BOARD OF ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

MINUTES OF MEETING – JUNE 3, 2002

 

The Board of Island County Commissioners (including Diking Improvement District #4) met in Regular Session on June 3, 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:  Regular Session May 20 and Special Session May 22, 2002.

 

VOUCHERS AND PAYMENT OF BILLS

 

The following vouchers/warrants were approved for payment by unanimous motion of the Board:    Voucher (War.) # 125257-125554 …………………………………………..$439,500.76.

 

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

 

Juvenile        028/02   Prob. Off/Drug Ct.  1402.07            Reduce Hours             6/3/02

GSA               029/02   Adm. Asst.              1509.00            Reclassification           6/3/02

 

RESOLUTION #C-43-02 CONTINUING THE WELLNESS INCENTIVE PROGRAM/PLAN FOR ISLAND COUNTY EMPLOYEES

 

With brief outline provided from Mr. Toft regarding proposal to adopt  Part A only of the Plan, allowing conversion of sick days at a two for one ratio into annual leave, the  Board, by unanimous motion, adopted Resolution #C-43-02 continuing the wellness incentive Program /Plan, Part A, for Island County Employees. 

 

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

IN THE MATTER OF CONTINUING THE    )   

WELLNESS INCENTIVE PROGRAM/PLAN )               RESOLUTION  C-43-02

FOR ISLAND County EMPLOYEES           )  

 

         WHEREAS, the Board of Island County Commissioners adopted Resolution C-57-01 on April 23, 2001 which continued the Wellness Incentive Program; and

 

         WHEREAS, the above Resolution requires an analysis of potential costs to be reviewed no later than April 1, 2002, after which the program may be renewed based on the previous year’s accrued sick leave for program year 2002, and

 

WHEREAS, by participation in the program, Island County employees demonstrated that a percentage of employees favored incentives for maintaining healthy life styles and incentives for unused sick leave; and

 

WHEREAS, absenteeism is expensive to the County, both in paid time off and lost productivity to the organization; NOW, THEREFORE,

 

         BE IT RESOLVED, that after review it has been determined that the Wellness Incentive Plan for 2002 is renewed and will contain only Plan 1a and Plan 2a as described on Attachment A; and

 

          BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED, that an analysis of potential costs will be reviewed prior to April 1, 2003 at which time the program may be renewed for program year 2003.

 

         ADOPTED this 3rd day of June 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 A

 

WELLNESS INCENTIVE PLAN

Plan One

 

To be eligible for, and participate in the Wellness Incentive Plan #1, an employee must first have established a minimum base (balance) of 160 HOURS of accrued sick leave.  Once this has been established, the employee may elect, on an annual basis to:

 

a.           Convert up to a maximum of ninety-six (96) hours of unused sick leave accrued within the calendar year to annual leave.  The ratio of conversion shall be sixteen (16) hours of sick leave for each eight (8) hours of annual leave.  (If the addition of annual leave brings the employee over the established limits of allowed annual leave, the employee will be required to use the excess hours within that calendar year.)

            

b.          Convert up to a maximum of ninety-six (96) hours of unused sick leave accrued within the calendar year to cash.  The ratio of conversion shall be twenty-four (24) hours of sick leave for each eight (8) hours of pay.

            

c.           Employees may choose a combination of “a” and “b” above.

 

Plan Two

 

To be eligible for, and participate in the Wellness Incentive Plan #2, an employee with a minimum balance of 48 HOURS of accrued sick leave, may elect on an annual basis to:

 

a.           Convert up to one half the number of unused sick leave hours accrued within the calendar year to annual leave.  The rate of conversion will be as explained in Plan #1a above.

            

b.          Convert up to one half the number of hours of unused sick leave accrued within the calendar year to cash.  The rate of conversion will be as outlined in Plan #1b above.

            

c.                     Employees may choose a combination of “a” and “b” above.

 

HEALTH CONTRACTS APPROVED

 

By unanimous motion, the Board approved two health contracts, both having been approved by the Board of Health on May 20, 2002:

 

·                #HD-05-02, HIV/AIDS Case Management – Evergreen AIDS Foundation -         $18,771

 

·                #20872(4)   [RM-HLTH-01-0064  Foster Care Passport – DSHS  $58,365          [$450 per completed passport]  to reduce backlog of health passports for  children in out-of-home  care.

 

PUBLIC INPUT OR COMMENTS

 

Mike Hawley, Island County Sheriff, read for the record a memorandum written to the County Commissioners  this date:

 

Last Friday, May 31, I was in receipt of yet another Deputy sheriff’s resignation, seeking opportunity and better working conditions  elsewhere. This brings to six the number of vacancies in our Patrol/Investigations Division.   Dep. Rob Hardcastle has served this County  for nearly ten years. He  is an exceptional Deputy;  as you may recall, we awarded him the life saving medal just last year for his efforts on Deception Pass Bride, preventing a distraught woman from jumping. His decision to leave is a serious blow, draining  our ranks of quality and professional talent.  To make matters worse, later the same day, another of our experienced Deputies suffered a heart attack, and underwent surgery on Sunday. His prognosis for returning to work is uncertain at this time. Thus, we now  actually have seven vacancies, as we enter the busiest time of the year.

 

As you are well aware, I have not filled any of these open positions, because you have not provided funds – because of the current budget crisis – to pay for contracted cash-outs of departing Deputies and our other operating needs. It makes no sense, fiscally or ethically, to hire a new employee, only to lay him/her off at the end of the year. Further, Deputies are not simply plucked off the street, given a gun and a badge, and put out on patrol. Even new-hires with prior law enforcement service ("lateral” entry), require a minimum of six months field training before they can begin to contribute. For entry level deputies, it’s twice as long. Hence, even if I were to hire someone today, s/he would not begin to work solo until next January.

 

Unfortunately, with over twenty percent of my front line positions unfilled, I am now no longer able to provide basic law enforcement services to the citizens of Island County. This means that we are in a state of emergency. While I appreciate that you have undertaken a methodical, on-going review of departmental budgets, and are pondering various means to cover the looming deficit, it is imperative that you expedite the process, based upon the highest priority of local government – to keep safe the lives and property of the citizens whom we all serve. I need your definitive assurance of future funding of the Island County Sheriff’s Office, so I can begin hiring 

 

essential personnel immediately. Without your quick action, 24-hour law enforcement services, including drug investigations, traffic  safety, child abuse and domestic violence prevention, search and rescue, and the Fire Marshal’s  Office, will cease to exist for all intents and purposes. Further, without some sign form the Board  that they support their local law enforcement, the brain drain from the Sheriff’s Office will continue unabated, leaving me and my successors with a third-rate force, causing continual internal  problems for the foreseeable future, gravely impacting the safety of all and costing millions in wasted tax dollars.

 

Chairman Shelton affirmed that as people leave they could not allow budget cuts to happen through attrition in the Sheriff’s Department.  The Board understood the situation  in terms of the Sheriff’s concern in not knowing what  next year’s budget is. The Board set out  with the goal of having a preliminary  budget done  by July but even that would  not to work for the  Sheriff’s Department, and he assured the Sheriff the Board would  try to do something to alleviate that.    He assured the Sheriff that the Commissioners do care deeply and would try to provide some

resolution  as soon as possible.

 

RESOLUTION #C-44-02/R-19-02 –  INITIATING COUNTY ROAD PROJECT CRP 02-06 -  CAMANO  MISC.  ASPHALT CONCRETE PAVEMENT OVERLAYS 2002

 

County Road resolution R-19-02 Initiating County Road Project CRP 02-06, Work Order #358 for  Camano Island Miscellaneous Asphalt Concrete Pavement Overlays 2002 was approved by unanimous  motion of the Board, as presented and recommended by Bill Oakes, Public Works Director, for a total appropriation of $478,500.

 

RESOLUTION #C-45-02/R-20-02 APPROVING PLANS & SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZING CALL FOR BIDS FOR 2002 ASPHALT CONCRETE  PAVEMENT OVERLAYS WHIDBEY ISLAND

 

By unanimous motion, the Board approved Resolution #C-45-02/R-20-02  Approving Plans & Specifications and Authorizing Call for Bids for 2002 Asphalt Concrete  Pavement Overlays Whidbey Island under  CRP 02-06, Work Order  358, with bid opening June 20, 2002 at 11:30 a.m. 

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

                                OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

IN THE MATTER OF APPROVING PLANS)

& SPECIFICATIONS AND AUTHORIZING)

CALL FOR BIDS FOR 2002 ASPHALT         )    RESOLUTION NO. C-45-02

CONCRETE PAVEMENT OVERLAYS         )                                          R-20-02

WHIDBEY ISLAND, CRP 02-06, WORK       )

ORDER NO. 358

        

WHEREAS, sufficient funds are available in the Island County Road Fund for 2002 Misc. Asphalt Concrete Pavement Overlays, Whidbey Island; NOW THEREFORE,

 

              BE IT HEREBY RESOLVED that the Plans and Specifications are approved and that the County Engineer is authorized and directed to call for bids for furnishing said construction.  Bid Opening is to be the 20th day of June 2002, at 11:30 A.M. in the  Lunch Room, Courthouse Annex, Coupeville.

 

            ADOPTED this 3rd day of June, 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

 

EXECUTIVE SESSION

 

The Board met in Executive Session at 10:30 a.m. for the purpose of discussing with legal counsel potential litigation as allowed under RCW 42.30.110(1)(i) and estimated to last  approximately 15 minutes.  On conclusion of the Executive Session the Board returned to open public session at 10:45 a.m. to take action.

 

RESOLUTION  #C-46-02 AUTHORIZING LEGAL ACTION TO COLLECT REIMBURSEMENT  FOR RETIREMENT OVERPAYMENTS TO

JOHN W. ZIMMERMAN

 

By unanimous motion, the Board approved Resolution #C-46-02 authorizing legal action to collect reimbursement for retirement overpayments to John W. Zimmerman.

 

BEFORE THE BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

OF ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING LEGAL   )

ACTION TO COLLECT                       )

REIMBURSEMENT FOR RETIREMENT          )        RESOLUTION NO. C-46-02

OVERPAYMENTS TO JOHN W.            )

ZIMMERMAN                                  )

                 

         WHEREAS, the Island County Auditor advised this Board that the Washington State Department of Retirement Systems (DRS) audited the Island County employment records and learned that John W. Zimmerman, former Chief Jail Administrator in the Island County Sheriff’s Office, was paid retirement benefits for seven months in 1999 and seven months in 2000 for which he was ineligible because he was employed by Island County at the time; and

 

         WHEREAS, DRS required Island County to reimburse the state retirement system $30,745.82,  the retirement pay that John W. Zimmerman received in 1999 and 2000 for which he was not entitled; and

 

         WHEREAS, this Board authorized payment of $30,745.82 to DRS and that payment was transmitted to DRS on May 24, 2002; and

 

         WHEREAS, Island County’s payment of $30,745.82, from general taxpayer funds held by the County, to DRS for the overpayment of the Zimmerman retirement benefits will result in an unjust enrichment and windfall to the Zimmermans and an inequitable financial burden upon Island County taxpayers unless the Zimmermans are required to pay that amount back, with any applicable interest, to Island County; NOW, THEREFORE,

 

         IT IS HEREBY RESOLVED that the Island County Prosecuting Attorney, with the aid and assistance of the Island County Auditor and any other county departments, is authorized and directed to commence legal action to collect the $30,745.82 paid to DRS for the Zimmerman retirement benefits which should not have been paid to John W. Zimmerman in 1999 and 2000.

 

         DATED this  3 day of June, 2002.

 

                                             BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

                                                      ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

                                                      Mike Shelton, Chairman

                                                              Wm. L. McDowell, Member

ATTEST:                                         William F. Thorn, Member

Elaine Marlow                                                        

Clerk of the Board                               

 

Final Approval:  Soundview Estates Planned Residential Development & Site Plan File PRD 174/96 & SPR 173/96

Debra Little, Planning Manager, presented for final approval,  Soundview Estates Planned Residential Development and  Site Plan File PRD 174/96 & SPR 173/96, property located on Assessor Parcel #R32814-205-1880, between Cultus Bay Road and Cultus Bay  on South Whidbey.  This is a  12-lot Planned Residential Development with a Site Plan Review for a water storage tank and an area for off-site drainfields on an approximate 13 acre parcel.   The 12 lots and a community beach area are located on the west part of the parcel.   The common open space, about 65% of the site, includes a regulated wetland and its buffers, the community beach, and the off-site drainfield area.   The water tank and the drainfield area that provides space for 10 drainfields are located on the east side of the site.   The project gains access from Bayshore Drive and Coho Way, off of Possession Shores Road.    The Island County staff reviewed the applications for final approval, and found that the conditions of preliminary approval have been met and  recommends that the Board grant conditional final PRD approval.

By unanimous motion, the Board gave final approval for Soundview Estates Planned Residential Development and  Site Plan,  File PRD 174/96 & SPR 173/96, property located on Assessor Parcel #R32814-205-1880, South Whidbey.  

 

BEFORE THE BOARD OF ISLAND COUNTY COMMISSIONERS

OF ISLAND COUNTY WASHINGTON

 

Applications:           Final Planned Residential Development, PRD 174/96
                                             Site Plan Review, SPR 173/96

 

Name and Address of Agent, Applicant, and Owner:

Agent:

Applicant

Owner:

Bob Jones

Wally Mattson

WBF Mattson Enterprises, L.L.C.

Lovell-Sauer

P. O. Box 1172

P. O. Box 1172

19400 – 33rd Ave. W, Suite 200

Clinton, WA 98236

Clinton, WA 98236

Lynnwood, WA 98036

 

 

 

Requesting The Following:   Final Approval of a 12-lot Planned Residential Development with a Site Plan Review for a water storage tank and an area for off-site drainfields on an approximate 13 acre parcel.   The 12 lots and a community beach area are located on the west part of the parcel.   The common open space, about 65% of the site, includes a regulated wetland and its buffers, the community beach, and the off-site drainfield area.   The water tank and the drainfield area that provides space for 10 drainfields are located on the east side of the site.   The project gains access from Bayshore Drive and Coho Way, off of Possession Shores Road.   The site plan information is included within the PRD survey maps.

 

Upon The Following Property:   A parcel located in Government Lot 2 between Cultus Bay Road and Cultus Bay on south Whidbey Island, in the N½ of the SW¼ of Section 14, Township 28 North, Range 3 East, W.M. (Assessor Parcel Number R32814-205-1880.).

 

Island County Staff Recommendation:   Approval for recording.

 

Director’s Approval

Phillip Bakke, Director

Planning and Community Development Department

 

Board of Island County Commissioner Decision:

 

APPROVED AND ADOPTED this 3 day of June, 2002.

 

BOARD OF COUNTY COMMISSIONERS OF

ISLAND COUNTY, WASHINGTON

 

 

Mike Shelton, Chairman

Wm. L. McDowell, Member

William F. Thorn, Member

 

ATTEST:  Elaine Marlow, Clerk of the Board

 

BUDGET WORKSHOP

 

Budget  workshop began at  1:30 p.m.  to review and discuss how the budget shortfall for  2003 could be addressed within Public Works/Road/ER&R/Paths & Trails/Storm & Surface Water/Solid Waste/Diking Dist. #4 budgets.  The workshop was  preliminary only and no decisions made.      The  Budget Director, and several Elected Officials, Appointed Department Heads and staff  attended.   Copies of hand-outs are on file. *

 

Public Works/Road/ER&R/Paths & Trails/Storm & Surface Water/Solid Waste/

Diking District  #4 budgets

Presentation by:     Bill Oakes, Public Works Director

Hand-out:             *Copy to be provided from  overhead presentation

 

2003 Change to Current Expense   [2002:  $28,326]. The 2003 budget proposal is to fund Public Works from the funds directly supported resulting in  the Current Expense fund not making the $28,326 contribution to the Public Works Fund.  Vision and Revenue Assumptions the same as indicated May 13th presentation.

 

Long Term changes.  Emphasis on vegetative management without herbicides and a 1% cap on property tax have the same  impact =  about $500,000 each over the 6 year plan.  Result is there will be one million missing from the capital plan.  Do not propose shifting away from maintenance effort. Eventually will have a smaller department and eventually lose a project or two.  Need to  continually look at better ways to get the work done.

 

Road Objectives.  Maintain safety and condition of the road network; maintain a reserve for expected emergency response and a reserve for the unexpected emergencies. Island County has some of the  best roads in the State.

 

The Department is   crafting a program to  allow people to adopt a roadside for vegetation control, initially for noxious weeds.  Vegetative management is part of the whole system and staff is looking at  lower growing plants and  seed mix and management of vegetation from a   broader point of view. Other states have programs and there are integrated management plans; also  local examples.

 

Capital Plan.  In preparing for standard emergencies need to maintain two line items:  Snow and ice control  and slide response.  Do not budget annually for catastrophic event such as a windstorm but it is covered in the reserve  contingency.  There is also a $40,000 contingency for maintenance for unexpected major events such as fire, wind, major snow and ice; flood,  earthquake tsunami, slides, storm debris, accident response. Looking at the six year plan, the goal is to have 1.5 million reserve over the six years. 

 

Recommendation

 

Maintenance.  Recognize that growth will require us to improvise, adapt and overcome. 

         Continue to move people and goods efficiently through the County system

         Work with the State on the Maintenance Management System

Closely watch the Pavement Management System

 

Solid Waste Objective

 

Continue providing outstanding services for municipal solid waste, recycling & hazardous waste.

Provide superior septage treatment  and reuse

Plan for future

Maintain sufficient balance to provide  self insurance

 

 

Solid Waste Revenue Assumptions

 

2003 tipping fees stay constant at $85/ton

Septage fees stay at 0.155/gal.

 

Budget

Waste and septage  2,827k

Recycling & Hazardous Waste 880k

Education and Information  80k

 

Environmental monitoring needs to continue.  Self insurance is the fund balance = $3.8 today which probably is less than a minimum.    Part of the rate study in 2003 will establish what the correct number is for self insurance to protect against risk. 

 

ER&R

 

·       Maintain existing equipment

5-25 year expected life

Keep rental rates as low as possible

 

·       Maintain a  quality fleet of equipment

 

·       Reserve for contingency/insurance

 

 

Part of the  emergency response contingency is in the ER&R budget and looking in 2003 at a significant reduction from 2002. Need to rebuild the reserve – at the  end of year it should be about $300,000 and recommendation is that be closer to half million by the end of 2003.   

 

Paths & Trails.  Funded by STP Funds and Roads

 

Surface Water – 32k   ($23,000 for debt service; $5,000 M&O; other for building a fund for a replacement pump @ $2,000/yr.)

 

Chairman Shelton expressed his view, as he has in past years, about the Marshal Road Utility – charging those folks an annual maintenance fee which he thought was wrong.  Those people should  not be treated any differently than maintenance for  any other drainage issue in Island County in terms of paying a maintenance fee on an annual basis.

 

Diking District No. 4 - $1,200

 

There  being no further business to come before the Board at this  time, the meeting adjourned at 2:20 p.m.   The Board will meet next in Regular Session on June 10, 2002  at 9:30 a.m.

 

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