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05/22/23 04 PM: Strategic Workshop: Data Scan, SWOT, Mission, Priorities Brainstorm

Strategic Workshop: Data Scan, SWOT, Mission, Priorities Brainstorm

Jefferson County workshop covered environmental scan highlighting housing affordability crisis, SWOT analysis, mission/vision/core values brainstorming, and strategic priorities like public safety, economy, climate resilience. No votes; staff to refine drafts.

Strategic Planning Workshop: Environmental Scan and Data Review

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:09:40.962–01:04:34.011 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, operations, services

Summary

Facilitators presented an environmental scan summarizing demographic, economic, and community data, including population trends, high median home values ($362,300 assessed, $565,400 sales price), child poverty (21.6%), aging population (39% over 65), and workforce sectors (health care dominant at 12%). Community input from surveys, social pinpoint (4,000 visits, 1,101 comments), interviews (50+), and employee focus groups highlighted housing affordability as the top concern, followed by transportation, public safety, and environment. Employee survey data reinforced priorities like public safety, effective government, and housing challenges, with financial strains noted such as median rent over $1,000 against low incomes.

Key Discussion Points

  • Housing repeatedly cited as primary issue in community and employee input; median mortgage $2,054, sales prices comparable to state average.
  • Unidentified speaker: Noted surprise at low natural resources employment (12%) despite county identity.
  • Commissioners discussed child poverty data, income disparities (median $57k vs. state), and broadband access (87.7%).
  • Rankings from social pinpoint: transportation #1, public safety #2, environment #3; employees ranked public safety #1, effective government #2.
  • Jefferson County ranked #5 best county for retirees, #3 in Washington for retirees.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Employee survey summary: Public safety top priority (10.11 score); challenges include high cost of living/housing (89.88%); areas to improve: housing (109 checks), community development (79). Community input via social pinpoint emphasized housing, trails, nature preservation.

Financials

  • Median home sales price: $565,400 (Jefferson County), ~$569,000 (state).
  • Median household income: $57k (below state).
  • Median rent: >$1,000; mortgage: $2,054.
  • Child poverty threshold: <$3,000/family income (2023 numbers); 21.6% of children in poverty.
  • No new financial commitments discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action taken; informational session to inform planning.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Proceed to SWOT analysis; staff to refine data Friday.

Strategic Planning Workshop: SWOT Analysis

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:05:09.697–01:32:57.264 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, operations

Summary

Group reviewed and added to pre-filled SWOT: strengths (natural beauty, public safety, heritage, sense of place); weaknesses (housing affordability, permitting delays, employee retention, disjointed facilities); opportunities (remote work/telecommuting, forest innovation, new products); threats/challenges (climate change, GMA constraints, regressive taxes, aging volunteers, income inequality). Discussion emphasized housing as both weakness and opportunity, employee retention linked to cost of living, and need for clearer growth definitions.

Key Discussion Points

  • Additions: Preserve heritage/sense of place (strength); income inequality, employee retention (challenge/weakness); telecommuting (opportunity); climate change, state taxes, GMA (threats).
  • Unidentified commissioner: Noted lack of clarity on desired growth types.
  • Group flagged need for more demographic breakdowns by age in surveys.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Employee survey: Housing top improvement area; cost of living/wages key to retention. Community input: Desire for diversity, balanced growth.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action taken; additions noted for staff refinement.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Incorporate into mission/vision work; staff session Friday.

Strategic Planning Workshop: Mission Statement Brainstorm

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:32:57.264–01:48:49.946 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, personnel

Summary

Group brainstormed revisions to current mission, emphasizing support for thriving team/employees, delivery of services to residents, businesses, visitors, and natural world, innovation, sustainability for present/future generations, and helping people thrive/grow up and old.

Key Discussion Points

  • Key phrases: "Support a thriving team and delivering services to residents and businesses"; include natural world, all ages, innovation.
  • Unidentified speakers: Stress employees as front-line service providers; reference team inclusivity.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Current mission reviewed; employee survey stresses employee connection/service pride.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Draft mission using brainstormed words for Friday staff review.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Staff refines Friday; present draft to commissioners.

Strategic Planning Workshop: Vision and Focus Areas Brainstorm

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:48:59.045–02:13:29.749 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning

Summary

Participants used sticky notes for 5-10 year aspirations, grouped into columns: safe/healthy community (crime/SUD reduction), thriving people/families (housing, schools, childcare), robust/diverse economy (Port Hadlock UGA, jobs), climate/environment resilience (forests, sea level rise), infrastructure/transportation, organizational health (great place to work, collaboration).

Key Discussion Points

  • Emergent themes: Affordable housing, supported families, active forests, multimodal transport, stable staff.
  • Facilitator: Noted 8-9 potential focus areas; aim to narrow.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

None specifically; draws from prior scan.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Group columns as potential priorities; staff to refine.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Name/prioritize Friday; develop objectives/measures.

Strategic Planning Workshop: Core Values Refinement

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:13:45.615–02:23:33.526 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, personnel

Summary

Refined current values (integrity, accountability, etc.) into: trustworthy, equitable, engaged, collaborative, accessible/open, dedicated/service-oriented, purposeful/intentional; considered innovation/creativity, avoided buzzwords.

Key Discussion Points

  • Combined accountability/transparency; added equity/engaged from vision notes.
  • Unidentified speakers: Emphasize service, dedication; transparency as "open/accessible".

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Current values list reviewed.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Draft refined list for staff input Friday.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Staff weighs in Friday; finalize with commissioners.

Strategic Planning Workshop: Strategic Priorities and Objectives Brainstorm

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:23:39.417–03:22:45.586 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, operations, personnel, infrastructure, services

Summary

Narrowed to 6 priorities: safe/healthy community, thriving people/populations, robust economy, climate resilience/environment, organizational health, infrastructure/growth planning. Brainstormed objectives e.g., workforce housing, code enforcement, child care, business-friendly UGA, forest economy, employee wages/training/flexibility, sea level rise plans.

Key Discussion Points

  • Housing objectives: Sweat equity, regulate short-term rentals, fee waivers, LAMIRDs.
  • Economy: UGA development, workforce training, aquaculture protection.
  • Organizational: Competitive wages, Gallup Q12 engagement, IT improvements.
  • Unidentified commissioners/staff: Prioritize families/youth, infrastructure funding.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Employee survey: Flexible hours, cost adjustments top improvements; DCD overhaul needed.

Financials

No new figures; referenced prior data (e.g., $600k median sales).

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Housing: Relax rural zoning/ADUs, limit short-term rentals, land trusts.
  • Economy: Public-private partnerships, tourism sustainability.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action taken; raw brainstorm for staff to develop objectives/measures.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps:
  • Staff session Friday to layer objectives/performance measures.
  • Draft plan to commissioners for work session.
  • Final adoption TBD.

Strategic Planning Workshop: Process Feedback and Adjournment

Metadata

  • Time Range: 03:22:45.586–03:33:46.127 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning

Summary

Participants praised collaborative energy, hearing peers, non-"root canal" format; suggested more inclusivity, full-day structure. Expectations: Keep real for low-wage staff, employee-centric organizational health.

Key Discussion Points

  • Positive: Popcorn brainstorming, architecture without overload.
  • Unidentified commissioner: Value peer input over solo.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

None.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Adjourned meeting.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Staff Friday session; draft to commissioners.

Background Materials

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