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02/03/25 09 AM: BOCC Tackles Public Comments, Health Alerts, Consent, LTAC Reforms

BOCC Tackles Public Comments, Health Alerts, Consent, LTAC Reforms

Jefferson County BOCC meeting included diverse public comments on local concerns, public health virus updates, emergency management snow prep, consent agenda approvals, personnel manual revisions, Central Services 2025 plan, and LTAC membership letter.

Public Comments

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:00:28–00:36:27 (PART 1)
  • Categories: other

Summary

Public comments addressed federal data access concerns, the Jeffco Aquatic Coalition pool survey progress and technical issues, homeless shelter conditions and cold weather responses, South Shore Road erosion and bridge issues, consent agenda items including LTAC letter clarity and website link maintenance, trash cleanup events, Brinnon floodplain risks, and Democratic Party's sheriff nominee process. Commissioners responded by noting actions like drafting a federal delegation letter, preserving survey data as public records, engaging emergency management on road issues, and appreciating updates.

Key Discussion Points

  • Ruth Gordon: Urged contacting senators and NACo regarding Elon Musk's access to Treasury data.
  • Diane McDade (Jeffco Aquatic Coalition): Reported 641 survey responses since Saturday, with mailings to 13,000 households; technical fixes implemented for multiple household responses.
  • Maggie (homeless advocate): Criticized 2098 shelter noise, lack of cold weather shelter, tent distribution issues, and alleged financial incentives for high point-in-time counts.
  • Ed Bowen: Updated on South Shore Road conditions, proposed emergency management involvement, and requested GIS milepost updates.
  • Tom Tierce: Recommended preserving survey as public record; suggested clarifying LTAC letter on member dismissal; requested website link cleanup in Central Services plan.
  • Jean Ball: Promoted trash cleanup event; noted survey feedback responsiveness; raised Brinnon floodplain as legislative priority.
  • Shelley Yarnell: Criticized survey technical issues and percentage errors; emphasized Brinnon floodplain communication needs.
  • Laura De La Portilla (Jefferson County Democrats): Praised Central Committee's sheriff nominee process, submitting Brett England, Art Frank, Andy Kernsteiner.
  • Commissioner responses: Committed to federal letter, shelter services, survey preservation/retention, road coordination, website fixes, sheriff process transparency, Brinnon grant revisit.

Public Comments

  • Multiple speakers as listed above.

Supporting Materials Referenced

No supporting materials referenced.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Commissioners acknowledged comments; no formal actions taken during public comment period.
  • Next Steps: Draft federal delegation letter; preserve aquatic survey as public record; engage emergency management on South Shore Road; review LTAC letter clarity; add website links to Central Services plan; discuss Brinnon floodplain as legislative priority; follow up on sheriff nominees.

Public Health Update

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:45:27–01:15:46 (PART 1)
  • Categories: public safety, services, other

Summary

Dr. Allison Berry provided a winter virus update noting low COVID, rising RSV (milder due to vaccines), and bimodal flu affecting youth; recommended vaccines, masking, staying home when sick. Avian flu stable locally with no human/dairy cases in WA; advised poultry/wild bird separation, cat precautions. Addressed federal CDC data removals on gender, reproductive health, vaccines, domestic violence; committed to local accurate info, suggested Canadian Public Health resources.

Key Discussion Points

  • Dr. Berry: RSV elevated but milder; flu rising in youth; avian flu in wild birds, no local outbreaks; CDC scrubbed data on marginalized groups, affecting research.
  • Commissioner Eisenhower: Suggested county resource page linking universities/Canadian sites.
  • Dr. Berry: Agreed to enhance web presence; noted state DOH links broken; addressed chat questions on immigration/public health claims (evidence poor), censorship lessons.

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: Informational update; no action taken.
  • Next Steps: Public Health to bolster web resources; Dr. Berry to provide federal concerns input for BOCC delegation letter.

Emergency Management Update

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:04:54–01:14:31 (PART 1)
  • Categories: public safety, infrastructure, planning

Summary

Willie Bentz reported snow conditions, sanding focus, more snow mid-week; noted federal FEMA restructuring risks to disaster aid; emphasized resident self-sufficiency in rural areas; highlighted disasters magnify vulnerabilities for marginalized groups like immigrants/LGBTQ+.

Key Discussion Points

  • Willie Bentz: Snow sticking, traction focus; FEMA changes could conditionalize aid; prioritize self-sufficiency; vulnerabilities in disasters.
  • Commissioner Brothers: Asked about EM role in Upper Ho/South Shore roads.
  • Willie Bentz: Coordinated pre-declaration; unlikely state/federal declarations due to thresholds; no fruitful funding.

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: Informational; rescheduled full 2025 workplan to 02-10.
  • Next Steps: Send Johns Hopkins food resilience guide to Willie; review EM 2025 workplan next week.

Consent Agenda

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:17:11–01:33:32 (PART 1)
  • Categories: contracts, personnel, planning, budgeting, infrastructure, services

Summary

Consent agenda approved minus pulled Item 2 (WUCC folder/minutes); discussed discrepancies in OSS Action Plan ($90k vs $90,645), Healthy Youth Survey data collection, School-to-Work no student limit (pass-through, ~1-2 students expected), well monitoring funded by Commerce grant; highlighted preceptor MOU with PLU Nursing, Chimacum Creek acquisition, Therapeutic Courts funding.

Key Discussion Points

  • Pulled Item 2 for WUCC folder/minutes issues.
  • OSS Action Plan: Contract $90k, exhibit $90,645; table precedence.
  • Healthy Youth Survey: Data collection unclear.
  • School-to-Work: $10k/student, no limit; DVR reimburses; 1-2 students.
  • Well monitoring: $79,933 Commerce-funded increase.
  • Noted PLU Nursing preceptor, Chimacum 3.14-acre acquisition, Therapeutic Courts $200k.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • Supporting materials detailed contracts (e.g., OSS $90,645, School-to-Work pass-through, Chimacum $52k grant, Therapeutic Courts MOU); no major hidden items; consent condensed as approved without pull for most.

Financials

  • OSS: $90,645; School-to-Work: $10,088.40/student; Well: $79,933 (Commerce); Chimacum: $52k; Therapeutic: $200k (Fund 131).

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Approved consent agenda minus Item 2; unanimous.
  • Vote: Ayes unanimous.
  • Next Steps: Item 2 returns next week; WUCC folder reactivation.

Personnel Administration Manual Updates

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:33:59–01:47:08 (PART 1)
  • Categories: personnel, ordinances

Summary

HR Director Sarah Melancon presented PAM updates reflecting law changes, policy alignment, clarifications; Board approved draft for staff/union review after correcting historical commissioner name (Lucius to Loren B. Hastings).

Key Discussion Points

  • Sarah Melancon: Reviewed revisions (language, legal refs, discrimination, leave, FMLA/PFML, promotions 3% min); team effort.
  • Historical correction: Page 16, Section 1.1 (Loren B. Hastings, first commissioners 1852).
  • Tom Tierce: Noted "citizen" in redline; suggested county code review.

Public Comments

  • Tom Tierce: "Citizen" remains; recommend code revision like RCW gender-neutral.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Packet PAM redline/clean versions; changes per law/policy.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Approved draft for staff/union/PAO review with name correction.
  • Vote: Unanimous.
  • Next Steps: Circulate to staff/unions; PAO review; final BOCC adoption.

Central Services 2025 Work Plan

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:57:50–02:39:30 (PART 1)
  • Categories: operations, infrastructure, planning, contracts

Summary

Central Services Director Sean Frederick presented 2025 work plan covering IT (CRITR, migrations, MFA), records (SMS archiving), GIS (ArcGIS Pro), facilities (roofs, Brinnon study), policy (ADA, CIP); 2024 accomplishments included website makeover, 549 helpdesk tickets, records relocation.

Key Discussion Points

  • Sean Frederick: IT/GIS/Records/Facilities goals; broken links scanning tool; EV chargers on track; capital plan relaunch.
  • Website links: Noted public comment; scanning tool procurement.
  • GIS mileposts: Layer exists.
  • Munis: ERP migration, Tyler integration.

Public Comments

No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Packet work plan details.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Informational workshop; no action.
  • Next Steps: No next steps specified.

Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) Letter

Metadata

  • Time Range: 03:05:55–03:38:21 (PART 1)
  • Categories: planning, budgeting

Summary

BOCC discussed/approved amended letter notifying LTAC of all seats open for applications, encouraging re-applications/broad promotion, announcing bylaws development with public input/LTAC collaboration; addressed public concerns on process/respect.

Key Discussion Points

  • Letter implements Dec 23 decision; RCW minimum 5 members (2 generators, 2 recipients, 1 commissioner).
  • Debbie Wardrop: "Membership" to volunteers; clarify RCW; emphasize collaboration.
  • Jim Friedman/Shelley Yarnell: Defended LTAC volunteers; criticized process/contentiousness.

Public Comments

  • Debbie Wardrop: Tone good; reword "membership," RCW clarity, collaboration.
  • Ed Bowen: Add funds (brief).
  • Jim Friedman: Positive LTAC note; watch meetings.
  • Shelley Yarnell: Contentious; impacts to chambers.

Supporting Materials Referenced

Packet LTAC letter draft; RCW 67.28.1817.

Financials

No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Amendments: Subject "LTAC appointments"; third para "with public input and in collaboration with LTAC."

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Approved amended letter.
  • Vote: Unanimous.
  • Next Steps: Send letter; develop bylaws collaboratively; annual review.

Background Materials

Contents

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