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10/10/22 08 AM: Board Adopts Parks Plan, COVID Extension, OPMA Update, Broadband, Transmitter

Board Adopts Parks Plan, COVID Extension, OPMA Update, Broadband, Transmitter

Jefferson County Commissioners adopted the updated 2022 Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Plan with minor edits; directed extension of COVID-19 emergency declaration and personnel policy updates; reviewed revised OPMA guidelines for hybrid meetings; workshopped PUD fiber broadband expansion projects; approved $65K ARPA funding for KPTZ/KROH emergency transmitter at Morgan Hill.

Consideration and Adoption of the Jefferson County 2022 Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Plan

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:00:30–00:31:05 (PART 1); 01:57:33–02:01:32 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, operations, infrastructure

Summary

The Board held a public hearing on the 2022 Parks, Recreation, Open Space, and Trails Plan, an update to the 2015 plan incorporating six years of advisory board work, public input, and responses to increased park usage, climate change, and demand for trails and camping. Staff presented by Matt Tyler highlighted priorities like trails, ADA improvements, forestry, partnerships, and incremental capital improvements via the CIP. The Board adopted the plan after minor edits to the county profile acknowledging tribal lands and indigenous history.

Key Discussion Points

  • Commissioner Eisenhower praised the plan's goals on camping demand, land banking at Chimacum, forestry, sea level rise, stewardship, and partnerships like the H.J. Carroll jump playground. (00:01:25–00:03:06)
  • Matt Tyler outlined plan history, partner coordination, grant eligibility, increased usage (tripled 2009-2021), demographics, climate impacts, trail priorities, ADA needs, and policy of incremental improvements. (00:03:29–00:11:52)
  • Commissioners questioned intersections with TDP/TIP, partnerships (aquatics, pump track), capacity for new parks/camping, and equestrian mentions. Matt Tyler: Non-motorized plan coordinates with TIP; plan supports partners via citations for grants; leaves doors open for feasibility studies case-by-case. (00:12:20–00:19:47)
  • Minor edits proposed for tribal acknowledgment in county profile (page 11). (00:26:52–00:29:58)

Public Comments

  • Tom Jairs (Jefferson County President): Opposed horse park/equestrian facility mention, citing past failed equestrian project as inappropriate use of scarce funds. (00:21:12–00:22:01)
  • No other public comments; one attempted but off-topic (Nordland store). (00:23:17–00:24:14)

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials provided for analysis; plan document (~200 pages) referenced but noted as non-searchable by one commenter.

Financials

No specific financial figures discussed beyond general CIP support from county capital funds and grant eligibility via RCO.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Suggested rewording county profile for tribes/indigenous peoples; Matt Tyler committed to quick edit for approval at 1:30 PM. (00:26:52–00:30:31)
  • No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Motion to adopt resolution adopting the plan, withdrawn for edits; re-approved as amended post-lunch. "Approve the PROS plan as presented this afternoon." (02:01:06)
  • Vote: Unanimous (all Aye).
  • Next Steps: Plan adopted by reference into County Comp Plan; keeps county eligible for RCO grants.

COVID-19 Response: Transition from Pandemic to Endemic and Review of Temporary Policy #12

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:31:37–01:07:20 (PART 1)
  • Categories: public safety, personnel, operations

Summary

Staff presented on Governor Inslee's recision of state emergency orders by October 30, 2022, transitioning to endemic phase while emphasizing vaccines/masking; reviewed county's Temporary Policy #12 (hybrid meetings, masking, personnel). Board discussed retaining local emergency declaration for RCWs on bidding/budget relief, OPMA flexibility, and personnel policies like paid vaccine leave/sick time. Consensus to extend declaration through winter (e.g., end of year) citing high local cases, potential surges, and utility; direct staff to update Policy #13 and fold elements into permanent personnel manual.

Key Discussion Points

  • Sarah outlined timeline of 12 county resolutions since March 2020; impacts of lifting emergency on hybrid meetings, masking, personnel Appendix I. (00:32:48–00:36:13)
  • Phil (Prosecutor): RCWs 38.52.020 grant emergency powers like bidding relief; OPMA affected. (00:36:53–00:40:03)
  • Apple (DEM/Public Health): Retain declaration for flexibility/funding (e.g., outbreak management); masking effective in health facilities. (00:41:43–00:47:01)
  • Board weighed sincerity vs. utility; plan to integrate sick leave/vaccine time/masking into personnel manual. (00:49:06–00:56:16)

Public Comments

  • Rita: Praised policy for sick employees staying home. (01:06:00–01:06:16)
  • No other public comments.

Supporting Materials Referenced

PowerPoint presentation by Sarah on timeline/responses referenced; no documents provided.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No formal motion; direction to staff to extend emergency via Policy #13 (acknowledge high cases/surge risk), review Appendix I for personnel manual integration; present to COVID coordination Oct 21.
  • Vote: Consensus (no formal vote).
  • Next Steps: Update/review personnel policies (e.g., remote work); revisit spring 2023.

Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) Guidelines Update for Boards/Commissions/Committees

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:07:29–01:56:17 (PART 1)
  • Categories: operations, other

Summary

Phil presented revised OPMA guidelines responding to 2022 legislation on virtual/hybrid meetings, incorporating public/staff comments (primarily Tom Jairs). Discussion covered recordings (optional "may"), public comment periods (multiple allowed/encouraged), hearings (as required/by ordinance), materials publication, minutes, emails. Consensus on Option 1 (recordings optional but online if done), "should" language for best practices, no mandates burdening volunteers/small boards.

Key Discussion Points

  • Guidelines for hybrid meetings, recordings, comments/testimony, hearings, agendas, minutes, emails/executive sessions. (01:08:32–01:11:26)
  • Tom Jairs (written comments): Fix RCWs, multiple comment periods, recordings via phone/Zoom, minutes (start/end times, errors), emails (reply-all), Appendix E (members only, no public/staff names). (01:10:21–01:47:31)
  • Board favored permissive recordings (storage burden), "should" for materials publication ~5 days pre-hearing, delete exec session name announcement. (01:16:01–01:42:02)

Public Comments

  • Tom Jairs: Praised detail; suggested auto-distribution for written comments via Active Directory, cover hand-delivered/mail, phone recordings, clarify Appendix E (members only, no public). (01:48:27–01:52:07)

Supporting Materials Referenced

Draft guidelines/PowerPoint referenced; no documents provided.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Option 1 vs. 2 on recordings: Consensus on Option 1 (may record, online 6 months if done). (01:16:01–01:23:26)
  • "Comments" vs. "testimony": Use consistently as "comments."

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action; refine draft (e.g., materials 5 days pre-hearing "should," Mr. Jairs comments) for future adoption.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Phil revise/address comments; bring back for adoption (no hearing required).

PUD Broadband Expansion Projects Workshop

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:01:59–02:29:52 (PART 1)
  • Categories: infrastructure, budgeting, services

Summary

PUD staff detailed five fiber-to-the-premise projects serving unserved (<25/3 Mbps) areas in electric territory via $46M grants/loans/county match, building 500+ miles for 4,000 connections by 2026. Projects: Olympic Fiber ($12M, 1,000+ connections), E. Discovery Bay ($?, 100 miles), Jefferson North ($10M, 646 connections), PT Business ($2M loan, gigabit symmetric), SE County ($20M USDA app, 1,000 connections). Open-access network; sign-ups open; fiber chosen for future-proof reliability/speeds (150 Mbps-$65/mo base).

Key Discussion Points

  • Will O'Donnell/Kevin Street: Projects/maps, grants ($46M total, $750K county match for Jefferson North), fiber vs. alternatives (DSL/cable/wireless limits), pricing (150/150 $65/mo, discounts/ACP to $15), timeline (build Q2 2023), >60% cap models pending. (02:03:48–02:22:36)
  • Commissioners questioned business retail, costs (~$1K-$30K/connection, high due to rural/terrain), Astound overlaps avoided. (02:09:44–02:12:58)

Public Comments

  • Dick Ellman (Emergency Prep): Fiber survivability for wind/earthquake/tsunami. (02:25:01)
  • Jean Ball (Quilcene): Thanks for impact on unserved areas. (02:25:51)
  • Stacy: Debt payments via Treasurer on loans. (02:26:52)

Supporting Materials Referenced

PowerPoint presentation; no documents provided.

Financials

  • Total: $46M ($36M grants, $10M PUD loans/borrow, $3M PUD cash, $750K county match).
  • Business: $2M 0.4% loan.
  • Monthly: $65 base (150/150 Mbps); discounts to $15.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Informational workshop; no action.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Sign-ups ongoing; bids Q4 2022-Q1 2023; build Q2 2023; complete 2026.

KPTZ/KROH Morgan Hill Emergency Transmitter Project

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:29:59–03:10:02 (PART 1)
  • Categories: public safety, infrastructure

Summary

KPTZ/KROH proposed $65K county ARPA support for emergency backup transmitter/tower at Morgan Hill (City lease) to link EOC/studios via microwave, ensuring resilient broadcast post-disaster (Cascadia quake). Builds on 2010s partnership/training; replaces obsolete point-to-multipoint with point-to-point; integrates amateur/GMRS radio "eyes/ears." Board approved allocation upon ARPA receipt.

Key Discussion Points

  • Bill Putney/Ray Cerebran/John Miller/Rita Kepner/Dick Ellman/Willie: Historic role, self-reliant system (generators/fuel), microwave redesign, 3-legged stool (radio input/EOC/broadcast), low impacts (60' tower, RF/tree screen). (02:31:36–03:08:37)
  • Willie (DEM): Funding challenges; ARPA revenue share ideal for redundancy. (02:56:41)

Public Comments

None additional; presenters provided comments.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Budget handout ($65K request: equipment/labor); no documents provided.

Financials

  • Total project: ~$200K est. (volunteer labor, repurposed equip.); county request: $65K ARPA ($15K contractor).

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Authorize county administrator to allocate $65,000 most recent ARPA funds to project."
  • Vote: Unanimous (all Aye).
  • Next Steps: Allocate upon ARPA receipt; FCC/historic review; contractor procurement; integrate ham/GMRS.

Background Materials

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