming up against are different than simply what's covered in those trainings.
12:47:54 Those trainings cover the law. And how to comply with the law, our practices within the county are different.
12:48:03 You know, a piece of work. So making sure that people who are clerking or staffing different committees because there's so many committees, you know, I always feel like a broken
record when I say this, but.
12:48:14 Kate and Greg and I each sit on 20 plus committees are in 20 plus roles and various staff members, staff, those committees and roles.
12:48:23 And so just making sure that we're fairly consistent in the. How those meetings are clerked and run so that we're in compliance with those pieces of the open public meetings
act.
12:48:39 And Public Records Act that were required to be in compliance with beyond the online trainings that we do.
12:48:45 I don't know if it's like a 201 training level for certain folks or because I, should have been.
12:48:54 Admittedly, I should have been the one to say we don't have a quorum.
12:48:58 And our behavioral advisory committee, I should have at least, you know, gotten there myself, but I hadn't gotten there when Carolyn brought it up.
12:49:06 Bless her heart for being in the room. But she's not always in the room for those meetings.
12:49:10 So. It feels a little ad hockey to me, but it just feels like we need to put something in place to make sure that our meetings are being run in compliance.
12:49:19 Oh, every time and like, 90% of the time they are, you know. And not more than 90% of the time, but it's these anomalies where, you know, a behavioral health advisory committee
meeting becomes a board of county commissioners meeting because 2 commissioners are you know all these different variables are in
12:49:39 play. It just gets a little unwieldy sometimes. So I think there's a next level set of training that needs to happen for folks who are actually running.
12:49:53 Running these meetings.
12:49:55 Excited that's
12:49:56 I agree. Yeah, I was just gonna say I.
12:49:58 Could I just jump in at Apple on that specific topic? Cause we did, work with the prosecuting attorney's office on creating a handbook.
12:50:10 For all of our boards and commissions. You know with sample agendas and you know really trying to make as consistent as possible how we run our meetings and, a couple of people
have, pointed out to me that they don't remember receiving that.
12:50:27 Yeah, yeah, so, I think, Barbara, you're still with us.
12:50:35 I think maybe we need to revisit this with the prosecuting attorney's office. What is the best outreach and is there a training maybe that needs to go along with that?
12:50:44 We put a lot of work into that. Handbook and it seems like it has not been disseminated properly.
12:50:53 Yep.
12:50:53 Even though it was sent out county wide at Philippon Stucker just recently forwarded me the email that went to all of us.
12:50:59 We all got it. But It I think we didn't realize the value and importance of it and didn't register and get it to the right folks.
12:51:08 It's currently on our. Under on our county web page under our departments. The BNCC on the very very bottom of the page but I've also asked to have it put on the open government
training page.
12:51:20 I'm not sure that was done yet. I just asked a couple days ago, but there is a tab off to the left of the main page.
12:51:27 It says open government training. So if you were to click there. The hopes is that the OPMA manual will be right there for people to to look at right on the main page.
12:51:36 Well, it's 2 clicks in.
12:51:40 Barbara, anything you wanna add?
12:51:41 Well, I mean, I'm happy to send it to anyone. I've got it.
12:51:45 Sitting on my desktop here. So happy to send it to anybody in this meeting who wants it right this moment.
12:51:53 Thank you.
12:51:52 And okay. And. Other than that, I mean, we can do a training.
12:52:00 I think at some point, you know, it's just a capacity issue for us. We're so busy at this point in time that it's hard to make time for things like that.
12:52:10 Which we'd love to do, but. Other work calls so
12:52:15 And staff changes and volunteer chairs change. And so, you know, it's really a matter of somehow.
12:52:23 Adopting this into our culture that we, you know, all are knowledgeable enough to. Replicate the proper way of doing things.
12:52:32 Sorry, Apple, I think I interrupted you.
12:52:35 That's exactly my emphasis. And so I feel like those conversations had a good arc. There's ideas generated and even, you know, Carolyn offering to do some.
12:52:45 Page by page sort of mentoring and maybe a roundtable format. I mean, that's one I'm not.
12:52:50 Saying you should do that but I that's one idea. That might be able to be doable instead of asking Barbara or Philip to give us.
12:52:57 Find time for training otherwise. I mean, there's lots of ideas, but what you just said, Kate, is important is that we.
12:53:03 Create a culture where we're all sort of we prioritize that in our knowledge base so that it can be disseminated when we have people who don't know or prioritize that in our
knowledge base so that it can be disseminated when we have people who don't know or coming on new.
12:53:16 Those other of us can step in and help out because it's good for everybody to have the knowledge and I don't have enough of it and I'm at a lot of meetings but, I don't have
enough of it and I'm at a lot of meetings, but, I don't run
12:53:25 meetings typically in that.
12:53:26 Yeah. Hey, Barbara, if you have it handy, maybe you could just send it out to the electives and directors lists just so we have at top of email again and then folks could send
it to appropriate staff and I think we when we created that we did talk about recording a video.
12:53:41 So that we had something that we could you know instead of asking a volunteer chair to read What is it, 30 pages or something?
12:53:50 You have a video that would condense that information a little bit. Stacy.
12:53:57 So I think there's 2 things. One is also Robert's rules and I know when You attend meetings, it's really easy to default to the person who knows it best in the room and then
you're called upon to lead the meeting and there's a lot to know and that would also be the first step of
12:54:16 you know having a quorum before you proceed and so I do think our internal resources it's nice to also have those Roberts rules cheats for when.
12:54:29 You know, I mean planning commission they have to really use them. A lot. But in the other ones, they rarely come up, but when they do come up, it's really important to get
it right.
12:54:49 Joe.
12:54:50 Yeah, I think a easy fix to this is I make a motion that Carolyn attends all county public meetings in.
12:54:58 Over.
12:55:01 Okay.
12:54:58 I didn't hear that. I didn't hear that motion. I was just gonna say though, Robert's rules isn't formally adopted by most of our boards.
12:55:06 I think Board of Health has. I put up a big argument during the OPMA manual in that we do not adopt Roberts rules because it was suggested by a member of the public.
12:55:18 It's just that you basically have to be a parliamentarian to carry out those rules. Now we do some of the basic Roberts rules like motions first and second that sort of thing
but you know when motions get too messy we just recall the motion we start fresh that's a lot easier than Robert's rules versions for how you
12:55:34 modify motions. So I think it's a lot easier, especially for these boards and communities where they don't do meetings that often.
12:55:42 It's easier for me because I'm in lots of meetings all year long. So, you know, these boards and committees.
12:55:47 The people that have to clerk them, they're also now dealing with technical issues. So our meetings have to be in person and hybrid if possible and there's a lot of tech issues
to address and so I'm always helping people.
12:55:58 Do that too and I'm sure IT as well but I give a lot of training on how to set up your hybrid meeting.
12:56:04 To continue these public. Yeah, requirements.
12:56:09 Thank you so much for saying that, Caroline. I didn't realize we weren't following.
12:56:14 That or at least we have standing to say why we're not following that when we choose to do it differently and where we use it as a best practice and where it's required.
12:56:29 I think, I need to brush up on that for what we've decided as a county.
12:56:41 We could consider also a, doing a drastic parliament training. For county staff, which are those are really valuable and she does trainings across the state for government.
12:56:53 So. Let's keep talking about this. Thanks for bringing it up. Apple clearly, a hot topic.
12:57:00 In the last few minutes we have, just so I properly sit in as as chair in Greg's place.
12:57:09 Any particular topics that folks want to add to the list for your You meeting every other month now I believe is this group?
12:57:27 No.
12:57:21 Hello, only add that during this meeting. I cut a hornet. So I will be releasing that, but there are hornets in the courthouse.
12:57:34 Oh, okay.
12:57:35 Or I don't know the actual species and all of that I just know it looked like a stinger.
12:57:45 He
12:57:43 Thanks for the update, Stacy.
12:57:46 So.
12:57:46 No.
12:57:42 Okay. We do have a I wanna make sure we have we have a caller who's raised their hand.
12:57:54 I wanna make sure we, have a caller who's raised their hand. So, Carolyn, if you could bring them over.
12:57:56 Our public comment section was earlier, but it very well could be counting staff and I will get back to you, Barbara.
12:57:59 Okay.
12:57:59 The caller ending in 7, 9 7 hits star 6 to unmute.
12:58:05 Hey, it's still on Sucker. Can you guys hear me?
12:58:09 Yes, hi Bill. Thanks for joining.
12:58:10 Yeah.
12:58:13 Sorry, I'm driving on I 90 from back from the RISK pool conference. And Hum.
12:58:20 You know when we I did send out that email that Kate was talking about but I think somewhere in the email it says that the that the county administrators office or the board
of county commissioners will set training on OPMA.
12:58:37 And I think we gotta do that and I think we gotta do better. Good training overall. It's a risk management strategy too.
12:58:46 So we need to figure out how to focus on that a little bit more. And that's not something that for a year's office can really be responsible for.
12:59:01 We could be responsible for, you know, helping with the trainings. We can show up. But, you know, we're not going to be able to schedule trainings.
12:59:11 It's just not possible for us.
12:59:17 Thanks, Phil. I was thinking you guys would be proud of us while you're over at, risk pool that we're talking about this.
12:59:24 Yeah, I wonder too if we need to lean more on MRSC. They, yeah, they also have such a wealth of trainings available and I don't know.
12:59:36 Sarah, is this something that maybe we could person is to kind of. Be thinking about next steps here.
12:59:48 Yeah, I could work on scheduling those trainings, figuring out when those could be and, actually who would be the best.
12:59:58 Person people to do that or if there are online trainings that can take place. But I can work on that with somebody so
13:00:07 Okay.
13:00:10 Well. I
13:00:09 There's a lot of department directors and elected officials. I, if you're getting open name training, maybe have them contact me if they want to get on my list.
13:00:19 Okay, let's go to Phil and then Barbara.
13:00:24 Yeah, II think, I think Carolyn's idea is a great idea for OPMA.
13:00:32 Okay. Great.
13:00:36 Barbara.
13:00:37 Yeah, there's a fellow in the, AGs office who is is his soul job is training on on public records and so I think I can't remember his name.
13:00:53 It's a French name, but I can get that to you Sarah and maybe he'd be willing to at least.
13:01:02 Do some trainings via webinar or something like that or even come up. Who knows? So.
13:01:09 Great.
13:01:12 Yeah, just send that on to me. That'd be great. Barbara.
13:01:16 In fact, I think he's the one who's doing the webinar on Tuesday for public records.
13:01:21 He's the same fellow. He's been doing a lot of trainings. I watched, I think 3 of them this year so far by him.
13:01:28 So. It should be around.
13:01:33 Alright, thanks everyone for great conversation. We are at 10'clock. So, at last call any burning.
13:01:41 Any singing biting? Features and the quick house we should know about. Other than wasps. Okay.
13:01:48 Nice to see you all and we are adjourned.