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HomeMy WebLinkAboutM060109District 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 June I, 2009 The meeting was called to order at the appointed time by Chairman David Sullivan in the presence of Commissioner Phil Johnson and Commissioner John Austin. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: The followirtg comments were made by citizens in attendance at the meeting: a citizen stated his concerns about the State Department of Ecology's draft WRIA 17 Instream Flow Rule; a person said that in his opinion a fiscal analysis needs to be done on the proposed Equestrian Park on County-owned property; three people requested that the Board appoint an advisory board of successful business people in the County to develop strategies to increase economic development; two people gave their opinions about the Sunshine Forum on the draft Shoreline Master Program Update; two people stated that they were pleased to see that the items to be discussed during the County Administrator's Briefings on Monday afternoon are being listed on the Boazd's agenda. APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner Austin moved to delete Item #6 and approve the balance of the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. 1. HEARING NOTICE re: Ordinance No. OS-0427-09 Enacting a Moratorium Against the Issuance of Permits or Approvals Pertaining to Adult Businesses; Hearing Scheduled for Monday, June 22, 2009 at 10:00 a.m. in the Commissioners' Chambers 2. AGREEMENT re: East Quilcene Road Power Pole Relocation; Jefferson County Public Works; Puget Sound Energy 3. AGREEMENT NO. 08-1878 re: Tazboo/Dabob Bay Acquisition and Restoration Co-Sponsorship Grant; Jefferson County Public Works; The Nature Conservancy and Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) 4. EASEMENT re: Utility Easement Along Portion of Beausite Lake Park Property; Jefferson County Public Works; Puget Sound Energy 5. Letter Regarding Certification of Sponsor Funding Match to the Washington Wildlife and Recreation Program, Farmland Preservation for the Finnriver Farm Project; Kammie Bunes, Grants Manager, Recreation and Conservation Office 6. DELETE: Letter Regarding Proposed East Jefferson Land Exchange Between Pope Resources and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources; Peter Goldmark, Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands (ApprOVed Latei iri Minutes) 7. Letter of Support for the Reissuance of Port Townsend Paper Corporation's (PTPC) Title V Air Operating Permit and Modified Order; Marc Heffner, P.E., Washington State Department of Ecology Page 1 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of June 1, 2009 ~ >;~l': 8. Payment of Jefferson County Vouchers/Warrants Dated May 19, 2009 Totaling $218,946.22 Lever Regarding Proposed East Jefferson Land Exchange Between Pope Resources and the Washington State Department of Natural Resources (DNR): (Item #6 on the Consent Agenda) Commissioner Austin suggested that "two-year" be omitted from the sentence, "As offered in your letter, Jefferson County supports atwo-year delay of the exchange or sale of DNR parcels 6 and 8, as well as portions of DNR parcels 5 and 7." Commissioner Austin stated that he thinks it is better not to put atwo- year limit on the County's commitment to work with conservation groups to secure funding or find other options for the properties. Commissioner Austin moved to approve the letter to Peter Goldmark, Washington State Commissioner of Public Lands as amended. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. COMMISSIONERS BRIEFING SESSION: The Commissioners reported on the following subjects. Commissioner Austin: He is going to Olympia this week to testify in support of the DNR expanded natural area at Tarboo Bay. There is a State Parks meeting scheduled at Fort Worden this week to discuss future plans for the Rothschild House and Old Fort Townsend State Park. Commissioner Johnson: • He went to Forks this weekend for a meeting and community outreach event to encourage the creation of a joint Jefferson/Clallam Marine Resource Committee for the West End. • He was impressed at how the Forks Chamber of Commerce has used the city's fame in the "Twilight" books and movie to create a very successful tourism theme. Chairman Sullivan: • The Peninsula Development District (PDD) recently updated their Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy for the region. • There will be a Hood Canal Bridge opening ceremony on June 6. County Administrator Philip Morley: • He encouraged business owners to address their comments and ideas on promoting economic development to Team Jefferson, the County's Associated Development Organization. • The Housing Authority of Clallam County will meet this week to consider whether they will take over Jefferson County's Section 8 housing voucher program. They will also discuss forming a committee to look at the potential long term merging of the Clallam County and Jefferson County Housing Authorities. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Commissioner Austin moved to approve the minutes of May 4, 2009 as presented. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Page 2 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of June 1, 2009 o-'. WSUJefferson County Extension Update on Funding for 9-H Youth Programs, Natural Resources and Community Programs: WSU Extension Director Katherine Bazil stated that Extension is a three-way partnership between the Federal Department of Agriculture, Washington State University, and Jefferson County. She explained that the County provides the operational costs including funding for two employees, the telephones, postage, supplies and the building space. Due to recent WSU budget cuts, they must close the Learning Center and lay off two employees. Their facility has the only T-1 terminal that is publicly accessible in the County and they are currently working to partner with private business and governmental entities to keep the computer lab open. The number one priority and core program for Extension is 4-H Youth Leadership, followed by water quality and economic development. Technology and life-long learning is also important and even with budget cuts, people will still be able to access WSU classes and degrees. She reviewed some of the highlights from their programs: • In 1991, there were eighty-three 4-H members and now 900 kids have some experience in 4-H including afterschool programs, expeditions, going to campuses, and being involved in clubs. There are also 200 pazents who are extensively trained by 4-H to work with the kids. • Six years ago, the Quilcene School District and Extension were awarded a Small Schools Grant from the Gates Foundation that included funding, computers, teacher training, travel, curriculum, and a full time teaching coach. • Extension has a strong connection to the agricultural community and the Food and Farm Programs have become very populaz. • Water quality programs include Welcome to Your Watershed, Shore Stewards, Beach Watchers, and Water Watchers. • Team Jefferson is addressing economic development. One of the areas that they are focusing on is attracting youth age18-35 to move to the County and be able to earn a living wage to raise their families. • There is a six person Boazd that oversees the Jefferson Education Foundation which includes the Andy Mackie Foundation, the Clemente Foundation and Big Quil Enterprises which has been recognized as one of the best pilot programs in the nation for dealing with rural poverty. • The 4-H kids have also produced 400 videos that are posted on NW 4-H News, a national network. Katherine Baril reported on Extension's efforts to raise funds for 4-H programs. The forestry education program should be able to operate for six more months using the remaining Secure Rural Schools funding. They plan to scale down the afterschool program for K-6. They have put together a joint proposal with the SKY program to continue the Quilcene Trail Program that will gc before the Resource Advisory Committee (RAC) in June. They also have a Secure Rural Schools Funding proposal for 6-12 graders for work experience, trail building, and career development. These aze the kids that they have worked with from K-6 and they want to continue with them through high school. If Extension doesn't receive this additional funding, the funding for 4-H will be limited to the $15,000 the receive from the Comity. They currently have a 4-H Coordinator and four other staff. If funding is cut, they could only afford to keep the 4-H Coordinator. Page 3 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of June 1, 2009 Over the past eight years Extension has built up reserves of $80,000 but they had to use $40,000 last year to balance their budget. When she began as Extension Director there were two staff and a $60,000 budget. Now there is 24 staff and an $800,000 budget. Over the years, the County's percentage of the entire budget for Extension has decreased. Discussion and Possible Decision re: Planning Commission's Recommendation on the 2009 Final Docket for Suggested Comprehensive Plan Amendments: Al Scalf, Director of Community Development reported that DCD received two applications for site specific Comprehensive Plan amendments which will be docketed. The third is a suggested amendment relating to the establishment of Industrial Land Banks (IhB). He explained that there is currently a provision in the Jefferson County Code for Major Industrial Developments (MID). The difference between an MID and an ILB is that the ILB is identified at one or two specific sites by the County and an MID can be sited anywhere in the County. He discussed the economic development provisions in the Comprehensive Plan. David W. Johnson, Associate Planner, stated that the Planning Commission has recommended that the Industrial Land Bank amendment be put on the final 2009 Comprehensive Plan Docket. This amendment was originally proposed by DCD staff in 2007 but the work wasn't completed. It was proposed for the 2008 Docket but it was held back again because the work on the Shoreline Master Program update became the priority. Budget and staff cuts were made at DCD in December 2008 due to the slowdown in the economy. The ILB project was identified as one of the projects to be shelved. The deadline for completion of the ILB work is 2011 and DCD staff can include it during the next update of the Comprehensive Plan which must be finished by 2011. The staff recommendation is to not docket the ILB amendment because they don't have the staff or the funding to finish the work on the project in 2009. If the Board decides not to accept the Planning Commission's recommendation, they must hold a public hearing before the first Commissioner's meeting in July. After continued discussion with the Board and the County Administrator to decide if there is an immediate need for the ILB amendment, Commissioner Austin moved that the Board not accept the Planning Commission's recommendation to include MLA07-00104 on the fina12009 Comprehensive Plan docket and that staff schedule a public hearing on the proposed 2009 Docket. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. Update on Instream Flow Rule for Water Resource Inventory Area (WRIA) 17: Chairman Sullivan noted that this rule was drafted by the State Department of Ecology. Neil Harrington, Environmental Health Manager explained that the main purpose of the rule is to preserve instream flow and set a water right for the streams of WRIA 17. WRIA 17 covers the northeast portion of Jefferson County north of Brinnon to the Clallam County line. Another purpose of the rule is to protect existing water right holders and not impact their ability to use water. Page 4 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of June 1, 2009 ~~ New or expanded water uses would come under the provisions of this law. This rule closes the streams and groundwater of WRIA 17 to new withdrawals except for some surface water from excess winter flows in Chimacum Creek and the Big Quilcene River. It also sets reserves of water in the public interest. For new single domestic use the rule sets a standard of 500 gallons a day maximum or 350 gallons a day average. No outdoor irrigation is allowed in the Chimacum basin without mitigating for water withdrawal. Once the reserve is exhausted, the cap can be lifted with mitigation. New users of water will be on meters. New agricultural use is limited. The traditional permit exceptions of 5,000 gallons a day will be in place for some wells in the Big and Little Quilcene River basins, some coastal areas such as the Quimper Peninsula and parts of the Miller Peninsula, and the Salmon Creek and Thorndyke Creek basins. One 3,000 gallon a day well will be allowed for agricultural use in the Snow Creek basin. This limits the growth of agriculture and the County will have to develop a mitigation for new water rights. The rule states that new water rights for domestic or agriculture use could be granted through the traditional application process in the Big and Little Quilcene River basins and the Thorndyke Creek basin. Rainwater catchment is allowed in the rule if the rainwater is used on the site where it is collected. The rainwater must be collected off a structure that has a purpose beyond collecting rainwater. Two important issues that the County will need to address are: 1) there is no State funding for watershed planning after June 2011, and 2) the need to develop a structure for managing mitigations. The County will need the State's support on mitigation proposals. There are several current projects and ideas that may help with the mifigation strategy for new water in the basins: • A US Geological Service study and groundwater model that will be a powerful tool for testing the feasibility of different mitigation strategies. • The PUD is doing an Aquifer Storage and Recovery (ASR) or streamflow augmentation feasability study. • Pumping water from a well using an existing water right during the summer into Chimacum Creek. • Creating a water bank or exchange. • In the future, the use of reclaimed water from the Irondale/Port Hadlock sewer system. The County will need to work with the State to develop materials on how to comply with the rule for the Department of Community Development and Public Health to hand out to interested parties when they apply for permits. There will be a public hearing on the draft Instream Flow Rule fox WRIA 17 at Fort Worden on June 25. Comments are due to the Department of Ecology by July 10. The rule may be signed as soon as August 28. The Boazd discussed their views and ideas on the instream flow rule and how they think it will impact the use of water, especially in the Chimacum basin. The County Administrator suggested that the Board ask staff to draft a comment letter to DOE on the draft Instream Flow Rule and have it available for the Board to review on June 22. The Board concurred with the County Administrator's suggestion. Page 5 Commissioners Meeting Minutes: Week of June 1.2009 ,~. "`t .'~ County Administrator Briefang Session: The following subjects were discussed. • May 21, 20091etter from Point No Point Treaty Council regarding Mystery Bay. • Update on JeffCom Administrative Board. • Extraordinary criminal justice costs including jail medical expenses and death-qualified counsel appointment by Superior Court. • Update on lease negotiations for the Equestrian Events Center. • County Commissioner representative at Hood Canal Bridge Opening Celebration on June 6, 2009. • Drug Court graduation on June 11. • Possible agenda items for joint Jefferson County Commissioners/Port Townsend City Council meeting on June 25. • Discussion of possible scheduled meetings and workshops prior to the Commissioner's public heazing on August 24 regazding the Shoreline Master Program update. • Department of Natural Resources Asset Management Plan and a request from the County to Peter Goldmark that DNR retain their east Jefferson County holdings for another few decades in order to preserve large ownership and options for future conservation. • The process for groups who request proclamations. NOTICE OFADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Austin moved to adjourn the meeting at 4:02 p.m. until the next regular meeting on Monday, June 8, at 9:00 a.m. in the County Commissioners Chambers. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which carried by unanimous vote. MEETING AD'<QU ~~ ,:... O ~ ~ SEAL: ~~ ~ *'' ~ ' '- l S ` ~ , a P ~ t '~ 1 ATTEST: ~~ ~~ ~ ul~tthes, CMC Deputy Clerk of the Board JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD O COMMISSIONERS ~~ ~ ~~lt~`c:~ Davr ~Suil`f air 1 Johnson; Member CQl1s~o~ John Austin, Member ~ 11~ 1~~~ Page 6