The Board of Island County Commissioners (including Diking Improvement District #4) met in Regular Session on March 8, 1999, beginning at 9:30 a.m., in the Island County Courthouse Annex, Hearing Room, Coupeville, Wa., with Mike Shelton, Chairman, Wm. L. McDowell, Member, and Wm. F. Thorn, Member, present.

The following vouchers/warrants were approved for payment by unanimous motion of the Board: Voucher (War.#) #45711 - #45996………………………….$ 524,965.76.

Teri Switalski, WSU Cooperative Extension

The Board considered Resolution #C-20-99, Certification of the Island County Personal Property Inventory for 1998, continued from March 1, 1999. Based on previous conversation, the Board had expressed concern that the marine inventory did not appear to be complete, and continued deliberation until today.

Elaine Marlow, Island County Auditor’s Office, verified that all inventories were now signed, and confirmed that the Sheriff’s inventory did in fact contain correct marine listings showing three boats; the description had not been easy to use in identifying listed items.

Commissioner Thorn asked that discussion concerning inventories, the system used and audit checks to be included on one of the up-coming Auditor’s Staff Sessions with the Board.

By unanimous motion, the Board adopted Resolution #C-20-99 in the matter of certification of the Island County Personal Property Inventory for 1998.

By unanimous motion, as requested by the Treasurer, the Board adopted Resolution #C-23-99 approving specifications and authorizing call for bids for Title Reports, with bids to be received by the Island County Treasurer not later than 3:00 p.m. on April 2, 1999 and bid opening that date and time, with award of bid at the Board meeting on April 5, 1999 at 9:45 a.m.

IN THE MATTER OF APPROVING }

SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZING } RESOLUTION NO. C-23-99

CALL FOR BIDS FOR: TITLE REPORTS }

WHEREAS, the purchase of title reports are required for tax foreclosure,

BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that Attachment A, Invitation for Bids (with bid form),

for Title Reports, and specifications are approved as written. The County Treasurer

is authorized and directed to call for bids for furnishing Island county with these

services. The bids are to be received by the Island County Treasurer not later than

3:00 p.m. on April 2, 1999, with bid opening to occur at that time in office of Island County Treasurer and bid award to occur at 9:45 a.m. on April 5, 1999 in the Hearing

Room, Courthouse Annex, Coupeville, Washington.

ADOPTED THIS 8^th DAY of March, 1999.

ATTEST:

Margaret Rosenkranz, Clerk of the Board

BICC 99-135 [note – Exhibit A on file with the Clerk of the Board]

Last year the then Executive Director of the Island District Economic Development Council (EDC) presented to the Board of Commissioners a proposed Island County Business Retention, Expansion & Recruitment Acton Plan. In order to implement the plan, Chairman Shelton advised that EDC requested that Island County increase its funding by $18,000. Tom Shaughnessy, Executive Director, EDC, met with the Board at staff session several weeks ago and explained the program. Commissioner Thorn provided suggestions for items he thought should be included if the Board were to agree to provide the additional $18,000, some of which the Chairman thought were now identified in the Agreement.

Mr. Shaughnessy recalled from his discussion with Commissioner Thorn two specific issues:

1. reporting back to the Board periodically regarding status of the work against the plan;
2. identification of desired appropriate businesses to locate in the County, including input/participation by the Chambers and business leaders.

Mr. Shaughnessy expressed his agreement to report back to the Board monthly or quarterly, in writing or orally. Identification those businesses that EDC, Chambers and community members feel are appropriate for Island County is an issue included as part of the Plan based on specific conditions [page 7].

Commissioner Thorn suggested too that there should be a broad schedule provided for various tasks to be accomplished, and he agreed that a quarterly oral report would be fine. He suggested that Mr. Shaughnessy pursue the idea of meeting with the Chambers to receive input associated with identification of desired appropriate type businesses to locate in Island County. Once such a list developed, a proactive stance should be taken for going out and soliciting those businesses to locate in this community.

Mr. Shaughnessy’s stated intent was to fully use the Chambers, working together and collectively with the community in implementation of the Plan [page 7].

Commissioner McDowell commented too that for businesses locating in Island County, expansion for those businesses is also an important issue.

The Board, by unanimous motion, approved the Island County Business Retention, expansion & Recruitment Action Plan by the Island District Economic Development Council dated February, 1999, and authorize an additional $18,000 to assist in the implementation of the Plan.

On review of Contract Amendment #HS-02-99 (01), having been reviewed in greater detail during a recent staff session, the Board by unanimous motion approved the contract amendment representing millage funds to add dollars to the youth crisis respite house [increase capacity and bring millage funds up to previous level] in the amount of $65,000 [previous amount $51,811].

Prosecuting Attorney, Greg Banks, by Memorandum dated March 5, 1999, forwarded for the

Board’s consideration and approval, proposed letter of intent committing the County to enter into a long-term lease of a portion of Fire District #3’s new Freeland Fire Station.

Several questions were raised by Board members: suggested this matter be reviewed with GSA/Property Management; questioned how much the County paid for lease of other spaces compared to what is being requested in this instance; while it is proposed the County pay for the facility, the County would only have a 20-year lease, which is a particularly short time frame considering the cost; if the County does not have use of the facility for the life of the facility, the time frame should be at least 40 to 50 years.

Chairman Shelton agreed to contact the Prosecutor to work on this matter. By unanimous motion, the topic was continued to March 15, 1999.

The Chairman opened a public hearing at 10:15 a.m., continued from February 8, 1999, originally having been scheduled for hearing at the December 21, 1998 meeting for February 8, 1999, to consider a Timberland Classification Application TLC #457/98 by Mary Stewart and Dean Enell. On February 8, 1999, it was reported that the hearing for that date and time had not been legally noticed, and the Board by unanimous motion, continued the hearing until today. Today’s hearing was legally noticed having been published in the Whidbey News Times and South Whidbey Record on February 24, 1999.

Phil Bakke, Comprehensive Planning Manager, Island County Planning Department, provided the written Island County Planning Department Staff Report dated February 23, 1999 [copy on file] and made the following corrections:

• Date of Application corrected to September 30, 1998 instead of December 16, 1998
• Correct the road name: Swede Hill Road
• Project and Parcel History - First parcel number listed corrected: "Assessor’s Parcel R32804-090-2320" [the 20-acre parent parcel]

Applicants request all 10 acres of Parcel #R32804-101-2320 and approximately 4 out of 10 acres of Parcel #R32804-035-2320 as Timber Land Current Use Classification. The property is located off Swede Hill Road, South Whidbey, in the SW ¼ of Section 4, Township 28N, Range 2 East, W.M. Mr. Bakke confirmed that no comments were received from the public on this proposal. The application included a timber management plan containing all of the referenced information, the plan put together as part of the parent parcel a number of years ago. Preservation in a state of timber land is not inconsistent with the criteria set forth in RCW 84.34.041(a)-(c) and the Island County Comprehensive Plan supports the preservation of rural character and preservation of open spaces and wooded tracts and the proposal therefore would be consistent with the Comprehensive Plan. Based on his Findings and Conclusions, Mr. Bakke recommended approval of application #TLC 457/98 by Mary Stewart and Dean Enell, with the condition that all future forest practices activity on the subject property shall be consistent with the submitted Forest Management Plan and with the Washington Forest Practices Regulations, RCW 76.09 and WAC 222, and all other applicable County, State and Federal regulations. Applicants seem quite committed to ensuring continuing health of the stand of trees and have indicated an assessment will be done by a forester in the Spring, and applicants agreed to provide a copy of that report to the County.

After presentation of staff report, the Chairman called for comments or input from members of the public on Application TLC 457/98. No comments were made, either for or against the application.

By unanimous motion, the Board accepted the recommendation of the Island County Planning Department as presented in File No. TLC 457/98 in the matter of applicants Mary Stewart and Dean Enell for Timber Land Current Use Classification for all 10 acres of Parcel #R32804-101-2320 and approximately 4 out of 10 acres of Parcel #R32804-035-2320.

On presentation and recommendation by Larry Kwarsick, Public Works Director, the Board by unanimous motion accepted a Quitclaim Deed for right-of-way for access to the West Beach Lake property, under Work Order #310, from Thomas and Joyce Boster, Parcel 060.518, Sec. 31, T33N, R1E. This Quitclaim Deed was provided to Island County as a donation, and the Board expressed appreciation for the Bosters’ donation and will send a letter of appreciation.

By unanimous motion, the Board accepted two Quitclaim Deeds, both from Edward Robert Hale, for right-of-way for Woodland Beach Road stabilization project, under Work Order #184, and approving payment for Parcel 165.3570 in the amount of $10,638, and Parcel 180.3380 in the amount of $6,744, Section 3, T31N, R2E.

Stacy Tucker, Associate Planner, Community Development, presented for Board approval Final Plat Alteration PLA #519/97 by William Dwinelle. PLA #519/97 is for the alteration of the rear property lines of nine lots within the Plat of Dugualla Bay Heights to incorporate a portion of a contiguous previously unplatted 7.60 acre lot owned jointly by applicants. The project is located west and south of the intersection of Elderberry and Taylor Roads, North Whidbey and was granted conditional preliminary plat alteration approval by the Hearing Examiner on June 1, 1998. The application for final plat alteration was reviewed and staff determined all conditions of approval were met.

By unanimous motion, the Board granted Final Plat Alteration approval for PLA #517/97 by William Dwinelle. [Final Plat Alteration Map signed by the Board]

The Board reviewed Site Hazard Assessment Grant # G9900132 between the Department of Ecology and Island County Health Department providing up to $87,595 through the Local Toxics Control Account.

Keith Higman, Environmental Health Director, explained that the grant was a continuation of an on-going Health Department program that funds one FTE. The program is aimed at sites designated by DOE as being potentially hazardous to public health and/or the environment. Some of the sites are County-owned landfills. The Health Department has a role in determining whether a site is potentially hazardous to public health. Clean-up of a site on the list owned by a private property owner is the obligation of that owner. The Health Department’s interest is to determine if there is a threat.

By unanimous motion, the Board approved State of Washington Department of Ecology and Island County Health Department Grant # G99000132 in the amount of $87,597.