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10/20/23 11 AM: Community Debrief, Strategic Plan Update, Department Rounds

Community Debrief, Strategic Plan Update, Department Rounds

County meeting covered community conversation debriefs on safety/erosion issues, 2024-2028 Strategic Plan implementation plans, and department updates on staffing, projects, and operations.

Debrief on Community Conversations

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:01:25.524–00:16:40.600 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, public safety, operations, services

Summary

Participants debriefed recent community conversations held across the county, highlighting productive discussions at the West End meeting despite low attendance in some locations. Key issues raised included outdated tsunami warning signs directing evacuees to a gated logging road, erosion along the Hoh River affecting property values, challenges at Kalaloch Campground due to coastal erosion requiring multi-year planning with Olympic National Park, and fire service gaps on the West End where a new fire hall exists but lacks staffing. The group discussed strategies to improve future engagement, such as area-specific topics, pre-meeting surveys, collaboration with community organizers, and balanced agendas to draw larger crowds without focusing solely on single issues.

Key Discussion Points

  • Jeff (Assessor): West End meeting productive; noted outdated tsunami signs at South Beach Campground leading to gated logging road; discussed Kalaloch erosion impacting cabins, campground, and lodge; Hoh River erosion causing property losses, e.g., Fletchers' farm.
  • Greg (Commissioner): West End model for engagement with representation from tribes, residents, fire chief; learned from community; Brinnon meeting well-attended due to organizers.
  • Apple (Public Health): Positive tribal engagement with Maria; potential Board of Health member; land subsidence presentation at Board of Health.
  • Stacy: Good crowd at West End compared to others; thanked Carolyn for logistics.
  • Heidi: Worthwhile cross-section of attendees; retreat-like for leaders.
  • Suggestions for future: Area-specific promotion (Apple, Heidi), pre-meeting surveys (Stacy), involve city council in Port Townsend (unattributed), avoid election year gaps.
  • Jeff: West End fire services unresolved; new fire hall on Hoh reservation unstaffed; DNR fights non-structure fires only; opportunity for tribal partnership.
  • Apple: Public health climate/emergency work to support West End response training.

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: No formal action; informal commitment to after-action review for future planning.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Send ideas to Greg for after-action; consider community conversations in non-election years; no next steps specified.

2024-2028 County Strategic Plan Update

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:16:40.600–00:30:46.994 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, operations, personnel

Summary

Heidi provided an update on the finalized 2024-2028 Strategic Plan, now posted on the county homepage under quick links, and suggested developing an implementation plan with a task force for tracking performance measures. Discussion focused on using county coordination meetings for ongoing check-ins, flexibility in timelines due to departmental burdens especially on Public Health and Community Development, and creating a public dashboard via consultants. Participants noted the plan's emphasis on certain departments, value in cross-departmental awareness, and alignment with existing work plans.

Key Discussion Points

  • Heidi: Plan online; need implementation task force for tracking; conversation-based progress checks (page 22); performance measures align with existing work; Mark to follow up on consultant dashboard.
  • Apple (Public Health): Suggest coordination meetings as venue; heavy burden on Public Health/CD; timelines malleable per consultants; resource gaps county-wide.
  • Josh (TCD): Consultants offered dashboard; caution on public perception of delays.
  • Jeff (Assessor): Plan leans to appointed departments; Assessor priorities (e.g., revenue) not included; prefers not dominating coordination meetings.
  • Stacy (Treasurer): Nexus to soft skills like diversity, accessibility; wants involvement.
  • Joe: Important for all to know departmental struggles for support.
  • Greg: Take feedback to Mark; discuss coordination meeting role.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

2024-2028 Strategic Plan posted on county homepage (quick links); referenced page 22 for tracking activities. Supporting materials not provided for analysis.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Coordination meetings as standing agenda item for implementation check-ins (floated by Apple); dashboard for dynamic tracking (Josh, Heidi).

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No formal action; agreement to discuss implementation role at next coordination meeting.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps:
  • Mark to contract consultants for dashboard tool.
  • Discuss at next county coordination meeting.

Department Roundtable Updates

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:30:46.994–01:07:06.556 (PART 1)
  • Categories: operations, infrastructure, personnel, planning, public safety, services, contracts

Summary

Department heads provided updates on staffing challenges, key projects, and operational issues during the roundtable. Highlights included Public Works' progress on $35M Port Hadlock sewer, solid waste staffing shortages and software switch, TCD's shoreline master program nearing board transmittal and 2025 comprehensive plan update, special projects on stock plans/lunch-and-learns, short-term rentals, and CPACER rollout, Public Health's foundation funding use/school health centers/emergency prep, and general themes of burnout, communication needs, and inter-department support. Emphasis on collaboration amid turnover, software transitions like Intergov, and upcoming events like drug take-back.

Key Discussion Points

  • Heidi: Overloaded (31 committees); transit/rain resources; derelict boats concern.
  • Sarah (HR): Support between departments amid turnover/workload cycles.
  • Brenda (Auditor): Elections ballots out; full staffing via HR; good state audits; KPTZ radio show.
  • Judge Walker/Brian (District Court): New hires; direct lost jurors to 2nd floor.
  • Amanda (Court's Office): Posted new position; HR helpful.
  • Monty (Public Works): Port Hadlock sewer earthwork/bids ($35M); solid waste shortages/closure Oct 30-Nov 1 for software switch; roads/parks projects (Oak Bay electrical).
  • Stacy (Treasurer): Swamped fixing fires; burnout/stress; better broad messaging post-incident (e.g., HR EAP).
  • Jeff (Assessor): 27K change notices; levy prep; taxpayer fairness.
  • Josh (TCD): Staffing recovery (4 new, consultants); lend planner to Public Health; shoreline master program to board post-PC Nov 1; 2025 comp plan; HB 1181 climate; Title 15 amendments; fire marshal inspections; sewer/UGA/Housing.
  • Brent (Special Projects): 6 projects (STRs, stock plans lunch-and-learns, FEMA audit, UGA grants ~$6M, CPACER rollout, water system plan).
  • Apple (Public Health): Intergov delays/painful; foundation funding; school health center; emergency/climate/behavioral health; staffing/succession.
  • Sheriff Noble: Drug take-back Oct 28 (QFCs, Brinnon FD); no syringes.
  • Jeff: Intergov status query.
  • Greg: Heartbreak/communication; care for staff.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

  • Port Hadlock sewer: $35 million.
  • UGA zoning grants: ~$6 million applications due end of month.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No formal actions; updates informational; noted inter-department lending (TCD planner to Public Health).
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps:
  • Public Works: Transfer station closure Oct 30-Nov 1; sewer bids.
  • TCD: Shoreline to board post-Nov 1 PC vote; 2025 update announcement; Title 15 amendments Monday; HB 1181 meeting next week.
  • Special Projects: STR kickoff next week; lunch-and-learns end Oct/early Nov; grant apps end month; CPACER rollout via Chamber.
  • Auditor: KPTZ show 12:20.
  • Sheriff: Drug take-back Oct 28, 10am-2pm.
  • Intergov: Updates via Scott/Sherry/Mark; next meeting.
  • No next steps specified for most.

Background Materials

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