MEETING: BoCC Special Meeting Chimacum Drainage at Thu, Aug 29, 01:00 PM

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JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING SUMMARY

Dissolution Hearing for Drainage District No. 1 (Chimacum Creek)

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:04:49.000–00:23:43.000
  • Agenda Item: Hearing to consider dissolution of Drainage District No. 1
  • Categories: infrastructure, operations, ordinances, planning

Topic Summary

The Board held the statutorily required annual public hearing to consider the dissolution of Drainage District No. 1 (Chimacum Creek Drainage District), which has been inactive functionally since the 1970s. Staff presented that the district had already been formally declared inactive via Resolution 35-23 the previous year, satisfying Washington State RCW criteria. Due to ongoing community outreach efforts, legal research regarding existing drainage easements, and pending funding for a management plan, staff recommended reaffirming the inactive status for another year rather than dissolving, reactivating, or repurposing the district immediately. The Board ultimately voted unanimously to reaffirm the inactive status to allow research and public outreach to conclude.

Key Discussion Points

  • Commissioner Eisenhour stated that the Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney's Office, led by Melissa Simon, has been researching 13 to 15 questions regarding other options for addressing drainage issues in the Chimacum Creek drainage district area (00:05:07.000).
  • Eisenhour noted that the WSU extension, the Conservation District, and other entities have worked with the facilitator, Peak Sustainability, to develop a plan for community outreach, but implementation is pending answers to the legal questions (00:05:32.000–00:06:04.000).
  • Mark, presumably Mark McCauley, stated the hearing was triggered by an annual memorandum from the Jefferson County Auditor indicating that the district appeared inactive, referencing RCW 36.96 regarding the dissolution of inactive special purpose districts (00:07:54.000–00:08:14.000).
  • Mark detailed the history: the district was formed in 1909 for drainage and flood control, no funds have been collected since mid-1960, and the governing body resigned in 1974 (00:08:54.000–00:09:20.000).
  • The three criteria for being declared inactive were met: not carrying out functions for five consecutive years (1974 to 2023), no election held, and being determined unauditable by the State Auditor (00:10:07.000–00:10:50.000).
  • Mark confirmed the Board declared the District inactive last year via Resolution 35-23 (00:11:20.000–00:11:27.000).
  • Melissa Simon (Civil Deputy Prosecuting Attorney) confirmed that despite the Board's previous action, the hearing was statutorily necessary due to the Auditor's notice, as the statute does not give leeway to not hold the hearing (00:13:08.000–00:13:13.000).
  • Melissa Simon also appreciated the clarification that the term "inactive" is defined by statute and refers to the criteria outlined (00:13:34.000–00:13:49.000).
  • Mark questioned whether discussions with the Auditor would be necessary next year to ask her to refrain from sending the notice if the issue remains unresolved, thereby preventing the annual hearing requirement from being triggered (00:14:33.000–00:14:49.000).
  • Commissioner Eisenhour noted that research is needed on the easements that make up the drainage district, stating that some easements are known, but others are not, and clarifying them is prudent as they represent "folks actual property rights" (00:16:19.000–00:17:01.000).
  • Commissioner Eisenhour also mentioned that there was stakeholder interest in establishing a new tool for addressing drainage issues in the Chimacum Valley, and questions remain about the necessary geographic area and potential funding mechanisms (00:17:31.000–00:17:57.000).
  • Joe Holt, Conservation District Manager, confirmed that an analysis of the stream and drainage district conditions and options was completed and published on the Conservation District website in June, funded through a county grant from the Department of Ecology (00:18:59.000–00:19:25.000).
  • Joe Holt stated they had just gotten started on a management plan required by the grant but ran out of money, though Mike Dawson indicated more funding would be secured (00:19:33.000–00:20:06.000).
  • Commissioner Dean asked if the additional funding secured was through the Clean Water District, and Joe Holt clarified it was from the Department of Ecology through a "padlock project" (00:21:45.000–00:21:56.000).

Public Comments

  • - Joe Holt, Manager, Jefferson County Conservation district: Stated that a thorough analysis of the stream and drainage district conditions and options was completed and published on their website in June 2024. The work was funded by the county through a grant from the Department of Ecology. They ran out of money just after starting the grant-required management plan, but further funding is anticipated.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • The primary purpose of the hearing was the potential dissolution of Drainage District No. 1 (Chimacum Creek Drainage District), which was triggered by a notice from the County Auditor based on the district meeting the criteria for "Inactive" status under RCW 36.96.010(3).
  • Staff recommendation was to reaffirm the inactive status rather than dissolving, reactivating, or repurposing, as the previously adopted Resolution 35-23 established the inactive status.
  • Key criteria referenced: The district failed to carry out its functions (five years), failed to hold an election (seven years), and was deemed unauditable by the State Auditor.

Financials

  • Stacey (County Auditor or representative) noted that her office is currently holding $1,200 related to the district and suggested action is needed to determine where that money should go (00:15:06.000–00:15:18.000).
  • Joe Holt reported that their work to analyze the stream and drainage district conditions was funded by the county through a Department of Ecology grant (00:19:19.000–00:19:25.000). Additional funding from the Department of Ecology for the management plan is anticipated (00:20:00.000–00:20:06.000).

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Alternatives discussed in staff recommendation (for future consideration):
    1. Dissolve the district.
    2. Reactivate the district in its current form.
    3. Repurpose the district for watershed management or other functions.
  • Decision made: The Board chose to reaffirm the existing inactive status to allow work to continue.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: The Board moved and seconded to reaffirm the finding from Resolution 35-23, keeping the Chimacum Creek Drainage District inactive for another year.
  • Vote: Unanimous. (Ayes: 3)
  • Next Steps:
  • - County staff (Legal/Administrator/Conservation District): Continue gathering information, including legal research on easements and completion of the community outreach process.
  • - Auditor/County Administrator: Discussion recommended regarding refraining from sending the annual inactive notice next year if the issue is still unresolved (00:14:33.000–00:14:49.000).
  • - Board of County Commissioners: Schedule another public hearing for a final decision regarding the future of the district once sufficient information is gathered (00:12:28.000–00:12:33.000).

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:00:00.000–00:00:00.000 (No discussion in transcript)
  • Agenda Item: Consent Agenda items
  • Categories: contracts, budgeting, operations, infrastructure, services, personnel

Topic Summary

The supporting materials indicate several substantive operational, financial, and contractual items that were scheduled for approval on the agenda. Since these items were not mentioned in the provided transcript segments, it is assumed they were handled without discussion as part of a routine consent agenda approval. Key elements included securing grants for Juvenile Court services, funding a new Public Health transition specialist, finalizing loan terms for a culvert project, establishing a new HR department, and approving grant prospectuses for the Olympic Discovery Trail and Paradise Bay Road Overlay.

Key Discussion Points

Limited discussion; item addressed primarily through supporting materials.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

The following items were found in the meeting packet and were likely approved on the consent agenda:

  1. Establishment of Human Resources Department (Department 065): Resolution to create a new General Fund Department 065 for HR to increase transparency of costs for three existing HR employees plus clerical support. Financials for the new budget separation begin in 2025.
  2. Washington State Public Works Board Loan Amendment: Approval of Amendment X to PWB Construction Loan Contract (PC22-96103-047) for the Snow Creek Road Culvert Replacement project. This officially reduced the loan from $500,000 to the actual used amount of $156,483.41 (final loan amount after 5% forgiveness: $148,659.24 at 0.25% interest). Repayment is through the County Road Fund.
  3. Lower Big Quilcene Floodplain Acquisitions (RCO SRFB Grant Amendment 6 and 7): Approval of Amendment 6 extending the project end date to March 31, 2025, and Amendment 7 adding the Hood Canal Salmon Enhancement Group (HCSEG) as a secondary sponsor to facilitate acquisition of the Saban parcel (APN #991200706). This does not change the total grant amount of $438,627.00.
  4. Juvenile and Family Court Services BECCA Funding Agreement (IAA25382): Approval to receive $30,235.00 from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to support Truancy, At Risk Youth (ARY), and Child in Need of Services (CHINS) matters.
  5. Juvenile and Family Court Services CASA-GAL Funding Agreement (IAA25347): Approval to receive $41,530.00 from the Administrative Office of the Courts (AOC) to support the CASA-GAL program for juvenile dependency cases.
  6. Public Health Program Agreement for School-to-Work Programs (DSHS-DVR): Approval of an agreement totaling $49,250.57 (Public Health Fund #127) to fund a new County Transition Specialist for high school students with intellectual/developmental disabilities (IDD).
  7. Rural Arterial Program Final Prospectus (Paradise Bay Road Overlay): Approval of the prospectus to secure a RATA grant of $1,291,500.00 toward the total estimated cost of $1,435,000.00 for the Paradise Bay Road Overlay project (2R asphalt overlay from MP 3.74 to MP 6.00).
  8. Olympic Discovery Trail – Anderson Lake Connection Project (WSDOT Prospectus): Authorization to sign the WSDOT prospectus to obligate Federal funding for the construction phase (3.15 miles, 10'–16' width). The total estimated construction cost is $4,621,415, with Federal Funds (STBGR Grant) contributing $1,519,332.

Financials

  • Total grant and loan amounts approved across the packet (excluding the Chimacum Drainage topic which had no change): $3,485,739.00 in new revenue and obligated loan/grant funding.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives were discussed per the transcript. All listed packet items indicated "None specified" for alternatives.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: All agenda items listed in the supporting materials, excluding the Chimacum Drainage District hearing, were approved (assumed via routine Consent Agenda approval, which is absent from the transcript).
  • Vote: Not recorded/not discussed in the transcript.
  • Next Steps: No next steps specified.

The meeting was adjourned at 00:23:47.000.

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