MEETING: Commissioners Meeting at Mon, Dec 02, 09:00 AM

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JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING SUMMARY

Procedural Opening and County Website Navigation

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:00:15.000–00:01:19.000
  • Agenda Item: Not Stated
  • Categories: operations, other

Topic Summary

The meeting of the Jefferson County Board of Commissioners was called to order following a holiday weekend. Commissioners noted the light agenda and potentially early adjournment. A reminder was issued to the public that agenda materials and the Zoom link for all meetings are best accessed via the calendar link at the bottom of the county’s homepage, with one Commissioner noting the positive appearance of the updated website.

Key Discussion Points

  • An expected "relatively light day" was noted, with the potential for wrapping up "by lunchtime" (00:00:45.000).
  • Commissioners acknowledged public difficulty finding agenda materials (00:00:55.000).
  • The best place to find the agenda materials and Zoom link is "the calendar at the bottom of the county's homepage" (00:01:03.000).

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

No action taken; item was informational. No next steps specified.

Public Comment on EV Charging Contract and Glass Recycling

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:02:26.000–00:05:33.000
  • Agenda Item: Consent Agenda Item (EVCS Contract) and Other Topics
  • Categories: contracts, services, infrastructure, public safety

Topic Summary

Tom Tarris provided public comment on two issues: the proposed contract with EVCS for Electric Vehicle (EV) chargers and the cessation of glass recycling. Regarding the EVCS contract, he commended the inclusion of a cap on electricity charges (18 cents per kilowatt hour profit margin) and the designation of connector choices. However, he raised concern about controlling public access to the planned county-exclusive parking spaces for chargers at locations like the QFC parking lot and the Courthouse, fearing potential conflicts. He also expressed regret over the end of glass recycling and suggested that eliminating the program may not result in the expected "potential savings" because most residents pay minimum dumping fees regardless of vehicle weight, thus generating no additional tipping fee revenue for the county from the heavy glass now going into the trash.

Key Discussion Points

  • Tom Tarris commented on the EVCS contract for additional chargers, noting approval of the 18 cents per kilowatt hour profit margin cap for electricity charged to the county (00:02:48.000).
  • Tarris noted the profit margin is pegged to the PUD base rate, which is expected to rise "substantially" next year due primarily to Bonneville costs (00:03:04.000–00:03:19.000).
  • Tarris questioned how the county will control public parking access for the "exclusively for county vehicle use" chargers planned for the QFC and Courthouse lots (00:03:49.000).
  • Tarris commented that the end of glass recycling (effective the previous day) is "really unfortunate" (00:04:37.000).
  • Tarris challenged the financial assumption that eliminating glass recycling would yield significant savings, noting that for individual citizens who pay the minimum tipping fee, the added weight of glass in the trash will not generate "an extra dime" of revenue for Solid Waste (00:05:10.000–00:05:18.000).

Public Comments

  • Tom Tarris: Glad to see the EVCS contract, particularly the 18-cent profit margin cap and connector choice designation. Concerned about parking control for county-exclusive chargers planned for public-facing spaces (QFC, Courthouse). Regrets the end of glass recycling and disputes that cost savings will materialize from increased tipping fees due to existing minimum fee structure.

Supporting Materials Referenced

The EV Charging Station Grant Amendment packet materials confirm the EVCS contract, including the $0.29 per kWh rate for exclusive county utilization, which incorporates an 18-cent markup over the current PUD rate of $0.11 per kWh.

Financials

  • The financial structure for the EV chargers includes an 18 cents per kilowatt hour profit margin cap for the vendor (EVCS), which is charged to the county.
  • Tarris stated PUD electricity rates will "go up substantially" next year (00:03:10.000).
  • Tarris argued that placing glass in the trash will not increase Solid Waste revenue from tipping fees for customers paying the minimum fee (00:05:10.000).

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

No action taken; speaker was providing public comment. No next steps specified.

Board Response to EV Charging and Glass Recycling Comments

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:05:53.000–00:10:04.000
  • Agenda Item: Not Stated
  • Categories: contracts, infrastructure, operations, services

Topic Summary

Commissioners responded positively to Tom Tarris' comments on the EVCS contract, crediting Central Services Director Sean Frederick for incorporating the community's concerns, specifically the electrical cost cap. They confirmed that EVCS covering the $102,000 grant match significantly offsets potential discrepancies. Regarding the charger locations, they assumed that new units at the QFC area would be placed in the DCD/Public Health gated lot. On the topic of glass recycling, Commissioners confirmed that curbside glass collection has ended and expressed hope that future contracts, or new legislation like the "rap act" (Producer Responsibility Act), might bring glass recycling back. The discussion emphasized the scale of the glass issue and the difficulty of finding viable, small-scale entrepreneurial solutions.

Key Discussion Points

  • Commissioner attributed the responsiveness on the contract cap and connectors to Sean Frederick, Central Services Director (00:06:04.000).
  • EVCS taking care of the $102,000 match "is going to wipe out most of the balance of that discrepancy" (00:06:40.000).
  • The discussion suggested that chargers at the QFC location would likely be placed in the "gated lot in the back" used by Public Health and DCD (00:06:57.000).
  • Commissioners confirmed that Washington State is undergoing a "systemic change" in glass recycling (00:07:43.000).
  • Discussions at a conference focused on entrepreneurial solutions for glass recycling, with skepticism expressed regarding the financial viability of "money losing business" due to the scale needed (00:08:42.000–00:09:07.000).
  • Commissioner noted that the successful EVCS contract modifications were due to the "benefit of government taking a long time," as the county was "consistent in our asks" (00:09:44.000–00:09:55.000).

Public Comments

(Responses to Tom Tarris; no new public comments during this segment.)

Supporting Materials Referenced

The EV Charging Station Grant Amendment packet confirms the $102,000 county match requirement being relieved by EVCS, and the intention to install ports at the Community Development and Public Health Department property (near QFC).

Financials

  • EVCS is covering the $102,000 grant funding match (00:06:40.000).

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Discussion points centered on future opportunities to bring back glass recycling through legislative action like the "rap act" (00:09:17.000–00:09:30.000) or if a private entity would "spool up" a novel solution (00:09:52.000).

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

No action taken; item was discussion. No next steps specified.

Public Comment on Homelessness and Roadside Dumping

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:10:10.000–00:14:09.000
  • Agenda Item: Public Comment
  • Categories: services, public safety, operations

Topic Summary

Julia provided public comment on two distinct issues: the homelessness crisis and illegal roadside dumping. She expressed gratitude for the Health Department's support of encampments, specifically mentioning the DSHS area, but voiced deep concern about people freezing during the winter and wished for extra shelter, such as a large canopy. Secondly, having recently moved to the rural area "between Beckett Point and Cape George," she reported a "huge amount of trash" and illegal dumping along the road, including a mattress and exploded bags of garbage, which appeared intentional. She asked whose responsibility it is to clean up large items like mattresses, fearing it falls completely on the county's shoulders.

Key Discussion Points

  • Julia reported a walk-through of the encampments around DSHS (00:10:35.000).
  • She is "grateful for the health department support" of the encampments (00:10:40.000).
  • She worried that people "are going to freeze this winter" and suggested the county emulate temporary event shelters by putting up a large canopy for extra shelter (00:10:50.000–00:11:30.000).
  • Julia reported a recent "huge amount of trash" and illegal dumping, including a full mattress, along the road between Beckett Point and Cape George (00:12:01.000–00:12:33.000).
  • She asked if the county shoulders all the responsibility for cleaning up dumped waste (00:12:44.000).

Public Comments

  • Julia: Supports health department involvement in encampments but is concerned about cold weather and freezing deaths; suggests temporary shelter structures. Reported new, intentional roadside dumping (e.g., a mattress) between Beckett Point and Cape George, and asked about county responsibility for cleanup.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

  • No specific financial information discussed, though liability for cleanup costs was raised (00:12:44.000).

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Suggested alternative relief measure: putting up a large tent/canopy for shelter (00:11:12.000).

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

No action taken; speaker was providing public comment. No next steps specified.

Public Comment on Creative Glass Recycling Solutions

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:14:10.000–00:15:40.000
  • Agenda Item: Public Comment
  • Categories: services, ordinances, operations

Topic Summary

Shelly Yarnell Brennan commented on the cessation of glass recycling, noting substantial social media interest in finding creative, local solutions. She asked the Board to look at existing "regulatory barriers that are stopping projects from going forward," citing the example of glass beaches—a tourist attraction created through tumbling glass—which a local program could potentially implement. She requested that the county look positively upon and help facilitate any community-developed glass recycling program.

Key Discussion Points

  • Yarnell Brennan reported "lots of interest in finding a way to make the glass recycling work on social media" (00:14:22.000).
  • She asked the Commissioners to investigate and look at ways to remove "regulations are that are stopping projects from going forward" (00:14:44.000).
  • She cited "glass beaches" as an example of an alternative use for recycled glass, noting that machines exist to tumble glass for such purposes (00:14:58.000–00:15:24.000).
  • She urged the county to regard any proposed community program as a "positive" and help "make that happen" (00:15:33.000–00:15:38.000).

Public Comments

  • Shelly Yarnell Brennan: Urged the county to identify and consider removing regulatory barriers to potential local, entrepreneurial glass recycling solutions (e.g., creating glass beaches via tumbling machines).

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

  • No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Proposed alternative: Establishing a local glass tumbling operation to create materials for "glass beaches" (00:15:11.000).

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

No action taken; speaker was providing public comment. No next steps specified.

Public Comment on Homelessness and Housing Inventory

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:15:51.000–00:19:34.000
  • Agenda Item: Public Comment
  • Categories: services, public safety

Topic Summary

Maggie provided comment addressing homelessness, starting with gratitude for Eden Bloom's upcoming exhibit at Public Health, which will highlight Jefferson County's per capita homelessness rate ("number one by double and a half in Washington state"). She emphasized that the core problem is "the housing inventory," citing the work of Peggy from Baltimore who is fixing up unrentable units. Maggie questioned why local agencies like the Housing Authority are not pressuring landlords regarding vacant units until outside help arrives. She also expressed gratitude for a program providing blankets to the unhoused and shared a personal account of intervening with a person at risk of exposure. She concluded by applauding the reported effort to house two disabled women in a hotel.

Key Discussion Points

  • Maggie expressed gratitude for Eden Bloom, whose exhibit on homelessness will open December 6th at Public Health (00:16:04.000).
  • Maggie stated that Jefferson County has the highest per capita rate of

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