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04/10/23 09 AM: Approves Massive Consent Agenda, Opens Road Bids, Ends COVID Rules

Approves Massive Consent Agenda, Opens Road Bids, Ends COVID Rules

Jefferson County Commissioners meeting featured public comments on DCD staffing shortages, gun violence, bridge construction, and courthouse security. Unanimously approved a massive consent agenda with contracts, grants for wildfire protection, emergency management, derelict crab pot removal, culvert projects, email upgrades, and Recovery Café funding. Proclaimed Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Opened bids for pavement marking and aggregate supply services. Repealed COVID-19 emergency declarations and adopted new temporary health/safety personnel policies emphasizing staying home when sick and optional masking.

Public Comment Period

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:01:31–00:31:33 (PART 1)
  • Categories: personnel, public safety, operations, infrastructure

Summary

Public comment was opened until 9:30 AM, with speakers addressing Department of Community Development (DCD) staffing shortages, mass shootings and gun violence, Hood Canal Bridge construction impacts, and courthouse security policy. Commissioners responded acknowledging concerns, noting support for DCD funding requests despite workforce challenges, progress on state assault weapons legislation, appreciation for first responder collaboration, and deliberation on courthouse security balancing access and safety. No action was taken during comments.

Key Discussion Points

  • Cynthia Cohen (County Planning Commission, District 1): Urged funding reforms for DCD due to ongoing staff losses and training gaps, criticizing 22-year-old funding model.
  • Chief Black: Thanked county for Community Wildfire Protection Plan (CWPP) partnership and praised inter-departmental emergency response collaboration, citing Port Hadlock 911 incident.
  • John Hamilton: Cited recent Louisville bank shooting and national mass shooting statistics (nearly 500 injured in 2023), advocating red flag laws.
  • Mr. Thiersch: Thanked board for special meeting on bridge mitigation; raised workplace violence concerns tied to courthouse security exemptions.
  • Commissioner Eisenhour: Shared relief over state Senate assault weapons ban; praised CWPP and first responders.
  • Commissioner Dean: Noted state assault weapons ban progress; expressed concerns over school safety drills.
  • Chair Brotherton: Emphasized DCD support history, workforce issues, and invitation for specific solutions.

Public Comments

  • Cynthia Cohen/Planning Commission: DCD underfunding leading to staff turnover; called for leadership intervention.
  • Chief Black/Fire Chief: CWPP excitement, especially evacuation modeling; Jefferson County employee collaboration in emergencies.
  • John Hamilton: Mass shootings statistics; need for red flag laws.
  • Mr. Thiersch: Bridge construction thanks; courthouse security risks from workplace violence.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Public comment closed at 9:33 AM.
  • No Vote: Informational.
  • Next Steps: Commissioners committed to ongoing DCD solutions; AI exploration for DCD efficiency noted by Chair Brotherton.

Consent Agenda Approval

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:12:45–00:34:44 (PART 1)
  • Categories: contracts, infrastructure, public safety, services, personnel, budgeting, planning

Summary

The board unanimously approved the April 10, 2023 consent agenda, described as "massive" and Public Works-heavy, without items pulled for discussion. Major topics included CWPP consultant award to SWCA ($167,481 Title III funds), derelict crab pot removal/outreach ($15,000 total via MRC), multiple Homeland Security/EMPG grants sustaining DEM clerks (~$148,340 total), culvert lining project creation ($150,200 est.), email server upgrade to Microsoft Exchange Online ($63,002), Recovery Café amendment ($25,000 increase to $180,000), and various easements/bids/reports. No major decisions hidden; substantive financial commitments flagged via packet details.

Key Discussion Points

  • Limited discussion; excitement for CWPP (Bridge Haven inclusion, overdue), derelict crab pots (volunteer-powered MRC), Recovery Café (innovative), DEM grants (federal funding success), email upgrade (emergency), culvert lining (ongoing engineering solution), CRAB reports (law enforcement diversion noted).
  • "Limited discussion; item addressed primarily through supporting materials."

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • CWPP: SWCA contract for wildfire risk assessment/mitigation; aligns with Healthy Forests Act.
  • Crab pots: $6,000 ROV removal (Applied Education), $9,000 sonar survey (Coastal Sensing); Northwest Straits grants.
  • Grants: HSGP/EMPG contracts sustaining DEM clerks, IMT, CERT/NPREP outreach.
  • Culverts: $6,000 PE for CIPP lining; est. $144,200 construction.
  • Email: CDW migration from 2013 Exchange.
  • Recovery Café: HRSA RCORP-I amendment.
  • Staff noted no discrepancies from agenda.

Financials

  • Total commitments: ~$600,000+ across items (e.g., CWPP $167k, grants $148k, email $63k, crab $15k).
  • Funding: Federal Title III, DHS/HSGP/EMPG, HRSA RCORP, road funds, ARPA.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Approve and adopt the consent agenda for April tenth, 2023."
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes: Brotherton, Dean, Eisenhour).
  • Next Steps: No next steps specified.

Public Safety Telecommunicators Week Proclamation

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:34:44–00:38:48 (PART 1)
  • Categories: public safety, services

Summary

The board proclaimed April 9-15, 2023, as Public Safety Telecommunicators Week, recognizing 911 dispatchers' role in emergencies, alerts, and first responder support. John Edner from Emergency Management accepted; praised JeffCom staff amid director search.

Key Discussion Points

  • Proclamation read alternately due to Commissioner Dean's voice issues.
  • Highlighted Mount Walker incident, Port Hadlock response; ongoing JeffCom director recruitment.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Approve the public safety telecommunicators week proclamation."
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes).
  • Next Steps: No next steps specified.

Pavement Marking Services Bids (2023-2025)

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:25:54–01:32:03 (PART 1)
  • Categories: infrastructure, contracts

Summary

Bids opened for 3-year pavement marking on county roads (excl. paint/West End); engineer's est. $542,599. SPM bid $615,320; Stripe Rite $616,891 (both over est., total >$1M w/paint). Staff to review for award recommendation.

Key Discussion Points

  • Simplified bidding (linear mile paint only).
  • Annual work essential for road safety.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Call for bids Mar 13; paint county-paid.

Financials

  • Engineer's est.: $542,599 (excl. paint).
  • SPM: $615,320 (3 yrs).
  • Stripe Rite: $616,891.20 (3 yrs).
  • Total w/paint: >$1M (road ops budget).

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Bids opened; staff review.
  • No Vote: Informational opening.
  • Next Steps: Staff recommendation for award.

Aggregate Supply for BST Bids (2023-2024)

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:40:19–01:43:35 (PART 1)
  • Categories: infrastructure, contracts

Summary

Bids opened for 2-year aggregate supply for bituminous surface treatment (opt. extend); est. $513,397. Northwest Rock $480,000; Bruch & Bruch $524,118. Staff to review.

Key Discussion Points

Recent process change to afternoon openings yielded strong local bids.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Call for bids Mar 20.

Financials

  • Est.: $513,397.
  • Northwest Rock: $480,000.
  • Bruch & Bruch: $524,118 (road ops budget).

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Bids opened; staff review.
  • No Vote.
  • Next Steps: Recommendation for award.

Repeal of COVID-19 Emergency Declarations and New Personnel Policies

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:55:38–03:00:05 (PART 1)
  • Categories: personnel, ordinances, public safety

Summary

Board repealed Resolutions 12-20 (emergency declaration) and 49-22 (13th temp COVID policy), replacing with Appendix I: Temporary Health/Safety Workplace Requirements emphasizing stay home when sick, handwashing, optional masking for respiratory illness/source control/protection of vulnerable. Amended live to recommend practices, add remote work ref., mask bullets. Effective immediately post-federal PHE end (May 11, 2023).

Key Discussion Points

  • Ends virtual meetings mandate; encourages hybrid.
  • New policy: Stay home sick (remote possible per policy), handwashing, masks optional (protect self/family/vulnerable).
  • Debate on masking efficacy/source control; public comment cited Cochrane review.
  • Legal review by prosecutors.

Public Comments

  • Mr. Schumacher: Opposed mask source control claims per Cochrane; favored personal choice.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • Repeals align w/Gov. Inslee order end (Oct 2022), fed PHE (May 2023).
  • Appendix I details sick leave, L&I compliance.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Amended: "Recommended practices" vs mandatory; added mask bullets, remote ref.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Repeal resolution number 12-20... and repeal and replace resolution number 49-22... with new temporary personnel policies as amended today." (Res. 16-23)
  • Vote: Unanimous.
  • Next Steps: No next steps specified.

Background Materials

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AI Information