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MINUTES
JEFFERSON COUNTY
Ferry Advisory Committee (FAC)
Special Meeting Minutes
Tuesday April 1, 2025 at 12:00 p.m.
Jefferson County Courthouse—Commissioners
Chambers, 1820 Jefferson Street, Port Townsend,
WA(HYBRID)
Members: Chair Tom Thiersch,Adam Levin,Nicole Gauthier, Steve King,and Diana Grunow
CALL TO ORDER: Chair Thiersch called the meeting to order at 12:01 p.m. In attendance
were Members: Gauthier, King, and Grunow. Member Levin joined the meeting at
12:17 p.m.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: Member Gauthier moved to approve the Special Meeting Minutes of
March 12, 2025 as presented. Member Grunow seconded the motion. The motion carried.
PUBLIC COMMENT: Chair Thiersch opened the floor for public comments, and no comments were
received.
DISCUSSION ITEMS: •
o Port Townsend-Coupeville route—alternatives proposed for Long-Range Plan
• Chair Thiersch explained the need to accommodate growth. He provided history of
the various issues that this area has experienced over the years.
o Letter to Deputy Secretary Nevey,Washington State Ferries (WSF)
• Letter requests a revision of the WSF's Long Range Plan to include the following:
• Work with Washington State Department of Transportation(WSDOT)to
provide a park-and-ride area at Keystone to encourage more walk-on
passengers;
• Obtain funding for and conduct the Long-Range Plan's(LRP)"safety and
navigation" study;
• Evaluate in detail the changes that would be required to Keystone Harbor
(expanding the holding area, relocating dolphins) and Port Townsend (slight
widening and/or lengthening the dock,relocating dolphins)to accommodate
a 100-car vessel;
• Evaluate in detail the changes to the docks on the Point Defiance-Tahlequah
route that would be required to accommodate a 100-car vessel;
• Obtain funding to design and build three new, 100-car vessels that will be;
o 100%battery-powered(not hybrid-electric)to reduce costs and
eliminate all diesel emissions
o Equipped with"Z-drives"to allow better maneuverability and safe
passage at Keystone Harbor
o Provide expanded service for the Port Townsend-Coupeville and Point
Defiance-Tahlequah routes.
• Not plan to expend any monies to convert the Kwa-di Tabil's(K-D-T) from
diesel-mechanical to hybrid-diesel-electric. Rather, plan to sell all of those
ferries while they still have value and use the proceeds to offset some of the
costs of new, larger ferries.
After discussion Chair Thiersch proposed a motion to send the letter as discussed, via email, with
attachment(Keystone-Port Townsend letter dated May 31, 2007)to Washington State Ferries. Member
King made the aforementioned motion. Member Gauthier seconded the motion. There was no public in
attendance so the Chair did not call for public comments. Thiersch called for a vote on motion. The
motion carried by a unanimous vote.
CLOSING REMARKS: Chair Thiersch noted that the FAC may no longer exist as of July 1, 2025 if
SB5161 passes. The Board of County Commissioners(BOCC)may not appoint members if activities
are suspended.Next regular meeting is in May of 2025.
ADJOURNMENT: Chair Thiersch adjourned the meeting at 12:31 p.m. until the next regular meeting
or special meeting as properly noticed.
Respectfully Submitted by:
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Carol n allaway, FAC Actin Jerk Date