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Home My WebLink AboutM021110S ~~ COMAt&. ~~~~ ~&~~& ~II~ :\... ~~ .... .., - -< ... I \ ;' " \ ~ ~/ ~ 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 Special Meeting February 11,2010 Chairman David Sullivan called the meeting to order at approximately 7:00 p.m. at the Port Townsend Recreation Center. Commissioner Phil Johnson and Commissioner John Austin were present as well as the following Jefferson County Elected Officials: Assessor Jack Westerman, Auditor Donna Eldridge, Sheriff Anthony Hernandez, Superior Court Clerk Ruth Gordon, and Treasurer Judi Morris. Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Scott Rosekrans was present on behalf of Prosecuting Attorney Juelie Dalzell. The Chair welcomed everyone and introduced the elected officials and meeting facilitator Mike Brasfield. Each elected official then gave a brief overview of the services provided by their office. The Facilitator then reviewed the format for the participatory exercise. After a presentation given by Blue Heron Middle School student Chris Adkins and his father Greg Adkins regarding the closure of the Port Townsend Recreation Center for use after school by youth in the community, the following questions and comments were submitted by the citizens and then grouped by category. Each question/comment was read aloud and a facilitated discussion was held on each category. YOUTH EDUCATION AND ACTIVITIES . "In a County where families are continually driven out because of lack of jobs, struggling schools, and scarcity of funding for activities for children, what is your commitment to the families in this County?" . "Economic development depends on our communities having high quality education in our schools. What can the County do to improve education for our children?" . "I believe the reason we created government was to take care ofthose in need and care for and educate our children. 1 know you do not run the schools, but what are you doing to ensure our kids get a good education, and those in need are cared for?" PORT TOWNSEND RECREATION CENTER, MEMORIAL FIELD AND PARKS . "Our children are the most important investment for the future of our community. What is our County doing to protect the opportunities that are provided for positive development (ie. Recreation center, stadium, skate park, aquatic center, etc.)?" . "I) Why is the senior center open upstairs, but not the recreation center downstairs? 2) Why is it not a community center for all ages? 3) Why does the City of Port Townsend not have a community center? What can be done?" . "We should keep the recreation center open because kids don't have places to go." . "If the recreation center is going to remain closed for general use, what does the County intend our youth to use in its place?" Page 1 Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes: February 11, 2010 ~'IJ""'\ .....,.-..., ""'I;N"" . "What opportunities for kids? What priorities? What can we do to reinstate the recreation center?" . "If the community had an individual or group interested in purchasing Memorial Field for youth sports/programs, would the County be interested in selling?" . "Parks and recreation is an essential community cornerstone. What is the short term plan for funding parks and recreation so we do not lose programs and facilities? What is the long term plan?" . "Gym/Senior Center - Special Olympics gym time 2 x weekly, 6:30 to 8:00 p.m." . "When will recreation center open back up for the youth (public)? Don't we spend more on criminal/juvenile services if we don't provide public recreation for our youth?" . "1) Why was the public not notified prior to shutting down the recreation center? 2) Do we have to pull a Mickey Rooney to keep the recreation center open?" . "When and how do you plan on reopening the recreation center to regular hours?" . "What benefits the County in closing the recreation center?" . "Parks and recreation, including the recreation center and Memorial Field, support and enrich local families. Local families support the County with taxes. Fix the disconnect and complete the cycle. Support parks and recreation and keep our facilities open." . "Might we combine City and County parks and recreation to save $$? (In Port Townsend)" . "What's going to happen to Memorial Field and the recreation center? How can we keep them open?" . "Why do we not have funding for Memorial Field? What is happening with the recreation center?" . "I think you should reopen the community center so that kids in this town have somewhere to hangout. I personally know people who used to go to the community center after school almost every day, but now they just go home. I think that even if it is a financial stretch, it could be pulled off and should be pulled off." . "How is it that a community as wealthy as Port Townsend doesn't have money for Memorial Field, the recreation center, and other institutions that model equal access?" . "Chris Adkins (7th grade student), Greg Adkins (parent) and Mark Decker (Blue Heron Middle School Principal) - Petition to re-open recreation center representing III students from Blue Heron Middle School." . "Recreation center: Free after-school activities need to be brought back. Move them to Mountain View with basketball court, game tables downstairs. Building Department: Incentive/sustainable plans for new/remodel homes. New homes generate huge sums in materials, supplies, labor/etc. Other communities are already doing this - Kitsap, Bainbridge Island, and dozens more." . "Save recreation center - what's for the kids?" . "Short term plan for Memorial Field 1-3 years and long term plan for Memorial Field 3+ years. Interested in creating a permanent long term non-profit youth sports association." ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT . "Can the County "invest" in local enterprises?" . "What is the status ofthe finances of the Statesman Corporation at Black Point and what role is the County playing in this?" . "Does Jefferson County receive any of the "Stimulus" money from the American Recovery Account? If so, how much and how is it being used? What projects and/or staff is it paying for? Thank you!" Page 2 Commissioners Special Meeting Minutes: February 11,2010 OPEN GOVERNMENT . "Why can't you hold at least every other Board of County Commissioner meeting at night so that more people can attend and participate?" . "By when are you going to provide on-line access to Board of County Commissioner meetings and documentation? Many people can't make the Monday 9:00 a.m. meeting." LAW AND JUSTICE . "Why not death penalty?" DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES (DNR) . "What is the status of the Pope Resources and DNR land swap in the Port Ludlow and Gibbs Lake cases?" CLIMATE CHANGE . "Climate change programs?" . "What is the County doing to address climate change?" MISCELLANEOUS . "Is Jefferson Transit having any discussions with the other peninsula transit agencies to establish a peninsula wide transit agency? Is the County working to establish a "complete streets" ordinance?" . "1) Why was over 5 million dollars spent on the Maritime Center when that money could have been spent on fixing up the high school and furthering the education of the youth. The center does not bring in enough money to supplement the cost and earn money? 2) Why was all the labor used to build the Maritime Center outsourced instead of using in town construction?" The facilitator wrapped up the exercise portion of the meeting and thanked everyone for coming. NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Commissioner Austin moved to adjourn the meeting at 9: 1 0 p.m. until the next regular Monday meeting at 9:00 a.m. or special meeting as properly noticed pursuant to RGW'42.iQ.280. Commissioner Johnson seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote. "." .. . '. j " *,-~j~C;~(2 ')J . ~$. :\ ; ,~~ - ,~k)r- - "~~, -; ;:~ . . ; ~I .... f .,-,. t .. J , . 4 .. " ,,'to" .-,. 'Sll'l ",."/ JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD CO SIONERS SEAL:. :; l/ }~ ATTEST: () - ~+ Uc.V~ , I'" 0 '~-1....---' Erin Lundgren, De uty Clerk of the Board Page 3