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12/11/23 09 AM: Busy Board: SMP Geoduck Hearing, BOE Appointments, Health Update

Busy Board: SMP Geoduck Hearing, BOE Appointments, Health Update

County Board meeting featured diverse public comments on SMP geoduck permits, inflation, pool, safety, and resolutions. Appointed Joseph Langjar and Joanie Blanchard to Board of Equalization unanimously. Health Officer updated on stable respiratory illnesses, emphasizing vaccines and isolation protocols. Approved consent agenda excluding pulled fire marshal fees. Voted 2-1 to hold Jan 8 public hearing on Shoreline Master Program periodic review recommendations.

Public Comment Period

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:01:42–00:31:17 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, public safety, budgeting, personnel, operations, other

Summary

The Board opened public comment limited to 9:30 due to a busy agenda including Board of Equalization interviews, SMP recommendations, pool discussion, and budgets. Commenters addressed inflation/economic issues, SMP updates particularly geoduck aquaculture permitting and public hearings, Palestine solidarity resolution, road safety at Paradise Bay/Route 104, pool relocation/repair feasibility, fire inspection fees, Board of Equalization roles, and shellfish wages/employment. The Board responded collectively, noting upcoming agenda items for SMP, pool, and budgets, pulling fire fees from consent, interest in solidarity resolution similar to Seattle's, and commitment to public input.

Key Discussion Points

  • Chair Brotherton: Cut public comment at 9:30; previewed agenda (BOE interviews, SMP at 10:30 with hearing decision, pool at 3pm, budgets); will respond after all comments.
  • Fritz (public): Congratulated Commissioner Dean on House run; claimed inflation at 10%+ due to calculation changes under Greenspan; criticized wages/housing affordability.
  • Marilyn Showalter: Urged SMP public hearing; noted 700-800 pages with <1 business day review; 91+ letters oppose Planning Commission geoduck recommendation (11 tons PVC/acre discriminatory); low tideland taxes ($20/front foot vs. $2,000+ uplands), low wages, mechanical harvesting application.
  • Andrew (Palestine Solidarity): Requested resolution update; noted 10,000+ deaths since prior request.
  • John Fabian: Urged SMP public input process; referenced past successes blocking industrial projects.
  • Cynthia Cohen (Planning Commissioner): Opposed non-standard CUPs for geoduck expansions/conversions; urged full public review/hearing.
  • Vince Santiago: Supported SMP scrutiny; cited tideland aesthetic destruction, low taxes, permit circumventions (letters of permission, pea gravel dumping), eelgrass/forage fish/salmon/whale impacts; suggested moratorium.
  • Margaret Taylor (BOE member): Overview of BOE role in fair market value assessments vs. revenue needs.
  • Public (fire fees): Pulled consent item 1; first public exposure, undefined terms (hot work, solar panels), no process.
  • Dan Meade: Paradise Bay/Route 104 safety (accidents, speed post-bridge); suggested radar speed sign.
  • Seranis: Pool questions (relocation feasibility, repair impossibility, scaling without tax).
  • Gordon King: Defended shellfish wages/jobs as good stepping stones.
  • Chair Brotherton/Deans/Eisenhower: Pulled fire fees; SMP/BOE/pool later; interest in Seattle-style solidarity resolution; complex Mideast issues; more public input desired.

Public Comments

  • Fritz: Inflation/economics.
  • Marilyn Showalter: SMP hearing, geoduck opposition.
  • Andrew: Palestine resolution.
  • John Fabian: SMP process.
  • Cynthia Cohen: SMP CUPs.
  • Vince Santiago: SMP scrutiny.
  • Margaret Taylor: BOE overview.
  • Unnamed: Fire fees pull.
  • Dan Meade: Road safety.
  • Seranis: Pool issues.
  • Gordon King: Shellfish employment.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Public comments closed; responses noted; fire fees pulled from consent; SMP hearing decision at 10:30, pool at 3pm.
  • No Vote.
  • Next Steps: Proceed to BOE interviews at 9:30.

Board of Equalization Appointments

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:37:36–00:48:20 (PART 1)
  • Categories: personnel

Summary

The Board interviewed two applicants for the Board of Equalization (BOE) to fill vacancies amid time-critical meetings; current BOE member Margaret Taylor provided overview emphasizing fair market value assessments and distinction from policy/taxes. Applicants Joseph Langjar (former Bellevue Board of Adjustment) and Joanie Blanchard (former NY State Taxation/Finance) affirmed commitment to time/rules/review, no prior appeals, acceptance of market-based hardships, and relevant experience. The Board appointed both unanimously as full members to build bench strength.

Key Discussion Points

  • Margaret Taylor (BOE): BOE ensures equal FMV/tax application; 3-7 members, $100/meeting; seeks detail-oriented non-policy members.
  • Chair Brotherton: 3-7 members/alternates; time-critical (meetings this week); questions on time commitment, prior appeals, market hardships, interest/experience.
  • Joseph Langjar: Yes to time/review; no appeals; yes to market basis; Bellevue Adjustment experience resolving conflicts.
  • Joanie Blanchard: Yes to time/review; considered but no appeal; yes to protocol; off-season flexibility, NY Taxation experience, enjoys laws/judgment.
  • Commissioners: Appoint both for diversity/bench; budget minor; majority/quorum needs 3; rare 2-1 votes, work to consensus.

Public Comments

  • No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Email from Caroline with 3 questions; applications reviewed.

Financials

$100/meeting; minor budget impact if adding members.

Alternatives & Amendments

Appoint one/both or as alternate.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Appoint Joseph Langjar and Joanie Blanchard to BOE.
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes: Brotherton, Eisenhower, Dean).
  • Next Steps: First meeting 12:30 today; closed session deliberations noted but clarified no votes in closed session per OPMA.

Health Officer Update

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:48:40–01:18:19 (PART 1)
  • Categories: public safety, services

Summary

Health Officer Dr. Jessica Barry updated on respiratory illnesses: low local flu/RSV despite state rise (possibly high vaccination rates); COVID downtrending (2 hospitalizations/week, 43 total deaths, mostly unvaccinated elderly/comorbid); protocols: stay home 5 days if positive, mask to day 10; household exposure: mask 10 days if negative. Emphasized vaccines, masking indoors, staying home when sick; addressed KPTZ questions (Pfizer availability, holiday risks, deaths at JHC, multi-organ impacts, long COVID, post-infection immunity ~90 days, mpox). Noted RSV/flu risks to vulnerable; updated fact sheets on website.

Key Discussion Points

  • Dr. Barry: Local respiratory stable; high flu vax rates; no quarantine, 5-day isolation + mask to 10; high-risk settings stricter; population immunity/treatments reduced severity; RSV vax for 60+/pregnant/infants short supply.
  • Commissioner Dean: Mortality pathways, variant evolution; protocol refresh.
  • Chair Brotherton: Immunocompromised prolonged illness.
  • Dr. Barry (Q&A): Omicron severity similar but immunity/treatments better; no precymptomatic spread now; church/masked gatherings safer; stay home if sick key; COVID whole-body/long COVID risk additive; 90-day post-infection protection; mpox clade differences, vax available.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Public health website fact sheets; vaccine locators.

Financials

RSV vax costly sans Medicare Part D (up to $200).

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Informational update.
  • No Vote.
  • Next Steps: Next update January 2; warming shelters query deferred.

Consent Agenda Approval (Minus Fire Marshal Fees)

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:18:46–01:23:46 (PART 1)
  • Categories: budgeting, contracts, personnel, planning, operations

Summary

The Board approved the consent agenda minus item 1 (fire marshal fees, pulled per public request for process/discussion). Items included Chimacum Drainage facilitation amendment, ICAP adoption, road load limits, MRC youth seat, juvenile detention ILA, opioid fiscal oversight, prosecutor software, ARPA redirection for KPTZ tower, bond counsel, social services contract, various change orders/RFPs/appointments/payroll. Noted substantive items like youth on MRC, conservation futures timing, housing RFP $194k, hoarding task force interest.

Key Discussion Points

  • Chair Brotherton: Pull #1 (fire fees); approve rest.
  • Commissioner Eisenhower: Conservation futures PDFs via related docs; MRC youth seat; housing RFP.
  • Commissioner Dean: Code compliance social services innovative; hoarding task force.

Public Comments

Earlier public pulled fire fees (first exposure, undefined, solar/hot work concerns).

Supporting Materials Referenced

Agenda packet items detailed (e.g., fire fees pulled; Chimacum $16k add; ICAP 16.14%; etc.).

Financials

Various: Chimacum +$16k; housing RFP $194k; prosecutor software $86k; ARPA $65k redirect; etc. No net new discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Approve consent minus #1.
  • Vote: Unanimous.
  • Next Steps: Fire fees reschedule; Phil Cecere presentation.

Shoreline Master Program (SMP) Periodic Review

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:24:40–03:06:37 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, land use, permits, ordinances

Summary

Staff/consultants presented SMP periodic review (since 2020): geoduck aquaculture CUPs mixed by type/SED (new all CUPs, conversions/expansions discretionary in sensitive zones), buffer reforms (modest home nonconforming lots, common line conforming/views), SDP to Type II. Planning Commission recommended 7-1 after public input/ecology review. Board questioned process gaps, CUP types (Type II discretionary vs. Type III standard hearing), other regs (Army Corps, HPA exempt), voted after comment to hold Jan 8 hearing.

Key Discussion Points

  • Josh Peters/Lisa/ Amy: Timeline (task force 2020, ecology 2022, PC 2023); geoduck CUP table by type/SED; buffers clarified; ecology final say; CUP types county choice (all to ecology).
  • Richard Hull (PC Chair): Geoduck focus; aesthetics addressed, envtl by fed/state; discretionary CUPs for flexibility/oversight.
  • Commissioners: Process gaps; CUP differences (time/cost/flexibility); other regs (Corps nationwide/individual/LOP, WDFW exempt, farm registration); eelgrass; site potential trees deferred; modest/common line.
  • Public earlier/preview: Hearing for geoduck CUPs, PVC impacts, taxes, views.

Public Comments

  • Mike Schultz (PC): Full CUPs/setbacks.
  • Ernie World (Taylor Shellfish): Multi-layer regs/public periods; enforcement exists.
  • Greg (PC): CUPs not Mason; limited access.
  • Marilyn Showalter: Corps LOP evades process.
  • Kim Thompson (PC Shellfish Growers): Accept; workable.
  • Tyler Edgar (for Ralph Riccio): Support accept; small farmer permitting burdens.
  • Darlene: CUPs needed; plastics/habitat loss.
  • Jan Wold: Standard CUPs; low taxes/China export.
  • Michael: Support hearing.
  • Lisa Karl-Solomon (Rock Point Oyster): Accept but tweaks.
  • Steve Ditmar: Environmental stasis; hearing.
  • Roxanne Julian: Hearing; tribal rights.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Staff report; ecology comments/checklist/SEPA; PC hearing responses; WAC/RCW; consultants' memos/options; Jamestown S'Klallam support.

Financials

CUP costs higher Type III (hearing examiner ~$2.5k+); no county fiscal diff.

Alternatives & Amendments

Accept PC rec (to ecology); hearing Jan 8 (then ecology review/comment).

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Hold public hearing.
  • Vote: 2-1 (Ayes: Brotherton, Dean; Nay: Eisenhower).
  • Next Steps: Jan 8 hearing; consultant extension next week; ecology submittal post-adoption.

Background Materials

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