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05/28/24 09 AM: Food Bank Defense, Shelter Woes, Bay Expansion, Grants Approved

Food Bank Defense, Shelter Woes, Bay Expansion, Grants Approved

Jefferson County Commissioners meeting covered public comments defending food bank operations amid rodent and leadership issues while criticizing homeless shelter conditions (blocked facilities, noise, rodents). Consent agenda approved including road projects and waste updates. Reports on housing funds, pools, opioids. DNR presented Dabob Bay Natural Area expansion for carbon sequestration, strongly supported. Approved support letter for $1.47M invasive species restoration grant. Adopted legislative rules ordinance. Approved $2,500 Little League sponsorship and program development. Updated on emergency shelter transition to Bayside at Legion site with funding secured.

Public Comments on Food Bank and Homeless Shelter Issues

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:01:34–00:15:31 (PART 1)
  • Categories: services, operations, other

Summary

Patricia Hennessey, Executive Director of Jefferson County Food Bank Association (JCFBA), provided public comment defending the organization's leadership transition, planned forensic audit, increased service to 3,200 households monthly, food sourcing practices, rodent mitigation efforts with health district and pest control, and capital improvement plans while criticizing former members for false allegations. Maggie criticized shelter conditions including blocked showers, duct-taped toilets, lack of cooking facilities, noise violations, rodent issues blamed on residents, and isolation of individuals with doctor's notes, introducing two men with war and housing expertise. Commissioners responded thanking speakers, expressing support for food bank audit and updates, plans for capital projects, advocacy for permanent supportive housing funding ($2.5 million secured), and intent to include lived experience voices and landlords in policy council.

Key Discussion Points

  • Patricia Hennessey/JCFBA: Hired November 2023 after board vote; board officers retired, two resigned; forensic audit approved pre-media/IRS contact; serves 3,200 households/month (up 600 YTD); rodent issue in dry storage ongoing, working with health district/pest control; capital improvements needed without jeopardizing food/staffing.
  • Maggie: Cannot resolve homelessness with inadequate facilities (showers blocked, toilets duct-taped, no cooking/adequate bathrooms, rodent issues, noise violations); supports permanent supportive housing; referenced Stunts Turtle and Dr. Charles on war/housing.
  • Commissioner Dean: Invited Hennessey; invited to food bank meeting; not abandoning Cool Thing building.
  • Commissioner Eisenhour: Supportive of permanent supportive housing; operational costs challenge; checked showers (hot water available); envisions policy council with lived experience and landlords.
  • Commissioner Brotherton: Grateful for food bank work; infrastructure challenges county-wide; new shelter building in progress.

Public Comments

  • Patricia Hennessey/JCFBA: Detailed organizational changes, audit, services, rodent/capital issues, criticized former members.
  • Maggie: Criticized shelter inadequacies, supported permanent housing, introduced war/housing experts.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

  • Food bank: Serves 3,200 households/month, up 600; grants/partnerships for food; capital improvements funding needed.
  • Shelter: $2.5 million secured for permanent supportive housing; $8 billion state set-aside referenced.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Commissioners thanked speakers; invited food bank updates; supported housing advocacy/policy council.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Patricia invited to next food bank meeting; commissioners to attend; workshop after audit/planning; shelter coalition with lived experience/landlords.

Consent Agenda Approval

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:15:31–00:20:40 (PART 1)
  • Categories: operations, infrastructure, budgeting, personnel

Summary

The consent agenda was approved unanimously without items pulled for discussion. Items included Van Trojen Road bituminous surface treatment project, household hazardous waste updates (Kitsap collaboration, North Kitsap facility 2025), Noxious Weed Control Board resignation (3 seats vacant), and routine matters. Discussion noted excitement for road project, hazardous waste access improvements, and board recruitment challenges.

Key Discussion Points

  • Van Trojen Road: Bituminous surface treatment (chip seal); book reference to bitumen; inefficient production noted.
  • Household Hazardous Waste: Kitsap accepts anytime (Bremerton); North Kitsap facility 2025; events overcrowded, larger planned.
  • Noxious Weed Board: Resignation noted; 3 vacancies; recruitment anecdote (poison hemlock).
  • Limited discussion; items addressed primarily through supporting materials.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • Van Trojen Road project: Capital project for 1.22-mile gravel-to-chip seal conversion; $154,600 Road Fund; 2025 by county forces; TIP Item #17.
  • Household Hazardous Waste ILA: $55/customer, max $13,750/year Solid Waste Fund; Kitsap SK/NK facilities.
  • Noxious Weed Board: Resignation (District 2?); vacancies.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Consent agenda is adopted."
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes by all).
  • No next steps specified.

Commissioner Weekly Reports and Briefings

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:20:40–00:45:04 (PART 1)
  • Categories: operations, planning, personnel, services

Summary

Commissioners shared weekly activities including task force findings on pool options, chamber/visitor center staffing, historical society meeting, senior projects, housing fund recommendations ($101,000 shelter + recording fees), Legion shelter operator transition to Bayside, opioid webinar emphasizing lived experience, timber collaborative zoning, trust land transfer, library trustees, transit website, and canal fish barrier research. Briefing planned for DNR on Dabob Bay Natural Area.

Key Discussion Points

  • Pool Task Force: Findings/recommendations emerging; geographically representative group.
  • Housing/Shelter: $101,000 Housing Fund to shelter; Legion amenable to Bayside operations.
  • Opioid Funding: Lived experience key; summit Thursday.
  • Canal Barriers: Few juvenile steelhead tagged; $2.5M extension; predation issues (seals, sea lions).
  • Commissioner Eisenhour: Canal tour; fish barriers effective but temporary.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

  • Housing Fund: $101,000 shelter + 2 recording fee tranches.
  • Canal study: $2.5M additional.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action; informational.
  • No next steps specified.

Dabob Bay Natural Area Expansion Presentation

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:45:04–01:37:36 (PART 1)
  • Categories: land use, planning, other

Summary

DNR presented proposal to expand Dabob Bay Natural Area (7,758 acres NAP/NRCA) by ~671 acres trust lands (606 state forest transfer, 65 common school) identified as carbon sequestration forests per 2023 proviso, adjacent to existing area with heritage features near federal lands. Process includes Natural Heritage verification, TLT for trust lands, public hearing June 17 (Coyle CC), comments to June 25, commissioner decision July. County letter Aug 7, 2023 requested initiation. Public supported; commissioners questioned marbled murrelet exclusion, tribal consultation, recreation access.

Key Discussion Points

  • Kristen Ohlson-Kiehn/DNR: NAP (total protection) vs NRCA (low-impact use); history expansions 1984/2009/2015/2017; 2023 proviso 2,000 acres carbon forests (Van Pelt definition); Jefferson 671 acres green polygons; excludes 40-acre murrelet site (fire/school district); protects rhododendron forests.
  • Commissioner Eisenhour: Structurally complex vs sequestration rates; TLT replacement lands in county.
  • Public (Cindy Brass, Peter Dales/Northwest Watershed Institute, Sindy): Strong support; globally rare rhododendron forest; TLT compensates taxing districts; tribes supportive since 2020; CCA funding available.
  • Recreation: NRCA allows low-impact access; new Olympic region manager assessing.

Public Comments

  • Cindy Brass/Port Townsend: Strongly supports expansion/carbon sequestration.
  • Peter Dales/Northwest Watershed Institute: Supports; protects rare rhododendron; TLT/CCA funding; tribes supportive.
  • Sindy/Port Townsend/Climate Action Committee: Consistent with GHG inventory/carbon goals.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Packet: County letter Aug 7, 2023 supported expansion for TLT/legacy forests/economic benefits; DNR maps/history; public hearing May 29-June 25.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

DNR proposal excludes murrelet/Debay West vs county map; added small polygons for core.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action; informational; commissioners supportive.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Public hearing June 17 (6pm Coyle CC); comments to June 25; commissioner decision early-mid July; tribal consultation by DNR/county.

Pulling Together in Restoration Phase 6 Grant Support

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:38:34–02:09:27 (PART 1)
  • Categories: operations, planning, infrastructure

Summary

Jill Silver/10,000 Years Institute presented Phase 6 ($1.47M grant request) for invasive control (Scotch broom 1,000 acres/year, knotweed/reed canarygrass/spotted jewelweed), revegetation, workforce (25 FTEs), education in west Jefferson (Hoh/Goodman/Owl creeks/Lindner). Board approved letter of support; discussed east county expansion, biocontrol beetles, flame cap kilns vs burn barrels, noxious weed board role.

Key Discussion Points

  • Jill Silver: Invasives along roads/rivers; supports Hoh resiliency/Lindner/Upper Hoh restorations; satellite/drone imagery; biocontrol success; char from broom/thinnings; east county proposal via Puget Sound Partnership.
  • Commissioners: Support letter; east expansion via noxious board; flame cap kilns (pyrolysis/char) vs barrels; biocontrol host-specific.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Packet: $1.655M total ($1.47M request); crews/GIS/coord; Jefferson WRIA 21; Hoh roads weed-free.

Financials

  • Grant request: $1,473,670; total budget $1,655,070.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: "Approve and sign this letter of support as presented."
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes).
  • Next Steps: Send letter; east program via noxious board/Puget Sound Partnership.

Adoption of Ordinance on Legislative Action Rules

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:46:16–02:57:51 (PART 1)
  • Categories: ordinances

Summary

Board adopted ordinance (as revised) establishing rules for ordinances/resolutions/motions: ordinances for permanent rules/hearings; resolutions policy; motions informal; PA approval pre-notice/PC hearing; one subject/title; codification. Revisions clarified PC recommendation transmitted post-PA review.

Key Discussion Points

  • Philip Hunsucker: Revisions per May 6 testimony; DCD/Josh Peters: passive voice "before PC recommendation submitted to BoCC."
  • Approved as clarified.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Packet: Drafts/revisions; hearings Apr 8/May 6; JCC 18.45; RCW 36.32.120(7).

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

Revisions: "Before a planning commission recommendation is submitted to the board"; "public hearing by the planning commission."

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Ordinance adopted as amended.
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes).
  • No next steps specified.

East Jefferson Little League Sponsorship and Program Creation

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:58:39–03:08:52 (PART 1)
  • Categories: budgeting, services

Summary

Board approved $2,500 sponsorship for EJLL hosting WA District 2 Little League tournament (June 29+; multi-county youth); no in-kind (PW capacity). Directed staff develop formal annual program ($10k General Fund) with guidelines (nonprofit, limits, events?).

Key Discussion Points

  • Mark McCauley: Tournament multi-county; PW no capacity; $10k program replace prior parks grants.
  • Banner/sign recognition suggested.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

  • $2,500 to EJLL; proposed $10k/year General Fund.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Approve $2,500; develop program.
  • Vote: Unanimous (Ayes) both motions.
  • Next Steps: Staff develop guidelines (nonprofit/events? first-come?); research prior guidelines/other counties.

Emergency Shelter Operations Update

Metadata

  • Time Range: 03:38:02–04:02:25 (PART 1)
  • Categories: operations, services, personnel

Summary

OlyCAP exits June 30; Legion amenable to 3-way MOU with county/Bayside (county rent/utilities, Bayside operations). Housing Fund $101k + recording fees year 1; Bayside board decides Wed; coalition Thu; policy council with lived experience/landlords. Public (Maggie) raised noise (Legion parties to 3am), rodents, facilities (showers/toilets blocked).

Key Discussion Points

  • Greg Brotherton: Legion mtg Thu; Bayside interested (budget review); coalition/policy council.
  • Heather Dalino/Bayside: Due diligence staffing/funding; Legion mtg needed; day space idea.
  • Gary Keister/Bayside: Adequate funding/staffing essential; faith groups meals; commerce/NAEH funding.
  • Judy Shepherd: Commerce no extra funds.
  • Maggie: Legion noise/parties to 3am; rodents/BBQ; blocked showers/toilet; no sleep/eat/shower.

Public Comments

  • Maggie: Legion noise/parties violate ordinance; rodents from BBQ; facilities inadequate.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Packet: OlyCAP exit June 30; Fund 149/budget; workshop May 20.

Financials

Housing Fund: $101k + tranches year 1; full staffing budgeted.

Alternatives & Amendments

Bayside vs prior faith-based.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action; update/informational.
  • Vote: None.
  • Next Steps: Bayside board Wed; coalition Thu 11am; CAM date TBD; MOU revisions.

Background Materials

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