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MINUTES
Jefferson County Board of County Commissioners
Regular Meeting — April 7, 2025, 9:00 a.m.
Jefferson County Courthouse—Commissioners' Chambers
1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend, WA(Hybrid)
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Heidi Eisenhour, Commissioner Greg Brotherton and
Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nollette participated in the meeting. Chair Eisenhour called the meeting
to order at the appointed time.
PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD: Chair Eisenhour called for public comments, and 11
comments were received. The Commissioners addressed the comments.
APPROVAL AND ADOPTION OF THE CONSENT AGENDA: Commissioner
Brotherton moved to approve the Consent Agenda as presented. Commissioner Dudley-Nollette
seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
1. HEARING NOTICE re: 2025 Budget Appropriations; Hearing Monday, April 21, 2025 at
10:00 a.m. in the Commissioners' Chambers, 1820 Jefferson St. Port Townsend, WA 98368
(HYBRID)
2. DIGITAL SUBMITTAL CERTIFICATION re: County Road Administration Board (CRAB)
reports for 2024
3. BID AWARD re: Official County Newspaper; Port Townsend-Jefferson County Leader
4. BID AWARD re: Emergency road repair, Upper Hoh Rd. MP 9.8-9.9, Project No. 18021400;
Up to $455,875.20; Public Works; Seton Construction, Inc.
5. AGREEMENT re: Emergency road repair, Upper Hoh Road MP 9.8-9.9, Project No. 18021400;
Up to $455,875.20; Public Works; Seton Construction, Inc.
6. AGREEMENT re: HJ Carroll Park Caretaker; In the amount of$10,354; Public Works; Terry
and Susan Taylor
7. AGREEMENT re: Maintaining restoration plantings on the Dosewallips and Big Quilcene
River Floodplains; no cost; Public Health; Jefferson County Conservation District
8. AGREEMENT re: Conservation Futures Fund: Tarboo Wildlife Preserve—West Slope Forest
Addition; In the amount of$150,000; Public Health;Northwest Watershed Institute
9. AGREEMENT re: Special sex offender disposition treatment;Not to exceed $16,415; Juvenile
Services; Thomas Sherry
10. AGREEMENT,Amendment No. 1 re: MRC-sponsored marine stewardship projects; increase
of$13,000 for a total of$121,000; WSU Extension; Washington State Department of Ecology
11. AGREEMENT,Amendment No. 1 re: School-to-Work Program services; additional amount of
$8,000 for outreach services; Public Health; Cascade Community Connections
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12. ADVISORY COUNCIL RESIGNATION: Tourism Coordinating Council (TCC); Port
Hadlock/Tri-Area/Discovery Bay position; Aaron Terada
13. ADVISORY BOARD APPOINTMENT: Intellectual Developmental Disability Advisory
Board(IDDAB); Self-advocate, Camille Vigeant
14. ADVISORY COMMITTEE RESIGNATION: Solid Waste Advisory Committee (SWAG);
District No. 3 representative, Tim Deverin
15. APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Regular Meeting Minutes of March 3, 10, 17 and 24, 2025, and
Special Meeting Minutes of March 26, 2025
16. APPROVAL OF PAYROLL EXPENSE REPORT: Dated April 4, 2025 and totaling
$2,632,464.04
17. APPROVAL OF ACCOUNTS PAYABLE WARRANTS: Dated March 24, 2025 and totaling
$1,174,605.07
PROCLAMATION re: Proclaiming April 7-13,2025 as National Public Health
Week: Public Health Director Apple Martine was present and addressed concerns about ongoing state
and federal budget cuts affecting public health departments, expressing commitment to continuing their
services, despite the challenges.
All three Commissioners read aloud the proclamation. Commissioner Brotherton moved to approve the
proclamation. Commissioner Dudley-Nollette seconded the motion which carried by a unanimous vote.
PUBLIC HEALTH and EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT UPDATE: Public Health
Officer Dr. Allison Berry provided an update on current infectious diseases, noting declining flu and
COVID-19 activity but rising concerns over a national measles outbreak, which poses a significant risk
to Jefferson County due to low local vaccination rates. She also highlighted the impact of recent federal
and state funding cuts on essential public health services-including testing, vaccination access, and
outbreak response -which are straining local efforts to keep the community safe.
Emergency Management Director Willie Bence provided information regarding East Jefferson Fire and
Rescue's free Wildfire Ready home assessments, highlighted funding losses affecting local emergency
preparedness and climate-related services, and expressed concern over FEMA's proposed reductions in
disaster support and grant programs.
WORKSHOP re: Aquatic Survey Analysis: Commissioner Brotherton,Jefferson
Aquatic Coalition(JAC)President Diane McDade, JAC members Kathryn Meyer, Katelyn Bosley, and
MJ Metzger were present to review the aquatic survey materials with the board.
JAC members presented detailed results from a resident-led, county-wide survey assessing community
support,usage, and preferences for a new mid-county aquatic center. The survey received nearly 3,000
responses, which showed strong support for a new facility and associated public funding. Key features
requested were swim lessons, wellness programs, and a hot tub. The Commissioners participated in
discussion with JAC members.
DISCUSSION re: Adoption of Jefferson County Personnel Administration Manual:
Human Resources Director Sarah Melancon noted that she has met previously with the Commissioners
to review potential amendments to the Personnel Administration Manual. She presented the final
amendments to the manual, and answered questions posed by the Board.
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After discussion, Commissioner Brotherton moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 19-0407-25R re:
Updating the Jefferson County Personnel Administration Manual, as presented today. Commissioner
Dudley-Nollette seconded the motion, which carried by a unanimous vote.
The meeting was recessed 11:27 a.m. and reconvened at 11:30 a.m. with all three
Commissioners present.
CONTINUED DISCUSSION re: Resolution to establish the Commercial Fire
Inspection Program: Fire Marshal Phil Cecere reviewed the draft resolution that will formally establish
a commercial fire inspection program, aimed at enhancing safety and meeting insurance rating
requirements. The program includes routine inspections, increased transparency, and potential future
partnerships with local fire districts. Fire Marshal Cecere answered questions posed by the Board.
After discussion, Commissioner Brotherton moved to approve RESOLUTION NO. 20-0407-25R re:
Adopting Jefferson County's Fire Safety Inspection Program. Chair Eisenhour seconded the motion
which carried by a unanimous vote.
COMMISSIONERS' BRIEFING SESSION: Commissioner Dudley-Nollette reviewed
recent meetings she attended, and miscellaneous topics.
The meeting was recessed at 12:01 p.m. and reconvened at 1:30 p.m. with all three
Commissioners present.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: An Executive Session was scheduled from 1:30 p.m. to
2:00 p.m. Chair Eisenhour announced that the Executive Session will be held from 1:31 p.m. to
2:01 p.m. regarding Attorney-Client Privilege, Potential Litigation under exemption RCW
42.30.110(1)(i) as outlined in the Open Public Meetings Act. Staff present: Acting County
Administrator, Chief Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney (DPA), Civil DPA, and Department of
Community Development Director. The Board resumed the regular meeting at 2:01 p.m. Chair
Eisenhour announced that the Board will be extending the Executive Session from 2:04 p.m. to
2:15 p.m. The Board concluded the Executive Session and resumed the regular meeting at 2:17 p.m.
There was no proposed action, and therefore no public comment taken on this topic.
EXECUTIVE SESSION: An Executive Session was scheduled from 2:00 p.m. to
2:30 p.m. Chair Eisenhour announced that the Executive Session will be held from 2:17 p.m. to
2:30 p.m. regarding Attorney-Client Privilege,Actual Litigation under exemption RCW 42.30.110(1)(i)
as outlined in the Open Public Meetings Act. Staff present: Acting County Administrator, Chief Civil
Deputy Prosecuting Attorney (DPA), and Civil DPA. The Board concluded the Executive Session and
resumed the regular meeting at 2:31 p.m. There was no proposed action, and therefore no public
comment taken on this topic.
CONTINUED DELIBERATIONS: Amendments to Jefferson County Code for
regulating Short-Term Rentals (STRs): DCD.Director Josh Peters, Code Development Administrator
(CDA) Greg Ballard, and Principal Planner Mo-chi Lindblad were present for deliberations. CDA
Ballard provided a brief history of discussions and staff work that led to the proposed draft for review
today. Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney Ariel Speser joined the meeting and shared her screen to
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review the latest changes to the ordinance. County staff answered questions posed by the Board.
Staff reviewed updates which focused on policy changes following feedback from public hearings and
the Planning Commission. Some key issues included the implementation of a 4%cap on short-term
rentals, the removal of a general six-month grace period (except for legal non-conforming uses), and
clarification that only permitted, permanent structures are eligible for short-term rental use. The
Commissioners contemplated including park models,yurts, and RVs, but ultimately decided these
would need further permitting before being allowed.
After discussion, Commissioner Dudley-Nollette moved to adopt ORDINANCE NO. 03-0407-25 re:
An Ordinance Repealing Ordinance 03-0610-24, a Moratorium on acceptance and processing of
application for hospitality establishment permits for transient residences or transient guest houses
pursuant to Jefferson County Code(JCC) 18.20.210(3); and adopting amendments to JCC 17.60,
General Provisions of Title 17 Master Planned Resorts, JCC 18.10 Definitions; JCC 18.15 Land Use
Districts; JCC 18.20.200 Home Business[JCC 18.20.200 Home Business removed later from ordinance
title, as no changes were ultimately adopted in this section]; JCC 18.20.210 Hospitality establishments
and JCC Chapter 18.40, Permit Application and Review Procedures/SEPA implementation, as
amended today. Commissioner Brotherton seconded the motion. After a brief discussion, Chair
Eisenhour called for a vote on the motion. The motion carried by a unanimous vote.
ADDITIONAL DISCUSSION ITEMS: The Commissioners and County Administrator
reviewed the following:
• Legislative update
NOTICE OF ADJOURNMENT: Chair Eisenhour adjourned the meeting at 4:30 p.m.
until the next regular meeting or special meeting as properly noticed.
JEFFERSON COUNTY
BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS
SEAL:
Heidi Eisenhour, Chair
ATTEST: Greg Brotherton, Member
Carolyn Gallaway, CMC Heather Dudley-Nollette, Member
Clerk of the Board
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