MEETING: Commissioners Meeting at Mon, Jun 09, 09:00 AM

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JEFFERSON COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS MEETING SUMMARY

Call to Order and Public Comment

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:03:13–00:08:17
  • Agenda Item: Not Stated
  • Categories: services, permits, operations, land use, infrastructure

Topic Summary

The June 9, 2025, meeting was called to order, followed by general public comment where residents raised multiple, critical issues. Primary concerns included the status of the Master Plan Resort (MPR) permitting process, infrastructure maintenance (specifically South Shore and North Shore roads), the impending closure of the American Legion emergency shelter, and the transparency of the Trust Land Transfer (TLT) Committee meetings. The new Executive Director for the Economic Development Council (EDC), David Baliff, was formally introduced during this period.

Key Discussion Points

  • John Hamilton (Fort Townington): Expressed support for the MPR to move forward, but only with proper attention to infrastructure requirements, including the wastewater treatment plant and road improvements (moving roads over 40 feet). He urged that the Department of Community Development (DCD) and the Commissioners ensure the infrastructure is properly processed (00:06:17).
  • David Baliff (Jefferson County Economic Development Council): Formally introduced himself as the new Executive Director of Team Jefferson, expressing excitement to build on the legacy of Cindy Brooks, particularly focusing on inclusivity and supporting small businesses (00:07:22).
  • Ed Bowen (West End): Requested updates on the joint letter between the County and Grays Harbor regarding South Shore Road, and asked if the County plans to meet with Olympic National Park and the Forest Service regarding North Shore Road plans. He expressed disappointment that Trust Land Transfer Committee meetings are not publicly accessible (00:08:34).
  • Julia: Raised alarm over the closure of the American Legion emergency shelter on June 30th (19 days away), noting that the Housing Fund Board's recommendation to fund the shelter until December 31st and fund Dove House has not appeared on the consent agenda. She suggested that tenants may have legal eviction rights (00:10:02).
  • Shelly Yarnell Brennan: Advocated for early notification regarding potential fireworks bans due to dry conditions (00:11:40). Regarding the MPR, she appreciated the Commissioners' support but "hates the but," arguing the County is as culpable as the developer (Statesman) for delays due to repeated requests for additional engineering information (00:12:13).
  • Tom Tierche: Raised concerns about the LTAC (Lodging Tax Advisory Committee) interview questions, specifically questioning the legality of using LTAC funds for "construction" (such as building a pool via a Public Facilities District, or PFD), citing RCW 67.28.1815, which he argued limits use to "acquisition" or "operation" of tourism facilities (00:14:51).

Public Comments

  • - John Hamilton: Supports the Master Plan Resort but demands infrastructure requirements, like moving roads and managing the wastewater plant, be strictly met by developers.
  • - David Baliff: New Executive Director of Team Jefferson (EDC), focused on small business support and broad prosperity.
  • - Ed Bowen: Seeks updates on South Shore Road negotiations and North Shore Road plans; criticizes the non-public nature of Trust Land Transfer Committee meetings.
  • - Julia: Expressed urgent concern over the June 30th shelter closure and questioned the legality of the short timeframe, noting the Housing Fund Board recommendation has not been acted upon.
  • - Shelly Yarnell Brennan: Urged prompt fireworks ban decisions and criticized the County for causing delays to the Master Plan Resort project.
  • - Tom Tierche: Challenged the use of LTAC funding priorities for facility construction, citing state law (RCW 67.28.1815).

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • The letter written by the Commissioners to the Master Plan Resort (MPR) developer was referenced by multiple speakers (00:04:20; 00:11:58).

Financials

  • No specific financial figures discussed by the public, but the context of the LTAC funds, Public Facilities District (PFD) funding, and county infrastructure costs were heavily implied.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • No alternatives were formally proposed, but implicit discussions centered on alternative infrastructure funding (developer-led vs. County-led) for the MPR.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No formal actions taken during public comment.
  • Vote: N/A
  • Next Steps: Commissioners provided responses covering multiple open issues:
  • - Commissioner Brotherton: Confirmed the shelter transition is moving forward with the American Legion expressing excitement to continue, revising the contract duration by adding 6 months, followed by month-to-month through July. Affirmative action later today was recommended to allay concerns (00:21:07).
  • - Commissioner Brotherton/Dudley-Nolett: Stated current MPR delays are related to awaiting documentation from the applicant (Statesman). DCD is supportive but requires a "complete application process" (00:20:21; 00:20:44).
  • - Commissioner Brotherton: Regarding fireworks, the Fire Marshal plans to issue a recommendation by June 18th (00:19:14).
  • - Commissioner Brotherton: Responded to LTAC concerns by stating the proposal for a pool relies on working with the prosecutor's office regarding the feasibility of "building as well as acquisition"; indicated the PFD is currently on the "back burner" (00:16:32).
  • - Commissioner Brotherton: Noted the TLT Committee meeting is a DNR meeting focused on debriefing the first legislative appropriation cycle, not a new decision-making process, but acknowledged the public concern over non-public meetings (00:22:26).

DCD Update on Permitting Processes and Projects

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:38:52–00:43:02
  • Agenda Item: Not Stated (Informational Update)
  • Categories: planning, permits, operations, land use

Topic Summary

Greg Ballard (DCD) provided an update on the improved efficiency of the Department of Community Development, particularly concerning building permits and land division processing. He confirmed that new processes, including a binding preliminary plat decision, have been implemented to give developers clarity on requirements, speeding up the overall timeline for projects.

Key Discussion Points

  • Improved Efficiency: Greg Ballard stated that DCD is issuing building permits "a lot quicker" and has a public dashboard reflecting the improvement since new staff was hired a couple of years ago (00:39:09).
  • Preliminary Plat Process: DCD now issues a binding decision at the preliminary plat stage (for land divisions like the Casal Short Plat), which specifies all required improvements (access, water, sewer, electrical) that must be completed to achieve final plat approval (00:40:13). This helps developers manage costs and financial viability early on.
  • Habitat Half Project: Referenced as an example of quick processing, stating it came in April and is scheduled for a hearing on July 15th (00:39:34).
  • New Crossing Project (Co-Housing): Mochi (DCD staff) is working with the Newton Crossing project proponent on new Planned Rural Residential Development (PRRD) standards to simplify the process. This project is located near unincorporated Port Hadlock/Cape George (00:40:48; 00:41:16).
  • PRRD Complexity: Ballard noted that PRRDs are complicated, leading to efforts to simplify the process. He suggested that for four lots or fewer, a developer might be able to use a Type 2 or a quicker load process (00:42:21).

Public Comments

  • No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • No specific materials referenced, as this was a staff update on department operations.

Financials

  • No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action taken; informational update.
  • Vote: N/A
  • Next Steps: DCD continues streamlining processes for residential and land division projects.

Metadata

  • Time Range: 00:42:08–00:52:50
  • Agenda Item: Consent Agenda
  • Categories: contracts, permits, land use, infrastructure, operations, services, financial

Topic Summary

The Board reviewed and approved the consent agenda, which included several significant items: scheduling a hearing for a telecommunications franchise for Mason County PUD No. 1, approving funding for the Paradise Bay Road Overlay project, authorizing payroll warrants, and formally approving the Casal Short Plat. Discussion centered on the new PUD franchise agreement and the details of the short plat approval process being a positive sign of DCD efficiency.

Key Discussion Points

  • Casal Short Plat Final Approval (SUB2024-00015): The final approval and signing of the plat mylar were noted. DCD staff emphasized this was one of the first final plat approvals granted under the new, faster DCD processing efforts following preliminary approval (00:43:27). The DCD administrator stated that the total process time, including the preliminary February approval, demonstrates improved project completion speed (00:45:35).
  • Sign Language Interpreter Contract: Commissioner Dudley-Nolett highlighted the contract for online sign language interpreters as an important reflection of the Board fulfilling its obligation under the Open Public Meetings Act (OPMA) to ensure accessibility (00:46:41).
  • Mason County PUD No. 1 Franchise Hearing: Commissioner Brotherton inquired whether Mason PUD will be required to pay "PILT" (Payments in Lieu of Taxes) or a franchise fee for their broadband infrastructure, similar to negotiations with Jefferson PUD. DCD staff confirmed the Franchise Agreement has been structured to allow the Board to implement a franchise fee later, if decided, but noted Jefferson County would be one of the few non-home chartered counties (00:50:16). The hearing for the nonexclusive telecommunications franchise (for fiber/broadband access in southeastern Jefferson County) was scheduled for July 7th at 11:00 a.m. (00:51:18).
  • Paradise Bay Road Overlay: Commissioner Brotherton noted the timing of the overlay aligning government efforts with the state infrastructure improvements, specifically referring to the new roundabout at Paradise Bay (00:51:52).
  • Payroll Warrants: Warrants totaling $2.7 million were noted, which was explained as being large due to "multiple pay periods" being included (00:52:12).

Public Comments

  • No additional public comment on consent agenda items during this period.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • The Mason County PUD No. 1 Telecommunications Franchise packet materials outlining the 25-year franchise term and the timeline were implicitly approved by setting the hearing date (00:51:18).
  • The Paradise Bay Road Overlay Project funding source (RAP grant) was approved.

Financials

  • Payroll Warrants: $2.7 million approved (00:52:12).
  • Paradise Bay Road Overlay: Execution of documents supports the $1,435,000 estimated project cost, funded primarily by a RAP grant (00:51:52).
  • Mason PUD Franchise: No current franchise fee, but the agreement permits future negotiation and implementation (00:50:29).

Alternatives & Amendments

  • No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Motion to approve and adopt the consent agenda.
  • Vote: Unanimous (00:52:48).
  • Next Steps:
  • - Public Works/DCD Staff: Sign the Casal Short Plat "mylar" (00:53:05).
  • - BoCC Staff/Public Works: Publish the hearing notice for the Mason PUD Franchise for the July 7th hearing (00:51:18).
  • - Commissioner Brotherton/Assessor's Office: Follow up on PILT/Franchise Fee applicability for Mason PUD broadband infrastructure (00:50:47).

2025 Budget Appropriation 02 (Grant Funds and Emergency Shelter)

Metadata

  • Time Range: 01:31:00–01:41:16
  • Agenda Item: Budget Appropriation Hearing
  • Categories: budgeting, contracts, technology, public safety, human resources, grants, social services

Topic Summary

The Board held a public hearing and subsequently approved the 2025 Budget Appropriation 02, which allocated over $274,000 in one-time General Fund expenditures, offset by a state grant. Key appropriations covered the upgrade to Microsoft 365, internal costs for DCD/HR consulting, and crucially, $85,500 using General Fund monies to cover the operational costs of the emergency shelter through June 30th.

Key Discussion Points

  • Microsoft 365 Upgrade: Finance Director Judy Shepherd noted this was the largest appropriation. The total one-time expenditure is $155,322 (per packet materials). This cost is offset by a $79,955 grant from the Secretary of State for election security, justified because the MS 365 upgrade provides heightened security features (01:36:26). Sean provided context on the need for the upgrade, emphasizing heightened security and improved staff collaboration (01:35:50).
  • Emergency Shelter Funding: The appropriation allocates $85,500 from the General Fund to cover the emergency shelter operations (salaries, rent, utilities) through the hard deadline of June 30th (01:38:48). This was presented as a measure to bridge the gap related to the shelter's possible closure raised during public comment (01:40:38).
  • Human Resources (HR) Costs: An appropriation was needed to transfer a $29,500 expenditure for the Prothman executive search and allocate additional funds for the Braun consulting contract (01:38:11).
  • Budget Process Issues: Shepherd noted issues with the previously attempted appropriation schedule, stating that attempts to consolidate the cycle "didn't work very well," suggesting they may return to a quarterly or as-needed model (01:31:45).
  • Fund Transfer Mechanism: Explanation was given for moving the Elections grant money to the Information Services (IS) fund (506 and 507), noting that central service funds rely on activities across the government and can receive targeted transfers (01:35:00).

Public Comments

  • No public testimony was offered during the public hearing (01:40:05).

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • 2025 Budget Appropriation 02: Documents detailing the source and distribution of $274,312 in General Fund expenditures and offsetting revenue (01:32:41).

Financials

  • Total One-Time General Fund Impact: $274,312 (Gross Expenditures) offset by $79,955 (Secretary of State Grant) (01:32:41).
  • MS Office 365 Cost: $155,322 (total capital outlay).
  • Emergency Shelter Operations: $85,500 (General Fund contribution for April–June 30) (01:38:48).

Alternatives & Amendments

  • No alternatives discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Motion passed to approve Resolution approving the 2025 second budget appropriations for various county departments as presented.
  • Vote: Aye: 3 (Unanimous) (01:41:16).
  • Next Steps:
  • - Finance Department: Implement the necessary fund transfers and expenditures (01:38:48).
  • - BoCC/Housing Fund Board: Address future shelter funding needs beyond June 30th (01:40:38).

Support for Federal Public Lands (Washington Wild Letter)

Metadata

  • Time Range: 02:41:05–02:54:13
  • Agenda Item: Unscheduled Motion (Walk-on)
  • Categories: policy, intergovernmental relations, operations

Topic Summary

The Board considered and passed an unscheduled motion to sign onto an open letter from Washington Wild, supported by over 350 stakeholders, opposing mass staff reductions (firings, resignations, buyouts) at federal land management agencies (NPS, BLM, USFS, etc.). The letter emphasized that these cuts risk irreversible damage to cultural sites and landscapes, negatively impacting the $1.2 trillion outdoor recreation economy vital to gateway communities like Jefferson County. The Board decided to sign the letter electronically on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners.

Key Discussion Points

  • Letter Context: The letter is addressed to the Secretary of the Interior (Burgum) and CCed to state governors, expressing "significant concerns" over federal agencies operating without regard to their mandates due to extreme staffing reductions (02:44:03).
  • Impact of Cuts: Cuts threaten agencies' ability to "handle emergencies, welcome visitors, or safeguard irreplaceable cultural sites" and will cause "economic hardship" to local gateway communities (02:45:45).
  • Economic Value: Cited statistics showed National Park visitors spent $26.4 billion in local gateway communities in 2023, supporting 415,000 jobs nationally (02:47:05).
  • Signing Method: The Board decided to sign electronically as "Jefferson County, Board of County Commissioners" (02:49:43).
  • Public Comment: Jean raised support for the letter and requested the information be forwarded to the local Chamber of Commerce for consideration, noting the strong reliance of local businesses on tourism due to proximity to the Olympic National Park (02:51:17).

Public Comments

  • - Jean (Chamber of Commerce Director): Expressed 100% support for the letter and acknowledged the importance to the tourism-reliant local economy. Requested the letter be forwarded to the Chamber for their consideration to sign (02:51:17).

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • Letter from Washington Wild: "Local Elected Officials, Chambers of Commerce, Businesses, and Gateway Community Leaders Urge Protection of National Parks and Other Public Lands" (02:43:18).

Financials

  • No direct financial impact discussed. The context was the protection of the $26.4 billion national tourism economy generated by federal lands (02:47:05).

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Discussion included whether to sign individually or as a board; chose the board signature (02:48:43).

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Motion to approve signing the letter electronically as the Board of County Commissioners.
  • Vote: Unanimous (02:54:13).
  • Next Steps:
  • - Commissioner Brotherton (Chair): Sign the letter electronically. Noted the deadline for signing is June 10th (02:58:04).
  • - Commissioner Brotherton: Forward the letter to Jean for the Chamber of Commerce's review (02:53:38).

Legislative Update (Strategies 360)

Metadata

  • Time Range: 03:20:08–03:52:15
  • Agenda Item: Legislative Update
  • Categories: policy, budgeting, housing, environment, intergovernmental relations

Topic Summary

Stephanie Wright (Strategies 360) provided a legislative debrief, characterizing the 105-day session as "the most unusual" in 20 years due to high turnover in the legislature, the death of Senator Ramos, and a "budget free-fall" which severely constrained funding for new projects. The session was largely policy-driven, with fiscal issues sidelined. Discussion focused on the lack of new revenue, the failure of legislative priorities like the 3% property tax lift, and planning to move forward with Jefferson County-specific legislation for Land Use Planning Amendments (LUMAs).

Key Discussion Points

  • Session Character: Defined by "budget free-fall" and a policy focus due to tight funds after the expiration of ARPA funding (03:23:42). Anything exceeding seven figures was unlikely to pass (03:24:20).
  • Failed Revenue Priority: The proposal to increase the local property tax lift from 1% to 3% did not pass, despite widespread support within Wasack (03:25:18).
  • Capital & Transportation Budgets: Both were the smallest in years due to bonding constraints tied to the general budget (03:27:15). New transportation projects, including the Mill Road Roundabout (which Senator Chapman got into the Senate draft), were pulled due to a legislative agreement to approve "no new projects" (03:30:00).
  • Landlord Flexibility (LUMAs): Jefferson County's priority to expand housing density within Land Use Planning Amendments (LUMAs) was not fully met, as related bills (like 5471) require properties to be sewered, which doesn't help unsewered areas like Chimicum or Brinnon (03:32:03). Wright suggested setting up meetings with Senators Short (R-East Side) and Chapman (D-West Side) to draft a simple, bipartisan bill tailored to Jefferson and other sparsely populated rural counties (03:34:00).
  • EPR for Recycling: Extended Producer Responsibility legislation passed, despite Wasack neutrality, but the financial benefits for counties will not hit until 2030 (03:37:09).
  • 1/10th of 1% Law Enforcement Bill: The newly passed bill may have flexibility for behavioral health applications. Wright noted the Board needs to review the language immediately to determine if the funding can be implemented this year and/or applied to behavioral health programs like Jumping Mouse or the Sheriff's Navigator program (03:39:02).
  • Public Defense Funding: The state made no progress on covering the state's share (50%) of prosecution/public defense costs, an issue made more urgent by a recent Supreme Court decision (03:41:00).

Public Comments

  • No public comment during this item.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • Wasack End of Session Report (linked in the agenda) (03:42:01).

Financials

  • Property Tax Lift: Failed to pass (3% proposal) (03:25:18).
  • Criminal Sales Tax: 1% councilmatic criminal justice sales tax passed (03:26:14).
  • CRAB Funding: Additional money was put into the County Road Administration Board (CRAB) fund for roads (03:41:40).

Alternatives & Amendments

  • The idea of drafting a Jefferson County-specific LUMA bill was developed as an alternative to relying on large, generalized state bills (03:34:00).

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: No action taken; informational debrief.
  • Vote: N/A
  • Next Steps:
  • - Strategies 360/Commissioner Brotherton: Schedule meeting with Senators Short and Chapman to draft new LUMA bill language for rural counties (03:34:00).
  • - BoCC/Staff: Immediately review the 1/10th of 1% law enforcement bill to evaluate the application process and determine eligibility for behavioral health funding (03:39:35).
  • - Commissioner Dudley-Nolett: Schedule time with Strategy 360 (Stephanie Wright) to discuss regional housing incentives policy strategy across the Olympic Peninsula (03:51:14).

Appointment of LTAC Commissioner Representative

Metadata

  • Time Range: 03:16:12–03:19:07
  • Agenda Item: Unscheduled Motion (Walk-on)
  • Categories: operations, regulatory, services

Topic Summary

The Board discussed and acted upon the need to designate a representative to serve on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC) and serve as its Chair, as Commissioner Brotherton preferred to focus on the county's role as an applicant (working with the Tourism Coordinating Council, TCC) to avoid conflicts of interest during the RFP (Request for Proposals) selection process. The Board moved to appoint Commissioner Dudley-Nolett to serve as the Commissioner representative and LTAC Chair.

Key Discussion Points

  • Conflict Management: Commissioner Brotherton sought to bifurcate the roles: he wishes to remain engaged in the TCC side (building up county LTAC applications) and have a different Commissioner oversee the LTAC RFP process (02:59:39).
  • LTAC Capacity: Brotherton reiterated the need for LTAC to be staffed, potentially using LTAC dollars, arguing it is critical for successful RFP processes, tourism marketing, and effective engagement with organizations like Optic (03:11:35).
  • Statutory Requirement Clarification: Tom Tierche clarified during public comment that while a Commissioner has traditionally taken the role, the RCW requires the Chair to be an elected official, which could also be the Assessor or Sheriff, but not exclusively a BoCC member (03:17:29).

Public Comments

  • - Tom Tierche: Corrected the record on the RCW requirement for the LTAC Chair, stating it must be an elected official, not necessarily a Commissioner (03:17:29).

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • LTAC draft bylaws (implicitly referenced in discussion of appointments and roles) (03:18:44).
  • RCW 67.28 (Lodging Tax).

Financials

  • No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Alternative: Commissioner Brotherton could have continued in the role across all functions, but chose to step back from the adjudicator role.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Motion to appoint Commissioner Heather Dudley-Nolett as the Board of County Commissioners representative and Chair of the LTAC.
  • Vote: Aye: 3 (Unanimous) (03:19:07).
  • Next Steps: Commissioner Dudley-Nolett assumes leadership of the LTAC and the upcoming RFP process (03:16:26).

LTAC Member Interviews and Appointments

Metadata

  • Time Range: 03:53:04–04:48:48
  • Agenda Item: LTAC Appointments
  • Categories: services, arts and tourism, operations, budgeting

Topic Summary

The Board interviewed four of the five applicants for the four available seats on the Lodging Tax Advisory Committee (LTAC): Amy Neal (West Olympic Vacation Rentals), Diana Smeland (Port Ludlow Resort), Kevin Woolley (Quilcene Historical Museum), and Dan Ventura (Hama Hama and North Hood Canal Chamber). Tara McCauley (Jefferson County Historical Society) was unable to attend. Following deliberation regarding achieving balanced regional representation and balancing expertise with fresh perspectives, the Board moved to appoint Amy Neal, Kevin Woolley, Dan Ventura, and Tara McCauley to the four seats (two collector seats, two utilizer seats).

Key Discussion Points

  • Challenges Facing Tourism (Applicant Consensus): All applicants highlighted off-season tourism/seasonality (driving heads in beds during shoulder seasons) and inadequate infrastructure/lack of accommodations as the two biggest challenges for the County (03:55:02; 04:05:34; 04:12:34; 04:19:21).
  • Role of LTAC Funds (Applicant Consensus): Funds should support year-round marketing, invest in off-season events and signature festivals to act as "ambassadors" for the county, and enhance visitor amenities and infrastructure (03:55:10; 04:05:51; 04:17:34).
  • BOCC Guidance/Staffing (Applicant Consensus): All candidates affirmed that LTAC is an advisory body and supports clear, timely guidance from the BOCC (03:57:07; 04:14:11; 04:20:32). However, both Smeland and Woolley cautioned against untimely directives, noting the recent memo came after the RFPs were issued, making compliance unfair (03:57:17; 04:15:11).
    • Staffing: All supported the idea of funding a dedicated staff member for LTAC/TCC, conditional on providing the employee with adequate funding beyond salary (consulting/marketing dollars) to be successful (03:58:53; 04:07:44; 04:16:26). Dan Ventura stated a dedicated staff would be "liberating" by providing guardrails (04:20:32).
  • Prioritization/Innovation: Dan Ventura (Port Ludlow/South County) advocated for allocating a dedicated percentage of funds (e.g., 10-15%) to high-risk, high-reward projects to counter "repetition" and recidivism in legacy project funding (04:22:24).
  • Deliberation and Balance: The Board agreed to appoint Kevin Woolley and Tara McCauley (Utilizers). The choice between Diana Smeland and Amy Neal for the collector seats focused on regional representation (04:35:46).
    • New Perspective/South County: The Board prioritized Dan Ventura for his fresh perspective, push for ingenuity, and representation of South County (04:35:03).
    • West End Representation: The Board found the opportunity to appoint Amy Neal (representing the West End) "compelling," acknowledging the lack of representation from the West End in county conversations and the value of having that voice at the table (04:38:54).
    • Expertise Note: The Board noted Diana Smeland's deep expertise was highly valued, and that continued interaction through TCC would be essential (04:37:05).
  • Bylaw/Terms: The Board selected initial terms: two years for Positions 2 and 3, and three years for Positions 4 and 5 (04:29:07).

Public Comments

  • - Diana Smeland: Agreed with the selection, particularly in supporting West End representation. She raised a concern about TCC's dual role, noting TCC should not apply for funds if it remains an advisory body to LTAC/BOCC (04:43:01).
  • - Shelly Arnell Brennan (Brinnon): Questioned the appointments based on the "heads in beds" metric, stating that Port Ludlow/Brinnon (Diana Smeland's area) likely generates more revenue than the West End. She expressed concern that a smaller board could be detrimental to the high-revenue tourism portion of the County (04:43:45).

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • LTAC Applicant Interviews and By-Laws Packet (detailing seating structure and term limits) (04:28:06).

Financials

  • No financial figures discussed beyond the general concept of increasing tourism revenue and funding staff/projects (04:10:00).

Alternatives & Amendments

  • Alternative Option: Appointing Diana Smeland instead of Amy Neal (rejected in favor of regional representation) (04:39:17).

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Motion to appoint Amy Neal (Collector, 2-year term), Kevin Woolley (Utilizer, 2-year term), Dan Ventura (Collector, 3-year term), and Tara McCauley (Utilizer, 3-year term).
  • Vote: Aye: 3 (Unanimous) (04:48:48).
  • Next Steps:
  • - Commissioner Dudley-Nolett (Chair): Begin the new LTAC term, prioritizing the adoption of updated bylaws and initiating the RFP process (04:26:26).
  • - Commissioner Brotherton: Follow up with Port Townsend city staff (Shelley Levins) regarding TCC/LTAC budget funding models to clarify conflict management (04:45:04).

Final Adjournment and Agenda Review

Metadata

  • Time Range: 04:48:48–04:49:36
  • Agenda Item: Final Next Steps
  • Categories: operations, intergovernmental relations

Topic Summary

The meeting concluded with a final update on the logistical planning for the upcoming joint meeting with Kitsap County Commissioners (Wasack Bi-County orientation) scheduled for July 23rd and 24th, with plans to incorporate a Hood Canal Bridge tour.

Key Discussion Points

  • Wasack Joint Meeting (Kitsap-Jefferson): Commissioner Brotherton noted the schedule proposal includes the evening of July 23rd and the day of the 24th, followed by a separate County community meeting on the 24th evening (04:49:28).
  • Tour Focus: The tour will use the Hood Canal Bridge as a "nexus point" between the two counties and staff are working with WSDOT to secure a tour of the bridge facilities (04:49:36).

Public Comments

  • No public comment on this topic.

Supporting Materials Referenced

  • Paul Jewell's draft schedule for the Wasack Joint Meeting (04:49:13).

Financials

  • No financial information discussed.

Alternatives & Amendments

  • None discussed.

Outcome, Vote, and Next Steps

  • Decision: Meeting adjourned. No final actions taken.
  • Vote: N/A
  • Next Steps:
  • - Commissioner Brotherton/Staff: Review the draft schedule for the Kitsap-Jefferson joint meeting to confirm availability and move forward with planning (04:49:13).

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