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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM102008 District No.1 Commissioner: Phil Johnson District No.2 Commissioner: David W. Sullivan District No.3 Commissioner: John Austin County Administrator: Philip Morley Clerk of the Board: Lorna Delaney MINUTES Week of October 20, 2008 Chairman Phil Johnson called the meeting to order at the appointed time in the presence of Commissioner David Sullivan and Commissioner John Austin. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The following comments were made by citizens: 15 citizens commented that they support the County providing the funds that the City of Port Townsend has requested to keep the Mountain View Elementary School pool open because it is a place for children to exercise and participate in programs, seniors and disabled people exercise there, it provides a place for maritime activities in the community, and it is an essential facility to teach people swimming and water safety; a comment was made that it is felt that mismanagement of the pool is causing the funding problems; another person commented that the people that use the pool need to pay increased fees to support the operating costs; a citizen stated his opinion that the request for over $219,000 for replacement computers in the County's 2009 preliminary budget is excessive and the County may want to rethink the replacement schedule; another citizen commented that sales are down in the City and County, the country is in a recession, and the County needs to encourage people to shop in Port Townsend; and another person pointed out that he feels the replacement of a total computer isn't always necessary because computers can be upgraded instead of buying new ones and that economic resiliency is needed in this County. APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Sullivan moved to approve the items on the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Austin seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. 1. RESOLUTION NO. 67-08 re: Creating a County Project Designated as CR1811; Improvements to Upper Hoh Road 2. AGREEMENT NO. HRD3-0085 re: Detour from SR 104 to County Roads; Jefferson County Public Works; Washington State Department of Transportation 3. AGREEMENT NO. IA08-61-01, Amendment No.1 re: Grant Funding to Improve Property at Jefferson County Fairgrounds; Jefferson County Fair Association; Washington State Department of Agriculture 4. HEARING NOTICE re: Joint Hearing with Clallam County to Take Public Comment on the Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 20 Watershed Management Plan; Hearing Scheduled for Wednesday, November 5,2008 at 1 :00 p.m. at the Washington State Department of Natural Resources Olympic Region Office, 411 Tillicum Lane, Forks 5. Payment of Jefferson County Vouchers/Warrants Dated October 13,2008 Totaling $917,878.56 Page 1 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of October 20,2008 6. Payment of Jefferson County Payroll AlP Warrants Done by Payroll Dated October 4,2008 Totaling $102,924.21 COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING SESSION: The following items were discussed. Commissioner Austin reported that - · He heard a great radio advertisement for the Olympic Peninsula over the weekend. · He went to a ceremony at the Hoh Indian Reservation last weekend where it was acknowledged that Congressman Norm Dicks is introducing a bill in Congress which will provide funding to move the residences of Tribe members out of the flood plain. The bill will be reintroduced next year. David Sullivan reported that - · He was at the Hood Canal Coordinating Council meeting last week and a new Director has been hired. His name is Scott Brewer. · He attended a State Department of Transportation (DOT) meeting in Gardiner regarding a passing lane on Highway 101. The DOT will delay action on this matter until the Legislature has time to review other projects that can use the funding. The area needs left turn lanes but public funds can't be used for private roads. Since State funding is limited, the funds may be used for improvements in other areas. The residents in Gardiner would like to be able to go from one end of the community to the other without having to access Highway 101. · He also attended a Hood Canal Bridge closure meeting on Friday. There is a need to look at more options so everyone won't be trying to use Highway 101 during that time. Chairman Johnson reported that- · He attended an Olympic Region Clean Air (ORCAA) meeting. They discussed offering grants to residents in specific areas to replace older wood stoves with more efficient wood stoves ($500) or propane stoves ($700). · He also attended the Washington State Association of Counties (WSAC) Legislative Steering Committee meeting last week. The Board welcomed new County Administrator Philip Morley. Tim Caldwell, Ferry Advisory Committee and Port Townsend Chamber 0/ Commerce Transportation Committee: Ferry Update: Tim Caldwell, Chair ofthe Ferry Advisory Committee and the Port Townsend Chamber of Commerce Transportation Committee, updated the Board on a meeting held on Friday. Tom Thiersch is also a member of the Ferry Advisory Committee and was in attendance. The Ferry Advisory Committee has been working with the State Ferries on a mitigation alternative when the Hood Canal Bridge closes for repairs next year. The alternative is to have an Edmonds/Port Townsend run in the evening for commercial traffic. They met with Port Townsend Paper, Nippon Paper and other businesses in the area and found that there is more need for this run than anticipated. It was determined that an Issaquah class ferry would not hold the number of trucks that plan to use this service. They can get more vehicles on the vessel if they only load trailers and they are doing research on how that can be done. The vessel could wait until it had a full load since it won't be on a specific schedule. The vessel could hold 1,300 walk on passengers. If this service is available, they want to come up with a marketing plan for the evening run into Port Townsend including a Transit pass for passengers. Page 2 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of October 20,2008 This week there is a State Ferries Partnership meeting in Port Townsend. This is an on-going meeting that was begun when the steel hulled boats were taken out of service several months ago. The mitigation project will be a topic of discussion at the meeting. The State Ferries has said they need funding for this mitigation because they will be using a ferry that is out of service so the cost is greater than it would be if they used a ferry already on the run. The State has only been using one boat on the Keystone/Port Townsend run since the steel boats were taken out of service and they budgeted for two ferries. However, the money they have saved has paid for additional fuel costs. State Ferries plans to request a supplement to their budget from the Legislature. The Ferry Advisory Committee would like the run between Port Townsend and Edmonds to operate 7 days a week. Another item on the State Ferries Partnership meeting agenda is a discussion about the ferry currently being used on the Port Townsend/Keystone run that will be out of service in January for 2-3 weeks for a Coast Guard required inspection. They may contract with a private company to provide a passenger only ferry for this run. Commissioner Austin added that there is a Transit Retreat this week and they can discuss how Transit can offer a service to help passengers get around the area who take the evening ferry run. The Board members stated that they are grateful for the work the Ferry Advisory Committee has done on these issues. Tim Caldwell wrapped up his report by noting that they are not talking about a lot of money for the mitigation alternative. He feels that State Ferries is trying to work with the community. Since there isn't a fare established for this trip they will probably charge the same amount they charge for a truck on the Edmonds/Kingston run. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR'S BRIEFING SESSION: The following items were discussed. · Letter to the Hoh Tribe: Commissioner Austin moved to approve and have the Board sign a letter to the Chair of the Hoh Indian Tribe congratulating them on Congressman Norm Dicks introduction of HR 7073 to be known as the Hoh Tribe Safe Homelands Act to move the Tribe's homes and offices out of the flood plain. Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. · County Administrator transition. Philip Morley reported on his orientation as County Administrator, and thanked the Commissioners for the opportunity to serve the Board and the citizens of Jefferson County. He outlined his initial priorities: >> Prepare a revised budget that the Board can consider in November and December; >> Develop a recommendation regarding whetherlhow to replace the vacant Central Services Director position, formerly held by Allen Sartin; >> Meet directors, elected officials, staff and community leaders; and open bridges of communication. · Broadspit County Park conservation easement. The Public Works Department will review proposed conservation easement language and take it before the Parks Advisory Board before the easement language is finalized and brought before the Commissioners for possible action. Page 3 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of October 20, 2008 · Commissioner Sullivan noted an upcoming meeting with the State Department of Natural Resources regarding the Tarboo Bay timberland swap affecting 1,100 acres. He has a copy of the Commissioner's letter dated July 28, 2008 to Public Lands Commissioner Doug Southerland on the issue and will represent the County Commissioners at the meeting. · Swimming Pool at Mountain View Elementary. There was discussion about how to collect additional information so that the County can fairly weigh the City's request that the County help cover pool cost overruns thru the end of 2008, at a time when the County may face cuts to established County funding priorities. The Commissioners brainstormed a number of options for reducing impacts on County programs if the County is to help. · Commissioner priorities. Philip Morley invited individual Commissioners to voice possible priorities for the County Administrator to focus on. · Secure Rural Schools and PIL T. There was a discussion about meeting the November 16, 2008 deadline for allocating funds to Title II & III. · Community Development Block Grants. The Commissioners asked the County Administrator to look into status of CDBG programs and applications. · Tracking. The County Administrator will work with staff to propose a process for tracking items raised by the Commissioners, while still focusing leadership attention on the big picture of County priorities. NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Austin moved to adjourn the meeting at 3: 15 p.m. to the next regularly scheduled meeting. Commissioner Sullivan seconded the motion which carried. '\4DiOld~ED 'fJ)\ . "7.,. .... , "''' >.i, ~1' > . .. ,-~.. - ~ \ " ;,~,,_: ',' ," '-....,.- . .'-- () ( ~<,.:z~ ;:.;.......<.J ) ~ ~ ,I. . i';#'5t:4 \(" J 1 .;1' I' "".>.,.,<3,.', I ,. . (I) . "'1"'. 1 ..,,,~ .. .. . . ~ J N. .;,~-. :,J). :. ji '. 1 '--'" / .,. 'A '1 > '.' ._.',. ..ll. Ar J" '" J/ ~. ~..,.. <<wi ! ~ ..... .] $ .:~~._ -~- ~"~.:.J, 0~'." / r t ."'' _ ,'" cI~:tlJ . . Lorna Delaney, CMC ~ Clerk of the Board S JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS pml~~ DaViM~' J~P~ Page 4