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MINUTES
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC)
Regular Meeting Minutes
Wednesday January 8, 2025 at 10:00 a.m.
Jefferson County Courthouse – Commissioners’
Chambers 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend,
WA (HYBRID)
Members: Chair Tom Thiersch, Adam Levin, Nicole Gauthier, and Steve King
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Thiersch called the meeting to order at 10:04 a.m. In attendance were Members, Gauthier and Levin. Also in attendance was WSF Community and Legislative Liaison Tally Teal who joined the meeting at 10:13 a.m. Member King joined the meeting at 10:26 a.m.
APPROVAL re: Regular Meeting Minutes of May 8, 2024 and Regular Meeting Minutes of
September 11, 2024: Member Gauthier moved to approve the Regular Meeting Minutes of May 8,
2024 and September 11, 2024 as presented. Thiersch seconded the motion. Thiersch opened the floor
for public comments, and no comments were received. Thiersch called for a vote on the motion, and the
motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT: No comments received.
UPDATE FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES STAFF: This was tabled for Staff to attend.
DISCUSSION: Request for support of letter from Fix Our Ferries: The committee discussed the
letter from “Fix Our Ferries”. Thiersch shared this was shared in the Ferry Executive Board and
recommended not to approve it. Levin concurs to not approve and FAC members should stay neutral.
Member Gauthier concurs not approving this letter. After discussion the consensus of the Committee
was to not approve the Fix Our Ferries letter.
CONTINUED UPDATE FROM WASHINGTON STATE FERRIES STAFF: WSF Community
and Legislative Liaison Tally Teal shared the ferry upcoming meetings of February 12, 2025 at 12:00
p.m. and February 13, 2025 at 6:00 p.m. Thiersch will communicate with Washington State Ferry staff
on Ferry Advisory Committee training and information options.
DISCUSSION: Port Townsend-Coupeville route – alternatives to existing Long-Range Plan: The
Committee discussed alternatives to the existing Long-Range Plan of the Washington State Ferries
re: multiple boats, expand parking, adding a second dock, expanding the dock at the harbor at Keystone
and discussed the size of boats. The Committee discussed the future of electrification and hybridization
of boats in the future. They also discussed lodging dilemmas if a Port Townsend and Whidbey Island
boat is cancelled.
GENERAL DISCUSSION: Transit connections: Member Gauthier provided an update on Transit
applications for grant funding for transportation options, shelters, paving, and connecting routes as well
as ferry routes. She answered questions posed by the Committee.
Member Gauthier left the meetings at 11:12 a.m.
ADDITIONAL BUSINESS: Thiersch shared that the Board of County Commissioners will be
appointing a new member to the Ferry Advisory Board.
CONTINUED GENERAL DISCUSSION: Road work affecting terminal traffic: Member King
provided an update on Port Townsend road work, and there are no current projects. Future projects
consist of pedestrian work along the terminals, sea level rise planning for terminals. He updated the
Committee that the remainder of the sewer line sink hole project will begin in January through May to
drill new pipe, which will affect traffic. WSDOT Ferries will collaborate and dop off information on
the project. He noted a new dock would be part of a coordination of the master plan update and
answered questions posed by the committee.
CONTINUED DISCUSSION: Port Townsend-Coupeville route – alternatives to existing Long-
Range Plan: Thiersch advised this was for discussion only and to brainstorm on the future.
Tourism: Member Levin provided an update noting that due to better weather, businesses are doing
better and gave a follow up on the disaster sale of old vessels.
FAC Executive Committee meetings: Thiersch provided an update on FAC Executive Committee
Meetings and the correspondence with Ferry Advisory Executive Committee and the Ferry Advisory
Committee.
PUBLIC COMMENT: No comments received.
FUTURE AGENDA TOPICS: Not Discussed
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Thiersch adjourned the meeting at 11:26 a.m. until the next regular meeting
or special meeting as properly noticed.
Respectfully Submitted by:
___________________________________ ____________
Adiel McKnight/ FAC Clerk Date