ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS - MINUTES OF MEETING
REGULAR SESSION –
MARCH 11, 2002
The Board of Island
County Commissioners (including Diking Improvement District #4) met in Regular
Session on March 11, 2002, 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 William F. Thorn, Member, present. By unanimous motion, the Board approved and
signed the following minutes: February
25, 2002; February 27, 2002; and March 4, 2002.
VOUCHERS AND PAYMENT OF BILLS
The following
vouchers/warrants dated 3/11/02 as presented were approved for payment by
unanimous motion of the Board, with the exception of #280105, pulled for
further review.
Voucher
(War.) #119959-120199………………………………………..$353,797.52.
Jennifer Wallace was
selected as the Employee of the Month for February.
Jennifer is a Legal Assistant performing paralegal duties in the
Prosecutor's Office. Jennifer's positive attitude and willingness to help other
employees do business with the Prosecutor's Office has drawn praise and thanks
from many departments.
Hiring Requests
& Personnel Actions
As presented by Dick
Toft, Human Resource Director, the Board by unanimous motion, approved the
following personnel action authorizations:
Dept. PAA # Description Position # Action Eff. Date
Assessor 013/02 Appraiser (3) 106.03 Personnel
Action 3/1/02
Health 014/02 Pub Hlth
Nurse III 2404.04 Personnel Action 4/1/02
Health 015/02 Pub Hlth
Nurse III 2404.04 Personnel Action 4/1/02
Appointments/Re-appointments
to Various Boards and Committees
By unanimous motion, the Board reappointed two
members and appointed a new member to the Island County Law & Justice
Council as follows:
Reappointed:
Keith Englund, Camano Island 2 years Term expires 2/28/2004
Dick Toft, Oak Harbor 2 years Term expires 2/28/2004
New Appointment:
Ian Metz, Camano Island 1 year Term expires
2/28/2003
2001-2003
Program Agreement Budget between Island County and DDD – Contract
#0163-03943
By unanimous motion,
the Board approved 2001-2003 Program
Agreement Budget between Island County and DSHS, Division of Developmental Disabilities, Contract #0163-03943, in the total amended amount of $887,941.00
[Amendment amount $66,554.00]. The
contract period is from 7/1/01 to 6/30/03, and adds funds for Family Support
and Education Project as well as Transition Services.
CONTRACT #HS-01-02 WITH COMMUNITY MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
The Board approved, by
unanimous motion, Contract #HS-01-02 [RM-HLTH-05-0062] with Community Mental
Health Services for the provision of
mental health programs for the period 1/1/2002 to 12/31/2002 in the amount of
$66,042.50.
DSHS Agreement #0163-1608 Amendment No. 01 – BECCA –
Payment & Billing Revisions [RM-JUV-01-0080-1]
The Board, on unanimous
motion, approved DSHS Agreement #0163-1608 Amendment No. 01 – BECCA as forwarded by Michael Merringer, Director,
Island County Juvenile and Family Services,
representing payment and billing revisions [RM-JUV-01-0080-1].
The
Board approved, by unanimous motion, Conveyance Agreement #RM-GSA-02-0023 from
Waterman Family Living Trust, for
certain property as described in
Exhibit A, property located adjacent to and contiguous with the Saratoga Woods
Preserve, a 118-acre park property owned by Grantee and managed subject to a
conservation easement retained by the
Whidbey Camano Land Trust.
Conveyance Agreement – Trail Easement – Emerson &
Snelling – to Island County
By
unanimous motion, the Board approved Conveyance Agreement for Trail Easement to
Island County from Emerson & Snelling #RM-GSA-02-0020 property described as
a portion of Section 29, Township 30 North, range 3 East W.M., Island County,
Wa. as described in Exhibit A,
Property.
Professional
Services Agreement Designs Northwest Architects, Inc. for Four Springs Lake
Preserve
Lee
McFarland, Assistant Director, GSA, presented for approval and signature,
Professional Services Agreement #RM-GSA-02-0022 for architect and engineering
services for Four Springs Lake Preserve Phase I between Island County and Design Northwest Architects, Inc., in an amount not to exceed $29,765.00. Funding source is through REET 2 and funding
was included in the park development line of this years’ budget. Starting date is the date contract is
signed and project completion is not to exceed 150 days from date of execution
of contract.
By
unanimous motion, the Board approved Professional Services Agreement
#RM-GSA-02-0022 for architect and engineering services for Four Springs Lake
Preserve Phase I between Island County and
Design Northwest Architects, Inc.
Interlocal Cooperative Act Agreement ICA 2002-133 - Superior Court for ISland County/Administrative Office of the Courts
Interlocal
Cooperative Act Agreement ICA 2002-133
between the Superior Court for Island County and the Administrative Office of the Courts. [RM-SUPCT-02-0010] in
the amount of $39,000 for the period 1/1/02 to 12/31/02 was approved by unanimous motion of the
Board. The purpose of the agreement is
to provide for the AOC granting
federal funds provided under the
federal STOP Violence Against Women Act for the purpose of establishing
supervised visitation centers and to provide services to victims of domestic
violence.
Contract with Puget Sound Business Systems, Inc. -Copy
Machine with coin-op mechanism for public use
The
Board approved by unanimous motion a Contract with Puget Sound Business
Systems, Inc. #RM-SUPERIOR-01-0104 for
a coin-op copier to be placed in the lobby of the Island County Law and Justice
Facility for public use [located in the lobby outside Clerk’s Office].
Corrected Liquor License for Application 076141-3E -
China City Restaurant & Lounge
Having
been reviewed and recommended for approval
by the Island County Sheriff, the Board
by unanimous motion approved Corrected Liquor License for Application
076141-3E for China City Restaurant
& Lounge change of location from
Langley to Freeland which was approved 3/4/02, the correction for the
purpose of adding an applicant, NG,
Kwok Yang to China City L.L.C.
Application for
liquor license #08418-3e - Vino Amore
Application for Liquor
License #08418-3E by Brian M. Plebanek
& Gail L. Liston for Vino Amore located at 1614 E. Main Street, Suite D,
Freeland, came to the Board having been reviewed and recommended for approval
by the Island County Sheriff, Planning & Community Development Department,
and Health Department. Therefore, the
Board by unanimous motion approved new application for liquor license #08418-3E
as requested.
INTERLOCAL COOPERATION
ACT AGREEMENT BETWEEN ISLAND COUNTY, ISLAND COUNTY TREASURER, ISLAND COUNTY
AUDITOR , AND THE ISLAND COUNTY WATER CONSERVANCY BOARD
Suzanne Sinclair,
Island County Auditor, appeared before the Board to present for approval and
signature, Interlocal Cooperation Act
Agreement [#RM-AUD-02-0012] between Island County, Island County Treasurer,
Island County Auditor, and the Island County Water Conservancy Board. Bill Attwater, Chairman, Water Conservancy
Board, has signed the Agreement. The
agreement spells out provisions under which the Water Conservancy Board will
use certain treasury and accounting services the County has agreed to
provide. The agreement will be in
effect from its date of adoption in perpetuity
unless earlier terminated, upon written notice at least 90 days in advance
of the termination date.
By unanimous motion,
the Board approved and authorized the Chairman’s signature on Interlocal Cooperation Act Agreement
[#RM-AUD-02-0012] between Island County, Island County Treasurer, Island County
Auditor, and the Island County Water Conservancy Board.
2002
Memorandum of Agreement between Washington State University Cooperative
Extension and Island County
The 2002 Memorandum of Agreement [RM-EXT-00-0103]
between Island County and WSU outlining the contribution of funds in support of
Cooperative Extension work in Island
County, was presented by Don Meehan, Chair, WSU, Island County, reflecting a
small increase over last year.
The Board by
unanimous motion, approved and signed
Memorandum of Agreement between
Washington State University Cooperative Extension and Island County, #RM-EXT-00-0103, for a total of $31,780.50.
Public Input or
Comments
Theresa Marie Gandhi,
Green Party of Island County, P. O. Box 522, Coupeville, submitted comments to
the Board and Public Works Department
in the form of a letter dated March 7, 2002, as input into Island
County’s 6-year Transportation Improvement Program 2003-2008, Capital Improvement program 2003-2008 and the Annual
Road Construction Program 2003 year, as noticed in Legal WNT-0896 published in Whidbey
News Times 2/23/02. She referred
to a packet of scientific studies she submitted last April as part of the
record official comments as scientific evidence that RoundupPro, Oust and Direx
have been linked to several diseases,
and she reviewed those with the Board at this time. Ms. Gandhi reviewed again
information concerning endocrine
disruptors, the connection between herbicides Island County has used for road
maintenance vegetation control and
diseases listed at the end of her letter.
As an attachment to her letter, she
provided a copy of “A Strange
Kettle of Fish Male Chinook Turn Female in Columbia River”. She pointed out that Chinook Salmon are
protected under ESA, and referred to
the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals case Talent v. Headlands, where herbicides were classed as toxic
pollutants. Her opinion is that Island
County’s continued use of toxic pollutants on roadside ditches that drain into
shoreline waters exposes county
taxpayers to excessive risk of
liability. She asked that application
of toxic pollutants be stopped in Island County.
Resolution
#C-22-02/R-09-02 – Exemption to Competitive Bidding Requirements.- upgrade
of specialized fuel transaction
Dick Snyder, Island County Engineer, requested
approval of an exemption from
competitive bidding requirements to contract for an upgrade of specialized fuel
transaction system at Bayview and Oak Harbor Road Shops. This was a topic covered in a recent staff
session, and the request based on the
fact that there is only one contractor in the area authorized to distribute parts, equipment and provide factory
service.
Commissioner Thorn
recalled staff session discussion had included the Board’s desire that there be
some documented findings on record supporting the request for exemption.
Gary Hess, Public
Works Engineer, confirmed that while he had not prepared findings per se’ he
did outline rationale for the exemption that serve as findings in a January, 2002 memorandum to the Board.
By unanimous motion,
the Board approved Resolution #C-22-02/R-09-02
In the Matter of An Exemption to Competitive Bidding Requirements, with
the proviso that the memorandum from Gary Hess in January this year be appended
to the resolution.
BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON
IN THE MATTER OF AN
EXEMPTION ) RESOLUTION NO. C-22-02
TO COMPETITIVE BIDDING ) R-09-02
REQUIREMENTS )
WHEREAS, Funds are available in the Equipment Rental and Replacement
budget for replacement of the specialized fuel transaction system at the
Bayview and Oak Harbor Road
Maintenance facilities which have become obsolete; and
WHEREAS, There is only one Contractor
in the area that is authorized to distribute parts, equipment and provide
factory service; and
WHEREAS, This Contractor has provided service and repair for the
county’s four fuel transaction systems since 1994 and is familiar with the
design of the County’s system; and
WHEREAS, The County‘s fuel transaction
systems are critical components of the fuel stations which provide an emergency
source of fuel supply to County vehicles and other County emergency responders;
and
WHEREAS, RCW 39.04.280 permits and
exemption to competitive bidding requirements for purchases that are clearly
and legitimately limited to a single source of supply, and purchases involving
special facilities or market conditions; and
NOW THEREFORE, BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED
that competitive bidding is waived and the Chairman of the Board of
Commissioners, acting on behalf of the Board of County Commissioners of Island
County, Washington, is authorized to sign a sole source contract for
replacement of the fuel transaction systems.
Adopted this 11 day of March, 2002.
BOARD
OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS
ISLAND
COUNTY, WASHINGTON
Mike
Shelton, Chairman
Wm.
L. McDowell, Member
William
F. Thorn, Member
ATTEST:
Elaine Marlow
Clerk of the Board
[Attachment January, 2002, Memorandum from Gary Hess, “Findings”, placed on file with the Clerk of the Board]
Contract/Contract
Bond –Upgrade of the Bayview and Oak Harbor Road Shop Fuel Transaction
Equipment and Software
Having approved
Resolution #C-22-02/R-9-02 the Board by unanimous motion approved Contract [RM-PW-002021] and Contract Bond for the upgrade of the Bayview and Oak
Harbor Road Shop Fuel Transaction Equipment and Software with Northwest Pump
& Equipment Company in the amount of
$37,177.82.
Easement between
Island County & Puget Sound Energy #SW02-0024 – Power easement – Patmore
Pit
Based
on presentation and recommendation by
Dave Bonvouloir, Solid Waste Manager, the Board approved by unanimous
motion, a power easement between
Island County and Puget Sound Energy #SW02-0024, Patmore Pit, Parcel #483-5020,
Sec. 11, Twp 31N, Rge 1E.
HEARING
HELD: Franchise #30 BY LEE Enterprises NW, Inc. FOR sewer distribution system – PORTIONS OF
COUNTY RIGHT OF WAY
The Chairman opened
a Public Hearing as advertised at 10:20 a.m. to consider Franchise #30 by Lee Enterprises NW, Inc. for a sewer
distribution system in, along, under and/or across County road right-of-way
known as , Gough Drive and Wagner Road, Camano Island, in Sec. 31, Twp. 31N.,
Rge. 3E.
Mr. Snyder, having discovered from applicant late last
week there needs to be a new set of
drawings that show multiple lines in the franchise rather than one line,
recommended the hearing be continued or canceled. Applicant wants multiple
lines included in the franchise in order to serve additional unnamed parcels to
a common drainfield. The permit issued
by Health, was approved only for one
line. The Board took no action on the
Franchise and canceled the hearing.
APPEAL HEARING SCHEDULED: APP 083/02, Gerald Steele for Cameron-Woodard Homeowners
Association - Appeal of Hearing Examiner decision regarding PLP 183/00.
As
recommended by Phil Bakke, Planning and
Community Development Director, the Board by unanimous motion scheduled a
closed record hearing on April 1, 2002 at 10:45 a.m. on APP 083/02 by Gerald Steele for Cameron-Woodard Homeowners
Association, appealing the Hearing
Examiner’s decision regarding PLP
183/00 seeking to reverse the Hearing
Examiner’s decision and deny application PLP 183/00.
Budget Workshop
Budget workshop began at 1:30 p.m. The Budget
Director, and a number of Elected
Officials, Appointed Department Heads and staff attended. The
Commissioners received an e-mail from
Bill Vogler, WSAC, who indicated that if the House budget was adopted public
health monies would be extended only
through June 30th; if Senate budget is adopted Public Health
funding would be through the end of the biennium but other than that,
would not do anything in the criminal
justice arena nor give counties any additional taxing authority. The Chairman noted this left local
government in a very precarious state. While
the total figure to cut is 11%, Commissioner McDowell made the point that it would not be an 11% for every department,
but could be plus or minus for different departments.
1:30 Assessor’s Budget
Presentation by: Tom Baenen, Assessor; Anita Foster, Chief Deputy; Gary Bur, Chief Appraiser
Hand-out: 4-page hand-out provided
[copy on file]
Island County information; Assessor’s duties by statute; Budget track 2000-2002 revenues generated; expenditures comparable information [year 2000] from three other Assessor’s Offices Clallam, Skagit, Kitsap, experiencing rapid growth.
No
new sources of revenue are available, other than: banked levy capacity and
raising taxes. Nothing in the Assessor’s Office that is not by statutory provision. Duties page of the hand-out describes functions and duties necessary in the Assessor’s Office and how
many people it takes: 21 FTE of which
11.5 are appraisal side. Assessor’s
Office comparisons for year 2000 with Clallam, Skagit and Kitsap counties shows
that Island County is the lowest as far as staffing and budget per staff
member. Total budget for 2002 is $994,173.00, representing 6.2% Maintenance
and Operation [communications constitutes 43% of the M&O total]; 93.8% is in S/W/B. No
possibility of cuts in the M&O portion; should postal rates go up
M&O would already be over budget this year. Cost savings are made where possible, for example, the new
residential appraiser shares a vehicle with the personal property appraiser/auditor.
An
11% reduction in the Assessor’s budget equates to $109,360.00 and would require
a reduction in force of 2 level 10 positions or 3 level
5 positions, which would make it
impossible to carry out mandated
duties; the first duty to go would be picking up the annual County-wide new
construction valuation. Could look at
eliminating 1 position, but that would require shifting those duties to other positions which in turn would require adjustment in S/W/B of those positions, and
result in a net savings of 3%.
Road
levy shift – need a better understanding
about whether or not there can be a road levy shift and an allocation
formula, important not to put in
jeopardy RAP/RATA funding for road projects. Greg Banks will provide his research on that issue to the Board
for further information and review. .
The
Commissioners asked various questions of
Mr. Baenen to gain his perspective about going back to the old valuation
schedule wondering if that would save some manpower, but that did not seem
viable, in fact, on a 4-year cycle the Assessor would have to do ¼ of the
county each year as opposed to 1/6th and stretching out picking up of new construction would be
counter productive. Each year 1/6th of the County is done, plus all
new construction. Mr. Baenen responded
also to questions and suggestions from audience members.
Gary
Bur gave some information about
appraisers physically going out to properties
and what was involved in that process; and noted it can sometimes take as much as 3 or 4 visits to
pick up the total construction value.
Appraisers do not work directly from
drawings turned with permit applications because generally 50-60% are not
accurate. Appraisers have to be able to
justify the value and be prepared to provide that information should a BOE
appeal be made.
Other
questions and discussion focused on taking advantage of current technology, and
contracting services out: are there
portions of the work that can be put out to contract; anyone out there than can do the work at the quality desired; if so,
can a cost savings be identified with that.
Mr.
Baenen had not specifically asked for quotations for a contract for appraisals
on the valuation side, but had looked into it and was aware that the cost was
significantly more per parcel than Island County’s cost per parcel because
private business adds in a profit. He
does not know of a firm in Washington State that does that type work. As far as technology, he has not experienced or seen anything that would save
dollars, and does already move as rapidly as possible whenever changes in technology are
available.
Anita
Foster suggested perhaps one savings would be not to do the actual printing of
re-val notices; however, it would not save dollars but potentially some amount
of staff time.
Commissioner
Thorn was interested in a future budget workshop to hear more about
actual figures of contracting out the valuation section.
2:30
Law & Justice Group – Report
Presentation
by: Michael Merringer, Director,
Juvenile and Family Court
On
behalf of the Law & Justice departments, Mr. Merringer presented the Law
and Justice Group report. The group met
on two occasions to try and come up with a plan to resolve how to meet an 11%
budget cut. Chairman Shelton was
invited to the second session. It was
very apparent within a short time just
how difficult the task would be.
M&O as everyone knows is already inadequate and any cuts would have
to be made in staff. In doing so,
however, it would be at the risk of
losing revenues and compromising the ability to meet mandates. No one is at a point they can advocate for cuts
that would compromise their
mandates. Cutting from one department usually means that
other law and justice agencies must to take up the slack.
Office Mandates.
Commissioner
Thorn thought it would be very useful for the Board to see from the Assessor and Law & Justice
Departments a list of what they consider to be
mandates under statute, legislature, constitution or agency -
something they can discuss with
WSAC and./or individual legislators.
The Juvenile Department has
requirements that come with grants.
The Auditor has Voter Registration with unfunded notice requirements.
The Sheriff is just trying to provide basic meat and potatoes law
enforcement; by the end of the month he will have three people leaving and
cannot fill those positions because of the potential layoffs come the first of
next year and the fact it takes 7 months’ to go through the academy. Of utmost concern to him is having an
officer alone; it is unsafe, period.
Chairman
Shelton’s understanding from the budget process was that employees of Island
County a job through 12/31/02, but
there is a potential they may get a pink slip in July advising of layoff come
1/1/03. This would give those employees
a 6 month lead to look for other employment.
Future Law & Justice
Budget Workshops.
Consensus
was that future budget workshop sessions set aside for the Law & Justice Group be scheduled for individual Law and Justice departments and Mr. Merringer agreed to coordinate the schedule
and get back to the Board to fill the time slots for those dates available.
Meeting
adjourned at 3:30 p.m. The Board will
meet next in Regular Session
on
March 18, 2002 beginning at 9:30 a.m.
ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON
______________________________
Mike Shelton,
Chairman
_____________________________
Wm.
L. McDowell, Member
_____________________________
William
F. Thorn, Member
ATTEST:
____________________________
Elaine Marlow,
Clerk of the Board