ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS – MINUTES OF MEETING

REGULAR SESSION  -  OCTOBER 16, 2000

 

The Board of Island County Commissioners (including Diking Improvement District #4) met in Regular Session on October 16,  2000, beginning at  9:30 a.m. in the   Island County Courthouse Annex, Hearing Room, Coupeville, Wa., with   Wm. L. McDowell, Chairman,   William F. Thorn, Member and Mike Shelton, Member, present.   

 

VOUCHERS AND PAYMENT OF BILLS

 

The following vouchers/warrants were approved for payment by unanimous motion of the Board:    Voucher (War.) # 84050 – 84255 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .. $406,978.08.

   

Veterans Assistance Fund: [emergency financial assistance to certain eligible  veterans; the names and specific circumstances are maintained confidential].  By unanimous motion, the Board approved Claim V2K-16 in the amount of $113.65 as recommended by the Veterans Assistance Review  Committee.

 

Contract TO INSTALL RESTROOMS AT Dan Porter Park

 

Lee McFarland, Assistant Director, GSA, presented for the Board’s review and approval Contract RM-PARK-00-0055 between Island County and CXT Incorporated, Precast Division,  for delivery and installation of Cortez flush toilet building  at Dan Porter Memorial Park, Clinton, at a total cost of $32,281.18.  The Contract was reviewed and approved by the Prosecuting Attorney’s Office as well as Risk Management.   By unanimous motion, the Board approved Contract #RM-PARK-00-0055 as presented.

 

Assumption of Liquor License No. 071015-4I, La Paz Inc dba LA PAZ

 

Having received recommendations  of approval from the Island County Sheriff and the Health Department, the Board by unanimous motion, approved the application for Assumption of Liquor License #071015-4I, Cooks Corp.  Too, d/b/a LA PAZ, Clinton.

 

Resolution #C-103-00 Cancellation of Warrants

 

As has been the past practice on an annual basis, the Board received from the Auditor’s Office  proposed resolution which if adopted would cancel certain warrants not presented  within one year from the date of issue, in accordance  with RCW 39.56.040, and Exhibit “A: attached listed the various warrants proposed to be canceled.  By unanimous motion, the Board approved Resolution #C-103-00.

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

IN THE MATTER OF

CANCELLATION OF WARRANTS                        RESOLUTION C-103-00

 

            WHEREAS, RCW 39.56.040, provides for the cancellation of warrants not presented within one year of the issue date, and

 

            WHEREAS, the warrants listed in Exhibit “A” / Claims Fund and Exhibit “B” / Salary Fund have not been presented for payment and have been outstanding for more than one year, or the issuing fund or department has requested the cancellation, and

 

            WHEREAS, effort to contact the recipients have not resulted in presentation of the warrants, or an affidavit to request issuance of replacement warrants, and, NOW THEREFORE

 

            BE IT RESOLVED, that the warrants listed in Exhibit “A” and “B” are canceled.  The County Auditor and County Treasurer, by copy of this resolution, are directed to take action to transfer all records of such warrants so as to leave the funds as if such warrants had never been drawn.

 

            ADOPTED this 16th day of October, 2000.

 

Board of County Commissioners

Island County, Washington

Wm. L. “Mac” McDowell, Chairman

William F. Thorn, Member

Attest:                                                         Mike Shelton, Member

Margaret Rosenkranz,

Clerk of the Board         BICC 00-612

Hiring Requests & Personnel Actions

 

As presented and summarized by Dick Toft, Human Resources  Director, the Board by unanimous motion approved  Personnel Action Authorization #116/00, Environmental Health  Specialist, Position  #2403.04, increase in hours from 30 per week to 40 per week, effective today.

 

PRESENTATION BY Friends of Glendale Creek

 

Lorrenda  Kay, Clinton, provided introductory comments with regard to t today’s agenda item relating  to  a presentation by Friends of Glendale Creek.  Some 50 people attended.  Friends of Glendale Creek became concerned when the County decided to open Glendale Road up through Glendale Canyon.  The group fear  that opening up the road going up Glendale canyon  will create the problem where a road and stream cannot co-exist.  The  canyon is volatile,  slides,  a wet area even in the dry summer.  The uniqueness of the topography and the stream  make it an area that should be set aside for the public as a walking corridor not as a traffic corridor.   The Washington State Conservation Commission calls Glendale creek one of the top three creeks in Island County for salmon  habitat and one of only a  hand full of perennial streams that is in Island County. Their number one recommendation is to abandon Glendale Road and acquire that land for public trust, which is what Friends of Glendale Creek ask:   that the County close Glendale Road, create  a walking corridor and make it available for a larger public to enjoy year around.

 

Don Miller, Langley, addressed the  ecological impacts of  having a road through Glendale canyon.  The repair on  the upper Glendale Road is 1800’ long.  There is a 180’ section that caved off  back about midway in the road and project proposes stabilization of that by building a rock wall  contained in wire baskets 10’ wide up to 18’ tall – takes out material that gets soggy and unstable and replaces with porous material and drainage added to drain efficiently.  As far as the other  1600’ there areas of sliding all along  some areas couple inches other areas 6-8” and the  plan calls for conservative treatment for that – eventually when conditions  are right there will be more slippage.  When this slippage increases it will  probably be stabilized  with a design similar to the 180’ section – and eventually end up with 1800’ of road drained well, in essence an 1800’ gutter system down Glendale canyon.    He submitted for today’s record, copies provided to the Commissioners, was information provided by Robert Barnes relative to comparative date for Glendale and Maxwelton Creek water quality the first page an e-mail from Jennifer Lail  from Robert Barnes [degree in forestry, botany and others] with picture of Glendale Creek August, 2000, and the second page “Comparing Glendale and Maxwelton Creeks 1999+” [copy on file]].  Water quality is better in Glendale (higher dissolved oxygen, lower water temperature).  Stream flow is higher in Maxwelton  during the rainy season but higher in Glendale  during the driest time of the year [cited examples from August and May 1999].  Another  ecological impact of the road is that it changes the  natural erosion of that area.  By narrowing the roadway to a single lane more closely approximates its natural erosion state with smaller less frequent amounts of material caving off into the creek.    Clarification is needed  as far as how and when to start addressing  this area as a watershed and salmon habitat.

 

Angie Dixon, Clinton, saw the area as stunningly beautiful and when she heard   Glendale creek was a viable salmon stream felt needed to participate at some level.  She understood that it was not just silver salmon, but also  chum salmon returning to the creek which would be related more to the lower portion in terms of spawning.   A  great deal of research has been done in terms of information about Glendale Creek, all indicating  Glendale Creek is a special place and deserves to be taken care of.  She too referenced the report from the  Washington State Conservation Commission  listing as its top recommendation to  abandon Glendale Road and acquire public ownership for fish and wildlife  habitat.    A stream and a road occupying a canyon will always be in conflict with each other; as  a road is bolstered  more and more it confines the creek into a narrower straighter passage, detrimental to fish.

 

Diane Kendy, Langley, spoke on behalf of the Citizens Growth Management Coalition, reading  a letter into the record a statement prepared by Dean Enell, in summary stating that the Coalition encourages the County to opt for a one-lane emergency only road through the Glendale Canyon and the preservation of a natural  area, where citizens  can see, enjoy  and study the regeneration of NW salmon. [complete  letter on file]

 

Mindy Thompson, Clinton, although had  concern for the salmon, expressed interest in also seeing the creek preserved for other  wildlife in the area which include eagles, blue heron, owls, various birds, mallard ducks, coyotes, deer, fox, beaver, trout, salamanders, frogs, and numerous  other forms of wildlife.    She was concerned about a concrete wall, removal of the trees and greenery that help shade the creek.

 

Bill Rowlands, Clinton, has been involved with trying to publicize the rebuilding of Glendale Road for about three years, having a number of friends in the Glendale area and a vested interest in some property at the headwaters of Glendale Creek, and wrote three letters on this topic,  1998, 1999 and 2000.    He and Representative Dave Anderson  walked the stream from the mouth approximately a mile and a half up to Holst Road in mid winter during  the fastest flow of water,  specifically looking to see if any of the salmon were getting past the 90’ long culvert blocking Glendale Creek and found that none of the salmon were getting around that culvert.   They saw  a number of slides and where  trees normally growing vertically  were  leaning over, the first significant clue slides are going on continuously.  He was concerned whether or not the County had done any  significant  testing of the soil below this wall that will weigh tons of concrete because that much weight on a soil that has any significant  amount of clay will act like a greasy sliding slippery base.  He has heard there is a  earthquake fault up the canyon and was interested whether that had been addressed.  He commented that in 1998 a determination was made by the County of no  significant environmental concern on the project; after a letter by Mr. Rowlands and Steve Erickson from WEAN during the comment period on the determination, the then Planning Director, Vince Moore, changed his mind and  made a determination  of significant environmental  concern.  A few months’ later Planning Director  Phil Bakke  issued a determination of non-significance,  180 degrees from what Mr. Moore determined, and Mr. Rowlands has been told this is due to a loop hole  because this now is being called a repair.

 

Tom Fisher acknowledged this to be a  very popular arterial, scenic alternative,  for  residents of Possession and Sandy Hook to the ferry.  There is an inherent contradiction  to say that Humphrey Road is unstable and prone to slides and on the other hand to invite more traffic on the road by opening up  Glendale.  There is a higher use for this creek and it is not as a road.

 

Gloria Wallin, Clinton, one of four or five landowners who own large wetlands at the upper end of Glendale Creek, told the Board that this summer her son kept saying there were fish in the ponds below the house and actually went and caught some cut throat  trout so she is aware that the upper end supports trout, and believed there is potential  for a salmon recovery project in this area.  In talking with the adjacent landowners on the upper, all are interested in  seeing some kind of a salmon   restoration project happen.

 

John Crawford, Clinton, recalled that in November of 1997, the majority of people in Glendale submitted a petition  to Commissioner Shelton requesting the road be closed and be maintained only as a one-way emergency access.  His priority is keeping this area open, clean and clear for the fish.  He and Puget Sound anglers transported 125 chums into the upper area that is still blocked today; that blockage needs to either be removed or replaced with box culverts.  Rich Johnson and several others from the  Department of Fisheries have requested that the road be either closed or turned into a one lane emergency access road.   As far as maintaining Humphrey Road, he said if the County were to just do maintenance on it there would  be no problems on Humphrey Road for exist.

 

Susan Berta, Greenbank, Orca Conservancy, commented that Puget Sound orcas were threatened and may be listed on ESA along with salmon, because of the decline of the salmon.  All three pods have been seen feeding off the Glendale Creek outlet area this past month.  She sees this as a unique opportunity, a long stretch of undeveloped, undisturbed riparian habitat that is rare to find.  It is such a unique opportunity because there are two property owners along the undeveloped part of the creek who are willing  to work with the   County and  come to some sort of compromise.  It would seem that one lane emergency access road would be a good compromise.  She commended the County for what was being done on the lower reaches of the creek.  Orca Conservancy  supports any salmon restoration  efforts possible.

 

Bill Feely, North Bush Point,  saw a win-win situation:  abandon two-way full road and with a single road people want.  It costs less money and the County able to keep the people happy.

 

Joan Hanby [sp], Greenbank, homeowner in Glendale since 1965, wanted to see Glendale Road remain closed  with one way access for emergency vehicles, and maintain Humphrey Road to a better quality.

 

In conclusion, Lorrenda Kay noted that many folks could not attend today’s meeting because of work and was interested in having the Board conduct  a public meeting in the evening on South  Whidbey.    This is an  issue larger than just a Glendale resident fight, and it is an  area all of Whidbey can enjoy from the standpoint of a fish habitat area.    She is putting together a list to be submitted at a later date of residents who are asking that the road remain closed with a one lane emergency access.

 

The Commissioners indicated they were agreeable to scheduling a meeting on South Whidbey in the evening.  

 

[Note:  two letters received  specifically requested notation in today’s record:

 

            Walt Blackford, Langley, letter dated 10/6/00 supporting position taken by Friends of          Glendale Creek 

           

            Robert Kenny, Clinton, e-mail dated 10/3/00 request prioritize Glendale Creek and Glendale           Canyon as a place for salmon, out door  education and walking; and do not resume its use as a traffic corridor.

 

There are  numerous other pieces of correspondence, e-mails and phone call messages both supporting the position of Friends of Glendale Creek as well as requests to keep Glendale Road open; all are on file in the  Office of the Commissioners and Public Works Department.]

 

HEARING HELD:  Franchise # 84R [RENEWAL] Olympic Marine View Water Association; renewal for existing water distribution system - Olympic Marine View, Div. #3

 

A Public Hearing was held at 10:20 a.m. as advertised, to consider Franchise # 84R, Olympic Marine View Water Association, a  renewal for an existing water distribution system Olympic Marine View, Div. #3, Sec. 19, Twp 29N, R 3E.    All departments requested to comment responded  on the franchise renewal  request and have no objection to the proposal.  Based on that information, the County Engineer recommended approval as outlined in Memorandum dated October 11, 2000.

 

The President of Olympic  Marine View Water Association was present in support of approval of the franchise and to answer any questions there may be concerning the request for franchise.   No others in the audience commented either for or against said franchise.

 

By unanimous motion, the Board approved Franchise /#84R, Olympic Marine View Water Association renewal of franchise.

 

Grant Application – Creek Inventories, Restoration Plans and County Culvert preliminary designs; Salmon Recovery

Funding Board, State of Washington

 

Larry Kwarsick,  Public Works Director, presented and summarized a request for submittal of a  grant application to the Salmon Recovery Funding for projects:  Salmon  Supporting Creek Inventories; Salmon Supporting Creek Restoration Plans; Salmon Supporting Creek County Culvert Assessments, Preliminary Design  and cost Estimates.  Of the total project amount of  $205,000, grant funds are being requested  from the  Salmon Recovery Funding Board in the amount  of $155,000.

 

Janet Kearsley, Watershed Project Associate, was present to elaborate further on the applicant and to answer any questions. The culvert under Glendale Road  at the upper stream portion of current project  is going to be replaced [part of the change order the Board previously authorized].   The  box cross culvert has been ordered and is expected in about two weeks.  Intent is to install the box culvert this year.  The only fish barrier then will be the culvert under Holst/Glendale Road and that is part of this grant application in order to  assess that culvert and various  alternatives to remove that  barrier.

 

By unanimous motion, the Board approved Grant Application as presented by Mr. Kwarsick and Janet Kearsley.     [GMA doc. #5982]

 

HEARING HELD:   Franchise #315; Utsalady Point Water System; existing water distribution; Utsalady Point Tracts, Div. #1, #2 & #4

 

A Public hearing was held at 10:40 a.m. as advertised, for the purpose of considering Franchise #315; Utsalady Point Water System; existing water distribution; Utsalady Point Tracts, Division No. 1, Division No. 2, and Division No. 4; Sec. 24, Twp 32N, Rge 2E.   The County Engineer’s recommendation of approval was outlined by memorandum dated October 11, 2000.

 

At the time the Chairman called for public comments,  no one in the audience came forward commenting either for or against said franchise.

 

The Board by unanimous motion approved Franchise   #315.

 

Grant Application – Crescent Harbor Salt Marsh and Salmon Habitat Restoration; submitted on behalf of the US Navy; Salmon Recovery Funding Board, State of Washington

 

Grant Application for Crescent Harbor Salt Marsh and Salmon Habitat Restoration submitted on behalf of the US Navy to the Salmon Recovery Funding Board, State of Washington, was approved for submittal by unanimous motion of the Board, as presented and explained by Mr. Kwarsick, along with Julie Buktenica, Surface Water  Manager.         [GMA doc. #5983]

 

 

 

HEARING SCHEDULED:   Ordinance #C-104-00 [PLG 032-00], Amending Chapter 17.03 ICC to comply with the Order of the WWGMHB relating to Freeland and Clinton

 

As introduced by Phil Bakke, Planning Director, the Board by unanimous motion  scheduled for public hearing  Ordinance #C-104-00 [PLG 032-00], Amending Chapter 17.03 ICC to comply with the Order of the WWGMHB relating to Freeland and Clinton on November 6, 2000 at  10:45 a.m. [GMA doc. #5984]

 

Review Monthly Financial Reports from Auditor & Treasurer

 

The Treasurer’s report by Maxine Sauter for the period ending September, 2000 was provided in written form under  cover memorandum dated October 10, 2000, noting that overall, Current Expense for September 2000 was basically on target in most areas. 

 

Suzanne Sinclair, Island County Auditor, submitted at this time her written report for the same period, commenting it appeared comparable to last year, the percentage comes out about the same, nothing worrisome or of concern not already known.    

 

 

Budget Workshops

 

At 1:30 p.m. the Board conducted a budget workshop on the following proposed budgets for the year 2001:   Coroner; Commissioners/Camano Annex; LEOFF Disability Board;  E-911 Fund;  Public Facilities (Hotel/Motel 2%);  Joint Tourism Promotion Fund, Office Equipment;  Budget Director; Current Expense Miscellaneous, Current Expense Overhead Allocations, Criminal Justice; Capital Project Funds, Conservation Futures, Revenue Projections.  Minutes from the budget workshop are on file in the Office of the Commissioners and Budget Director

 

There being no further business to come before the Board, meeting adjourned after Budget Workshop at 4:30 p.m.  p.m.  The Board  will meet next in  Special Session on October 23, 2000 at 9:00 a.m. to conduct a budget workshop [review and those continued from today] and Regular Session that same day beginning at 11:30 a.m.

 

                                                         

                                                                     BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

                                                ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

 

                                                 ______________________________

                                                 Wm. L. McDowell, Chairman

 

                                                 _______________________________

                                                 William F. Thorn, Member

 

                                                 _____________________________

                                                 Mike Shelton,   Member

 

 

ATTEST:  

 

____________­­­­­___________

Margaret Rosenkranz,  Clerk of the Board